Portable Video Gamer

DS Review: Arkanoid DS

sergioalb64 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:14:25 +0000

Yet another ball-bouncing, brick-breaking game has been released for the Nintendo DS. Although Arkanoid is a clone of the Breakout pioneer that started this puzzle-esque genre, the title means quality, as many have tried and failed to recreate this experience on the system, whereas Arkanoid DS succeeds. Think of it as a revival of the title; retaining its classic, addictive gameplay, the game is enhanced with catchy tunes, vibrant graphical backgrounds, multiplayer and leaderboards, and tons of replay value.

As you would expect, Arkanoid DS features the classic ‘break the bricks’ gameplay, as you repeatedly bounce a ball with a paddle to make your way through a static stage. You can embark on Clear Mode, in which you clear sets of 5 rounds each for a total of 35 stages to finish the session. The thing is, every Zone matches a letter in the alphabet, giving players hundreds of stages to go through to fully beat the game. Once you clear a Zone, you can enter Quest Mode and clear the Zone’s five stages again, this time with specific challenges such as clearing a certain color of blocks or all of them with limited time or ball bounces. Although there isn’t nothing all that new about these modes, and the gameplay remains repetitive overall, it’s still a very addictive title, especially if you want to go through every stage.

And you just might, seeing how different they are. There are seven different types of Zones, each with a different background color and music. And the rounds themselves change quite drastically; you might start with a standard wide stage, moving on to a narrow one, then off to a stage with very few blocks that are heavily guarded by unbreakable ones, etc. Although the diverse width of stages adds variety, narrow rounds are considerably easier to beat, seeing how at times your paddle can cover half the stage, if not more. You can also take advantage of falling power-ups that do a variety of effects, such as adding two extra balls to the mix, giving your paddle a laser, or firing up your ball so that it goes straight through all bricks. Add to that the ability to include a layered barrier to prevent the ball from escaping, and you will notice that it’s very hard to actually lose a stage. In terms of challenge, Arkanoid DS falls a bit short.

Even so, the game’s value is truly astonishing. $20 gets you hundreds of stages to go through in both Clear and Quest modes. Not only that, but a good run-thru of Clear Mode can earn you a high spot in the game’s online leaderboards. You can also play against the CPU to practice the game’s Multiplayer modes. Up to four players can battle it out, trying to clear their stages of bricks while affecting the performance of their opponents with various power-ups. Although a bit luck-based, multiplayer battles are still quite fun, and you only need one copy of the game to get the balls going. Even if no local players are around, you can play online against one or three opponents in lag-less, entertaining battles. You can also go through the Friend Code ordeal and register a long-distance friend for online battles.

With so many things to do, it would be nice to have a neat presentation, and Arkanoid DS delivers. You can unlock a variety of backgrounds, paddles, and brick shapes, and you can customize each Zone type to your liking, with different backgrounds and even music. The game’s soundtrack is really well done, with an overall techno feel and different genres, each song with a neat style and very catchy rhythm. There are little to no problems with the title. It might take you a minute or two to get adjusted to the ‘dead zone’ of space in between the screens, but this is definitely not a considerable factor. You can use buttons as your control method, or preferably the stylus, which is responsive and efficient. North American copies of Arkanoid DS did not include a paddle peripheral like they did in Japan, but they do feature paddle compatibility; if you’re a DS fan who needs it all, the paddle will work just fine, but stylus controls alone are perfect.

Although its classic gameplay wasn’t as enhanced as it could have been, and the ‘been there, done that, multiple times’ feel is present, the overall fun and addictiveness of breaking bricks still pushes Arkanoid DS to great heights. With tons of stages to go through, entertaining multiplayer features for local and online play, leaderboards, and a fantastic presentation and style, this title is extremely easy to recommend, especially with an impressive admission price of just $20.

