Archive for April, 2009
Review: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
Posted by: | CommentsFinal 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.
Review: Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon
Posted by: | CommentsMost 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.
Editorial: Diamonds in the Rough
Posted by: | CommentsI used to be like you, elitists. There were some titles that I’d take one glance at, laugh heartily, and completely disregard. Why? No real reason, honestly. I’d just make a quick judgment regarding box art, publisher, the type of game, or perhaps even hearsay regarding it. I suppose from all the years spent around peers who did the exact same thing, it had been sort of ingrained into my being. Of course, I couldn’t be a follower all my life. When I wised up and realized that there were, indeed, games out there that were worth something rather than what was lauded by my peers and magazines, it was as if the whole world opened up to me. Of course, this was more than 10 years ago now, and looking back on things I can’t believe how ignorant I was. These days, I see it in a good portion of the gaming populace. If the game has anything they may be the slightest bit opposed to, it’s ignored, shunned, or ridiculed.
Review: Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
Posted by: | CommentsWhen 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.
Review: Gardening Mama
Posted by: | CommentsCooking 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.