Fans of the tactical RPG genre are facing a tough call this month on the PSP. Those who have not yet played Jeanne d’Arc are wondering if they should pony up the cash and take a chance on an untested franchise, or wait a week for the more widely recognized Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions to hit North American PSPs in an English localization. Here to shed some light on the topic, we have a review of Jeanne d’Arc — a competent but flawed strategy RPG from Japanese developer Level Five. Jeanne d’Arc is one of those games that showed all the signs of greatness in previews, but did not quite live up to its epic potential in final form. The good news is that Jeanne d’Arc is still a solid SRPG even if it doesn’t break new ground. True fans of the genre would be well advised to pick up BOTH of these games, but first timers might want to wait for our review of FF: Tactics to find out which one is more beginner-friendly.
Ah, Metal Slug. When the venerable side-scrolling shooter first appeared in arcades and on the Neo Geo home system in 1996, those rich enough to invest the cash needed to fully enjoy the title were rewarded with pure twitch gameplay that instantly solidified the game’s status as a classic. Now, more than a decade after the orignal release, there have been an amazing six follow-up titles in the series (and even more if you count the various “X” and 3D permutations). The series has been through the usual ups and downs, but perhaps more than any other franchise in gaming history, Metal Slug has kept its core gameplay consistent accross all of the games. Metal Slug 7 will not be the first new title to appear on a handheld: Metal Slug 1st Mission for the Neo-Geo Pocket Color has that proud distinction. However, from the looks of things, Metal Slug 7 for the Nintendo DS will be the first new Metal Slug game in a while to feature all-new levels, gameplay mechanics and enemies. In other words, for die-hard fans of the series, this upcoming DS installment promises to be a must have title even though it is not for a home console.
What? Word on the floor of the Tokyo Game Show is that Metal Slug 7 will play just like we expect (none of this misguided 3D nonsense). That means players will be guiding familiar characters from left to right, mowing down everything in their path with an assortment of guns, grenades, and heat-seeking rockets. New in this installment is a gatling-gun mine car vehicle, added to the old-school favorite tank and submarine types.
Graphics appear to be up to date, with the series’ famous 2D sprites now cavorting in front of pre-rendered 3D backdrops. No support for the lower touch screen is included at the moment, but to be honest, we could care less about touch-screen functionality in a Metal Slug game.
Who? SNK Playmore are the original creators of this franchise, and continue to milk it for all it’s worth. Their capable hands almost ensure that this release will be great (SNK was briefly in bankruptcy and not responsible for the desultory Metal Slug 4 which was botched by a South Korean company).
Where?Unlike some other games in the shooter genre, Metal Slug series enjoys widespread success outside of Japan. Thus it is almost guaranteed that a Western localization will immediately follow the Japanese release.
When? Which brings us to the big question of release dates. Nothing is known as of yet, and the early build shown at this year’s TGS suggests that there is still considerable work to do on the title. We don’t expect to see a North American version before the spring of 2008.
Continue reading to check out some early screenshots and video footage of the game in action.
It’s finally here. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will ship to stores on October 1st. The legend continues on the Nintendo DS with a touch-controlled adventure that has received superb reviews from Japan. Not only that, but the month of October has more DS releases worth your attention, including the exciting conclusion to the Phoenix Wright series and a game that will scare the stylus out of your DS. These are the note-worthy DS releases for the month of October:
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass – October 1st: Featuring touch screen controls and a greatly enjoyable quest for hardcore and casual Zelda fans alike, Phantom Hourglass continues Link’s quest after the events of the Wind Waker. The game also includes a multiplayer mode via Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection.
Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol – October 2nd: Chibi’s back after his GameCube debut. Help him protect the local park and lend a hand to Chibi’s many friends via touch-screen activities on this 3D adventure available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores.
Bleach: the Blade of Fate – October 9: The popular DS import title officially comes to North America. This 2D fighter offers great gameplay with a few twists to the formula via in-game cards, and features 4-player local and online multiplayer. Fans of the series will be pleased, and anyone looking for a sold DS fighting game should look no further.
Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day – October 15: You guessed it; Brain Age for your eyes. This collection of sight-enhancing mini-games and activities challenges your focus and observation skills, as you play daily to get an Eye Age. This budget title will surely top sales charts just like its brain training relatives.
Prism: Light the Way – October 16: This puzzle game offers addictive gameplay that challenges you to reflect light across prisms while avoiding hazardous obstacles as you move through the game’s many levels. The pick-up-and-play design of this title is enhanced by intuitive touch screen controls, making it easy to recommended for puzzle fans and casual gamers. Full preview here.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations – October 23: The third and final entry of the Phoenix Wright law series finally reaches the US, complete with five intriguing (and quite funny) cases with lots of lovable characters and intense courtroom action. Fans of the series should know what to expect, and for anyone else, you still have some time to try the first two entries, which are great DS adventures themselves.
