Come and Upping Games!

I just finished my run-through of the newest Nintendo Power magazine and boy, are there some good games coming out soon. Behold! A preview!

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS, October) - The excellent Castlevania franchise returns to the DS for it's bi-yearly outing. The controls should remain the same as the previous games, and of course, expect some crazy bosses and insane monsters. One change is that the main character collects Glyphs, which can combine to create more powerful moves using combinations of weapons and magic. Looks to be a great continuation of the DS Castlevanias. I myself preferred Dawn of Sorrow over Portrait of Ruin, but they were both fantastic games. Let's hope this one continues that tradition.

Metal Slug 7 (DS, November) - Metal Slug is, in my humble, yet undeniably correct opinion, the greatest run-and-gun franchise ever made. Not that there are that many of those type of games. Metal Slug just has a gory, testosterone fueled charm that many violent games simply lack. In any case, this November will see the release of Metal Slug 7 for the DS. Built from the ground up, it's an all-new Metal Slug with more bad guys, more weapons (like the new Electricity Cannon), and more giant vehicles to squish people with. When I have a bad day or need to take out some frustration, nothing lets me get the anger out of my system like a good Metal Slug. Let's hope the new one doesn't disappoint.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS, Q1 2009) - This is not a game I would normally blog about, but it's the first GTA for DS and who knows how it will compare with the others. I may decide to get it, but it depends on how much it is like the other GTA games. I like the driving parts. Some of the other stuff is just silly. In any case, Rockstar games is building this one from the ground up just for the DS, complete with touch screen minigames, such as hotwiring a car and tattooing a member of the Triads. It looks like it's done well. Now we'll just have to see how it rates content-style.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (DS, October) - Sonic is soon going to be starring in his own RPG! While I am usually not a big RPG fan, this one has captured my interest. Especially when I learned that some of the battles involve Elite Beat Agents-style stylus movements. Plus, they say it's not an extremely long RPG, which gets bonus points in my book. Characters include, Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, the adorable Chao, and many others from the semi-vast Sonic universe. It seems counter-intuitive for the faster hedgehog on the planet to be confined to a turn-based battle system, but hey, ya gotta slow down sometime, right? Or something? Anyone...

Sonic Unleashed (Wii, November) - If there's one thing Sonic needed, it was a return to the 2-D style of gameplay he was famous for back in the early 90's. Believe it or not, for a while there, Sonic was a more recognizable character than Mario. He has since falling very far from the tree. Hopefully this one will return him to his former glory. Obviously, the game stars Sonic the Hedgehog. In this game, he turns into a werewolfy type hedgehog and beats people up. That sounds like a recipe for success to me. The blue blur will control differently depending on which character you are. While regular Sonic focuses on more puzzle solving and quick maneuvering, werewolf Sonic simply wants to beat the crap out of people. Sounds like it could be good. We'll just have to wait and see.

Sam and Max Season 1 (Wii, October) - I think I talked about this one once already, but the release date got pushed back, so I'll mention it again. Made by the same awesome people who are making Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, Sam and Max is the point-and-click story of a Detective Duo of a Dog and Rabbit-esque thing. Expect plenty of laughs and fun. The entire 5-episode season drops October 7th-ish. At least, that's what I'm hoping. Last time I mentioned a release date for this game, it never showed up. I had dinner ready and everything. Wait, what?

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (Wii, October - December) - SBCG4AP will be gracing us about once a month through December. Simply put, the games are awesome, they contain plenty of hilarious Strong Badian style put-downs, and best of all, they're only $10 apiece. Such greatness has seldom been achieved. I've had a great time with the 1st episode so far, and I hope to get the second one soon. Long live SBCG4AP!!

