Super Motherload (PSN)

Russian cosmonauts, Dig Dug, Resident Evil, and DOOM are some of the things that come to mind as I play "Super Motherload". As with those games, and subjects there's a lot of gameplay, and plot material included that seems oddly familiar. Whatever your take on this mining strategy game is though there's one thing for certain, and that is the fact that "Super Motherload" is one of the more interesting indie titles you'll experience this year. Xgen Studios, the developers behind this Dig Dug inspired strategy game will have you investing hours upon hours literally trying to get down to the bottom of things. With a chosen character, and a helicopter drilling machine you will be doing the bidding of a shady corporation as you try to strike it rich with the combination of minerals that you gather. The deeper you dig into the martian landscape that the game takes place on the closer you'll get to the bottom of it all, and in more ways than one.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory (PSN)

If cutesy anime girls with oddly perverse dialogue oriented scripts are your forte then "Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory" might just be the RPG experience you've been longing for. This latest chapter of the ongoing saga featuring the goddess-like CPUs brings to the table yet another otherworldy dilemma set in the fictitious lands of the GameIndustri. Neppy (Neptune), and all her kawaii little girly pals get lost in their lazy daily activities while paying no attention to the duties they should be tending to. In the heat of the moment Neppy parts ways from her GameIndustri CPU friends only to be spirited away to another dimension where the GameIndustri is less evolved than the one she came from. With the Seven Sages up to their usual antics it is once again up to Neppy, and her old friends as well as her newly found friends to set things right and thwart a plot to rid the GameIndustri of the CPU's authority.

Contrast (PSN)

Compulsion Games, and Focus Home interactive take us on a video game journey so deeply involved that it's many layers reflect the Einstein theory that the gameplay is based upon. Like Einstein's theory of the multiverse the heart of the story at hand which involves a little girl, and her parents' dwindling relationship is explored in many different yet similar ways. Didi, the game's main protagonist, and her shadow traveling circus friend named Dawn traverse the worlds between light, and shadow in order to make sense of their broken reality, and ultimately make peace within Didi's broken psyche. In a way Didi's story borders both on psychological interpretation similar to the offerings in American McGee's "Alice: Madness Returns" as well as the metaphyiscal theories of other dimensions past our own, like an eerie episode of "The Twilight Zone". As you travel with Didi, and Dawn you'll unlock the secrets behind Didi, and her family as well as gain a peek into their world behind this fantasy of sorts. Through Didi's shared dialogue, and her interactions with the shadowy figures found within her fractured fairytale will ultimately become fully merged in a way that all can understand, if they only take the time to look beyond it's facade.

AquaPazza (PS3)

In the world of fighting games rarely ever will you find a plot that is 90% lighthearted, and only 10% violent in nature. Usually there's some sort of ominous evil corporation, or evil being/character lurking behind the scenes who is intent on ending, or ruling the world by some sort of ultra horrific means making the gameplay at hand more mature. As such it was a delightful treat to be able to play what I consider to be one of the few male, and female friendly fighting games available for the PS3. With AquaPazza's diverse cast of cutesy anime inspired characters gamers will likely warm up to their favorites, and enjoy using them throughout the various modes of play. You'll find everything from the cliche anime schoolgirls to mask wearing emperors, and even some feral sword toting characters who each add a bit of that anime spark that all of us Otaku long for. Through artistically crafted menus, beautifully animated cutscenes, and catchy Japanese theme songs gamers who are willing to give this game a chance will find themselves lost in one of this year's more positive experiences.

Call of Duty: Ghosts (PS3)

If you know me then you'll know that each year I swear up, and down I will not be getting another CoD (Call of Duty) game. You'll also know that I usually don't make good on my word, and that I end up getting the game anyways. In all honesty part of me loves the arcade style FPS experience that CoD has to offer, and the other part of me loathes it's repetitive bad points. Playing a game that requires one to camp instead of "run & gun" in order to stay on top of things doesn't exactly make for a fun experience. Unfortunately over the years, and through several releases this is what CoD has evolved into, a camping, and sniping competitive multiplayer battle that caters to the worst of online participants.

I could complain all day about CoD's long list of faults, but we all know about Infinity Ward's, and Treyarch's stance on the whole thing as well as the poor efforts they apply to making each release an enjoyable one. I also know that you've probably heard everyone share their concerns about the game via the social sites. Opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one. Even so I'm here today to let you know what I think about the whole thing, my two cents worth as it were. I'm going in unbiased, and will try to explain everything in a thorough, and professional manner, so that you can better understand what you're getting into if you have not already bought the game. Without further ado let us get into this ghastly review of the arcade shooter known as "GHOSTS"!!! ...

