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…

Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time Trailer Update (Or, Why I Still Need A Working Time Machine)

Posted on July 26, 2012 by geelw

Let’s see now, stirring score to get you all hopped up for the SRPG action and deep story? Check. Lovely character artwork by Satoshi Urushihara (of Der Langrisser fame, among other things) lending a distinctly nostalgic feel to things? Check. PSP release on UMD (yes!) set to hit stores in a mere six days? Check. Thanks, Atlus (once again)… except where the heck am I going to find TIME to actually play this gem? Eh, you can’t get everything you ask for, right? I’ll just grab the game when I see it and figure out when I’ll have time to play it afterward. You can add yourself to that list of gamers needing to figure out how this time travel stuff is supposed to work by making a beeline to your favorite brick and mortar emporium on July 31… or pre-ordering it here

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Update: A Little Bit About Storytelling…

Posted on July 25, 2012 by geelw

Here’s a new look at more on Disney Epic Mickey 2’s production, this time a quick peek at what it takes to put together the game’s story elements. This one’s on course to be even better than the first game in every aspect, so I can’t wait to see how it’s turned out. Hopefully, all these videos will appear on the retail disc so people can see that it takes a great deal of work to get a game like this into out hot little hands. As i always say, it’s all about respect, people…

Mugen Souls Pre-Order Goodies Take On The “Stinky Gamer” Stereotype…

Posted on July 21, 2012 by geelw

NISA’s Online Store does it again with yet another nice set of dual pre-order Premium Box sets for an upcoming PS3 exclusive. This time, it’s Mugen Souls, coming your way on September 18 in not one, not two, but THREE editions. Pick one, unless you have that much cash to spare (and maybe want to surprise me with a gift, ha ha). You can pre-order NOW or snap the standard edition later at any game retailer or at NISA’s online shop for $49.99 or grab one of the SUPER limited single print run boxed versions via pre-order (ASAP, as they’ll go FAST) for $64.99 or $99.99 depending on how much swag you want to fill up your shelf space. Both box sets come complete with an art book, soundtrack CD, bath sponge and hand towel, with the more pricey set netting buyers three exclusive figurines you won’t see anywhere else. Gamers who only go for the standard edition have to provide their own fancy washing goodies, or just rub the shrink wrap all over them to get that new game smell. Anyway, the game looks like a ton of fun, promising “overwhelming visuals, massively customizable characters, and never ending gameplay” according to the press release.

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power Of Two Opening Cinema: The Mouse, The Rabbit And The Really Odd Place

Posted on July 15, 2012 by geelw

OK, I’m no Carl Barks, but I figured I may as well try and make up a title that’s not quite as necessarily unwieldy (or even more, depending on your tastes) as the one the game has that more or less explains as much as possible while not giving anything away. Yeah, I left out the musical aspects, the new game camera, drop in/drop-out co-op play, the lovely visual upgrades across the board and the still innovative Paint & Thinner gameplay choices players can make. In fact, my hands-on preview was better! Ah well..

Hey, YOU try and describe all of that in a title without burning up a few brain cells. Yeah, see? Told you so. Anyway, November 18th is the big day, so get yourself prepared…

Beyond: Two Souls SDCC 2012 Panel Highlights: Cage & Page Are All The Rage On Stage…

Posted on July 14, 2012 by geelw

Quantic Dream is making yet another PS3 exclusive that’s bound to be recognized as one of the truly great games for the system (and heck, any platform) and if the fan reaction is any indication, it’s going to do well when it finally hits sometime next year. To the dopes that think Ellen Page was hired for the gig only because she was a “big” star and Quantic Dream had a bunch of money to toss at her, that’s not quite correct (duh). She’s a damn fine actress, Cage wrote the story with her in mind (I’d gather she was his muse for the project) and fortunately, she was wise enough to take on the challenge of a completely different medium than she’s tackled before. It’s all coming together quite nicely and it’s yet another reason to be a happy PS3 owner these days…

EDF 3 Portable Update: New Trailer, Plus You May Not Have To Import It At All…

Posted on July 12, 2012 by geelw

Nice. A little birdie told me recently that there’s an in-progress English script floating around for this upcoming Vita game, so I’m hoping this is not only true, but D3 gets on the ball in getting the word out ASAP as to when we can expect this instant classic. Here’s the import cover art, a new trailer to drool over plus links to the game’s Amazon Japan page and below, a few of D3’s official Japanese EDF 3 sites. Interestingly enough, the game will be available in Japan in two formats (like EDF 2 Portable on the PSP) a single game card or value-priced dual pack format that will allow gamers to share a copy with a fellow Vita owner. I doubt that double pack will be released stateside, but it WOULD be awesome if D3Publisher of America did us EDF fans a true favor and localized EDF 2 and made it available as a PSN download.

