Now I have to say, for BioWare’s first handheld game, they did a great job! Sonic has suffered lately as the good games, few as they may be, are lost in the sea of really crappy ones that seem to be pushed out year after year tarnishing his name. So for one of gaming’s greatest mascots to have a really great game after 2 decades while crossing into a new genre, it gives one hope for the future of the character and the franchise at large. I can just imagine if a Sonic RPG ever hits consoles, what a sweet day that would be!
So to start things off, here’s what Ididn’tlike about the game:
I never seem to amass a good amount of money or items, no matter how much I grind or steal during combat.
I wish the side quests were more varied and numerous.
Now here’s what Ididlike about the game:
Each character was different and it made the combat and exploration more interesting.
It felt like a console experience, which to me means a deeper game than I expected for a handheld.
The franchise felt fresh without rehashing or leaning on the past like a crutch, at the same time had plenty of things that felt like I was playing a classic Sonic game.
Enemies respawned, which for a BioWare game is remarkable in itself. It allowed me to spend time building stats which gave me a comfortable lead as I reached more difficult areas and battles.
So overall I’m more impressed with this game than I had expected. So much so that I even started a new game file right after beating it. When you do your characters carry their stats into the new game. Hopefully there will be sequels and if I’m lucky, even a console version at some point. Though there is still room for improvement here, it’s a great start and I give this game an 8.5/10.
First off, let me say I'm a huge BioWare fan. I'm also a Sega fan in general and while Sonic isn't super high on my top lists of titles or franchises, especially lately, I still enjoy the Sega Genesis titles from that series. So while you read this, keep in mind that these impressions come from someone with no particular loyalty to the series but instead, from an RPG fan, a BioWare fan and someone who doesn't get as much use out of his DS for lack of games suited to his tastes. In fact, this is the first DS game I've bought this year.
Now I admit, I was a bit hesitant on picking this up. This is after all BioWare's first title on the DS and also it's first ever handheld title period. Sonic as a franchise seemed almost un-salvageable as a quality series and it has earned some harsh criticism due to it's overall downfall. Don't get me wrong, I was looking forward to it's release, but that's as much from curiosity as it was the prospect of a DS RPG from my favorite developer. In the end it was my faith in BioWare as a developer while owning and loving every game they've made so far that convinced me to take a leap of faith and plunk down the $40.
So I've put around 2 hours or so into this game, They say it's a 15-20 hour title 100% completed and if that's the case there's some nice value for the money.
The graphics and sound are superb for this game. I didn't care much for Wind Waker but this Cel-like style suits the DS very well. Controls are tight and easy to use. It's what I imagine Ninja Gaiden DS and Animal Crossing would be if they merged into one game. From what I've seen so far you can pretty much play the whole game with a stylus in either hand and maybe only need to use a shoulder button from time to time or the mic.
Gameplay is classic Zelda. Puzzles, a bit of dungeon crawling, some sailing etc along with using the map more extensively and making notes on it like places to come back to later or routes to take to avoid traps. I imagine side quests as well once you get into the game more.
My only concern right now is exploring. Something I always thought was great about the series. Like Wind Waker it seems more restricted and smaller because of the open water/island maps. Hopefully there will be some free roaming land masses once the rest of the map becomes visible.
Although the opening sequence and story is a bit lame and reeking of deja vu, it's a light hearted game I'm really enjoying. It's certainly got a respectable amount of charm I've found lacking in the last console one, but I think this will be the last Zelda of it's type they can get away with before the series becomes tired and needing an overhaul.
If you've played:
Wind Waker Minish Cap Animal Crossing
You'll like this game for sure. Just keep in mind it's easier, more casual and laidback.
So what do dairy farmers and Bandai Namco have in common? Well if you don't know the answer to that perhaps you should do a search in our database for Pac-Man or Namco Museum and hazard a guess!
So you can imagine my and no doubt countless other people's initial reaction when they hear that yet another Namco Museum has come out. This time around it's on the Nintendo DS. The sound of milk striking a bucket at 14.6psi can be heard from miles away. Yet for some reason this one struck me immediately as one that I had to have and not 12 hours after I had seen coverage and media for this compilation on the net I had a copy in my hands. Even more surprising is that's it's better than I had even imagined.
This particular version of the Museum series includes: Pac-Man, Galaga, DigDug II, Xevious, The Tower of Druaga, Mappy, Galaxian and the recent multiplayer hit Pac-Man Vs. All of this is a neat package for only $19.99.
Let me get this out of the way first, this is among the best compilations of any type I've ever had. The emulation of these titles is equal to any PC version and second only to the arcade cabinet originals in my opinion. I normally don't have a lot of respect for the DS's D-pad but I have to say it works so well with these games it brings a refreshing feel to these classics.
