VGA 101 Update – Gallery: Pier Solar Reprint Edition (Plus!)

Posted on November 30, 2012 by geelw

Well, that was fast – A game I’ve wanted to play for ages is finally in the library here: Pier Solar and the Great Architects for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive along with the Enhanced CD for the Sega-CD/Mega CD. This isn’t the original print or the Posterity Edition, but the WM Reprint version in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Nice. I need to dig out one of my Sega-CD’s from under the TV set in the home office (oh, that will be a pain, but worth all that weightlifting), but I do have one of my Genesis systems out nearby (Actually, a Japanese Mega Drive), so I can at least start up the game (perhaps this weekend provided I have time).Yeah, yeah – I wanted to support Watermelon’s HD Kickstarter project, but I could only afford to either pick up this set now and play it or sign up for Kickstarter, donate and wait. I’m hoping the HD version of Pier Solar does well enough that it gets a reissue or even better, pops up on PSN (hell, a Vita version I’d kill for – or at least elbow someone gently in the head for)…

As for the other stuff? Well, it was cheap, so I picked them up. Sorcery (which should have been completed so that it shipped WITH the PlayStation Move as a launch title for the peripheral) was $10 and Heavy Rain was a few dollars more. Prometheus I bought to see the edited/deleted scenes and special features. I liked most of the film, but there are a few dumb lead characters and one part of the ending that should have been handled better. Otherwise, the film looks spectacular and ends up answering some questions and leaving others pinging around in the brain.

Review: Thundercats

Posted on November 17, 2012 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo DS

Developer: Aspect Digital Entertainment

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10+)

Official Site
Score: C (70%)

There’s a decidedly old-school mentality to Aspect Digital Entertainment’s Thundercats that makes it somewhat compelling despite its flaws. It’s not innovative in any respect, but doesn’t need to be because it works well enough for what it’s aiming for. Then again, if you’re only looking for a side-scrolling beat-em up with timed stages, colorful but straightforward visuals and a ton of unlockable artwork and music, you’ll appreciate what’s here a great deal more than some snooty critic who demands innovation in every modern game they play. What’s here is fairly simple, definitely not for casual players (trust me, it’s a total ball-buster in parts) and packed with plenty of cheap enemies and bosses. while far from gaming perfection, it’s very reminiscent of plenty of quarter muncher beat-em-ups that crowded arcades in their heyday.

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Wonderbook: Book of Spells Zaps Into Retail – Does J.K. Rowling Still Have The Magic?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by geelw

Hmmmm… this will be an interesting experiment for Sony, as the company is taking a big chance with a somewhat costly game experience and an audience that may not be willing to buy into it. On the other hand, Rowling’s fan base is massive enough to support the product and keep her and SCEA happy if it does well. Personally, I don’t see this selling out all over the place because new users will need to shell out for a PS3 and Move setup BEFORE buying that Wonderbook. As for the future, I’d say Sony absolutely needs to think about some sort of book/figure combo with an action or sci-fi theme in order to make the Wonderbook tech worth the money spent on cooking it up.

Imagine an Uncharted game using the Wonderbook and some relic replicas, a Star Wars game in the vein of Skylanders or some other popular franchise (think comic books and the possibilities are pretty striking) where people will want to automatically open their wallets and jump in without hesitation? That particular future is bright indeed…. but this first entry needs to sell very well in order for that to even happen…

Batman: Arkam City Armored Edition Drops Into Retailers

Posted on November 13, 2012 by geelw

For my money, it’s looks as if the Wii U has one of the more impressive launch.launch window lineups for a new console this generation (er, next generation? whatever – there are some strong titles coming between now and the end of the year). Yeah, yeah, yeah – your jaded self has already played this on the PS3, Xbox 360 or PC (or all three if you’re that obsessed), but given that this (and every other Wii U) game is made first and foremost for Nintendo-only fans who may have never laid a pinky on any previous version AND Rocksteady has gone above and beyond the call in not shoving a straightforward quick port out the door, this may be the definitive version of the game. Anyway, I say shut up and play it – if it’s good, it’ll silence the critics – if it’s bad, it’ll get them babbling doom stories about the systems like those overpaid analysts who don’t play games at all but spend too much time comparing everything to Apple’s success or claiming consoles are dead because too many people are playing mobile games or whatever.

