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Demon's Souls

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:49:22 -0400

Demon's Souls is a fantasy action RPG developed by From Software for the PlayStation 3 video game console. While technically unrelated, Demon's Souls is commonly referred to as the spiritual successor the King's Field game series. This game features detailed character customization, while allowing players to face off against numerous monsters with a variety of weapons and magic abilities. The game integrates online elements, such as leaving messages behind for other players, and bloodstains - which inform players how others died at specific areas. Online co-operative play enables up to three friends to take on enemies together. In general, Demon's Souls has been well-received by both Japanese and American reviewers. Critics commonly praise the game for its deeply immersive gameplay, but also note the difficulty as something that limits the general appeal of the title. Demon's Souls is rated M (mature, 17+) and was released on October 7th, 2009.

Features

Developer: From Software
Publisher: Atlus
Native resolution: 720p
Platform: PlayStation 3
Genre: Role-playing game
Modes: single-player, online multiplayer
ESRB rating: M (mature, 17+)

Armored Core 4

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:07:35 -0400

Mechs are giant mechanized robotic tanks fitted with a massive array of weaponry meant for destruction. The walking tank concept is a recurring theme throughout the video game world and are featured predominantly in many titles out of Japan. Armored Core is one of the hallmark staples of the Mech genre. In this 4th installment, which is actually the fourteenth released title under the Armored Core series brings the hardcore series into the next generation.

There is very little story continuity between Armored Core games, as the common theme between the games is the giant customizable mechs, and not the setting or characters. In AC4, the setting is the near future where environmental catastrophes and war have ravaged the Earth leaving six corporations in control as a Pax Economica. You play the role of a mercenary for higher that does the bidding of other countries and corporations. Story plays a back seat to the action, and there are three different game modes: a 5 chapter 30 level main single player story; a versus mode against the computer; and finally an online mutliplayer mode - the first for an Armored Core game.

Armored Core 4 is also the spiritual sister to From Software's other next-gen Mech game, Chrome Hounds.

Gameplay

The one description summary is extremely straightfoward: destroy everything. Accomplishing that goal is another matter as Armored Core games traditionally have one the most complex controls in any game, and AC4 is no different. Every single button on the controller is used as you pilot your mech and destroy enemies.

AC4 emphasizes speed, evasion and maneuverability over power and defense. There are three different buttons meant for different kinds of boosting which propel your Mech in a specific direction at a greatly increased speed.

Customization plays a very large role in the game. Every single part can be swapped out and combined with other parts, and with dozens of part categories and each category containing a dozen optional parts, the possibilities are huge. Through customization players can create a Mech that suits their particular play style, and specific situation. Balance between different Mech configurations is achieved through a very deep stat tracking system that measures and calculates dozens of specifications of how the Mech performs, from top speed, to weight, to energy capacity, with each part affecting one or more of these stats.

Completing missions in the story mode, or defeating foes in the simulator mode earn you credits which can then be used to purchase new Mech parts.

Game Modes

There are three main game modes that involve taking your Mech and battling enemies. The singleplayer story mode is comprised of 5 chapters, with each chapter featuring between 1 and 10 missions, for a total over 30. These levels are all mission based and revolve around destroying targets, or protecting an ally.

The simulator is a mode which lets you battle a computer controlled enemy Mech in a one-versus-one arena. After defeating the Mech you gain access to their schematics and AC money to be used for purchasing new parts.

Online, the first for Armored Core, pits human controlled Mechs against one another. Battles can be from one-on-one up to 8 players in battle royale, or team deathmatch. Players can also trade mech designs and paint jobs.

Enchanted Arms

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:51:57 -0400

Enchanted Arms, known as [eM] -eNCHANT arM- in Japan, is a science-fiction based role-playing game for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The game was originally released as an Xbox 360 exclusive, however the developer From Software developed a port for the PS3 which has been released in Japan, and will be released in North America by Ubisoft, the same company that published the Xbox 360 version.

How the game plays

Enchanted Arms follows in the footsteps of many traditional Japanese RPG games before it. Gameplay is split up into three different forms: there's the exploration part which involves the main character, Atsuma, wandering around the game world talking to characters, moving from destination to destination, and finding items. The second mode is managing the statistics and levels or your characters, as you level them up, add items and customize the characters to suit your play style. Finally, the last major type of gameplay is in the combat sequences: random battles play out using a turn-based grid style where characters use a variety of skills to destroy the enemies.

There are seven main human characters that you control in the game all of which have a major role in the story, and over 100 Golems which are both enemies and allies. Similar to Pokemon, Golems are monsters that you fight, and can also be collected to be used alongside with you in your battles. For the Xbox 360 version, one of the game's achievements is to collect every single Golem in the game.

There are a few changes to the traditional JRPG formula that make this game unique, and most of these changes involve making the game easier and more accessible for newcomers to the genre. Two additions speed up the battles, one is an automatic system where the computer controls your characters for you, and the second is the fast-forward system that speeds up the skill and magic animations.

Most of the story is progressed from characters speaking with pictures to represent who is talking, there are occasional real-time cutscenes, with full motion video (FMV) cutscenes occuring during special climatic moments.

There's also an online multiplayer mode where you take the golems you've collected and upgraded to battle one-on-one versus other people.

