-Desu-'s GameSpot Friend's Reviews

SomeOddGuy reviewed Bit.Trip Saga for the 3DS...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:24:27 -0700

...and gave it a 5.5.

The BIT.TRIP series has always held my interest for what it was ever since the first game released: A homage to all things gaming, represented in different manners by each passing title as they came out. Initially starting out as brutally difficult arcade experiences to becoming more complicated affairs, every single game has provided their own unique sense of thrill as they came by. No two games were alike, excluding FLUX taking an approach to being surprisingly similar to BEAT. BIT.TRIP finally decided to rerelease the entire package into two different offerings: A total compilation of all the games with tons of extra content on the Wii as COMPLETE, and as a bare bones experience of all the games compiled as a portable take it and play anywhere experience on the 3DS as SAGA. Unfortunately for me, BIT.TRIP SAGA fails to deliver its promise in its buggy little package.

I would actually be lying if I said the entire game suffers from bugs, but probably the most important games you care about are inflicted with these issues. Unless I somehow received a broken copy of the game, this package of excellent games is hampered by technical issues primarily brought about when the 3D slider has been turned on. It's hard to review this package entirely as a whole since each game plays nothing alike, so I'll have to break down each individual game for review as it plays on the system, 3D and 2D alike.

BEAT: This game plays like a reminiscent of Pong, controlling a paddle on the left side of the screen with either the stylus or the circle pad to move around and strike 'beats' that fly over to your side in various forms and formations. The stylus controls work fine so long as you keep it pressed firmly to the screen and at times feels more precise than handling the Wiimote. The circle pad just does not work whatsoever. The level of control for it is way too sensitive with no way of tweaking it, making each tiny move virtually impossible to make for precision, especially in later levels like Growth where precision is absolute. The 3D effects for Transition are very underwhelming and can be very distracting with all the colorful pixel stars floating around, but for later stages like Descent and Growth, the 3D effects look very gorgeous as the backgrounds span back into engrossing environments.(or in the case of Growth, objects popping out in the background) This does come with some graphical issues as the frame rate will drop, though thankfully it's not horribly noticeable and doesn't really bog down the game by too much.

CORE: Unlike BEAT which shares blatant homage to that of Pong, Core takes you on the role of a plus symbol core allowing you to fire in four different directions to take out beats coming from all various directions. The controls are quite simple as you're tasked to handle the directional pad and the A(Fire) and B button(Bomb). The 3D effects of the game look quite beautiful on this game and surprisingly benefits well, despite minor frame rate issues. Also to note, if you move your system around while on the menu, you'll get a neat little Easter egg of the once set roaming background twisting and aiming to your system's gyro functions. The stage Control seems to have the most issues for me no matter what I do. Every time I play the stage, I see part of the background for the main menu displaying, even with functional gyro controls. This however ruins everything about the stage as when I have the 3D effects on, it doesn't just affect frame rate, but also ruins the pacing of the Beats and makes sound effects disappear. This absolutely ruins the stage entirely, and surprised me how this was completely overlooked. At any time the 3D effect is switched on, it ruins the entire structure of the level. Even without turning it on, at one point of the stage you'll lose sound effects for most the duration of the track, making responsiveness to each beat being absent till around the 7th phase. I'm very disappointed to see one of my favorite games to be considered broken.

VOID: To my surprise with this game, I will first throw out that 3D effects actually benefit this game much more than I thought it could have. While there is hardly any merit on what this game could benefit with 3D, the black somehow collides very well with this as it acts as a different plain of its own in 3D to the true background. The gameplay tasks you to using the circle pad and the A button to absorb black beats while avoiding white beats. Aside from some frame rate dips when things get quite hectic, this strange but engrossing game feels fine to play on the system, whether in 3D or no.

RUNNER: I'm certain this will be the go to game of many people that purchase this collection, but there is one thing I must state. 3D RUINS THIS GAME. It is quite unusual to understand this little tidbit considering out of all the games available, RUNNER has the most 3D objects in any of the games in the series. Even the backgrounds for BEAT and CORE look surprisingly good with the 3D switched on, but RUNNER is not just ruined by serious frame rate issues, but also with highly underwhelming 3D effects as the 3D effect seems flat. The background seems like it's off in the distance while the ground you run on appears to be completely flat, your character and the ground appearing in the same plain. It's highly disappointing the 3D effect is so underwhelming considering BIT.TRIP RUNNER could have been the best looking out of all the others. But that isn't the only issue that plagues the popular game on this collection. Even without the 3D on, there will be certain frame rate drops to expect as the game ruins the smooth frame rate that feels absolutely necessary during the most vital moments you need it on. This can be very much difficult to complete Odyssey in World 1 as the frame rate just suddenly spikes downwards at the most demanding moments, making this version much more frustrating than it already is. For the game that's considered the crowd favorite, it just feels like there's nothing but issues with this version of the game even with the graphics dumbed down to try and help that issue.

