Update

This month has been incredibly inconsistent with my post and I apologize. It's been a very busy July and I have not had access to the internet this whole time. That being said, I do my best to get a few more post in this week.

Tales of Xillia with be hitting the U.S. shelves in two weeks and I could not be more excited. I have been waiting to play this game since I first read about it two years ago. Speaking of the Tales series, it seems that we are seeing more and more being localized and the popularity growing. This is outstanding if you asked me. This means we will possibly see more and more games being localized for all platforms. Really, the Tales games have a great chance of becoming the Final Fantasy's of the West since Square-Enix has essentially fallen from grace with their recent games and public plunders.

There are still a few games I need to play that recently came out. It's tough when games cost so much and you make little money. Anyway, I will try to post more before the end of the month!

A Quick Recap from Absence

Hey guys, it's been awhile since I have posted a blog post. I have been busy with interviews, a holiday, and a death in my family but I am back! It has been a crazy six days in the realm of video games. Today, I am going to break down some of the stuff going on!

Nintendo
My twitter feed was blowing up yesterday with Nintendo and EVO. If you unsure yourself with what happened, here is a quick summary from me. Nintendo apparently blocked streaming access of Super Smash Brothers Melee matches during the EVO. Well that changed quickly and Nintendo will now allow streaming of the tournament. From what I gather, one of the biggest outcry from fans was due to the fact they raised money for breast cancer to allow Melee to be played. I think that's a good enough reason to be mad at Nintendo.

Muramasa Rebirth
If I have gathered any news on this Playstation Vita game, it's that people are liking it. This game came out a few weeks ago and has been doing pretty well. Honestly, the lowest score I have seen so far has been a 3.5/5. So that tells me that this upgrade might be worth the purchase. However, good luck finding a physical copy of the game.


Microsoft 
In a bold, but sane move, Microsoft has changed their mind on DRM and the constant need to always be online. That's right, used games will now be playable. Honestly, this should have been okay from the start. If companies want to sell games, they need to make them good enough to keep playing. They could also make them affordable for consumers who are not exactly loaded. I mean geez, some of the best games didn't cost a fraction as some of these new AAA games.


Tales of Xillia 2
The best news that I have to give to everyone is that ToX2 will be localized. I am incredibly ecstatic about these turn of events. 

That's all for today guys. I will start blogging again since everything has resumed to normal.

Five Game Characters that Kick Ass

I came across an article today listing the ten best game characters and I must say, I don't agree with every choice the author made. I agreed with his selections of Mario, Sonic, and a few others, but some of them were garbage. I decided to make my own list. A numbered list of characters that actually had an influence in the gaming world and kicked ass. Well, only five characters today.

5. Master Chief 
If there was ever a war in the future against awesome looking aliens, I would expect Master Chief to be up front and tea-bagging those newbs. John--which is his real name--is one of the most badass main characters that has ever graced the gaming world. He was a man that did not say much and just got the job done. Aliens invading your world? No problem. Master Chief would take a pistol and pop those grunts back from a mile away. Really, his character is iconic in the gaming world. Not only does he embody stereotypical badassary, but he has a AAA game to back him up. Everyone knows Master Chief. You know he is kind of a big deal when he has his own special Spartan uniform.  
                 

4. Cloud
If I was a chode, I would have just put Cloud's sword. That weapon is widely known in the gaming world because it's a huge freakin' sword. Look at it for a minute and tell me that's not excessive. Well, besides being known for his sword, Cloud is the main protagonist in Final Fantasy 7. He was the embodiment of the franchise for the Playstation. There may have been better games in the franchise on the first Playstation, but Cloud is the one character that everyone knows. He almost always lands in the top 5 in polls for popular characters and rightfully so. Cloud is one kick ass character that knows how to get the job done when it matters. It also helps that he appears in more than one game like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics. If you are popular enough to be in more than one game, you are pretty kick ass.

