The Gay Gamer

This trailer for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS) makes me sad

2012-01-28T14:46:00.000-06:00

You know why the trailer below makes me sad? Because I'm getting the feeling that I'm never going to get to play this strange little 3DS game.

After all, while Square Enix is readying Theatrhythm Final Fantasy's Japanese release as we speak (it'll hit store shelves in that region on Feb. 16), it has yet to even suggest a North American release for this rhythm-based (duh) title.

Should they ever get around to releasing the game here, I hope it features the same colorful and whimsical box art that will appear on the Japanese version. (See it here.)

Also, I hope the folks at Square Enix aren't through with this art style. I'd love to play an actual Final Fantasy title--you know, with turn-based battles and stuff--featuring these visuals.

(Via tinycartridge.com)

Who's up for a Mario Kart 7 'gaymer night'?

2012-01-27T13:00:00.004-06:00

The day all, er, some, er, a small handful of you have been waiting for has (almost) arrived! Which day, you ask? Why, the day you get to race other readers of The Gay Gamer and the Video Games Made Me Gay tumblog in Mario Kart 7.

As for when this oh-so-fabulous day--evening, really--will take place: This coming Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 pm PST.

If you've always wanted to see how terrible I am at Mario Kart 7, aim your 3DSes at The Gay Gamer community--22-7203-7866-8075--at the aforementioned time and then arm yourselves with as many blue shells as you can handle.

Thanks to the great guy behind Video Games Made Me Gay, by the way, for suggesting this little soiree and for allowing me to steal the "Gay Pride Mario" image seen above from his tumblog.

Manual Stimulation: Fantasy Zone (PC Engine)

2012-01-27T08:00:00.072-06:00

Considering it was released near the end of the PC Engine's first year on the market, Fantasy Zone's instruction manual is surprisingly slick.

That's good, because it's only 10 pages long, and if it were like most manuals of the time and featured just a few black-and-white screenies and a bunch of text it would be a bore and a half.

Instead, the inside pages of Fantasy Zone's manual are nearly as colorful as its cover, which can be seen in the scan below.

Moving inside, you have to love the first page's hilariously dramatic warning to owners to not abuse their HuCards. Following that, there's a little intro page that features Opa-Opa striking various poses.

The next two pages are pretty typical as far as instruction manuals go, showing players which button does what and so forth. In other words, skip them and move on to the next ones.

There are so many awesome elements on the next two pages that I don't know where to start. How about the Opa-Opa seemingly spiraling out of control? Or the Opa-Opa being squashed by a 16-ton weight? My personal favorite has to be the third option: The Opa-Opa holding a top hat and cane.

Sadly, Fantasy Zone's last few pages aren't as thrilling as the ones that came before it, but they're still more interesting than the usual fare.

One thing that's well worth noting in the pages above: The red-and-yellow "outpost" that's displaying what can only be described (in my opinion, at least) as jazz hands.

See also: Previous 'Manual Stimulation' posts

The Great Gaymathon Review #51: Mario Kart 7 (3DS)

2012-01-26T08:00:00.002-06:00

Game: Mario Kart 7

Genre: Racing

Developer: Nintendo, Retro Studios

Publisher: Nintendo

System: 3DS

Release date: 2011

Is the seventh Mario Kart game the best one yet? Hoo, boy, that's quite a question. My knee-jerk reaction is to say no, it isn't, but the only predecessor that can compete with and possibly surpass it--in my opinion, obviously--is Mario Kart Wii. (Note: I've played and enjoyed every Mario Kart game in existence except Double Dash!!) As such, I'm thinking I should compare and contrast the innovations each of these titles brings to the series in order to come to a conclusion as to which one earns top billing on this blog. Starting with Mario Kart Wii: It has more items (19 vs. 18, three of which are new), more racers (24 vs. 16) and more vehicles with which to race--including motorbikes, which I thought were kind of cool. It also allows for "waggle" control, which is especially fun if you use the steering-wheel accessory, and online races of up to 12 players. Mario Kart 7, on the other hand, adds coins (last seen in Mario Kart: Super Circuit) back into the mix, allows players to customize their karts in a multitude of ways, introduces gliders that aid airborne vehicles, includes SpotPass and StreetPass functionality and offers up an alternate control scheme that enables players to steer by tilting their 3DS systems. Both games feature the same number of tracks (32, 16 of which are new and 16 of which are pulled from previous entries) and similar-enough gameplay, graphics, music and modes. Given all of that, I'm ... not any closer to being able to choose a "winner" than I was at the beginning of this write-up. If possible, I'd suggest getting them both, as I consider both of them to be top-of-the-heap Mario Kart games. (Don't worry, that's a good thing.) If you can only choose one, though, I'd probably go for the Wii iteration, as I find it a bit easier to control and I prefer its course and kart selection.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