Things we liked:

Lots of replay value

Fun local / online multiplayer, and up-to-date leaderboards

Great style and presentation

Things we didn’t like:

On the easy side

Not many new gameplay enhancements

Final Score: 8.5 / 10

DS Review: Guitar Hero: On Tour

sergioalb64 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:40:13 +0000

There’s no doubt about it; Guitar Hero revolutionized the way we see and play rhythm games. The franchise has enjoyed great success in multiple consoles since late 2005. However, when a portable version of Guitar Hero for the Nintendo DS was announced, many were skeptical; how on earth could we get a guitar-playing experience on the go? Will there be a mini-guitar included, or some other peripheral that might or might not work? Discussion and speculation continued for a while, with little to none official word on how the game would pan out. Eventually, the Guitar Grip accessory was revealed; some followers of the title were impressed, while others felt a bit uncomfortable about the idea. With the recent release of the game; we can finally say ‘…almost’.

The first thing you will notice about Guitar Hero: On Tour, besides its $49.99 price tag, is the inclusion of the Guitar Grip peripheral. This neat accessory plugs into the GBA slot of your DS and features four fret buttons that mimic the five frets of the standard Guitar Hero guitars. Featuring customizable plates, a guitar pick stylus and holder, a hand strap and backwards compatibility with the original DS ‘Phat’, the Guitar Grip itself is a nice little product that translates the Guitar Hero experience to the DS as best as possible. Unfortunately, it isn’t perfect; the fret buttons are on the small side, and the peripheral is a bit uncomfortable to hold and maneuver successfully in higher difficulty settings.

The overall feel of the game is what you would expect from the franchise; form a band, pick a rocker, and go through venues and songs in Career Mode to unlock guitars, outfits, and more venues. You can also jump on to a previously unlocked song in Quickplay Mode, or take the game’s well-designed Tutorials or practice an specific song in Practice Mode. The next big thing most players will notice is the relatively short song selection. A total of 26 tracks are included, including All Star, Rock and Roll All Nite, I Don’t Want to Stop, and others (check out the full list of tiers and songs). 26 full-length songs are impressive to DS standards, but not nearly enough for the franchise. Call us crazy, but Activision could’ve offered downloadable songs that would go to a small memory unit located on the Guitar Grip peripheral; unusual, but possible.

Gameplay itself is really just as fun as the game’s console big brothers; simply hold one or more fret buttons as you use a stylus or the included pick stylus to strum anywhere on the touch screen. The responsiveness of the Guitar Grip and the well-synched notes and audio make for a very enjoyable experience; you can ‘whammy’ long notes, tap an icon or blow on the mic to activate Star Power, and use hammer-ons and pull-offs to nail tricky solos. Unfortunately, strumming isn’t very well developed. You can strum on any direction, but short strums sometimes go unrecognized, and the constant flow of notes in Hard and Expert will have you tapping your touch screen like crazy. You can try to slide sideways, but the slightest movement of the stylus can break your note combo. In a way, the challenge of a fifth fret translates to the frustrating and tiresome strumming mechanics, especially as the difficulty increases.

The multiplayer features of Guitar Hero: On Tour are quite good. Using Multicard play (no online support is included), you can rock with or against a local friend to any unlocked song. The game also includes a single and multiplayer mode called Guitar Duels, in which Star Power becomes special items to use during a match. You can set your opponent’s guitar on fire, break one of their strings, have them sign an autograph for an annoying fan, and other interesting challenges. With many different special attacks, this mode is really hectic and enjoyable.

There might not be many, but all the 26 songs in the game work really well and sound great; most songs are mater tracks, and the few covers sound just as good. Our only gripe with the game’s audio is the relatively low volume of the songs; we know the system is capable of more, and we really shouldn’t have to use headphones to get the full experience. The game’s graphics aren’t anything extraordinary, but they translate the Guitar Hero feel to the handheld fairly well, and the lag-less, well-synched note flow works perfectly, and that’s what really counts in this game genre.

Guitar Hero: On Tour is a great experiment that could’ve been better. The fun gameplay and the Guitar Hero feel are there, but control discomfort, a more ‘kid-friendly’ soundtrack, and an annoying strumming system really hurt the experience. Activision has done a great job with a franchise translation that could’ve ended up much worse, and our hats go off to them for trying, and succeeding to some degree, to bring Guitar Hero to handhelds, with a very cool and impressive peripheral; we just can’t shake the feeling of ‘…almost’.

