Portable Platypus

Demo the new Ace Attorney game in your browser

2013-05-15T16:12:00.000-04:00

Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies is the next installment in the Pheonix Wright series, and will be coming to Europe and the States on the eShop. Capcom have put up a demo on the web on their Japanese site. I have no idea what the hell is going on, but it looks good! Here's hoping we get an English demo soon.

Ace Attorney - Dual Destines gets a Japanese web demo [Destructoid]

Review: New Super Mario Bros. 2

2013-05-14T22:16:00.005-04:00

Inevitable - Certain to happen; unavoidable

Many aspects of New Super Mario Bros. 2 were inevitable. The fact that the game was released was inevitable following the success of previous New Super Mario Bros. titles. Of course, gamers are often quick to forget the things they liked, so it was also inevitable that the series' 3DS entry would be met with skepticism. The question had never been whether or not New Super Mario Bros. 2 would be a good game, but rather if it was the right time for it to be released. The world certainly did not and still does not need any more 2D Mario side-scrollers, especially with the words "super", "mario", or "bros." in the titles, but sometimes it is not a matter of what you need, but what will supplement your life.

Any notion of New Super Mario Bros. 2 being a lazy cash-in by Nintendo should be shot down immediately. Again, considering making such a notion is inevitable given the circumstances. However, this game, against preemptive belief, is a welcome addition to the series that brings "new enough" gameplay to keep things fresh. Interestingly, the thing that makes New Super Mario Bros. 2 feel like a new game is not new at all. Coins are now everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Each level in the game must have at least 100 coins, enough for a single 1-up. While many coins are well hidden and the game does a great job of keeping track of how many coins you have collected in each level as well as how many you have collected in total, more coins means more lives, and more lives means a much easier game. Not getting a game over in a Mario game is not that unheard of these days -- in fact it is pretty normal -- but finishing the game with over 250 lives is not normal and never should be. Simply put, NSMB 2 is just way too easy to recommend to anyone looking for even the most basic of challenges. The levels themselves can be difficult at times, especially the infamous ghost houses, a staple of 2D Mario games for years, but the assurance that you will never actually fail means you can retry as much as you would like without penalty.

Beyond difficulty, there is not much to complain about in regards to New Super Mario Bros. 2. Nintendo continues to be the go-to developer and publisher for fans of the platformer genre. Platforming veterans and traditionalists will certainly not be disappointed by NSMB2. Video game newbies will also love this game due to its charm and pick-up-and-play gameplay. Level design is spot on as well. Few Mario games have as many secrets, power-ups, and hidden levels. Playing through the game without replaying levels for secrets would not be getting your money's worth. Gameplay in general is very reminiscent of Super Mario World, the SNES classic, which is obviously a great thing. Everything just works in a way only a Nintendo game could, giving the game infinite re-playability and a steady pace. It is very possible to master every level and then replay the game in the form of a speed run. When every level in the game can be mastered to the extent in which it can be finished in an extremely quick amount of time, you know it is a good game because the levels are not too easy but not too hard and also give the player the ability to progress at his/her own rate. Of course each level still has a timer, but rather than detracting from the game it encourages the player to work harder to win and manage how much time they spend collecting coins.

It's clear that the one thing New Super Mario Bros. 2 really has going for it is coins, and the new game mode, Coin Rush, capitalizes in this. In fact Coin Rush may offer a better experience than the regular single player mode. Levels from specified worlds are chosen at random and the time limit is very, well... limiting. You can put more time on the clock by reaching the checkpoint mid-way through each level. All the levels that appear in Coin Rush are slightly edited to produce even more coins than they do in the single player game. Because the levels are randomized, this leads to almost endless fun and replay value.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is not the most interesting or innovative game you will play by any means. What it is though is pure fun that only Nintendo seems to be able to deliver in this modern era of gaming. Forget everything; controversy in the game industry, good storylines, EA DRM nonsense, etc., and just sit back and enjoy a stinking game for once! This is what NSMB2 is about, so please do not try to fool yourself into thinking a game is not good unless it has an ultra complex narrative or in depth-character customization, because Nintendo has done what seemed to be the impossible once again and made us not only buy, but enjoy, yet another Mario game.

ebay | Amazon

Released: 8/19/2012
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo

Review: Exit

2013-05-08T02:33:00.001-04:00

If I were given only two words with which to describe Exit, they would be "wasted potential." The platform puzzler from developer Moss builds its mechanic around a setup and basic control scheme that we've seen before many times over. In fact, the platform level may well be among the most well-recognized, beloved, and historically ubiquitous tropes of gaming. However, the "puzzle" aspect, the core conceit, is designed less around the construction of unique obstacles for our player character to thwart, and more around taking what would under normal circumstances be a series of straightforward platforming levels and making them as frustrating and cumbersome as possible.

Most effective games take an established form or medium and attempt to build on it; to do new things with it which could only be accomplished within the context of interactivity. Tetris, for example, sans the essential entrapments of motion and control, would be just a simple geometric puzzle, suitable for mucus-laden children to play with in the doctor's office waiting room. Bejweled would be a matching game, similarly slow-paced and tedious. The movement, the animation, the ticking clock to race against, and of course, the player's ability to manipulate objects (in ways with which normal, physical objects wouldn't and couldn’t cooperate) make all the difference.

The theme here is that an effective game, especially an effective puzzle game, works by adding things to a simplistic core, not by taking away. And it seems like Exit does very little but take.

Before I get into that, though, I'd like to take a moment to explore what the game is trying to be, and perhaps could have been: Exit puts the player in the snazzy comic-art shoes of Mr. ESC, a noir-style silhouette of a dashing hero, complete with extra-pointy fedora and a penchant for striking angular poses. Along with his sidekick, a cat, he rescues people from burning buildings and precariously tall objects and such on a regular basis. (Because, you know, who ever heard of the fire department?) His objective in each level of the game is to save the civilians and make his way to the titular endgoal in as little time as possible.

The presentation tries for a slick, anime-inspired cartoon vibe, kind of like a Carmen Bebop or Cowboy Sandiego or something. All hats and trenchcoats and snarky catchphrases and Bad...butt (It's for kids!) raised eyebrows. It's a style that works well in a very active setting; perfectly suited, really, to the daring, cliched heroic rescue scenario into which Exit would have us delve.

So, here's the problem. Moss failed to match style with content. Exit is slow, slow, slow. Yeah sure, you can run, while holding down a button, but good luck trying to interact with the environment while doing so (the game requires you to interface with an awfully lot of switches and ropes to ascend and descend stories, like a BDSM Chutes and Ladders). You can jump, but the jump’s negligible duration and the truncated height and angle of each bound keep it from being an efficacious method of traversal. In order to move objects, pick up items, or rescue a person so they can follow you around and never shut up (seriously, each of the dozen or so characters you must rescue multiple times has about one phrase each for six or seven different situations; it gets really grating way too quickly), you need to be perfectly still, standing right next to the target object. And I do mean exactly next to it. One step too close or too far, and you miss the object, which can sometimes spell the difference between success and failure in a given scenario.

Complexifying the tedium is the relentlessly arcane control mapping. Whereas many games, platformers in particular, strive to make the player-to-character connection as elegant and simple as possible, Exit’s control scheme serves as an obstruction to the ideal 1:1 relationship between Human in Human World and Character in Game World. In many similarly-designed platformers and adventure games, one button is used to interact with the environment, talk to people and pick up items. Sometimes that same button is even used to perform traveling motions like the (herein cumbersome) jumps.

Not in Exit, however. It's like the Apple store in a game – there's a button for everything. A single button for almost every conceivable action. There's a button for running, another for jumping, another for picking up objects, another for using those objects, and yet another for interacting with the survivors you rescue. As if that weren't enough, there's a secondary mode you can switch into using the analog stick (nope, you're not able to use that sucker to move your character - I guess that would have lent too much speed and mobility to a game about, you know, escaping from emergency situations with lives on the line), with its own control scheme. These are used for directing your followers around the screen. Some of them are able to lift or move things you can't, some of them can crouch lower, some can jump higher, etc. You need to use this mode, and your extremely slow, incompetent, and chatty fellow escapees to move forward, which only serves to underscore the frustration at playing a platform puzzler which has created a false difficulty by crippling your means of interacting with it.

