Review: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4
Konami,Kojima Productions
Available now for Playstation 3

If you asked me a month ago if a game that makes you put down your controller more often than you pick it up was a good idea and I'd have to say no, but that was before I witnessed the Hideo Kojima's masterpiece that is Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I don't think I've ever played a game where I didn't mind sitting back and watching the long cinematics that pop up a lot, but this game just has all the right things working for it so that you actual enjoy them.

So MGS4's strange everything-but-the-kitchen-sink science-fiction military soap-opera storyline finally comes to an end after a long run for the series. Solid Snake's body has begun to age rapidly as part of his final clone programming and with his last bit of strength, he is determined to carry out his final mission: assassin liquid Snake who is now in the body of Revolver Ocelot.

From there the story starts jumping into a plot filled with many old faces from the Metal Gear series, soldiers controlled by Nano technology, strange sounds that drive people to kill each other, even stranger cybernetic women maddened by the terrors of war, etc and honestly if I were to try to explain the whole plot, this review would be a lot longer than my column - actually, it might be longer than this publication, so to keep it short: MGS4: an epic science-fiction tale full of betrayal, emotional moments, military warfare, espionage, future technology and that weird Kojima sense of humour. If you want any more plot info or game history than that, then I suggest Wikipedia or playing through the Metal Gear Series.




FPS fans will be happy to know that MGS4 has finally changed its usual “Don‘t get caught” style of game play to allow a “guns-a-blazing” method of finishing the game. Players can now choose to tackle most levels as they see fit which opens the world of Metal Gear to all the players who can’t stand sneaking through a battlefield. Though sneaking through a war zone while bombs are exploding, soldiers are firing at each other and you are mere feet away from it all, does really add a whole new level to the Metal Gear franchise. It’s almost too boring to run through the levels while mowing everyone down, because you miss so much of what’s going on it the game.

But if you really want to spend the game shooting everyone you meet, players will be impressed by Snake’s vast arsenal of futuristic weaponry which he will either find and unlock or purchase through Drebin 893, the slick arms dealer.

For those wishing to play the game true to the franchise, Snake also has new tools to help him stay one step ahead of the enemy at all times: his octocamo suit automatically blends into the environment, Metal Gear MK II, a mini robot which allows Snake to survey a small area ahead of him, and steel drums which have replaced boxes as temporary cover for Snake.

Snake really needs these new tools too with the increase in enemy intelligence. Our boy can simple wander off into a dark spot and magically disappear; no, now he has to work to hide from the enemies. Enemies will spot you in the darkest of rooms and see in complete 360 degree views of the area, so nowhere can you hide unless you actually hide.

Auto aim is available for rookie shooters which helped me out a lot, but Snake’s movements did take a bit of time to get a handle on. I found trying to get Snake to perform one move would always end with him in some terrible position on the ground or running away like a crippled old man. 3 difficult levels are available for players who would like an easier game or more of a challenge, but know that the easy level is really easy. I barely used my health items at all and finally had to switch to the normal mode for some challenge.

My one pet peeve with the entire game was the continuous installations after each chapter. No game should have to be installed several times over the course of its game play. I mean I did enjoy watching Snake chain smoke during each installation process and the health and game tips were nice touches, but honestly skip the numerous installs next time, Konami.

The movie quality graphics and sound can easily make me forgive the small matter of the annoying installs though as they lead to fantastic game play and even better cut-scenes. I honestly could have watch MGS4 as a movie, complete with popcorn in hand with how incredible the game was structured. Though the dialog a little goofy at times, the story had you laughing and crying with real emotion behind each. You cared about the characters and more importantly you believed their story and that’s hard to pull off with such a crazy storyline. This is the kind of game you feel guilty about if you don’t finish it and all story driven games should be like that, if they want to be the best title on the market today.

Metal Gear fans and anyone who just enjoys a great gaming masterpiece, this is the PS3 title that is going to make you purchase a Playstation 3 if you don’t already have one and I can’t stress enough how much I mean that. This is probably one of the best B movie storylines I’ve ever watched that breaks through the cheese and manages to stand as a great and epic piece of art.

Rating: 10 out of 10
Buy it!

Video Power Featuring William Novak and the Power Glove

Video Power debut on national TV in the early 1990s. Video Power was a TV show devoted to video games that went through a couple incarnations.

In the first season, Johnny Arcade would make his grand appearance skateboarding onto the Video Power show set and then would flick on a power switch to create VIDEO POWER!

Johnny would give reviews on some game titles to watch out for and then The Power Team which was primarily a cartoon show starring characters from Arcade/NES games by distributor Acclaim: Kuros from Wizards & Warriors, Kwirk: The Chilled Tomato, Bigfoot Monster Truck, and a character from Archrivials. After the cartoon you'd get a couple more reviews and then it was GAME OVER!

In this clip, Johnny Arcade features one of designers of the Power Glove - William Novak. Mr. Novak shows how the Power Glove functions and a few tips on how to play a Power Glove game entitled Gloveball.

Review: Cake Mania 2

Cake Mania 2
Majesco Games, Digital Embryo
Available on Nintendo DS

Cake Mania 2 was recently released for the Nintendo DS, and it is basically an update of the original Cake Mania. Once again, players are thrown into a bakery with Jill and must make custom cakes for demanding customers. If you’re a fan of games like Cake Mania or Diner Dash, you’ll probably be chomping at the bit to purchase this DS version of the series so you can play this game on the go.

There are some twists this time around. In the story mode, Jill’s dream of revitalizing her grandparent’s bakery has been met and now she wants to move onto better things. Much to Jill‘s luck, she receives two requests to set up her bakery in order to help out either her friend in the big city or her ex-boyfriend at his failing underwater amusement park. Players will get to choose where Jill’s path on the road to fame and fortune will lead her as you move her through each wacky stage.

Much like previous Cake Mania games, the bakery starts out barren and Jill has to work her way up through each level making money to buy new equipment. Each day in a stage has two goals for Jill to meet as she tries to meet the demands of her customers - a bakery goal and superstar goal. If Jill bakes each cake perfectly and in a timely manner, then the superstar goal can easily be met.