Things we liked:

Great peripheral

Guitar Hero’s feel and gameplay remain

Fun multiplayer

Things we didn’t like:

Control discomfort, especially in Hard and Expert

Inefficient strumming system

Relatively short soundtrack, with very low song volume

Final Score: 7.5 / 10

Arkanoid DS demo bounces to Nintendo Channel

sergioalb64 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:32:03 +0000

Nintendo DS owners who also have an internet-connected Wii can download demos of upcoming DS games through the Nintendo Channel. Although recent ‘updates’ to the Channel have been somewhat disappointing (switching old demos within weeks isn’t really updating), we finally have a good reason to use the service. You can now get your hands on a demo of Arkanoid DS, complete with five levels, three difficulty settings, stylus or button controls, neat music, and an overall satisfying experience. We had a lot of fun with it, and we suggest that lucky Wii and DS owners go and download it immediately.

If the demo can be this fun, there seems to be no reason to skip the game’s release next week, especially with its tempting $20 price tag. Still on the fence? Worry not; PVG will review the title and give you all the skinny on it next week. Also look for an extensive round-up of every ball-bouncing, brick-breaking game currently available for the DS, to celebrate the release.

Lego Indiana Jones: Which is the best handheld version?

Kris — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:28:07 +0000

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.

The PSP Version

The PSP version of Lego Indiana Jones is much closer to its larger console brethren, and almost perfectly recreates the PS2 experience on the small screen. The PSP presentation doesn’t have all of the fancy effects of next-gen systems, but it does a good job with player characters, animations, and background scenery. Everything that players would find in the console versions is here, including vehicle driving sections, puzzles and unlockable content. As fans of the previous games are aware, half of the fun is in returning to previously beaten levels to collect new stuff after the main storyline is finished, adding to the immense replayability of this title. The only glaring omission from the PSP version is cooperative multiplayer, something that might turn off folks who enjoy playing with a friend. Follow this link to check out a trailer of the PSP version.

Our Verdict

Both versions of Lego Indiana Jones are superb on their respective portable systems. The DS version focuses on more of a pick-up-and-play style, while the PSP version tries — and succeeds — at reproducing the home console experience. If co-op multiplayer is definitely your thing, then we stongly recommend the DS version. If you absolutely must have the complete single player experience, including all levels and unlockables, then the PSP is the way to go.

Upcoming PSP releases for June 2008

Kris — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:39:29 +0000

After a few months of slim pickings it is once again a very strong month for PSP releases in North America. We have a couple of high-quality movie tie-ins, a sure-fire adventure hit from Sony and a rapid twitch shooter in the vein of Lumines. It is difficult to choose a favorite among the upcoming titles, but there is definitely something for nearly every taste coming up in the next 30 days.

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures — June 3: Sure, the new Indiana Jones movie was a bit of a let down, but this video game adaptation of the first films won’t disappoint. All of the insanity and fun of LEGO combined with the excellent gameplay that Travelers Tales are known for, in a portable package.

Secret Agent Clank — June 17: The next blockbuster action/adventure title for the PSP revisits the underdog sidekick theme to find out what kind of damage Clank can do when Ratchet is locked up for crimes he didn’t commit. All signs point to this being a quality release.

Space Invaders Extreme — June 17: The DS is not the only system receiving the retro arcade treatment from Square Enix this month. Space Invaders Extreme on the PSP loses touch input, but gains a graphical upgrade. Having more in common with Lumines than a typical arcade shooter, we predict that this title could be a smash hit on the Sony portable.

Naruto Ultimate Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress — June 24: We know there are some anime fans out there looking forward to this release from Namco/Bandai.

WALL-E — June 24: This game adaptation of the Disney-Pixar film will put players in control of a trash collecting robot through a variety of environmental puzzles and obstacle courses.