In short, Exit writes a check it may originally have been quite capable of cashing, right before overdrawing its account on a 24-pack of Steel Reserve. There are glimmers of something unique, something flashy, creative, and just overall "cool," but the execution makes the gimmicks, no matter how promising, more irritating than potentially mimetic. I can't recommend playing Exit unless you really like being frustrated, and you enjoy doing things you've known how to do your whole life (in this case, playing a platformer) except in a more difficult, roundabout, and inconvenient fashion.

I'm having trouble imagining that there are those of you out there who like to put mittens on before tying your shoes, because that's the level of masochism it would take to really get into Exit. Then again, Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle had like a million sequels, so it’s possible that for some of you, Exit is just the ticket. But it certainly isn't mine.

Amazon | ebay

Released: 2/14/2006
Publisher: Ubisoft, Taito
Developer: Moss

Get 3D Classics: Excitebike and Art Syle: Aquia on Club Nintendo Until 6/2

2013-05-06T18:09:00.001-04:00

From now until June 2nd, Club Nintendo members can redeem their coins for 3D Classics: Excitebike and Art Style: Aquia for 150 and 100 coins, respectively. Most everyone should be familiar with Excitebike, and for anyone that didn't get it free with their 3DS, it's a lot of fun and looks great in stereoscopic 3D. The lesser known Aquia is a puzzler with a pretty unique mechanic that fans of the genre might want to check out.

Join the Discussion for the Chance to Win a WonderSwan

2013-05-03T23:32:00.000-04:00

Some of you may have noticed the recent addition of a forum to the site. In order to get the discussions rolling, we need active posters. To encourage posting, we're offering a Bandai WonderSwan handheld to a randomly chosen member once the total post count reaches 1000.

A winner will be chosen using random.org to select a number between 1 and 1000. The number chosen will be matched to its corresponding post, and the user associated with the post will win the WonderSwan. So the more you post and create new topics, the greater your chances. This is going to be a long-term "contest" so there's no rush to make a crazy amount of posts all at once. Think of it not as a contest, but as a chance to win something cool for being part of the community.

The winner will need to provide their address in order to be mailed the prize (US only), pictured below:

Review: Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

2013-05-01T19:01:00.004-04:00

Okay, this is really one of those games that I have been holding off on, and for too long I might add. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is the next installment in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, and is the first game in a while that actually advances the story after Kingdom Hearts 2 for the PS2. For ten years we have seen the adventures of Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Riku. After all these years, you would think Square Enix could come up with something new for once (not that this is such a bad thing). For the most part, Kingdom Hearts is still Kingdom Hearts, yet they did try to do things differently; some things for the better, some for worse.

The story takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts 2, and Dream Drop Distance is the game that advances the story and begins to set up the stage for, possibly, Kingdom Hearts 3. Players do not need to have any previous experience playing the Kingdom Hearts franchise to understand what is going on, since the game does provide summaries and character bios that do help ease newcomers into the whole complicated plot, but I recommend playing as many of the previous entries to truly understand what is going on. KH1, KH2, and KH: Birth by Sleep are the games that newcomers will want to at least play to get the most out of the story.

Xehanort is the main villain of the whole franchise, but our heroes do not stand a chance against him, so Master Yen Sid (did you know that Yen Sid is Disney spelled backwards?) prepares a set of trials for Sora and Riku, called the Mark of Mastery. If they pass this test, Sora and Riku will obtain power that could stand a chance to this new threat. So, our heroes set off on a journey to prepare themselves for the danger that lurks ahead.

The game plays very similar to Birth by Sleep. The command list is now just a list of actions that you can activate by scrolling through them with the D-Pad. Considering how small the D-Pad on the 3DS is, this can be a little awkward at times, and can lead to some complications in the middle of battle. Luckily, you can set one of your actions to a shortcut so that you can quickly heal yourself in the middle of battle. There are some differences to battles now: With the push of a button, you can perform moves that are called Flowmotion. Sora and Riku use the environment, and sometimes enemies, to perform powerful moves that are great for crowd control. This gives combat a breath of fresh air, which was something that was needed for the franchise.

Normally in the Kingdom Hearts universe, our heroes are accompanied by partners of some kind. While Donald and Goofy previously assisted Sora, now we have the Dream Eaters. Think of Dream Eaters as a pet of some kind. These pets can be leveled up so that they can give new abilities to Sora and Riku. They can help you out in a pinch in combat as well. As your Dream Eaters land hits, they will build up a meter, which, once maxed out, can give a random attack to Sora, or a complete change in fighting style for Riku. If you have both Dream Eaters' meters at max, you can unleash even more powerful versions of these abilities, with different combinations doing different things. Because they aren't exactly majorly significant to the gameplay, it doesn't welcome experimentation, and players might use the same group of Dream Eaters for the entire journey. (Even though I got the Mark of Mastery edition of the game that came with some powerful Dream Eaters via AR cards, I had the same Dream Eaters throughout the whole game)

I am going to touch on this next point really briefly. Everytime you go to a new world as either hero, you need to complete a mini-game called a Dream Drop. These mini-games are extremely easy if you just need to collect a certain amount of points before time is up, but sometimes you have to fight a boss. Sometimes, this can be annoying to do, considering at how poor these segments are. You have to dodge a series of attacks, and then the boss lowers its guard so that you can attack it. In order to attack, you need to lock on, and then lunge to attack. Sadly, the lunge has a habit of missing its mark, wasting valuable time needed to whittle down the boss's health.

One final bit of gameplay that I must cover is the Drop system, which is where the "Drop" in Dream Drop Distance comes from. To put it simply, this is a sort of timer that shows how long our heroes can stay in the world for. If time runs out, time freezes around you, and your character goes to sleep. You then play as the other character, and this cycle repeats itself. While switching between characters, you can purchase upgrades such as Attack Up, Defense Up, etc. with the points you earned while playing through runs. These upgrades are only active on the run they were purchased for, and any unused point get converted to Muny. This mechanic is annoying at first, but I believe this exists so that you can play as both heroes evenly, and advance the plot evenly as well. You need to play as both Riku and Sora and complete the various worlds in order to unlock additional worlds. The good news is that you can extend your time in worlds by using an item that replenishes your Drop meter, or you by purchasing an upgrade in between Drops to make the Drop rate go down, extending your playtime as that character for a good while. It takes me about two Drops to complete a world, but it is possible to complete a world in just one Drop.

In conclusion, Dream Drop Distance was not a bad game, but it was not as spectacular as other Kingdom Hearts games. Then again, maybe it is just me getting older and losing interest in the franchise as a whole. Either way, despite the hiccups along the way, this game was not that bad. It certainly did the 10-year-old franchise some justice. Let us just hope that the future holds much brighter things that focus less on gimmicks.

Amazon | ebay

Released: 7/31/2012
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix

The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures will be on 3DS

2013-05-01T16:45:00.001-04:00

Holy Fuckballs. The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures was recently approved for Steam Greenlight, and according to the official Facebook page, it will also grace modern Nintendo consoles. The game is perfectly suited for 3DS/WiiU, seeing as it's based heavily on other games released on Nintendo systems that the Nerd has previously reviewed. Check out the trailer below; it speaks for itself. And for anyone unfamiliar with the Nerd himself, head on over to Cinemassacre and get yourselves caught up!

Review: Platypus

2013-04-25T19:11:00.003-04:00

Often used to sell an otherwise bad game, gimmicks make gamers wary, and this one has a blatant gimmick: everything is made of clay. Platypus isn't terrible, but it's nothing spectacular, either.

The visuals might appear bright and welcoming, but Platypus is a deceptively challenging game. It's a side-scrolling shoot-em-up in which the player is assaulted by various types of enemies, each with their own attack patterns. Aiding in the annihilation of enemy crafts are weapon upgrades, which are obtainable by destroying every ship in special orange formations. These drop a star, which cycles through the various weapon types when shot.

