Review - Phantasy Star 0 (DS)
Yes, like other console RPGs, this one has a "magical" girl.
If there’s one common characteristic of the console RPG subgenre, it’s this: combat is usually detached from the real action. Fighting is carried out by choosing options from a menu, and the only tangible feedback shown is the damaged character blinking. Apparently, someone from Sonic Team has been taking notes, and has crafted Phantasy Star 0 for the DS. Interestingly, Phantasy Star 0 plays a lot like Phantasy Star Online, a Dreamcast game released almost a decade ago. The difference—you get to play Phantasy Star 0 on the road.
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Review - Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans (DS)
November 20, 2009 by Mike · Leave a Comment
Attack of the Saiyans is short and sweet.
As a game franchise, Dragon Ball is known for its hyperkinetic fighting titles. If you’re an avid fan who pays attention to everything that pastes Son Goku’s mug on the box, then you probably know that there are also a few Dragon Ball RPGs in existence and Attack of the Saiyans is one of them. The Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans story follows the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament and goes all the way to the Vegeta-Goku showdown. Like a Dragon Ball fight, Attack of the Saiyans is fast and action packed, but is it any good?
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Review - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS)
October 22, 2009 by Mike · Leave a Comment
Only a carpet would ever like Roxas in this KH installment.
Hearts—it’s all about the hearts. The title refers to hearts; the characters are on a quest to get hearts. Welcome to Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, an action RPG for the Nintendo DS. You’ve probably learned by know that the Kingdom Hearts series is well-liked to say they least. The first two PlayStation 2 games sold for a combined 9.2 million copies or so, while the new DS release is moving almost a million units as of this writing, and it’s not even out for over a month yet.
So what’s the deal with Kingdom Hearts? Why is it insanely popular? Two things: Final Fantasy and Disney. But is the underlying game in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days as prodigious as its commercial success? We find out.
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Reviews Surfing - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS)
September 30, 2009 by Mike · 2 Comments
Kingdom Hearts DS is here.
The formula behind Kingdom Hearts practically guarantees success–just combine characters and settings from Final Fantasy games and Disney cartoons, and presto! Kids eat it up. It’s no wonder people are looking forward to Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the DS. The game may be a hit among the younger crowd, but what do the jaded critics think about the new Square Enix action RPG? Find out after the jump.
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Reviews Surfing - Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (DS)
September 22, 2009 by Mike · Leave a Comment
Remember the saying about reality being stranger than fiction? The world of video games can prove that. In a weird twist, a Mario game has been buried under the massive hype surrounding Scribblenauts. Sure, not all Mario games may be that awesome, but you have to agree that ratings-wise, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story has gotten higher reviews when compared to Scribblenauts. How high? See what the jaded critics think.
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Ragnarok Online DS coming to North America
May 19, 2009 by Mike · Leave a Comment
Ragnarok Online DS is coming to the U.S. this winter.
Remember the DS version of Ragnarok Online? Last time we checked, the DS version of the insanely-popular MMORPG was scheduled to hit Japan shelves last December 2008. Great news! California-based publisher Xseed Games is partnering with GungHo Entertainment to bring Ragnarok Online DS to North America this winter.
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Review - Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier (DS)
May 7, 2009 by Mike · 3 Comments
Boobs and battles are the only high points.
Combat and cleavage combine in Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier for the Nintendo DS. If you’ve played the original Super Robot Wars on the GBA, then you’d probably notice that Endless Frontier ditches mechs for mammaries. Instead of immersing yourself in tactical role-playing, this spin-off plunges you chest-deep in action RPG. Does Endless Frontier provide a compelling experience beyond the barrage of boundless boobage? That’s what we aim to find out.
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Reviews Surfing - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (Wii, DS)
A new Final Fantasy has arrived.
The typical dungeon crawler has gotten a makeover in the next Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Back then, it was all about grinding through rough country and collecting more über loot than one could ever hope to carry. These days, it’s still about the crawling and loot but with a twist. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time may be a handful to speak or write, but it has successfully woven interconnectivity between the Nintendo DS and Wii.
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Review - Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (DS)
March 25, 2009 by Mike · Leave a Comment
Overkill is how one gains "Sin."
When one speaks of mature games, the first thing that usually comes to mind is violence. Such is the case in Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume. The new strategy RPG for the Nintendo DS is certainly violent because its gameplay consists mainly of battle after isometric battle. However, Covenant of the Plume also depicts life and death like no other game has, and that makes it mature.
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Reviews Surfing - Pokémon Platinum (DS)
March 25, 2009 by Mike · Leave a Comment
Gotta catch them all!
Pokémon is a massive media franchise that has spawned video games, anime series, soundtracks, and even a trading card game. While Pokémon has branched off into several different avenues, its foray into video games remains to be one of the most successful. The latest installment is Pokémon Platinum, an enhanced remake of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
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