Archive for June, 2009

Review: Gunstar Heroes (Sega Vintage Collection)

Treasure is home to a library of some of the most beloved titles in gaming. When Gunstar Heroes was granted a release on the Xbox Live Arcade via the Sega Vintage Collection label, I shrieked in fangirlish glee. While it should have been released on the Sonic Genesis Collection compilation disc, it wasn’t, and I was severely disappointed. What to do save from playing the original or some shoddy applet online? Straight to the Xbox Live Marketplace I went to download this classic ASAP. All I have to say is one word: co-op.

 

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Review: Guitar Hero Smash Hits

Guitar Hero has gone a separate route from Rock Band over the years, releasing game after game rather than creating a comprehensive music catalogue of DLC. Because of this, Guitar Hero fans have amassed quite the library of discs containing some of their favorite songs. In an attempt to update and consolidate some of the “greatest hits” previously featured in the games, Activision has released Guitar Hero Smash Hits. Is it worth picking up in order to save yourself the extra trouble of changing out discs when ready to play a different tracklist, or is it more of the same that we’re used to?

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Review: Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume

Valkyrie Profile has always been quite the revered RPG franchise. Beginning with the coveted, gorgeous, and brilliant original game, Square Enix has nurtured a legend over the years with subsequent entries to the series. The last addition to a long line of quality games is now Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume. Finally, DS owners have been treated to one of the most engaging franchises that RPGs of gaming have to offer. This is a beautiful, strategic triumph for the Nintendo handheld, and RPG/SRPG fans should have much to enjoy here.

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Review: Blue Dragon Plus

Blue Dragon Plus is a return to form for the admittedly lackluster JRPG originally housed on the Xbox 360. From Mistwalker Studios and famed developer Brownie Brown (Magical Starsign, Heroes of Mana), we’re gifted with a sequel to a story that, while it shouldn’t have received continuation to begin with, is much more engaging than its previous installment. With a focus on strategy conventions rather than tried-and-true turn-based battles coupled with some gorgeous sprites and washes of color, this is the Blue Dragon I would have preferred from the beginning.

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Review: Damnation

Damnation seemed like it may have had all its ducks in a row, at least as far as third-person shooters go. Set in an alternate-reality Civil War where America is ruled by a dictator, serving up co-op action for Xbox Live diehards, and classic Steampunk influence, it looked like quite promising. Unfortunately, muddy controls, a nonexistent cover system, forgettable characters and downright terrible graphics turn Damnation into an exercise in frustration rather than a playable game. All Codemasters could manage to get right here was the title, which is actually quite disappointing, considering their previous works have never been this horrid.

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