Along with the Story mode, there’s also a new Endless mode, where players can just bake cakes endlessly. Since the first Cake Mania DS game pretty much ended after you beat the story mode, this new mode really adds to the game replay-ability factor.

For new players to the Cake Mania series, the game doesn’t offer much in a way of a tutorial for each task in the kitchen. Jill shows you how to bake your first cake and after that you’re on your own to learn how to buy upgrades to prepare for upcoming levels, build two tier cakes, toss incorrect orders or show off cake creations for purchase. New players to the game should read the instruction manual first before diving into the harder stages.

For a downloadable PC title on the Nintendo DS, you expect low end graphics and that’s definitely what you get from Cake Mania 2. Each story scene is just a cartoon panel that you click through on your way to the next stage and though they’re pretty and colourful to look at, it wouldn’t have hurt the developers to use a little animation to tell their story.

The music is cheerful, upbeat and really adds to the happy atmosphere of Jill’s bakery. Each customer along with their goofy costumes and personalities, each sport a unique sound effect which alerts you to their appearance in the bakery. This really helps you spot the impatient customers quickly in order to serve them right away.

Cake Mania 2 really does improve over the first DS Cake Mania game. It is more challenging, provides a better story mode with choices in Jill’s path and provides the Endless cake mode which really adds to the game‘s life span. I find this is the perfect games to take to work or play on the bus, because each level is short and sweet and you can practically play the game one-handed while you chow down on lunch.

Rating: 8 out of 10
Buy it!

Who Knew? Pokemon Airplane Designs

Today I went to Toronto with my boyfriend to Aviation World, Threshold Aviation and to a few choices place to take places of the planes landing and taking off at Pearson International Airport.

While at Threshold Aviation, I found this model plane kit for a Pokemon airplane design and mostly died laughing at the thought of this thing actually flying people around the world.

Apparently All Nippon Airway's (ANA) have Pokemon painted airplanes in their collection of airplane livery designs. There were 4 designs painted on the company's Boeing 747-400 and 767-300 between 1998 and 1999 and the planes were used for both domestic and international flights. These planes also featured Pokemon headrest covers, cups, and flight attendant aprons.

Comic-Con 08: Resident Evil: Degeneration - UPDATED

UPDATED WITH DIRECT FEED VIDEO, INSTEAD OF SHAKEY CAM VIDEO.



Comic-Con 2008 goers were treated with a new trailer for a Resident Evil movie, but not a sequel to the 3 live action Resident Evil movies. No, this puppy is a brand new CGI Resident Evil movie from Capcom starring our beloved Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield.

Apparently there is a God and he wanted to see Resident Evil movies starring actual Resident Evil characters too.

The movie, Resident Evil: Degeneration takes place 7 years after the incident in Raccoon City, when a new outbreak of the T-Virus is just beginning.

And Best Power Point Presentation goes to....

Microsoft and Nintendo can keep their charts and graphs, because Sony had the best presentation of them all with their Little Big Planet Level Press Conference Presentation.

Instead of having a boring power point presentation, they had the developers behind Little Big Planet create an entire level in the game that would show the current sales numbers for Sony as well as their projected numbers for the future.

I don't think I've ever seen such a creative use of a videogame. I actually didn't nod off during all these boring facts and numbers. Congratulations Sony! You rock.

Review: Haze

Haze
Ubisoft, Free Radical
Available for the Playstation 3

When a game company is known for creating great game titles and then spends two years hyping a game as the next coming in the first person shooter genre, that company is basically setting itself up for either a make it or break it situation. Free Radical, famous for titles like GoldenEye 007 and Timesplitters, setup their most recent PS3 exclusive title, Haze for a “make it or break it” release and now we’re going to see if it paid off for them.

Haze is the story of Shane Carpenter, a young Mantel soldier that's dispatched, along with the rest of his squad, to the Boa Region of South America. The largest PMC in the world, Mantel has an army of enhanced warriors boosted with their specialized "supplement" known as Nectar. With a large force at its disposal, Mantel has been asked to go in and pacify the region from the dangerous "Promise Hand", a militant group of rebels headed up by the villainous Skin Coat. However, Carpenter finds that his mission to liberate the indigenous people is not what it appears to be, and after one objective takes an unexpected turn, he finds himself defecting to the rebel cause and fighting against his former squad mates.

Generally I am not a FPS fan because I’m terrible at them and I don’t get enjoyment from 12-year-olds pwning my butt online over and over again. Much to my delight, Haze was actually pretty easy to pick up and even the levels were passable without dying 20 times over first. The nectar drug enhancements, when used properly, make finding enemies in the jungle incredible easy with its heat vision affects and the A.I. seem to fit each difficultly level perfectly. In other words, the A.I. was easy to beat on easy and that’s good for FPS noobs like me.

Once you get into the shoes of the rebels though, you no longer have nectar and have to get smarter in your use of battle strategy. The ability to play dead takes some time to master and luckily the Mantel Corp. troops aren’t as fast or good a shot as you were on nectar, which makes taking them out a lot easier.



The single-player campaign can be played cooperatively with up to 4 players via split screen, LAN, or Online and this is where Haze really shines. The ease with which you can join a quartet of players is so seamless and simple, even allowing access to your PSN friends list, that you’ll wish all your games had the same ability. This certainly makes the campaign more engaging; with many of the levels owing themselves to cooperative play. Plus, if you’re having trouble in the single-player, why not invite others to help you out?

The environments in Haze start off lush, green and beautiful but slowly turn into dull, brown & grey wastelands and corridors that fail to impress. With stunning games like Uncharted and Heavenly Sword on the PS3, Haze’s dull graphics just don’t stand out on a system we know graphically is capable of so much more. The voice-overs for the game, while well done, lost their impressive sound behind the redneck dialog of your squad mates. All those “Biatch” and “Booyah” battle cries made me want to switch to the rebel side long before the storyline made me.

