GameSetPlaying: May 27th, 2007 Edition
Woops, it's been a while since I did one of these, but nonetheless - I'm going to talk about the games that I've been checking out recently, and then I'll open the floor for GSW readers to do the same in the comments. Here goes:
- WarTech: Senko No Ronde (G-Rev/Ubisoft, Xbox 360)
Though it's had a pretty low profile thus far, and $60 is certainly quite a lot to ask for a Japanese arcade shooter/fighter conversion, what I've played of Senko No Ronde so far has impressed me - it's a really artful mix of bullet-heavy shooting and one on one combat. Reviews have gravitated significantly, with 1UP's 5/10 getting some interesting and heated commentary over at Zerochan's LJ [Ta Xian!] - I like Eurogamer's review, which gave it 8/10, a lot more. But it's definitely a very niche title, and the pricing is a bit questionable. But hey, I bought it.
- Parappa The Rapper (NanaOnSha/Sony, PSP)
Probably a title that should be released on the PlayStation Store as a downloadable PS1 title, really, but the native PSP version was available on Play-Asia for $17.99 the other week, and I couldn't resist. This version comes out here in July, and there's a lack of extras - though there are apparently downloadable remixes in the U.S. version - how do you get to them in the Asian version, if they exist, anyone? But c'mon - even without them, you get widescreen, old school Master Onion action - what is there not to love?
- The Red Star (XS Games, PlayStation 2)
This has been a stupendously long time in the making, but having rented The Red Star for PS2 from GameFly, I can say that it's an awesome throwback to classic early '90s Capcom brawlers, taking the Christian Gossett comic book license and melding it into something that feels like Strider for a new age, with extra 3D and style galore. See, Acclaim's demise eventually spat out something wholesome! Oh, and it's revealed of the game on Wikipedia: "A projectile weapon used by the character Maya Antares is named the "Davbrentsky AKA4U." This is a reference to the UK comedy television series The Office, which features a character played by actor Ricky Gervais named David Brent, who speaks a line ending with the phrase "...AKA, for you.""
Other things I've been checking out? Just got Brooktown High: Senior Year for PSP, so will be trying that this week. And a quick perusal of my Xbox 360 GamerCard, which has just topped 6,000, will reveal bits of the ugly truth (yep, I just completed TMNT. Absolve me, Lord!), and some slightly better XBLA tastes, hopefully - still pluggin' away on Jetpac Refuelled and Lumines Live, and have been using Boom Boom Rocket's Visualization Mode as a background during soirees. Yikes, socialization outside friends lists? I'll try not to let it happen again. What have you been playing this week?
Comments
Yes, The Red Star is excellent. It's a mix of the last 3D Contra, a modern Japanese shmup and Streets of Rage, and I love it already.
Posted by: viewtiful_dru | May 27, 2007 10:10 PM
I just finished up Jak & Daxter. Not very long, but it ended just as it was getting overly repetitive, which I guess is a good thing. I was pleasantly surprised by the game, honestly. It was the first Naughty Dog game that I enjoyed. Jak II is next!
Earlier in the week I was playing Monster Hunter online with some SA Goons and prior to that I was struggling to play through Interstate '82, which I've since aborted because of how much I dislike the new gameplay. They really did a good job of ripping out a lot of what made the first game fun, but at least the soundtrack rocks even harder and the cutscenes (realtime and prerendered) are hella better directed.
Posted by: roushimsx | May 27, 2007 10:27 PM
I finished Hotel Dusk last week. It had a great story and some pretty neat puzzles. I think it's a great example of a game that uses the two screens and touch feature of the DS in a way that's not tacked on or gimmicky.
I've also been playing Trauma Center for the Wii and although I hope the term "Wii Claw" doesn't catch on, it's a good description of the painful position my hand is stuck in after a few hours.
Posted by: MattC | May 28, 2007 4:10 AM
I have been playing Red Star as well (although I am stuck on Stage 15). The game is amazing and well worth the price.
I have also been playing Odin Sphere (just finished Valkyrie last night), and Parasite Eve for the PS1.
Finally, as always, Gears of War multiplayer.
Posted by: Jay (Jakanden) | May 28, 2007 4:51 AM
Great selection of games there. I did not even hear about WarTech: Senko No Ronde before you mentioned it here. I love how the 360 is already and going to get a good amount of niche titles for a next generation system. I have been currently playing some Super Mario 64 and Wave Race 64 while preparing my old dusty NES and SNES for some hardcore play. I also have been playinga little bit of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved on the 360 also.
Posted by: MakotoDriller | May 28, 2007 4:52 AM
I finished Penumbra: Overture yesterday. Very scary game, with some enjoyable puzzles. I'd like to see more games like this, and am looking forward to the next episode.
I've also been playing Ankh: Heart of Osiris. Not up to the standard of the latest Sam & Max-games, but a fun, lightweight adventure.
Finally, I've also been enjoying the puzzle game Crazy Machines. A clone of the classic TIM, and more fun than it looks.
Posted by: fluffy bunny | May 28, 2007 11:54 AM
On Parappa -- check this pic I just whipped together:
http://www.binaryland.org/images/parappa_download.jpg
Basically, it goes: select Menu from the main screen, go to the upper left and press X to switch to English if you otherwise haven't been. Switch over to the top right to get to the Options menu. Hit triangle on the "mouth" to go to the download site.
Stage 1 has the most songs -- the rest usually only have 1 or 2 mixes.
None of them really "work," honestly, which could just be a decade of familiarity talking, but it's an interesting addition to the game nonetheless.
Posted by: brandonnn | May 28, 2007 8:15 PM
Also, to use the downloaded music, hit O rather than triangle on that mouth to play through the stage with the "append music."
You'll only get to play through the stages you've unlocked in the main game.
Posted by: brandonnn | May 28, 2007 8:17 PM
> ...I just completed TMNT. Absolve me, Lord!
Feel no shame my son.
Posted by: The Lord | May 29, 2007 6:13 AM