3. Mega Man
I would be a terrible person if I did not put Mega Man on this list. The blue bomber is known for his multiple platform titles and his various spin-off series like Mega Man X and Legends. He's a dude that goes around beating baddies and taking their powers through multiple stage levels. If you have never played a Mega Man game, you are really missing out. He and his spin-off clones are some of the coolest characters to have ever graced the Nintendo and future consoles. Look at him. He's just awesome. It really is a welcome surprise that he will finally be in Super Smash Brothers. I know who I will be using all the time!

2. Samus
Samus is one of the best female protagonist to date. She does rolls, shots lasers like Mega Man, and runs around in a pretty awesome armor suit. It's not often we see female characters as cool as her, but damn can she kick alien ass. It was pretty shocking when gamers found out she was a female upon completion of the original Metroid game. Really, without getting into real specifics, she is the female Mega Man, which makes her just that more awesome.

1. Link
Link. What can I say about this former lefty? Well, for one, he is definitely one of the most popular videogame characters to date. He's probably more famous than anyone on this list and future list I make. With that said, our silent protagonist is always the hero of something who fights Ganondolf or some other evil being to save something. He always carries the triforce of courage with him in his games. Even more amazing, not all the Links are the same. Actually, most are different heroes in their own time, fighting for their own reasons, and usually saving a maiden at the end of the day. Even in this day and age, Link is still as relevant to the gaming world as anyone new or old. It doesn't matter that the series is over 20 years old, what matters is that Link still goes on ridiculous adventures. He still gets it done at the end of the day and that's what matters.

The Wii U : What it Needs to Survive

Let's be honest, the Wii U is not doing well in the markets in its first year. That's disappointing considering it's part of a historied company that has pushed the bounds of our imagination. Nintendo is like the Disney of Japan, they bring the magical and the fantastical to life with modern technology. The future for Nintendo is bleak with the competition it is up against in the coming year with the Playstation 4 and Xbox One. If Nintendo wants to survive this generation, they will have to change a few things. 

The Price

The Wii U is expensive like most new things on the market. It's not unheard of for a console to be around $299.99 or more. Actually, systems have been priced close to that as far back as I can remember. The problem is, it's not working for Nintendo. The only way Nintendo can justify the price is by producing systems with more than 8gb and 32gb hard drives. I am well aware that you can buy external hard drives, but that just adds to the total bill. Sony and Microsoft are offering 500gb internal hard drives for their systems for $99.99 - $199.99 with the possibility of better overall technology than the Wii U*. That's a better deal than what Nintendo is offering. If Nintendo wants to survive, they need to readjust the price of their console.

New Games

I know this is an obvious one to put, but Nintendo is lacking games on its console. Virtual Console games are not going to cut it as "new" games. Many gamers--including myself--own past generation consoles and games that still work. Why would we want to buy those games again? That's a waste of money and a waste of time. What Nintendo needs to do is start cranking out their more famous titles as they have been doing as of late. We need more Mario and more Zelda. I don't care if "critics" say they are stale, they still sell and I still enjoy them.

Nintendo could also benefit buy bringing a new flagship title to the Wii U. They need more than Zelda and Mario to carry them over to this generation. Many kids that enjoyed platforming with Mario or going on an adventure with Link in the late 1980's-1990's are adults now. They aren't spending as much time playing these games and might not be playing anymore. It's time to appeal to a younger, newer generation of gamers with a new mascot. I would argue any genre is fine, as long as the younger crowd can identify. 

Oh, and start making Fire Emblem games for the Wii U since Awakening did so well. Actually tactical role-playing games and other types of role-playing games could make use of that Pad that comes with the system. Nintendo could use more RPG's as well! Are there really any out there on the Wii U? I feel that Nintendo concentrates this genre on their 3DS and it's hurting them. They need to start making more games in this genre ASAP.  

Identity

Now that I mention games and appealing to a younger generation as well, what is the Wii U's identity? The console with the enormous tablet? The console that has an abundant of Mario and old people games? That console that I use as a bookshelf? Honestly, I have no idea what the Wii U's identity is today. When I see other consoles, I see that it conveys a message to me. The Playstation 4 says, "Hey, I am going to be a portable PC that will have a great library." When I see the Xbox One, I see a system that will appeal to entertainment, the movie/game experience at the comfort of your home. The Wii U needs an identity that will make people want to buy it. I have no desire besides it being a Nintendo console with a giant tablet. 