The weapon upgrade system is the game's most unique feature, even though the upgrades themselves are uninspired rehashes. The yellow star is the obligatory spread shot; the blue star is rapid fire; the green a wave of energy which is capable of negating enemy fire, but utterly useless against anything that doesn't die in one shot; red shoots rockets which are great at tearing through larger enemies; and finally the green, only available in the final level, is lighting, which pierces through everything directly in a straight line. There is also an orbital powerup, which effectively doubles the ship's firepower, and a crown, which doubles score. Both of these will last as long as the player can avoid being hit.

In most shooters, an upgraded weapon lasts as long the player does, and once a life is lost, it's back to the pea-shooter. In Platypus, the duration of an upgrade is marked by a timer in the upper left-hand corner of the screen, with each star adding 20 seconds. This system is perfect for a newcomer to the genre, because they're not punished for dying, and because orbitals and score doublers remain until the player dies, skilled play is also rewarded. There are many instances throughout the game where the player is forced to use a certain weapon, and while it may be the best tool for the job in each instance, it takes the element of personal choice away and makes the experience feel a bit jagged.

Platypus's main mode spans 6 levels, each consisting of 4 areas and a boss fight. The screen does get fairly crowded as the game goes on, and it's easy to lose track of the tiny enemy bullets (I was often hit by a bullet partially concealed by my own stream of fire). Players are given 5 lives to begin with, and two additional credits. These can be used to immediately respawn with 5 more lives, and with one being awarded after each level's completion, a game over is unlikely. Most of the game is spent dodging and shooting, but there is one area consisting of nothing but floating mines in a narrow cave, which, if shot, explode into a shower of bullets. This section serves to break up the monotony, and the game could have used more like it.

Speaking of monotony, boss fights are a battle against fatigue. Upgrades are a must, as the default weapon does next to nothing to the massive enemy crafts. Instead of satisfaction, players are granted only relief once the fight is finally over. Each one feels more like a marathon instead of an intense battle, largely due to the bland attack patterns, which change very little, if at all, as their hp depletes.

Additional modes include simultaneous co-op play, which can't be said for many other shooters, and a survival mode, in which the goal is to last for as long as possible on a single life. It gets pretty intense pretty quickly, and is arguably more enjoyable than much of the rest of the game.

Platypus has little to offer to shoot-em-up veterans, but younger gamers and those new to the genre might be less critical of it.

Amazon | ebay

Released: 11/14/2006
Publisher: MumboJumbo
Developer: Idigicon

Review: SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium

2013-04-22T01:59:00.000-04:00

These days, exclusive portable fighting games are few and far between as most are virtually identical ports of their console counterparts. There have been original IPs that attempted to be unique handheld fighters but are comparatively mediocre (I'm looking at you, Power Quest). It should come as no surprise that the best handheld fighters are based on already-established series, and SNK's Neo Geo Pocket Color is home to quite a few. SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium is a prime example of a handheld fighter done right.

Before handhelds were capable of console-quality fighters, simplified versions of popular franchises were attempted. Killer Instinct on the Game Boy is one example which, while not terrible by any means, just doesn't compare to its console counterparts. If it isn't evident from the above screenshot, Match of the Millennium is its own game, featuring chibi versions of characters from Capcom's Street Fighter and Darkstalkers series, and pits them against fighters from a handful of SNK series, including The King of Fighters and Samurai Showdown.

Despite limits in the visual department (the NGPC lies somewhere in between the GBC and GBA in terms of hardware, and the chibi style looks great anyway), the gameplay is fluid and has a level of depth that should satisfy any fighting fan. Each character's play-style remains in tact, and there are plenty of ways to string together their many attacks. A big part of the game's fluidity can be credited to the handheld's excellent 8-way micro-switched thumb stick, which won't reduce a thumb to a bloody stump after repeated half-circle motions.

The Match of the Millennium is packed with a surprising amount of content for a fighter, let alone a portable one. The meat of the game lies in the fighting of course, and the main tourney mode can be played through in standard 1v1 format, as well tag-team and 3v3 team fights. The victor of 1v1 is the first to win two rounds of a fight, tag-team is one round with the ability to switch between characters on the fly (though I couldn't figure out how to do this myself, the AI took full advantage of it), and 3v3 team fights have the player select the order in which to send out their fighters against the opposing team, and heals a portion of the current fighter's hp after a win. Players can also choose the way in which the super gauge is filled, from Average (Street Fighter), Counter (King of Fighters) or Rush (Darkstalkers) modes.

While fighters aren't typically played for the plot, it's worth touching upon briefly. M. Bison and Geese are up to no good, making trouble in the fighting neighborhood. They're taking fighters and either using mind-control or cloning technology to create ultimate killing machines, and it is up to the player to put a stop to it. Fights leading up to the villainous duo become increasingly more challenging, and the final fight with either Orochi Iori or Evil Ryu is likely to elicit more than a few expletives. Thankfully, continues are unlimited.

In addition to a meaty tourney mode, practice, and player vs player link-cable fighting, Olympic Mode contains a variety of mini-games and challenges to further test players' skills. Survival is a gauntlet of 100 back to back fights, recovering a portion of health after each. Time Attack tests how quickly the player can defeat 5 enemies, and First Blast is 10 rounds of sudden death, where the first to land a blow wins, rewarding one point for a win and zero for a loss. These challenges can be played either with SNK or Capcom fighters, but there are also mini-games, which vary depending on the side chosen. Under the SNK section are Targets and Blade Arts. Targets has the player take control of Metal Slug's Marco, shooting various alien pods as they fly in from 8 directions, and Blade Arts has Samurai Showdown's Jubei slicing and dicing strawmen as they appear in one of 4 directions. On the Capcom side, Ghost Trick consists of jumping across gaps, collecting treasure as Arthur from Ghouls and Ghosts while avoiding the Red Arremer enemy, and Cat Walk plays like a simplified Dance Dance Revolution, requiring precisely-timed A, B, and directional presses to the beat of 6 excellent chiptune tracks as Felicia executes the moves.

The game's only glaring flaw is the inability to return to the main menu during a fight. The only way to start over is to turn the system off and on or to lose the fight. Even so, SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium is sure to keep any fighting fan engaged with its fluid gameplay, various modes, challenges, mini-games, and 26-character roster.

Amazon | ebay

Released: 12/22/1999
Publisher: SNK
Developer: SNK

One Developer Could Single-handedly Bring Life to the Vita

2013-04-21T18:21:00.000-04:00

With all the coverage of the recent April 2013 Nintendo Direct's 3DS announcements, somebody needs to talk about the Vita. After all, the Vita is ignored even by Sony themselves, so I'll give it the attention it may or may not deserve. We all know the Vita has failed to compete with both smart phones and the 3DS due to a lack of software, but it seems one developer is out to change this.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade was a 2009 international release on the Wii and was arguably one of the best games released for the system. However, this game had a heavy emphasis on Japanese culture and it lacked any form of marketing in the US and as a result the game failed to not only sell, but even catch any attention of the major video game journalism websites. Muramasa was the spiritual successor to a very similar game developed by the same studio and got a little bit more attention, Odin Sphere, a 2007 Playstation 2 release. Both games are 2D side-scrolling action RPGs with fluid combat and gorgeous hand drawn visuals. Now it seems the developer, Vanillaware, has pledged its generous support of the Vita by developing an HD remake of Muramasa, subtitled Rebirth, as well as a brand new game that will also be available for PS3, Dragon's Crown.

If you're unhappy that you missed Code of Princess on 3DS, Dragon's Crown has got you covered.

In times when a console has no first-party support, it needs decent third-party support to survive. With two great new full-fledged RPGs, Muramasa having at least 20 hours of gameplay from my experience, Vanillaware could very easily be keeping the Vita alive all by themselves. If you are a Vita owner, be sure to send a heartfelt thank you letter to the awesome folks at Vanillaware.

Oh yeah, and if you don't like niche Japanese games, sorry, but the Vita just is not for you at this point.

The Vita - Sony's Poor Abandoned Child

2013-04-19T12:21:00.000-04:00

When the Vita was announced the hardware was very impressive. A year later, it is still very impressive. However like a creative child born into a family of lawyers, it was neglected by its makers from the start. My criticism of the Vita is nothing new, but as Benny from Fallout: New Vegas said, "From where you're kneeling, it must seem like an 18-carat string of bad luck. But the truth is... the game was rigged from the start."

