RosePortal Games has quite the hit on its hands with the stunning Whisper of a Rose: Gold. As a devout follower of the ways of the staunchly traditional role-playing game of old (yes, including Japanese RPGs) I found it to be a magical departure from the modern mechanics of beauty before substance and million-hit-points before character development world we’ve somehow found ourselves in with newer titles, and one that managed to transport me back to the innocent days of after-school grinding rather than yawning over news of the next “big” game. And for that, I pronounce it a smashing success. It’s not perfect, but it’s compelling, familiar, and depressing all at once. It’s been a while since a game has evoked such emotion from me, and so I must praise it.
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Review: Rocket Knight
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Back in the ’90s, spunky mascots were a dime a dozen. These loveable yet snarky critters ruled the roost. Luckily, this trend did tend to die out over the following years, but the enduring classics live on; particularly, an endearing and memorable title known as Rocket Knight Adventures. An impossibly adorable yet suave marsupial armed with a jet pack and the attitude of heroes three times his size captured the hearts of lucky Genesis owners time and time again. The awesome opossum known only as Sparkster makes his triumphant return in Rocket Knight, an Xbox Live Arcade revival that jams a lot of style and gloss into an exciting little downloadable packet.
Review: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
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Though Prince of Persia fans were thrown for a loop with Ubisoft’s previous venture, I was completely enamored. The breathtaking cel-shaded splendor captured my imagination and ran with it. It wasn’t a challenge, but it was beautiful and graceful, much more so to me than the previous outings I was used to. I knew this kind of progressive design couldn’t last, however, and a swift return to form would soon come to pass. Fast forward to the release of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, a throwback to the modern Prince we had grown to love, only this time without the rugged good looks, personality, or charm of the Prince seen in the previous games. And that, my friends, is only the tip of the iceberg. The series’ latest outing disappoints in only a way that mundane mechanics, dated graphics, and yawn-inducing plotlines can.
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Review: Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
New York, New York! It’s the city that never sleeps. According to Japan, it’s also plagued by malevolent demons. But not to worry — the theater troupe of Little Lip Theater is always on call. Yes, they can put on a magnificent show, but they’re also tasked with keeping the citizens of the Big Apple safe. Unfortunately, their newest member isn’t quite who they were expecting: the nephew instead of his respected uncle Ogami! How are they supposed to put on mindblowing performances and keep the peace with this mousy greenhorn tagging along? It’s up to the player to see that Ogami’s successor, Lt. Shinjiro Taiga, rises to the occasion in Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love, for both the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2.
Review: Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper
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Ripper, Take-Two’s 1996 FMV adventure chronicling the crimes of a Jack the Ripper copycat, was an engrossing adventure. Depending on how you played, the killer could be any one of four acquaintances you’d make throughout the game. Interestingly enough, it featured Christopher Walken in the lead role. It may have been a bit of a failed venture and it was tough to get running (at least for me), but it was at least somewhat related to the infamous crimes of Jack the Ripper, and that was enough for me.