Review: The Battle of Olympus (NES)
With the release of Percy Jackson and the Unnecessarily Long Title a few weeks ago and the Clash of the Titans remake just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to blow the dust off The Battle of Olympus (NES) – a game that combines the intrigues of Greek mythology, the side-scrolling gameplay of Zelda II: The Adventures of Link, and the “WTF, how did I just die?!” moments of every game that ever pissed you off.
Review: Legends of Exidia (DS)
One would think that because Legends of Exidia resembles old school console rpgs with its side missions and lots of button mashing, it would be totally epic. Unfortunately, it’s just not epic, just okay. But it does a great job of taking you back to the 2D gaming days where you had hard puzzles to solve and missions to fulfill.
Review: Twin Blades (XBLIG)
Considering the amount of coverage we’ve given Press Start Studio’s Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard (which tackled the initial announcement of the Xbox Live Indie Game port, and later the interview with Philippe Rapin, co-founder of Press Start Studio), I believe it high time that I turn a critical eye toward the game itself.
Twin Blades puts you in the role of an insanely cute large-eyed, anime-inspired nun that has 31 days to rid the town of a zombie infestation. If you’re looking for a story, there is none. In fact, the only reason that I know that I had 31 days to eradicate the undead menace was due to a between-level blurb that asked if I could survive that length of time. Ultimately, the game is about slaying zombies and it does that quite well–but not without some polarizing faults.
Review: Sands of Destruction (DS)
After spending quite some time with SEGA’s Sands of Destruction for the Nintendo DS, I can give you a verdict: Good, but should be loads better. I found myself saying, “What the hell?!” often actually. That’s exactly what I’ve felt in many spots within the game. While the gameplay value in between the millions of cut-scenes is really solid, there are still too many cinematics and the ending may leave you scratching your head.
Review: RealView V-Screen (PSP)
The V-Screen from Realview promises “stunning depth enhancement for your PSP games” by making the 2D screen image “look and feel far more realistic and exciting.” At least that’s what the box says. Inside the box you’ll find a plastic case where the PSP goes, with a magnifying glass — the V-Screen — attached at the top that flips out. Peer through that and PSP games should look more three-dimensional, if we’re to believe the box’s description.
Review: Parachute Ninja (iPhone/iPod touch)
Freeverse, one of the kings of Apple iPhone/iPod touch video gaming universe, returns with a new offering, the $0.99 Parachute Ninja. The name may initially sound like an odd coupling, but upon firing up this immensely addicting title, you’ll soon realize its aptness.
Parachute Ninja’s backstory isn’t the most compelling, but, really, how much does one expect from a mobile ninja game? It’s all about gameplay, which Parachute Ninja has in abundance. Instead of stalking prey and slitting throats in the shadows, Freeverse has a far more family friendly take on the murderous martial artists. The goal? To bounce a round, limbless ninja from floating slingshot to floating slingshot, while collecting fireflies, and having lots and lots of fun.
Review: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars (Wii)
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, the latest in Capcom’s wacky-yet-honored Vs. series, arrives as the perfect palette cleanser between installments of the chess-like, rage-inducing Street Fighter IV. A terrific blend of fun and skill, giant robots, science ninja teams and war photographers duke it out in one of the Wii’s finest brawler since Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Review: FreeStyle Street Basketball (PC)
JCE’s FreeStyle Street Basketball is one of those titles that you simply have to dive into to truly understand why I blew way too many hours of my holiday break glued to a PC. When I told my bud Terry Lewis, editor-in-chief of The Other View, that I was playing a cell-shaded, anime-styled MMO b-ball game, the first thing that came to his mind was a video game version of Slam Dunk. He would’ve been correct except that FreeStyle Street Basketball is incredibly enjoyable whereas the anime most definitely is not.
Review: 8-bit Left 4 Dead
Filed under: Action, Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding, Reviews
The much talked about 8-Bit version of Left 4 Dead has arrived, and after some quality time with it I can tell you that this is the most addicting game I’ve ever epic failed in. It’s a brutally tough game even in the easier difficulty, and it takes a little bit of time to get accustomed to the controls. The music, however, is awesome. While you may not be able to download this at work and play (it’s deeper than your standard TimeWaster), it’s highly suggested that you give it a shot at home.
Review: Strikers 1945 Plus (iPhone/iPod touch)
Strikers 1945 Plus, Psikyo’s classic World War II vertical shooter, is now available in the Apps Store, and I am smiling from ear to ear. The 2D shmup devoured huge chunks of my meager Funcoland paychecks when I was in my early to mid 20s, which is remarkably depressing in retrospect when you ponder the fact that I worked in a game store only to blow my very meager scraps on the dying arcade scene.
But now I’m all grownsed up, and boarding the nostalgia train coutresy of WindySoft. The seats are familiar and comfortable, but wonky controls prevent this iPhone/iPod touch port from equalizing the arcade’s joystick/button perfection.
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