Megaman 9 graphics: Wii vs. PS3

Since both the game and demo were released to the PSN network just yesterday, I decided to download the PSN demo version of Megaman 9 and see if I can spot any differences. The demo only covered Concrete Man's stage, so that's my only basis for the comparisons. But what I saw made me glad I purchased the Wii version.

I've read somewhere that the PS3 and 360 versions try too hard to smooth out the pixels and make the 8-bit aspect of the game pop less vibrantly than the Wii version...and that's pretty much true. I guess the graphic capabilities worked against these consoles this time.

In addition to the blurriness of the pixels, playing Concrete Man's stage on the PS3 felt like I was playing with sunglasses on. There was an unexpected amount of darkness over the entire level, almost warranting me to fiddle with my contrast settings. Even if this was a result of my TV settings, the blurriness alone would have put me off from such a purchase.

Overall, the Wii version is probably the best choice if you truly want the 8-bit graphics to pop out and scream "retro."

Zero Punctuation review: Bionic Crashers edition

For today's "Lazy Wednesday," Yahtzee's covering the downloadable games front with a double bill of reviews: one on Bionic Commando: Rearmed, and the other on Castle Crashers. I guess things are a bit slow on his end. Hopefully the holiday season will bring out more games for him to rip a new one on.

NSFW below. Enjoy!

It's a "Megaman 9" Monday!

Megaman as he should be.

Not this...sickenly cute substitute.

Mega Man 9 releasing next Monday on WiiWare!!

To ensure participation in Strong Bad's hostile takeover, I had to replenish my Wii point funds and then some, for any other titles just in case.

I'm glad I accounted for the "just in case," since it's been announced that Mega Man 9 is set to be released next Monday on WiiWare!

Soon after that, the game will be released on PSN September 25th, and then after a full week after the WiiWare release, it will be available for XBox 360.

I'm securing my Wii copy next Monday...how 'bout you guys?

Zero Punctuation review: Spore

The much long-awaited Will Wright game Spore is under Yahtzee's chopping block this week. The ability to create your own creature species and evolve it has been on everyone's minds lately, but does it compare with Will Wright's previous gaming achievements?

The NSFW and longest "no" in the game-reviewing world below.

SBCG4AP Episode 1...finished!

Yeah, typing "Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People" in the title would've been too long.

Anyways, put off finishing the first episode long enough since episode 2 is released today (as well as as a certain "mega" man's second outing), placing my timing to be short of perfect. All in all, the first episode was enjoyable and not that difficult, but then again the "hints" setting was set to "medium" without me knowing, so that might have had an affect. I still enjoy the point-and-click aspect a lot, though, so I'll happily purchase the second episode to get my fix on. And I'll keep my pace to let the experience last.

There's still the extras to unlock in the first episode, as well as trying out that secret code for Snake Boxer 5, though.

The Last Guy...finished!

The great thing about finishing a game like this is that there is still a good amount of replay value in The Last Guy. There are all the V.I.P.'s that need saving, trying to top my own score, and getting more of my friends to play so I can compare scores to and issue bragging rights.

But none of my friends have the game yet. And I'm bragging to myself.

Still, here's hoping that more levels will become available!

Zero Punctuation review: Too Human

This week's "Lazy Wednesday" is brought to you by Too Human, Yahtzee's latest victim in his Zero Punctuation series. Yet another game that has failed to peaked my interest, Too Human is released to the masses by Silicon Knights - the same folk that produced the popular Eternal Darkness game.

Bear in mind that this week's review is exceptionally long only if you care to watch the Warhammer Online trailer afterwards.

NSFW nasal rape below. Enjoy!

So tired...

Apologies for the lack of posts...had a long weekend that took up most of my energy. Will be fully operational tomorrow!

Zero Punctuation review: Eve Online

Since I missed "Lazy Wednesday" yesterday, here is a late post for Zero Punctuation's review of Eve Online. I'm still one of those few that still haven't committed my life and soul towards online gaming, and probably never will. So of course, Yahtzee's review only confirms this even more.

The NSFW video below. Enjoy!

The Last Guy is First on my Playlist

What's the plot of The Last Guy? Monsters have taken over the world, and its up to you (the last guy) to guide all survivors to the Escape Zone safely. Sounds simple enough, and hardly enough meat for a real game. So why the popularity?

Everything about The Last Guy screams casual, from its quirky and catchy music to its simplistic gameplay. You can pick it up and play for 5 minutes or 5 hours, and you'd be satisfied no matter what length of time you play it at.

The Last Guy also uses aerial imagery to create the basis of their many levels, giving the illusion that the monsters and zombies are truly wrecking havoc in the world. You play this character that goes around collecting survivors in a long line. As the line becomes longer, your stamina increases. However, with a longer line, your survivors are more exposed and prone to monster attacks. So there is always a constant gamble whether you decide to keep an extremely long line, or play it safe and save smaller increments of people at a time.