Story outline

1000 years ago there was a devestating war called the Golem War where machines infused with magic (known as Ether) fought each other and destroyed much of the world. Devil Golems were created that were significantly more powerful than any other kind of golem were created to put an end to the war, which they did. In the present you play the role of Asuma who is a student at the Enchant university in Yokohoma. One day Atsuma, with his two friends Toya and Makoto, decide to skip class to attend a festival, during the festivities an earth quake occurs and a mysterious force draws Atsuma to a forbidden location.

Following the force the three end up discovering and waking up the Ice Queen Devil Golem who is intent on destroying the world. It's up to Atsuma and his friends to stop the Ice Queen from waking up the other Devil Golems and killing everyone.

Differences between Xbox 360 and PS3 version

The PS3 version of the game contains more real-time cutscenes, 30 more golems to fight and collect, and the North American version of the game will include both the original Japanese voices, as well as a new rerecorded english track.

Interesting notes

[eM] is the first and only game to have "Only on Xbox" on the box art, claiming Xbox exclusivity, and still be released for another platform.

Enchanted Arms is also one of the only games released in North America that features a flamboyant and extremely homosexual male protagonist.

Ninja Blade

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:06:14 -0400

Ninja Blade is a PC and Xbox 360 game that is a hack and slash that incorporates context sensitive commands. This means that the player has to wade through hoards of infected people (zombies) and occasionally battle bosses that require complicated, graphically pleasing finishing moves. The main character is Ken Ogawa, a ninja that ends up being the only hope to save Tokyo from the parasitic outbreak. Ninja Blade doesn't focus on a open environment, or giving the player lots of choices - instead it focuses on intense, over the top action in a strict level climbing structure. The leveling up is standard, using little red orbs to upgrade weapons and unlock new moves. One nice thing about the game is its over the top violence, such as using cars and rubble flying through the air as platforms to jump off of, and one monster fight where you kill a spider with a giant wrecking ball.

Features

Ninja abilities
Ninja weapons
Quick-time events
3D maps based off of modern day Tokyo
Quick reflexes rewarded
Cinematic action
Xbox 360
Havok game physics

Tenchu Z

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:25:10 -0400

Tenchu Z is the latest installment of the Ninja franchise that started on the original Playstation. In this version, which is exclusive to the Xbox 360, players take the role of a custom created character and take on one of the 50 missions. Since you're a ninja, these missions usually involve killing one or more people without being seen.

The game is played from a third person perspective with a free roaming camera, similar to the Splinter Cell series. Using a variety of tools and techniques, you travel around a level usually some feudal village or forest until you reach your destination, taking out guards along the way. To aid in keeping stealthy there is the distance meter, the Ki meter, and the light meter. The distance meter specifies how far away the closest enemy is. The Ki meter indicates their knowledge of your presence (unaware, cautious, aware). And the light meter shows how "visible" you are to the enemies when trying to sneak on them.

The Tenchu series is known for its flashy kills and Tenchu Z is no different adding even more animations and specials. When attacking an enemy that is unaware of your presence your character will perform a special kill animation that can be quite brutal.

Tenchu Z is the first game in the series to have a strong multiplayer component. Up to four players can join together on Xbox Live and take on any of the game's 50 missions in cooperative play. A competitive aspect to the multiplayer remains with the player that peforms the best in a particular level receiving more rewards. Rewards come in the form of items, and money, which can be used to purchase new abilities, customization options, and items such as weapons.

In Japan the game is known as Tenchu Senran.

Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:01:51 -0400

Otogi 2 takes place directly after the events chronicled in the original Otogi: Myth of Demons. Raikoh, the famed undead warrior, managed to temporarily save the Japanese population from an onslaught of demons, but had not been able to vanquish them all before returning to his grave. The demons have now resurfaced from hiding places within the sacred capital of Japan, and they are attempting to take control of man once more. In response, five brave warriors take their own lives in a ritual to resurrect Raikoh. Raikoh rises again and the five selfless warriors rise with him, all set to take on the encroaching demon spawn as a team.

Chrome Hounds

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:51:59 -0400

CHROMEHOUNDS offers an intense, photo realistic look at war from the cockpits of colossal metal vehicles. These heavily-armed weapons of war, called HOUNDS, dominate ground battles during warfare in the near-future. Squads of HOUNDs take to the field in international factions; cooperating with and complementing each other in terms of firepower, range of movement, and abilities.

Armored Core Formula Front - Extreme Battle

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:29:44 -0500

Significantly rebuilding this entry into the Armored Core series for PlayStation Portable (after the Japanese edition delivered a hardcore sim experience that did not feature the combat action gameplay of the series), Agetec's Armored Core: Formula Front - Special Edition utilizes the complex AI designing and wireless head-to-head action of the original version, and adds action-based player combat interaction to give PSP players the intense fighting gameplay they crave from Armored Core.

Otogi: Myth of the Demons

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:54:23 -0400

Set in ancient Japan and steeped in real-life folkore and mysticism, this is the story of Raikoh, an undead warrior who must stop a ferocious demonic army that has been unleashed upon the Earth. Blending frentic 3D action with deep RPG elements, you'll master 30+ weapons, 12 varieties of magic, and dozens of stylish combat moves. Explore 25+ massive, highly-destructible environments in which even buildings can be destroyed. Upgrade weapons, magic, character attributes, and manage an inventory of special items.