A few more thoughts on the 3DS

2012-01-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

Now that I've had my 3DS for about a month, I thought I should share a few more impressions and opinions of Nintendo's latest dual-screened handheld. So, here they are (in no particular order):

1. The eShop is a bit of a mess--I like a lot of things about it--a trailer is available for seemingly every game, you can buy games using stored credit cards, you can save games to a wish list, etc.--but I also hate a few things about it. For instance, it feels kind of constricted and suffocating to me--especially when compared to the Wii's online shop. (Which, admittedly, had its own share of issues.) Closely associated with the eShop's claustrophobic design: I have a feeling a lot of games--especially old DSiWare ones--are going to get ignored due to the fact that people simply don't know they exist.

2. I'm glad Nintendo's finally offering game demos to European and North American 3DS owners--Without question, this should have been a part of the 3DS' eShop from day one, especially since demos have been on the Wii's online shop for some time now. Anyway, what really matters is that they're finally available. Sure, there's only one on the North American eShop at the moment, and it can only be played 30 times before it self-destructs (or something like that), but I'll take what I can get. Here's hoping Nintendo opens the floodgates (even a crack) and puts up more such demos--especially of niche releases like Sega's Rhythm Thief--sooner rather than later.

3. Swapnote is a killer app--I'm sure this adorable, animated, doodle-centric message app doesn't appeal to everyone, but it certainly appeals to me--and I have to imagine it'll appeal to many other current and future 3DS owners, too. I don't see it prompting people to pick up a 3DS just so they can gain access to it, of course, but it's definitely a nice, enjoyable freebie for those who purchase one for, say, Mario Kart 7 or Super Mario 3D Land.

4. The built-in pedometer is surprisingly cool--And addictive, especially as its use relates to the similarly built-in Find Mii. I know you can game the system (pun intended) if you so choose, but I've actually found myself going on walks--ah, the benefits of working from home!--just so I can earn enough coins to hire a few of this included software's "wandering heroes." (Mine are cats, by the way.)

5. I hate that Nintendo decided to region-lock the system--I can't believe I forgot to harp on this in my first "thoughts on the 3DS" post. I know it should have been expected given Nintendo's decision to region-lock the DSi and DSi XL, but I couldn't help but hold out hope that the company would reverse that terrible (for those of us who enjoy playing niche games that will never be released in our particular region) decision. As it is, I honestly can't wait for someone to "hack" the 3DS just so I can import and play games like Beyond the Labyrinth and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy should they fail to make it to our shores.

See also: 'A few thoughts on the 3DS'

A dungeon-crawling, turn-based, X-rated RPG aimed at gay guys, you say? Put me down for a dozen (or more) copies!

2012-01-24T13:00:00.017-06:00

A strange thing happened to me after I played Sugar Shooter for the first time early last year: I discovered that I have at least a slight fondness for bara games.

I wish I could explain why I'm suddenly finding this type of game appealing, but I can't. The only things I can come up with are that I like the art styles that are used by the folks at companies like Dudedle Studio and Underground Campaign and that I also like combination of comedic cuteness and down-and-dirty smut that seems to serve as the centerpiece of most of this genre's titles.

Anyway, the point of this post isn't to bore you with all of the reasons why I like bara games; the point is to bring a bit of attention to a particular bara game that recently leapt onto my radar.

That game is called Ana Holic! and it's a bara RPG that's being made for Windows-based PCs by the folks at the aforementioned Underground Campaign.