Hype can ultimately turn a decent game in a mega failure, but I think if PS3 fans are able to put the hype aside, Haze isn’t such a bad title. The co-op play is unique and formatted well, and the moral storyline is designed to show a little glimmer of our own possible future. It may not be GoldenEye 007, but how can you pass up the chance to play a game that lets you shoot enemies while juiced up on super powers?

Haze: 6 out of 10
Rent it!


Winner of the Korn Vs Haze Music Video.

Into the Pixel 2008 Winners

The 2008 Into the Pixel Art Exhibition is an exploration and celebration of the art of the videogame, curated by interactive industry veterans and experts from the art establishment.

It features sixteen works of video game art, selected by a panel of jurors from a field of submissions gleaned from artists around the world. The exhibition offers an opportunity for published video and computer game artists to be reviewed and recognized by the public and by their peers in both the fine art and video game worlds.

The 2008 Into the Pixel Art Collection premiered digitally in June on their website, but the exhibition opens to the public at the E for All Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, October 3 - 5, 2008. The media got a private viewing at this year's E3 2008 convention as well.


Video Games are an influential aspect of pop-culture and entertainment whose impact goes beyond the digital arts to influence perspectives in art, cinematography, literature, and even fashion. Behind every game character and dynamic environment are artists whose talents birthed the image seen in the 3-D world.

Featured here from top to bottom: Advisor from Half Life EP.3, Rock Venue Poster: Moscow from Aerosmith: Guitar Hero,Puzzle World Twilight from Untitled, Rapunzel from American McGee's Grimm and Capitol from Fallout 3.

Dead Rising Confirmed for Nintendo Wii

This scan from Famitsu has confirmed the rumors that Dead Rising was coming to the Nintendo Wii. So far it looks like Capcom will be porting over the exact same game from the Xbox 360 but hopefully without the tiny HD text and annoying save system

That's how Dead Rising got the boot last time. Capcom, fix those two things and I promise to give Dead Rising another chance on the Nintendo Wii.

Can you imagine what the killing a zombie with a guitar will be like with the Wii remote? Oh the possibilities.

OMG! SHEEP & UFOS = BEST GAME EVAR

Capcom Entertainment announced Flock! for PLAYSTATION Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360, and Windows PC. Developed by Proper Games, whose talented team members are known for their previous work on Lemmings, Crackdown, and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Flock! is currently scheduled for a downloadable release this Holiday season.

In Flock!, players take control of a UFO that has been given the challenge of herding farm animals to its mothership through a variety of puzzle-filled interactive levels, including corn fields, pastures and other “plushie”-like environments. In order to succeed, players will have to manage the quirkiness of the animal’s distinct behaviors, as well as solve a series of environmental puzzles using Flock’s! physics-based gameplay. The animals that populate these islands – sheep, chickens, pigs, cows and more – respond to the UFO in all kinds of eccentric ways based on their nature. By finding or creating a passable route across a level, players can herd the animals safely toward their ship. Solving the puzzles within the suggested time limit yields exciting rewards, but players can also take their time in order to find more hidden bonuses.



Flock! uses a physics engine that drives the challenging puzzle elements of the game. Whether using the Tractor Beam to move obstacles out of the way or the Depressor Beam to stamp out crop circles to guide your herds, being an extraterrestrial has never been this fun! Friends will also be able to join in on the animal herding adventures through co-op play. And when all the levels have been completed, users will be able to make their own customized puzzle-filled levels using the level editor.

I am Alive E3 2008 Debut Trailer

Ubisoft announced an new survival-adventure title, I Am Alive, will be released on current generation video game consoles in spring 2009.

When Chicago is left in ruins and the cause of the devastation is unknown, players will be challenged to think, react and take risks that will directly affect themselves and those around them.

“Ubisoft continues to create new experiences for players and I Am Alive will appeal to anyone that enjoys a thrilling journey,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer, at Ubisoft. “The game will offer a rich palette of emotions while challenging players to make life-changing decisions.”

A trailer of the game debuted at Ubisoft’s E3 press conference, showcasing the game’s sense of scale and the fearful urgency of emotions which players will experience firsthand in the game.

Sony launched New Video Download Service for US Customers

There better be a Canadian video download store announcement in the future too.

Sony Computer Entertainment America launched the new video delivery service on Playstation Network for Playstation 3 and PSP systems in the United States on July 15th. Gamers now have the ability to download full-length movies, television shows, and original programming accessible through the PSN Store.

With nearly 300 full length movies and more than 1,200 TV episodes, many available in both SD & HD, PSN’s video system will finally allow them to compete with Xbox's marketplace downloads.

Content for rental and electronic purchase will be available from 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios and a variety of television partners.

“PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service capitalizes on the superior value and entertainment potential of PS3 and PSP – not only for gaming enthusiasts, but for the millions of consumers looking to buy the best, most versatile solution for their home entertainment system,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. “The collaboration of Sony’s film, TV and entertainment business units coupled with our hardware and content offerings provide consumers with entertainment experiences unlike any on the market.”

The video delivery service will have full integration in the PSN, utilizing the same login, wallet management, and user interface of the newly revamped PSN Store. Video will be categorized, for example, by top rating, alphabetical order, television shows, and movies and content is also fully searchable, for example, by title, producer, studio and cast. In addition, PS3’s progressive downloading means users can view content shortly after the downloading process begins. Background downloading is also a feature of PS3, allowing users to access other platform features such as gaming and other XMB content while a video is downloading to their consoles.

20th Century Fox’s “Alvin and the Chipmunks”, Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”, Lionsgate’s “3:10 to Yuma”, MGM’s “Rocky”, Paramount Pictures’ “Cloverfield”, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man”, and Warner Bros. Entertainment’s “10,000 B.C.” are a few of the titles available for download on the video service now. Sony will also be introducing original exclusive content such as Xam’d: Lost Memories, an anime series developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, delivered in SD and HD.

Gamers who rent a movie from the video delivery service have 14 days to watch the content. Once content playback is started, consumers have a full 24 hours to enjoy their rental. Pricing for rental movies at launch ranges from $2.99 to $5.99, and pricing for purchased movies ranges from $9.99 to $14.99. Sony has also adopted Marlin Digital Rights Management technology, an open industry standard for protecting and managing digital content, to provide consumers with flexible access to their content while ensuring digital rights are protected. Usage rules of the video download service will allow content for purchase to be shared on multiple activated devices including PS3 and PSP systems per PSN account, depending on the type of content purchased by the user.