Dementium: The Ward – October 31: This title looks disgustingly horrific, as it should. Dementium is a promising survival / FPS game that has you escaping a macabre hospital filled with blood-thirsty beasts. Intense confrontations with said monsters, a deep story, and inventive puzzle-solving spark our interest in the game even further.
As we grow up as gamers, we start to appreciate every aspect that makes a great game just that; great. The ever-ongoing battle of Gameplay VS Graphics points out the two biggest factors for the majority; the way a game is played and the way it looks. However, these are not the only elements to consider. I, for one, highly value a game’s sound, particularly the music. Many people love a complex, involving story, as well, and let’s not forget the importance of a game’s value for the money. As time has passed, handheld gaming has evolved greatly, and the GBA, DS, and PSP have delivered excellent titles that offer memorable experiences, even without the highest of technology graphics-wise. However, since everyone enjoys games differently, we want to ask you; what makes a good game so good to you? Graphics and gameplay are very important, obviously, but what other factor do you value the most when playing a great game?
As you can see, the DS is on its way to selling more units than the Game Boy Advance franchise, in about half the time of availability (three years against six and a half). The DS franchise has sold just over a quarter of the entire Game Boy franchise sales. Can the DS sell over 120 million and beat the old-school Game Boys? Or better yet; can it sell over 200 million and surpass the entire Game Boy franchise sales? Time will tell.
The same way that the famed Neo Geo home console was revered for its numerous fighting games, the PSP will undoubtedly be remembered for the large number of RPGs and racing titles that have graced the handheld. I mean, think about it: Wipeout, Midnight Club, Burnout, Moto GP and Outrun are just a few of the racing series that have found their way onto the system. Fans of just about every sub-genre have been satisfied, with the glaring exception of purists who enjoy the more technical pursuit of rally racing (Gran Turismo might have corrected this problem, but has strangely gone AWOL from the PSP lineup). But now, thanks to Sega’s Rally Revo, this omission can finally be corrected. Interestingly, Revo eschews a serious approach for a more arcade-inspired experience reminiscent of Sega’s old Rally Championship arcade machines. Will it satisfy simulation fanatics the way Gran Turismo would? No, but it might still be worth your time and money, depending on how realistic you like your rally driving experience.
A number of interesting but overlooked handheld titles were shown at this year’s Tokyo Game Show, including a few promising games for Sony’s PSP. Irem Software is apparently bringing their Bumpy Trot steampunk adventure series to the PSP in the form of Bumpy Trot: Vehicle Battle Tournament. The game appears to deliver just what the title suggests, which is an arena-oriented battle where up to four players can duke it out in their own customizable Trotmobiles. For players unfamiliar with the series, the game focuses on building giant fighting robots that are powered by less-than-futuristic technology. Think Jules Verne meets Robot Wars. It is currently unkown if the PSP title will feature much in the way of single-player exploration beyond the game’s battle arena, although screenshots below and other hints on the developer’s main website suggest that the title may involve some additional role-playing elements remeniscent of the Pokemon franchise. We are genuinely intrigued by this unusual looking title, and we hope that the publisher sees fit to give it an English localization.
Homebrew gaming opens the door for novice game developers to get a taste of the game development industry. We see a ton of DS and PSP homebrew games, and we appreciate the hard work and efforts of the people behind them. Once in a while, however, certain homebrew games and applications stand out from the rest and deliver excellent gameplay and design. GeoWars is a fantastic example of great homebrew development, offering superb gameplay and graphics and a sophisticated game that asks nothing from commercial DS titles.
GeoWars is a Geometry Wars clone for the Nintendo DS, and gives us a great glimpse of what to expect from Geometry Wars Galaxies, an official release coming to DS and Wii this November. GeoWars puts you in charge of a spaceship flying through a level, frantically shooting multitudes of enemies as you avoid colliding with them. There are two playable characters and you move through missions and zones, each with a different play style, as you progress through the game. You use either the D-pad or the buttons to move and the touch screen to shoot in any direction. This video shows exactly how the game is played:
Bomberman Land Touch! was one of last year’s most overlooked DS titles. Although it offered a hefty collection of touch-based mini-games, most of which were quite fun and addictive, as well as multiplayer support for both the mini-games and classic Bomberman play, very few people got to experience the game’s greatness. Developer Hudson is working on the sequel, to be released on January of next year, which will feature the same premise as its predecessor: 40 touch-screen-based mini-games in both single and multiplayer modes, a story mode in which you progress through different levels while you play the mini-games, and the classic Bomberman game with multiplayer support for up to eight local gamers or four players over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Although the first game is quite hard to find nowadays, we encourage you to pick it up if you’re a fan of mini-game collections; Bomberman Land Touch! and its upcoming sequel are both sure to offer lots of fun and intense multiplayer action.
