Review: The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

Posted on October 24, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo DS/DSi

Developer: Media Vision

Publisher: Xseed Games

# of Players: 1

Rating: E (Everyone)

Score: A

Thanks to the very wise folks at Xseed, Media Vision’s RIZ-ZOAWD has finally come to the US retitled The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road and it’s one truly gorgeous JRPG both genre and Oz fans will love. The game balances classic turn-based combat with a great, innovative stylus centered control scheme that’s sure to be copied in the future by other developers. Nearly everything about the game is grand and feels just right. What’s here is basic enough for entry level players, yet the level of challenge in some spots can make the game tricky enough for RPG veterans to appreciate. This revision of the classic Oz tale doesn’t overstay its welcome either, as the adventure clocks in at a decent enough length and has a nicely done ending that resonates long after you’ve watched the end credits.

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Borderlands Shoots Into Retail for PS3, 360

Posted on October 20, 2009 by geelw

All I know is the FAQ writers and completion gamers’ heads are EXPLODING at the thought of collecting EVERY weapon they MUST have as they blast through Pandora’s population. “Ha ha haaaa!” Gearbox laughs at you with relish (and onions). Just try to enjoy the game and not obsess over getting every darn weapon, I say.

Hey 2K! Has someone at Gearbox even bothered to estimate how long it would take to actually nab every gun in the game? Run that program and post the results – that should give some of those folks out there a fit and a half if they’re the type that HAS to get everything a game can offer!

Anyway, press release below the jump – go buy the game. Three very cool screens from The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned DLC are also here for your perusal. Color me scared and amused already!

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Help NIS America Bring Badaman PSP to UMD!

Posted on October 18, 2009 by geelw

One of the things that irks me as a collector of games is this trend of releasing certain console and portable titles as download-only product (grrrr!). While it’s indeed great for those folks who feel no need to have a physical product, the simple fact is some of us out there would like the choice to have one or the other (or even both in some cases). Heck, what if you’re in an area without decent (or any) broadband access or just want the simple pleasure of actually reading a manual you can hold in your hot little hands?

Don’t get me wrong, folks – the ability to pay for and download new games and game content works amazingly well for those gamers who don’t give a hoot about the above issues, but SOME games would actually enjoy a much LARGER user base IF they were made available in as many (legal) forms as possible (grrr!). Yeah, that means you too, Konami (the otherwise superb Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment SHOULD also get a darn disc release on the Xbox 360 AND PS3 for those of use who want it! grrrr!!!)

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Diner Dash: Flo On The Go & Wedding Dash Hands-On

Posted on October 16, 2009 by geelw

If you’re a fan of “casual” PC games these days, there’s pretty much little to know doubt you’ve downloaded and played one of PlayFirst’s hugely popular titles. Thanks to a loyal (and expanding) user base that’s downloaded its games hundreds of millions of times, the PlayFirst web site is one of those games havens that’s doing quite well in this otherwise bumpy economy. With a huge library of all-ages games that range from fast-paced arcade action, “hidden object”, strategy, puzzle, role playing and adventure games, there’s pretty much something for everyone. Family-friendly games publisher Zoo Games, which has released titles for the Wii, Nintendo DS/DSi, PlayStation 2, PSP, iPhone, and PC has licensed two of PlayFirst’s key titles for the Nintendo DS just in time for the holiday season – here’s a rundown on what to expect.

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Duck & Cover, Daffy! Mastiff’s Great American Bird Hunt Is Coming in November

Posted on October 13, 2009 by geelw

Now, I could make the requisite “Dick Cheney is an unlockable character” joke, but it’s too damn obvious of a poke at the ex-VP (besides, he might show up on my doorstep). Anyway, if you’re not a PETA member of someone falling off the couch while headed to the phone to call your congressman to complain about whatever, this one actually looks as if it’ll be a lot of fun. Yeah, it’s looking like a more modern version of Nintendo’s classic Duck Hunt, but hey… if it worked back then, it’ll work just as well now.

Of course, this is from a lifelong Noo Yawkuh who’s barely set foot in the woods except for a few years of summer camp and a few trips with forest-friendly pals for camping trips too long ago. Anyway, Cover art, press release, game trailer (that music is a hoot!) and some nice screens below the jump.

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2K Announces Stronghold Collection for PC

Posted on October 13, 2009 by geelw

Catapults and boiling oil and poleaxes, oh my! If you’re a fan of top-shelf Medieval castle-building sims with a nice chunk of RTS combat and lots of replay value, you’re in luck. 2K Games has got your back with this solid Teen-rated collection of killer historical simulation goodness and even better, they even threw in Dracula, Siegfreid and King Arthur to spice things up royally.

Read the press release below for details and go camp out near your favorite game emporium if you’re all fired up afterward.

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Review: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

Posted on October 13, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PSP/PSP go

Developer: Atlus

Publisher: Atlus

# of Players: 1

Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: A

Revised back into its original version with the bonus Snow Queen quest and reworked to include new over world maps, anime cut scenes and music, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is one of the deepest, most cerebral RPGs currently available on the PSP. Atlus went all out with this updated version of the 1996 classic that introduced US audiences to the SMT series, making it accessible to players who came late to the party with Persona 3 and 4 while retaining its distinct visual style and gameplay. New players to the series should absolutely grab this version for its memorable characters and the offbeat mix of dramatic and humorous elements while those gamers who have played the original should also snap up the game, as familiarity absolutely won’t breed discontent.

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Gallery: Nostalgia

Posted on October 10, 2009 by geelw

2009 is turning into a really super year for Nintendo DS RPGs and here’s yet another one to absolutely go and pre-order if you’re into the genre. Ignition Entertainment’s upcoming Tecmo/Red/Matrix co-production, Nostalgia is only a short few weeks away from its October 27 release date, so here’s a look at the latest game trailer plus a nice selection of screenshots to pore over – enjoy!

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Review: Dead Space Extraction

Posted on October 6, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: Eurocom

Publisher: EA

# of Players: 1 – 2

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A

In case you’re staring at that cover art and wondering (raised eyebrow and all), Dead Space Extraction works brilliantly on the Wii as both a solid horror game as well as a technical showpiece for Visceral Games and Eurocom. This “guided FPS experience” as it’s been dubbed manages to be scary as hell, spectacular to look and absolutely nails it in terms of the aural assault. In terms of story, the game dishes up an excellent prequel to the events in the PS3/360/PC horror hit Dead Space packed with some great emotional moments that make the original game’s plot all the more poignant. Of course, if you don’t have a PS3 or 360 and your PC can’t run Dead Space, all of this may mean nothing. However, what’s here is certainly solid enough that I could see a few formerly Wii-only gamers eyeballing a new console just to catch up on the first game’s descent into sci-fi themed fear.

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Left 4 Dead 2 Pre-Order Details (Or: If You’ve Got Braaaaains, You’d Better Be Pre-Ordering…)

Posted on October 2, 2009 by geelw

And I bet some of you thought there wouldn’t be any cool stuff with this sequel… HA! Valve proves you wrong yet again… but in the nicest of ways (and without having to fly you out to Seattle at their expense). Now, be a good zombie killer and click on over to Steam or boogie on down to that favorite game emporium.