White Knight Chronicles - hands on

From a company that brought us Professor Layton and Rogue Galaxy, Level 5's upcoming PS3 game White Knight Chronicles was giving me high hopes. What I found was a disappointing game.

For the record, I just jumped into an abandoned station where I'm already wandering around the environment looking for enemies to fight...and I did. Slowly.

First off, you have all your attacks laid out before you in these little rectangular buttons, which you can select by pressing left and right on the d-pad. Once you select one, you can attack an enemy. I don't know if it was just me, but attacks felt like they had a 1-2 second delay before executing. To add to the waiting time, after every attack you must wait for the circular guage to refill again before issuing another delayed attack.

In any case, battles have now become more sluggish than it needs to be. I had to idle my time running around in place, just to wait until my meter's full before getting my attack in. While this might be fine for people that have the time, I certainly don't.

I'm sorry, Level 5, but if the gameplay doesn't capture my attention, then it's not meant to be.

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Post-E3: Destructoid robot spotted

Found Destructoid on the scene, right before dishing out a heaping serving of whoop-ass. That attendee didn't see it coming...

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Returned from E3, still tired and weary...

Hey guys, just want to let you know I still have a few more E3 posts to put up, but resting up big time in the meantime.

Ghostbusters - hands on

Who doesn't dream of using a proton pack to catch ghosts after watching Ghostbusters? Playing the game does just that, and more.

Handling the proton pack is as fun as it sounds. Not only do you get to shoot your own particle beam, but you can perform your own wanton destruction, and even make your own burn marks on the wall!

Taking down ghosts requires you to wear them out first before you're able to wrangle them in your beam. Once you do, it's a simple matter of wrestling with the ghost until it's over the trap to suck 'em in. And even that's not a guarantee - you need to keep them steady over the trap, or else they may wriggle free from the trap's beam, and you have to wrestle them back over it again.

While it' true that the "cast" is controlled by the computer, it never really feels artificial. In fact, you really feel like youakre working as a team. There would be times when there are three beams locked on one ghost, and it wasn't until I helped out that the ghost made it over the trap. Other times, they were okay fending for themselves while I was on my own.

The humor wasn't over the top funny, but was enough for the game itself to give me a chuckle every once in a while. The cutscenes weren't in the "uncanny valley," and sometimes were comparible to the movies.

Hey, to have a Ghostbusters game with all original cast members reviving their roles is good enough for any fan of the movies to purchase this game and play it at least once.

Wii Sports Resort - hands on

You can't avoid Wii Sports Resort when dealing with the Wii Motion Plus. And you just can't avoid the similarities between the free pack-in game and Resort. What you REALLY can't ignore, however, is the much improved controls thanks to the WM+.

I've tried two of the most popular games on the floor - Dueling Swords and Table Tennis - to get a feel for both accuracy and precision, and what I got was just that.

The sword wielding felt quite natural, feeling accurate in every hit I landed. In my best moment, I took 4 timely swings, quickly knocking my opponent in the water - a quick left, right, left, and right blow.

The table tennis game was where I really tested the WM+ limits. With some ping-pong experience under my belt, I mopped the floor with my opponent at 6-1. The amazing thing was that the sensor recognized every spin I applied to the ball, feeling absolutely precise and natural.

Color me impressed and sold.

Critter Crunch - hands on

I find myself getting more and more download-only games lately, so checking out the DLC section is a must. Critter Crunch caught my eye as a good potential puzzler. Gameplay follows a specific food chain that you need to feed the creatures, done with this weird little monster that flicks its tongue to grab and spit out the creatures.

If you're a fan of Magical Drop 3 or Money Exchange, this puzzler would be right up your alley.

God of War 3 - hands on

After an almost 2-hour wait (wtf), I finally got my 15 minutes with Sony's big game of the day, God of War 3. It's really just a God of War game on the PS3 with very crisp graphics!

The demo had me pulling a cyclop's eye out, disemboweling a minotaur, and shoving a beast's own horn into its own skull. There was even a close-up shot of Kratos forceably tugging someone's head off! Everything you like about God of War is here, and fans will get the full experience March 2010.

Where's Waldo?

Apparently wandering around at E3...

Sin and Punishment 2 - hands on

Rail shooters get a bum rap these days. The moment anyone mentions the word "rail," people think poorly of the game.

I personally think that, after playing games that require too much thinking, a rail shooter is a gamer's way of relaxing the mind in a casual and arcade-y sort of way.

This is why I hope games like Dead Space Extraction and Sin and Punishment 2 make it big here when they're released.