I reference that quote because Nintendo has always dominated the handheld market, so it should come to no surprise that the Vita fails to compete, though it should come as a surprise just how much the Vita has utterly failed. It has managed to gain momentum in Japan after a price drop, but sales remain stagnant in the US. The reason for the Vita's failure, at least so far, is certainly not hardware, but rather Sony's lack of support of their own handheld. In other words, software sells hardware, and the Vita has a major lack of software. The most important factor to note is that the PSP is very cheap now but is still a fairly modern device that has tons of amazing games, so it is far more appealing to simply buy a PSP rather than the Vita. A perfect example of how Sony is neglecting the Vita is the lack of any upcoming Monster Hunter game being released for the system. Monster Hunter had several releases on PSP and greatly pushed sales, similar to how Pokemon always pushes sales on Nintendo handhelds. Now the tides have changed and the 3DS has Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, and will soon be getting Monster Hunter 4 as an exclusive.

Monster Hunter 4 will be a 3DS exclusive.

Not only does the Vita has a small selection of actual good games, but after a year Sony has still not announced any upcoming games to get really excited about, which leads me to the main reason I'm writing this article now. April 2013's Nintendo Direct recently announced an outrageously good lineup of 3DS games all scheduled for a 2013 release. The announced games include a new Zelda and Yoshi's Island game, two of Nintendo's top selling and most critically acclaimed series. What does Sony have to fire back with? At least for now, nothing. This could of course change in the near future if Sony decides to surprise us all, but this is doubtful considering they are focusing their efforts on the launch of the recently debuted Playstation 4, Sony's next-generation home console set to compete with the Wii U and Xbox "Durango." With all eyes on the PS4, Sony likely has little room for marketing their powerful HD handheld.

Sony is busy with the PlayStation 4 upcoming launch.

Unfortunately, the Vita is not a bad handheld, just misunderstood. It carries a high price tag that can be compared to an extremely high end smart phone, lacks solid first-party and third-party support, and has nothing to defend itself against Nintendo's onslaught of new 3DS titles. I would love to buy a Vita, but I just can't, and many others feel the same. Software sells hardware, not the other way around. We saw this a few years ago when Android had very little to offer in terms of apps and iOS was the uncontested king. With support of a fair amount of fantastic Japanese developers and publishers, the Vita is a great handheld for a niche audience, but there is nothing about it that can capture the mainstream market.

I Like My JRPGs Boring and Grindy

2013-04-18T22:45:00.001-04:00

I was just watching a review of Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, a game generally criticized for being way too simple and boring, especially for a Final Fantasy game. However it sounds like the perfect JRPG for me because, yes, I like boring JRPGs. Don't get me wrong, I love games like Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, and the Tales series, but even in those games, labeled as exciting JRPGs, I spend most of my time grinding. In other words, I find ways to make exciting JRPGs boring, but this is what I enjoy. Its strange isn't it? Or maybe it isn't...

Looking back at my childhood, mainly my elementary school years, I played plenty of JRPGs because I had essentially an infinite amount of free time. I'd plop down on my squeaky old couch, turn on my GBA, and play mostly Pokemon while watching Dragon Ball Z re-runs that were completely out of order so I never had any idea what was going on. Pokemon is of course a very action-packed JRPG, but looking back once I beat my beloved Pokemon Ruby, for years to come I'd just keep on replaying the Elite Four and grinding. I barely even looked at the screen, I just kept pressing 'A' as my lv. 100 Pokemon destroyed everything in their path. However, for some odd reason, just pressing the 'A' button over and over and over and over again was mesmerizing and relaxing.

But suddenly it has hit me. The appeal of boring level grinds for hours finally became clear. JRPG grinding is perhaps one of the most therapeutic things in my life. When ever I feel really stressed out and need to relax I immediately turn to the closest turn-based RPG. Often little thought is required, all you need to do is sit back and press a button while listening to great chiptune (or orchestral) music. Everybody has some form of relaxation whether it be reading, watching TV, looking out at the stars. But hey, I'm a gamer, I've always been a gamer, and I always will be a gamer. However I only seem to be relaxed by grinding when I do it on a handheld console. Being forced to look at a large television is more overwhelming than relaxing, and I tend to get very immersed in any type of game when it is on the big screen. There is just something inexplicably magic and incredibly therapeutic about JRPG grinding on a handheld device while laying on a soft couch.

New Zelda and Yoshi's Island Games Announced for 3DS

2013-04-17T16:48:00.000-04:00

The original Yoshi's Island was one of the quintessential platformers on the SNES, and one of the more unique games in the Mario franchise, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is simply a masterpiece. The latest Nintendo Direct is enough to make a fan of either of these games weak in the knees: New Yoshi's Island and Zelda games!

Yoshi's Island uses the 2.5d NSMB aesthetic, arguably not as lush as sprites found in the first two games, but it still looks fantastic.

The last couple of handheld Zelda installments, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, were quite polarizing, with many skipping them entirely. For anyone worrying about the next portable epic, have no fear; The Legend of Zelda is deeply rooted within LttP's world, while still being an original experience with new elements, including Link's ability to turn into a two-dimensional drawing in order to move along walls. It's set to be released this holiday season.

Two very convincing reasons to own a 3DS if you don't already.

Review: Super Hexagon

2013-04-12T19:04:00.000-04:00

Super Hexagon is my current obsession. I wanted to review the game within half an hour of playing it, but thought that I should perhaps survive for longer than 8 seconds before doing so. Luckily, I went on a trip to Ireland recently which involved an 11-hour car/ferry journey so I had ample time to brush up on my skills. I now have a top score of 200:07, ranking me number 412 in the world! Enough about me though, I want to talk about this awesome game.

The game involves controlling a small triangle that revolves around a transforming shape in the middle of the screen. Touching the corresponding side of the screen with your thumb rotates the triangle either clockwise or counter-clockwise. It takes time to get used to the controls because it turns very quickly. It has to, though, because while you do this all manner of geometric forms careen towards the shape in the middle and you have to use all of your twitch skills to avoid them! Survive for 10 seconds and a GLaDOS-like robotic voice says "Line!" indicating the next level. Then everything starts spinning faster, colours change, shapes shift and your eyes will begin to dry out, but you can't blink because otherwise you won't make it to the subsequent Triangle, Square, Pentagon and Hexagon levels. Hexagon is reached by surviving for 60 seconds and officially counts as completing the level, but really you'll want to chase high scores. There are three difficulties: Hard, Harder and Hardest. Beating each one unlocks three more: Hardester, Hardesterer and Hardestest. So yeah, it's hard, however what makes it so good is that the game hardly ever manages to be frustrating. The reason for this is that every game lasts such a short amount of time that replaying never feels like a chore. You're also constantly under pressure, which means there are no moments of boredom leading up to the level you were previously at. The other huge incentive for continued play comes from the amazing soundtrack by Chipzel which adds to the relentless assault on the senses and perfectly complements the neon-abstract visuals.

Ah yes, the visuals. Terry Cavanagh has created one of the most aesthetically elegant yet aggressive games I have ever seen. These screenshots display a consistency of form and function coupled with energetic and sparse use of colour. In motion, the game displays these qualities, but shifts and contorts at such a breathtaking pace that it is impossible to take it all in. The most captivating aspect of the visuals in this game is how they directly tie into the game design. The more complicated and difficult it is to maneuver the shape of the section, the more interesting it is to look at. The amount of times I have died at the point of the above image is innumerable. It is a simple yet brilliant game, a masterpiece of arcade game design. Give it enough time and it will own you. The only small issue I have with the game is the occasional slowdown. Nothing dramatic, but it is there and to be honest can at some points be helpful. See you on the scoreboard!

Super Hexagon on Android | iOS

Developer: Terry Cavanagh

Snag Kirby's Pinball Land and 3D Classics: Urban Champion on Club Nintendo

2013-04-09T20:31:00.003-04:00

This month's Club Nintendo offerings include 3DS downloads for 3D Classics: Urban Champions and Kirby's Pinball Land, originally appearing on the Game Boy. Each can be had for 150 coins, but when you have the choice between these or Super Metroid for the same price, the choice is easy. One word comes to mind for this month's handheld titles, and that is "meh."

