The increasing complexity of game software story writing and the constant improvements in graphic and production design have sparked a debate within the creative community about their status as works of art. On one side, you have folks like Roger Ebert, who say that video games can never be art (he has since reconsidered this ...
No handheld console in history has come close to the Nintendo DS in terms of market success. Since its 2004 release, the device has had three makeovers—the DS Lite, the DSi and, last fall, the DSi XL. The fact that practically every Japanese citizen owns one of these likely inspired Nintendo to remake the console ...
In anticipation of the late-2010 big-name releases, here are the titles we’re most looking forward to: Gran Turismo V: greatest racer ever—need we say more? Fallout: New Vegas: a truly immersive experience Metroid: Other M (pictured): back in top form once again Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: long-awaited series re-“vamp” (get it?) The Last Guardian: on ...
Here’s something to be grateful for in 2010: Nintendo continues its annual tradition of releasing an amazing first-party game. Super Mario Galaxy 2 offers gamers some of the most imaginatively designed and richly orchestrated platforming fun available—definitely an excuse to hang on to that Wii for another couple of months. But Sony isn’t backing down ...
Everyone’s pinching their pennies these days, especially when it comes to “superfluous” expenses like videogames. So if you can only buy one title this year, here are our picks. For PSP: God Eater. Valkyria Chronicles 2 almost stole this spot. Both are excellent, action-packed JRPGs currently available only in Japan. But what makes God Eater ...
A pair of recent releases offer insight into how game publishers perceive Japanese and Western audiences. Last month, Square Enix released Nier: Replicant, an action platformer for the PS3, here in Japan. Meanwhile, North America and Europe got a nearly identical game called Nier: Gestalt for PS3 and XBox 360. What’s the sole difference between ...
We often hear how Japan lacks credible hard-hitting journalism, but Western news outlets can be just as guilty. Case in point: back in the heady days of 2006, erotic game maker Illusion asked the question, “What is the most offensive game we could possibly make?” Their answer was Rapelay, a PC sim that allowed players ...
Whew! Is it just me, or have the last three months cleaned out your game budget for the year too? Yakuza 4, Bioshock 2 and God of War III, just to name a (very, very) few. In all, over 20 big-name games all coming out in a span of less than 90 days. And those ...
Wondering what’s keeping Nintendo president Satoru Iwata up at night these days? It’s Q4 2010 —specifically, the new motion controllers from Microsoft and Sony that will be making their debut right around the time the kids are supposed to be begging Santa for a new Wii. Both companies assert that their HD consoles will take ...
It’s always rough waiting for your favorite game to hit the shelves, but when office politics and financial woes are involved, it can spell death even for potentially groundbreaking properties. Case in point: Duke Nukem Forever. I’m not crazy about the series, which began with Duke Nukem 3D in 1996, but it’s impossible not to ...
Is Sega trying to fail? I have to wonder, given some of their recent business decisions, especially when it comes to the Western releases. You have a number of quality RPGs like Valkyria Chronicles and Infinite Space getting virtually zero advertising both here and abroad. Then there’s the handicapped PS3 port of Bayonetta. On top ...
I picked up the new Bioshock 2 despite the fact that the first-person shooter has never been my favorite genre—for all Call of Duty’s jaw-dropping graphics, I couldn’t muster more than a few days of interest in its campaign and multiplayer modes. The original Bioshock was the great exception, becoming the first console shooter to ...
1. Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) 2. Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3) 3. End of Eternity (PS3/XBox 360) 4. Super Street Fighter IV (PS3/XBox 360) 5. Mass Effect 2 (XBox 360) 6. Bioshock 2 (PS3/XBox 360) 7. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP) 8. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) 9. Castlevania: Lord of Shadow (PS3/XBox 360, ...
After three weeks, 100-plus hours, and several missed holiday parties, I can safely say I am ready to review Final Fantasy XIII. The verdict? About four parts good and one part bad. On the positive side, expect the best graphics, music, animation and overall production values you’ve ever seen in a videogame. FFXIII never fails ...
1. Final Fantasy XIII 2. Batman: Arkham Asylum 3. Borderlands 4. Demon’s Souls 5. Bayonetta 6. Dragon Age: Origins (above) 7. Street Fighter IV 8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 9. Star Ocean: The Last Hope 10. Ryu Ga Gotoku 3
Congratulations! If you’re reading this, it means that Final Fantasy XIII was released yesterday and the world didn’t end. I’ll also assume that the inevitable street riots have been quelled and the mass suicides subsided. It has indeed been a long wait, and as to whether or not the game lives up to its hype, ...
Hits 1. Bayonetta. Stylish over-the-top action mixed with a polished sense of camp make for one of the most enjoyable action games in years. 2. Tales of Vesperia (PS3). Textbook example of how to do a remake: add tons of new content and more pirates. 3. Borderlands. Not quite up to the sublime standards of ...
October has been generous to action gamers here in Japan. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Brütal Legend, Uncharted 2, Bayonetta and Borderlands all made their debuts and, taken together, offer thrills for just about everyone. Yet November is also looking set to be a spectacular month, with the hugely anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare sequel ...
While PS3 fans have spent the last month gushing over Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and Uncharted: Among Thieves, one gun-crazy, katana-wielding, multi-platform heroine is looking to crash the party. Her name is Bayonetta, and she’s got the sexy librarian glasses, demonic witch powers, and enough over-the-top fights and special moves to leave Devil May Cry ...
When I think about Sony CEO Howard Stringer, I always picture him sitting alone in a dark, cavernous mansion cradling a goblet of brandy and smirking over the success of his plans. Why the colorful imagery? How about the ridiculous sales figures of the PS3 Slim in Japan last month? Or perhaps the upcoming release ...
In case you missed all the pre-event hoopla, the 2009 Tokyo Game Show takes place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba this weekend. This year’s delightfully Engrish-infused theme is “Game, it’s so energetic!” The expo will be open to the public Saturday 26 and Sunday 27, and attendees can look forward to sampling some of the ...
If you’re like me, you may be having trouble keeping up with all those Tales of… RPGs from Namco Bandai. Now the company is making life even trickier for devoted followers by releasing three new titles on three different systems. Last month was PSP fighter Tales of Versus, a gift basket to fans, with protagonists ...
1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (XBox) 2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2) 3. Ninja Gaiden Black (XBox) 4. Final Fantasy XII (PS2) 5. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (PS2) 6. Persona 4 (above) (PS2) 7. Super Smash Brothers Melee (Gamecube) 8. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 (Dreamcast) 9. Resident ...
Metropolis – Multimedia
With the recent US release of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, I got to thinking about games and movies. Rarely does a video game make for a good movie (fond Street Fighter nostalgia aside, I have to ask—really??), but movies often prove the basis for some truly great games. What are some films from this ...