Upcoming DS releases for June 2008

sergioalb64 — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:38:10 +0000

Oh yes; June is here, the summer starts, and the controversial Guitar Hero: On Tour will rock your DS, or fail trying. Will players dig the concept? Is the lack of a fifth fret really all that important? We shall find out soon. As big as GH:OT is, though, there are other note-worthy DS releases for this month, from classic revivals to hardcore strategy / RPG blends. Take a gander at these DS titles set to ship this June:

Summon Night: Twin Age – June 3: Previously delayed and now shipping on June, this action / RPG hybrid features two playable characters and a decent-length quest full of dungeons to crawl through and a clean real-time, action-based battle system. Explore the world, level up, trade items; good stuff here.

Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor – June 10: Don’t be so quick to dismiss this one; although not much is known, this title apparently plays just like Elite Beat Agents, a favorite among rhythm DS gamers. Expect a review soon after the game’s release, for good or bad.

Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles – June 10: Solve three deep, intriguing cases full of murders, love and betrayal in this point-and-click adventure, a genre that suits the DS perfectly. Although initial reactions haven’t been all that positive, the game’s $20 price tag is a nice attraction.

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard – June 17: The second installment to a fantastic, old-school RPG / dungeon crawler of yesteryear, with new character jobs, improved boss fights, and other tweaks here and there to make a good game even better. Will PVG review this game? You bet!

Arkanoid DS & Space Invaders Extreme – June 17: Two titles, two timeless classics revived on DS, complete with touch screen controls, attractive new visuals and audio, boss fights, and DS Paddle support. Unfortunately, US copies of Arkanoid DS won’t include said paddle; you can import one, or wait for a possible third-party substitute to become available.

Guitar Hero: On Tour – June 22: 25 songs, an interesting peripheral, and the concept of Guitar Hero on your DS; talk about surprising. Many have wondered just how well this game will do, considering the limitations of the system and the fact that you’re not using a real guitar controller. Worry not; PVG will have an in-depth review soon after the title’s release.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift – June 24: A pseudo-sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, a series that takes a light-hearted approach to standard FF Tactics series, while retaining its hardcore RTS elements. Once again set in Ivalice, this whimsical adventure features all you loved of the GBA title—many character classes, an artsy look, and the Law System—plus more.

Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2 – June 24?: A question mark? Well, you see, although the ‘official’ release is July 1st, a rumor floating around suggests a release date drawback of one week. Either way, you will soon follow up to one of the most beloved (and challenging) DS titles that lets you play doctor, in a good way. Join Derek Styles and Angie Thompson as they deal with the after-effects of the deadly GUILT virus of the first UTK title, complete with new operations, tools, and patients to save.

Talk about a jam-packed month! And take a look at all the DS titles with colons in the title; this is quite a trend, isn’t it?

The dark humor of Portal is Still Alive on the Nintendo DS

Kris — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:43:59 +0000

From the blatant copyright infringement department comes Still Alive, a homebrew game for the Nintendo DS that does a good job of capturing the madcap mayhem of the popular Valve game Portal from the PC.

Of course, without the raw horsepower of the PC and modern consoles, French developer “T4ils” have had to cut a few corners in the graphics and presentation of the wall-zapping puzzler for the DS version. Fortunately, the core gameplay appears to be intact — players must make their way through maze-like levels by creating portals on wall surfaces which allow them to teleport around the level. Here, the goal is no longer simply to make it to the exit, since the infamous cake from the original game has finally deicded to make an appearance. Players must scoop up the pieces of cake scattered throughout stage as an additional challenge before they can make their way to the next level.

Fortunately, despite the changes in gameplay and graphics, the creativity and dark humor of the original Valve release seems to be intact. Some players have even reported difficulty making it past the game’s menu screen, which requires a little bit of creative thinking. If you think you are up for the challenge, be sure to head over to the developer’s site to download a free copy of the game. If you are not sure how to run homebrew software on your system, be sure and check out our handy DS Homebrew Guide.