5 Handhelds You've Never Heard Of

2013-04-06T22:51:00.001-04:00

Game Pocket Computer

Released in 1984 exclusively in Japan (predating the Game Boy by 5 years), the Game Pocket Computer by Epoch was a commercial failure. Other than the built-in Paint and 11-Puzzle programs, only 5 games were released for it. It features an LCD screen with a resolution of 75x64 dots, and was the second handheld to use interchangeable game cartridges. These units are quite rare, and fetch hundreds on ebay when they do pop up.

digiBLAST

2005 marks the release of this beautiful piece of technology. The Nikko digiBLAST is neither a cassette player nor a toy spaceship, but a handheld marketed toward children as a multimedia device. It retailed for the European equivalent of approximately $90-100 and despite having a library toting popular licenses such as Pitfall, X-Men, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, didn't fare so well, halting plans for an American release.

Supervision

Released in 1992, the Watara Supervision (Quickshot Supervision [the bendy one] in the UK) was one of the many contenders to the Game Boy banished to obscurity due to its utter failure. It was geared toward frugal gamers, priced at a mere $50 with games retailing for only $15 each. Despite the cheap price tag, a blurry display and lack of quality games kept it from gaining a significant following.

Mega Duck/Cougar Boy

Released in 1993 in Europe as the Mega Duck and in South America, the Cougar Boy, it is a handheld probably unknown to most. Produced by Creatronic, Videojet, and Timlex, it's fairly similar to the Supervision but boasts a superior display. The Cougar Boy version is the rarer of the two and can get a bit pricey.

Microvision

The Microvision, released by Milton Bradley in 1979, was the first handheld to use interchangeable cartridges. Granted, calling them carts is a stretch as users were required to rip its entire FACE off in order to play something else. Designed by Jay Smith, the man who would later go on to create the Vectrex, it had a bright but short lifespan, grossing $8 million in its first year but wouldn't make it to '83 due to a lack of third party support. Only 13 games were released for the system

For better or for worse, the world of handhelds is surprisingly diverse. These are just a handful of handhelds obscured by time and their limited success, but it's always interesting to look at how it's all evolved over the years.

Review: Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask

2013-04-02T16:20:00.002-04:00

Professor Layton has become somewhat of a poster-boy for Nintendo handhelds. His games' combination of unique charm, mystery stories, animated sequences and puzzle-solving have proved to have a universal appeal. Miracle Mask is his first adventure on 3DS. Can developer Level-5 keep up the Professor's sterling reputation?

While this is the 5^th game in the series, it is chronologically the second and part of a prequel trilogy. If you want to get the most out of this particular game, I would recommend playing The Last Spectre (DS) and then watching The Eternal Diva (DVD/Blur-ray) before getting this. At least read a decent plot summary, otherwise there are a few references that will be lost on you. I don't want to go into many story details, because that would ruin a lot of the fun. Basically, Layton gets a letter from an old friend asking for his help. She lives in Monte d'Or, a city in the desert that has rapidly sprung up and grown into prosperity. He arrives just in time to catch the carnival parade in the evening. However, the festivities are brought to an abrupt halt when a number of people turn to stone! At that point a figure who calls himself The Masked Gentleman appears, claiming it is one of his many “miracles.” And he has a lot more of them in store for this city and its citizens...

One of, if not the best villain in the series!

The Masked Gentleman is a very flamboyant villain. His sharp suit and silver tongue will keep you thoroughly entertained. I was always looking forward to his appearances during my playthrough. In fact, all of the characters are great. The main trio of Layton and his two assistants Luke and Emmy are as charming as ever. The designs are all unique, a lot of the citizens are quite hilarious. The series is inspired by European animation like Belleville Rendezvous, so expect to see a lot of weird and accentuated features. You'll also get to discover Layton's past during this story and it will give you a better understanding of his character. The games often take a long time to be localised (21 months in this case), but you can understand why because the effort put into the writing is plain to see. All of the characters have lot to share and there a lot of funny exchanges. For example, a shop keeper with a very disproportionate build who has a crush on Emmy made me chuckle.

Always being a true gentleman.

Presentation-wise, the move to more powerful hardware has added a lot to the series. While this is a relatively recent release in the west, it was in fact a launch title in Japan. Bearing this in mind, I was surprised at how well Level-5 have used the system. My favourite change applies to the exploration. In the DS games there would be a static scene on the lower screen and you interacted with the environment and characters by touching them. Now the environments are on the 3D screen and they have a lovely layered depth to them. They remind me of Victorian dioramas and I think it's a great addition to the franchise. The Las Vegas-inspired city of Monte d'Or is a very cool setting as well. It suits the game's light-hearted tone while also giving it a sense of spectacle and celebration. The added depth encourages exploration and you can look around the environments by using the touchscreen like a mouse. You still touch characters to talk or tap on the scenery to find hint coins. The hint coins are hidden in the scenery and they are used to unlock hints in the puzzles. The characters are now fully modelled and they have managed to keep the animation style intact in this transition. They now animate a lot more in conversation too. These features combined with the 3D screen bring the game life in a way the DS could not.

In 3D the environments really pop!

The gameplay has also benefited from the hardware. You will see some puzzles that use the gyroscope and both screens in ways that haven't been done before in the series. You also now have the choice as to how you want the puzzle presented to you. The puzzle explanation can be sent to either screen, or hidden away. I found this immensely useful when using the memo function. I would have the explanation on the top while making my notes on the bottom. I know it doesn't sound like all that, but it was so helpful. The puzzles themselves are pretty good, I definitely needed the hint coins for the later ones! They are quite varied and everyone will find some challenging ones. Something the games have always done well is test different parts of your brain. For example, I had more trouble with the number related puzzles, but breezed through the more visual puzzles.

The music and sound design is as good as ever. The songs are all very pleasant and add to the air of mystery. I particularly like the main theme of Monte d'Or. Occasionally the puzzle music was distracting, but most of the time I enjoyed it.

My main issue with the game is its length. At over 20 hours, I personally found it it a bit too long. I was playing while watching TV for some of the time, so I'm sure I could have finished it faster if I was more focused. Still, I would rather pay less money and have a shorter game. It still equates to good value for money, as there are 150 puzzles in the main game. There are also three mini-games which are quite fun, but don't compare to those in The Last Spectre (I loved the Toy Train mini-game so much!). You can also download a free puzzle every day online for a year, which is extremely generous. You definitely won't be starved for content. Whether you are a completionist or just want to enjoy a good mystery story, I don't think you'll be disappointed with Layton's new adventure. I haven't come close to seeing everything the game has to offer.

I have completed Curious Village (1^st game) and The Last Spectre (4^th) and I enjoyed this one the most. I would recommend this game to everyone; it is another great release for the 3DS, which is fast becoming one of the best handheld systems ever. It offers a charming, intriguing world filled with quirky characters and interesting puzzles. What's not to like!?

Amazon | ebay

Released: 10/28/1012
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Level-5

EA Announces New Always-Online Handheld to Compete with Vita, 3DS

2013-04-01T18:20:00.001-04:00

EA is no stranger to the video games industry, having been founded in 1982. However after all this time they are finally making the plunge into the hardware market, announcing today that they have plans on releasing a yet to be seen handheld game console this holiday season. Specs are unknown aside from the fact that the device will have a front facing camera that will constantly be streaming footage of everything you do to the nearest EA server. It was also announced that the system will require a constant internet connection to be used "after the massive success of Simcity's recent launch," said EA spokesperson.

The spokesperson went on to say, "John Riccitiello was a fantastic CEO and gamer and he will be truly missed. However, he wanted to go out with a bang, so just last week he told the board about what will be his last great achievement, a brand new handheld device jam-packed with always-on DRM." Riccitiello recently announced that he will be stepping down from his position of CEO at EA soon.

"I just follow the clearly written instructions in the emails my investors send me and things seem to work out in the end," said Ricitiello. "We've received criticism in the past few years from gamers, though I believe our consumers simply don't know what they really want."

