Random Indie Game Of The Week: Paradise Blue

Posted on July 30, 2012 by geelw

One of the nicer RPGMaker games I’ve played this year is Paradise Blue, a Final Fantasy homage that’s actually a bit more impressive in a few areas. The developer, Ocean went as far as to redo the familiar RPGM backgrounds with his own artwork, boosting the normally straightforward color palette and detail considerably. While the game still has the look of a quality NES title, colors practically pop off the screen in nearly every map making this one of the more unique-looking “old-school” RPGs I’ve seen to date. It takes a little while to get used to some of those details, however. You’ll be dazzled by sparkly areas and items that look as if they SHOULD be interactive, only to find they’re just there for effect.

Where the game shines is in some of the well-scripted dialog, the skills system (which is deep and rewarding once you get into it) and some of the trickier battles the game drops you into. Switching out classes and equipping the proper skills is a must here, as some high-level side quest battles can wipe out your party before you know it. In addition to some addictive gameplay, there’s also an excellent score that works quite well at conveying mood. As usual, you can grab this game for FREE at the link above and it comes highly recommended if you’re a fan of classic 8-bit JRPG bliss. Ocean also has some other cool titles I’ll get around to reviewing as I find time to do so. Heck, this review WOULD be longer, except for I’m even more backlogged than ever since discovering RMN!

(thanks to YouTube user Vysethedetermined2 for the gameplay video)

Cloud Atlas: This Year’s Deep Brain-Bender From The Wachowskis

Posted on July 28, 2012 by geelw

I hadn’t heard of this film until a few days back when someone let me know there would be a long trailer going up this week along with a teaser site. Of course, I reserved judgment on the almost six-minute trailer until I got the chance to see the entire thing, as I still have burning headaches from overexposure to Speed Racer (OK, I caught it twice on cable – once to check it out, the second time to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating) and the last two Matrix movies. Anyway, this amazingly ambitious effects-heavy flick looks like something worth watching a few times just to catch everything, meaning it may do well at the box office, but it will probably do even better as a rental or outright purchase so those who get pulled into it can view it multiple times to catch anything they missed on the first viewing.

Retro/Grade Trailer: It’s One Of Those “What The What?” Games That Works Well…

Posted on July 28, 2012 by geelw

So, what’s Retro/Grade, you ask? Well, it’s a rhythm game/space shooter/reason to dust of your plastic guitar peripheral and probably a dessert topping, all available as a PSN exclusive download. Given that I tossed my guitar peripherals into a volcano some time ago, I’ll be skipping the fun. But I certainly won’t stop YOU from picking up this game if you like what you see. Fake, formerly pricey and now greatly discounted (thanks to the demise of the guitar game as a major cash cow) controller option aside, it would be nice to see this also on the Vita, as again, the handheld could use some fun titles like this to combat the app-happy crowd and their dollar games. People will pay more for quality if the content is worth it, I say…

Sports Noose: Anyone Else NOT Watching The Olympics?

Posted on July 27, 2012 by geelw

Just asking, as I’ve not been interested in them for ages and I ran into a few people today at random who also don’t give a hoot, but were a lot more vocal about it (as In, I overheard some really funny anti-Olympic conversations while at the post office and then the market). Then again, I’m not much of a sports fan, so it’s not as if I’m suddenly going to fall over backwards just to stay glued in front of the TV for too many hours keeping a medal count. Besides, i have games to play and a few movies to catch up on, so while the rest of the world is going ga-ga over half-dressed athletes getting all hot and bothered while breaking all sorts of records, I’ll be biding my time with a few brain-bending jumping puzzles and goblin stomping or something… That is all.

La Petite Parade: Because You Need A Decent Laugh Once In A While…

Posted on July 25, 2012 by geelw

I haven’t seen this vintage cartoon in ages, so thanks to a friend I ran into a few weeks back and a conversation we had about Harveytoons, here you go. I bet that version of the parade music the matchmaker sings in his hilarious complaint to the Minister of Parades gets stuck in your head after watching this. You’re welcome.

Oh, by the way (or: memo to the crazy people who watch too much cable news and believe what’s said about foreign countries), French people aren’t really like this at all. So don’t go looking at this as a “historical” document or anything like that.

