VGA 101: New Additions (One Joker, One Ace)…

Posted on January 3, 2013 by geelw

Stop! Blurry photo time! OK, I really couldn’t pass up Golden Sun: Dark Dawn brand new for five bucks (I guess the game didn’t sell all that well, huh?), so that’s another RPG for my Nintendo DS, which needs to be replaced as it’s finally on its last legs, er hinge. The right side hinge had a tiny crack in it for a while and that crack developed into a split and eventually, a chunk came out of the hinge which led to the piece of plastic inside falling out a few days ago. Rats. It’s a good thing that top screen is connected in the left side. Yeah, I’m a TOTAL cheapskate, kids. I don’t toss anything aside that still works, making me a spokesperson for console longevity over yearly replacements (one reason I’ll never own another Apple product).

As for The Simple 2000 Vol. 32: The Sensha, this PS2 import as also inexpensive and has a bunch of tanks in it. Woo hoo. I happen to like tank-based games (well, tanks in general are kinda cute, but don’t tell anyone I said that), so it was a no-brainer purchase. Granted, if I liked GOOD tank games I’d not have bought this one at all, but it has a few redeeming points that make it worth playing through. It’s a bit sparse visually and it’s definitely NOT an arcade game along the lines of TANK! TANK! TANK!, but it’s a nice counterpoint conversation piece. I’d still prefer someone do whip up a new version of the Dreamcast sleeper Panzer Front (still one of the more impressive console simulations I’ve played), but the chances of that are pretty much zero these days…

I’m Doing A Bit of Doomsday Prepping of My Own… EDF Style!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by geelw

So, Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable is coming out in a few days (1/8/2013) and I’ve been doing a bit of preparing over the last few weeks by playing a few import and US games either developed by Sandlot or similar to games they’ve worked on. Yeah, yeah, I already reviewed the import version of the game, but I think the US build fixes a few minor things and I really don’t mind playing a game that fun again (in English this time). Especially if it’s an EDF game. Do you think I have a problem here or something? I don’t think I do. Hell, thanks to too much time playing these games, I’m long cured of any fear of insects, that’s for damn sure.

Anyway, onto the library items below the jump!

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Predictions 2013: “I Want My Life Back!” Will Be the New Black…

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I have the feeling that for some folks, this will be the year they want to be a lot less social, at least in terms of their online lives. Why, you ask? Well, given that every week we find out that (duh) everything we do is seen and pored over in detail by people we probably wouldn’t want in our homes or anywhere close to them and some of those sites we’re so enamored of are full of security holes big enough to float a battleship though. Add in the no-fault ever changeable terms of service that get people raging when they fund out they’re suddenly part of a corporation’s ad campaign and a few other stupid things straight out of a bad sci-fi novel and yup, I can see some deciding basta es basta when it comes to an online presence they no longer have complete control of… Continue reading →

The Cave Character Trailers: Adventure Gaming Never Died. You Just Weren’t Paying Attention…

Posted on January 2, 2013 by geelw

Sega of America’s got the great good fortune to have the publishing rights to Double Fine Studios and Ron Gilbert’s upcoming download only multiplatform adventure game which just so happens to be pretty unique on a few fronts. The genre itself has been kicked around as “dead”, “dying”, and other not so positive things, but the actual truth is it never really went away thanks to a combination of older gamers still playing the classics, new players discovering them again thanks to sites like gog.com (they’re having a GREAT sale on tons of stuff that ends in about 24 hours, by the way) and plenty of indie games popping up on just about every platform with a screen these days. The whimsical art style here is only the tip of the iceberg, however – The Cave looks to change things up with multiple playable characters with their own motivations for stepping into the titular location for a bit of survival-based spelunking. It’s also a Double Fine game, so you WILL laugh a lot, replay it a few times and think some deep thoughts as you’re doing that laughing and replaying, guaranteed.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters: When Hollywood Says “You Kids Need Better Books!”

Posted on January 1, 2013 by geelw

Am I the only one whose eyeballs roll way back in his head when these ads or trailers run for these films that mangle the hell out of the classics? Sometimes I wonder who keeps forcing all this stuff upon those gullible types who snap up opening day tickets as if they’re going to see something as memorable as the source material. Bleh.