"He was a pioneer in giving gamers everything they want; constant connectivity with the world while gaming, new content available for games the day they come out for a small extra price, and new distribution platforms such as Origin that bring all the fans of our games together in one extremely controlled environment," continued the spokesperson. "I think what will set our new handheld apart from the rest is the requirement to purchase games from our brand new platform, Origin Mobile, creating a singular, streamlined approach of purchasing games. This will eliminate the need to go out to a retailer and buy a physical copy, every game can be, and will be, downloaded from your own home at regular retail price."

The new handheld system from EA is set to launch at $1399.99 in the United States and will feature a required, paid firmware update at launch for $15.99.

This Smash Bros Demake is a Smashing Good Time

2013-03-30T20:49:00.002-04:00

Have you ever wondered how Super Smash Bros. on the Game Boy might play? Wonder no more. Super Smash Land is a Game Boy-ified version of the iconic Nintendo brawler and is everything a fan of the series could ask for. Despite being limited to two buttons and directionals, it manages to retain the Smash Bros feel. The keyboard works great once you get used to it, but I'd love to see controller support added in the future, or even a port to something like the GCW-Zero. In any case, you can download this masterpiece at supersmashland.com

The True Graphical Capability of the GBA

2013-03-29T19:29:00.003-04:00

Many people tend to forget that the Gameboy Advance is a 32-bit system, but you can't blame them. Most developers, including Nintendo themselves, did not use the hardware to its full potential. The majority of GBA games were very pixelated and used sprites rather than 3D models, but the PS1 was 32-bit and that had 3D games, so the GBA should have 3D games as well, right? Well, it's not quite as simple as the amount of bits a system has, but it is significant, because the GBA indeed did have some 3D games as well as some gorgeous 2D games. Unfortunately most of these games were not very good, thus they are not often remembered today. Here are a few GBA games that really are incredible feats for the hardware.

Asterix and Obelix XXL

This 3D platformer uses full 3D models for all the characters, while relying on sprites for scenery such as trees. What is really impressive here is not just the 3D models, but also the detailed textures. The game itself is in the vein of Crash Bandicoot, but the graphics easily look like they could be on a PS1.

Need for Speed Underground

Another game that uses 3D models, Need for Speed Underground does a great job of smoothing out the edges of the cars in the game while providing fast-paced gameplay at a steady framerate. The lighting is impressive as well, but the cars are what really shine.

Doom

Doom, the Crysis of its day. This game was ported to everything, but it did not run well on everything. However, Doom on the GBA runs very smoothly and the character models are very detailed and clear, as seen in the screenshot. It was also a full-fledged FPS on a handheld, rarely heard of at the time.

There are plenty more examples of great looking games on the GBA that pushed the hardware to its limits, but the three shown above are the probably the most impressive. Yes, the GBA was capable of producing graphics similar to the PS1.

Pay What You Want for this Humble Mobile Bundle

2013-03-28T22:49:00.001-04:00

The Humble Bundles have been around for a while now, and previous versions included Android as an option, but this is the first true mobile bundle. Contre Jour, Anomaly Korea, Plants vs. Zombies, Bladeslinger and soundtracks for the last three are being offered this time around, but paying over the average will also unlock Metal Slug 3, The Room, and their respective soundtracks.

These games are strictly for play Android devices, and can be played by downloading the Humble Bundle app. As always, a portion of the sale will support The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Child's Play charities, so cough up a dollar at least.

If you haven't already grabbed it, you've got 11 days. https://www.humblebundle.com/

Review: Color Oil

2013-03-27T15:08:00.002-04:00

Mobile devices are home to many a puzzle game, with most being more or less slight variations of the others. Color Oil, while probably not the first of its kind, is a relatively fresh concept. Instead of blocks, columns, and the usual components, each screen starts as a jumbled mess of colored pools of oil. The goal is simple: make everything the same color.

Play starts at a blob marked "S." This cell's color can be changed by pressing one of the six (five in the beginning levels) colored buttons at the bottom of the screen, causing it to merge with any identically-colored adjacent pools of oil. The challenge lies in completing the level in the minimum number of steps, yielding three stars, which are used to unlock additional level packs. For each step over the minimum, one star is deducted.

Color Oil is a logic puzzle game, meaning there is a well defined solution for each level. Instead of building something up, like combos in Bejewled or a tower of blocks in Tetris, players will have to logically deconstruct the level by visualizing the most efficient order of moves to reach a uniform pool of oil. While Tetris can be enjoyed forever, Color Oil's divergent gameplay style means the amount of content is limited by the developers' ability to come up with new levels.

There isn't much room to criticize the mechanics of the game, but the interface could use some work. When trying to accumulate enough stars to unlock the next level pack, levels with one or two stars will have to be replayed, but if the level immediately following already has three stars, the player has to return to the main menu before selecting the next incomplete level. It would be less cumbersome to be able to pull up the current pack's array of levels at any time.

It's a simple game, but don't mistake simplicity for lack of challenge. Color Oil's 190 levels (290 in the $1.99 Pro version) are sure to have players occupied until we're all flying around in hover cars that convert CO2 into rainbows.

Color Oil free | Pro

Developer: KyWorks

20 Free Android Games That Are Actually Worth Playing

2013-03-23T20:35:00.000-04:00

While the Apple store takes the cake in terms of the sheer amount of games available, Google's Android platform has been gaining ground. There are thousands of free games available, but it's not always easy to wade through the piles of virtual shit that plague it. In an effort to find games that are more than complex Skinner Boxes with banal gameplay dressed up in pretty visuals, I've come up with the following list, in no particular order.

1. Zen Pinball HD by Zen Studios

Zen Studios has come to be known as the definitive creator of high quality pinball games that feature a wide variety of intricate tables, great graphics, and physics that are practically indistinguishable from the real thing. Zen Pinball HD features one free table, "Sorcerer's Lair," and has an additional seventeen tables available for purchase. Even so, the default table is enjoyable enough to warrant the download.

2. PAC-CHOMP! by Namco Bandai

PAC-CHOMP! is Namco Bandai's take on the age-old match three puzzler, and they've pulled it off with flying colors. The game distinguishes itself not only with the Pac-Man theme, but also introduces a couple of interesting mechanics. Each of the four quadrants of the board can be rotated to create new combination possibilities, and there are power pellets that, if eaten, turn the ghosts blue and lets the player go on an eating spree by granting direct control of Pac-Man. The paid version has additional features, but there is plenty of fun to be had without spending a penny.

3. Pew Pew by Jean-François Geyelin

Geometry Wars was a wildly successful twin-stick shooter that spawned countless clones, and while it might not be fair to call Pew Pew a clone per-se, it is clearly heavily inspired by it. Similarities aside, Pew Pew brings some interesting game modes to the table, including passively dodging obstacles, surviving an assault from all directions, and even a tribute to the classic Asteroids. Scores can be compared online, and players can re-watch their performances. The twin stick controls work surprisingly well for a touch screen, and are fully customizable. If a thumb does slip though, the game automatically pauses. Now that's forward thinking.

4. StarDash Free by OrangePixel

Handheld gaming has advanced tremendously over the years, but it's nice to see a throwback now and again. StarDash pays homage to the Game Boy era, with retro monochromatic graphics, catchy chiptune music, and simple run-and-jump controls. It also walks the walk, with solid gameplay and challenging level design.

5. TETRIS Free by Electronic Arts

EA is a company we all love to hate, and perhaps for good reason, but screwing up Tetris is nigh impossible. This version features crisp, vibrant visuals, catchy music, and controls that are perfectly optimized for the touch screen. Slide left and right to move the block, tap to rotate, and a satisfying downward slide slams it into place. Tetris is Tetris is Tetris, and this version is worth playing.

6. Galaxy Conquest by Arclite Systems

Those of us that used to play games on InstantAction will remember Galcon as the simple but challenging space conquest RTS. Others may have it on Steam. Gamers with a few bucks to spare can play it in all its glory on Android or iOS, but like great cereal, successful games have their clones. Galaxy Conquest, while not quite as sweet, retains most of what makes Galcon so enjoyable and the touch screen is well suited for the click-and-drag gameplay mechanics.