In fact, one of the biggest value propositions of PSN’s video delivery service is the ability to transfer digital content onto the PSP from the PS3. For the initial electronic sell-through or rental price, consumers can also transfer content onto multiple devices. The connectivity between PS3 and PSP platforms provides a seamless solution for those looking for entertainment experiences on their own terms – on the go or in their living room – all with a new-found freedom of not having to worry about TV schedules, movie listings or viewing on a desktop PC.

God of War 3 E3 2008 Debut Trailer

In the end, there will be only chaos.

Review: Deca Sports

Deca Sports
Konami, Hudson
Available for the Nintendo Wii

For all the sports fans out there, Hudson Entertainment has a brand new game for the Nintendo Wii that’s going to get your Wii remote swinging. Deca Sports, the newest contender in Nintendo’s sport games market features 10 new sporting events you won’t find in Nintendo’s Wii Sports or together on any other Wii sporting game out on the market right now.

With the Olympic Games coming up in Beijing soon, Deca Sports has the best select of sporting events to get gamers into an athletic frame of mind. You can choose from beach volleyball, kart racing, super cross racing, figure skating, archery, soccer, basketball, curling, badminton, and snowboarding cross. Each event can be played in different games modes: open match, tournament mode, Deca league and Deca challenge. Each of these modes allows you to complete against computer or play multiplayer with up to 4 friends. You can choose to compete in one sport or all of them, and you can even tweak each game’s options to fit each player’s level of skill.

Running through each of the sporting events, you’ll find some games probably easier than others. I personally liked figure skating and archery as the controls were easy to handle which made playing and winning fun and easy. Other games while easy to play weren’t exactly fun. While playing badminton and beach volleyball, it always seemed like the computer was controlling the movements of my character more than I was. No matter how I swung the controller, my character would perform the correct move 50% of the time and this really hindered my chances of winning the game.

Kart racing, super cross racing and snowboarding cross probably would have been better if their use of the Wii remote motion detection to control jumps and direction weren’t so sensitive. Tipping the control just a bit to the left or right moved the vehicle right off the track and into a wall. I tried to work through the rough controls in practice mode for the sake of this review and found smaller movements with the remote seemed to make getting through the events a little easier, but all in all, the developers should have made the controls with heavy-handed children in mind.

Finally playing through matches in the basketball, soccer and curling events were just down right confusing and frustrating. Each game utilized the Wii remote’s motion detection feature and while it makes sense for a game like curling, it didn’t fit for games like basketball or soccer. The controls were more complicated than they needed to be and took away from the fun of the games, rather than add to them. The curling controls would have been perfect with the motion detection, if the game designers had just kept things simple, but instead they put in too many steps to release the stone and things became too complex.

I was quite impressed with the layout of the game graphically. Everything was nice and big for everyone to see, which would make it easier for kids or seniors to play. All the characters, while not actually Mii creations from your console, do in fact look a lot like the Nintendo avatars, just with a bit more detailed in their clothes and accessories. The audio wasn’t stellar; there weren’t any crowds cheering when you won the tournament or stuck the bull’s-eye dead center and there wasn’t any cool music playing with you drove around the go kart track.

While usually 10 games for the price of 1 would make for an excellent deal, I wouldn’t suggest running out to Walmart tomorrow to buy Deca Sports. Wii Sports still reigns supreme as the king of sports mini games, while Deca Sports earns its place as just another sports mini game title.

Rating: 4 out of 10
Forget it!

Fallout 3 E3 2008 Gameplay Walkthrough Video

From the Microsoft conference yesterday, a developer walkthrough for Fallout 3. View the first video of game play footage for the game. The video shows off some of the game's weapons, the targeting system, a couple of the enemies, a devastated Washington D.C., some tools, and finally a selection of music from the game.

Looks good so far, but nothing is jumping out as spectatular. The music is terrible.

Too Human Demo Drops Monday @ 2:00AM!

Finally gamers will have a chance to play first hand, Silicon Knight's Too Human!

Too Human breaks the genre barrier by combining elements of both action and RPG genres. Play as Baldur, the cybernetic Norse god, who refuses to turn humanity over to the machines, and experience this new style of gameplay in the demo exclusively available on Xbox LIVE before the game hits retailers (Gold membership required for early access).

The demo features part of the first level of the game and will be available beginning Monday, July 14, at 2 A.M. PDT.

Too Human releases in North America on August 19.

Fallout 3 E3 2008 Teaser Trailer

The Fallout 3 E3 2008 teaser trailer has been released and it looks tasty.

For some reason, every time I see the main character I can't shake this feeling that I've seen him in some movie before. Like the developers were somehow inspired by a famous B Movie character.

What do you think?

New Max Payne Movie Trailer

Mark Wahlberg stars as DEA Agent Max Payne in the new Max Payne movie, which just so happened to be filmed in Toronto, Canada.

It looks pretty friggn' awesome so far, but with so many bad videogame movies, I'm hoping Mark Wahlberg's great acting skills will save this movie from falling into that trap.

Mirror's Edge Animated Story Trailer

More goodies from Electronic Arts and DICE on our favorite new game, Mirror's Edge and video game character, Faith.

The new trailer features a sweet animated version of the game's storyline.

Faith is a runner. Runners are delivery people that travel across the city's rooftops as to go unnoticed, so they may carry their important information to its destination without any one stopping them. In a paranoid world where no one is willing to use electronic information exchange anymore, Runners are a vital source in exchanging information safely.

Usually the police ignore the runners, but now Faith's sister has been arrested by the police and famed for a crime she didn't commit. And the police are after Faith.

She may not have a gun, but that doesn't mean she can't fight. SWEET!!!!



Check out the interview with Owen O'Brian, Senior Producer on Mirror's Edge. He gives some neat behind the scenes information about the game. I especially like the idea that you can play the whole game without uses a game if you like. Apparently uses a gun will actual slow your character down which makes fighting without a gun better.