FATE: Out of all the titles in the BIT.TRIP series, this is probably the most unusual for various reasons. For one, it's a bullet hell shooter. Also to note, it's also quite literally a railed shooter in the literal sense your character has to move around on a set rail that twists and bends along the way. The whole Bullet hell aspect of this game is probably what will divide the audience on this game as the amount of precision asked for in this title might be just absolutely too much for most players to handle. Tasked with using the circle pad and the stylus simultaneously, you travel around the rails as you dodge initial lite fire before the game eventually turns the experience into a dodging for your life with waves of bullets flooding the screen. Each stage comes packed with a boss to fight, who proves to be a difficult affair as you do your best to dodge heavy amounts of fire while simultaneously trying to fight back. The 3D effects aren't very noticeable in this game since the backgrounds are pretty dull, if not just simply a solid black and everything else just doesn't feel like the depth is really necessary. While 3D doesn't ruin this game, it's hardly necessary as you'll feel like it's barely there.

FLUX: The conclusion of the BIT.TRIP SAGA brings the whole experience back to the classic gameplay style of BEAT, though enhances it with many different happenings and the largest and probably most difficult level up gauge to fill up in the series. The 3D effect isn't as spectacular as BEAT's was since most the backgrounds are primarily consistent of abstract backgrounds that adjust to what level you've currently amassed, though for all things considering, the backgrounds still look quite nice with arguably the best music out of the entire series. The gameplay still works well no matter what, even with barely noticeable frame rate drops that occur here and there. Out of the entire series however, FLUX is also the friendliest to the player as there's a checkpoint system for each of the 8 phases the player progresses through in each of the 3 stages. After finishing the entire series up and (hopefully) finishing FLUX for last, you'll be brought to the ultimate conclusion of your adventure, which brings things to a shockingly beautiful revelation of your entire journey.

With the package as a whole, only two of the six games actually suffer from technical issues. The 3D effects start of pretty nice, but for the more complex titles it just seems to not even matter anymore as it only causes issues with the gameplay(RUNNER, Control on CORE) or just doesn't stand out to even matter as much. The series is one that shouldn't be missed, but with the release of COMPLETE and BEAT and RUNNER being released over various other platforms, your best bet is probably just to steer clear of this version in favor for a more stable one. As nice as it is to have a portable version of the entire SAGA in your hands sporting a pair of headphones, nothing can really mask the blemishes of this broken experience that was offered.

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"SomeOddGuy reviewed Bit.Trip Saga for the 3DS..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:24:27 -0700

SomeOddGuy reviewed My Aquarium for the Wii...

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:49:57 -0700

...and gave it a 7.0.

Before you complain that this is just a lame game like My Pokemon Ranch, know this much at least: This is not a game! This is just another simulator where you go around and interact with fish. Though unlike My Pokemon Ranch, this is only half the price, and is much cheaper to maintain than a real fish tank. Though I need to get something out first.

-Do not expect anything more than owning an aquarium with fish.

You do as you would in real life. Feed the fish, tap on the glass and watch their reaction, listen to calm music from composers such as Beethoven and Bach, and do something else after about 10 to 15 minutes.

Alright, now that's aside, I can now continue forward with the review.

The amount of detail they put into this WiiWare title is pretty amazing. Regardless that it's pretty much a screensaver, with even a screensaver feature in the 'various options' menu(which I do not know what exactly it does yet...) there's still plenty more interactivity than you would have with your computer screensaver. The fish are very well detailed from one end to the other, on both sides. The sheer ability to customize your take is pretty amazing also, seeing how you have from over 30 items to choose from to stick in your tank. Though keep in mind that you can only have a certain amount of decorations inside the fish tank.

Rather than having a set number of items you can use, you are pitted to the decision of what item you will use, each having their own 'weight' that increases a bar by however big the game says that the item is. Unfortunately there isn't a novelty item, such as a treasure chest or underwater signs that say "No Fishin'" or whatever, so that takes out of the little practical sense that you'd have with a real fish tank. At least you are not paying for the items you use in this game.

The customization for the fish tank itself is rather nice. You have up to six different tanks that you can set up your fish and items in if you prefer different tastes, or if you are sharing the game with someone else. You can select a background from five different backgrounds, all dealing with an underwater scenery. You can even change the lining of the bottom of the fish tank with gravel, sand, or pebbles. Though the lighting is a fairly nice feature. You can set a light to shine in your tank, and if you are running the Aquarium with your Weather Channel, the light will be affected to being brighter or dimmer, depending on what the Weather channel has to say about that. There's enough touches in this game to make this look almost exactly like an aquarium.