The folks at Treasure must've realized the huge sales for their virtual console release, and brought the fans what they wanted. Even the small trophy nod in Smash Bros Brawl might've been a sign or, better yet, an asset from this game. But if you enjoyed the first game, expect more of the same in this sequel!

Muramasa - hands on

Finally, I get my hands on Muramasa (misspelled it yesterday, my bad), and what a game it is. The graphics are simply gorgeous, and I often found myself stopping a lot just to appreciate the layered backgrounds and subtle nods to the artistic style.

The gameplay's execution is as smooth as the graphics, with attacks that flow naturally like an action movie. And it wasn't any button mashing - I knew what I was performing, and everything played out beautifully.

Plus, since it's Vanillaware, there are always the little things that give the game so much character - the way your character sheath their sword away, the small glance at you while they run forward, the swaying of the grass realistically. Every moment reminds me of their other awesome game, Odin Sphere. A definite must-buy on the Wii.

Meeting Kotaku's editor, Brian Crecente

While waiting in line to enter E3, I spotted the clearly recognizable goatee of Kotaku's own Brian Crecente! Got to chat it up with him about casual and mobile games before the doors opened, which was very cool!

And yes, I'm smiling. Not an editor-of-a-highly-read-gaming-blog smile, but just a meh-gaming-blog smile.

On my way to E3...

...I passed by a familiar scene that Heroes fans should recognize - the fountain was in the end of season 1. I've seen it a number of times before, but thought it would be nice to share...enjoy!

Playing with Mario - a detailed story

[UPDATE] Now with 30% more photos!

I decided to return to Nintendo's booth in the last 20 minutes to check out other titles I missed, one of which included the New Super Mario Bros Wii, when who did I see playing? None other than Charles "it's-a-me, Mario" Martinet, with three other Nintendo floor reps!

My lingering didn't go unnoticed when soon one of the reps asked if I wanted to play - to which I admittingly asked for a picture with Charles. Being the very kind man he is (I've met him once before in E3 '06 - the last good E3), Charles and I snapped a picture together.

It was then when I noticed one of the Nintendo reps mysterious went missing. After my photo op, they and Charles were back to playing more Mario with just 3 people. Not forgetting my original intent and seeing the opportunity of a lifetime, I replied to the earlier request and said, "I still would like to play."

Once we were all set, we were selecting levels.

Nintendo rep: "Which level do you wanna play, Charles? How about level 3?"

Charles: "How about...level 8!"

NR: "Are you sure? That level's pretty hard..."

Before we knew it, we were playing the sandy levels of level 8! My player ended up to be the Yellow Toad, while Charles played as Luigi (my fave character, btw). And the rep was right - level 8 is hard, especially when you have 4 people trying to just navigate through the sand geysers and perilless pits. The best moments were when bad things happened to Charles - he expressed his misfortune with his Mario voice going "oh-no" or "why'dyou do that for," which made everyone else laugh.

Level 8 proved too much for our shenanigans ( there was a lot of jumping on each other's heads and pit falling), so we went back to a simpler level 3. By now, a japanese couple also recognize the celebrity playing the game, taking pictures of Charles focused on the screen.

There were moments when it felt like Charles was giving the play-by-play, in his Mario voice, no less! At one time, trying to grab a big coin was a 4-player-jumping-merry-go-round affair, which ended with me snatching the big prize at the end. In another moment, Charles was verbally expressing his intent to secure a Yoshi, to which I silently conceded in pursuing just to here him do his Mario "woohoo"!

Finally, we all passed Level 3, and Charles went back to greet more fans that showed up. By then, it was 6 pm, the day was over, and I left Nintendo's booth happy.

End of E3, day 2

The day's over for the second day here, and there are still posts I'll need to get done today before I sleep. I've forgotten how tiring it is to walk the floors here...

Before I take off to grab some grub, though, I'll leave on this note: I got a chance to meet Charles "it's-a-me, Mario" Martinet! Not only that, but I got to play with him and two other Nintendo reps a couple rounds of New Super Mario Bros Wii! The kicker? He kept doing Mario's "oh-no" voice whenever he messed up! What a great way to close the day! Will post up picture of us together later (sorta wished I had the right setting on my camera at the time, though).

Split Second - hands on

When the racing genre is done to death, where else can you turn to to refresh the game? By blowing up the track, of course!

While other games use powerups and weapons, Split Second gives you the ability to blow up the course to take out the competition, sometimes altering the entire course altogether!

While the concept is interesting, it appears to be the only thing going for it now. I enjoy the hub located underneath the car, though, minimizing the need to search the screen for your data.

Moo

While I collect my notes and stamina, here's a large cow from Natsume's booth.