Look for my banner picture in the video too.

Square Enix Announces E3 2008 Game Lineup

Square Enix announced their extensive lineup for the E3 Media & Business Summit today.

“With simultaneous global releases for several platforms on their way, gamers around the world will be able to experience the full grandeur of our games as never before,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. and Square Enix, Ltd. “Additionally, Square Enix has offerings at this year’s E3 for every gamer, from fan favorites newly available on portable platforms to casual games accessible to a wide range of users.”

On display at the Los Angeles Convention Center at Concourse 401 from July 15 – 17, the following titles will have playable kiosks: CHRONO TRIGGER, DRAGON QUEST IV: Chapters of the Chosen, FINAL FANTASY IV, INFINITE UNDISCOVERY and SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes.


Multiplatform

THE LAST REMNANT
Ship Date: (Xbox 360) This Winter / (PLAYSTATION 3 system) TBA

The Last Remnant is a brand-new RPG crafted using the finest artistry and technology Square Enix has to offer. Set in a fantasy world, war-torn and scarred by years of conflict, gameplay revolves around mysterious artifacts – Remnants – that possess magic powers. Groundbreaking graphics only possible on Xbox 360 bring the intensity to a whole new level. The Last Remnant will only be available on Xbox 360 this winter.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/remnant/.


iPod

SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes
Now Available (NA, JP, EU)

Now at the iTunes Store in 22 countries around the world, SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes is a Role-Playing Game that transforms tracks on your iPod® into powerful "Tune Troopers" that you can control in battle! As the protagonist Ziggy, you will embark on an epic journey to rescue your brother from the clutches of the Mechanical Militia! Intriguing characters, an epic story and a tactics-based battle system combine for a rich RPG experience previously only available on home consoles.

The official website can be found at http://www.square-enix.co.jp/songsummoner/.


Nintendo DS

CHRONO TRIGGER
Ship Date: Holiday 2008

Remastered exclusively for Nintendo DS, CHRONO TRIGGER is a true classic that has set the benchmark for the RPG genre. This all-new edition of the game contains all the classic essence of the original release while introducing the portability, dual-screen presentation and Touch-Screen functionality of Nintendo DS, taking players back in time to re-experience the epic RPG that started it all.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/ctds/.


DRAGON QUEST IV: Chapters of the Chosen
Ship Date: September 16, 2008

For the first time, a full-fledged DRAGON QUEST adventure arrives on Nintendo DS with DRAGON QUEST IV: Chapters of the Chosen. Experience an adventure of epic proportions, presented through multiple character perspectives. While retaining the classic look and feel of the original release, this remake breathes new life into a much-loved entry in the DRAGON QUEST series with 3D graphics, dual screen presentation and newly animated monsters.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/zenithia/.


FINAL FANTASY IV
Ship Date: July 22, 2008

The latest entry in the franchise that has shipped 85 million copies worldwide*, FINAL FANTASY IV for Nintendo DS features beautiful, fully 3D cutscenes with voiceovers, capturing the emotional drama that first touched the hearts of fans over fifteen years ago. The new ability system and added DS functionality introduce a fresh experience to both new and returning FINAL FANTASY IV fans. With a storyline that sets the stage for all subsequent FINAL FANTASY titles, FINAL FANTASY IV is a must-play for those looking to jump into the best-selling RPG franchise in the world.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/ff4/.


EXIT DS
Ship Date: October 7, 2008

The stylish and inventive action puzzle game comes to Nintendo DS! As professional escape artist Mr.Esc, players must maneuver through burning buildings and sinking ships as they dodge disaster and save survivors along the way. EXIT DS makes a smooth return to the portable scene with all-new Touch-Screen functionality and over 100 stages to solve.


The Legend of Kage 2
Ship Date: October 7, 2008

The hit arcade game is back! The thrilling ninja action of The Legend of Kage 2 takes over both Nintendo DS screens, fully utilizing the dual-screen presentation and scrolling to draw players into a dynamic world filled with exhilarating midair combat. With rich, elaborate stages and a compelling story that follows the tale of two protagonists, The Legend of Kage 2 breathes renewed excitement into the classic action adventure experience.


PSP system

STAR OCEAN: First Departure
Ship Date: October 21, 2008

Space Date 346: The crew of a Terran Federation ship arrives on the planet Roak. With the help of a stalwart band of local heroes, the crew must work together to unravel a mystery and halt a galactic war. STAR OCEAN: First Departure marks the first time that the initial installment in the popular STAR OCEAN franchise is available in North America.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/starocean/.

STAR OCEAN: Second Evolution
Ship Date: January 6, 2009

Space Date 366: A young Federation officer finds himself transported to a mystical planet, where he is suddenly anointed as the Hero of Light. He begins a journey to fulfill a prophecy and save a newfound race. STAR OCEAN: Second Evolution continues the STAR OCEAN saga!

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/starocean/.


Xbox 360

INFINITE UNDISCOVERY (Xbox 360 Exclusive)
Ship Date: September 2, 2008

Infinite Undiscovery is the newest fantasy role-playing console game from Square Enix, drawing gamers into a real-time world woven of countless threads where player choices spin untold discoveries. Players will be confronted with a variety of dramatic situational battles such as executing a daring escape while a gigantic ogre follows in hot pursuit, or waging battle amidst towering tidal waves. Dynamic environments change and respond in real time, creating an entirely new experience never before seen in the genre. The title is scheduled to release exclusively on Xbox 360 in September 2, 2008.

The official website can be found at http://infiniteundiscovery.com/.


STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE
Ship Date: 2009

STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is the long-awaited continuation of the celebrated science fiction and fantasy RPG series. Slated for release on Xbox 360 in 2009 and published by Square Enix, this prequel set during the aftermath of World War III combines sci-fi and fantasy elements spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the STAR OCEAN universe. Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise's famous real-time battle system, introducing the amazing graphics and visual effects only possible on Xbox 360.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/starocean/.