DS sequels hitting Japan soon; NOA’s chance to make up arises

sergioalb64 — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:37:35 +0000

We have some sweet, sweet DS mews to report. After a Nintendo business meeting in Japan, a good amount of new titles and releases were divulged. First of all, Fire Emblem DS, an enhanced remake of the first FE game way back in the NES days, will see Japanese release on August 7. That’s good, but here’s the true ‘sweetness’; a new Densetsu no Stafi game is in the works for the DS, as well as another Rhythm Tengoku. The first is a popular 2D platformer to the likes of Mario, and is quite a popular franchise in the Land of the Rising Sun; the rest of the world, however, hasn’t seen much of the little chubby yellow star, except from a relatively useless appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The latter, Rhythm Tengoku, was a cult classic import titles for the GBA; one of the system’s last gems, really, with addictive rhythm-based gameplay with a twist, from the developers of the WarioWare titles. Although there are no specific details to report on either of the newly announced games, we should be able to get more info soon, seeing how both titles are set to storm Japanese DS systems this July.

So now we have three titles from franchises that have yet to see the light in American soil; Densetsu no Stafi, Rhythm Tengoku, and Daigasso! Band Brothers. This would be a great time for Nintendo of America to make it up to us and bring these games over for a change. We will continue to gather relevant info and pass it on to you as soon as we can get it.

Thanks: [NeoGAF]

HermitWorks bringing Space Trader to iPhones throughout the solar system

Kris — Sun, 25 May 2008 02:29:54 +0000

Indie developers HermitWorks surprised the world last month when they managed to get a multiplayer match of Quake III running on two iPhones. The coders are now hard at work on a port of their original Mac game Space Trader to the iPhone. Reportedly, the Quake III stunt was just a test to find out how first-person movement and controls might work on the handheld, motion-sensing platform.

Space Trader was reasonably successful when it released on Mac and Linux platforms in the Summer of 2007. An intriguing cross between a strategy board game, space opera and frantic first-person shooter, it is no exaggeration to say that Space Trader broke new ground with its innovative gameplay. The objective of the game is to make money by buying and selling commodities at various locations around the solar system. Things get physical when players take on bounty-hunting missions, or become the bounty themselves for refusing to pay their taxes. The bargain-priced game did not attract a huge mainstream following, but the smattering of reviews around the net were mostly positive, praising the resemblence to early strategy games like Elite.

If HermitWorks can update the graphics and iron out some small issues with the play mechanics, this could be a promising title to watch out for when the iPhone Store opens its virtual doors in June.

Are Sonic fans headed for disappointment with Bioware RPG?

Kris — Sat, 24 May 2008 06:47:06 +0000

After its announcement in February, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood has rapidly become one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming titles for the Nintendo DS. The intriguing combination of an 8-bit mega-franchise with Bioware’s uniquely Western perspective on the RPG genre seemed like a sure bet for success. Early scans showed off some incredible hand-painted artwork and characters, and all seemed right in the world.

That is, until game sites started to be granted sneak peaks of the game in development earlier this month. Although previews are usually upbeat and positive, we couldn’t help but get the feeling that some journalists were underwhelmed by what they saw in this early build. For example, IGN writer Mark Bozon took issue with the game’s lack of complexity and overly repetitive battle sequences:

“The game has its charming aspects, such as classic SEGA sound effects and well done 2D level backdrops, but the overall gameplay could still use some serious work. Battles are extremely repetitive, in-level puzzling is as basic as can be, and so far we haven’t seen anything that really pushes the RPG genre at all on DS, which we certainly expect from a company like Bioware. We’ll have to sit down and get comfy with the final version before making any further comments, but as it stands right now the game could use a bit of a kick in the pants… ”

Our friends over at Go Nintendo enjoyed the dialog and story elements in the version that they saw, but pretty much agreed with negative assessments elsewhere:

“To be frank, I was really bummed after my time with Sonic Chronicles. I was really hoping that the title would show some promise of bringing Sonic to a new genre in style. I can see what Bioware is trying to do, I just don’t know if they will be able to pull it together. This game needs a lot more dev time if it’s to turn out good. The story elements will be there…that’s already clear. It is every other aspect of the game that needs more than fine-tuning…”

Uh oh. From the sounds of it, Bioware had better step up their game if they hope to make a good impression on Sonic fans when the game drops this September. There is obviously a lot riding on this, as it marks the blue hedgehog’s first foray into RPG territory, as well as Bioware’s first contribution to the DS game library. We’ll have more previews as details emerge.