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Gitaroo Man Lives!
A few years ago, a friend of mine was telling me about a sleeper hit for PS2, Gitaroo Man that he spent all night playing with a friend of his. Being a huge fan of Parappa the Rapper, I was extremely interested in playing it. However, due to limited quantities from Koei, and my lack of a PS2, I never actually got the chance. Now that Koei’s ported their game to the PSP, I’ve finally gotten a chance to see what the buzz was about.
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Bust-A-Move Deluxe
If there’s one stereotype that the PSP consistently fails to break free of, it would have to be the one about how its library consists of little more than ports, sequels, remakes and compilation games. What? Were you expecting me to say this game breaks that stereotype? It obviously doesn’t – I mean, this is another sequel in the well-known Bust-A-Move series, which has crept its way onto several systems in the past. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, well, that isn’t really always a bad thing. Sure, Bust-A-Move Deluxe falls short in some areas, but it still delivers a nice take on the BAM series, as…
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Magical Drop Pocket
To be honest, this is probably one of the few games I’ll review for the NGPC that does have a background on the NeoGeo MVS system that I haven’t played before taking a crack at its portable equivalent. Seriously, I’ve never played any of the arcade versions of MD, period, though I have played Money Puzzle Exchanger, which brought about a company’s demise due to being a MD rip-off. Magical Drop Pocket’s a fun game, but even if it is an indicator of the arcade versions, it’ll never take MPE’s place…in my heart.
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Jeanne D’Arc
It seems that all I’ve been playing are SRPGs as of late. Jeanne D’Arc is the most recent that I’ve tackled. Like Final Fantasy Tactics before it, Jeanne benefits from a strong story that drives the gameplay ever upward and onward. It’s a good thing, too, because unlike Disgaea, there isn’t much post-game fun to mention. The first thing you’ll notice about this game is that it is absolutely gorgeous! In a genre practically defined by blocky terrain and low-resolution 2D sprites, Jeanne D’Arc is championing a fresh new look with fully rendered stages and a rather enticing 3D cel-shaded character approach.
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Rune Factory 4 Wants You To Be Prepared
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqnH1ZJ8ELw&w=540&h=405] XSEED Games wants you to know exactly what this game is about. As such, they are releasing a series of “how to” videos to help new players get accustomed to it’s rather unique gameplay. The video above is the latest. Click “Read More” or visit our YouTube page to see the first video that takes a look at the farming portion of the game. Prior to seeing these videos, I didn’t care too much about this title, but now, I’m excited for it’s release.
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Atomic Ninjas Survival Guide #1
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmvKfDsdzw4&w=540&h=304] This trailer is fresh off the cutting board and offers some insight into what exactly the game is about. I’m told that it’s the first of many trailers that will be designed to let you know exactly what you’ll be doing in this interesting brawler. I’ve also been fed some juicy bits of detail regarding the game. For starters, it will release “late September” exclusively for PSN. Grip Games will be showing the title at the upcoming Gamescom, so if anyone is roaming around Germany, go check it out!
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Big Sky Infinity
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBYhp2K5L3E&w=540&h=304] The sky is indeed infinite and it’s easy to get lost in the space shooter. I’m at a bit of a loss when I think of how to describe this game. You see, it’s hard to not include comparisons to other iconic shooters like Gradius, R-Type, and Raiden. Big Sky borrows heavily from all of these games as well as some more recent shooters like Geometry Wars and Super Stardust. That’s not to say that Big Sky is just a “me too” title. In fact, Big Sky takes bits of each of these games and combines those features into one cohesive unifying experience, with infinite replayability.
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Busy Week, Playing Games
The past week, I’ve been very diligently playing Dragon’s Crown. I’ve put in way more time than is needed to review the game, but I just can’t put it down. I’ve also been hard at work trying to make press connections. I’m happy to say that I’ve made quite a few, so expect many more new reviews in the coming days. First up, we have Big Sky Infinity and PixelJunk Monsters. Soul Sacrifice, Disgaea 3, Germinator, Dokuro, Dragon’s Crown, Guacamelee!, Persona 4 Golden, Playstation All-Stars, Rymdkapsel, Project X Zone, God’s Eater Burst, Limbo, and Sound Shapes (in no particular order) are all in the pipeline. I will also have a…
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Capcom Continues To Disappoint Me
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XInD7Hz47MI&w=540&h=304] Here’s the new trailer for the Japanese 3DS game, Monster Hunter 4. Anybody who knows me, knows that Monster Hunter is one of my favorite games. They also know that I’ve grown accustomed to playing it on the PSP. I can get down with dual analogs, but after 2000+ hours of playing with the “Monster Hunter Claw”, it’s next to impossible for me to adjust to the 3DS’s control scheme. The last game was the first Monster Hunter title I skipped since MHF first hit the U.S. on the PSP. If this does come Stateside, I may just have to pick it up. Damn you, Capcom! This could have…
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Booby Brawler Senran Kagura Burst Coming To U.S.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPA3M2QhckE&w=540&h=405] Senran Kagura Burst is coming to the States later this year. At present, there is no official release date other than Fall. This should be good news for anyone that likes quirky Japanese games with a great number of over-sized breasts. Those who thought today’s Dragon’s Crown release was over-the-top and gratuitous should probably avoid this trailer. Either that, or watch it, and tell us all how obnoxious and inappropriate this sort of this is in the comments.
Handheld Gaming Reviews