Nintedo Power 20th Anniversary Edition Nester Comic

Nester returns with his new son for the 20th Anniversary edition of Nintendo Power. Click the picture to see readable versions of the comics.

Nester was the long-time teenage mascot and comic strip star of Nintendo Power magazine, as well as a sometime video game character. His name is a play on the acronym NES, Nintendo's flagship system during the time period.

Nester was created by Howard Philips, "President" of the Nintendo Fun Club and an editor of Nintendo Power, to be the supporting character in his comic strip (though not actually drawn by Philips), Howard & Nester. (The Howard of the title is a cartoon representation of Philips.) The comic strips generally advertised new games, often by dream sequences where Nester was actually a given video game character.

In various strips, Nester has been Mega Man, Simon Belmont, Link, the Lone Ranger, the main character of Dragon Warrior, and many other characters. He has also met the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Scrooge McDuck, Luke Skywalker, The Tasmanian Devil, and Bill and Lance from the Contra series. In addition, the name "Nester" was almost always used in screenshots for games where the player named their character during the strip's run.

From 1989 to 1993 The Nintendo Power Awards (Nintendo's yearly reader-selected list of the best video games) featured Nester-shaped trophies and were referred to in the magazine as the "Nesters" as a reference to the Oscars.

In the early 1990s the real-life Philips left the company for JVC. Though Nester stayed in the strip, now retitled Nester's Adventures, he was gradually phased out as mascot in favor of Mario, already a more general Nintendo mascot. Nester's Adventures ended in Volume 55 (December 1993). Notably, a few issues following the name change (to be more exact, in November 1991), Nester aged from the pint-sized kid he originally appeared as to a fully-grown teenager, and would remain this way for the rest of the comic's run.

If you want to read the old Howard and Nester Comics, check out the Howard and Nester Comics Archives. There you'll find Nester's Adventures archived as well.

Nintendo Power 20th Anniversary Edition

With the internet slowly killing off the print media, its nice to see that Nintendo Power is holding strong long enough to see its 20th Anniversary edition.


Nintendo Power began as the several page long Nintendo Fun Club News (which was sent to subscribers for free). However, in mid-1988 Nintendo Fun Club News was discontinued and revamped as Nintendo Power.[1] The first issue published 3.6 million copies, with every member of the Nintendo Fun Club receiving a free one. Almost one third of the members subscribed.

The magazine was edited at first by Fun Club "President" Howard Philips, himself an avid game player. While the Fun Club News focused solely on games made in-house by Nintendo, Nintendo Power was created to allow for reviews of games produced by those licensed by Nintendo, such as Konami, Capcom, and the like. Nintendo Power's mascot in the late 1980s and early 1990s was Nester, a comic character created by Philips.


After Philips left the company, Nester became the magazine's sole mascot. Early issues of the magazine featured a two-page Howard and Nester comic, which was later replaced with the two-page Nester's Adventures, later reduced to one page, and eventually dropped altogether. Subsequently, Mario replaced Nester as the mascot of the magazine.

Later, during the early 2000s, the magazine made another mascot out of its Senior Writer, Alan Averill. Apparently very camera-shy, Averill himself never appeared in any photos; rather, he was represented by a plush toy of a Blue Slime from Dragon Quest. Fans often clamored to see what Averill actually looked like, but the magazine continued to substitute with photos of the toy, and even claimed that Alan was, in fact, a Blue Slime. Eventually, Averill retired from Nintendo Power, joining Nintendo of America's localization department.

To this day, most fans have never seen a real image of Averill. The inclusion of a photo of Mr. T in the Player's Pulse section became a running gag in the early half of 2005. More recently, running gags have centered around Chuck Norris references and jokes at the expense of writer Chris Shepperd.

During the early 1990s the magazine used what was a unique and very expensive promotion; giving away a free copy of the new NES game Dragon Warrior to every new subscriber. However, this promotion was in part a sly move on Nintendo's part to make money off a failure: Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest in Japan) games had not sold nearly as well as Nintendo had anticipated, and it was left with a large number of unsold cartridges on its hands. The promotion both helped the company get rid of the unsold merchandise, and won the magazine thousands of new subscribers, including me.

During the Dragon Quest promotion, my Mother decided to subscribe to Nintendo Power for me and continued to keep my subscription going for another 5 years. I probably would have continued to keep my subscription longer but when Nintendo started previewing more Nintendo 64 games, I found myself left out in the cold with my old Super Nintendo system. So my Mom canceled my subscription.

Following the release of the Super Nintendo, the magazine featured lengthy, continuous comic stories based on Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. After these stories ended, they were replaced by similar multi-issue stories based on Star Fox, Super Metroid, and later on, N64 games such as Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and Blast Corps. Comics based on the animated series of Pokémon and Kirby: Right Back At Ya! also made several appearances. More recently, short excerpts of comic books based on Custom Robo and Metal Gear Solid have been featured (as well as a very short Metroid Prime comic). Nintendo Power has concluded a comic based on the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, which is translated from the original Japanese version and reads in traditional manga format.

I still continue to pick up a copy of Nintendo Power here and there, when I feel nostalgic and perhaps an little fanboyish. I especially love to pick up a copy when I feel sick or depressed, because somehow the magazine always brings me to a better place. I actually sold my 5 year collection of Nintendo Power about 9 years ago and today this day I'm kicking myself for doing it.

I still have my collection of Nintendo Power cards though.

The 20th Anniversary edition contains mostly the usually articles, reviews and previews, but for fans of the magazine, the Nester comic in the front is reason alone to pick up a copy of the magazine.


They only other special 20th anniversary features are a unique two sided Mario poster with NES version Super Mario Bros. on one side and the 3D Mario gang on the other, and a top 20 games list for all the Nintendo System created through the years. From NES to Gameboy to Nintendo Wii. Funny how the Virtual Boy is missing though ... did they even make 20 games for that system?

Finally the back page has a riddle hinting at a big announcement for the next issue of Nintendo Power.

"We're kicking off the next 20 years of Nintendo Power with more big reveals, including a top-secret cover story fit for a king. Its got a lot of heart. Just kidding. Its Mother 3. Just kidding. Please look forward to it."