7. Zenonia Series by GAMEVIL

The mobile gaming market is dominated by pick-up-and-play software designed to fill in those odd gaps of time throughout our days like waiting for your microwaveable burrito, or your dog to finish his business outside. Now that you're thinking about dog turds and questionable meat product, the Zenonia series of games are ones to sit down with. Having established itself as one the quintessential action RPG series in the Android market, its worlds are vibrant and well-detailed and their stories engaging. The gameplay is exceptionally smooth and varied among the games' distinct classes, providing plenty of replay value. Full review of Zenonia 3

8. Chess Free by AI Factory Limited

I feel like I'm cheating a bit here as the game of chess has been around for centuries, but fans of the game will appreciate the ability to carry a chess board in their pocket. Players can play against AI of varying difficulty, or another human (only locally, unfortunately). Features include a timer, match playback, and the ability to export a match's PGN. It's chess.

9. Mole Kart by Elite Games

Fans of Mario Kart will feel right at home with Mole Kart. It features vibrant graphics, a drift boost mechanic, and wacky powerups. That's all well and good, but the biggest advantage this game has over other free Kart racers on Android is that it DOESN'T FORCE THE TILT CONTROL GIMMICK. Nothing's more frustrating than trying to play a game that would otherwise be halfway decent, but fails miserably due to inaccurate controls. The worst part of it all is that this game is unplayable on lower-end devices, so the only alternatives (that I could find anyway) are tilt-controlled kart racers. Of course, using My Boy to play some Mario Kart: Super Circuit is another option.

10. Pixel Kingdom by SmashGames

At it's core, Pixel Kingdom is a game most of us have played before. Enemies scroll from the mysterious other side of the field, and the player needs to defend their side/castle with an assortment of units. The field is divided into three lanes. As enemies approach, defending is as simple as tapping a unit and a corresponding lane. Units cost mana to deploy, but players can opt to save up mana to purchase a mana boost, which starts at ten mana and doubles each time, but will speed up the mana generation rate. Spending mana wisely and deciding which order to send out units to deal with the various ranged/melee enemy units makes the game highly addicting and a lot of fun. My only complaint is the fact that unit prices make an enormous jump from 2500 and under to 22000 gold and up, which I can only assume is designed to encourage in-app purchases.

11. Bricknoid by Driant Games

Brick-breaking games are a starting place for many indie developers so it's no surprise the Android market is flooded with them. Of the three I played, Bricknoid was the most fun. It's packed with content, featuring over 100 levels, your standard laser, paddle enlarge/shrink powerups etc., and a unique "challenge mode" where new lines of blocks periodically appear from above the screen, pushing the rest down.

12. Super Laser: The Alien Fighter by EpicForce Entertainment Ltd

Google Play is filled with shmups. It's a genre that's easy to make a game around, but making one worth playing is another story. Super Laser: The Alien Fighter is worth a look, but not recommended for anyone with a weak constitution. It features your standard scrolling gameplay with predetermined patterns of enemies, a boss at the end of each stage, a few different weapon types that can be upgraded multiple times, and the standard orbital helpers, which can actually be launched as bombs. It's downright difficult, but it's a satisfying challenge.

13. Tower Defense by Com2uS

The aptly named Tower Defense is all about defending--you guessed it--a tower. Each level has predetermined paths on which enemy creeps march through. Players will need to strategically build a variety of turrets along the edges of these paths in order to keep the enemy forces at bay. A simple tried-and-true formula that's always a good time.

14. Angry Birds Space by Rovio Mobile Ltd

The obligatory Angry Birds inclusion. These may very well be the most played games in the mobile scene, and for good reason. They're simple but challenging and have cute, marketable mascots. Angry Birds Space keeps things fresh by adding orbital forces into the mix.

15. Temple Run 2 by Imangi Studios

There are an endless number of endless runners on the Android platform but not an endless amount of time to try them all. The original Temple Run was a huge success, and it's sequel only improves upon the formula. The player controls an explorer who bursts from a temple with a menacing beast in pursuit. The randomly generated levels will require quick reflexes in order to jump, slide, and turn through the paths. Temple Run 2 will have players hooked as they try to beat their score. PITFALL! would probably have taken this slot, but it was too beefy for my device.

16. Street Fight by Playphone

Street Fight plays like something straight from the '90s. It's your typical side-scrolling beat-em-up with some interesting elements like equipment and unlockable skills. The game controls well, with a virtual stick to move, a single button for basic attacks and hot-keys for skills. There is more reading than one would expect from a beat-em-up and it's poorly translated, but also skippable. Street Fight is classic arcade action and a lot of fun.

17. Major Mayhem by [adult swim] games

The best way I can think to describe Major Mayhem is as a side-scrolling on-rails shooter. The Major has been ordered to take out the enemy scum, who are apparently a fan of cliche's and have kidnapped his girlfriend. As he runs through the battlefield he'll come to a stop at certain intervals. Enemy ninjas pop up and can be shot with a tap. The fun lies in trying to shoot accurately to rack up bonuses. It's very polished and majorly fun.

18. Pixel Dungeon by watabou

Pixel Dungeon is one of the few roguelikes (think Dragon Crystal) that I've come across on Android. Simply put, it does the genre justice. Dungeons are randomly generated, so players have no chance to grow accustomed to their surroundings. Rats are among the weakest enemies, but even they can spell defeat if not taken seriously. It's currently in beta with 15 levels total, but the developer plans to add more.

19. Critical Strike Portable by Studio OnMars

Critical Strike Portable has everything a trigger-happy FPS fan could want on a mobile device. The gameplay is surprisingly smooth, there are a variety of weapons and maps, but most importantly, there is cross-platform online multiplayer. Touch-based controls aren't exactly ideal for a shooter, so those with bluetooth controllers will be glad to know they're supported.

20. Fenix Box by Green Lava Studios

Last, but not least, Fenix Box is as minimalist as it gets. It's a death-counter game, as I like to call them, similar to 10 Second Run. Though it looks like a platformer, there is no limit to consecutive jumps. Players can literally fly around the screen, and the edges are connected. There are 90 cleverly designed levels to navigate through, but no save points. Go big or go home.

What are your favorite free Android games?

Review: Uncharted: Golden Abyss

2013-03-22T00:15:00.001-04:00

Before I start talking about this Vita launch title, I have to contextualize this review. I don't think Uncharted 3 is as good as many people think it it is. When compared to Drake's second outing, Among Thieves, it is a lesser game. Drake's Deception sacrificed gameplay for the sake of telling a cinematic story. There is no denying it is a tremendous achievement, but I felt that Naughty Dog was forcing unnecessary semi-interactive sections down my throat in order to make me "feel" something. I found it less fun to play than the prequel which felt like a real roller-coaster of story, gameplay, set-pieces, incidental detail and exploration. In fact, Uncharted 2 reminded me of Resident Evil 4, one of my top 10! Uncharted 3 felt more linear and claustrophobic, even the big shout-outs had less options. I don't think that the exploration and fighting was combined as well either.

I purchased a PS Vita at midnight on the 22nd of February. My birthday is on the 25th so I knew I would get at least some of the money back. I got Uncharted: Golden Abyss with it because I wanted to buy something that would really show off the system. And it did, the game looked quite amazing. However, after a few hours I gave up thinking "God, why is this game so badly designed? There are so many boring mini-games and why am I having to partake in these rather dull shout-outs?" I traded it in and never played it again...

Until a month ago when I subscribed to PS Plus. I now realise that I still had a bitter taste in my mouth from Uncharted 3, because this is a really good game! A year on from release and it is still arguably the best looking game on the system. The developers seem to know this because they have integrated a game-mechanic whereby you take photos of certain objects or landscapes. For example, near the beginning of the game you will come to a beautifully composed shot of a rope bridge in front of a waterfall. It is a marvel to see it in real-time on a 5-inch screen, the OLED technology giving a new vibrancy to the familiar jungle setting.

Looking good, let's take a picture!

Anyone who has played a previous game in the series will know what to expect. The experience consists of a mixture between cover-based shooting, platforming and puzzle solving. It is certainly fun. Drake controls effortlessly and animates almost as well as his PS3 counterpart. The shooting is well serviced by the analogue sticks and gyroscopic controls for precision aiming. It certainly feels like a smaller production; there aren't any crazy set-pieces such as the train or the ship. However, the scope makes sense considering the hardware and is still quite surprising for a launch game.