Unfortunately, I have no idea when Ana Holic! will be released or where I'll purchase it once it is. (Although rainbow-shoppers.com is a likely solution to the latter problem.)

While we wait for that information to become available, though, why not spend some time with the demo that can be downloaded here? It's in Japanese, of course, but the folks at the completely-not-safe-for-work baragamer.com have you covered--thanks to their recently published FAQ--if, like me, you don't know a lick of the language.

(Via videogamesmademegay.tumblr.com)

See also: Previous posts about Dudedle Studio and/or Sugar Shooter

Checking in on Captain Rainbow's English translation

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

To all of you who forgot that someone was even working on an English fan-translation of the skip-developed, Nintendo-published oddity known as Captain Rainbow: No worries, I forgot, too.

Now that you've been reminded, though, you'd probably like to hear how things are going with said fan-translation, right?

Well, according to an update that was posted to kirameki.altervista.org on Jan. 15, the project is back on course after taking a couple of wrong turns over the last few months.

Along with that hopeful message, the folks at Kirameki also shared on their site a new trailer, above, which highlights some of the progress they've made in translating this fabulous (in all senses of the word) Wii title.

Here's hoping that their good fortune continues and that they can get this long-awaited (by me, at least) patch out before the Wii U replaces the Wii as my go-to console.

(Via gonintendo.com)

So, I just pre-ordered Grand Knights History

2012-01-23T12:00:00.003-06:00

I was on the fence about this Vanillaware-developed, Xseed Games-published, PSP-based RPG (yes, even after begging North American publishers to bring it to our shores) ... until I watched the following gameplay video the other day:

As soon as I saw the curved, globe-like backdrop and the beautiful, Princess Crown-ish (or maybe I should say Muramasa-esque?) characters in motion, I knew I had to pre-order this game--which is set to hit North American store shelves on Feb. 21--and pronto. (If you'd also like to pre-order a copy of Grand Knights History, you can do so here.)

I'm also on the verge of pre-ordering another PSP game, Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom, by the way. And Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time. And Gungnir.

Anyone who can talk me out of picking up any or all of the above-mentioned releases will earn my (and my bank account's) undying love and appreciation.

LEGO SNES

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

It's not exactly a secret that I'm a bit fascinated by "LEGO artists"--especially those who enjoy recreating game characters and systems out of those colorful, interlocking bricks that most of us toyed with as kids.

For instance, late last year I published this post about a LEGO GameBoy Color, and before that I published about a million posts about Filip Johannes Felberg's LEGO Pokemon creations.

As awesome as all of the above are, I think the LEGO SNES below may be the most awesome of them all.

Of course, I say that in part because it's a damn near perfect recreation of Nintendo's 16-bit system and in part because it houses a real-life copy of the Quintet-developed, Enix-published RPG, Illusion of Gaia.

For more shots of this stunningly realistic piece of LEGO art--it even has a functioning eject button--check out this photo set by Flick user lego27bricks.

See also: Previous LEGO-focused posts

Hunky Space Harrier

2012-01-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

I don't know if any of you noticed, but buried within this post about Darwin Yamamoto's recent trip to Tokyo's retro-games shop, Super Potato, was a brief note about the New Yorker being a designer and illustrator.

Well, a good example of Yamamoto's abilities as an illustrator can be seen in his recent--and rather hunky--portrait of Sega's Space Harrier:

Go here to see an animated version of this portrait, by the way. (The static version, above, was taken from here.)

To see more such portraits of famous and not-so-famous game characters--including Jennifer from Rule of Rose, Vincent from Catherine and Francis York from Deadly Premonition--check out this Flickr set.

Manual Stimulation: Mother (Famicom)

2012-01-20T08:00:00.009-06:00

I'm loath to admit it, but I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the instruction manual that's included with every copy of the cult classic known as Mother (EarthBound Zero to some of you).

Why on earth do I hate the Mother manual? Well, for starters, it's not a manual, per se. Rather, it's a huge piece of paper--a poster, really--that's been folded into a two-inch-by-three-inch rectangle. (What can I say? I much prefer manuals that can be flipped through, one page at a time, to ones that require folding and unfolding.)