Samba de Amigo (Wii, Now) - Apparently, this one has already been released without my knowledge, and without my permission. Those jerks. Just kidding! The game is based on the 2000 Dreamcast title of the same name. You shake your maracas (which can be a wiimote and nunchuk, or two wiimotes) to the beat, and try to score big points. I hadn't thought much of it, but now that I've seen some video, it looks like a lot of fun. Go buy it! Now!

de Blob (Wii, Now) - Sheesh, I guess this one's out already, too. You play as a colorful blob, trying to add color and eye candy to an inky world. But watch out for the inky police! The goal is to make things colorful. I hear it's kind of a sandbox type game, where you can just kinda do your thing. But I haven't played it yet. While it does look interesting, my guess is that it will hit the baragin bin before too long. Then I'll snatch it up!

Well, there are more games than that coming out this year, but these are the ones that interest me most. Therefore, they are the most interesting games! But, if there's another game coming out soon that I failed to mention, lemme know! Also, new poll!

-benjamines

Currently 90% Finished With: Kirby Super Star Ultra

First First Impressions

Well, it was confirmed to me yet again yesterday that I have the best wife ever, 'cause she let me buy the new and awesome Kirby Super Star Ultra for the DS! That means I now own 450 games! In addition, there are a bunch of games that I started recently, so I thought I'd share some first impressions.

Kirby Super Star Ultra, as I explained recently, is a remake of an old SNES classic, with some new content. And boy, is it fun! The graphics are classic Kirby. Everything is brightly colored and all the characters are smoothly and neatly animated. Plus, the game actually comes with fully animated 3-D CGI cutscenes. Now that's awesome.

So far, I've only played 2 modes: Spring Breeze, and Gourmet Race. Spring Breeze is a short, but sweet standard Kirby mode. There are only about 4 levels, but the music, level designs, and characters are reminiscient of good old Kirby memories. Great fun! Plus, in this mode, instead of simply copying powers, you can also gain allies. If you copy a power and then press the Y button, the power turns into a helper. Then you can gain another power and have double attack ability! Additionally, you can play this mode 2-player, with one player being the helper. You can even do it if only player has the game. Awesome!

Gourmet Race is a footrace against King Dedede. But while you're running, you have to grab as many food items as you can. There are 3 races in total. Every time you win a race, you get 30 extra points, so it's important to not only grab food, but to be quick about it. This can also be played 2-player, even if only one person has the game. Double awesome!

So the game has been good so far. My only complaint is that you can't hold the up button to inflate anymore. This has proved to be a minor annoyance, since I'm used to using that move. But I'm guessing it has something to do with that interfering with other moves. So, no biggie.

Another game I started recently is TMNT 2: Battle Nexus for the GBA. It's a lot like the original GBA TMNT game, as far as graphics and gameplay go. The story is quite a bit different, though, even though it doesn't quite follow exactly the same storyline as the cartoon (nerd alert!)

There are two types of levels in this game: there are fighting levels, and there are shooting levels. Since the Battle Nexus takes place in out space, about a third of the levels involve flying some sort of alien craft and shooting stuff. The fighting levels are quite a bit different from the original, mainly because at the start of each level, you have to fight without your weapon, until you can locate it. This can be frustrating at times, but so far, it's nothing I couldn't figure out without too much trouble.

Also included is a cool new race mode. It plays a lot like the Rainbow Ride minigame from Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland. Plus there are 18 levels instead of 3. They are quite a bit harder and more complex, but I say it's an excellent addition.

Well, we have time for one more. And by time, I mean patience. A while back, I started Metal Slug Anthology for the Wii. It has Metal Slug 1-6 and Metal Slug X, all on once disc. Plus, it was only like $17 at CD World. Man, I love that place.

Anyways, I've been through most of the games, and they have been a serious blast (no pun intended). They are all virtually the same game with new levels and enemies, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

One thing I do like about the Metal Slug games and that they all kind of tie together. The bosses from the first games apeear in cameos in the later ones. And the further you go, the bigger the plot and bosses seem to get. Great fun. In short, I almost have it done.

So, once I can get a little more free time, I can work on my 108 in 2008 goal. Hoo-rah!

-benjamines

Can't Wait To: Go home, take a nap, play Kirby Super Star Ultra for the Nintendo DS Portable Video Game System