Splinter Cell Conviction - impressions

Seeing what can be done in this game makes me wonder why I never played any of these games before. First thing I enjoyed was the LKP - the "last known place" - that enemies will pursue, marked by a sillouette. This way, you can react to enemies' reactions appropriately.

This and being able to mark your enemies for quick kills is making this game more fast-paced than ever.

Lego Rock Band, not as lame as I thought

If there's a stage and rock band, you can be sure I'll be there...even if it's a lego version.

While an obvious reskin of the Rock Band franchise, Lego Rock band will still have completely new content never before released in previous versions, as well as a new challenge mode strangely similar to Rock Band Unplugged.

In addition, you get the fun of lego customization in this game as well.

And don't let the family-friendly theme dissuade you - there's still songs here from Foo Fighters and Vampire Weekend for others. At an expected 45-song game, Lego Rock Band will still have time to add more by its holiday release.

The Conduit - hands on

Since Halo, I've never found a good first person shooter to be comfortable with. Which is why I believe The Conduit from High Voltage Software will inspire me again of the virtues of fully customizable controls.

After playing a quick match with just the default controls, I was surprised how well I played for the first time! And to think that I can get better if I spent some time tweaking and adjusting is a definite plus!

PSP Go! - hands on

Let's just say it - Sony pulled a "Nintendo."

The system's the same as the PSP internally, and so obviously, there's no second analog stick.

The one and onlu analog stick is expectedly awkward, but the design is nice and light. As others have reported, the floor models don't allow closure, so no insights on that aspect. the smaller screen is a bummer, but at least the resolution hasn't suffered.

Zelda: Spirit Tracks - hands on

If you played Phantom Hourglass on the DS, you're already in familiar territory with Spirit Tracks. It's more of the same, which is not a bad thing at all.

While the train aspect is a bit weird, I certainly understand the reasoning behind it. In PH, the game required you to control the boat's direction as well as attack power. Limiting the travel component to tracks allows more focus on attacks and other game aspects, relieving the user of excess controls. And I'm sure the train's whistle sounds much better without the convention noise.

Everything else is typical Zelda fare, and will be a nice game to idle time with until the next Zelda Wii game.

Red Steel 2 - hands on

Never played the original, but if this wasn't how Red Steel functioned before, then I'm frightened...because this one feels pretty good.

For all it promotes, the Wii Motion Plus (or WM+) does its job nicely. While I still get the feeling that the actions are set, the orientation is pretty accurate. The controls are quick to grasp, and it wasn't long until I was parrying and side-stepping my way through enemies.

Of course, just like E3 '06, the barrage of lights like to screw up the Wii-mote sensors, and the Red Steel rep was kind enough to remind me to point it at the screen every once in a while when he sensed my frustration. It's good to know they're trained to acknowledge the issue.

My only complaint would have to be the camera issue. I constantly forgot that my aiming and turning are solely dependant on my on-screen cursor.

Red Steel is shaping up to be something good for the Wii, so here's hoping that, with a little more fine-tuning, the game will finally get its moment to shine again.

And, for the record, the guy ahead of me played as if he were driving railroad spikes.

Flipnote Studio coming summer

Got a chance to finally check out this free DSi app coming summer. No confirmation yet if this will be the updated version that's been out in Japan, but at least it's comig soon!

Who you gonna call?

That's right.

POM to the rescue!

Before I realized that I forgot to bring water from my hotel room, I just got handed a complimentary bottle of PomX on the street! Thank you street PR!!

Will still need to pick up some cheaper-than-convention-food grub before arriving, though, so will stop by Famima on the way.

Leaving to glorious E3

DSi...check. PSP...check. Camera...check. Everything fully charged...check.

So begins my one-man blogging team! Be sure to catch all my updates here AND at akiba-station.com!! I'm off!

Customized E3 room keys...classy!

I heard that hotels were customizing hotel room key cards...but I didn't know MY hotel would do it too! Freaken sweet!

Landed in LA, Pictobitted out.

Got somewhat of a rest on the flight, but not without getting in some more Pictobits gameplay. The game certainly demands a bit more agility in getting the pieces cleared, without cluttering your screen with random bits that get in the way.

The art format of the entire game makes for pleasant eye candy, even when you just peruse the menu system. The retro character reveals are just as exciting, and is enough fuel to plow onto the next level. I can see a lot of hours plunked down into this game already.

In any case, I'm heading to the hotel now to rest up for tomorrow.

Off to E3!

This will be the beginning of many weird random mobile posts that'll spawn from my Blackberry during my time at E3. As of right now, I'm awaiting my flight to LA to attend the show.

Yes, I have missed the first day of the show, but it was for unforeseen circumstances. In any case, I'll be attending the second and thrid days, and hopefully I won't be missing much. As you can tell, I have some idle time at the power station at the airport to charge up my necessities, as well as downloading Pictobits before leaving the house unit.