Conclusion 

Nintendo can change a few things to survive this generation. I only named a few things, but even these three changes could save the console. Nintendo needs to stop being stubborn and take a hit for a little bit in the wallet. It will work in their future and ours later on in the Wii U's life.

*I say possibility of better technology since the systems are not out yet. I also say this since I take into account more than the actual hardware.

New Age Video Games: My Rant

Lately, I find myself playing a lot of older video games and action role-playing games. This ranges from games like Shinning Force I  to Phantasy Star Online to Persona 3. These are games that I have beaten multiple times over the last two decades and yet, I am still playing and finishing them with much enthusiasm. I don't really find myself finishing many new games. I honestly think the last game I beat that's new was Fire Emblem: Awakening. That's a problem when most major games will cost you $59.99 for a new copy of what might sit and collect dust on your shelf. 

I know why newer games don't hold my interests and I bet this rings true to many gamers. Video games are becoming interactive movies. When I turn on a game and start playing, I don't ask to sit through 30-minutes of cutscenes and asked to press buttons the whole time. That's no fun to me. I want to move my character(s) around the map, battling foes, and winning the hearts of virtual princesses. I don't want to sit there while some stereotypical angry white guy is beating up some baddies for me while I press a button on screen. What am I, 3 years old and learning shapes? It's insulting as a video game enthusiasts to be treated as a child in a digital world.

A great example of this is the beginning of Uncharted 3. When you first start the game, you are lead into a bar scene that goes on for an eternity. Once the actual game play starts, I am moving around and coordinating button presses against the gang. The game even tells me what buttons to press and mash. That's not fun at all. Well, depending on the game, it can be a little fun, but if I wanted to play Dance Dance Revolution, I would of laid down a mat and started jumping up and down like an idiot.

There really is a difference between compelling story telling in a movie and in a video game. Take an example from one of my favorite games, Final Fantasy IX. Not only is there a great story with great scenes, there was an actual game to play. You had to spend time building up your characters equipment, magic, and levels. I didn't just press a bunch of buttons for 40 hours to feel like I sat through an expensive movie. I was part of that game and story. If I wanted to see a scene, it wasn't just given to me, I had to find it or progress through the story to see it. Now, I have to progress through movie scenes to find the actual game. That's the difference. When a game company made a compelling story, the game play was still valued more. What these newer game developers are doing is forgetting that one value. They are valuing the cinematic over the game play. That sucks.

I understand that these games aim for sales to make money. I know these games need to appeal to a large demographic to make sales meet. Why does it have to be at the expense of actual game play? There is a reason why Retro/Indie games are becoming popular now. These developers keep the game part of video games in their products. They are not looking for a blockbuster interactive movie, but know they will make their money delivering an awesome product for me to play.

What happened to the gaming industry? Has it become such a huge machine that it forgot why it exists in the first place? Hopefully, with this new generation of gaming, we can get back to playing actual games.

Best Video Game Moments Part II

With such a giant library of games out there, it's almost impossible to get through them all or even know all the games out there, especially the most obscure ones. That's a bummer since so many amazing games have come out in the last 20 years and many of you will never have a chance to play these games. Well, almost a bummer since many games tend to not be that great anyway. Don't worry though, I will help you in this installment of Best Video Game Moments. Hopefully, if you have not tried the game out yet, you will give it a go through whatever means necessary...which you should if I am posting about it.

Nothing gets you pumped up like an action scene. Especially where physics need not apply. From sword fighting to blowing people up, game developers know how to get us wild up and ready. It's too bad that many of these scenes are repetitive and always the same. It's truly a rarity when one really sticks out at you for being something new and unique. That's why I give this honor to Devil May Cry 3's first cut scene. You know, the one where Dante beats everyone up.

Now, Devil May Cry has been one of my favorite game series since the first one came out a long time ago. It is one of the best action games I have ever had the opportunity to play. I bet many of you didn't know that DMC was supposed to be a new Resident Evil. Well now you know.