You will occasionally obtain fish throughout the week as you continue playing it each day. Though you don't know which fish you'll get or when you'll get a new one, you probably won't worry so much about it, since unless there is a type of fish you are crazy about that's not already in the listed fourteen, it's not that important. There are twenty different varieties of fish in this game, ranging from saltwater fish to freshwater fish. Though I've yet to see it, I've heard that depending on what type of fish you got in the tank, putting a big fish with a little fish can result in real life consequences, as the big fish would probably just eat the little one. Tapping on the glass and feeding the fish is as high as you can possibly get with interactivity with this, though what else should you be able to do?

There are special dates that you can set in the game just as a special occasion or something. On those days, the fish in the tank will to a special dance for you to cheer you up. You can also zoom in on a particular fish and just... Watch them swim around. Though the nice thing with the zooming in feature is that you can also find information about a particular fish. This will also help determine how they react to other fish in the tank, and what they eat will eat. Interesting little feature, though nothing you wouldn't use in a game like 'Endless Ocean', regardless that 'Endless Ocean' is more of a game than 'My Aquarium'. Though another nice touch about this game as with time, your fish will grow bigger as you maintain them on a regular basis. They will eventually get big enough to mate. Yes, I said it. Mate. At some point and time, the game will let you know that a certain fish has bred successfully, though unfortunately you won't be able to see the eggs or baby fish in the game until they are probably big enough to maintain the look of the cataloged fish.

The music is fairly good, especially when it fits the environment. The list is entirely composed of classical scores, ranging from peaceful piano music to familiar tunes that sound like they came from a music box, though a little more on the cheerful side. It's better suited for an aquarium than listening to something like metal or rap. Also, it's a bit disappointing that there is no MP3 feature in this as was with 'Endless Ocean'. Sound effects may be at minimal, but the sound of the bubbles is an interesting touch, though it can get rather annoying. If you prefer not to listen to the music, the bubbles, or both, then you have the ability to silence them both, or each individually.

There are several other things I haven't mentioned yet, such as the ability to send or fish tank to other friends that you have registered to your Wii Address book and some other things I cannot possibly think of at the top of my head. Just know what you are getting. If you are looking for a game and are not interested in a simulator, then you might as well not look into this, as you would not like it. If you do not mind owning a simulator, then this is one of the finest examples of a simulator. For $5, what could go wrong?

~SomeOddGuy

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"SomeOddGuy reviewed My Aquarium for the Wii..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:49:57 -0700

SomeOddGuy reviewed Fable II Pub Games for the Xbox 360...

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:41:56 -0700

...and gave it a 6.5.

Many people are greatly anticipating the release of Fable II. This is fine, seeing how the game will probably turn out great. Though for the impatient, there is the Pub Games. With the most popular feature in this game being that you can link your earnings to your character when you actually get Fable II, it doesn't hurt to rake in your winnings.(or dragging around your debt because of bad luck)

The gameplay aspect is pretty shallow. Of course it is shallow, just because these are casino style minigames meant to be played the same way over and over again. The one thing that makes the minigames worth going through multiple times this the fact that you can unlock different versions of that minigame, probably to move up in stakes. Though the game only packs three minigames in this download, they do have plenty of replayability, as long as you're willing to keep interest in it.(high earnings help with that)

The first of the minigames is Fortune's Tower. Arguably the most difficult minigame in the download, though it is the most addictive of them all. You will(unless you skip it) be shown a tutorial for this game on how to play. Pretty much the short version of it is that you cannot get vertical pairs while stacking the cards, though most the time multiple vertical stacks cannot be helped. With the amount of times you'll probably be losing, you'll find yourself wanting to play defensive after a few rounds of possibly losing, especially when you have to bet a minimum of 15 each time. The stacks continually build up by one card each time, starting from two. Though as it climbs into the higher number of cards, not only do you get the chance of gaining more gold, but your chances of getting vertical stacks grow impeccably higher, ready to ruin you that instant. If you get a single vertical stack, you need not worry much. There is a safe card that will automatically replace the card that caused the vertical stack, though sometimes luck can be cruel to you and either give you the same card, or give you a different card that might stack with one of the others. Thankfully Hero cards are your best friend, regardless that you'll probably not get one when you really need it.

The next is Keystone, a roulette style minigame, though the catch is that you are playing with 3 dice instead of a roulette wheel. The objective is to initially bet on the keystones that you believe will be removed during play. Then afterwards you'll gain the opportunity to place your bets on the inside, which usually is the way to make most your money here. Interestingly enough, the game is willing to provide you with a chart, telling you what the odds of the dice landing on that particular number or set will be. Pretty simplistic, seeing how just about all the rules of standard roulette apply here. On a personal note, I was practicing for this particular minigame, and I've currently had the most luck with this one alone. I'm at least thankful I practiced. lol