The Guided Fate Paradox (PS3)

 

Those of you who have been faithful to the Disgaea series will no doubt recall the mention of the angelic realm of "Celestia" during your many playthroughs. While Celestia has never really been shown in all of it's glory it's angels have often times showed up in some form, or fashion within the netherworld of Disgaea. Thankfully the lads, and lasses at 'NIS America' have finally decided to bring to light the world of Celestia, it's many inhabitants, and the mythology that encompasses it with this latest follow-up release. Not only did they flesh out this angelic realm in "The Guided Fate Paradox" by including a deeply involved story, but they also gave the game an art style that is entirely different from that of the Disgaea series making the story more of a unique experience. It's this anime inspired theme that will have Disgaea players gawking in amazement at the display unfolding before their eyes. Everything from the anime inspired intro to the actual gameplay will most definitely prove to the gamers that NIS America has yet to run out of noteworthy ideas in their niche RPG lineage.

Battlefield 4 Open Beta (PS3) - "First Impressions"

I fully realize that this game is still in the "Open Beta" state, and that changes are likely coming in the days leading up to the game's release date. Even so what I have experienced while playing the Open Beta leads me to believe that many more patches will have to be put into place following the game's official release in order for it to even be a near flawless experience. As far as complaints go I'm finding a lot of glitches pertaining to the use of the knife as well as the sensitivity of the knifing effect. Other gripes include the poorly rendered map (Siege of Shanghai), and the less than current-gen look of the game as a whole. I know that some of you will disagree about the graphics, but in all honesty the game's visual points are basically glamorized current-gen lighting, and reflection applications. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness (PS3/PSN)

Disgaea is one of those exceptional video game experiences that is deeply cherished by those who have played it, and often times passed up by gamers who are into the more casual gaming scene. In layman's terms Disgaea is what we RPG gamers call an "SRPG", or strategy based roleplaying game. Some even call it a tactical RPG, or a JRPG. Whatever it is referred to though it is one of the the most involved video games that the RPG genre, or any genre for that matter has ever seen. It is filled to the brim with anime inspired content, and a hundreds of hours of time filling fun.

Nippon Ichi Software, or NIS as you likely know them have in essence developed their own netherworld based mythology within the constructs of the series. This applied netherworld mythology is both expansive in nature as well as humorous in a variety of ways. The series' unique mythology is part of the reason the game has stayed alive for so long in the RPG unfriendly market. With a cast of otherworldy characters that all anime fans can relate to it's hard to not get lost within the quirky dialogue driven tales that are provided with each new release. The fact that the main set of protagonists involved in the plots often times find their places in follow-up games of the series only makes diehard fans want to return for more. By sticking with their tried, and true game design NIS will no doubt continue winning over gamers, and return fans for a long time to come.

Gaming Glance - "Pac-man Championship Ed. DX+" (PSN)

For those of you who are unaware of it Namco Bandai released a significantly different version of "Pac-man Championship Edition DX" recently in the form of a free update (assuming you have the game already). This update is of course "version 1.10" as you'll find out when you load up the game. While this new update, and version of the game contains many noticeable visual, and functional changes it is still a trial until you purchase the accompanying DLC that was also released in it's wake. For those of you worried about losing the core experience you payed for before fret not, because all of the former in-game content from the previous version is still very much intact. It merely had a visual overhaul. The more prominent features that you'll find this time around are things like highly detailed friend comparison charts, in-game stats, and even Facebook sharing options which were added to make playing the game a more "social" event. As far as visuals go you'll be quite surprised that everything in the game looks worlds better than it did before.

Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland (PS VITA)

The "Atelier" (meaning: "an artist's workshop") series of RPGs has been around for quite some time now. You'll find that there has been an impressive amount of releases on both consoles (PS1, PS2, PS3, Dreamcast), and handhelds (WonderSwan Color, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP, PS Vita) throughout the years (1997 - 2013). These games range from Japan only releases to limited stateside releases, and even remakes. Gust Corporation who were the developers behind this unique series of alchemy based RPGs have always stuck to their tried, and true formula of introducing a new alchemist with each game release along with a unique story to accompany that individual. The gameplay of each title as one might expect is centered mostly around alchemy, and the crafting of various items. Throw in an alchemist against an ominous threat/situation, and you'll have the experience in a nutshell.

Kickbeat (PSN/PS VITA)

Out of all of Zen Studios video game creations "Kickbeat" could have easily been the game to outsell, and outdo their famous pinball tables. The key phrase in that statement though is "could have been". While the game looks absolutely stunning, and has an awesome music feature that I'm all for I found the gameplay to be flawed to a point that having fun while playing the game was almost an impossibility. Instead of easing the gamers into the gameplay Zen Studios almost immediately has them hammering out button presses to fast paced songs that honestly should have been used in the much harder difficulty settings. It is these combinations of hard hitting songs, and  extreme challenges that have made the review process frustrating for me.

