Avid RPG fans do not simply sit by and wait for a teeth-gnashingly frustrating adventure to fall into our laps. No – the allure of ephemeral fantasy found within such juicy morsels of entertainment is much too great to abstain from. We rummage the bargain bins, pillage RPG-centric forums, and bask in the exalted knowledge of Wikipedia in order to corral our next fix. It’s an oppressive task, sifting through slipshod plots and pithy character archetypes, but the end result ensures that we are left with a game most deserving of our 100 hours of grinding, as well as the sleepless nights spent pondering the elemental weaknesses of yet undefeated villains.
Archive for September, 2009
Impressions: Groovin' Blocks
On September 15, 2009
In Impressions, Wii
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Let’s face it – the Wii is the best choice out of the current home consoles for puzzlers. WiiWare was practically built for the creation and sale of various types of games that challenge your brain and your patience. There’s nothing wrong with that, though the system has so much more potential. In addition, the majority of most puzzlers are, in some way or another, carbon copies of games from the past. One game in particular, Groovin’ Blocks, has been done before under a much more popular name – Lumines. However, the Wii has never been privy to such a slick and entertaining block-dropping puzzle fest until now.
Review: Wolfenstein
As far as my personal relationships with PC games go, Wolfenstein 3D could be likened to a first “true love” – exhilarating, passionate, and thrilling, yet rife with uncertainty and apprehension. It was certainly quite the smoldering liaison; Wolfenstein provided the fragging, the Nazis, and the almighty graphics of the ’90s brought to us by Apogee, and I supplied the long, intensive hours required to thwart the Nazi regime, taking up the mantle of one William “B.J.” Blazkowicz. Truly it was a symbiotic affair, and one that would last all throughout my early childhood. Unfortunately, time marched on as time is wont to do, and I thank my lucky stars that several sequels to the classic shooter have been released over the years, such as Raven’s reboot simply entitled “Wolfenstein.” As a longtime veteran of the series, it is readily apparent to me that while this shooter applies many of the more modern conventions we have become accustomed to in this day and age, it also feels appropriately familiar, and that is the mark of a title that doesn’t forsake its roots.
Review: Fate/Unlimited Codes
Fate/stay night is an intriguing anime, and one that I gladly watched up until the last episode with quite a bit of vigor. Upon the announcement of Fate/unlimited Codes, I was quite intrigued, as I had not yet experienced the visual novel the anime had been originally based upon, so yet another video game – an English release at that – seemed logical to get into after completing the series. Originally set to roam wild in Japanese arcades and PlayStation 2 consoles, this is a handy little port to the PSP via download from the PlayStation network set in the same universe with the same quirky characters staged for a knock-down, drag-out battle between some of your favorite (and some of your most detested) characters of Fate/stay night.
Review: SpongeBob vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off
On September 11, 2009
In Nintendo DS, Review
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The DS is one of the biggest platforms to feature SpongeBob titles, and most that I have played through have been quite enjoyable. While most of them tend to shy away from the people, places, and occurrences that really go on in Bikini Bottom, developers have finally hit the nail on the head when it comes to a great game for the sprightly yellow sponge – a Cooking Mama-inspired collection of food prep minigames that work great on Nintendo’s fabulous little cash cow. As a fan of titles such as Diner Dash, Order Up!, and Cooking Mama, I have to say I enjoyed this entry into the SpongeBob series even more than the SpongeBob-themed Drawn to Life, which was quite the enjoyable romp. With that said, SpongeBob vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off is an interesting mix of depth management and vibrant cartoony mischief to keep both the younger set and the layman gamer entertained.