Anyways, the last and final game is Spinner box, easily the one game you do not have a say with your outcome. Most of the time you'll find yourself getting frustrated, simply because the game doesn't like letting you win. It's not recommended that you bet high amount of gold with this one in the early stages, seeing how you might find yourself broke within a matter of minutes. Spinner box is pretty much the Fable take of the Slots. Anyone that loves going to a casino and lodging in coin after coin into those one armed bandits, this is the game for them. It plays very much like those infernal slot machines. Though later stages do provide better chances of racking up large amounts of gold, seeing how they will expand to either have more chances to win or something just as good.(or unfortunate)

Tournaments are where the jackpots are earned. Not really for gold, but for special items that you will be rewarded to you for placing in the top majority against computer AI characters. Though you won't really earn some of the worthwhile rewards in the early stages, the game at least gives you an incentive to raise your characters star rating, which will get you into the higher tournaments to compete for 'possibly' worthwhile items, such as the 'Mysterious Ring'*. Hopefully this will get some of those players motivated.

No need to talk about graphics here. You're mainly just looking at tables and cards, though they do look a bit well detailed. Music is also not really worth mentioning either.

Overall, this game is in no way worth the 800 points you would initially pay to purchase this title on XBLA. Not even to the Fable fanatics is this really worth paying, just to get a few unlockables for the actual Fable II game. Multiplayer could have given this game more incentive with at least the first two minigames, seeing how Spinner box doesn't really have any true purpose other than to mash the X button frequently alone. If you at least want to try this game, which includes the people crazy about casino style minigames, just pre-order Fable II and try this out. It's better to technically get it for free and not like it than to spend 800 points and feel it was a complete waste of money. That's all I can really say.

~SomeOddGuy

*note: purpose of 'Mysterious Ring' has not yet been revealed.

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"SomeOddGuy reviewed Fable II Pub Games for the Xbox 360..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:41:56 -0700

SomeOddGuy reviewed The Rub Rabbits! for the DS...

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:15:58 -0700

...and gave it a 8.0.

It's a little late for me to write this review, but this is one of the few games I looked up to so much during its development. The game is almost impossible to describe to someone that hasn't played the game. With the first game being absolutely unique and crazy fun, this title takes everything that the first title did right and adds a plethora of new content to it, though with the consequence of sacrificing the feel of originality.

'The Rub Rabbits!' opens up with a typical romance-comedy motive: Guy sees girl, falls in love, and tries to win girls heart. What's the first thing that makes this game completely crazy? It's not just that one guy that becomes infatuated. It's 11 other guys as well! The game's storyline is far from obvious though, unless you're familiar with how the first game plays out. To newcomers, you'll fall victim to raising your eye brow when you get introduced to the minigames. Running up the down escalator with Sumo Wrestlers and gentlemen on it, having to ride a unicycle over a building to get your picture taken with your girlfriend, to even facing those other men to a DragonBall Z style showdown by playing a simple game for Rock-Paper-Scissors? Yeah, this is really part of your normal romantic story. Though this won't be a surprise to anyone that has played the original title, seeing how it was just as random.

The one thing that makes the minigames more unique in this game from the other is that it takes innovative use of the DS's features to a whole new level. Most of the games now require the use of both the touch screen and top screen by having the action set on both screens. Some of the minigames now require you to make use of both the touchscreen and microphone. Though one of the things that takes this to a whole new level is the fact that some of the minigames require you to hold the DS in different positions. How so? Some minigames require you to to hold the DS sideways. For 2006 this was big, seeing how not many(if any at the time) games had required the players to hold the DS sideways. Though they take it even further by having Minigames where you must hold the DS completely upside down! This was completely abnormal then, and it still is nowadays.

The issue with some of these minigames is that you must play through each of the 30-something minigames in order to progress. That means completing the minigame you are currently playing to progress to the next, no matter how difficult(or easy) the task is. The main issue is that while alot of the minigames do not require much effort to pass, some of the later minigames, such as Bull, are ridiculously difficult to not only newcomers, but also veteran players of the first. Some of the minigames just feel repetitive while others might seem too easy. In the latter stages, some of the minigames are just exact replications of previous minigames, with the only different of being slightly harder.

And we're half way through with the review. Hang tight and take a breather if you need to.

The music in this game is very nostalgic in style, seeing how alot of it is chorus involved. Though the constent sound of men humming(or something) to the music can sound very annoying since they do it at an ever constent rate to the music, the music is still rather catchy. Maybe you might might yourself trying to hum with it. Though the style is nothing new from the first title. Heck, players of the first will immediately recognize some of the tunes of the game, with the memory of those certain tunes being very much, or completely like in the first. The main one you'll hear quite often will probably be the first game's theme song, which is probably the catchiest tune in the game. Though expect to hear the same 8 tunes for the minigames(exception to the last 2) to be frequently used.