I'll be periodically updating my blog whenever I take noteworthy pictures, so keep checking Gameritis every now and then!

Gameritis will be at E3 this year!

I'll be down in LA next week, covering the 2nd and 3rd days of E3! And while other sites will bring you the standard news each day, I'll be covering the seedier side of E3!

Well, not really. But you can be certain that I'll be doing a lot of mobile blogging throughout the convention!

Also, I'll be accepting questions on what YOU guys want to find out on the showroom floor. Just be sure to post them at the Akiba-Station post that will be up soon!

Don't know what Akiba-Station is? Check out the Links section and check 'em out!

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Zero Punctuation review: Duke Nukem Forever

Had Duke Nukem Forever came out, then the world would fantastically implode. Hell, if it makes an announcement during E3, I fear that I would develop irritable bowel syndrome and fucken consistently shit in my pants for the rest of the convention. What could be better than announcing the game's impending release?

Why, having Yahtzee time travel to the unforeseeable future and make a review of the marvelous game, of course!

Do I really need to say it's NSFW since it's a Yahtzee review of Duke Nukem Forever? No? Then enjoy!

Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon is in my possession

The art style of Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon has been a proverbial thorn in my anime-loving side, having that slightly-weirdly-realistic look to an otherwise anime-ish quality to it. Is it just me, or do all their eyes look like they're upside down, with those prominantly-short eyelashes that stick out of that bottom eyelid like 5 o'clock stubble?

Aside from that, the game has been one that I'm starting to take some interest...at least in what all the hooplah is all about here. So here it is, waiting for me to rip right into it and see how it works.

Well, it'll occupy my queue, at the very least. First impressions will soon follow.

Zero Punctuation review: Velvet Assassin

I really have nothing to say with Yahtzee's review of Velvet Assassin. I truly don't.

And that, my friends, is the true essense of "Lazy Wednesdays."

And with that, here's the NSFW video below...enjoy!

Alien Hominid invades my home for cheap

Alien Hominid was one of those games with a nice rags-to-riches story, of a budding develper producing a flash game online which gained popularity, resulting in a console game deal sold on GameCube and PS2. But, being a title with very little marketing, the game proved to be too elusive on retail game shelves (moreso with the GameCube version). Since then, you'd be extremely hard-pressed to find one, rarer still in an unopened box.

Who would have speculated, however, that 5 years from the game's release that a copy of the game would bathe me in its abducting light, anal probe me as if to say "hello," and plop itself right before me?

Okay, none of that happened. But it DID probe my wallet of about $13 after shipping. Though it would've been cool if the game beamed itself on my table.

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Zero Punctuation review: Valkyria Chronicles

To every anime-loving bastard like myself, there's an absolute opposite - in this case, it's Yahtzee. Every time any game with any trace of anime or Japanese references falls into Yahtzee's reviews, it gets scrutinized for the graphics and art style. I understand that anime is not everyone's cup of tea, and even I have my own reservations on heroes that haven't passed puberty but can kick any adult's ass. I just await for the one title that outshines its Japan roots with its awesome gameplay. Maybe that'll change Yahtzee's mood.

Then again, maybe not.

Until then, check out his NSFW review of Valkyria Chronicles. Enjoy!

Pata-Pata-Patapon 2 marches its way to my home

In a pleasant surprise, Patapon 2 arrives at my house, in all its empty-case glory. Sure, you know the voucher is there for the full game, but it's sorta odd to be given a plastic-sealed case you know is empty.

On the other hand, no constant changing of UMDs makes it all the more easier to change between games, so I'm all for the new format if this is where Sony is heading with the PSP2.

Zero Punctuation review: Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

If you really think about it, my "Lazy Wednesday" posts are nothing but. I come here, every morning, just to view Yahtzee's rants and witty comments about the game-victim-of-the-week, and try to think up of something clever to say to present the video here on my blog for your viewing pleasure.

Well, I'm not gonna do it this time! I don't care if you DO play Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena! You can certainly be sure that I won't be posting the videos down below like this again.

And you can be definitely certain I won't remind you that these videos are NSFW, and to enjoy them.


................................

Whew...ranting about not wanting to post is tiring.

Y'know what? Forget what I said. That took more brainpower than what I usually use in a day. Going to go rest my hed b4 n-e-ding hapins 2 my dot prosses...

Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier (whew), and Atlus packaging

After much debate and consideration, I've finally decided to follow through and buy Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier. Apart from the female eye candy you receive from just about every attack you perform in the game, the gameplay does provide a nice over-the-top battle system that makes you feel like you're dishing out more damage than you truly are. Presentation is everything, and the ridiculous damage counters you get make you truly feel like a badass. Plus, the overall game feels like a nicely dated RPG, around the time when graphics weren't such a big deal, and you could get away with a puzzle here and there without them overpowering the game or story.