And because the game employs such a simple way to create levels, you can be sure to see many more level updates in the future.

The Last Guy is out now for $9.99 on PSN, a decent price for a game that exudes replayability.

Sites You Must Check Out: Akiba-Station.com

Before the week's done, there's one announcement I'd like to make.

I've been ask to be a contributor on my friend's awesome blog, akiba-station.com. Think of it as the more refined "Otaku" site that pushes beyond the typical layer of general hype on all things anime, games, and gadgets. There are a lot of news that never gets reported enough, and akiba-station.com is the place to find all of that.

If you like reading my stuff on my blog, you have to check out my articles over there. Here are a couple links of my stuff (under pen name "GameOrDie") below for you to peruse:

Capsule Game Review: Ring of Fates
Capsule Game Preview: Kimi no Yuusha
Low in Energy? Have a Mega Man "Energy Tank" drink!
"Time" to "Watch" Out for Chrono Trigger This Year

As you can tell, my spectacular wit carries on to their site well. And don't worry...I'll be frequently posting on both blogs at once, and so far all posts (from my blog or my friend's blog) are different. So, for the full experience, hop on over to akiba-station and check out what you're missing!

Zero Punctuation review: Braid

Kicking off Gameritis' first anniversary is Yahtzee's review of Braid. While I still have yet to purchase a 360, the reviews for this game seem to be very positive for me to make a decision faster.

Despite whether you've played the game or not, the review is worth the watch. As long as you're not named "Adrian."

Gameritis...Level Up!!

*pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop*

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, GAMERITIS!!

Today officially marks the very first day this blog came to be, and I'm so excited to be still here blogging after one year! From the very beginning, I made the site to be a personal gamer's diary of sorts, posting my thoughts and ideals about everything in gaming. Soon afterwards, it festered into more posts a day, more game reviews, the "finished" stamp, and "Lazy Wednesdays."

Still can't believe I've been able to consistantly post for one year. That's a record in my book. Expect to see lots more new things in the coming months!

Oh, and the cake above? Not mine. In fact, I'm the only one here celebrating. And I have to resort to only a picture of a cake that wasn't even for me.

Pre-Celebratory Jitters

Sorry for the lack of posts, but the anniversary celebrations will officially start tomorrow, since August 27 is the official start of Gameritis. In the meantime, I need to get the ball rolling...

PS3 purchase...justified!

I've finally placed the order for Disgaea 3 and its strategy guide over the weekend, thus justifying the main reason why I have a PlayStation 3 now. In doing so, I've set an unprecedented goal for myself: to finish Disgaea 1 and 2 before I receive the third game.

Yes, I've never finished either game completely yet.

I have mentioned in the past my progress in Disgaea since its PSP release, freeing myself from the shackles of television-constrained play sessions, but even the liberation of portable gaming on the go has only taken me so far. How did I ever get myself into this mess?

Strategy RPGs are an entirely different breed, one that I will someday tackle. Thankfully, there's not so much emphasis for story continuity in these titles, so I probably won't ruin anything in playing these games concurrently.

Nearing the One-Year Anniversary Mark...

I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I started Gameritis, and since then I've been glad to have shared with you my views and excitement on everything video game related. This blog has been a goal to myself to voice my opinions for all to view, and, while my reader following ranges from low to nil, I still grind away making post after post, just for my own sake. I just wanted to be the star of my own blog, committed to making at least one post per weekday on anything at all. Sure, there are some weeks where I fell short, due to personal events and issues, but my major concern overall is to bring you my perspective on video games.

Since then, I've tried to add pictures to posts when possible, created a "finished" stamp for any games I've finished (which began with Zelda DS, by the way), and established "Lazy Wednesdays" all centered around the Zero Punctuation reviews, to name a few. In the coming months, I hope to introduce more intriguing sections into the mix.

But rest assured, next week will be a week focused on Gameritis as well as the regular gaming news.

Zero Punctuation review: Soul Calibur 4

Let's start this "Lazy Wednesday" with Yahtzee's review of Soul Calibur 4, the latest fighter in the series.

Personally, I never was really into the games, though I did play up to the second installment before I thought, "man, which ending is the right ending?" I mean, you have individual endings for every single character, and yet they only focus on one of them for each new game that comes out. Which begs the non-rhetorical question "why?"

Now, if they chained fighter games through whatever character and path you took via save files throughout the series, then there's a justified reason why they made the plot a "Choose Your Own Adventure" route.

Anyways, Yahtzee's NSFW (because of tits) below.

