122 public written reviews
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Despite the Wii Virtual Console's two years of availability, we have yet to see many classic RPGs available for download. Ys Book I & II (pronounced "ease"), is an RPG most people have never heard of (I'll admit, I was one of those), but it is one that should not be missed. Ys I and II were originally stand-alone titles that were released on the Sega Master System, but they were later released together as one…
Mother 3 was a game many Earthbound (Mother 2 in Japan) fans never expected to see on our shores. It started out as a project for the N64 over a decade ago, then it was moved to the ill-fated N64 disk add-on, the 64DD, and finally, it was cancelled. Several years later, it reemerged as a GBA title. When fans first heard about it, they immediately started petitions to urge Nintendo to release the game in the U.S.…
Lately, the word Nintendo has almost become synonymous with thinking outside of the box. First they released Wii Sports to the glee of consumers, which played a major role in increasing the size of the casual market. Next came Wii Fit, which also sold like hotcakes despite having a ninety dollar price tag. These unique gameplay concepts appealed to people, because they could partake in non-strenuous physical…
Sonic Chronicles has had a significant amount of hype behind it for a DS title, and for good reason. Fans have long clamored for an RPG starring their favorite hedgehog that could rival Super Mario RPG. Like Nintendo did with Super Mario RPG, Sega called on another company to develop the title. The developer, Bioware, did an admirable with the ailing Sonic franchise. Bioware is known for producing RPGs with a…
It is great when you discover that a game you have long been anticipating delivers, but sometimes it is even better when an incredible new game drops out of nowhere and blows you away. World of Goo is one of these surprise titles that will not only blow you away, but will leave a lasting impression on you. Even after seeing a great review of this game, I was skeptical if it was worth plunking down fifteen dollars…
Treasure is known among hardcore gamers for producing quality 2D-shooters with a sickening amount of detail. The company is composed of former Konami vets, so they know how to make great side-scrolling games. Gunstar Heroes is one of their most famous titles, but this classic fell under the radar due to it not being released in the U.S. Instead we got the so-so Mischief Makers for N64. Sin & Punishment leaves two…
Kirby Super Star is a game you'll either love or loath depending on your feelings towards the pink puff. If you are a fan of classic Kirby games, you'll be right at home with this one, as it is a compilation of several different games in one. Kirby Super Star Ultra is a re-release of a 1996 Super Nintendo title with a few extra games thrown in for good measure. Many of the games are full-fledged titles, while others…
Back when the N64 was first released, there were a variety of solid titles from Nintendo and Rare. During a slow period in early 1998, a title known as Yoshi's Story was released. 3D was all the rage in those days, but Nintendo tried to bring back 2D gameplay in a new form. Yoshi's Story featured 2D side-scrolling gameplay, but used pre-rendered graphics to give the game a 3D look. Nintendo called this 2 and 1/2D,…
As someone who was extremely disappointed with Kingdom Hearts, I wasn't expecting much with this sequel. I expected more of the same--poorly voiced FF characters combined with Disney characters and worlds, in a mess of a story. Thankfully, Square-Enix redeemed itself by creating a sequel with brilliant gameplay improvements. Almost every single problem from the original Kingdom Hearts was fixed. For me, playing the…
Kingdom Hearts was Square's first big hit since Final Fantasy X. It brought together two popular universes--Disney and Final Fantasy, and melded them into a unique role playing game. Disney movies and Final Fantasy games contain vastly different stories, but they often have themes of light versus dark, or good versus evil, so you could say that this unique pairing makes sense. There is a division among fans on…
Here we have another title aimed for the casual crowd. Nintendo's scheme to get anyone from soccer moms to your elders playing Wii has worked so far, so why not another go at this market? Wii Fit is Nintendo's latest non-traditional game; a title that will interest many, but will turn others off at the same time. In order to properly describe Wii Fit, it is important that I not only discuss the gameplay elements,…
Remember the days before FF7? It was a time when RPGs featured 2D sprites with large heads, colorful graphics, storylines where a band of heroes would save the world, and poorly translated text. Okay, well the last two are still a feature of modern RPGs, but developers are slowly improving upon the RPG formula. Tales of Destiny harkens back to this golden age of RPGs on the SNES. Fans of old school RPGs will love…
Final Fantasy 12, the game all us FF fans have been waiting for, is here at last. With such a long wait, you’d figure the game would be an outstanding experience, and maybe even be the pinnacle of the series. FF12 is a good RPG with high production values, but it falls short in some areas. First, I’ll let you know what this game does well. The graphics are amazing, especially for PS2. The environments are enormous…
