beelzebozo
Jealous Bastard
september 2007 egm review scores. it's the issue with all the halo 3 info:
lair: 6.0, 5.5, 5.0
crispin says the combat system is confusing, and the sixaxis controls don't always work the way they should. lock-on system is also jacked.
greg ford says the camera is frustrating in ground combat. the wide open levels hold a lot of potential but ultimately don't deliver
garnett says it's a "frustrating disappointment" with a few bright spots
mario strikers charged: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5
it's not really a soccer game so much as a hockey game with a soccer-like sheen. it's got body-checking, etc. it's "messier," in that it's more chaotic and arcadey than the gcn game. the new "sidekicks" are awesome, and have their own special moves. the motion-sensing controls add to the gameplay, not f*** it up. "over the top but balanced gameplay"
all pro football: 6.5, 6.5, 7.0
ncaa football 2008: 8.5, 9.0, 8.5
stuntman ignition: 7.5, 7.5, 7.0
dynasty warriors gundam: 6.5, 5.5, 5.0
nascar 08: 6.5, 6.5, 6.5
blue dragon: 6.5, 7.5, 6.5
it has neither strong characters nor gripping storytelling, the battle system is "stellar" but unaccompanied by any sort of interesting plot to hang your hat on. bryan is a bit easier on the story than andrew fitch (who had the lead review), and ray called it "safe."
persona 3: 8.5, 9.5, 9.5 game of the month
on the battle system, they say they're "speedy," and that the magic system is "deeply customizable." this game also has a lot of stuff in a school, though--you spend your days trying to score some tail and making new friends, answering class questions, etc. but they say it's a very good thing. also they say the soundtrack is excellent. "all-around awesome"
guitar hero rocks the 80s: 7.5, 6.0, 6.0
garnett says the biggest problem with the game is the most obvious problem with any music game: the music selection. a little too all over the board to really satiate anyone's tastes. crispin says the gameplay is starting to feel tired--jennifer disagrees, but with the caveat that the gameplay is only fun if the music is good. she says it's not.
jeanne d'arc: 8.0, 7.0, 8.0
a plot that doesn't drag, interesting characters, great cut-scenes. owes some gameplay debt to final fantasy tactics and fire emblem, but incorporates interesting twists like turn limits and character transformations to keep things fresh. jeremy says it's a bit simplified though, and bits of the story (particularly the historical aspects) bothered him, and made some of the characters feel cartoony. overall pretty positive reviews though.
picross ds: 8.5, 8.0, 8.0
touch screen interface works great. includes a daily challenge option that is also really cool. one of the best puzzle games available.
brain age 2: 8.0, 7.0, 6.0
heroes of mana: 7.5, 5.5, 6.0
luminous arc: 5.5, 6.0, 6.0
shamelessly borrows stuff from ff tactics advance, so if you like that and can't wait for ffta2, you might enjoy this. feels cheap (shitty music, ugly menus, dumb story). touch screen control is screwy. gameplay is way too simplistic for strategy rpg vets.
METROID PRIME 3 PREVIEW summary:
- exploration will play a key role, but there will be more shooting. they describe the "lock-on free shooting" that's been covered in many e3 previews. it's allowed developers to make battles more vertically oriented, which egm says works well
- so far, wii controls only add to the experience, not detract.
- the ship plays a big part in the game. acts as a mobile save station you can call to certain parts of a level. aerial combat is hinted at by a few options inside the ship, but nothing confirmed.
- no samus talking, aka confirmation of god's existence
rumors:
- level 5 is going to announce 4 new rpgs at tokyo game show
- squeenix to start remaking dragon quest games starting with dq4 on ds
- microsoft is funnelling all the best 360 parts to the elite model, which is why lower models crap out more
- next def jam game will be better than icon. ea knows it sucked
- io interactive (kane and lynch) making a kids' game
- next james bond game will use call of duty 4 engine
NEXT MONTH: SILENT HILL 5 cover story, with reviews of heavenly sword, battalion wars 2, eternal sonata, castlevania dracula x chronicles, and i'm presuming bioshock since it's in the wrap-up section, along with madden 2008, brave story, and boogie
if anyone has any further questions or wants some elaboration on the particulars, you need only ask. BEELZEBOZO AT YOUR SERVICE
lair: 6.0, 5.5, 5.0
crispin says the combat system is confusing, and the sixaxis controls don't always work the way they should. lock-on system is also jacked.