Another reason I'm not a huge fan of the Mother manual: There's a lot more text, and a lot fewer illustrations and screenshots, than I expected to see in such a production.

That's not to say it lacks any interesting art whatsoever. On the contrary, a number of interesting illustrations and photos (of what appear to be clay models) can be found within the folds of Mother's instruction manual. (They're fully responsible for the love I feel for this booklet, by the way.)

For instance, there are these models of the game's main party members (Ninten, Ana, Lloyd and Teddy):

I also like the models seen on this otherwise-text-filled page:

Click on any or all of the scans above or below to take a closer look at them, by the way.

Photos of even more clay models can be found on the following page, which details Mother's many enemy characters.

Interestingly, the game's items and weapons are illustrated rather than crafted out of clay. That's OK with me, though--especially when said illustrations are as well drawn as the ones in the scan below:

The pièce de résistance of the Mother instruction manual, though, has to be the world map that takes up the entirety of the manual's back side. (All of the above-mentioned illustrations, photos and text are included on its front side.)

I'm sorry the map above isn't perfect, by the way. It's large enough that I had to make nine different scans of it and then piece the best parts of each scan together like a puzzle. As a result, you'll be able to spot a few "issues" here and there should you look at it closely enough.

See also: Previous 'Manual Stimulation' posts

The Great Gaymathon Review #50: Final Match Tennis (PC Engine)

2012-01-19T08:00:00.049-06:00

Game: Final Match Tennis

Genre: Sports

Developer: Human

Publisher: Human

System: PC Engine

Release date: 1991

Some folks will tell you this is the best tennis game ever made. I'm not one of them. That's not to suggest I think Final Match Tennis is crap; on the contrary, I think it's a great, fast-paced, arcade-style offering. The "fast-paced" part is what keeps me coming back to this HuCard again and again, by the way. (Too many tennis titles flow like mud, in my humble opinion.) Well, that and a few of its other positive attributes: Like its appealing selection of players (all of whom seem to be based on real-life pros of the era, such as Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe), its small-but-nicely-animated sprites (case in point: the McEnroe-ish player's serve looks just like the real thing) and its uncomplicated-but-not-dumb gameplay. Oh, and competing against the computer in Final Match Tennis is a reliably and enjoyably challenging endeavor, something that, in my experience, can't often be said about this title's counterparts. So, what keeps me from joining the folks who proclaim this is the be-all and end-all of tennis games? Well, I consider its lack of female players to be a big negative, for starters. (Strangely, the CD-based Human Sports Festival features a ladies-only version of Final Match Tennis, along with golf and soccer games.) Also, each player has a fairly limited arsenal of shots--especially when compared to contemporaries like Ace Wo Nerae and Super Tennis World Circuit (both of which were released for the Super Famicom in 1993 and 1991, respectively). Finally, its "world tour" mode disappoints by ending rather unrealistically as soon as you lose a match.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

Get that second pair of underwear ready, folks: Shinrei Camera is coming to the States on April 13

2012-01-18T12:00:00.004-06:00

As anyone who has owned a Wii should be well aware, Nintendo isn't the greatest at localizing its Japanese games for the North American market these days.

As such, I fully expected the company's recently released, Fatal Frame-ish collaboration with Tecmo Koei Games, Shinrei Camera: Tsuiteru Techou, to remain a Japan-only affair.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I read that Nintendo of America is bringing this scary 3DS game to the States--as Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir--on Friday, April 13.

Nintendo of America's PR folks failed to mention the game's price in the press release they sent around yesterday morning, but it's a pretty sure bet they'll charge $29.99 for it. (The Japanese version costs ¥3,800, while most of the company's games go for ¥4,800.)

For more information on this sure-to-be-spooky 3DS offering, check out its official site.

(Via tinycartridge.com)

Custom Miyamoto 3DS case

2012-01-18T08:00:00.002-06:00

Although I need to spend more money on gaming-related goods about as much as I need another hole in my head, I can't help but crave the custom, Miyamoto-branded 3DS case below.

It was created by the proprietor of the KickassCases etsy shop, by the way, and it can be purchased (here) for just $20.