By the way, if you want more info on the game and don’t mind learning a bit of Japanese in the process (or using Microsoft’s bing translator), well, here you go, along with the official Japanese Facebook page (feel free to leave a comment if you visit to express your love for the series) and official D3Publisher Japan EDF portal web site. Anyway, color me thrilled (again)… 9/27/12 in Japan and hopefully not too much longer for the rest of the world…

EDF 3 Portable Trailers: Start Bugging D3Publisher of America For A US Version, I Say…

Posted on July 5, 2012 by geelw

OK, not only is this port packing in much more content than the original Xbox 360 exclusive (including a four-player co-op mode), I just found out from watching video #2 below that Pale Wing is making a return (faint, thud!). For any longtime EDF fan who knows what I’m talking about, you’re also picking yourself up off the carpet, I’d bet. This changes up the gameplay considerably, as her jet pack and energy-based weapons add a completely different approach to some of the tougher levels in the game. That and EDF 3 (or EDF 2017, to 360 owners in the US) recycles parts of a few maps from EDF 2, meaning playing them again with Pale Wing will see some of those old strategies coming into play more effectively than with Storm 1. Lucky Vita owners in Japan will be seeing this sometime in September of this year. As for everyone else… that’s hard to say.

Now, I know D3Publisher of America is busy putting out a small line of licensed games based on popular kid shows (Ben 10, iCarly and Victorious), but I think they’d be making a huge mistake if they ignore this exclusive. Warts and all, they ought to embrace this intentionally campy and massively awesome run ‘n gun game to the fullest (the company started life in Japan as a publisher of a budget-themed games line), market the hell out of it though viral videos and a bunch of hands-on previews (my fingers are itching just typing that) and get it into stores sometime next year. This should give them time to get the word out that it’s coming and will be a Vita essential for the potential of at least 40 hours of bug-blasting action. Then again, I spend something like 150 playing EDF 2017, so I know I’ll get as much or more time out of a Vita version…

Atlus Is Having A Half-Off Sale On PSN This Month. Yes, You Should Grab A Bunch Of Games While You Can.

Posted on July 4, 2012 by geelw

OK, you’ve got a few short weeks to get in on some cool games for your PS3 and PSP (and you should be able to run these downloads on your Vita), so get to it. North American gamers only on this deal, so that’s another cool Independence Day deal, I suppose. Hmmm… I may have to get Hexyz Force and Crimson Gem Saga as both are insanely tough to find cheap as UMD releases. Speaking of… Hey, Atlus! Put Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner up on PSN as well at some point, as hell, someone stole my complete copy a few years back and it’s impossible to find another one (that’s not going to cost me an arm and a leg), grrrr!

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Wizard’s Edition Revealed

Posted on June 30, 2012 by geelw

As much as I’m not so crazy about pricey collector’s editions these days, this one’s actually a nice buy for the sole reason it’s got an ACTUAL 300-page hardbound book as part of the deal. Namco Bandai’s Club Namco online shop is the first to offer up this $99.99 pre-order, so definitely book it on over there if you want one, as I expect these to sell out FAST. The other stuff in the package is pretty cool as well, but it’s absolutely awesome to see Namco Bandai doing a limited edition that has something players can actually use as they play the game that gives them a bit more of an attachment to the main character.

OK, it’s worth a hundred bucks, but it’s still not a PERFECT package for some people. If I had to complain about something, it would be the addition of DLC characters in a single player RPG (what if a gamer doesn’t have/want a PSN account or lives in an area where they can’t access broadband?) and the plain US package art which actually manages to make the import version’s lovely but dull cover look absolutely thrilling in comparison. Anyway, start saving up those pennies or if you have them saved, go grab yourself one of these sets ASAP.