The graphics in the first were stunning, regardless of the black silhouettes that represented the characters. Returning from the first is the dress up your girl portion of the game, Maniac Mode, this time with more accessories and costumes. The dress up option is really questionable whether or not they wanted you to dress your character or wanted to display the shiny new graphics they have in store for you to see. Outfits will have different texture properties now, seeing how plain cloths with be plain in color as plain clothes to the subtle shine on rubber outfits such as the ninja outfit. For something so little in detail, it does bring a lot of distinction to the graphics.

Players of the first remember the great mixture is art style in the first title with the frequent change between 2D and 3D with each minigame. No longer does 2D exist in 'The Rub Rabbits!' other than in the comic style cutscenes, but sometimes it may be for the better. The detail in the 3D is amazing in this title. Whether you're rolling in a giant pile of snow as if you were one of the Monkey Ball characters or rolling around the floor while tied up, avoiding these strange cannonball hearts, everything is well detailed in 3D.

Memories anyone? Any veteran player of Feel the Magic would know what I'm talking about when I say that. Memories is back again, though in possibly one of the worst ways possible. Memories mode requires you to play through the 10 stages of a minigame(stages building up from normal to hard) with only 1 chance to do them all correctly. Failing anytime throughout the 10 stages will cause you to start over from the beginning. Players will probably crack under frustration on trying to do this tedious task, regardless that this isn't required at all, unless one wishes to unlock extra outfits to dress up their girl in Maniac mode. Though what makes this far more frustrating is that all minigames that only had one stage to complete are now beyond tedious, forcing players to complete the minigame 3 times, each time for representing the level of the latter difficulty.(Normal to Hard to Hell) Though the issue is that since the last two are similar for the most part, they will feel to be the same task most of the time, seeing how Hell mode forced players to do the difficult stage with only one life.

There are many features to this game, such as the new wireless capabilities to the compatibility test, in which you and another person enter your information and attempt to do a minigame together to try and create a baby by poorly(odds are you will) attempting to slice a cake. Multiplayer modes are fun, but weren't very expanded upon, seeing how there are only a handful of minigames to play with another player. With so much to offer, this game could have been excellent if it weren't for one thing: Originality. 'Feel the Magic' was a very fun minigame oriented game that took advantage of the DS's functions. 'The Rub Rabbits!' feels like the same exact thing, only with plenty of improvements. If anyone has played the first title, then they already know what to expect from this one. If you don't mind taking the similar adventure a second time, then you'll find yourself a bit intrigued by the latter storyline, regardless that you possibly saw it coming.

All in all, this game takes advantage of the DS once more, though without the originality that 'Feel the Magic' shined with. But even still, it is a very fun title to play, so I'd advise anyone to pick this game up. Thank you for taking the time to read my Great Wall of text review, which I am sorry for typing so much...

~SomeOddGuy

Get the full article at GameSpot

"SomeOddGuy reviewed The Rub Rabbits! for the DS..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:15:58 -0700

SomeOddGuy reviewed Gyrostarr for the Wii...

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:20:00 -0700

...and gave it a 9.0!

Yet again, I write a review about a game I've barely played. Though this time I played enough to get a good impression of the entire game. With having a massive amount of 50 levels in the entire game, this game can easily last you hours. From what I can say, this easily makes it one of the best arcade shooters in the WiiWare section, or even with the VC games.

Currently there are three arcade shooter titles in at WiiWare section. Star Soldier R was the first to come into WiiWare, though its short stages could leave you wondering if this game was actually worth 800 points. Protöthea was the next to come to Wiiware, though it has brought nothing amazing to actually prove its $10 value. Gyrostarr, produced by High Voltage Software(many may be familiar with them), brings a whole new style of gameplay to the arcade shooter table. No longer is it about slowly scrolling up on a top-down view of your ship attacking hordes of enemies(though there's nothing wrong with this), though you get a back end view of the action while you speed down a track, collecting energy so that you can get to the next level while fending off enemies by shooting them with the same motive as any arcade shooter. It spans across 50 levels, and is the cheapest of them all for only 700 points.

What makes this game worth playing over and over again? The game itself is easy to jump in to, and easily allows for multiple players, even if you only have a Wiimote and Classic controller(or nunchuk). This is virtually a first in technical terms for multiplayer. Each stage is unique in it's own way, seeing how you have to multitask by collecting enough energy to make it out of the level while attacking the enemy who come down the track. You have these checkpoints in the track every so often that will assist you in progressing through the stage by either boosting you faster down the track or destroying all enemies that are curently in view. Though when boosted down the track, you start to feel the sensation of the speed after being boosted three times, making the action more frantic as you have to be quicker to gather the energy and fend off against enemy units. It later stages, the game will teach you more on how the game is played by using the grapple feature to grab far away items and energy and such. When you finish the stage with enough energy, if you've made enough energy to make it to the bonus stage, this is where the frantic action is all at. Though there are no enemies to deal with here, the stage focuses on you retrieving energy for points. The catch? You will be boosted nearly frequently in this short stage that with all the twisting in the track with the speed you go at, it makes it both a thrill ride and challenge to get the energy at such high speed. And as you progress during the game, the stages will have different shape tracks, rendering a unique experience each time.