I'm think Kingdom Hearts 3. What do you think?

Too Human E3 2008 Trailer

The new Too Human E3 2008 Trailer
"He who fights monsters should take care not to become one."
Look for the demo for Too Human on Xbox Live next week. I personally excited to get my hands on a playable demo of this game.

Plunder is now Age of Booty: It's a Pirate Game, I Swear

Capcom announced today that the game known as Plunder is now called Age of Booty.

Age of Booty is a casual, real-time multiplayer strategy game that puts players at the helm of their own pirate ship with the goal of sending your enemies to the briny deep, and looting and capturing towns for your pirate faction.

In Age of Booty, players team up with other online players or AI-controlled pirate ships to raid, pillage, sink, and destroy their way to dominance on the high seas. Spoils of war and booty are used to upgrade and customize pirate ships to make them even more deadly as players take on 25 unique challenges and seven of the most devious Pirate Alliances on the high seas. Gain notoriety and fame by climbing the online leader boards. Create and share custom maps using the intuitive map creation system.

Anything that has the word "booty" in it sounds good to me!

To Catch a Plumber?

The New Golden Boys, makers of such funny videos as Guitar Hero: Wayward Son, True Gaming Legends: Legend of Zelda, and True Gaming Legends: Pac Man, have created another funny videogame skit called Dateline: Mario.

Mario is caught red-handed by Ted Hanson, the brother of famed Chris Hanson from Dateline's To Catch a Predator, trying to teach a some pre-teen about the his Wii and mushrooms.

Look for a special appearance by Solid Snake.

Review: Grid

Grid
Codemasters
Available for the PS3 and Xbox 360

I’ll be honest; I’ve never been much of a fan of racing games. I’ve found them to be either too loose in over the top arcade style action or just plain boring simulations for gear heads. Grid is the latest racing game released by British developers, Codemasters into what is already an over crowded genre, but somehow they’ve managed to make a quality fun racing game that mixes the best of both simulation and arcade style racing.



In Grid you start off as a freelance racer accepting offers from various teams and earning cash for winning races. Soon you’ll have enough money to start your own team, buy your own cars and brand them with different sponsors as you see fit. Then you’ll be free to compete in three different geographical regions where, besides cash, you’ll also earn reputation points that will go towards unlocking new races. Europe features expansive track-based racing and endurance races like the Le Mans series. The United States is more focused on street racing and Japan is influenced by underground street racing with short winding tracks that are excellent for drifting. Each of these regions demands different types of vehicles.



Grid has 45 different cars to choose from, everything from Formula 1 to muscle cars and you can buy and sell them at will, however you will need certain types for certain races. Sometimes a race will give you little choice on which car to use which is disappointing, but all the cars are fun to drive and modeled beautifully. The cars take damage that can severely affect the way they drive, so avoiding collisions is important. If you do end up crashing, Grid offers players the unique feature of “flashback” that rewinds you to the point of your mistake allowing you to try taking that hairpin turn over again.



The controls in the game are responsive and they are also fully customizable which is great because the default setup didn’t feel very natural. Grid has several levels of difficulty for players of all skill levels and many driving assists that can be turned off or on. In multiplayer mode, Grid has support for up to 12 players connected via the PlayStation Network. All of the racing events from the single player game can be played online and if you are the one creating the match, you get complete control over the race types, race length and damage options. In the ranked matches these are voted for by all of the players in the lobby.

Graphically Grid is impressive. Menus are slick, intuitive and easy to navigate. Many of the races feature beautiful backgrounds, though you won’t have much time to enjoy them as you speed by. The game also features multiple camera angles and slow motion replays of your victories and crashes. Grid’s audio tends to be a little stale. There is constant canned chatter from your manager and team mates that get repetitive quickly. The game could have also benefited from a much larger soundtrack.



Overall Grid is a fun stylish racing experience. A well blended mix of racing styles has something for everyone and its flashback feature allows some forgiveness for pedal heavy crash racers like me. Hardcore and amateur racers alike should be pleased by this game.

Rating: 8 out of 10
Buy it

Review: Microsoft's Zune MP3 Player

About a month ago, I got a new 8 GB Zune 2. They were recently launched in Canada and I decided it was a good time to try out a new mp3 player. Here's my review on this iPod killer:

Like the competition, the Zune 2 is very well designed and constructed. Though it appears bulky, the Zune is actually pretty lightweight at 47g or 1.7oz. The bottom half is made of brushed aluminium which makes it resistant to scratches and the top half is made up of a porous plastic, which doesn’t leave many fingerprints.

The screen's glass construction gives it strength of 5.5 on the Mohs scale, which is very impressive if you know that iPod’s screen is only 1 on the same scale.

As far as the battery goes, under ideal conditions (without WiFi, brightness minimum standby mode after 1 second, etc.) it allows for 24 hours of music or 4 hours of video.

Zune 2’s sound quality has greatly improved since the first generation. Though Microsoft left out the equalizer this time around and it seems the community wasn’t too impressed. Hopefully there will be an update for the Zune 2 in the future with the equalizer program attached to it.

The Zune 2 allows you to play mp3, mp4, wav, and wma format, but iTunes users will be disappointed to know that they can’t play their purchased iTunes songs on the player.

A great feature about the Zune 2 is its ability to play music without pausing between tracks. Great for techno fans whose music sounds like one endless song anyway.

Given that I only have the 8GB version of Zune, I didn't really enjoy playing videos on its small screen 4.5cm, but visual the video clips that I did test out on the Zune 2 looked pretty good on full colour screen. The videos appear in widescreen format.

Podcasting is very convenient on the Zune 2 as it saves you having to constantly check if a new episode is available. Quite simply save the Podcast link in the Zune software and it takes care of downloading the latest episodes for you.

The Zune can store 25,000 images regardless of the model chosen and can be shared by friends who have a Zune via WiFi. The images, like the videos appear automatically in landscape format.


On the software side, I was quite impressed with the Zune software manager. Based on a tab design, you can click and drag items from other tab to another. Setup photo albums, play lists, podcast downloads, etc.