What I found quite interesting was the subtle change in box art. It's nice to clearly see that Atlus helped publish this title, but do you notice exactly where their logo appears on the box?

The picture, this time from the instruction manual, is cleverly obscured by the game's title.

If you don't have eyes and cannot make out what's being covered up, here's the japanese box as a reference.

Amusingly, this is probably the only time Atlus decided to censor Kaguya's hush puppies. I'm sure Marketing had a hard time trying to push out (hehe) the cover art through NOA's filter.

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DSi protection - I has it!

So I finally got screen protectors to cover up my DSi. All I need is a good case, and I'm fully set and mobile!

Zero Punctuation review: Siren Blood Curse

It's "Lazy Wednesday" once again, and Yahtzee's back this week to review Siren Blood Curse, a horror game in downloadable mini-chunks on the PS3.

Just lemme slap on the whole "NSFW" tag on this baby, and we'll be all set to go.

*slap*

NSFW!

Enjoy!

Gameritis Site Update: New Links Section

To the couple of you people that check this site out, I've now (finally) added a links section, where I'll be adding my own personal links of places you should check out as well. Located right below the "Old Rants" section, you can check out my friend's awesome anime-everything Akiba-Station site, where you'll also find my article contributions under the pen-name GameOrDie.

Also, if you want to view some messed up web comics, then Hopeless Empty Abyss comes highly recommended. And if you want to see what other people eat around the world GPS-style, Munchmaze will serve as your visual guide.

Please check back often, as this site AND links section continue to grow!

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Ultimate Shooting Collection comes home.

A while back, when I was blinded with hope of the possibility to play import Wii titles without modding my system with the Freeloader, I ambitiously purchased Milestone Shooter Collection to play at home. Back then (around June), I assumed that the game will never make it to the States, so the prospect of playing the game at all was enticing.

However, that excitement was soon marred by the Freeloader, which didn't hold itself accountable for any updates Nintendo would do to lock out non-party software, immediately making it less than a piece of shit and leaving me high and dry with an import game that I will never play.

Fast-forward to today, when I find out that not only was the game picked up and released in the US under the title Ultimate Shooter Collection, but that it had been done late January of this year. Now, after many months and a good discount later, I have a playable copy of the game in my hands.

To think that it's been almost a year since I wanted to play this game...

[UPDATE] Want to know how brief a window I had with Milestone Shooter Collection? I reported my purchase of the import back in June 2nd, 2008, and the Freeloader was locked out in June 18th of that same year. Mutha-

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Little Big Planet's free Creator's Pack

Little Big Planet recently released a free Creator's Pack for download, giving creators three new tools - an infinite spawn point, a tetherless jetpack, and invisible bolts. While the infinite spawn point and tetherless jetpack are all quite awesome updates, it's the invisible bolts that take the cake for me. Being able to make them invisible makes floating platforms and rotating objects even more believable.

Looks like I'll be getting creative again real soon.

Zero Punctuation review: Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.

This "Lazy Wednesday" has Yahtzee reviewing Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X., and frankly, I could care less. About the game. The review is still funny, but leaves me scratching my head.

I think the chances that Yahtzee enjoys a game largely depend on whether it's a recognizable title. Because I hardly bat an eye for the game above (not gonna type out the name again, too many periods), does it mean that it's a sleeper hit? Well, considering that they don't complicate the controls and gameplay too much is probably a plus, huh?

Anyways, NSFW goodness below...enjoy!

Rhythm Heaven...finished!

After much tapping on the screen, I've completed through all possible mini-games in Rhythm Heaven, and gotten a good amount of gold medals to pound a "finished" stamp on this title.

While there are a couple of mini-games that had me pulling my hair a number of times, the game as a whole is still a worthwhile experience, and one that shouldn't be missed by any music gamer.

And don't let all those nay-sayers dissuade you from a purchase because of the English localization in the songs. It's only for a handful of games, and, while one or two are a pain to hear, the music is still tap-rific. Plus, most of the other mini-games retained their Japanese audio tracks anyways.

A must-tap title that will garner much replay value long after you finish the game, Rhythm Heaven is an awesome game-on-the-go!

Zero Punctuation review: Madworld

I guess you could call anything but today "lazy," with today being the day of reckoning, or tax deadline to some. Thankfully, mine was finished...um...just now, which fills me with enough rage to take out some people in Madworld. But it turns out violence isn't all that Yahtzee sees in this week's review.