The controls in this game are very customizable, though the only option you do not have is the GameCube controller. You can play with the Wiimote in motion mode, where you tilt the Wiimote left or right to move around. Though it is a bit difficult to get use to, it's better to start out with the D-pad for controlling the ship. Though the motion control still brings a sense of thrill to the game that you could not experience with just using the D-pad. You can also use the Nunchuk and classic controller with the game, but what makes this game very unique is that while you play with the Nunchuk or Classic controller, someone can play with the Wiimote that the attachments are connected to! If you do not have two Wiimotes to enjoy the multiplayer action, just plug in one of these attachments and enjoy the multiplayer action with your friend.

The graphics in Gyrostarr actually prove to be some of the most impressive yet in a WiiWare title. The track looks fairly well detail while the ripples in the checkpoints and warp portal look amazingly like the Stargate portals if you fire at them as they ripple from the piercing of the projectiles. The backgorund is nice, though there's nothing truly amazing about it, seeing how it is a still image you will pay the least attention to during each stage. Other than that, the graphics are great.

The soundtrack in the song are nothing to truly be amazed about until the bonus levels, where the fast-paced techno music actually enhances the thrill of speeding down the track at blinding speeds. For the most part, the music matches the mood of the level and action. Though most of the soundtrack sound alike, so there's no true variety. Though it is understandable with the techno soundtrack, seeing how this is a frantic speed and shoot arcade shooter. It could be a little more various though...

With everything that Gyrostarr has to offer, it is a mere bargain for only the price of 700 points. 50 stages of action and speed galore, plenty of action, and multiplayer capabilities. The great graphics and decent soundtrack also contribute to this games success. If you are curious about this game, just take my word and buy it. This is a must-have title for any arcade shooter fan and a title that will become an instant classic. This game is well worth a try.

~SomeOddGuy

Get the full article at GameSpot

"SomeOddGuy reviewed Gyrostarr for the Wii..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:20:00 -0700

SomeOddGuy reviewed Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King for the Wii...

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:38:56 -0700

...and gave it a 8.0.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is one of the most anticipated WiiWare titles, and it had many people question its non-dungeon exploring gameplay, but more of a strategy game where you attempt to build a kingdom starting with nothing. What makes this game interesting is the fact that it's much more than just a a typical SimCity. Though it may seem a little shallow and low quality at first, you have to keep in mind that this is a WiiWare title, and not a large, separate Game disk. It still has fairly much to offer.

The Gameplay of FFCC:MLaaK is a very unusual break from the series' typical dungeon exploring, turn-based fights, and the more reason hack-and-slash battles. Instead, you play the role of a king to rebuild his kingdom from nothing but a crystal, which in turn grants you the ability of Architek, magic that allows you to build different buildings using your own memories. The game expands to much more complex levels, proving that it can make you plan out things just like any standard RPG. You must determine what to build, where to build it, who to higher as an adventurer, and much more. The economic portion of this game gives this title a good start in planning.

Just because you can't go out on adventures doesn't mean that there isn't any dungeon exploring action. You may not participate, seeing how you are the king.(yeah, I bet their just scared because I could kick butt like I did in FFCC) Though you can higher explorers to do the exploring for you. You can assign a Behest, or otherwise a quest for which you can higher people to go on. They can level up, fight and do many things that you would expect from a typical Final Fantasy game, which actually proves to be an interesting RPG formula. At the end of each day, you can keep insight of everything each explorer has done inside the dungeon, or staying in the comfort of their home. For every fight, it will keep a log of how the battle went. For every time they stayed and healed, the game will let you know. With a level up system on these explorers, their stats and equipment will reflect on how well an exploration goes. Also, dungeons are split into different level groups to provide you with a rough detail on where to explore and not.

Moral seems to play a large role in the game. With the use of moral, you can allow for morality boosts around the kingdom so that you can stay out later each day, or you can use it to boosting the Kingdom's status, capable of improving the kingdom. More on the economics portion of the game, shops like the weapon and armor shops with be very essential for the explorers. Though regardless that they sell weapons, you also play a role by deciding when you should upgrade the products being sold there, at a fairly high price.

Speaking of price, the $15 tag on this game seems to be a rather bit staggering. Luckily there's nothing to have a heart attack over. The standard gameplay lasts for a fairly long time, though it seems rather shallow when you look at the past FFCC titles. The extra download content can be rather useful, but it seems somewhat forced when you see things like having to purchase the other races of the game in a single $8 package or wanting to buy other houses for the convenience of lasting gameplay. And that's ony; the start for download content on this game... Buying the game with all it's download content makes it feel like you're purchasing a full priced game, which in someways feels rather expensive for this title...