Now I won't bore you with gameplay details of these games, if you don't know what they are already then you don't deserve to call yourself a gamer. Find yourself an arcade somewhere, bring some coin and familiarize yourself with these classics that helped define gaming in the 80's. What I will focus on is why I think this version sets the bar higher than the rest and why it's worth your $20.
First off the intro is good. It uses the sprites of each game and sound effects into one continuous sequence, very entertaining. Then as you come to the main menu you have 4 options to choose from: Pac-Man Vs. (multiplayer only game), Arcade, Demo and Library. The Demo mode allows you to broadcast demos of each game to your friends wirelessly and the Library allow you to listen to each game's music and sound effects, read instructions, view arcade flyers, view high scores, credits and more.
The Arcade mode is where the other 7 games are located. Keep in mind that throughout this whole thing the menus are simple, easy to read and big enough to be used by finger or stylus. Each game has 3 main menus with specific options and settings for that particular title. Game settings, Button config, Screen settings, Hardcore options, Dip switches and even hints.
Now that's where this game really becomes impressive. There are 6 screen modes, everything from width, height types with aspect ratio adjustment to even switching screens and playing sideways like an open book. As well there are sharpness settings for the screen.
You can adjust game settings like extra lives etc, recreate documented game glitches known to the originals and mess with the dip switches. The dip switch options are neat because it gives you an actual picture of the cabinet PCB, tells you to find the dip switches on it and using the stylus, change the settings of each while the top screen shows you what each switch does.
All of this together with fantastic sound, authentic looking graphics and great control make this one helluva good investment for anyone wanting a portable arcade and a great price to match it. Even some of you Galaga haters out there (you know who you are), might finally make your peace with this game and enjoy it for a change.
Here's a Gametrailers.com Quakecon 2007 video showcasing gameplay footage from id Software's Orcs & Elves DS. The game which is a port of the cell phone title from 2006 is an old school RPG similar to the classic D&D dungeon crawlers. I'm a sucker for these types of games and can't wait for this to come out. Enjoy:
News of Rare bringing the Viva Pinata franchise to the Nintendo DS was a welcome announcement if not kind of expected. Both my wife and I enjoy the Xbox 360 version and take turning managing the "garden". Despite the game's reviews, word of mouth and apparent "kid appeal", something told me to take a chance on it and for that I was richly rewarded with what I think is one of the most overlooked and best games on the 360.
For those of you who haven't played it, Viva Pinata is an incredibly deep game with plenty of adult humor alongside it's family appeal. A DS version would in my opinion, cater to the Rare fans of yesteryear and fans of games like Animal Crossing, Pokemon and Harvest Moon.
Micromanagement, breeding, planning, and many other aspects of gameplay will according to Rare, bring the full experience of the 360 version to the DS plus even more additions, game modes and Wi-Fi integration. My only minor beef with the 360 version was the control. It worked well enough not to detract from the game too much, but it's a camera and selection system more suited to a mouse on a PC. Needless to say using a stylus for everything from tapping "sours" to digging holes and selecting Pinatas would be a natural fit.
You want to know one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen in a game that ranks up there with Manhunt and Hot Coffee? Beating a Pinata to death with a shovel until they explode in a shower of candy which their fellow Pinatas swarm in and eat, even cannibalism by members of the same species! Or breeding a parent with their own children! Or even watching helplessly while a guy with a penchant for putting sick Pinatas out of their misery kills them before the pokey slow Doctor can get there and treat them. How these snuck past the ESRB and earned a "E" rating, I'll never know.
I can just imagine all the fun I'll little kids will soon have chanting "die! die! die!" while beating a little candy bunny rabbit to death with their stylus with an evil grin on my their face. Good times, good times.
For more information check out the official Rare website at:
Here's a snippet of news that Nintendo has released today. It's upcoming highly anticipated title Metroid Prime 3: Corruption has been delayed for a week and now sits at an August 27th release date. Meanwhile The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has finally received it's North American release date of October 1st, which by some accounts is earlier than expected.
Here's a link for 1up.com's exclusive first look at Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS. Classic Contra at it's best in my opinion. I'm really looking forward to this game now that most of my doubts are eased as to whether the developer could capture the feel of a good Contra game. I'm also glad that the game will retain it's difficulty level and not fall sway to being ridiculously easy as many DS games tend to be. Boss battles look varied and interesting as well, though as mentioned the grappling hook and the second screen aren't really that important to the game.
