Updates To Come, But Sloooooowly, It Seems…

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Bah. What with all this MAJOR bandwidth chugginess from everyone in the area basically hogging more time online thanks to all sorts of Sandy-related issues (hell, at least we have power up here!), updates are going to be a bit slow (well, slower than usual) in coming on some stuff. That’s good news in that I can take time to complete a few more games I’d started, but bad news for my post count, Which I wanted to keep going daily with a certain number of posts per day.

Hmm. Well, I guess THIS counts as one of those posts, huh? Oh well. Off to take a nap, as I just cam back from the airport a little while ago and am WIPED out. I’ll probably dream of some games I need to finish, most likely…

Zzzzzzzzzz….

Review: Ragnarok Odyssey

Platform: PlayStation Vita

Developer: Game Arts

Publisher: Xseed Games

# of Players: 1 (online 1 – 4)

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: A- (90%)

Another key Vita game hitting stores and PSN at a prime point in a pretty busy year, Ragnarok Odyssey is one of the better JRPGs on the handheld thanks to addictive, fast-paced gameplay, plenty of tough enemies in offline single and online multiplayer modes and lots of lovely visuals and sound to groove on as you play. The game clicks in just about every area and fans of Ragnarok Online and the under-appreciated Ragnarok DS will be pleased to know that the game has enough familiar elements that it feels like a natural extension of those games that can be enjoyed on its own merits. The game is so good that the only major flaws here are some lock-on issues and the lack of a PlayStation 3 version or the ability for Cross Play functionality. The PS3 could use a decent new MMO/Action RPG experience and this would have been superb had GungHo Online and developer Game Arts seen fit to bring the game to that console.

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Until Dawn Halloween Trailer: Getting A Move On (As In Running Like Hell, Part Deux)…

Sony’s version of Ten Little Indians (minus two) meets SAW and a few other things is looking pretty nifty and yes, it also gets a nice Halloween trailer to ogle. I’m hoping the game is great, as it’s tough to do a good horror game these days because no matter how amazing it is, there’s going to be some jaded jackanape who starts griping that the game either isn’t scary enough, or is too familiar to something they think they know all about, or has someone cursing in it (hey, it’s a M-rated game, silly – what are you supposed to say when there’s a crazy man coming at you from out of nowhere with a knife?). I want to see this succeed because the Move works well enough (and hell, a LOT better than Kinect in terms of a 1:1 gameplay experience) and could use a many new titles that take advantage of the peripheral as possible. OK, I think that may be the last post for the day, as the connection here is crappy and I still need to get a few reviews done and posted later, PLUS, get around to changing the banner to November on the blogs. Back later… or sooner if I can find time for a quickie post.

Puppeteer Halloween Trailer: It’s Not Out Yet, But I’ll Be Lurking Nearby…

Meh, I’m still busy working on some reviews and such, so here’s a fun Halloween trailer for Puppeteer, Sony’s upcoming PS3 platformer. The game is still in progress, but as you can see here, it’s progressing nicely (even if this is just footage done up just for the “holiday”). Anyway, it’s another one headed to my want list, one of many PS3 games coming that should keep the console doing well into 2013.

Okami HD On PSN Now, Capcom Not Worried At All About AC III Juggernaut

You have to love that Capcom has a great sense of humor and can poke fun at both themselves and Ubisoft in the same video*. Sure, everyone will run out and snap up Assassin’s Creed III (the most pre-ordered game to date thanks in no small part to a year-plus long pre-sell campaign), but Capcom knows what’s good for you instead – another hero in while with some deft skills you’ll grow to love equally (even if you’ve played the original game to death). That and hey, some people think wolves are cooler automatically. I don’t count myself among that number – I just love Okami because it’s a damn good game. So yeah, BUY IT, I say!

*Eh, for some reason, Capcom posted a neat parody video called “Okami’s Creed” a few hours ago, but now it’s private, so my post makes no sense. Feh – I’ll leave it as is and hope that video is restored, as it’s quite funny stuff. Anyway, go buy Okami HD on PSN – you don’t need a funny video to let you know this classic still holds up today.