Looking for a custom 3DS case, but not interested in one that features the grinning visage of Shigeru Miyamoto? You still may want to check out the KickassCases shop--especially if you're a Mario, Yoshi or Zelda fan.

I'm pretty fond of this Kirby one and this Tetris one myself.

Additional proof that Darwin Yamamoto is a pretty awesome dude

2012-01-17T09:00:00.001-06:00

Remember how, in this post, I mentioned the photos that Darwin Yamamoto took of Tokyo's famous retro-games shop, Super Potato, during his recent trip to Japan?

Well, unbeknownst to me, Yamamoto used some of his hard-earned cash to buy me a game during one of his jaunts to the above-mentioned store.

Which one, you ask? Why, the first Dragon Quest game for the Famicom!

I've yet to free the cart from its tightly secured wrapping (I'm not sure why, but I want to leave it in this condition until I'm ready to play it), so please forgive the price tag and tape that can be seen in the following photos.

I've long desired a copy of this Enix-published RPG, by the way, and not just because I have fond memories of playing through the North American version with my brother as a kid. Another just-as-important reason for my Dragon Quest-focused lust: I absolutely adore the art that graces the cover of the Japanese release. (Here's a better look at said art, for those of you who are curious.)

Anyway, as you can see in the photos above, this particular cart is in pretty great shape. One thing I really like about it is that a previous owner made note of something on the cartridge's back label. I don't suppose any of you who know Japanese would be able to tell me what it says?

Oh, I almost forgot: Along with the copy of Dragon Quest, Yamamoto also sent me a rather slick pamphlet that details all of the wonderful games that are scheduled to be released (in Japan, of course) for the 3DS during the first three months of 2012.

I'm guessing all of the information contained within said booklet can be found elsewhere on the Internet, but I may scan it and post it here later this week or next anyway--just in case any of you are interested in it.

See also: 'Ain't nothin' like a stroll through Super Potato'

It seems Rhythm Heaven Fever's North American localization won't be completely terrible

2012-01-16T13:26:00.001-06:00

I've watched more gameplay videos of the Japanese version of Rhythm Heaven Fever--called Minna no Rhythm Tengoku, or Everybody's Rhythm Heaven--than I'd like to admit. As a result, I've already come to love quite a few of this wacky Wii release's mini-games.

The mini-game I'm most in love with at the moment: The one many people are calling "Wrestler Interview." Here's a video of the Japanese version, in case you've yet to see it:

Given my propensity to worry about things that are completely pointless (not to mention beyond my control), I've been fretting for the last few months as to how this mini-game's vocal track will sound after it's been translated into English and re-recorded by an American voice actor. (Rhythm Heaven Fever will hit store shelves in North America on Feb. 13, by the way. Unfortunately, the European version of the game, which will be called Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise, is still without a firm release date.)

Well, I can stop worrying. Someone just uploaded to YouTube the localized (for North American audiences) version of this mini-game, which apparently will be called, "Ringside." Here it is:

Although I can't say I find the English vocals to be as cute or as energetic as those that appear in the Japanese version, I also can't say I find them completely terrible. What do all of you think?

In related news: The fabulously altered version of this mini-game that can be viewed here and that features a Brazilian "male escort" named Ricardo Milos continues to bring a smile to my face more than three months after it was first appeared on YouTube.

Pre-order: Rhythm Heaven Fever

(Via gonintendo.com, by way of tinycartridge.com)

If someone doesn't bring Beyond the Labyrinth to the States, I'm going to bust some skulls

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the 20 minutes of gameplay footage (below) of Beyond the Labyrinth that hit the Interwebs over the weekend, I'm once again frothing at the mouth for an English localization of this tri-Ace-developed, Konami-published, dungeon-crawling RPG.

Although I'm still a smidge unsure about this 3DS game's battle scenes--what's with all of the shifting around of those blue, green and red tabs on the bottom screen?--I'm feeling the exact opposite about the rest of it. I especially like the seeming omnipresence of its chatty, white-haired (or is it blue?) protagonist.

Are any of you also hoping Beyond the Labyrinth makes its way westward sometime this year? If so, why?