Strong Bad's first day at Telltale Games

You can tell that Telltale Games have a lot of love in what they do, and it shows in everything they touch. Like the interactive online comics that they had for Sam and Max, Telltale Games now started their little videos showcasing Strong Bad and his visit to Telltale Games about starring in his own game. Hilarity ensues!

Hey, that game is still unopened!!

I'm sure other gamers can relate when I say that at one time or another, you've overloaded your gaming queue. Maybe you took on too many games at once and not finish any of them, or purchased games on sale that you haven't touched...but it has probably happened to you at least once in your game-playing lives. But the industry has only been pumping out more and more as the years roll by, giving us gamers less and less time to actually enjoy their 60+ hour games. (That's another rant for another day...)

The problem is, during these moments, I take on more games faster than I can play them. The result? Games that aren't even opened.

In reality, I don't have much time to play games as long as I wish to. Sure, in the past couple of months, I've finished a number of games, but all of them are short relative to completion times. 12 hours? 21 hours? We're talking about almost a complete day's worth of gaming, stretched out in the span of 2 months. You do the math.

So a game that's still in its plastic casing, sitting on the counter collecting dust is not gaming negligence; it's merely in hibernation until there's an open slot in my schedule. My ideal, ultimately, is that if I open a game, I'll make sure I have the right amount of time to give it my full attention. I may or may not finish the game, but I want to be able to give it my all before I give up.

I'll save you the "treat it like a lady" bullshit. If you're coming on to your games, you have more pressing issues to deal with.

Zero Punctuation review: Prince of Persia Perspective

This week's "Lazy Wednesday" starts off with Yahtzee's perspective over the Prince of Persia Trilogy. In one of probably rare moods of video game affection, he goes through the good and bad of what he believes to be the components of his "ideal" game.

In all the Prince of Persia games, I've only completed the first one, Sands of Time. I thought the game purely rocked, and the story was stellar. But somehow I feel that the next two games might usher in a wave of crap that I wouldn't be able to wash off. I just hope Warrior Within is not like the Matrix Reloaded, putting me off so much that I don't want to endure through the third installment.

SBCG4AP Season 1 begins now!

Today's WiiWare update brings one of the few anticipated titles I've been looking forward to this year, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, brought to you by the folks at TellTale Games. While I've yet to check out the highly popular Sam and Max seasons, I'm really excited to playing a game centered around a flash cartoon that I've practically grew up.

If you haven't checked out HomeStar Runner yet, you're missing out on a really odd and quirky web phenomenon that has a very cultish following. While the site centers around the lovably dumb HomeStar Runner, its true star is Strong Bad, the rebellious "odd couple" to HomeStar. I highly recommend checking out the Strong Bad email section, where he takes actual emails to him and answers them in flash cartoon style.

In fact, it's probably good to check out a few of those "emails" before checking out the game, so that you're familiar with the characters and humor that you will most certainly stratch your head over without doing so. That being said, this game will cater to longtime followers - but with the reputation of TellTale Games behind it, SBCG4AP is looking to please new gamers as well.

FF CC: Ring of Fates...finished!

This week has been a good week for completing games. At a little over 12 hours, I've just completed the DS game Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates. What began as a simple game review turned out to be a game I just couldn't put down. Basically, if you enjoy the simple action/adventure game, you will enjoy Ring of Fates.

To be quite honest, this game is probably the first DS game I've ever played where I did not mind using my fingers to interface the touch screen. And that's extremely uncommon for me, since I almost always use a stylus for most other games. It's all thanks to the game's very intuitive control scheme, making all commands and controls within thumbs reach.

While the game is fairly short and most gameplay elements aren't used enough, the story is classic SquareEnix and is well told. If there should be any drive to play a game, it's for the story.

Metal Gear Solid 3...finished!

After 21 long hours, I can finally put Metal Gear Solid 3 behind me. Out of the three games, this one offered the most challenge thus far, with smarter enemy AI and more intriguing food and camouflage system. Not to mention the endless cut scenes...thankfully, the 4th installment remedies this with a much-needed pause feature for cut scenes.

Speaking of which, I've already begun my romp through Metal Gear Solid 4, and the controls are kicking my ass. Everything's all screwy, but I think I'll have to play it a few more times to manage. In the meantime, I'll add an extra "finished" stamp over the entire collection, just to cement the deal.

Zero Punctuation review: Ninja Gaiden II

And, while we're on the Zero Punctuation bandwagon, here's this week's Zero Punctuation review on Ninja Gaiden II. I'm labeling this as really NSFW simply because of one word: titties. That is all. Enjoy the review!

Zero Punctuation review: The E3 Trailer Park

Today's "Lazy Wednesday" is anything but. Since I missed out on last week's Zero Punctuation, I'll be making two posts. Here's last week's, all based on the entire E3 hoopla that everyone's been bitching and moaning about. Make no mistake...Yahtzee cuts no corners when he's delivering his final verdict over this year's travesty. NSFW, of course, but highly recommended viewing. Enjoy!