Review: Dokuro

Platform: PlayStation Vita

Developer: Game Arts/PonKotz Troops

Publisher: GungHo Online Entertainment

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Official Site

Score: A (95%)

 

 

Combining a cool storybook visual style and a compelling mix of puzzle, platforming and combat elements, Dokuro comes to PS Vita owners at a crucial time for Sony’s handheld. The Vita absolutely needs some key titles to prop it up as it finds its user base and GungHo Online Entertainment’s first of two games for the system (both from veteran Japanese developer Game Arts) ends up as a must-by for fans of old-school gameplay (and new school game delivery systems). This PSN game manages to be compelling right from the start thanks to the likable (and very dead, but cute) “hero”, the solid controls and how the surprisingly emotional story unfolds as you play.

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Divinity II: Developer’s Cut Set To Steam Up PC’s Today

OK, If you haven’t played this rather excellent game yet, go do yourself a favor and give it a shot. Larian Studios’ well-crafted (and quite lovely) action/RPG is fast-paced and challenging enough that even non-RPG fans can get into it with ease, the story is well done (and often quite funny), there are secrets GALORE and yes, plenty of loot to collect. I’ve played this one three times (the original PC and both Xbox 360 versions) and if I had the time, I’d play it again. All that and you get NEW content in this version. And hey – you also get to transform into a dragon in this game, and that’s always cool. Unless you REALLY hate dragons. Then you’d probably want to be playing something else. But everyone thinks dragons are cool, so you’re good with this game.

Thundercats DS In Stores Now: The Retro Revival Continues!

 

Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man – the 80’s cartoon hits just keep on coming to gamers these days (but hey, where’s the Twinkle the Dream Being game?!). Anyway, Namco Bandai has released Thundercats into the wild for the Nintendo DS. It certainly looks pretty awesome and heck, my nostalgia meter says this one will be a ton of fun. As usual, it’s up to the hands-on time and final impressions from dopes like me and other editor-types that will sway you one way or the other, but I trust in Lion-O to NOT be in a stinker. Mumm-Ra, maybe (which is why he’ll never get his own game), but not Lion-O. Anyway, we shall see what’s what in a few days when my review copy pops up.

Sandy, You Can’t Stop Me! Incoming Reviews (Delayed Slightly)

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Hokay, in brief: Ragnarok Odyssey (BUY IT!), Dokuro (BUY IT!) Retro City Rampage (BUY IT!), Orgarhythm (BUY IT!) and Skylanders Giants (BUY IT!) are all incoming reviews this week and next along with King’s Bounty: Warriors of the North (I just got the code now and need to download this, but if it’s as solid as the last couple of KB games, it’s a buy) and some Holiday Gift Guide suggestions, I need to do quite a bit of updating. It’s been a bit hectic here what with all the stormy weather and such keeping me otherwise occupied, but expect a lot more to read as things sort of calm down. We got slapped around pretty badly by Sandy here in NYC, but the home office and games collection are just fine (as am I). Anyway, off to tackle some writing – back later!

The Pinball Arcade Gets Elvira & The Party Monsters Out For Halloween!

 

Ah, nothing like a little hurricane action to keep you indoors and annoyed (but slightly productive). Anyway, one more post for the day, then I’m off to catch up on some gaming. While Zen Studios is king of the modern digital pinball game these days, the fine folks at Farsight Studios have been making the best recreations of classic pinball tables for consoles and other devices. The newest addition to the ongoing Pinball Arcade series (exclusively for PS3 and PS Vita) will include the legendary Elvira and the Party Monsters table, which last appeared on the Atari Lynx if I’m not mistaken. It’s good to be a PS3 and Vita owner these days, that’s for sure. Anyway, go ogle the video above – I’m off to play a few games and watch stuff blow by my window seven floors up.  Sandy, you’re not slowing ME down one bit, grrrrr!