See also: 'Beyond the Labyrinth's battle scenes are as beautiful as its box art' and 'Konami's Beyond the Labyrinth (3DS) has some classy box art'

I can't get the Coconut Mall theme out of my head (and other musings on Mario Kart 7's soundtrack)

2012-01-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

I'm sure this admission will surprise no one, but I've been playing a lot of Mario Kart 7 lately. How much is "a lot"? Well, I've played it for over 23 hours so far. That may not sound like a lot to some of you, but it's rare for me to play a game for that amount of time these days.

Anyway, all of that racing has produced a rather annoying side effect: I can't get the game's soundtrack out of my head! The worst offender: The song that plays while racing on the Coconut Mall course.

It isn't unusual for this jangly, piano-driven tune to be stuck in my head for hours at a time. Thankfully, I like the song about as much as I like the course (it's one of my all-time favorites), so there's no need to worry about my sanity. Yet.

That's not the only Mario Kart 7 track that has perked my ears, mind you. I'm also quite fond of the tunes that accompany the Daisy Hills, Music Park and Rainbow Road courses. (Listen to the last one by playing the following video.)

As much as I like all of the above-mentioned themes, I think they're a bit subdued when compared to the series' most classic tunes, don't you think?

Also, what do all of you think about Mario Kart 7's soundtrack in general? How do you think it compares to its predecessors? Finally, which songs are your favorites?

See also: Previous Mario Kart 7 posts

Five Wii games you should have played, but probably didn't

2012-01-13T10:04:00.001-06:00

Unlike the DS, there's still a smidge of life left in the ol' Wii--thanks to 2012 releases like Mario Party 9, Rhythm Heaven Fever and Xenoblade Chronicles. That trio of titles is about all that's worth picking up for Nintendo's little white wonder next year, though, which means it'll be all but dead by the time the Wii U hits store shelves later this year.

As such, this is a good time for new and old Wii owners alike to pick up a few of the system's should-have-been-classics (in my opinion, of course)--like the ones included on the following list--before they become impossible to find or impossible to afford:

1. Art Style: Cubello--This often-frenetic puzzler (called Cubeleo in Japan, for some strange reason) was one of the first WiiWare titles, yet it's still among the very best the service has to offer. All you really need to know about this pleasingly and colorfully 3D release: It was made by the folks at skip Ltd.--aka the same folks responsible for the Chibi-Robo! series as well as wackadoodle titles like Captain Rainbow and GiFTPiA.

2. Endless Ocean--Here's another game, like Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, that I've mentioned so many times that half of you (if not more) probably let out a huge sigh when you saw I was going to talk about it again. Sorry about that. It's just that this "scuba simulator" was all but ignored in every region, as far as I'm aware. Curiously, this game's sequel, Endless Ocean: Blue World, is cheaper at the moment, so you may want to pick up that version instead. Just be warned that I've yet to play it, so I can't say if it's better or worse than developer Arika's original effort.

3. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Tales--This recommendation comes with a disclaimer: If you're not at all interested in or at least curious about roguelikes and/or dungeon-crawling RPGs, you're probably not going to get much enjoyment out of this game. To everyone else: Go into this one (order it here) with an open mind and expect to grind, old-school style. Oh, and don't be afraid to say "awww" whenever the titular Chocobo does something cute (which will be often).

4. Ivy the Kiwi?--Speaking of cute, the protagonist of this Prope-developed platformer is about as cute as you can get. I mean, the little bugger (sorry, I'm not sure if it's a he or a she) is a baby bird that has yet to break free of its polka-dotted shell. Thankfully, though, that's not all this game has to offer. A few of its other positives: An appealing art style--which makes the game look as though it was made using colored pencils--and a unique control scheme that has players utilize the Wii remote's pointer function to create vines that serve to guide--a la Kirby: Canvas Curse--the precious Ivy from the start of each stage to its end.

