Reviews & Articles

Revenge is one of the oldest reasons in the book to respond to anything. Don’t believe me? Watch a bunch of children and see how long it takes for them not to hit each other over some misdemeanor. It also makes for a great plot. Also, I am aware of the Kill Bill movie series. However, I never really got into the films whenever I saw them on TV as it was just too grisly for me. So why in the world do I enjoy Shank so much?

I confess, and it is probably no secret as well, that I am a huge fan of the Persona series. How can I not be one? The unique characters, the psychological plot and fun role-playing game mechanics all blended together to create an incredibly human mess that I have a fair amount of trouble pulling myself away from it all. It is with this in mind that I approached Persona 2: Innocent Sin for the PSP with a lot of excitement. So is this previously unreleased game worth the wait?

It will be about two years this November that I will have owned my PlayStation 3. So what does any “poor” worker do with a new contraption? The answer was simple: Download all the demos that sound cool. One of them was the original LittleBigPlanet. And I hated it as it rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t like the controls, the enforced multiplayer to collect everything (or so it appeared at the time), art style and, most importantly, it bragged about how good it is. It was that final part that did me in. So why in the world do I enjoy the PSP version so much?

I really enjoyed the original Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?. It surprised me. It was old school mixed in with some new-school sensibilities. And it didn’t hurt that it was hilarious. It is probably due to that game that I love prinnies. One of these days, I’m going to play a Disgaea game and create an army of them. Look out, Etna! Your days are numbered! However, my days are numbered with Prinny 2: Operation Dawn of Panties, Dood! for the PSP.

I still remember when I originally learned about Knights in the Nightmare being ported to the PSP. It just didn’t seem like a good fit to me. How do you take a game that was so finely controlled with a stylus (or what could be considered a mouse) and translate it into a “traditional” gaming experience? It did not make sense to me to choose such a platform, but such a decision was made. Even though I saw Knights in action online several months ago, I did not believe it for myself until I saw it in motion. Amazingly, this is almost exactly the same game available for the DS and stands just as proud as its twin. It is an excellent thing considering how amazing the DS version is in general.

At first, I thought Ys Seven was going to be one of those role-playing games with fixed battle phases and shortcomings in the story plot. That is not the case. If you have liked playing an RPG that has free roam during battles in the past, then this is the game you need to purchase. Ys Seven has a great plot at the beginning of the game and does well at creating a good structured storyline that brings the player into the game.

I like knighthood. Yes, it is a statement I have written a thousand times in various articles. The reason this is written is due to the influence of Ys 3: Wanderers of Ys, which was released on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis back in the early 1990s. I remember enjoying it, despite all of its flaws. It is also the one Ys game I keep going back to whenever I play a new installment in the series. As such, you might be able to imagine my excitement when I finally got to play its modern incarnation: Ys: The Oath in Felghana.

I was a multi-system owner back in the day. I still am, but it took me much longer without the aid of parents. As such, I don’t have much loyalty for systems. There are good and great games on all systems. One just has to have the patience to look for them. The advantage of living in 2010 is that certain game systems have collections their publishers believe to be their “greatest hits.” Those who want to have a strong idea of what Sega Genesis owners had at their fingertips can look no further than Sega Genesis Collection on the PSP.

I am a sucker for a good game of heroics. I don’t know where it comes from. Perhaps it comes from idealism: I like helping people. Whenever I have the opportunity to play the villain, I cannot do it. I believe the problem is because such behavior is outside of my personality and is incongruent with my ideals. But there is one game I have the pleasure to play lately that perfectly jives with me: Ys Seven for the PSP.

I am a sucker for a creative game that does something few games do. Almost two years ago, I played a game that allowed me to create my own dungeon on the DS. I played it until my eyes hurt. I have now found the PSP equivalent of that game: Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground. I enjoyed it immensely.

When I first learned Knights in the Nightmare is coming to the PSP, I was immediately concerned. How could something that so highly required the touchscreen of the DS transfer to the PSP? I could easily imagine it being ported to the iPod Touch or iPhone. But ported to the PSP? I just could not imagine it. Atlus was kind enough to show us a working demo of the game.

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years of Armored Core games. We all have crushed, shot and blown up many robots in past Armored Core games. Armored Core: Last Raven Portable speaks for itself as the same robot action with different levels, missions and upgrades throughout the game. There really hasn’t been much change in Armored Core for the most part, even though it’s a great game. Fans will get better upgrades in this game, but it is still the same old setup and items. I didn’t think this was the best battle robot game this year, but it was a nice game to play if you are up for a robotic challenge.

I have been dreading writing this review. Every single distraction I can think of has been initiated. And yet the writing still needs to be done. Everyone likes an exuberant review because it is easy to sense the excitement. Angry or disappointed reviews are loved even more for a simple fact: Who doesn’t like someone, or something, being cut down to size for a bit? As such, as much as I enjoy the Disgaea universe, I cannot help but feel disappointed with Disgaea Infinite for the PSP.

I hate weapon durability. Some might argue it provides more realism than the average role-playing game that lets you use a weapon indefinitely. I find it to be a bit tedious, because when your weapon dies, so do you. You are completely helpless, unable to inflict damage and can only receive it. But my thoughts on the matter might be changing due to the influence of Hexyz Force for PSP.