In this scene, Dante beats up a lot of bad guys. He does some crazy badass moves, and beats these demons down. What makes this scene one of the best moments is that Dante is awesome. He gets ambushed and stabbed multiple times, only to start kicking ass. Really, how many games does this happen? Not only that, he turns a jukebox to jam out while slicing opponents down.  You really can't get anything more ridiculous out of a character who basically doesn't care. Just watch the scene play out. Instant badassary.

Why Games are Important to Me

At the time of writing this, I finally hit 1,000 page views. Thank you to everyone that reads my blog! I never thought I would reach that number in less than 6 months, but I did. So again my viewers, thank you. For this occasion, I want to share with everyone why video games are so important to me. I can always blog about games, but it never really makes sense unless you know why that is.

Video games make me feel involved. Have you ever went to a movie or looked at a painting and thought, "Hey this is really nice, but something is missing". That's because you can't be involved in the person's story telling, you can only view and be in awe or disgust with the product. When I watch a Batman movie, I find it entertaining to watch as he purges crime from Gotham City, but I am not involved in this said purging. The minute I begin playing a game like Demon Souls though, I feel like I am involved in my created character's struggle to survive. I understand the pains and tribulations that he must go through in order to complete his objective just as I can only watch Batman struggle without really understanding those two subjects.Video games make me feel involved and that's important to me.

Many video games allow me to craft my own character and determine his or her development. What's entertainment if you are not fully involved with your own created persona? I can't bring to life other people's creations.  When I create a character, I am creating a person that will develop in the developer's own world. An example would be in Fable.You choose the path to be a good guy or bad. When I look at a picture, that variable is already set for me. Either the guy in the picture is good or the guy in the picture is bad and I have to deal with it. Well that sucks. When I have the ability to craft my own persona in a game, that is important to me.

Lastly, games are just fun. While I can only spend an hour watching some crappy movie, I can play a great game for more. I do find it entertaining to explore new worlds that could never exist. I don't care if some bank is being robbed in Batman, I care more that a giant dragon is about to rain hell on some poorly crafted cottages in some random meadow. I'll let the police do their job and the paper work while I tame the mega-beast. I get bored watching people do stuff. Why not throw me a flippin' controller and let me take passenger seat in a Warhog. Why not let me craft my own fun? Don't set the standard of fun because you

Basically, video games are important because I am involved more with them. I am the hero, not the spectator. I could go on-and-on, but it's Saturday and most of us want to go have fun! Until tomorrow or Monday. 

The Best Setting for RPG's

As I continued on my journey in Ni no Kuni, I began to wonder what engrossed my attention to this particular game. It's not like the story was all that unique to the genre. It has your basic rpg hero plot. You go around the world with your posse to make the world a better place by defeating whatever evil entity is making it terrible. When it comes to combat, the magic and familiar system is nothing unique as a concept since I have seen it in the Tales games and yet, I knew there was something that drew me to this game. It was something that I had not seen in many video games as of late. What was it that drew me to this game and other role-playing games?

Real Pastoral Setting

It's always the setting of the game. Look at the best role-playing games to date. They are set in a pastoral world that you would see with stories such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. It makes perfect sense. For some reason, that type of fantasy setting always gives you a mystical feel. That's why they are perfect settings for writing some of the greatest stories in both literature and video games. When I play a game like Valkyria Chronicles, my eyes light up and my imagination runs wild. When I play something too industrial, too city-like,  I feel that my taste need to be more matured and perfectly logical to enjoy. It makes sense if you compare it to a Shakespeare play. Just like in Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream, one of the themes that the author is trying to illustrate is that the outside of the city is the place where magic can happen while the city is where logic and reason can only occur.
 
Weather it be a Legend of Zelda, Shining Force I/II, or even a Final Fantasy game, I am always traveling in a pastoral setting. Maybe it's the bright green grass and the clear blue skies that make me feel adventures and the fauna that the surroundings produce. Maybe it's knowing that I will be traveling long distances not knowing exactly where I am going. Heck, maybe it's knowing that magic exists and there is logic to it in these unique worlds. Whatever it is, the best setting for the role-playing experience is the pastoral setting. You can never go wrong with it. 

