The Cave Full Character Trailer: The Gang’s All Here (and Ready to Play!)

Posted on January 16, 2013 by geelw

Ahhhh… Smell that, kids? It’s the scent of ADVENTURE! Well, adventure gaming to be exact. Wait, you don’t have a “Sniff” key on that keyboard? Hey, it’s 2013 – where have you been? OK, I’ll try and describe what adventure games smell like. It’s sort of a rainy weekend, hot cocoa, graham crackers and recently laundered blankets. A touch of pet hair (*achoo!*) and if you’re really lucky, the lingering scent of tomato soup (not from a can) and a grilled cheese sandwich can be detected. You may only get a hint of that overall aroma, but it’s all in there if you close your eyes and lean back…

Sega Model 2 Collection: Virtua Everything (Now, Let’s Get This Stateside!)

Posted on October 21, 2012 by geelw

Hmmm… looks like Sega is finally going to unleash more of its arcade history on gamers soon (well, in Japan, at least). Hopefully, Sega of America and Sega of Europe are on the case in getting these out over PSN and XBLA. Personally, I’d prefer to see these all pop up on a single disc so I don’t have to worry about any online issues and heck, these NEED to be Vita and Wiiware bound at some point just because gamers who haven’t heard of these hits should absolutely be playing them. I’m betting Sega Rally is coming up next, as are some other Model 2 games not in this initial batch… it’s going to be fun seeing these roll out, that’s for sure…

Thanks, Sega!: NiGHTS into dreams… Makes A Welcome Return (Which IS Excellent, But…)

Posted on July 5, 2012 by geelw

Hey, Sega! Longtime supporter from the arcades to Dreamcast and beyond here. While I’m loving that you’re finally getting NiGHTS onto XBLA, PSN and PC soon enough, I’m also one of those crazy people that has the original game in it’s box with the analog controller, the Christmas NiGHTS disc (I have one each here for the US, Japanese and UK Saturn), the excellent Wii follow up and yes, that means I’ve played the game to death and will do so once more when this HD u[date hits. That said (dot, dot, dot)

Not to be a pest (again), but I’m just wondering when we’ll start seeing some of those other first-party Saturn titles get the same HD or remake love. The Panzer Dragoon series, Shining Force III (including all the content that stayed in Japan), Burning Rangers, stuff like that? It’s not as if I’m screaming about BUG! or Clockwork Knight not getting HD remakes here (you get what, one email a month about those, right?). I’m just a little bit concerned about Sega of America ignoring some of its best games on a console that’s been HUGELY underrepresented since it died. That and while they may not have sold in spectacular numbers on the Saturn, the games I listed might do even better today if the time was taken to bring them to gamers in the best possible manner.

Hell, I’d bet a Panzer Dragoon Complete Box Kickstarter would see money raining from the heavens…

Capcom Digital Collection In Stores Now (Grab It If You Don’t Have An Xbox Live Account)

Posted on March 28, 2012 by geelw

Eight great Capcom games from classics reworked for HD to XBLA-only titles that are worth a spin all for 39.99? Not a bad deal if you’re new to them and want to have something handy for that next game party or for when friends drop in and you want to keep them busy while you’re cooking them dinner. What, you can’t cook at all (except for maybe just being able to boil water for tea)? Well, er… it’ll give you all something to do while you’re waiting for that takeout meal to arrive. I say learn to cook, though – it’s FAR cheaper (you’ll have MORE money for games) and can impress almost anyone who thinks you’re not fully domesticated. I can’t help you out with any messy closet advice, though, as I’m still taking that class…

Jeremy McGrath’s Offroad Launch Trailer: Fast, Cheap And Out Of Control (In The Best Possible Way)…

Posted on March 22, 2012 by geelw

Based on this gamplay footage and info from the press release, 2XL’s new off-road racer is looking like pretty slick stuff. It also looks as if D3Publisher of America has a hot little hit on their hands here for PSN and XBLA. It’s too bad this wasn’t tossed on a disc as a budget game under a US “Simple 2000” series or something like that, as I could see this being the PERFECT impulse item at a Wal-Mart or some other retailer where you’d see a beefy pickup or three towing some ATV’s or dirt bikes in the parking lot. This is just that sort of game you’d like to have handy while on the road traveling between race events when you’re in the back of the camper and there’s nothing to do but play a fun game because you’re in an area with crappy internet service.

