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 Now first off, let me say that I'm not really a fan of the Star Wars movies per se. As I drop that nasty bit of flamebait in your lap, let me say it's because it's so empty as opposed to other science fiction franchises I enjoy. The scope of background to draw from and the mythos in it's size and complexity is a far cry from that established for Babylon 5, Stargate, Doctor Who or Star Trek.
Having said that, I've always enjoyed the Star Wars games. I suppose in a way, I see the games as deep as the 90 minute movies they are based on. If you've ever played Rogue Squadron, Knights of the Old Republic, Jedi Knight series, Bounty Hunter and Shadows of the Empire, you know what I mean as they fill in so much more info and back story than the movies ever did.
Continue reading Tan's Mini Reviews: Lego Star Wars The Complete Saga
 OK so after I had wrote my last entry on this game, a couple more hours of playing and I had beaten it. Apparently the 3rd chapter is a lot shorter than the previous two. That's fine because it wrapped up the story and allowed me to begin a new game for better grinding and yoinkage. So here's my review of it:
I've enjoyed this game enough now that I have beaten it, that immediately following the ending and credits, I began a new game using the same character under the "Elite" mode which makes all the enemies of the game 50 levels higher than they were previously. So I haven't stopped playing it yet and that doesn't happen often after I beat a game.
The fact that you can grind and that enemies respawn gives this game a deeper depth and more play value. I suppose on one hand it makes the game easy if you level up well past that of the enemies as you progress through the story. Or you can think of it as a bonus for all the time you spent grinding for new items and EXP points.
Compared to the PC versions of Dungeon Siege, this one has a more Dark Alliance/Champions of Norrath feel about it. A bit glitchy at times and not overly complicated, the game has a laid back quality that makes it an easy game to just pick up for a few minutes and do some “yoinking”. Just be patient with the load times, even the 2nd model PSP has a bit of a wait while loading levels.
Graphics and sound are surprisingly good. Even the voice acting is well done and the character animations are fluid. The levels themselves are a bit generic but they are varied and there is a keen level of attention to detail to them.
Leveling up is fun because not only is there level specific loot, but there are many choices for attributes and abilities to put your earned points into. That gives you some flexibility in customizing your character and later on you can augment that with subclasses.
There are also crossover codes used between this game and Dungeon Siege II: Broken World for the PC. These codes unlock bonus items such and armour and weapons.
If I had to wrap up an impression of this game in one sentence, it’d be: “Level grinding & looting without the burden of long story dialogs”.
Tan's score - 9.0/10 or an A-
 It's kind of ironic that a little over a year since my first blog post here at RF Generation, that I'd be blogging about another Space Invaders game. As you may or may not know, 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the original Space Invaders in the arcades back in 1978.
To commemorate this milestone, Taito, now owned by Square-Enix, released Space Invaders Extreme for both the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP roughly 3 weeks ago. A re-imagined game in the same sense as Pac-Man CE, that has a mixture of the old gameplay and new modes and elements common by today's standards.
Now et me get the bad stuff out of the way first. There aren't any sound options for turning down the music or sound effects (which are both good mind you). The Ad Hoc multiplayer mode is really simple and not all that feature rich. That's it, that's all the bad I have to say about this game!
The first thing I'll mention I like about this game is it's price. $19.99 is a great value for any game new and this one is no exception. Since the DS has such tiny controls for my hands, I decided to opt for the PSP version instead. It's also my preferred choice because of the bigger screen.
One of the best features of this game are the changes made to the gameplay. Now I like Space Invaders in all it's revisions and spinoffs, but that's not to say that it can't change while maintaining it's identity and heritage. Taito did a great job of keeping the core game intact while adding such things as powerups, boss battles, bonus stages and colour coded enemies and UFOs. In some ways, this game reminds me of a Galaga/Xevious/Space Invaders mashup with all it's parts and pieces of added gameplay elements. The boss battles are cool because they showcase the pixelated form of the aliens on a larger scale as well as adding a bit of strategy as to how each one needs to be beaten.
Control is simple and you won't get cramped thumbs trying to be everywhere at once on the screen. Graphics are crisp and colourful and there is an option to turn the background effects on or off if you find them too distracting. If you do those effects are replaced by a colourful background that doesn't move.
Difficulty is on a more steady curve and those who may not be pros at shooters or twitch/reflex types of games will still be able to enjoy it and survive for 10-15 minutes at a time. In other words it's equally suited both as a short diversion as well as a marathon high score challenge. Also as you play you'll unlock Stages which you can always go back to later on and rack up more high scores.