The one major addition to the game makes sense and actually adds quite a lot to the experience. Being a fortune hunter, Nate picks up objects and treasures throughout the levels. in the previous games they would simply be added to a list and eventually lead to trophies. However, Golden Abyss puts each piece of treasure or photo onto a specific research page. It makes you feel like the things you are gathering have more purpose and shows how they are connected. It actually gave me an incentive to look away from the beaten track and try to find as many collectibles as possible. Drake also has a backpack which helps ground the character in reality. How else is he going to carry all that treasure Naughty Dog!?

It's not all good though, Sony Bend has made a few mistakes along the way that hold the game back. Overenthusiastic use of the hardware's feature-set is the biggest problem with the game. Tracing where you want to climb is cool, and there is a great moment at the beginning of the game where you can grab an enemy while hanging under him by touching him with your finger. However, both of these actions are optional. It seems the ones that require using touch in order to work don't function properly!? The two worst culprits are the machete-slicing and hand-to-hand combat segments. The slicing has a real problem registering a zig-zag. I had to repeat the motion about 15 times at one particular point, it was not fun. The hand to hand combat would have probably worked better if the motions were done using the analogue sticks, like the Fight Night series. While the charcoal rubbing is a cool idea, the amount of times it is used beggars belief. After your 10th rubbing you'll start to find it contrived. After your 20th, it just becomes a self-referential joke.

Not so good...

The story is well told and the game does a good job at making you feel like a part of the investigation. All the actors are very good and add some charm and charisma to the proceedings. There are issues though, namely the characters. Aside from Jason Dante, the new characters are not as entertaining as those in the previous games. The villain, Roberto Guerro could have been taken from a straight-to-DVD Steven Seagal movie (I love those movies by the way, but for all the wrong reasons!). When Sully turns up the whole game improves though and it manages to keep you fully motivated to the end.

Speaking of the ending, I thought that the lead up to the final fight with Guerro was a great use of the traversal and combat mechanics put together. It is one of the best moments in the game and I was completely engrossed despite being on a crowded train on the underground. Sony Bend have done a great job with this game. It has its faults, but its a very promising start. I really can't wait to see what Sony Bend can do with a sequel because if the team can make launch game of this quality, their next will be unmissable. In the meantime, hit this up!

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Released: 2/14/2012
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Bend

Review: WipEout 2048

2013-03-18T16:51:00.001-04:00

No one was aware at the time, but the launch of WipEout 2048 marked the end of an era. SCE Studio Liverpool was a developer that defined the ethos of the Playstation brand in Europe with the launch of the original WipEout back in 1995. This was a stylish and futuristic game for a new console that was aimed, not at kids, but everyone. It had a soundtrack featuring the songs that people were dancing to at clubs on Friday nights. It had high speed flying ships with realistic physics. It had a beautiful front-end designed by The Design Republic, who were making covers for albums by Aphex Twin, Autechre and Pulp. It was a statement saying "Video games are cool and they are the future, right now."

The original WipEout box art

Since then, WipEout has become synonymous with Playstation, and Psygnosis was bought by Sony and re-named SCE Studio Liverpool. The franchise has always been at the bleeding edge technologically, while not sacrificing amazing gameplay. It showed off what the PSP was capable of at launch with WipEout Pure. WipEout Pulse took those foundations and improved upon them, delivering a stellar sequel. WipEout HD is still one of the few games to fulfill the original promise of 1080p at 60fps on PS3 and was a PSN game that made retail releases look lacking. Which brings us to WipEout 2048, which is now sadly the last game made by the developer. Has the Studio kept its reputation for getting the most out of Sony's hardware?

Somewhat ironically, this is chronologically the first game in the series. Set in the year 2048, it is the first Anti-Gravity Racing Championship (AGRC). Being set this early, the city that holds the tracks looks a bit more familiar. You will see some classical buildings as you race around the lower street levels. You will even find yourself gliding through a park! The higher levels give way to some of the more sci-fi inspired architecture the series is famous for. While technically marvelous, being set earlier means the game doesn't look as smooth or clean as previous games in the series. There is an abundance of visual clutter around you: adverts, trees, spectators, buildings, floats and more. It can get distracting and cause a few missed turns. It took me longer to learn some of these courses than those in WipEout HD, for example. I prefer the more futuristic style of old, but I can't deny that the developer has done it again when it comes to the visuals. This game is a technical feast.

The juxtaposition of the old and new structures is interesting

The controls are great; the Vita's analogue sticks are responsive and reliable. It certainly feels like the WipEout we know and love, while also serving as a good entry point for newcomers. The courses are also a bit wider which helps as well. Speaking of the courses, they are nicely varied. As the campaign progresses through three years, more are made available. I had a blast ducking under bridges in Metro Park, trying to find shortcuts to the higher level in Subway and taking an extremely fast trip though Queens Mall. There are 10 overall, which isn't much really, but they are all solid. My two favourites would have to be Downtown and Sol. Downtown's first few corners take place in a Baroque palazzo, then lead up to a beautiful evening skyline and back down again into an eclectic mishmash of buildings. The majestic Sol is only available in the final third of the campaign, AGRC 2050 and boy is it worth the wait. Being one of the "newest" courses in the game, it closely resembles that classic WipEout minimalist track design. It takes place high up in the sky and features daring jumps and turns with no walls keeping you safe! It also looks breathtakingly beautiful.

Sol is magnificent

There are a variety of different events: Race, Combat, Time Trial, Speed Lap and Zone. For each event you can Pass or earn an Elite Pass, gaining you more points. Races are always fun. Seasoned players will find weapons more useful without taking the emphasis away from driving. Time Trial needs no explanation, I found trying to get the Elite Pass times compelling. Speed Laps are separated from the campaign and are a test against yourself. A ghost is saved of your fastest run so that you can see where you need to improve. Combat has seen the most changes. Previously titled Eliminator, it is now simply a full-on onslaught. Keep on destroying ships with your weapons to accumulate points in the allotted time. There are no points awarded for racing, so I would recommend using whichever ship has the best firepower. The wider courses have allowed for a much more engaging experience in this mode. I used to hate Eliminator, but now the Combat events are some of the best in this game. They also highlight the attention to detail the developer has put into the special effects, particularly some awesome particles on the missile. Zone is my favourite event. It involves racing around the track for as long as you can while your ship gets progressively faster. You have to survive for as many "zones," or segments of track, as possible. What makes Zone a particular highlight is the neon-abstract filter it puts over the game. Bright colours that morph and change while you complete zones look absolutely stunning on the Vita's OLED screen. It really has to be seen to be believed.

Zone events show off what your Vita's screen can do

The soundtrack suits the game beautifully, but is quite small so you'll be hearing the same tunes a lot. However, I never got bored of hearing The Prodigy as I sped past my opponents. Sound design in general is excellent, all of the weapons and ships have realistic effects. Each ship team has their own HUD voice which is a nice detail. In fact, the presentation as a whole is immaculate, particularly the campaign grids.

Multiplayer is something I haven't spent much time on, but it is laid out in a similar manner to the single-player campaign. I think it is a great decision by the developers to turn what could have been a lobby menu into a whole additional campaign grid. One element that does suffer though, is Combat events. I played an event online and no one was actually moving forward, they were staying in one place waiting for people to come near them. I found it boring and it ruined the game. All other events were marvelous though.

One special mention must be made of the photo mode. At any point you can pause the game and take photos. This mode lets you move the camera around, add blur and change the depth of field as well. It can result in some beautiful images. Every screenshot in this review was taken by me. They are all saved onto the Vita and easily sent to the computer via USB. I think it's a great feature for the system.

Photo mode has some wonderful effects

Overall, SCE Studio Liverpool have delivered another great game that utilizes its host hardware beautifully. As the studio's final release and potentially the final WipEout, perhaps it is apt for it to end where it all began. However, I think that WipEout HD should be considered the definitive version of the series. Luckily, just before SCE Studio Liverpool closed, they released DLC that added the whole of WipEout HD and Fury onto 2048. It is a free download if you have already purchased it on PS3. Now that is how you go out in style.

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Released: 2/14/2012
Publisher: SCE Studios Liverpool
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment