14 public reviews
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When someone says they love the DS' RPG library, it tends to mean they are big fans of either Square Enix's products or Atlus'. The two companies have been at it for years, constantly churning out DS games, and while Square Enix has seen critical and financial success numerous times, Atlus' finest efforts have been reduced to 'cult classic' territory, doomed to obscurity forever. It is sad that the Dark Spire will…
When you think of 2D platformers, chances are you won't think of an endearing, family friendly PS3 game starring puppets without strings and Stephen Fry. After playing Littlebigplanet you certainly will -- like it or not, Littlebigplanet has forever changed the face of 2D platforming. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is debatable -- Littlebigplanet outclasses most (if not all) 2D platformers in terms of…
FPSes on a weak system is a controversial topic. Skeptics will sneer that it will be low quality because of the system requirements; AI, number of enemies on screen, etc. are all advantages to the more powerful systems. Moon is one of the most controversial examples of a FPS on a weak system yet, with those that love it, hate it and everything in between -- but if you're willing to accept that Moon can't and isn't…
While full-fledged RTSes have struggled to find a home on consoles, a TD can be done on just about any platform -- Savage Moon does a bang-up job of proving the Dualshock 3 can control TD's very well. Unfortunately, while the potential is definitely present, Savage Moon has far too many faults and not enough inspiration for me to consider it a strong purchase. Like any other TD around, Savage Moon's concept is to…
The DS is well known for its broad appeal, accessibility and impressive library. One of the most impressive titles to hit the system last year inspired EA enough to develop a charmingly familiar character modeled after the good Professor Layton, seemingly to appeal to a wide variety of people. Unlike the title it drew inspiration from, however, Hatsworth is strictly a hardcore game meant for players who can not only…
Read the full review Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure
Less than a year after Grand Theft Auto IV's monumental release, fans of Liberty City have yet another entry in the series to sink their teeth into; and while it isn't as large or beautiful as other games in the series, Chinatown Wars is a legendary portable title that has obliterated nearly all preconceptions of the limitations of the DS. Not only has Leeds proven mastery over the hardware, however; they've proven…
If obscure, niche games are what you're after, the DS is chock full of quality items, especially if you're in the market for shmups. The genre is one of the DS' strengths, and the touch screen ensures accuracy; one would assume that the system would have plenty of games in the genre utilizing the hardware well, right? Unfortunately not. While there are many different types of top-down shooters on the humble…
Featuring dozens of buildings, units and technologies, The Age of Empires: The Age of Kings is a turn from the obvious and takes advantages of opportunities more mainstream handheld strategy games have not utilized. It may not be up to par with its PC counterparts and it is not an RTS like the title usually implies, but its gameplay is surprisingly solid and could even be considered addicting. The problem with…
Straight off the bat, the stylus control scheme is one of the worst ever created by man. Never use it. Apart from that, Ridge Racer can be a mildly fun game. Unlocking cars is always a pleasure, as well as taking advantage of single-cart multiplayer. The first few races are fun, and later on the game gets challenging. The problem does not necessarily reside in the obvious controls or the barely decent graphics; it…
Licensed games pretty much suck. We've all learned to accept this. Perhaps the Blade of Fate is a commendable handheld fighter, but titles like Spongebob and Wall-E have always been games to avoid. Perhaps Eragon is no different, but it does manage to succeed in certain areas. As an action title for the DS, it's actually on the decent side of things. The gameplay is what save this game from running into the ground.…
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin had great expectations from not only incoming gamers as myself, but the large fanbase it has held for a pretty long time now -- and it's easy to see why it has retained such a fanbase. Konami continues the Castlevania franchise on the DS for a second time, distinguishing itself from the 'Sorrows' with new characters, level design and even unique unlockables. Young Johnathon Morris and…
The designing of a handheld RTS has failed numerous times in the DS' history; Heroes of Mana, Shogun Empires and other titles tried but never quite made a fun, standard RTS. Revenant Wings, however, proved that it is possible to have an enjoyable RTS on a handheld. RW's plot is mediocre and exists solely to keep up the FF XII name. After taking flight on a newlyfound ship, Vaan and friends discover a new continent,…
Contra 4 is your basic 2D platforming run and gun type 2D side-scroller. You can jump, run, and shoot. Simple, and yet the toughest game to conquer on the DS as of now. Blasting your way through 7-9 levels with infinite ammo and the ability to hold two guns simultaneously has never reached a high like this. Konami has stayed true to its roots in this iteration of the series, which is a good thing. Arcade mode is not…
It's sad that Itagaki recently announced he will not be working on any more Ninja Gaiden games, because Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is one of the top action games known to handhelds - arguably only topped by Chains of Olympus. With fierce, fast and intuitively designed gameplay, Dragon Sword is undoubtedly the DS action game. The story is well worth paying attention to, featuring well done manga-styled cutscenes - a…