LostWinds stands out as one of the best WiiWare launch titles. The game makes excellent use of the Wiimote—you use the pointer and wrist motions to control the wind, your character, and to manipulate elements such as water and fire. Controlling your character is a breeze—you move Toku with the analogue stick, and make him perform techniques by moving the Wiimote to utilize the wind. Your wind powers can be used in…
Get ready to dig that PSP out of your closet, because ReadyAtDawn has crafted an excellent God of War game for your shiny handheld. When I first loaded up the game, I was blown away by the phenomenal graphics--Chains of Olympus looks just as amazing as its PS2 incarnations. The game includes massive bosses and hordes of enemies, but still manages to run without a hitch. There is no slowdown to be seen, and the…
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass features a new control style, similar to Twilight Princess, which was released a year ago. Unlike Twilight Princess, the stylus control doesn’t make for a better Zelda. Moving Link is smooth, but it feels like you lose the precision control experienced in previous Zelda games. Certain maneuvers like the roll are difficult to pull off. Luckily, these moves aren’t a prominent…
Super Mario Galaxy, is not only one of Wii’s most anticipated games, but a sequel to Mario Sunshine, which was considered a hit among some fans and a miss among others. Sunshine played it safe and strayed little from the 3D Mario formula established in Mario 64. It added a water pack, but had very little innovation other than that. Despite what you thought of Sunshine, most Mario fans will love Super Mario Galaxy.…
Bandai Namco’s Eternal Sonata is a game that I was reluctant to play at first. It had amazing graphics, but I was worried about the content of the story. The mediocre reviews the game received gave me even less of a reason to try it. After a few months passed, a friend recommended it to me, and since he was a big fan of RPGs, I took his advice, and purchased the game. A couple months later, I finished what would…
As a sequel to one of the best action games of all time, God of War II had a lot to live up to. The original God of War was a groundbreaking action game that combined exciting gameplay with an epic score, that was accompanied by superb voices and music. The graphics and art style brought God of War's version of Ancient Greece to life. God of War II continues the first game's legacy with gameplay that remains…
Final Fantasy VII fans have waited for what seems like eons for Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Now that is has finally arrived, was it worth the wait? In short my answer is yes, but this eagerly anticipated prequel isn't without its shortcomings. FFVII's story is what the majority of fans have been looking forward to most, so I will explain whether it delivers without including any spoilers. The script for Crisis…
This year has been great for the Nintendo Wii. We’ve already seen the release of “Super Smash Brothers Brawl”, which most hardcore gamers have yet to put down. Even though I’m a fan of “Smash”, I was eagerly awaiting the release of “Mario Kart Wii”. Being the big “Mario Kart” fan that I am, I woke up early to pick up the game. As I drove to the mall to pick up “Mario Kart”, I was fortunate in that I didn’t have to…
This year's long anticipated crimefest has finally arrived. There was no doubt that GTA IV would sell millions like the previous games, but some hardcore gamers wondered if it could live up to the last three titles. GTA IV doesn't revolutionize the series like GTA III, but it fleshes out the core gameplay in several key areas. For the first time ever in a GTA game, I was actually compelled to stick to the missions.…
In a medium saturated with sequels, it is refreshing to play a game that embraces innovation and originality. Sometimes original games don't reach the bar set by the numerous sequels in existence, but occasionally a game arises that should not be missed. Zack & Wiki is one of those titles. It is an adventure game of sorts, but the control mechanics and puzzles break boundaries set by previous adventure games. Any…
Read the full review Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
I wasn't expecting much from Alien Hominid. I have played countless side-scrolling shooters during my years as a gamer, and didn't expect this title to best one of my favorites, Metal Slug. Even though I wasn't an arcade enthusiast by any means, I used to love playing Metal Slug games at the arcade. Despite the fun I had with these games, their premise eventually began to wear thin. I didn't know if a 2D shooter…
Castle Crashers is one of those Xbox Live Arcade games that is a must download. The game features a great, hilarious art style similar to Alien Hominid, which isn't a surprise since it is by The Behemoth. The similarities end there however, because Castle Crashers is more about a multiplayer dungeon hack, rather than a fast-paced shooting experience. As the title implies, Castle Crashers is set in a fictional…
The Tales games are a brilliant series of RPGs that have steadily gained ground in the U.S. ever since the advent of Tales of Symphonia. While its sales pale in comparison to Final Fantasy, it is not a series that should be overlooked. The Tales games are notorious for providing an action-oriented RPG experience, and Vesperia is no exception. Gamers that are turned off by turn-based battle systems, or are just…