I think Taito did an amazing job in re-invigorating an old game for it's third decade of play. This has to be among the most addictive, simple and enjoyable games on the PSP system and one of my favorite games of the year so far. As far as this wave of retro remakes is concerned, Space Invaders Extreme sits very high on the quality list and sticks to it's roots while adding something new at the same time. A feat not easy to accomplish when you have 3 generations of gamers to try to appeal to!
9.0/10
 Now before I get to my review, I want to say that I bought this game at a bargain bin price a month or so ago because my instincts told me it wasn’t a full price kind of game. Although late to the party in terms of writing a review (4 1/2 months after release) I can honestly say I’ve beaten it and have experienced all four player classes. This game has gotten a bit of a bad rap by the gaming press and much of it undeservedly so.
Now as many of you know, I’m a sucker for WRPGs (Western RPGs). That’s a bit of a stereotype I’m afraid but it has since taken root and is generally used on a wide scale to describe these type of games. A WRPG is basically a sword & sorcery type role playing game, usually developed by a European or North American company, and has plenty of Dungeons & Dragons or Tolkien inspired elements to it.
This game is a port of the 2006 PC Dark Messiah title and is more simplified and altered to better match the console experience. You have four player classes (Fighter, Archer, Mage & Assassin) and have no real customization of your character other than the equipment you choose to use. Leveling up is linear and since there is no respawn of enemies, it’s carefully spread out throughout the game.
Gameplay if I was to formulate an analogy, would be something like a cross between Thief, Tomb Raider and Oblivion. The combat is pretty straight forward, the controls work well and the platforming aspect of it using the rope bow can be very challenging and rewarding. It let’s you explore and challenge yourself on a scale I wish more games would offer. This exploration is a combination of acrobatics, skill and puzzle solving and is one of the best virtues of this game.
This would be what I’d call a “Lite” RPG, where one could argue this to be a “action RPG” or an “unsophisticated dungeon crawler”. There’s even a bit of humor in the game from time to time to keep the dark story in check. The story itself is pretty simple and really unimportant, and there are two different endings to the game for you to explore as well as a few in-game story paths you can follow.
The sounds & voice acting is generally well done, the graphics look a bit dated but still work well for the type of game and considering it’s a 2 year old port. There are a couple minor bugs but nothing game breaking or overly aggravating. You can expect a solid 20 hour game give or take a few hours depending on how you play it and the multiplayer is simple, mindless fun.
If you can find this game for $20 or less and would enjoy a “Lite” RPG, or a simple game with a fun laid back single player, I recommend this game wholeheartedley. Few instances in gaming does a “Jack of all trades, Master of none” type of title work out so well. Just don’t spend a lot of money on it hoping to get your WRPG fix until Fallout 3 or the Two Worlds sequel comes out.
8.0/10
Yes, late to the party but better late than never no? The one thing about being a game collector is the enormous backlog of games you have on your shopping list. When you have 35+ game systems (a small but proud number in collecting circles), you have to split priority between new games and old. Right now with the Xbox/Gamecube/PS2 slowly disappearing from shelves, those have been my priority at the moment.
I initially wanted to buy GHIII for the PS2. One of the many perks of collecting, is that we can indulge ourselves in a little obsessive compulsive behavior and make matching sets. I already have GH and GHII both in the guitar/game bundle form and I also have the 80's Encore version as well. So having the GHIII guitar/game would have been a nice completion to a music set that would have included Rock Band in the future as well. Unfortunately I was unable to find a PS2 version without resorting to online purchasing. Oh well. Since part of the reason was also because I have two guitars from the previous games, buying the Xbox 360 version screwed that up. So I bought the Guitar Hero II bundle as well since it's now only $30-40 more for the bundle than a second guitar by itself.
I'm not a journalist, nor a member of the gaming industry. I won't pretend I'm a hardcore reviewer or an industry analyst. I'm just going to throw a few observations and criticisms out there based on my own experiences, as much for my future self to read over as entertainment for you, the reader who has stopped by to check out our humble site. I'm going to compare GHII with GHIII, as I see them as not only separate games, but a turning point in the evolution of the series both game-wise and hardware-wise.
One of the first things I noticed is how it's packaged. GHIII doesn't have the same kind of semi-case that II has and probably can't take the same beating. It has a thin sleeve over a plain white box, which without digging out my PS2 GH boxes, is similar to the comparison between I and II. That isn't so much a concern for the average gamer as it is for collectors who like to keep everything intact.
Once un-boxed, I really like the look of the Les Paul guitar controller more so than the X-plorer that comes with GHII. Though I have to admit that the X-plorer feels more solid and better built than the Les Paul and a bit heavier as well. I like the fact that it's wireless, but I don't like the fact it comes in two pieces. It never feels quite solid when the two are locked up. Not that I think it could come undone while playing, but it has too large of a tolerance when you wiggle the neck while connected to the body for my tastes.