Drill Dozer...finished!

There have been many games that have escaped my radar, and for a long while Drill Dozer was one of them. This gem of a game didn't receive much notice in the gaming world, but for those that have played the game, it is one that offers the fun and challenge that most current-gen games lack.

While the main game itself isn't too long compared to today's video game standards, the real meat behind the title comes from its replay value. You have the option to purchase hidden levels within the game which cater to the extremely hardcore player. Combine that aspect to one of the most innovative gameplay elements in controlling a motorized drill, and you have the makings of the most challenging and pleasantly frustrating game to make you forget that there are other DS titles to play. Definitely worth the time and money, and highly recommended.

Taking the week off...

Hey guys.

If you're just wondering why there wasn't any post yesterday, it's because I'm pretty busy this week. So, I'm taking a short week off from posting to collect my thoughts, my articles, and my mind. Be back next week!

That car chase scene? Yeah, that was all me.

Until I've finished the first three Metal Gear Solid games (more than halfway through the third installment), free demos have been the only other source of quick entertainment on my PS3. I just love how something that is clearly only a small portion of the actual game can create hours of enjoyment, without any of the guilt that you actually paid for it. One of these was Stuntman Ignition.

I've never played any of the previous installments, but often heard of how they were constricted mini-games of following commands and nailing tricks and jumps to a T, as well as all the negative press about all the trial-and-error and repetition that goes into each game. There's much truth in this, as I experienced first hand last night when struggling to hitting all the tricks in one "scene" without striking out on too many missed attempts. In that half hour, I must have restarted the game 25-30 times before I got a complete run out of it, all the while slightly frustrated and peeved at every missed turn or jump.

But in the end, the real payoff is when you select that "instant replay" option. From there, you get to see a movie-like clip of yourself literally doing your own stunts. Thing that sounded asinine when the director tells you to perform them, like the small "hit the jeep" call while you're turning suddenly becomes wicked cool when you see it as a movie. "Holy crap, that car just knicked that jeep and knocked the guy off while he was turning! Awesome!!"

I couldn't help but play that replay 4-5 times after that. After all, it's a demo, so no record of this was being saved to my system anyways.And just recently, I saw the game in the bargain bin. To be the star of your own movies at a cheap price is something I'd pay for!

I understand that most people don't like the constant trial-and-error method that this game constantly pushes onto its players, but to have a final output comprised entirely of your own control gives you a satisfaction knowing that you did all that, without the risk of losing life and limb.

Zero Punctuation review: The Age of Conan

Today's "Lazy Wednesday" has Yahtzee reviewing the Age of Conan PC game. Like Yahtzee, I don't know enough about the Conan story to really relate to the game, nor justify a purchase to check it out. So what does Yahtzee do? He reviews it anyway! Enjoy the NSFW below!

Maintaining game focus and not being lost in the sea of monotony

With the variety of games that come out every week, it's no surprise that people never finish these games at all. So to really commit oneself to see a game through to the end means you have to sacrifice playing many other games in your library or on release. Some may shrug the challenge off with blind courage and boast that they can multi-task many games at once, but more often than naught will only half-ass all attempted games. I was once one of these people, but not anymore.

I dunno...maybe it's the short attention span people tend to exhibit when a ton of great games comes out, or maybe it's the relatively short jolt of excitement one aspect of a game's gameplay gives us that makes us wonder whether or not we'll enjoy doing this for another 20-30 hours.

Or maybe the games are becoming more and more bland that we've become numb to anything that appears to be remotely similar to each other in every possible way.

Chalk it up to me becoming an older and wiser gamer, but for my leisure time I've only got room for a couple of games at once. If that's the case, might as well finish them while I'm focused...right?

Zero Punctuation review: Alone in the Dark

Chalk this up to the even more lazy "Lazy Wednesdays," but here's this week's Zero Punctuation reviewing the latest Alone in the Dark game.

I was one of the few who played the earlier incarnations of the game before it became all dark and "Uwe Boll"-like, in particular Alone in the Dark 3. Personally, that was a good game with a fair amount of puzzle solving and action only when appropriate. You know what killed the series, right? They forgot the lantern.

These are games, not daytime soap operas...

"Loyalty" is too strong a word to use among gamers. Way too strong. Sure, people have their followings and groups where they can discuss their favorite all-time games, or discuss new tactics to bring to the online front for the next big FPS game...but being "loyal" to games or gamers? That's just pushing it to a dangerously-dedicated level.