A Quick Wednesday Update

It's been another slow day in the videogame world. There hasn't been much reported and that's all due to the upcoming E3 event. I think by now that everyone is aware that Nintendo will be holding demo events in various BestBuys. The Vita will have a big showcase for us too. I am sure much more will be revealed about the new PlayStation and Xbox systems.

If you are wondering what I am currently playing, it's a charming game called No no Kuni. For anyone that hasn't had the opportunity to play it, it's a JRPG about whimsical adventures and saving stuff. It's like a cross of Narnia and Spirited Away with a blend of some worldly concepts.

That's all for today!

What's So Great About Handheld Consoles?

A long, long time ago, my mother bought me copy of Pokemon Blue and a Gameboy Color. I spent countless hours catching monsters and battling gym leaders. I was even able to battle with friends through a cable link cord. Eventually, I began to build my library of games up with instant classics like the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX and Super Mario Land 2. When the time came to upgrade, I bought myself a Gameboy Advance. Great games like Golden Sun and Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced were developed for this system and thrown into my giant library of videogames. Fast forward to today and now I own both a Nintendo 3DS XL and a Playstation Vita. I love playing on the both of them as well.

What made handheld consoles great and what makes them still great? For one, they are accessible no matter where you are located. When it comes to accessibility, that one is an easy answer. I can bring these bad boys with me and play. I don't care with what my friends playing on his Xbox? Fine, I can just reach for my 3DS and play Fire Emblem: Awakening or turn on my Vita and play some MLB: The Show '13. I am going from New York City to Washington, D.C. and staring out the window bores me. Not a problem with handheld games because I can play them right on that train for four hours. Yup, they are pretty awesome like that.

Believe it or not, handheld consoles have a pretty awesome game library. I mean, you get the Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, Monster Hunter,...and you get the point. These games are some of the best you will play too! Take for example Pokemon. Yeah, that sums up the greatness of portable systems. Even Persona 4: Golden on Playstation Vita was one of the best games put out last year. I could continue to name games all night, but I think everyone gets the point.

Lastly, they are affordable. That's right, they are affordable (see my last blog post). One thing I have always found convenient is the fact that I don't need to pay $300.00 for a videogame system to get the same quality. I can pay much less. I also don't need to spend money for extra controllers, adapters, wotcha-ma-callits, and miscellaneous things. Also, game are far cheaper and they can be just as entertaining. So I hope that answers my own question.

My Top 4 XBOX360 Games

Microsoft's prodigy child, the Xbox 360, has graced us with great games for the last 8 years. I think it is only fair to make a top game list for this system with the advent of a new system this year. So, here are my top five you need to play.  P.S. I am aware these games appeared on other platforms so shh.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
I don't care if this game has been released on multiple systems, this is one of Xbox's best games. It is an open world game that let's you shape your own destiny. You are the dragonborn and are destined to battle the evil dragon. It's almost a typical rpg story that you cannot help but love. My favorite aspect of this game has to be the fact I can be anything I want. I can be a Nord who runs around with a battle axe and slay monsters or an Elf that can go around a burn pedestrians.

2. Halo 3
This game is what pushed me to buy an Xbox 360. Not one game can compare to Halo and its ability to sell a system. With that being said, Halo 3 was the best of the series. This game was a basic FPS but that was a good thing. It was your typical run-and-gun shooter with the added benefit of pissing people off with teabagging. Regretfully, the newer Halo games have taken that aspect out with their CoD style of play. Actually, that is what made Halo 3 great, it was an alternative to Call of Duty for people who wanted to have fun. Maybe one day, we will get back to the way Halo used to play.

3. Assassin's Creed II
I think you can make an argument that this game defined free roam and epic story telling. You control Ezio and seek revenge for your father's murder. You become an assassin and do assassin stuff. A pretty basic but fulfilling game. The graphics in the game were gorgeous and the movement for the most part was smoothed. I enjoyed jumping from rooftop-to-rooftop and I really enjoyed cutting my foes down with hidden bladed. In all fairness, if it were not for this game, we would have seen the end of the series.