5. Order Up!--I have a feeling this one has been given the cold shoulder by most gamers because they think it looks like shovelware. That's an understandable assessment, especially given its publisher (Zoo Games, responsible for such "classics" as Kevin VanDam: Big Bass Challenge and Shawn Johnson Gymnastics), but in my experience and opinion it's also an incorrect one, as this cooking-focused title is as fun as it is well-made. (Case in point: Its mini-games are both more intuitive and accurate than those found in, say, the Cooking Mama releases).

Honorable mentions: Art Syle: Orbient, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Little King's Story, LostWinds and Muramasa: The Demon Blade.

See also: 'Five DS games you should have played, but probably didn't'

Five DS games you should have played, but probably didn't

2012-01-12T08:00:00.032-06:00

I hate to start posts like this with a disclaimer, but in this case I really feel I have to do so.

You see, although I've played a ton of DS games over the last few years, I've yet to play a number of the titles that tend to be included on lists such as this--titles like Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, Kirby Mass Attack (which is on its way to my doorstep), Solatorobo and The World Ends With You (which I'll be picking up shortly).

Still, I've played and enjoyed enough of the system's releases that have been overlooked by the masses that I'm fairly confident the following list--which is organized, for once, in reverse alphabetical order--will be helpful to at least a few game-starved DS fans.

1. Rhythm Heaven--Sure, this is hardly an unknown game, thanks in large part to Nintendo's use of Beyonce in its TV ads, but it also hardly lit up the charts. That's too bad, because it's one of the funnest, wackiest games I've ever played. It also includes one of the best soundtracks you'll ever hear in a handheld title. It's horrendously cheap these days, so you may want to pick it up now if you've yet to give it a try.

2. Retro Game Challenge--This one has received a lot of press since it was released in 2009, but even then it didn't make enough for the folks at Xseed to translate and release its much-wanted sequel. Why is that unfortunate? Well, Retro Game Challenge is chock-full of witty writing, which ties together a bunch of well-made retrotastic titles that call to mind the classics of old (like Dragon Quest and Galaga). If you're a fan of such games, you're sure to quickly become a fan of this one, too.

3. Kirby: Canvas Curse--For me, this was one of the first games to really show the potential of Nintendo's dual-screened handheld, thanks in large part to its intriguing stylus-only control scheme. Sadly, I seem to be one of just a handful North Americans to feel that way about the game, as it was all but ignored by my brothers and sisters despite the fact that it bore Kirby's name (usually an attention-getter in the States, as far as I'm aware). Used copies can be found on eBay for a song, though, so it's not too late to snatch one up if you're at all into innovative platformers.

4. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light--I'm sure some of you who have been coming here for a while are sick of me mentioning this game. Sorry about that. I can't help myself, though, as I thought it was an absolutely wonderful RPG. I seem to be one of the few North American gamers who feel that way about the title, though, which is why I'm bringing it up again. Really, if you love RPGs like Final Fantasy IV, V and VI, you'll love this one, too--although you may not love the way it places limits on your ability to store items and weapons.

5. Daigasso! Band Brothers--I honestly believe that if Nintendo had localized and released this accessible and surprisingly addictive music title in Europe and North America in 2005 as originally planned, it could have become quite a hit among so-called casual gamers. Instead, the company dragged its feet and, in the end, dropped its Western release altogether. It did release this game's sequel, Daigasso! Band Brothers DX (aka Jam with the Band), in the former region--but it waited nearly two years to do so. (The game hit Japanese store shelves in 2008, while it didn't hit European ones until 2010.)

Honorable mentions: 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors; Etrian Odyssey; and Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland.

Are you a game-starved Wii owner, too? If the answer is "yes," keep an eye out for a similarly titled post that focuses on five of that system's should-have-been-classics. (Don't worry, you won't have to keep an eye out for it for very long, as I plan on publishing it tomorrow.)

Sega's doing its darndest to lead me @field

2012-01-11T13:11:00.000-06:00

Specifically, the folks at The House That Sonic Built are doing their darndest to get me to buy a PlayStation Vita.

How so? Well, they're preparing to release--in Japan only, of course--a game called @field, which combines golf and pinball (in terms of gameplay) and is covered with a smear of the company's out-of-this-world--in more ways than one--Space Channel 5 (in terms of graphics).