Let's take Mega Man 9 from Capcom, for example. This is a game that seems to have mixed receptions on not only what platforms it is being released at (last I reported, it was WiiWare exclusive, but in fact it's for all three console platforms - don't feel like making a third post about incorrect news), but on its use of retro graphics for a completely new game. First of all, you have the console "loyalists" who believe that the game should have been for all consoles from the start (when it was initially announced for WiiWare only), deeming it unfair to others who do not have a Wii. Secondly, you have people crying about its graphics, feeling that it should look all nice and shiny if it's a completely new game.

Then, more recently, SquareEnix announces that Final Fantasy XIII will now be released on the XBox 360 as well. Again, console "loyalists" cried foul, saying that it should be exclusive to just one system instead of going multi-platform. Others felt that SquareEnix "betrayed" (yet another strong word) their fans by "selling out" to Microsoft and their monopolistic demands. Some fanboys (normally a term I want to dissolve, but in this case highly appropriate) have openly expressed their frustration and hatred toward this bit of news, up to the extent of boycotting their products.

But...won't you guys be still playing these games when they come out?

In my quest to become an ideal gamer, becoming unbiased towards any console system is a constant exercise in self-discipline. Way back in August 2007 when I started this blog, I didn't own a PS3 or XBox 360, but I never said I absolutely abhorred them; I just never saw any games I was intensely interested to warrant a purchase. Recently, I purchased a PS3 because I wanted to acquire Disgaea 3, which would come out later this year, as well as dive into Metal Gear Solid 4. I didn't get the system so I could watch Blu-Rays, or play my MP3s on it - I got it for the games, and I think that reason got lost somewhere in this generation of video game consoles.

I admit, most of my posts over the months have been on Wii titles, but that's only because I found most of their games highly entertaining - as should any gamer would agree. Over the months, my queue has increased towards more DS and PSP games, and now the PS3 - all of which have been game-driven. If I were a "console-whore," I would've wasted money on all systems, with no games to really justify my empty wallet - and no games would not make me a happy gamer. There's a reason why I called my blog Gameritis, y'know...

To those complaining about Mega Man 9: Capcom distinctly said the retro style was for its fans. If you don't like it, then you're obviously not in that category, so don't get the game.

To those complaining about FF XIII being released on XBox 350 as well: The game is still coming out on PS3. It shouldn't matter to you that they're also releasing on another console. I'd be more angry if the game actually moved from PS3 to 360. Then I'd be pissed. And to everyone that keeps saying "What if Zelda were on the 360?" - SquareEnix is not a console system developer, so that argument has no pull.

To people from both arguing parties: You can't deny the fact that by catering to a larger audience, company profits are more likely to increase. In other words, Capcom and SquareEnix like money. Don't you?

If you guys play the games regardless of all the video game politics, isn't that all that matters? There is no "loyalty," no "betrayal," and even no "hardcore" among players. Just a lot of gamers who enjoy playing games.

And if you don't like it? Well, you can always turn off your console.

Metal Gear Solid 2...finished!

In my quest to finish all things Metal Gear Solid before popping open my own copy of Metal Gear Solid 4, here's a late "finished" stamp for Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. I actually finished the game a week ago, but am finally reporting it now. Needless to say, there's a remarkable improvement in graphics and gameplay, and the intro is one to put into the books. While I didn't go shoot-everything-off-the-shelves nuts over the back-then-revolutionary interaction with inanimate objects, the different weapons and modes of play made playing the game all the more pleasant to progress through the story.

Since then, I've begun my third quest before the fourth installment, and already I've taken a couple of things for granted. For one, there's no cone of vision, leaving me to only rely on my own two eyes. Second, the camera's now free-roaming and not the fixed overhead view. This not only makes my view spin 360 degrees, but turns my stomach as well.

I believe Metal Gear Solid 3 will be my most challenging endeavor yet, but at the same time is the final hump to roll over before I'm fully up to date.

Zero Punctuation review: Lego Indiana Jones

The second review is on Lego Indiana Jones, with a bonus review on the latest Indiana Jones movie. While I still haven't seen the movie, the review is spoiler free, so you guys that still haven't watched the movie can see it with no issues. NSFW onward!

Zero Punctuation review: web comics

Because of the messed up schedule this week, today will be "Lazy Friday" with 2 Zero Punctuations today. The first seems to be aimed at web comics, with a few choice indirect jabs at certain artists. Must've been a personal thing, because there are a ton of other games that need reviewing. Oh well, NSFW below!

Back from AX!

Hey guys!

Technically speaking, I returned Monday, but needed the extra time to unwind. Now that I have, I can say that the convention was eventful for all the unintentional reasons. The only real Guest of Honor I was interested in was Solid Snake's voice, David Hayter. Although I didn't get his autograph, I still got a chance to talk to him and take a picture as well. I also got to get Disgaea character designer Harada Takehito's autograph, though. I also even surprisingly met up with VGCats creator Scott Ramsomair and got his autograph as well. Hell, even Dan Goodsell from Mister Toast was there as well!