The game itself plays great. The wheel wasn't re-invented here, but for their first time out Neversoft who took over from Harmonix, played it safe and kept it familiar while adding a bit of personal flair which worked out well. I was split as to which game had a better song list RB or GHIII. I like Rock Bands soundtrack equally for a couple reasons. The Guitar Hero III soundtrack in my opinion is better than Rock Band, but Rock band has way more master tracks which by itself is an impressive boast.
The tempo of the game is pretty much the same as before. Hardcores may tell you otherwise but for those of us who play the game without over-analyzing it, we won't find too many differences in that respect. I admit I skip the "caveman band"¯ cutscenes where your band apparently can't speak in anything but a series of grunts, I think it just slows down getting to the gameplay.
I'm also not a fan of the boss battles, which luckily are few and far between. The whole "attack and whatnot"¯ thing just distracts from the game. No worries though, the boss battles are spread out and there's only three of them.
My only other negative critique is the "Star Power". Maybe it's just me but it seems to activate whenever it wants to, and sometimes not at all. That can be a major issue if you were playing multiplayer or trying to complete achievements. I figure that it's either the angle that I hold the guitar which isn't completely vertical, or the guitar itself doesn't have all that great of a tilt sensor. Sure I could hit the back button when I wanted it, but what about the 75% of the time when it activates on it's own? Also the crowd noise drowns out the song when in star power mode, I just like to hear the music while I play so it's a bit distracting.
All in all GHIII is a good addition to the series. It may not revolutionize the genre, but it doesn't suffer from Madden syndrome either or seem like a half-baked sequel with nothing new. Those who haven't played the previous games shouldn't feel like they couldn't jump into it. Each game is user friendly for first time shredders and offers different songs for different tastes.
I give it a 9.0/10. I would have given it a 8.5 just to put it slightly under GHII, but "Knights of Cydonia"¯ kicks so much ass and it was a major incentive for me to buy it.
 I figure a stupidly long titled game needs a stupidly long titled review. David Jaffe, I want you to know I'm putting you on notice. Your game is really good but the title really really sucks ass and is too long. I'm docking you a tenth of a review point for it's lameness.
Change of plans
I just got off the phone with Sony customer service. I was going to write a nice review for this game detailing it's pros and cons. Instead I'm going to rant a bit on how Sony's customer service sucks ass. Maybe by the time I get to the bottom of this article I'll have vented enough to score it.
[rant]So I bought this game brand new last night for $19.99 from a major chain retailer. Got it home and opened it to find that there was no included artbook or download code for the soundtrack. Stewed on it a bit, played the game, and figured I'd sort it out the next day.
After unsuccessfully locating a software specific support site on the web, I decided to hunt through the manual for the 1-800 number. The first 10-15 minutes were spent waiting on hold while listening to generic background music with one of the songs having the chorus line "Don't make me wait too long". Obviously someone has a sense of humor at that call center.
Over the course of the 45 minute call, I was asked questions, put on hold again several times and finally received my answer and suggested course of action. If I mailed them proof of purchase, shipped the $19.99 game and it's contents back to California from New Brunswick and waited without my new title for no doubt at least a couple of weeks, they'd repackage my game with the artbook and download code and send it back.
So to summarize, If I spend $10 shipping a $19.99 game back to Sony, they'd repack it and send it back to me instead of just sending me the missing items after I had faxed them the proof of purchase.
No wonder prostitution is a growing industry. You don't have to wait for what seems like forever to get fucked. That's 45 minutes + that I'll never get back. [/rant]
Back on topic:
Giving credit where credit is due, for a budget title and for being a PSP port, they did a great job bringing this to the PlayStation 2. The gameplay is incredibly fun, smooth 60fps even in 2 player play. The "Lost Levels" are really great, though it's a sad story when you find out why Twisted Metal: Harbor City was cancelled in the first place and why these had never seen the light of day.
If you haven't played the PSP version before, think of it as a quasi-Twisted Metal 2 remade and enhanced. It has the old feel, the same attitude and addictiveness as well. Not the nicest looking game out there, but colourful and easy on the eyes, much more so than TM:Black's darker tone.
Lots of bonus features, some good some bad. A great documentary on the series with interviews from key members, extremely cheesy ending movies that were cut from Twisted Metal 1, and an odd gameplay mode where you run around an empty asylum/junkyard as Sweetooth collecting factoids and concept art. As for the other bonus stuff, well Sony has decided that I can pay half the cost of a new game or forget about it so I have no opinion on how good the songs or the artbooks are.
As it stands, it's a fun budget title that any shooter/Twisted Metal/car combat gamer should own. For the low price of $19.99 it's a good deal even if you feel like that Matador in the post underneath this one because of what you may be missing. 
Tan's score 8.4/10
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