Lunar ... The mere mention of such a title usually takes gamers back into their childhoods. Or, perhaps more accurately, it takes folks into a special place. Back in its heyday, the original Lunar did not look much. But darn it! The game had such strong presentation that its charm was undeniable. What was a cliched adventure was transformed into something much greater. And it was with nostalgia perfectly intact that I played Lunar: Silver Star Harmony for the PSP.

I didn’t expect this to happen. I didn’t expect all of my free time to be absorbed and continuously sucked in. It has been almost two years since I placed my hands on Persona 3: FES, and now I have my hands on its portable sibling: Persona 3 Portable for the PSP. Have I missed playing the game that much?

I like strategy games. However, I am just not any good at them. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps I just build too many structures. Maybe I just do not know how to effectively use my units. Or maybe it is because I take too darn long completing a mission. But there is one strategy game I am rather excited about: Valkyria Chronicles II for the PSP.

For those “in the know,” Falcom is a very well-known publisher. It has created a series that is still popular in Japan. It is a company that could be considered to have “fathered” the Japanese role-playing genre. XSeed Games is excited to introduce the seventh installment in that series: Ys Seven for the PSP.

In more ways than one, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is all about exploring the past. Not only does the majority of the game take place with the main character on a therapist’s couch talking about traumatic experiences, but the plot itself is a retelling of the very first Silent Hill game. With stellar presentation and plenty of unexpected surprises, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories tasks you with confronting the past and demands you either correct your mistakes or muster the courage to live up to the consequences.

How do I say this without destroying my reputation? I have always been a fan of the Star Wars series, but I was never a die-hard fan. I always liked it, but it was never my life and blood like some fans. However, Lucas Arts has made me come very close, thanks to Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. I have played Star Wars games before, (thanks Rinjo for all those old Star Wars PC games growing up), but this is by far my favorite.

As I often proclaim to the world, I love a good role-playing game. There’s nothing like it. It’s comforting, intriguing and downright fun. There’s a fair amount of strategy involved as one needs to balance the overall party and the everyday battles. Atlus is hard at work for a game that might be an excellent game to play on the go, and they were kind enough to give us a taste of what is to come. That game is Hexyz Force for the PSP.

More than two years ago, Atlus released a very particular game. It was a game that resonated with several gamers. That game was the original Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 for the PlayStation 2. Now Atlus is working on Persona 3 Portable for the PSP.

Hardcore shooters are as old as gaming. It began in the arcades many moons ago. Large and frequent explosions with high challenge kept gamers coming back for more. Things have changed. We like a challenge, but we like it to be gradual. Health is high, and a character can withstand several shots. How about a massive amount of ammo or, ideally, unlimited ammo so you don’t have to worry? Well, welcome to the retro-modern chic villa of Metal Slug XX.

Recently I had the opportunity to sit in on a conference call with Iron Man 2’s Development Director Mike McHale and Producer Dean Martinetti. I noticed at the very beginning of the call that this wasn’t going to be your typical interview. Sure, Mike and Dean were full of excitement about the upcoming release of Sega and Marvel’s new comic-based game, Iron Man 2, but there was something deeper to their excitement. At first, I couldn’t put my finger on it. However, by the end of the call, not only did I know what was going on, but I also shared their enthusiasm.

We all had our obsessions as children. Some of us had our action figures; others had dolls. But for a good many people, G.I. Joe was where it was at: badass soldiers and ninjas fighting against the evil Cobra Commander and saving the world. Eventually, it was bound to be made into a movie, and last year, Hollywood got a hold of and — like most movies based off of childhood obsessions — crushed the dreams of the many fans of this established franchise. And, like most movies, a videogame was made, but did it surpass the expectations of the fans and give them what the movie couldn’t? Or did the forever-loved G.I. Joes fall into the pit of failed movie videogames? Let me answer that question in a very simple-to-understand way: DO NOT RENT/BUY/PLAY G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in any way, shape or form.

Despite the fact that the book series has come to an end, there are still two movies left to go, and the Harry Potter saga lives on. And it will continue to do so in pixel form, thanks to the newest installment in the Lego series — Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 — which I got a glimpse of at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco in March.

To anyone who has played Marvel: Ultimate Alliance or Marvel Legends, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 will be familiar. I think the story in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 is good through the second chapter, but the rest of the game falls somewhat flat.

What does Valhalla mean to you? Does it bring forth old Nordic legends? Fallen warriors going to a paradise of battles (if such a thing could exist)? Valkyries fighting a never-ending battle? Valhalla often summons thoughts of a never-ending battle. So what image would a videogame create? There have been various answers to this in a variety of forms without even referencing anything Nordic. But perhaps one of the closer answers is Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance for the PSP.

I’m always game for something unique. It’s part of the reason why the independent game scene (usually called “indie games”) intrigues me. Typically having a low-fi feel, they tend to do traditional tropes of gaming in unusual ways. During one of my previous visits to my local game store, I found Astonishia Story for the PSP. It seemed interesting, so I gave it a whirl. Sadly, it is rather unforgettable. But it is a good starter role-playing game.

I would not call myself a die-hard Silent Hill fan. I didn’t play the original and fall in love with it, nor did I pick up (borrow) a copy of Silent Hill 2 until my senior year of college. I really enjoyed the time I spent with it due to the surreal nature of the game and the mysterious symbolism that could (and continues) to take years to unravel. Is James’ story real? Or is it a drunken-induced hallucination? Or is he dead? Any answer is completely valid as the game gives you clues to support those thoughts. So let me present to you Silent Hill: Shattered Memories for the Nintendo Wii.