I'll post up some pictures and more later this week, but for now, I need to get back to my regular rhetoric.

Gone to AX...

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of posts this week, but I forgot to mention that I'm currently staffing at AX this year. Regular posts will resume normal scheduling after next Tuesday, so come back next week.

UPDATE - MegaMan 9 confirmed ONLY for WiiWare

Boy, someone at Capcom needs to get their PR straightened up. Now they're staying it's only for WiiWare, not for all three consoles. Doesn't matter to me, since I'll be eagerly waiting with my Wii.

But what I don't get are the people that are bitching that it's only for WiiWare. If you're complaining, then either you don't have a Wii to care, or you believe that you can't live without awards and achievements. Can't people be happy just for the mere fact that it's a brand-new game coming out to reflect the fans of the series? What happened to playing the game and not caring where it is? This is almost as silly as the Bioshock PS3 talk or the Resident Evil 4 porting. Grow up, people!

Metal Gear Solid...finished!

The second game finished over the weekend was Metal Gear Solid.

Yes, you heard me...Metal Gear Solid. The PlayStation version. Released 10 years ago.

By a friend's recommendation, I've decided to play my way through the first 3 games before I pop open Metal Gear Solid 4...and I have to say, the game ages quite well. Sure, the graphics are 10 years old, and the movement is still reliant on the D-pad. But the great story telling and long cut scenes are still there, albeit looking like digital versions of Robot Chicken clips with their nodding heads and figure-like gestures and movements.

The reason I never really got through the first game when it game out was that I was paranoid - paranoid at how potentially good the AI in the game was for detecting me. It's a stealth game, after all, and I naturally assumed that if they're squarely in front of me 300 feet away, they'd still see my silhouette and detect me instantly. And I stopped playing before I realized that their scope of vision was limited to their cone on the radar. Stupid me.

But now that I finished the first game, I have a more detailed background on the characters involved, and now one step closer to finally playing the fourth installment.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney...finished!

Today's a double-whammy as I complete two...count 'em, two games over the weekend! The first of these is Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. After quite a lengthy final case, the fourth installment of this series (first for the Apollo series), for me, took off on a great start. Sure, the addition of a new interface to find out liars is a little out there, but the storytelling is still top-notch. It's also a bummer to see Phoenix Wright step down from the Defense podium, but he has had a decent run on the first trilogy, and has now earned the rightful place as mentor for the next generation of defense attorney.

Here's hoping the next Apollo series delivers more on compelling cases, quirky witnesses, and more answers to the questions brought up at the end of this fine game.

MegaMan 9 going retro and coming to all three systems!

I'm going to try my best not to use tired old cliches when describing my excitement at the moment. I just can't believe that Capcom is releasing a new MegaMan game on WiiWare in traditional 8-bit format. This news is so unbelievably awesome that I still can't believe it. All I can say is that other companies should follow their fans more than their guts. I'm looking at you, Konami, and your Castlevania fighter - the news was such a negative shocker that this is the only nod I'll give it.

Being such a fan of MegaMan in the past (2 and 3 are the most prominent in my mind), I just can't wait until I get to measure up the difficulty for myself to see if it's worthy to be up in the ranks of quality MegaMan games.

[Update]

Okay, so it's going to be released on all three systems. Good for Capcom. The more people exposed to the goodness of MegaMan retro, the better! At least we'll know that graphics won't be a deciding factor in which system to get it for...

Zero Punctuation review: Metal Gear Solid 4

Y'know, it's ironic. I've dedicated every Wednesday as "Lazy Wednesday," but I usually post up the Zero Punctuation review fairly early in the morning. Go figure!

Anyways, this week's game is Metal Gear Solid 4. While I recently purchased the PS3 bundle with the game, the game is still under wraps while I make it a goal to try to play through the first 3 to get the gist of the main story so far. I think I'm through halfway of the first one - much better progress than my earlier attempts years ago when I was paranoid of EVERYTHING in the game.

NSFW and ready for you below!

The World Ends With You...Story Complete!

I know that not long ago I finished the game, but I'd just like to make it known that, in terms of storyline, I have fully completed The World Ends With You. This not only includes the main story, but the extra story mission that appears after the game that is completely optional, but reveals much answers to questions that were left from the main story. And I have fully completed it!

Sure, there are still more pins to evolve and master, and also my noise (enemy) list still is not 100% complete, but for a game that practically redefined "replay" I think I deserve a much needed break from the 116+ hours I've invested in this game.

Look what's arrived at my door...