Of course, I’ll be a totally contradictory nutcase here and say I’d make a “Brothers Grimm: Screenplay Slashers” film with the ghosts of the Bros. stalking and getting rid of studio pests using methods from their many stories. Hmmm.. then again, that’s too close to the Dr. Phibes remakes I’ve been HOPING Tim Burton would get around to doing already. Eh, whatever – I’ll probably catch this flick on cable a few months after it tanks in theaters. If I’m lucky, it’ll be back to back with that Abe Lincoln: Vampire Killer film so I can kill two birds with one stone (and wish for that time back afterwards)…

Earth Defense Force 2025 2nd Trailer: Five Minutes of Everything You Wanted to See (and Then Some)…

Posted on December 31, 2012 by geelw

More vehicles (at least two types of tanks and a heli that allows three players to blast bugs AND motorbikes now? Nice!) and what’s looking like a larger scope to things means Sandlot isn’t screwing around, ladies and gents. EDF 2025 is going to be their best game to date and features a ton of changes and improvements that look to make it as great a multiplayer game is it already is for solo and co-op play. The new classes get some nice introductions and there’s even some humor here as the video ends on a pretty hilarious bad-ass note borrowed straight from too many action flicks. Anyway, yep, I’m importing this once news of a Japanese release date come out and hopefully, D3Publisher will get the word that fans want to see this game as a DISC release in addition to a download on the PS Store.

Texas Chainsaw 3D: Nope, Screaming Won’t Help At All…

Posted on December 30, 2012 by geelw

Hey, maybe… just MAYBE, this will actually be good. But I’m an old, old cranky guy about stuff like this, so I doubt it. The fact that they reference the 1974 original in the trailer and TV spot is a bit irksome to an old fart like me because I know that it’s rare that a horror flick gets a well done remake or sequel. Not impossible, mind you – just rare. All (lousy) puns intended there, by the way. Still, I’ll give this a look without the 3D gimmickry at all once it’s cable bound. Hey kids! A good horror film is maybe 90% mood anyway (or more if it’s made before the late 50’s) and this one seems to be doing a wee bit too much plot jiggering and trying to tie in exactly to Tobe Hooper’s classic (still a fairly relentless viewing experience that’s a lot less bloody than you’d think if you’ve never seen it before). Well, good, bad or otherwise forgettable, if you DO get scared during this reboot… “just keep saying to yourself: It’s only a MOVIE, It’s only a MOVIE, It’s only a MOVIE…”

VGA 101: The Music of Soul Sacrifice: No Moms Complained About The Noise From Downstairs…

Posted on December 30, 2012 by geelw

Ha! And I bet you thought most video game music was done up by some bespectacled guy in his mother’s basement with a bunch of old Casio keyboards and a beat up old multi-track recorder picked up at a yard sale. OK, even if you didn’t, it’s just nice to see how some game music not composed in someones’ (mom’s) basement gets done up for certain higher profile projects. Respect! Anyway, Soul Sacrifice isn’t out until March 13, 2013, but I have my eyeball on it (I’d have TWO eyeballs on it, but I need one in my head to see what I’m putting into my mouth) and it likes what it sees so far. That music sounds nicely appropriate as well, so I’m betting I won’t be disappointed in the gameplay. As always (repeat after me, class), we shall see…

Dynasty Warriors 8: Like It or Not, Koei Tecmo and Omega Force Keep It Rolling…

Posted on December 24, 2012 by geelw

I happen to like the long-running franchise, warts and all… but I also know there are some gamers who ask “Whyyyyyyy…” every time there’s a new entry or remix version dropping into stores. Hey, Koei Tecmo knows what the fans want and Omega Force gets better and better at what they do so well. Granted, if people had actually bought up games like Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll or even Crimson Sea, perhaps we’d see sequels to those hitting stores to shake things up. Both may LOOK like fantasy versions of a Musou game, but if you’ve actually played either, you’d see the differences right away. Anyway, sign me up yet again – I’ll be back for more bloodless hack ‘n slash action in ancient China just like the other hardcore Warriors fanatics.

Larian Studios Brings Some Holiday Cheer to The Year of the Dragon…

Posted on December 19, 2012 by geelw

I got a few holiday-themed digital cards and videos in my packed inbox, but I like this one the best because it’s amusing, has real people in it along with a bit of game stuff and yes, you can sing along (as long as you keep it down and don’t wake the neighbors). Oh, yeah – you should probably buy one or two of Larian’s find RPGs for yourself or as a gift for a gamer you know. I’m just saying… it IS the holiday season and all. That and you don’t want some huffy dragon hanging out on your porch or windowsill glaring at you until you do so…