The use of WiFi for synchronization or exchange between friends for songs or photos is probably one of the neatest features on the Zune. It connects to the local WiFi network and supports all protocols wireless security.

Regarding the exchange of files and songs, just look for friends in the vicinities with the Social section on Zune. Then you can select a friend and send photos without restrictions or songs with restrictions. As far as restrictions, each song sent can only be played 3 times by friends. It does not matter if the original file is protected or not by a system of protection of digital rights.



The Zune Marketplace is not yet available for Canadian users; I can only hope that it will be as user-friendly as the competition. This will be a place where you can buy music, video and television episodes. If you buy a TV Show, you'll be notified when a new episode is available and it will download and synchronize automatically with your Zune, just like podcasts.

The touch pad control is much like the iPod’s as it allows you roll your finger across the pad to move the cursor on the screen around. I personally never liked touch sensitive controls, so I turned it off and opt for the click pad controls instead.

The menu is setup into categories like music, podcasts, albums, etc. and when you click on them, they open into your files lists. They’re extremely easy to navigate.

Despite a rocky start out on the market, I think the Zune has potential to be a great mp3 player. With the Marketplace coming to Canada in the future and the possible of Microsoft integrating its XNA games software into the system, I think we Canadians have lots of cool addition features to look forward to too.

Midway Releases Lineup for E3 2008

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
(PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Fall 2008) -- For the first time ever
Scorpion, Sub-Zero and the Mortal Kombat warriors battle with Batman, Superman
and other popular DC Universe super heroes. Choose your side and challenge your
opponents with a new fighting system including Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat along with dynamic multi-tiered environments. Plus, pick your favorite character from MK or DCU and pursue a fighting adventure in the new single player mode with an intertwined storyline and two unique perspectives.

Wheelman
(PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, PC Fall 2008) - Combining spectacular Hollywood-style stunts with a gripping storyline, Wheelman provides an adrenaline-fueled, cinematic thrill ride guaranteed to leave you breathless. Vin Diesel stars as an undercover agent and highly skilled driver who must infiltrate the Barcelona underworld to gather intelligence surrounding a covert heist. Posing as a driver-for-hire, he ends up caught in a crossfire of corruption and chaos while trying to stay one step ahead of local law enforcement and rival gangs.

TNA iMPACT!
(PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2; September 2008) - TNA iMPACT! is the exclusive Total Nonstop Action wrestling game based on the top-rated weekly television show, "TNA Impact!" Choose the wrestling style, custom move set and clothing to construct the ultimate champion. TNA drenches the player in moves and match types that allow amazing acrobatic and aerial feats along with the bone-jarring crush of hard-hitting impacts. The game also features top wrestling talent such as Kurt Angle,Jeff Jarrett™, Rhino™, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles,
Sting, Christian Cage, Abyss and more to deliver all of the excitement and action of thetelevision show!

Blitz the League II
(PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 Fall 2008) - As the sequel to the more than one million unit selling and award-winning football experience, BLITZ: THE LEAGUE II, continues the franchise legacy as the ultimate alternative to the watered-down, licensed competition. In addition to an all-new story mode penned by Peter Egan (ESPN's Playmakers), BLITZ: THE LEAGUE II features include: Precision-Aim Tackles, player-controlled touchdown celebrations, an enhanced on-the-field Clash Mode, online multiplayer capabilities, expanded rosters with all-new personalities, and the return of a cornerstone of the Blitz franchise...Late Hits! Football legend Lawrence
Taylor returns as the game's cover-athlete and star linebacker for the New York Nightmare, Quentin Sands, along with a star-studded supporting cast.

This is Vegas
(PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, 2009) -- When a ruthless businessman begins turning Vegas into a family-friendly tourist trap, you must start your own powerful empire and resurrect the famous adult playground. Party hard at the hottest clubs to make VIP connections. Grow your bankroll by hitting high stakes tables. Race the fastest cars on the underground circuit to raise your reputation. Fight off enemies with fists and firearms to prove your strength. Where you go and what you do is your call. Whether counting cards, seducing dangerous women, cruising the strip or starting bar brawls, there's lots of excitement on the way to the top.

Unreal Tournament 3
(Xbox 360 July 2008) - Unreal Tournament 3, the world's premier PC first-person shooter makes its debut on the Xbox 360. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal® Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense battles with other human players online, or against Unreal artificial intelligence that sets the industry standard. With the most powerful futuristic weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best!

Game Party 2
(Wii, November 2008) -- With 11 games in all, Game Party 2 for the Nintendo Wii
includes fun to play games that will provide hours of enjoyment with friends and family. Game Party 2 features new games like Bean Bag Toss, Horseshoes, Lawn Darts, Puck Bowling and more. Each game, including classics like Skill Ball, Darts and Hoop Shoot has exciting new features like four player mode, customizable characters and tournament play, making Game Party 2 the ultimate party game for all ages and skill levels.

Touchmaster 2
(Nintendo DS, September 2008) -- TouchMaster 2 returns with a collection of 20
new exciting card, action, strategy and puzzle games with some of your favorite classic games from back in the day. For the gamer and non-gamer alike, TouchMaster 2 offers pick up and play, addictively fun, mini-games that everyone will enjoy. Kill some time by playing a quick round to beat your high-score or find some real competition against other players. TouchMaster 2, the personal arcade that fits snug in the palm of your hands.

Mechanic Master
(Nintendo DS, September 2008) -- With over 100 levels! Mechanic Master uses the
stylus as a weapon to rid the Earth of alien invaders that have scattered across the planet. Become the ultimate Master of Mechanics by creating crazy contraptions to free humans, keep the mechanics in motion and defeat those pesky foes. Test your skills. Creative-thinking is key to clearing the level.

MidwayArcade.com
(Online, Available Now) -- Fans of Midway's classic arcade and Touchmaster casual
games will now be able to download their all-time favorites and play them on their PC. More than 25 classic titles, such as Defender, Joust, Spy Hunter, Root Beer Tapper and Mahki, are now available at www.midwayarcade.com, starting for as little as 3 games for US $5. Compete for bragging rights against players from around the world and battle for the high score in each game