If you've been a faithful reader of my blog, you know that I've often ranted on Sony and their poorly promoted system. Even now, after almost reaching its second year in the market, there are only a handful of games I'm considering to play on it. But now, after all that time, I have finally bought myself a PS3 first before an XBox 360 - mostly because of the Metal Gear Solid 4 Bundle.

Why did I buy it? I never really played the Metal Gear series, so the game wasn't really a selling point. But the system was twice the size of the current model out there (only 40GB), backwards compatible, and included the DualShock 3 controller. All that with a $100 rebate from my cell phone added up to a justified purchase.

So yeah...guess I have a PS3. Just adjusting to the things I can do now, but mostly just downloading anything without a price tag at the Playstation Store to play around with. But bear in mind that most of my game purchases that I plan will be those titles that are Sony exclusive - which includes Ratchet and Clank, and Hot Shots Golf. And, of course, there's still Disgaea 3 coming out later this year. But we'll see how long free demos will last me before I succumb to my first $59.99 purchase.

Zero Punctuation review: Haze

It's "Lazy Wednesday" again, and Yahtzee's on the prowl with his review of Haze, so have your cake and eat it too!

NSFW below!

Freeloader not working with Wii update v3.3

So the latest Wii update's true purpose beneath the transfer of Miis to the Mii Parade (seriously?) is to disable the Freeloader and Twilight Princess hack, huh? I can't say that I'm too pleased, being a Freeloader owner myself and having just recently purchased Milestone Shooter Collection from Japan not too long ago. But then again, Nintendo's only doing their job.

What I find really amusing is how people are hating Nintendo for doing this, and are ready to sell their Wiis and not standing by Nintendo. Why? Did Nintendo create a name for itself purely through hackable hardware and copied games? Because if they entered the business doing that, and then pulled a 180, then I understand the frustration.

But we're talking about a company that has created fun and challenging games for many years; a company that has created so many iconic video game characters that are recognized worldwide. So they're telling me that they would dismiss all of this because they don't want people hacking their system?

Oh sure, there's the argument for playing import games as well, me included. But if you're a true gamer, you'd find other ways to play these games. For me, I'd just find another person who hasn't updated their Wii and play on their system. It's not terribly troublesome if you're only the seasonal importer that has 1-2 games. Hell, I have 4 import PS2 games, but no way of playing them. I'm not disappointed or anything - I'm just hopeful that one day I will, but I'm not aching for lack of playing them.

Plus, from what I hear, Datel supposedly claimed to replace Freeloader disks if an update happens to block out the disk. So we'll see if Datel follows up on this claim, but in the meantime, all import purchases will have to be on hold.

And please...if you're really leaving Nintendo for such a ridiculous reason, please sell your Wii to a true Nintendo fan and just leave already.

First Impressions: Guitar Hero: On Tour

I just happened to be at Toys 'R Us when they ran a small promo displaying Guitar Hero: On Tour this past Saturday, and while initial skepticism kept me walking past, the Guitar Hero in me brought me back. It would be a great disservice to you guys and myself as a gamer if I didn't give any game a chance before drawing conclusions. So I gave it a shot. My first impressions? Not too bad.

Let's ignore the fact that you have to purchase a single-use peripheral to play the game for the moment. My first reaction was that I was playing Jam Sessions with limited input and freedom. Thanks to games like Brain Age, holding the DS on its side doesn't feel unnatural at all, and pretty soon I was comfortable playing. Since it's a touch screen with no resistance, I sometimes wasn't sure if I was strumming the strings correctly, but there's little room for error - I mean, it's a small touch screen after all. Audio is a bit lacking in strength, and definitely warrants use of headphones. And despite its use of 4 buttons instead of 5, there is an expert option which, I presume, is harder than the rest.

As for the gaudy peripheral? I can't say I object, since I did purchase a DS paddle for Arkanoid DS and Space Invaders Extreme. I only presume that there will be much more games to utilize this device because if not, then this is truly a one-time-use purchase.

Overall, the game does what it claims - gives you Guitar Hero in a portable format. You still feel like you're playing a guitar (even though you feel like a cross-eyed dope strumming on the right side while looking at notes on the left). Unlike the DS paddle, however, it's only good for one game, so it's not a purchase I'm willing to make.

Virus busting with my wife

Dr. Mario is a great puzzle game, one of the few games that can truly kill a lot of spare time. When the WiiWare version was released, it became the first WiiWare title that I downloaded, and I'm very glad I did. Though I still haven't tried online (I still suck pretty bad), I've played the hell out of single-player mode, but not much of the "Virus Buster" mode, where up to 4 people can play in a new format of Dr. Mario. That changed 2 days ago.

I really half-assed the presentation to my wife, telling her that you just point to a piece and drag it where you want to place it. With that, I handed her the WiiMote and we went at it from level 1 on Easy. An hour later, we just passed level 20 and still kept going.