You'd think that a game that finally glorifies violence on the Wii would see enough attention. Well, that's partly the case - now, people find the game too over the top. Then, amongst the bickering people, are those that want to know how the game plays and feels. That's where Yahtzee comes in.

NSFW, obviously. Enjoy!

Paying one price, getting multiple games

Which would you rather do...pay for a retail game that will give decent replay value for full price, or getting about 4-5 mini-games that you download through your console that will give you 4-5 times as much replay value?

Such is the question that has occasionally been popping up ever since more and more quality games have been appearing across consoles. Games like Bonsai Barber and Bit.Trip Beat on the Wii are showing some unique gameplay fair on the Wii, while Flower and Noby Noby Boy grace the PS3. Even Art Style Aquia on the DSi is a very decent and addicting puzzler, and that was only 500 points, or $5. And using the free 1000 points with the DSi purchase, it was an even greater incentive to acquire.

Let's run down the numbers, shall we?

Bonsai Barber (Wii) = 1000 points = $10
Bit.Trip Beat (Wii) = 600 points = $6
Flower (PS3) = $9.99
Noby Noby Boy (PS3) = $4.99
Art Style Aquia (DSi) = 500 points = $5
Grand Total = $35.98

Typical video game = $49.99 to $59.99, before tax.

At worst, you save yourself about $14 from your typical Wii title and get 5 games across 3 consoles. At best, you save $24 from your typical PS3 or Xbox 360 title. Not to mention no extra boxes or discs to fiddle with.

And you wonder why people still complain about the price of DLC games.

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Hammerin' Hero, along with a GameStop story

It's not uncommon to pre-order a game at GameStop, whether it is for a game you're looking forward to, or whether it's for the extras that come with it. For me, it was a little of both.

But when they tell you that you're the only one that placed a pre-order for Hammerin' Hero, that sorta puts you in your place. Was I the only one interested in this game? Was I the only one interested in the free extras? Was I the only Atlus faithful that visited that store?

Maybe no one has time to try out the quirkiness of Japanese humor all rolled up into a game. Maybe people don't like the extra figurines that come with the pre-order, even though they come in nice boxes and not just doled out in plastic bags.

Whatever the case, I felt "special" that day. Not exactly the good or bad kind - an indifferent "special" feeling.

Zero Punctuation review: GTA: Chinatown Wars

I've never gotten into the whole Grand Theft Auto series until its 3D iteration in GTA3, so it was pleasing to see that GTA: Chinatown Wars went back to the old top-down viewing angle.

So, unlike Yahtzee, I wasn't aware of all the issues that plagued the old format for the franchise, and was blissfully ignorant of the game's shortcomings.

But you got to give him credit...he doesn't absolutely hate the game. And that's big for him, seeing that he doesn't like many DS games.

NSFW goodness below, enjoy!

Nintendo DSi and Rhythm Heaven have arrived!

So I may have overlooked blogging about my excitement for the Nintendo DSi, but if you guys haven't heard, the system just came out this past Sunday.

Seeing as my DS Lite has seen some wear-and-tear around the edges and controls, as well as becoming less responsive on the touch screen, I think it was time for an upgrade.

Should you fork over extra money for the latest iteration of the dual-screen portable? I think the best gauge at if you should buy it would be relative to how long ago you purchased the DS Lite. For me, it was a day one purchase, and it's certainly seen its share of awesome games in the past, well worn throughout. If you made a DS Lite purchase not too long ago, then I probably suggest waiting it out a few more months to dive into a purchase.

Diving in, I tried out the one feature I was really looking forward to - swapping games without turning the system off. I hated having to constantly power-down the system just to change games. Now, it's just a matter of pressing the Power button to return to the system's OS and swap out the cart for another.

Of course, there are a slew of new features on the device to mess around with, including the slightly larger screens, dual cameras, and the DSiWare shop. But I'll fiddle with those features soon enough.

Released at the same time was the game Rhythm Heaven as well. I'll simply describe it as a vacation from games like Ouendan or Elite Beat Agents. Expect a review of the game shortly at Akiba-Station!

April Fools Shenanigans: Zero Punctuation and Unskippable

In an amusing April Fools crossover, Yahtzee doubles our pleasure by appearing in two hilarious videos - one of which is his classic fair, his Zero Punctuation review of Halo Wars, and as a voiceover guest in the Unskippable for Star Ocean. Now, if you don't know about Unskippable on The Escapist, I suggest getting to know it. It's probably the next best thing to Mystery Science Theater 3000 for video games.

Wait a tic...it is Mystery Science Theater 3000 for video games. So yeah, if you like Mystery Science Theater shtick, then check it out.