Ah, Metal Slug. When the venerable side-scrolling shooter first appeared in arcades and on the Neo Geo home system in 1996, those rich enough to invest the cash needed to fully enjoy the title were rewarded with pure twitch gameplay that instantly solidified the game’s status as a classic. Now, more than a decade after the orignal release, there have been an amazing six follow-up titles in the series (and even more if you count the various “X” and 3D permutations). The series has been through the usual ups and downs, but perhaps more than any other franchise in gaming history, Metal Slug has kept its core gameplay consistent accross all of the games. Metal Slug 7 will not be the first new title to appear on a handheld: Metal Slug 1st Mission for the Neo-Geo Pocket Color has that proud distinction. However, from the looks of things, Metal Slug 7 for the Nintendo DS will be the first new Metal Slug game in a while to feature all-new levels, gameplay mechanics and enemies. In other words, for die-hard fans of the series, this upcoming DS installment promises to be a must have title even though it is not for a home console.
As we grow up as gamers, we start to appreciate every aspect that makes a great game just that; great. The ever-ongoing battle of Gameplay VS Graphics points out the two biggest factors for the majority; the way a game is played and the way it looks. However, these are not the only elements to consider. I, for one, highly value a game’s sound, particularly the music. Many people love a complex, involving story, as well, and let’s not forget the importance of a game’s value for the money. As time has passed, handheld gaming has evolved greatly, and the GBA, DS, and PSP have delivered excellent titles that offer memorable experiences, even without the highest of technology graphics-wise. However, since everyone enjoys games differently, we want to ask you; what makes a good game so good to you? Graphics and gameplay are very important, obviously, but what other factor do you value the most when playing a great game?
The same way that the famed Neo Geo home console was revered for its numerous fighting games, the PSP will undoubtedly be remembered for the large number of RPGs and racing titles that have graced the handheld. I mean, think about it: Wipeout, Midnight Club, Burnout, Moto GP and Outrun are just a few of the racing series that have found their way onto the system. Fans of just about every sub-genre have been satisfied, with the glaring exception of purists who enjoy the more technical pursuit of rally racing (Gran Turismo might have corrected this problem, but has strangely gone AWOL from the PSP lineup). But now, thanks to Sega’s Rally Revo, this omission can finally be corrected. Interestingly, Revo eschews a serious approach for a more arcade-inspired experience reminiscent of Sega’s old Rally Championship arcade machines. Will it satisfy simulation fanatics the way Gran Turismo would? No, but it might still be worth your time and money, depending on how realistic you like your rally driving experience.
One of many special critters in Pokémon Diamond / Pearl is Manaphy, and in order to obtain it you needed to link to a finished copy of Pokémon Ranger, also for DS, or swap it through the Global Trade Station. This Saturday, however, participating Toys “R†Us locations throughout the US will provide a free download of a special Manaphy, similar to the one in the Pokémon Ranger movie. This Manaphy will be wearing a red scarf and is going to be enclosed on a Cherish Ball, otherwise not available in the games, which adds a colorful animation to your Pokémon’s appearance in battle. Apparently, unlike last year’s Mew giveaway, there is no need for hour-long lines; instead, you can access the store’s Download Station wirelessly and take your Manaphy quickly and easily. Not only that, but you can grab any DS title for $5 less with your download. We recommend Picross DS, Brain Age 2, or Namco Museum DS, all of which would cost you $14.99 after the discount. This event takes place this Saturday, September 29 only, from noon to 3 PM; we advise you to call your nearest store a day before to confirm participation.
Homebrew gaming opens the door for novice game developers to get a taste of the game development industry. We see a ton of DS and PSP homebrew games, and we appreciate the hard work and efforts of the people behind them. Once in a while, however, certain homebrew 
Bomberman Land Touch! was one of last year’s most overlooked DS titles. Although it offered a hefty collection of touch-based mini-games, most of which were quite fun and addictive, as well as multiplayer support for both the mini-games and classic Bomberman play, very few people got to experience the game’s greatness. Developer Hudson is working on the sequel, to be released on January of next year, which will feature the same premise as its predecessor: 40 touch-screen-based mini-games in both single and multiplayer modes, a story mode in which you progress through different levels while you play the mini-games, and the classic Bomberman game with multiplayer support for up to eight local gamers or four players over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Although the first game is quite hard to find nowadays, we encourage you to pick it up if you’re a fan of mini-game collections; Bomberman Land Touch! and its upcoming sequel are both sure to offer lots of fun and intense multiplayer action.