4. Borderlands 2
If any game can get my friends interested in RPG's, it would be this game. Borderlands combines rpg elements with FPS game play and by God, it works. I have spent 70+ hours of senseless killing in this game and I enjoyed every second. You take control of 5--soon to be 6--Vault Hunters and chase down Captain Jack. I want to state that Jack is a ridiculous character. The dialogue in this game is hilarious and disturbing and the graphics are colorful and bloody. Yeah, go play this if you haven't.

Well, that is all I have for today. SO GO PLAY

A Quick Note

Hello readers. I have decided to use Wednesdays to talk about newer games in the market. It only makes sense since I dedicate Tuesday and Thursday to classic gaming. While I am on the subject, I am going to create a time frame for classic and non-classic games. I am going to put the time frame at 5 years of posting the topic. I understand that current generation of consoles have been around for a bit of time, but their days are beginning to set. So yes, 5 years is where I am going to define the time frame. Now I am going to put today's blog in a separate post.

An End of an Era: Sony to Reveal New Playstation

Sony will reveal information about the new Playstation today. What might they tell us? I am hoping it will be that new controller that is floating around the internet. Although it's following the pattern of the previous systems, there looks to be a screen on it and a speaker (Look at the holes on the controller). I wonder if it will be similar to the Wii's remote and make noises during game play. I also wonder what the new specs of this system will be and the launch titles. Will this system be backwards compatible? Will this system function alongside the Playstation Vita like a controller? We will find out tonight!

When thinking about this announcement, we must come to a realization that this current generation of consoles are coming to a close. What along generation it has been too. I mean, these systems have been going for 7-8 years now. That's a really long span of time. This generation has produced some of the most memorable games. We had Halo 3, Dark Souls, Call of Duty 3, TES: Skyrim, etc. We also had some forgetable games as well with Final Fantasy XIII (no, I did not like this game at all), Sonic the Hedgehog, Duke Nukem Forever, and so on.

Countless hours had been spent bagging newbs in Halo 3

For many of us, we spent plenty of our later high school days and all of college with these systems. Just countless memories of shooting, rampaging, puzzles, and all of the other stuff. I hope this generation brings us a new opportunity to relive these fun times with our friends and those angry people online.

A New Metal Gear

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has made its way onto home consoles the United States today. You take control of Raiden who was one of the main characters in the previous Metal Gear Solid games. I have not had the opportunity to play this game yet so I will not post the plot or story. I don't want to ruin the game for myself by spoiling it. So far, it has received positive reviews. That's a good sign that it's worth picking up soon. To persuade you to make this purchase, Toys"R"Us is offering a $40.00 gift card for the purchase of this and Crysis 3. I know because I work there.

My Most Hated Boss

As I adventured through the internet today, I came across an article on Kotaku.com (what does that name even mean?). A journalist on the site wrote an article about his most hated videogame villain. It got me thinking, what boss did I hate the most and why? My most hated boss was Dr. Robotonix's giant robot in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. I could not tell you how many times I tried to beat him and failed. The game leaves you with no rings and you are expected to beat a giant fricken robot. What made it worse was that you had to restart the entire game if you lost all of your lives. Yeah, this was before Sonic 3 allowed you to save your games progress.

This thing ruined childhood dreams

This boss was tough for someone that was five--I got the game in 1993--and painfully miserable when you failed. I really hated this boss and I will never ever enjoy facing him again.

Tuesday's Classic Selection

How many of you are itching to play an old school videogame but can't decide what you want to play? Because of the massive library of videogames out there, it becomes almost impossible to choose what you want to play. Well look no further. I am going to dedicate Tuesday and Thursday posts to classic games you need to play.

Why must there always be a blonde in JRPG's?

 Golden Sun for the Gameboy Advance is a must play classic for you RPG fanatics. This game and its 2003 sequel, The Lost Age, did very well back in the early 2000's. Even critics praised this game. I would argue that this is one of Camelot's masterpieces.

Golden Sun is set in the world of Weyard. This world is covered in continents and water that spill into nothing at the ends of the world. The main character is a guy named Isaac that goes to stop some people from bringing Alchemy back into the world. Yes, that was an incredibly abridged version but I don't want to spoil the entire story for everyone. Especially if you have not had the chance to play the game.