Even the people from Unskippable try to do Yahtzee's job this week reviewing X-Blades...emphasis on "try."

In any case, here are both videos for you to peruse. Yahtzee's definitely NSFW, but the other should be enjoyed by all.

Zero Punctuation: Halo Wars


Unskippable: Star Ocean

Zero Punctuation review: Resident Evil 5

It's either a "Lazy Wednesday" or "Lazy Thursday" every week, so I suppose this is for the latter.

It's nice to know that not everyone is clouded by the excitement generated by a triple-A title like Resident Evil 5, and Yahtzee makes his voice perfectly clear in his slightly-lengthy review of the game.

Oh, and stay tuned in the end for some shameless plugging.

Did I mention it's NSFW? Yeah, it's NSFW.

The right and wrong ways to do DLC.

Whether you like it or not, DLC (downloadable content) is gradually gaining momentum, and I'm knee deep in it. Sure, most people can call it nickel-and-diming the customers at a micro level, but there ARE people out there that don't mind it. But the problem is not with the DLC model, but how companies execute it.

Games like Rock Band really take the model to the fans, bringing in new songs while they're still fresh on the radio, or bringing in old classics that cater to the few that remember them. I mean, I can literally listen to a song I like on the radio and wait for them with baited anticipation, knowing that someone in Harmonix is probably making the song compatible with the game somehow. I was just listening to Papa Roach's "Lifeline," and now it's a playable song that I own. How cool is that?

Then there are other companies like Capcom and their DLC of alternate costumes. Supposedly, they're "downloaded" after purchase, but after noticing the relatively small size of the downloads, you know you're not getting a true download. Anything that is relatively measured in kilobytes (105 kilobytes, to be exact) is just unlocking something already existing on the disc. Sorry Capcom (and to any other company doing this)...this don't fly with the consumers. You're telling people to shell out more money for something that could easily be unlocked if you implemented it? That's worse than stealing candy from a baby.

At least there are some companies that know how to distribute on-disc DLC. Take the game Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm - their DLC comes in on a monthly basis as FREE DLC for their customers. Sure, the stuff is already on the disc, but at least the content is released on a timely basis as opposed to the customer's own playthrough...all without the monetary expense.

And while it's easy to place the blame on the company, the consumer is still the "final straw" in this equation. It's really up to you whether or not you want to replace that extra 7-11 snack, Burger King meal, or crappy $10 GameStop used game for digital content. I'm willing to bet that the same people that bitch about purchasing DLC are the same people that drop money in the bucket for food and other minor purchases for other things. If that doesn't work for you, you could compare it to the money wasted in Vegas. Or in the arcade. In that case, a new Rock Band song would cost you roughly 4 plays in your typical arcade, but you get to play this song all you want.

And you know that there are people out there that just don't want to spend the full $50-$60 for one game, when they can easily get 4 or 5 smaller, digitially downloaded games for the same price. I can justify my $10 Mega Man 9 purchase for my Wii over a TON of games released on retail out there. Instead of unleashing another sequel to the Prince of Persia game, the Epilogue was released with more game to play at an extra $10 expense. Burnout Paradise released new multiplayer modes and more car reskins at varying price ranges, all at reasonable prices.

What does this mean? People don't want to pay full price for sequels that only deliver the same gameplay in different environments - they want the new environments with same play mechanic at smaller, more easily attainable formats. Add to the fact that it's more gameplay without bulking up your game collection, and you also find a business model that can potentially be environment friendly.

However you look at it, the DLC model is something that's becoming more and more popular, so you either embrace it or make suggestions to improve it. Hating it will only put you in a minority group that's getting smaller and smaller.

Zero Punctuation Review: Overkilling on the Bloody Sand

Because I took an extra-long "Lazy Wednesday" last week, for today's "Lazy Thursday" here are two video reviews from Yahtzee's Zero Punctuation - House of the Dead: Overkill, and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand.

Between the two, it's hard to believe that the House of the Dead game has more F-Bombs than 50 Cent's.

Clearly NSFW below. Enjoy!

House of the Dead: Overkill


50 Cent: Blood on the Sand

Street Fighter 4...finished! As far as I'm concerned.

It's not the most glamorous victory, but I'm stamping "finished" on Street Fighter IV simply because I was able to beat the game with one character on the easiest setting with only one round matches and the credits rolled soon after. I've even played a few random online matches and won my first one (after I lost, like, the first 10).

I think, up until the game's release, I was rather tepid about the game overall. It wasn't until I got my hands on the controls that I realized it played almost exactly like Street Fighter II Turbo Championship Edition, back in the SNES days. Soon after a few rounds of fighting, I knew I had to get the game again.

Oh, I'm far from being a threat to other players...but at least I can make a dent before going down.