The music in the game is fairly basic, though it does get the job done. It's not as glamorous as it was in the GCN title(some relation), but it does provide for the mood of the game when those moments come.

The graphics are fairly good, though regardless that the character movements can be rather sketchy. Often you'll see uneven clash in movement from when a character is standing still to suddenly running, or just suddenly fall down right in that spot when running at full speed. But at least it looks smooth for the most part. The detailing is fairly amazing when considering that this is a WiiWare title, though the characters facial emotions will always stay the same, no matter what type of moment it is. At least they could have let the characters blink...

There is not much of a true story to where I have reached in the game, but it has an intriguing movement to it with the introduction of certain characters and the references of the past title that was released on the GameCube. Other than that, it seems alright, but lacking at the moment.

All in all, a very anticipated title that barely lives up to its hype, though with the height of the price tag, it is questionable whether it is worth getting the extra bonus content or not, though the game will feel lacking without some of them. Considering the alright music and the decent graphics, this game presents fairly well with such limited memory. If you are a fan of the Final Fantasy series, this is a game to look at. If not, you may still end up liking it in the end.

~SomeOddGuy

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"SomeOddGuy reviewed Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King for the Wii..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Mon, 12 May 2008 16:38:56 -0700

SomeOddGuy reviewed Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time for the DS...

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:51:34 -0700

...and gave it a 8.5.

Many people may have remembered the previous titles Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Blue & Red Rescue Team for being a short piece of work, and not liked very well at all... But this time, the tables have turned for this title. Much more has been improved than just a couple minor things. While the gameplay and concept may seem the same, most everything else has been improved. This title should not be judged by its past, but more likely what it has to offer.

Graphics may not seem like an improvement at all in this title, but even still, who said they had to do anything with the graphics? They look very crisp and solid, along with keeping the charm of the Pokemon series to life. Regardless that most of it looks like it came off the GBA like it's predecessor Red Mystery Dungeon, a lot of things in this game would be hard to reproduce on the GBA like the finer detail and dual screen scenes.

The story is very much improved than the last game. After finishing the main storyline and then some, this game has to offer at least 15+ hours on the main storyline alone, most of which being series of plot events rather than doing mindless roaming around a dungeon for a job. Even after the main storyline is over, there is still much more to be offered by this title throughout its entire post-ending gameplay. Spent 25+ hours overall in the game, and I still haven't seen all that the game has to offer storywise. ;)

Difficulty is just something that can't be explained in a couple of words... The game offers for the most part a pretty balanced difficulty when traveling through the dungeons, though during the main storyline, even grinding levels isn't necessary for the most part. Though some of the dungeon lay-outs can be pretty frustrating, especially when you take a step onto one trap to another. The luck factor with you and the enemies can be unfair also, resulting to a frustrating demise. Also, during the final boss fight, there is an immense gap between difficulty when in battle, seeing how the boss has the power to destroy you in a single blow, also to remind you that your partner cannot fall in battle either... Though the dungeon before it is fairly easy to traverse through without much problems. For high and lows, it sort of balances the game out, though it would have been better for a better balance on difficulty...

Gameplay is very similar in this game as it was in the past, but this version has more to offer. With 490+ Pokemon offered and the immensely long storyline, the game lasts much longer and performs much better than the past title. The mini game does offer a light stray away from the dungeon crawling experience, but it's not much when it gets tiring after the fourth time around. The wireless connection modes really offer a much more efficient use of the games rescue services, seeing how entering a 24 character long code can be a bit of a pain. The wireless feature offers more than just rescuing, but also seeing other people's teams in battle at the dojo. The touch screen control seemed like there was effort put into it, but this can easily be forgotten since the buttons provide a more fluent experience of the game. Though typing in passwords for wonder mail is much easier with the touch screen than the use of buttons.

The music in the game is very well refined. It sounds much more clear and there is so much variety to match with the moment and dungeon. Can't really say much here, seeing how that's all I can really define the music as. If there were to be another Mystery Dungeon title, the developers should really look back at this title for music inspiration.

All in all, regardless of the ups and downs the game contains, this title surely offers enough to deserve its $34.99 price tag. Same refined gameplay, good graphics, excellent music, very variable difficulty, and a very fine storyline gives this title an 8.5 from me.

~SomeOddGuy

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"SomeOddGuy reviewed Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time for the DS..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:51:34 -0700

SomeOddGuy reviewed Advance Wars: Days of Ruin for the DS...

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:48:32 -0800

...and gave it a 8.5.

The newest installment of the Advance Wars series opens up with a far darker storyline than any of the titles before it in the series. With the idea of the entire world in a chaotic struggle to survive during a post-apocalyptic era, it would put some of the past players of the series in an uneasy state after following the happy-go-lucky trail the series had followed. Though regardless that it has a darker storyline(and some swearing in the game), almost all the charm is back. Comical moments to put a smile on your face(or even make you laugh out loud), the constant reminder of hope trailing the characters, no matter the situation, and the separate minds of each individual CO to give you the feeling that all those characters are real.

