Lego Indiana Jones: Which is the best handheld version?
The great thing about multi-platform releases is that gamers have the option of playing a game on one of many possible systems. The difficulty is choosing which system to get a blockbuster game for. We faced this problem with the recently released LEGO Indiana Jones, which is available for both the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP, as well as every current home console. Unable to decide between the two portable options, we decided to get both — and report back here on which version we liked best. It is difficult to choose a clear winner, because both handheld consoles handle the game well, and each version has its own particular strengths and weaknesses. If you are still on the fence about which one to buy, read on for the specific details and our verdict on each release.
The DS Version
Players who opt for the DS version are in for a slightly different gameplay experience. Unlike the console and PSP versions, Lego Indiana Jones on the DS makes a few sacrifices in image quality and level size, but brings new features to the table. At many points in the game, players must use the “wind” feature of the microphone to activate certain platforms and puzzles. DS owners with friends can still play in cooperative multiplayer mode over local wifi. The DS version also features touch functionality, although this is somewhat unnecessary and redundant since the same input can be achieved by pressing one of the face buttons. The DS version also predictably adds some touch-screen minigames not found on any other system.
Graphically, the game can not compare to the PSP and console versions, but it delivers a strong performance nonetheless: levels are filled with colorful textures and player characters are clearly distinguishable, even on the small screen. The framerate is also noticeably better than last year’s Lego Star Wars. The only really substantial difference is that the DS version cuts back the total number of levels in the game, leaving out some of the content found on other systems, while still retaining the overall spirit and fun of the franchise.
Posted in DS News, DS Reviews, PSP News, PSP Reviews | No Comments »
The Castlevania series has been around since 1986, and although most casual gamers have only heard of the series, many hardcore gamers will tell you that there is a reason for it’s staying power. This is evident in the latest serving of Transylvanian goodness, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. This game will make you feel like a real bargain hunter (and vampire hunter) considering you get 3 — count them — 3 games for the reasonable price of $29.99. I’ll go into the other two games in a moment but first is the remake of Rondo Of Blood. Please note that the original Rondo Of Blood was never released in the U.S., so unless you speak Japanese it will definitely be new to you. One of the things that will definitely stick out to the player right away are the graphics, this game looks like it belongs on a PS2, and it is absolutely gorgeous. Being tasked with remaking a game that is known for breathtaking architecture and beautiful animation is no small task, yet Konami succeeds with room to spare. Every room has incredible detail, so much so that it feels like a crime just passing it by: even though this is still a 2d side-scroller, the art in the background makes you wish you could explore the scenery in more detail. Things like vast cathedrals, countless rooms, mirrors that reflect you one moment and your skeleton the next, and sprawling landscapes all show that Konami really cared about this title, having absolutely nailed the transition from 2D artwork to 3D rendering.
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.
To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of one of the most successful RPG franchises of all time, Square Enix is releasing the first two titles in the series on the PSP. Final Fantasy I: Anniversary Edition was released this week in North America, and the follow-up sequel will come next month for those who are eager to play through the early entries in this venerable franchise. Both versions have been available for some time in Japan, and while they are not identical to each other in terms of storyline, they share enough similarities in terms of gameplay and presentation that they can be treated together for the purposes of this review. So, are these two remakes worth your valuable time and even more valuable money? While Final Fantasy veterans and fans of simple console RPGs will undoubtedly get more mileage out of these two titles, most casual role-playing fans are likely to be disappointed by the overall lack of effort and polish that has gone into their respective updates. Read on to find out how Square may have crossed the line between inspired remake and cynical cash-grab.
When we heard that Ubisoft had picked up the rights to the Driver franchise from struggling publisher Atari, we were naturally excited that the franchise had been granted a new lease on life, but we also felt some trepidation about where the new developers might take the series. The first title to appear under this new stewardship is Driver ‘76, a portable prequel to the somewhat disappointing console game, Parallel Lines. Driver ‘76 retains the setting, main character and soundtrack from the console title, but remixes the experience with a new story and set of side-missions. This game is inherently hard to review on its own since it invites comparison to the successful GTA series, featuring both open-ended vehicular gameplay and a gritty criminal setting. Many a “GTA clone” has failed to differentiate itself and offer a compelling new experience; we are happy to report, however, that this new Driver game takes some steps in the right direction in terms of gameplay, and offers a coherent and entertaining package on the PSP. Continue reading to find out what sets this game apart from its peers, and why we think that despite its flaws, it can hold its own in a post-GTA world. 
Last week our very own Nintendo DS intern Sergio compiled a list of the 
Have the stresses and strains of twenty-first century urban life got you down? Do you long for a simpler existence where the passage of time and the changing of seasons is more significant than the superficial pleasures of picking the next American Idol or downloading songs onto your iPod? Neither do we. But for those weirdos out there who really do long for the rural life, the Harvest Moon series from Natsume is undoubtedly just your kind of game. We have spent the past week living alternative lives in the lush countryside of Harvest Moon: Innocent Life, and we offer our impressions of the game here, even though we have not fully completed the adventure (the formal storyline could take over 100 hours to complete). Sadly, after 30 hours of play time, we found it impossible to achieve even our modest evil agenda of enslaving everybody on the island and forcing them to work on our mechanized mega-plantation.