-GW

Hyper Princess Pitch: This Royalty Needs No Rescuing, That’s For Sure…

Posted on July 24, 2012 by geelw

I know a few people out there who can’t stand most Mario or Legend of Zelda games because they’ve outgrown them or never really got into them at all, but somehow, Hyper Princess Pitch is right up their alleys when I point them to it. Granted, Nintendo hasn’t made a game like this (and probably never will), and yes, the game owes more to Smash T.V. and Robotron that any mascot character classic. The story is silly fun with our heroine going after a bad Santa and his gift-giving ways (try not to take what’s here out of context, as it’s SUPPOSED to be goofy). Heck, you can suplex enemies when you’re not running around with a brick, rainbow or freeze launcher and there are bonuses galore for those willing to take the time to unlock them. Yes, you can use a keyboard to play this, but a dual analog gamepad is very highly recommended. Get this one for FREE (as in absolutely nothing) here and check out some of Remar Games other fun retro styled projects (all made with the Game Maker program) while you’re at it.

The Man of Steel Teaser Trailers: Snyder Does Malick. Or Something Like That…

Posted on July 24, 2012 by geelw

I’m gathering Zack Snyder has been listening hard to criticisms leveled against his films and some elements of his directorial style certain vocal fans dislike. Either that or he’s been watching Terence Malick’s exquisitely mind-blowing The Tree of Life one too many times while eating bowl after bowl of Corn Flakes and reading a Ralph Lauren catalog shot by Bruce Weber. Anyway, these new Man of Steel teasers manages to be vague, impressive and inspiring all without coughing up a single spoiler or explosion. That said, I’m hoping the final film has a wee bit more color in it, as this sort of bleached out look in movies is fading fast (har har). With plenty of time to go before the Summer 2013 release, here’s to more revealing and intriguing future trailers that don’t give away a thing while managing to be equally thrilling.

Random Film Of The Week: (The) Hideous Sun Demon

Posted on July 24, 2012 by geelw

OK, this week’s selection was relegated to a simpler internet search after my usual “secret” selection method (flipping through a big movie encyclopedia or DVD catalog and randomly pointing at a title on whatever page I stopped on) left me with a few too many controversial choices (Targets, Joe and Badlands came up on the first three pages I dropped a finger on) that, while great movies worth seeing, aren’t exactly films I want to go over at this point. So, I’m substituting a favorite “B” movie that’s awful and hilarious with a nice left hook for you sun worshipers out there who can’t seem to catch enough rays.

Hell, it’s been hot enough these past few weeks that I should have added this flick about a month or so ago. Anyway, the plot about a scientist who ends up turning into quite a crispy-faced creature doing no good things to the general populace after radiation exposure is pretty far out there, but you can say that about most 50’s sci-fi and horror flicks. This one works for me because it tries to play as serious and even gets away with it for a bit, but you’ll be smirking along soon enough…

Continue reading →

Random Indie Game Of The Week: Cavern of Doom

Posted on July 22, 2012 by geelw

Most of the popular RPG Maker games out there are the usual Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest clones of assorted quality (terrible to truly inspired masterworks), but Cavern of Doom manages to take retro to an even more nostalgic level. Imagine an actual turn-based RPG made for the Atari 260- and you get the idea. If you love the blocky graphics old Atari home games had, CoD will get you smiling as soon as you see it in motion. the guy who made this gem, bobthebobish, clearly has a great sense of humor as you’ll see when you’re playing the game. I love how his chunky sprite monsters, simple use of color and even more straightforward dungeon mazes all tickled the proper nerves while the more modern turn-based combat appealed to my JRPG loving side. There’s also a cool upgrade system where you buy new skills with gained experience, a necessary thing as the game can be quite tough if you move too quickly through the dungeons. A sequel of sorts was in the works, but real life has halted progress on it for the time being. Anyway, CoD is ONLY about a 3 MB download, it’s FREE and if you happen to like the art style, you’ll get a kick out of what’s here even if you’re not big into the genre.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist ‘Pop-Up’ Video: Ubisoft Might Want To Shoot A Few Of The More Irate Fans, Too…

Posted on July 18, 2012 by geelw

Boy, try and make a new game in a hugely popular series without dragging along EVERY element from previous entries and watch the more stick in the rear fans fearful of change scream and struggle as if they’ve been tossed into a burlap sack, then the back of a moving black van. Maybe Michael Ironside was unavailable, wanted too much money or hell, wanted to move on from the character he originally voiced for a bunch of games. Maybe Ubisoft wanted someone “younger” sounding for this installment. Eh, whatever. all this reminds me of is how things often work out in Hollywood in terms of sequels. Keeping in a Tom Clancy vein, how about that Jack Ryan? Anyone?

Continue reading →