Though not everything is great with the story. The storyline scenes seem to run a little more like Intelligent System's other well famed Strategy title Fire Emblem, though I would suspect it should make it better, regardless that the scenes do post-pone you from the action for as little as one minute to seven looong minutes.(Thank you for the start button Nintendo!) Also, sometimes the constant thought of hope with some of the characters really just gets dull after a while, with one of the main characters, Will, constantly using a phrase, turning it from a catchy line to an over-used cliche statement.

The battle system and controls are just as good as they always were, if not better. The CO system has been greatly balanced out, making it so that not one CO has a true advantage over the other in battle. The online feature is really handy for those that want to face other people rather than the CPU. The inclusion(and the absence) of several units really add more strategy involvement in the game. Fog-of-War is now a bit easier to maneuver with the new Flare units, and quick travels with the Bike units.

The changing of the COs, however, would seem to disappoint many fans of the series, seeing how the system seems to be a little more complex, probably a bit complex with the newcomers also. The inclusion of only 12 playable COs is a big let down since that is less than half of the COs featured in the previous installment on the DS. Though regardless that no CO may be truly stronger than the other, the exception of the final CO really upsets the balance of the 'equal opportunity' rule. The final COs CO range and stats is extremely over-powered that it would put all other characters to shame if used properly. The Campaign mode seems to be rather difficult to complete, seeing how the AI is greatly enhanced to do more 'thinking' than before in the previous titles of the series. Some stages may actually seem impossible to finish, even with the helpful tips the game gives you in-game to help you win.

The Online is a great inclusion, but the map trading with random players just seems to be so limited. All stages must be only 10 x 10 and have been completed in play at least once. This really sets a serious limit to all those that make some tremendous maps larger than 10 x 10. At least friend playing has as much freedom as the wireless play. Any type of map can be traded, and battles can be on most any stage, with the inclusion of voice chat.(friends only though) And space is not an issue when it comes to custom maps. There's 50 slots for custom maps to keep you company just in case you feel a little creative.

The graphics are fairly improved over the last DS title of the series. The darker atmosphere really shows much more expression in the game, along with the 2-screen battle action to really show as much of the battle as possible. Also the new character designs look fantastic, with their unique new looks, though some of them creepy looking... Though in the battle map, the inclusion of the zoom-in tool is a nice little feature to show more detail on the units, though it'll probably be the least used of all the features in-game, since actions can be executed faster with the camera zoomed out.

The music is rather good this time around, featuring a completely new set of soundtracks instead of recycling some of the past tunes. The Hybrid music is really attractive for the most part, though it probably might turn some people to play the game muted with the soundtracks mostly heavy metal/classical hybrids constantly playing in the background in the battlefield, depending on the CO. As from the previous installments of the series, each CO has their own unique, individual theme song that plays when you are on the battlefield. Though to some people, it might get old constantly hearing the same theme song over and over again while playing the game.

To wrap this game up, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is a must-have title if you are a fan of Turn-based Strategy games such as Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics, and a should consider title for the others. With its good storyline and limitless possibilities on the battlefield, you should be able to play this game for hours at a time and still be able to pick it back up the next day or so. It should not disappoint with it's improved graphics and soundtrack list, not to forget about the Online feature, which spans the possibilities worldwide for battling. This is one title that doesn't disappoint.

Storyline- 7/10

Gameplay- 8/10

Controls- 10/10

Graphics- 9/10

Music- 8/10

Overall- 8.5/10

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"SomeOddGuy reviewed Advance Wars: Days of Ruin for the DS..." was posted by SomeOddGuy on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:48:32 -0800

-Renamon reviewed Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2007 for the DS...

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:39:41 -0700

...and gave it a 7.5.

It has all the features you'd expect from a card game based video game, such as dueling your friends and customising your deck.

However, that's about all this game is. Dueling.
There is no storyline (Literally.), and getting more cards is tedious...
You have to duel the AI for "Duel Points", which you then trade for a pack of cards. Problem is, it takes way too many points to get enough packs to get enough of that card you want, so you're stuck with an incredibly lame starter deck for a long time.

To relieve some of the monotony, there are four other modes aside from the usual dueling; Limited (Restrictions are placed on you or your deck), Theme (You must complete a task before winning the duel, like summoning a certain monster), Puzzle (You and your opponent start with a fixed setup, and there is only one way to win), and Survival (You duel 'till you run out of Life Points).

Like most DS games, the online is horrid unless connecting with a friend. Cheaters, disconnecters, and people using broken decks are rampant.

To sum it all up, only get this game if you have a friend who has it or you're a hardcore Yu-Gi-Oh player.

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"-Renamon reviewed Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2007 for the DS..." was posted by -Renamon on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:39:41 -0700