While I could (barely) complete the first two songs on the 'Normal' difficulty setting in the story mode I found trying to repeatedly get past the first boss battle to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Not being able to get past a boss, because the actions onscreen don't seem to be in sync with the button presses makes the seemingly badass boss encounter a trying experience.Very rarely will I choose to not continue playing a game, but this playthrough has been beyond rage inducing for me. I just don't see myself being able to make it any further any time soon. As much as I hate to I'm going to have to go ahead, and post my review with my limited knowledge of the game. I apologize to my readers, and to Mel of Zen Studios, but a full playthrough of this game is just not possible for me.

Diablo III (PS3)

Like readings ripped from apocalyptic scriptures of old Blizzard, and their team of creative geniuses bring forth the continuing tale about hell's lords, angels, and the people who are unfortunately caught in the midst of an ongoing war between the two factions. The clash between the long dead King Leoric, and the Horadrim who have sought to end the hell lords' reign of terror comes full circle as Horadrim descendant Deckard Cain, and his niece Leah try to make sense of the approaching dark times, and the apocalypse at hand. With Deckard, and Leah being the last of the Horadrim the fate of humanity lies in the balance of their discoveries that are found within the ancient manuscripts which were passed down to them. With the aid of a heavenly being, lost souls, and a select few individuals whose motivations in preventing the end times are each uniquely their own they set forth to rewrite humanity's final chapter.

Divekick (PSN)

Earlier this year when Evo, and various other fighting game tournaments were going on I caught word of "Divekick" through a fellow fighting game enthusiast who goes by the username @IFD_Delusion. It was by mere chance that I had noticed his tweet about the game, and after seeing him play it hands-on in one of his Youtube videos I knew this was something worth my time, and attention. Very rarely do fighting game developers think this far outside the box. It is insane at how complex the guys, and gals of One True Game Studios were able to make this two button brawler. Initially started as a joke to poke fun at fighting game stereotypes, and gaming industry stereotypes this unique indie title was eventually placed into the Kickstarter program where it evolved into a full fledged fighter worthy of the praise the fighting game community had given it. Thankfully they were able to get the project funded. As an indie fan, a fan of artistic creation, and a fan of the gaming industry I can tell you now through hands-on experience that it's very much worth playing. Being the passing fad, or modern day craze that it is you will no doubt find humor, and fun times along with many others at the helm of this PS3, PS Vita, and PC exclusive.

ZENO CLASH II (PSN)

When it comes to originality in the RPG universe hardly anyone does it like Square-Enix. Sure you'll have the occasional RPG developed by a developer who can think outside of the box (NIS America -"Time and Eternity"), but for the most part they all follow a very similar pattern. You heroes, or heroines usually come in the same RPG related classes (Barbarian, Wizard, Dwarf, Mage ...), and the enemies in an equally similar selection. Often times said hero, or heroine must face insurmountable odds against an evil army, empire, or all powerful creature or character. To say that the genre has become repetitive would be an understatement. Thankfully though the guys, and gals over at ACE Team have created a unique RPG experience like no other. Their previous release of the arcade RPG "Zeno Clash" which was hailed as a "Stonepunk" experience ended up being mostly overlooked by the gaming community, but did gain that cult following that gaming companies such as Atlus are known for. Zeno Clash had it's own mythology which was filled with interesting creatures, and characters who looked as if they were ripped from the pages of "The Island of Dr. Moreau", and rooted within a more science fiction type of world. The game's design even had an interesting Jim Henson flair about it (Dark Crystal, Labyrinth). It's the type of creative effort that would easily compete against Yoshitaka Amano's Final Fantasy creations.

Dragon's Crown (PS3/PSN)

The skies opened up, angelic voices sang, and the gods and goddesses of old bestowed there blessings upon me the day that I received the code for the upcoming release of "Dragon's Crown"! Just kidding, but even so it was a blessed event to me. I've been longing to get my hands on this game for what seems to be an eternity, and to be lucky enough to get early access to it was a privilege indeed. Both myself, and the staff at Atlus have been dropping hints for the past two months (or so) about how cool of an experience it was going to be. The fact that the pre-order bonus comes with a most excellent artbook is alone a testament to the effort Atlus has poured into the marketing/creation of this game. Keep in mind that Atlus, and Vanillaware titles are few, and far between so getting them while you can is definitely a wise decision. Most of you out there will know that Atlus's game releases/co-releases are usually gems, and end up with cult followings becoming harder to find as time passes. This is why I stressed so much to pre-order the game. Not only will doing so get you the game (PS Vita/PS3) itself, but by pre-ordering it you will also get a limited edition artbook with art by Vanillaware's George Kamitani. It's a win-win situation.