Courtesy of Kotaku and Nintendo Europe the entire summer lineup of games for both the Wii and DS have been revealed with accompanying street dates from now until September. Here's the list as seen from the website keeping in mind that release dates are as always subject to change without notice:
Wii Software
Resident Evil 4 Wii edition (Capcom)----29 June
Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix----29 June
Scarface (Vivendi Games)----30 June
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon----June
Mario Party 8 (Nintendo)----13 July
Big Brain Academy for Wii (Nintendo)----20 July
King Of Clubs (Oxygen Games)----20 July
William Pinball Classics (System 3)----July
Transformers The Game (Activision)----July
Trauma Center: Second Opinion----10 Aug.
Tamagotchi Party On!----August
California Games (System 3)----August
Alien Syndrome (SEGA)----07 Sep.
Super Paper Mario (Nintendo)----14 Sep.
Dragon Blade: Wrath Of Fire----14 Sep.
World Championship Poker Featuring
Howard Lederer: All In Wii (505Games)----21 Sep.
Brunswick Bowling pro (505Games)----September
Cosmic Family (Ubisoft)----September
My Word Coach (Ubisoft)----September
Ratatouille (THQ)----Q3
Toot & Puddle: Call Of The North Zoo Digital Publishing)----Q3
Nintendo DS Software
More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? (Nintendo)----29 June
Puzzle League DS (Nintendo)----29 June
Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix (EA)----29 June
Dino Master (Majesco / Eidos)----29 June
F24 Stealth Fighter (Majesco / Eidos)----29 June
MechAssault Phantom War (Majesco / Eidos)----29 June
Nacho Libre (Majesco / Eidos)----29 June
Super Black Bass Fishing (Majesco / Eidos)----29 June
Here's the headline from the official Bioware website:
SEGA ANNOUNCES BIOWARE WILL CREATE SONIC ROLE PLAYING GAME FOR THE NINTENDO DS
Wow, that's a mouth full. The game which is expected to hit stores sometime in 2008 is what I would call a serious effort on Sega's part to both reinvigorate the Sonic franchise as well as make a high quality game. Bioware being a leader among RPG game design will do an amazing job I'm sure. I always wondered when Sonic would get a Paper Mario or Mario & Luigi equivalent title.
For more on this announcment head over to the Bioware website for the article HERE, not much more info is given but you can tell both parties are taking this very seriously.
This year Konami, working with WayForward Technologies will be bringing an all-new Contra title to the Nintendo DS this year. This game that has a working title tentatively called Contra 4 is a direct sequel to the SNES Classic Contra III: The Alien Wars or as our friends in PAL regions know it Super Probotector: Alien Rebels.
According to the information in a press release posted by www.joystiq.com It will retain it's 2d side scrolling gameplay while adding new elements such as dual screens, wireless co-op and a grappling hook which is supposed to weigh in heavily towards making challenging and unique combat experiences.
Looking forward to a new Contra game, they've been a bit "meh" as of late, hopefully this one will break the trend.
Now I have to say, for BioWare’s first handheld game, they did a great job! Sonic has suffered lately as the good games, few as they may be, are lost in the sea of really crappy ones that seem to be pushed out year after year tarnishing his name. So for one of gaming’s greatest mascots to have a really great game after 2 decades while crossing into a new genre, it gives one hope for the future of the character and the franchise at large. I can just imagine if a Sonic RPG ever hits consoles, what a sweet day that would be!
First off, let me say I'm a huge BioWare fan. I'm also a Sega fan in general and while Sonic isn't super high on my top lists of titles or franchises, especially lately, I still enjoy the Sega Genesis titles from that series. So while you read this, keep in mind that these impressions come from someone with no particular loyalty to the series but instead, from an RPG fan, a BioWare fan and someone who doesn't get as much use out of his DS for lack of games suited to his tastes. In fact, this is the first DS game I've bought this year. 
So what do dairy farmers and Bandai Namco have in common? Well if you don't know the answer to that perhaps you should do a search in our database for Pac-Man or Namco Museum and hazard a guess!
Find yourself an arcade somewhere, bring some coin and familiarize yourself with these classics that helped define gaming in the 80's. What I will focus on is why I think this version sets the bar higher than the rest and why it's worth your $20.
News of Rare bringing the Viva Pinata franchise to the Nintendo DS was a welcome announcement if not kind of expected. Both my wife and I enjoy the Xbox 360 version and take turning managing the "garden". Despite the game's reviews, word of mouth and apparent "kid appeal", something told me to take a chance on it and for that I was richly rewarded with what I think is one of the most overlooked and best games on the 360.
Here's the headline from the official Bioware website:
This year Konami, working with WayForward Technologies will be bringing an all-new Contra title to the Nintendo DS this year. This game that has a working title tentatively called Contra 4 is a direct sequel to the SNES Classic Contra III: The Alien Wars or as our friends in PAL regions know it Super Probotector: Alien Rebels.
