Release Archives: WEEK OF DECEMBER 7, 200412.07.2004 Viewtiful Joe 2 *Pick of the Week* Dev. Clover Studios Pub. Capcom MSRP: $39.99 Systems: PS2, GC Viewtiful Joe is a gift from the gods of gaming. For those of us who suffered unfairly through these last few years with game after game that stresses hyper-realism over an actual fun gaming experience, VJ2 arrives to remind us why we actually got into gaming in the first place. It wasn't because we had a deep-seeded hatred for hookers or wanted to watch an 80-hour movie. No, it was because we wanted to travel to a fantasy world where Earth rules do not apply and we are the kings. The weapon of choice in VJ is time itself. You can slow it down to carefully avoid your enemies' attacks and then speed it up to catch fire and crack their heads. You can even zoom in to deliver massive damage on all sides or replay attacks to issue 3 times the pain. The game is pure, butt-kicking entertainment. And while the sequel may not add much, the first was perfect anyway. Please, buy this game and replay the glory days of gaming. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Dev. Jupiter Pub. Square Enix MSRP: $34.99 Systems: GBA The original Kingdom Hearts was a game everyone seemed to love. Combining the tragic heroes of the Final Fantasy universe with the lovable icons of Disney's seemed like a recipe for disaster. But with a strong story that somehow tied all of these elements together and a real-time combat system that ensured the player never get bored, KH placed itself firmly in gamers hearts around the world. Though this is the direct sequel, storywise, to the PS2 original, the actual gameplay mechanics couldn't be further away. When not in combat, the game is essentially a platformer. You make your way to the top of each Disney-themed level, avoiding obstacles and making long jumps along the way. When you enter combat mode, the game becomes much different. Combat is actually controlled using regular old cards. For every attack there is a corresponding card you need to use; there's magic, creatures to summon, and defensive attacks at your disposal, so chosoe carefully. This game comes during a lull of original RPGs on the GBA and should satisfy role-playing fans and Disney aficionados alike. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords Dev. Obsidian Entertainment Pub. LucasArts MSRP: $49.99 Systems: Xbox The first KotOR opened up a world of possibilities I never thought were possible in a video game. With every encounter in the game, you are given the choice of doing either the right thing or doing something evil. As a proponent of the Dark Side, I can tell you that some of the decisions you can issue later in the game were actually difficult to follow through on. The most disturbing was forcing one member of you party to kill another, insolent, member. And while the sequel doesn't add many new features, simply being able to take part in a new adventure with new choices which must be made is reason enough for me to buy this game. Easily the best use of the Star Wars name since Return of the Jedi, KoTOR is a game Star Wars nuts and RPG lovers alike should buy without any hesitation. Mario Party 6 Dev. Hudson Soft Pub. Nintendo MSRP: $49.99 Systems: GC Don't be deceived by Mario Party's childlike appearance. While it is the perfect title for young gamers just getting their feet wet and certainly will appeal to people who just don't play video games too often, it certainly has something for the hardcore gamer as well. The game is essentially a virtual board game where, at the end of each turn, players compete in a mini-game. Though the games are simple, generally only using one or two buttons, they can become quite heated as the game goes on. New to this edition is a microphone peripheral that comes packed right in with the game. Thankfully, Nintendo hasn't included a singing mini-game. Rather, you can control some games by issuing orders and even take part in a trivia contest. With the requisite new characters and boards, this may not scream "must-buy" for those who already own the previous 5, but is the perfect addition for those who need some 4-player madness. Sprung Dev. Guillemot Pub. Ubi Soft MSRP: $29.99 Systems: DS When Nintendo first announced the DS, my first thought was how cool it would be to control Link with the touch screen. Unfortunately, the big titles aren't quite ready yet. That leaves early adapters with another quirky Japanese game to play. Though the story is very similar to the recently release Feel the Magic (boy meets girl, boy wants to become very good friends with girl) the games plays much different. While FtM placed gamers in outrageous mini games, Sprung is essentially a chose your own adventure text based game. Depending on what you say, the object you desire will either turn away in disgust or be yours forever. There aren't many dating sims released on American shores so, if you're at all curious how ones and zeroes date, you should pick this up before it disappears forever. - Tom |