Sadly, I can't seem to find any videos of this oddly titled game, which is supposed to be released sometime this winter, so the screenshots above and below will have to suffice.

Actually, I'm kind of glad I can't find any videos of @field, as I really don't need to add any games or systems to my "to buy in 2012" list, which already includes a slew of 3DS, PSP and Wii titles, as well as possibly a PS3 and/or a Wii U.

Should @field be positively received by the few brave souls who pick it up and play it, though, I definitely could see myself buying a copy of it alongside a Vita system--sometime after the Vita lands in the bargain bins in the States, of course.

See also: 'Are you planning to pick up a PlayStation Vita?'

I cannot tell a lie: I completely loathe Mario Kart 7's Neo Bowser City course

2012-01-11T08:00:00.007-06:00

The headline above is my way of letting all of you know that I'm finally the proud owner of a copy of Mario Kart 7.

Actually, I've been not-so-secretly playing through this 3DS title for the last week or so (I say not-so-secretly because I've tweeted about my experiences on a few occasions), but I didn't want to say anything here until I was ready to race on line.

Why did I wait? Well, I'm one of those odd folks who have to unlock as many of the game's characters, karts and wheels as possible through solo play before I compete against actual human beings. (I've unlocked all of Mario Kart 7's racers so far, but I've got a ways to go before I can say the same thing about its karts, gliders and wheels.)

Does anyone actually play the game this way?

Speaking of racing on line, I recently set up a community for readers of this blog, in case any of you are interested in such a thing. Here's the community's code: 22-7203-7866-8075. (If you've started a community, or if you know of any that are "open and affirming," so to speak, let me know in the comments section, will you?)

Anyway, back to my experience with Mario Kart 7 thus far and which courses I love and which ones I loathe: My favorite of the game's new courses at the moment Music Park and my least favorite is the aforementioned Neo Bowser City. Which courses are you guys and gals liking and which ones are you hating at the moment?

Buy: Mario Kart 7

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Uncharted Golden Abyss edition)

2012-01-10T08:00:00.044-06:00

Full disclosure: I really wanted the first Vita-focused "Which Box Art is Better?" post to feature Touch My Katamari, but that game's cover art is the same in every region (as far as I'm aware). So, I went with my runner-up choice: Uncharted Golden Abyss.

Speaking of which, this portable iteration of Naughty Dog's popular IP was released in Japan on Dec. 17 with the following box art:

When the game hits European and North American store shelves on Feb. 22, however, it'll feature this piece of cover art, which focuses more on protagonist Nathan Drake:

Although I think both options are completely fine, I personally prefer the sunny Japanese box art to its gloomier European and North American counterpart. Which cover do you guys and gals prefer?

Pre-order: Uncharted Golden Abyss

Just in case anyone cares: Here's a teaser trailer for Rhythm Heaven Fever

2012-01-09T14:25:00.000-06:00

I know most of you aren't all that interested in the North American release of Rhythm Heaven Fever, but those of you who are interested in it should get a kick out of the following teaser trailer, which I believe is the first to shine a light on the game's English translation.

As much I like it, I wish it included clips of a few more mini-games (especially those featuring vocals). Of course, maybe the marketing wizards at Nintendo of America are saving them for a second, even wackier teaser trailer? After all, the game isn't due to hit store shelves until Feb. 13. (Pre-order a copy of it here.)

(Via gonintendo.com)

Ain't nothin' like a stroll through Super Potato

2012-01-09T08:00:00.007-06:00

Or at least that's what I've been telling myself ever since I came across the photos Darwin Yamamoto--a New York City-based designer and illustrator who has commented here on more than a few occasions--took of the famous retro-games shop during a recent trip to Japan.

The following photo is my favorite because it includes colorful Famicom carts as well as Super Potato's similarly colorful signage.

For pics of the store's Dreamcast and Mega Drive sections, as well as photos of Yamamoto's pick-ups, check out this Flickr set.

Said Flickr set includes photos of other drool-worthy sites, by the way--such as the Dragon Quest-themed Luida's Bar, a shot bar called Muteki Mario and the life-sized Gundam statute that resides on Odaiba, an artificial island near Tokyo.