Do Not Fall (PSN)

During my playthrough of XPEC's latest release of "Do Not Fall" a couple of things kept on popping up in the back of my mind. One such thought was that the main character "PiPi" reminded me an awful lot of the old "Nestle Quick" bunny from the animated television commercials, and secondly that the name "PiPi" reminded me of something I ought not mention here (Childish Laughter Follows ^.^). The game as odd as it is revolves around some interesting characters/creatures, and their pursuit to make the ultimate drink via the inside worlds of a vending machine. Some of you may not be sold on such an off-the-wall idea, but it's these out-of-the-box creations that generally gain most of my respect when it comes to video game offerings. The developer definitely knew what they were doing with the design, and theme of the game, and executed it all in what I like to call a "Perfect Storm". Do Not Fall, as cutesy as it may appear is a hardcore mind !@#$% that will have you returning for more, and cussing as you try your hardest to perfect your playthroughs. While this description would likely turn away a lot of you it's certainly not a bad thing.

Mamorukun Curse! (PSN)

When I first heard the title "Mamorukun Curse!" I had no clue in hell as to what it was about. Through the usual Youtube, and internet research though the details about the game did begin to emerge. Even so it wasn't until I actually got my hands on the game that it all began to truly make sense. The title "Mamorukun Curse!", which is odd in it's own right is actually a play on words that most anime lovers will understand. In most anime situations that involve younger characters "kun" is added to their name as a sign of affection in the shared character dialogue. Hence the title, "Mamomorukun's Curse". The main character of the game who goes by the name "Mamoru" ended up meeting his untimely demise as he was crossing a road in the real world. This vehicular tragedy ended up sending poor Mamoru barreling head first into the afterlife along with a handful of other boys, and girls from other parts of the real world. This newly banded army of friends found that not only they were dead, but that in order to gain a second chance at life in the real world that they'd have to aid the eccentric afterlife tour guide, "Fululu (pronounced "Fururu")" in the removal of an otherworldy threat. It is this vaguely fleshed out plot setup that is the basis for this full-fledged Japanese shmup (Shoot'em Up).

Spartacus Legends (PSN): "First Impressions"

When it comes to Roman mythology, and history I'm a diehard fan. I have spent hours upon hours of my life at the schools' libraries as well as local libraries reading up on Spartan conquests, gladiators, and all the gory details associated with both. It seems to me though that as interesting as these subjects are, and have been in the past to people that the hype about them did not increase until films such as "300", and television series like "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" came into being. Speaking of which, I can't help but think of the phrase that Gerard Butler so brilliantly quoted in the film "300" ("THIS IS SPAAARTA!!!" xD) every time I hear something with the word "Sparta" in it. In fact this morning I came up with my own parody version of the quote, and it goes something like this, "THIS IS SPAAARTA-CUS!!!". As cheesy as that likely sounds I can't help, but quote it every time I get into a "Spartacus Legends" match. For those of you who are unaware of it, Spartacus Legends (a Free-to-Play) game was released today on the PSN store. This means PS3 owners get first dibs at sampling the new fighting experience. Xbox 360 owners will get their chance tomorrow.

Tekken Revolution (PS3): "First Impressions"

When I first watched the trailer of this latest installment of the Tekken series I was truly mesmerized. The game looked gorgeous, and the fact that it was going to be a Free-to-Play exclusive for the PS3 made it seem even more special. The fact of the matter is that not everything we see in the world of gaming is as it seems though, and Tekken Revoulution unfortunately serves as a reminder of this. When you hear the term Free-to-Play in association with a game release it usually means that there are strings attached. Just how many strings, and the extent of those strings all depend on the developer releasing the game to the public. Some Free-to-Play games can be quite enjoyable, offering enough to the gamer to be fine without any additional DLC purchases. In the case of Tekken Revolution however this is not the situation.

GRID 2 (PS3): "Offline Follow-up & Online Impressions"

Okay. Before I get started with my online first impressions I'd like to take back some of the things I said concerning GRID 2's visuals. Sure there are some imperfections, and certain things like random tools in the garage and the people in the crowd seem to be of poor quality, but the fact is the game doesn't look all that bad. You can actually get past the crowd of people looking like PS2 characters simply, because you hardly ever see them close-up. I must also take back my comment about the graphics in the garage. Upon closer observation I found it to be mostly current-gen quality. My apologies guys for the misinterpretation, and poor observations. Like I said in my last article what I said was merely "First Impressions" though.