Burnout Paradise...finished!

After all the crashes, races, and road rages, I've finally acquired my Burnout License, triggering the rolling credits, and officially marking my "finished" stamp on Burnout Paradise.

Like Rock Band 2, this is not a game where I can truly put the controller down feeling satisfied. There are still more things to unlock, a few more trophies to acquire. Plus, there will still be days where I'll feel like shit, where I'll feel so angry that the only thing that will feel good is a bit of road rage on the virtual asphalt.

And leave it to me to just figure out how to customize my soundtrack right before I got the credits to roll. Whatever music is playing becomes your end-game music. So I got to enjoy my end credits listening to Katy Perry. Swell.

A Space Invaders music video

Got this from my friend Dave in Facebook - a kick-ass music video from artist Royksopp for their upcoming album "Junior."

This screams "epic win" in my book. Enjoy!

Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

Prince of Persia Epilogue...finished! (Already??)

And within that 2-3 hours of guaranteed gameplay (which I was quite surprised they were so accurate on), the Prince of Persia Epilogue was done surprisingly quick. And I was done with the original game not too long ago, too.

I guess that brought some closure...emphasis on "some." Some of the added gameplay features, like the ability to be on the offensive from far away distances was a nice touch and changed up my battle tactics. Overall, it's a new section of an elaborate playground for me to run around in, while getting some trophies during the process.

But the $10 price tag seemed a bit much for the extra stuff. Despite the added skins for both the prince and princess, it should've went for less than $10. Even $8 would've been more reasonable. Nevertheless, if you enjoyed the original game, the Epilogue should quench some of that end-game thirst. Besides, as long as you didn't pay full-price for it, it's not such a bad purchase.

Send To Phone

A Street Fighter IV birthday

As a belated birthday gift, my wife gets me a copy of Street Fighter IV, and the collector's edition, no less! I was interesting in just the game, so I was pleasantly surprised by the extra goodies!

As to whether or not my skill level has improved since I got the game? I still get my ass whooped by the CPU on the easiest setting. And I got a sore thumb to prove it. I've still yet to try my hand at battling other people online, but best to practice up and at least give some strangers a run for their money.

A rare find - Megaman 9 Press Kit!!

During a visit to this year's Wonder Con, I found Capcom holding a booth displaying their games and wares to the public, as well as selling their products with no sales tax. Amongst all the Phoenix Wright and Street Fighter games, I found a few stray copies of their Megaman 9 Press Kits lying around! Sure enough, they were on sale during the convention, so I couldn't help but snag myself a copy!

If you're not familiar with these press kits, these faux game boxes contain a hollowed-out NES cartridge with a mini cd inside filled with Megaman 9 art assets and screenshots. Originally given to the press for free as promotional items, Capcom made about 200 of them available to the public for $50 a piece - which sold out fast. So, paying for one without any sales tax or shipping is a real steal!

The nostalgia value of this is through the roof. Even showing it to a friend, he felt like a little kid holding it. The jury is still out on whether or not I break the seal to view its contents, but in the meantime, I'm just happy to have it in my hands.

Now excuse me while I hold it again....aaaaaaaaaah.

Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? arrives

Categorize this in the "late arrivals" section simply because I forgot to report it, but the latest NIS title to arrive at my doorstop came to me probably sometime early last week - Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?

Don't let the fact that it's not an RPG fool you - this game is just as challenging as any other NIS RPG out there. With maniacally-created levels, strategically-placed enemies, and only 1000 lives at your disposal from start to finish, this game will wear you down in a heartbeat.

Want to read what I thought of the game? Check it out at Akiba-Station!

Send To Phone

Zero Punctuation review: Spiderman: Web of Shadows

Seeing that Yahtzee doesn't want to review anything with a number appended to the end of its title, it went back a year and reviewed Spiderman: Web of Shadows.

Yeah...that came out of left field for me, too.

NSFW below, enjoy!

Prince of Persia...finished!

Given a game like Prince of Persia where you cannot die has its benefits and disadvantages. The key benefit is that you're not entirely discouraged when you perform a misstep, and can immediately try again from where you left off. One of the major disadvantages is that gameplay is shortened since there is no fear for failure.

Despite that, the pure benefit, at least to me, of not dying is to be able to play the game as how the original plot designer intended - with no breaks to the story due to "lives" or "continues." For me, this is about as true to an interactive movie as a game can get, all while still giving the player full interactivity of the game.

This game is definitely one of those where I wouldn't mind playing again, simply because of the game's flow and beautiful 1080p graphics. And with another Epilogue expansion coming very soon with at least 3 more hours of playable content, I'm good as ready to jump right back into the desert.