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Shantae
Before we get into the actual review, here’s a strange little rumor: Shantae has been in development since the heyday of (and was originally intended to be released for) the Super NES, and considering the large gap in time between the copyright dates displayed on the intro scene, I’m beginning to think this may have been the case. The point is, if there’s any truth to this dubious factoid, then Shantae is a prime example for the old saying, “Good things come to those who wait.” Honestly, this is in all likelihood, the best game released exclusively for the GBC. Most of them either borrowed or shared blockbuster fame with…
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SNK VS Capcom: Card Fighters DS
The warning signs were all there, but I ignored them all. I’ll be completely honest, even when I saw the screenshots, I had a sinking feeling, so I didn’t expect this game to be as great of a classic as the original, but I thought it would have some semblance to the original (or its slightly modified Japan-only sequel). The latter was true, but, well… that’s the only source material from any earlier titles, and they tore that from the shared traits of its classic predecessor. Another hint came to me from the boxart. Look at the back – no screenshots whatsoever. That alone made my heart sink. I mean,…
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SNK VS Capcom: Card Fighters’ Clash
Back when the Neo Geo Pocket Color was new (if you had it), you had to have two games to recognize its greatness: SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium & SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters’ Clash. This game stands out from most NGPC titles, mainly because it isn’t a fighter. But, don’t be fooled, it’s just as fast-paced as its relative, MoTM. Perhaps, even more so.
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SNK VS Capcom: Match Of The Millennium
For many, SVC:MotM was the reason to buy a NGPC. For many others, this game was the reason they’re hitting themselves for not getting a NGPC. For the many of you in the latter category, have no fear as both the NGPC and this game have been re-released in some stores (Namely Electronics Boutique). Even so, they’re still remarkably hard to find.
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Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Perhaps the hardest decision a developer has to make has to do with niche sequels. On one hand, you have the enthusiastic word-of-mouthers telling their friends about their favorite game, hoping to get them involved in it. On the other hand, you also want to appeal to a wider audience, making it more profitable and better worth your effort. Do you make the game more accessible for newcomers or do you appease the already established fan base? A lot of companies have struggled with this dilemma, but none seem to balance the two as well as Capcom.
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Infected
While the members of Slipknot and their music are in this game, don’t let that determination be your only deciding factor in making a purchase. Ever since Mortal Kombat hit the scene, the game industry has been pushing the violence factor to the limit. Infected is no different from the rest in this regard. Lewd language, heavy metal music, and violently bloody explosions create a fairly unique atmosphere that compliments the game play to a tee.
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Hotel Dusk: Room 215
While Trace Memory was certainly a good game, it didn’t exactly prove Cing’s worth in the point and click adventure genre with most people. Fast forward to January 22, 2007 – the release of Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Hotel Dusk is Cing’s latest and – by far – their greatest game, bar none. The biggest problem with Trace Memory was that it was notoriously short, and there wasn’t much to do once you’ve completed it. This is not so with Hotel Dusk, however – not only is it of significant length, but there is a great deal of replay value to it as well.
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Guilty Gear Dust Strikers
Okay, itís confession time. As much as I claim to be a fighting game aficionado, Iím also a Guilty Gear virgin. Aside from being totally confused with the arcade version of Isuka and renting a badly-damaged, mostly unplayable X2 #Reload, my experiences with Guilty Gear have been limited to watching attract mode demos at arcades. For the most part, Iím happy playing obscure NeoGeo fighters like Waku Waku 7, Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer, and The Last Blade. However, after seeing Dust Strikers lying in a GameStop bargain bin during a sale, I decided to dive right into the series – although with the game that seems to be held as the…
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Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime is the sequel to a personal favorite of mine, Slime MoriMori: Dragon Quest Shougeki no Shippou Dan for the Game Boy Advance. Previously set to be released on the GBA, Square Enix decided that DQ Heroes should be moved to the Nintendo DS because it would work much better on it for what they wanted to do, although this causes the symptom of GBA-caliber visuals. And while their usage of the dual screens isn’t exactly groundbreaking, it does a good job at several other points.
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Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground
There are many companies out there bringing port after port to our beloved PSP, but few companies have felt the desire to craft a truly genuine experience on the little portable that dared stand its ground against the big bad Nintendo. XSEED Games dares to break that mold. Their last game, Valhalla Knights was a great idea with a somewhat flawed execution. If dungeon crawling is what you desire, but Valhalla Knights failed to quench your thirst for hack and slash goodness, Dungeon Maker may prove to be your beverage of choice.
Handheld Gaming Reviews