greg ford says the camera is frustrating in ground combat. the wide open levels hold a lot of potential but ultimately don't deliver
garnett says it's a "frustrating disappointment" with a few bright spots
mario strikers charged: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5
it's not really a soccer game so much as a hockey game with a soccer-like sheen. it's got body-checking, etc. it's "messier," in that it's more chaotic and arcadey than the gcn game. the new "sidekicks" are awesome, and have their own special moves. the motion-sensing controls add to the gameplay, not f*** it up. "over the top but balanced gameplay"
all pro football: 6.5, 6.5, 7.0
ncaa football 2008: 8.5, 9.0, 8.5
stuntman ignition: 7.5, 7.5, 7.0
dynasty warriors gundam: 6.5, 5.5, 5.0
nascar 08: 6.5, 6.5, 6.5
blue dragon: 6.5, 7.5, 6.5
it has neither strong characters nor gripping storytelling, the battle system is "stellar" but unaccompanied by any sort of interesting plot to hang your hat on. bryan is a bit easier on the story than andrew fitch (who had the lead review), and ray called it "safe."
persona 3: 8.5, 9.5, 9.5 game of the month
on the battle system, they say they're "speedy," and that the magic system is "deeply customizable." this game also has a lot of stuff in a school, though--you spend your days trying to score some tail and making new friends, answering class questions, etc. but they say it's a very good thing. also they say the soundtrack is excellent. "all-around awesome"
guitar hero rocks the 80s: 7.5, 6.0, 6.0
garnett says the biggest problem with the game is the most obvious problem with any music game: the music selection. a little too all over the board to really satiate anyone's tastes. crispin says the gameplay is starting to feel tired--jennifer disagrees, but with the caveat that the gameplay is only fun if the music is good. she says it's not.
jeanne d'arc: 8.0, 7.0, 8.0
a plot that doesn't drag, interesting characters, great cut-scenes. owes some gameplay debt to final fantasy tactics and fire emblem, but incorporates interesting twists like turn limits and character transformations to keep things fresh. jeremy says it's a bit simplified though, and bits of the story (particularly the historical aspects) bothered him, and made some of the characters feel cartoony. overall pretty positive reviews though.
picross ds: 8.5, 8.0, 8.0
touch screen interface works great. includes a daily challenge option that is also really cool. one of the best puzzle games available.
brain age 2: 8.0, 7.0, 6.0
heroes of mana: 7.5, 5.5, 6.0
luminous arc: 5.5, 6.0, 6.0
shamelessly borrows stuff from ff tactics advance, so if you like that and can't wait for ffta2, you might enjoy this. feels cheap (shitty music, ugly menus, dumb story). touch screen control is screwy. gameplay is way too simplistic for strategy rpg vets.
METROID PRIME 3 PREVIEW summary:
- exploration will play a key role, but there will be more shooting. they describe the "lock-on free shooting" that's been covered in many e3 previews. it's allowed developers to make battles more vertically oriented, which egm says works well
- so far, wii controls only add to the experience, not detract.
- the ship plays a big part in the game. acts as a mobile save station you can call to certain parts of a level. aerial combat is hinted at by a few options inside the ship, but nothing confirmed.
- no samus talking, aka confirmation of god's existence
rumors:
- level 5 is going to announce 4 new rpgs at tokyo game show
- squeenix to start remaking dragon quest games starting with dq4 on ds
- microsoft is funnelling all the best 360 parts to the elite model, which is why lower models crap out more
- next def jam game will be better than icon. ea knows it sucked
- io interactive (kane and lynch) making a kids' game
- next james bond game will use call of duty 4 engine
NEXT MONTH: SILENT HILL 5 cover story, with reviews of heavenly sword, battalion wars 2, eternal sonata, castlevania dracula x chronicles, and i'm presuming bioshock since it's in the wrap-up section, along with madden 2008, brave story, and boogie
if anyone has any further questions or wants some elaboration on the particulars, you need only ask. BEELZEBOZO AT YOUR SERVICE