On the other hand, if it’s BETTER than any of the previous versions, well… I say apologies are in order from the naysayers directly to WB, the developer and any gamers who were falling for the hate hype. Fair is indeed fair after all…

TANK! TANK! TANK!: Is It The Wii U’s COMBAT? Mmmmm, Could Be…

Posted on November 11, 2012 by geelw

As soon as I saw the first video for this Wii U port of the popular Japanese Namco Bandai arcade game, I thought about Atari’s classic pack-in that became an instant hit remembered by anyone who picked up a joystick back in the day. Of course, with the Wii U bringing a new controller into things, this simple-looking blast-fest could be the one game that has similar impact should the console take off into the stratosphere (as Nintendo hopes). As always, we shall see, but I think no matter how the system does, this is one of those games that will get a LOT of play long into the system’s life cycle. That said, fun games really don’t need silly-ass trailers like this. Just show the gameplay and I’m all in.

Puzzle & Dragons Is Out For iOS (But Needs To Be On MORE Platforms, I Say)

Posted on November 10, 2012 by geelw

GungHo Online Entertainment’s latest game, Puzzle & Dragons is a nice-looking mix of casual puzzle and Pokemon-styled elements that could be your next fix, provided you own an iOS device. It’s too bad this isn’t on the 3DS or Vita, I say. As a HUGE Puzzle Quest fanatic, I could see this being a bit of a sleeper hit on dedicated handhelds as a download with an extended story mode and more content included for a decent price point. I guess I’ll need to keep my fingers crossed or something, as I can also see why GungHo went with iOS in the first place. That’s quite a load of casual gaming dollars to be raked in there, that’s for sure…

Castlevania: Mirror of Fate Will Make You Want A 3DS For The Holidays… Or Now.

Posted on November 6, 2012 by geelw

Ah, Konami… how you tempt me so. Castlevania looks so lovely on the 3DS and I know core fans of the long-running franchise will be pleased as punch that the handheld is getting a great-looking game. Of course, unless both Lords of Shadow games come to a Nintendo home console (I’d say the Wii U can handle them just fine), those users aren’t getting the whole story. And THAT, ladies and gents is exactly why I’m platform agnostic.

Portal 2 In Motion On PSN: Definitely NOT The Same “Old” Game WIth Move….

Posted on November 2, 2012 by geelw

As the kids say, “Now THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!” – or something like that. While this super new update to Valve’s stellar first-person physics puzzler may LOOK the same at first, the changes made to get the game PlayStation Move compatible will add new challenges to the familiar while also proving how well motion control can be done when you have a team that can do it correctly. Sixense just may have a lot of people who’ve played this one to death doing it all over again. I’d be one of those people if this wasn’t DLC only, but I guess I’ll have to hold out hope that Sony’s console gets an Orange Box version of Portal (or even better ALL the Left 4 Dead games!) that has this on it. Ah well… PSN users will be pleased, that’s for sure.

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Coming to PS3 in 2013!

Posted on November 1, 2012 by geelw

OK, I missed posting this news yesterday thanks to a REALLY chuggy connection (and today is actually WORSE, but here goes nothing… again!), but here it is if you haven’t yet seen it. One of the best (and most polarizing) Xbox 360 sleepers, Deadly Premonition, is finally hitting the PS3 next year with all new content (roll that press release!):

New scenario from the game’s director, Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro
HD graphics
Reworked control system allowing for an even better combat experience
Downloadable content to expand the mystery beyond the original game

Hmmm. I was hoping the ENTIRE game would be on the PS3 disc (as in NO new DLC), but I’ll certainly take this update for a spin anyway, as I know it’s going to be completely crazy, completely weird fun just as the original was. According to publisher Rising Star Games’ website, Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut should be available in March 2013. If they keep it close to the same budget price point, I predict it’ll be even more of a winner than it was on the 360. As always, we shall see…

Review: Ragnarok Odyssey

Posted on November 1, 2012 by geelw

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.