Sometimes I think my wife is a hardcore gamer deep down inside. I just need to find the right trigger to spark that personality within. I came close with Dr. Mario, as I have in the past with Boom Blox, Mario Kart Wii, and Chulip. The latest thing I got going for me is Wii Fit, so we'll see how that goes.

Zero Punctuation review: Console Rundown

The summer heat doesn't make this week's Lazy Wednesday any easier, since this week's review seems to be just another console rundown. Though Yahtzee makes some pretty valid points, and also addresses the "graphics too real" issue. Oh, and the review's a short one today, with shameless plugs taking up the latter third of the video. Still NSFW, so enjoy!

Wii Fit and the question

So we finally bought a Wii Fit, since we missed out on its launch during our trip to Japan. Though our exercise area was limited, we were able to get about half an hour each on exercise, and overall it seems to be pretty fun. Really broke out a sweat.

More importantly, it has finally confirmed what I've been saying all this time - that my wife is not fat!

I understood when my weight was measured that I was labeled overweight. I knew this before Wii Fit, and seeing it on screen didn't surprise me. But when my wife stepped on, she was labeled normal. No big surprise to me, since that's what I've been telling her every time.

Now, if she asks me if she looks fat, I'll point to the Wii Fit for my answer.

Zero Punctuation review: Oblivion

Lastly, here's Yahzee's review on Oblivion. Really, out of all three reviews, I only truly cared about The World Ends With You...but all three video reviews are all equally funny. NSFW-ed and ready for your viewing pleasure!

Zero Punctuation review: The World Ends With You

Second up, the game I've been enjoying for 100+ hours, The World Ends With You. Personally, I think Yahtzee's own hatred of JRPGs overshadowed the potential of enjoying the unique gameplay.

Does that mean I don't like the video? Hell no, he says his mind and his review, all with the same humor and wit we've all come to know and enjoy. I just enjoy the game, and Yahtzee hates it. NSFW, and ready to play.

Zero Punctuation review: Painkiller

Let's go through this systematically, okay? Since I missed about 3 weeks worth of Zero Punctuation and Yahtzee's rantings, we'll go through this in the order I missed. And yes, this will be a "Lazy Thursday" this week - I don't know what happened yesterday.

First up, Painkiller - a FPS game where you get to "kill tons of dudes," as Yahtzee so eloquently puts it. NSFW, enjoy!

Confirmed! Beyond Good and Evil sequel coming!

I think this year's the year for video game surprises, and one of them has to be the return of Jade in the "Beyond Good and Evil" sequel that's coming up. Sure, the trailer leaves lots to the imagination, but just seeing Pey'j in extreme detail is already giving me high hopes on what I hope will be a great continuation of the story from the first game.

Back from Japan!

Sorry for the long delay, but I'm finally back from Japan and I think all my jet lag has passed through my system. All in all, my third trip to the Land of the Rising Sun brought some goods and bads to my life:

Goods:

-Saw Shibuya with a closer eye, recognizing all familiar scenes from The World Ends With You.
-Got to check out the Tsukiji Fish Market, and ate at one of the restaurants nearby.
-Ate at a traditional ramen cart (take that, Yoshinoya!).
-Scored a copy of the Club-Nintendo-exclusive Super Mario Galaxy Soundtrack.
-Bought a white GameCube controller with its extra-long cord.
-Grabbed a paddle controller attachment for my DS, since they're so damn hard to find.
-Bought Milestone Shooter Collection for the Wii (though can't seem to get it working with my Freeloader).

Bads:

-Lost my digital camera, along with the pictures I took of Shibuya (truly sucks).
-Rained one day, directly in the middle of the trip.
-Humidity worked its dehydrating magic on all of us.
-Hotel smelled like wet Play-Doh.
-Suffered through a 50-minute train delay after a long day of walking.
-Realized halfway during the trip where the internet room was.
-Never found Super Potato, nor directions on where it was located.

There's a bunch more goods and bads, but those were the most prominent ones I remember. All in all, the trip was still a relaxing one, and has satisfied my Japanese need for now. I think the one thing that still burns me up was the whole "lost camera" incident. I mean, I took a lot of good Shibuya pictures, and was ready to write an entire post on the comparisons between the game's locations and its real-life counterparts from a first-hand experience, but all of that was lost. And despite going back to the scene of the crime 2-3 times over and checking with Information (I learned to say "Digital Camera-o nakushita," which means "I lost my digital camera" from their books department), I never found it. Maybe some tourist stole it, because I still would like to believe that Japanese people are more honest and would've turned it in.

Okay, enough of that. There's a ton of news I missed out, so I gotta get cracking on posts!