Jet Set Radio Finally Returns (This Time On PSN/XBLA)

Posted on February 24, 2012 by geelw

Excellent, but I have mixed feeling about this one. How funny that a very physical game based on the physical acts of graffiti and trick skating is coming back as a digital-only title. Well, kudos to Sega for FINALLY getting this one out there to the masses, but still. I recall that Jet Set Radio Future on the Xbox had some killer PR goodies such as a set of awesome headphones and a CD soundtrack and yes, a NEW disc version would have been cool just for a documentary on the original JSR and the sequel how they changed gaming. I still remember the first time I saw those ‘cel-shaded’ graphics running on the Dreamcast and thought they were the best thing to hit gaming in a while. Hopefully, all those folks that have never played either game will be as awed as I was back in the day. We shall see…

Why is I Am Alive NOT On A Retail Disc?*

Posted on February 8, 2012 by geelw

*Or: Hey, Ubisoft, Here’s How To Market A Game To EVERYONE Who Wants To Play It…

Sure, I Am Alive looks amazing and yes, the idea of a realistic survival adventure set in a destroyed city has garnered tons of praise everywhere anyone has seen or played it. But Ubisoft is doing themselves no favors by only releasing this on Xbox Live Arcade in March and perhaps later on PSN,… oops SEN (sorry, Sony! Give me another week or so to get used to that change). Memo from the front: despite your current successful digital business model, there are STILL a large amount of gamers who can’t get that content dying for something different that’s NOT another FPS, zombie game, franchise update or yes, I’ll say it, ANOTHER damn digital-ONLY release that should have been disc-based.

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Review: Double Fine Happy Action Theater

Posted on February 3, 2012 by geelw

Platform: Xbox 360 (Kinect)

Developer: Double Fine Studios

Publisher: Microsoft

# of Players: 1 – 6

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Official Site

Score: A-

Sure, you can simply stick your tongue out, turn your nose up, cross those arms and pout about even going NEAR a game as geared for kids as Double Fine Happy Action Theater and at first glance, you’d almost be justified. Then again, you’d look exactly like a stubborn child who won’t eat their vegetables instead of an adult who needs to kick back and have a blast once in a while. Yes, the game is super family friendly, non-violent (unless you consider kicking down fake buildings “violent”) and “shorter” than it should be. On the other hand, it’s not a traditional “game” at all, but a series of 18 activities that will have you doing all sorts of wacky physical movements in front of your TV.

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Yes, I Still Review Stuff, Silly…

Status

This should be interesting. I talked a Kinect-owning pal into buying Double Fine Happy Action Theater and I’ll be moseying on over to his place later to see what’s what. The XPlay demo last night made me do it, so blame them. Although, my heads up from him and his kids says the game is nothing but stupidly entertaining. In a really good way. If I don’t throw my back out kicking a pigeon or making fireworks with my fingers, I’ll be back with a review later tonight. Wish me luck…

Rayman 3 HD Coming To PSN, XBLA In March

Posted on February 2, 2012 by geelw

Above: a really nice trailer for the upcoming release of Rayman 3 HD, set for a March 21, 2012 launch over PSN and Xbox Live. Below: a short (and suggestive) note to Ubisoft from me: if you’re trying to get that follow-up to Beyond Good & Evil off the ground, why not pack HD remakes of all the numbered Rayman games onto a disc with some cool bonus features and get them out there along with separate digital releases so you’re serving both physical and ethereal gamers out there? Of course, you guys know better than I do about business matters and your own back catalog, so just ignore me. At your peril. I’ll be in the corner with my slingshot and some popcorn…