Archive for April, 2009

Review: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core

Final Fantasy VII remains one of my absolute favorite RPGs to date.  I share this sentiment with many other gamers, I’m sure. While some may disregard the classic as little more than a normal RPG, I continued to be entranced each and every time I replay it. Square Enix’s recent projects aiming to rekindle and expand interest in Final Fantasy VII’s lore have inspired me to dive right back in. After viewing Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, I finally got to pick up Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. The wait was much too long for my tastes, but now that I have gotten to spend some quality time with such a fantastic game, I am certain that this journey back into the world of Final Fantasy VII is well worth your time, especially if you’ve been a fan of the numbered entry since its inception.

Continue Reading →

Review: Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon

Most of us would likely never consider farming as a desirable career choice, considering the long, grueling hours one must put into fields, crops, and animals in order to see even the smallest results. Who would have ever imagined gamers would ever let themselves become so acquainted with farming sims? Surprisingly, the games are a substantial success – titles such as Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing really bring in the sales. Having grown up with both, I can attest to the hours of entertainment they can provide if you’re willing to put in the work.

Continue Reading →

Review: Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

When you want stealth action involving ninjas and bloodshed, Tenchu has always been a reliable series to go to. More than ten titles have been released over the span of time we’ve been graced with the Tenchu franchise, though a good amount, admittedly, left a lot to be desired. When the series came to the Wii, it lost a lot in translation due to lackluster controls and graphics that weren’t quite up to par. However, the same port of the game, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins, on the PSP, is a surprisingly enjoyable throwback to the good old days of Tenchu that we all remember and love. It’s a great little port and a fascinating entry in the stealth genre.

Continue Reading →

Review: Gardening Mama

Cooking Mama was one of the first games to feature a traditional female role model that didn’t aspire to be a sexy vixen, a dangerous diva, or anything else of the sort. While Mama isn’t exactly the kind of woman I would hope to grow up to be, it was a wholesome and welcome change of pace for younger gamers, especially of the female persuasion. The friendly Mama would present different types of recipes for eager gamers to prepare, all while being as helpful as possible. If for some reason you made an error, Mama would gleefully offer to “fix it,” though she did do so with flames in her eyes. Though it was a great choice for parents or women just getting into the gaming scene, it was also great for those of us who are a bit more seasoned in their choice of video games.

Continue Reading →

Review: Family Game Night – Battleship

Battleship has always been one of the better pieces of the game selection via Hasbro. Appealing to the sailor you probably always wanted to be, it’s a staple of many childhoods and even adulthoods, because it never gets old, telling your opponent “YOU SANK MY BATTLESHIP!” in a shrill, desperate whine. Because you never know – that might turn the tides in your favor. With EA and Hasbro’s Family Game Night, you can finally relive those proud moments of your past (or maybe last week, when your power was out and you realized a board game may be a great way to pass time). There’s fun to be had by all in this addition to the package. However, the question must be asked – is it worth the 800 Microsoft points?

Continue Reading →