What makes this series unique from any other rpg is the Dijinn.They are creatures that can boost stats and do some serious damage during battle. You can say they are the same as a summon from the Final Fantasy series but also act as a set of magical armor. It's awesome and really beneficial for your party since you can mix-and-match these creatures like clothes.

If you can still find a copy of this game at your local store, pick it up. If you can't, that stinks but there are other means I won't mention to let you play this game. GO PLAY IT NOW!

Four Games That I Think You Should Play

With all the games out in the market today, it is always a tough choice when it comes to where your money will be well spent. I am here to make that choice for you. This list will get you through the month of February and possibly longer if you shoot for the stars and try and beat them all. I

It wouldn't be Final Fantasy without a dragon destroying something

1. Final Fantasy IX - If you have not had the opportunity to play this Final Fantasy yet, you are really missing out. As a kid, this was my favorite Final Fantasy game and one of my favorite games of all time. Heck, it still is one of my favorite games to play. FFIX is one of the few games that have managed to stick around and still be as great as it was in 2000. Yikes, the game is almost thirteen years old and I would still play this game over most games that come out today. The characters and the story may be right out of a classic JRPG portfolio and yet it still remains intensely satisfying to play. The characters really do draw you into their fantastic journey and their personal dilemmas. Right now you can add this game to your collection for $4.99 through the Playstation Network. Not only are you getting a great game for cheap, you can even carry it around with you if you own a PSP or Playstation Vita! Let's pray that they eventually make a graphically updated version of this game in the near future. GO BUY IT NOW.

Air guitar anyone?

2. Code of Princess - I am sure many of you might have seen this game in the Nintendo eShop or in your local videogame stores if they still supply it, but this is one game that has definitely been looked over by many. It is actually a really fun beat-em-up game that you can play solo or with friends. If it were not for this game, I probably would have lost my marbles when Hurricane Sandy hit and took away our power for almost three weeks. Anyway, the cast of characters are interesting and cooky. It also has a killer soundtrack and awesome visuals. The controls are easy to figure out and the game play can be rather smooth with most of the characters having a unique move set. It's a fun game to pick up from time-to-time so get your hands on a copy before it's to late!

Belran really was the best part of this game

3. Lord of the Rings: War in the North - I am well aware that I mentioned this game a few post back, but it is just that fun of a game. LOTR: War in the North is a western type of RPG that allows up to three people to complete the main game and collect goods. This game demands team work or you will be stuck with really terrible equipment. Despite the games short comings like the occasional glitching, I can still play this game with friends for hours. Give it a shot, it can't be more than $20.00 at Gamestop right now.

Battles are this intense

4. Medieval II: Total War - This game, that's all I can start with right now. This game was a huge improvement of Rome Total War that came out almost a decade ago. For those that have never played a Total War game, you really are missing out. This is a military/political/society simulator that demands hours of game play to conquer most of Europe. You can go into battle and control units and defeat your enemies or simulate it and focus on maintaining your city-states. This game will demand at least half a day from you if you choose to try and beat it in one run. As long as you have a decent computer, you will be able to run this hidden gem on your computer. 

My Most Anticipated Games of 2013: A Short Hand Guide

After a great 2012 videogame catalog, the new year is upon us to embrace the upcoming games and sequels that will take days away and expand our waists by at least a quarter inch. I hope your New Year's resolution wasn't to lose weight since these games will have you on your fanny for hours on end.
P.S. I am only putting the release dates for the United States of America. Sorry Europe!

Fire Emblem: Awakening; Nintendo 3DS --Feb.4, 2013

I know, I know, everyone and their best friend have this game on their list as one of the most anticipated games of the year. I mean, who couldn't? It has been awhile since a good Fire Emblem--see the version for the Wii--has come to the states and it definitely has been awhile since I have played one. Geez, the last one I played had been for the Gameboy Advance close to a decade ago. My opinion hence forth well be based on the demo--download and try it--I have played on my own 3DS. The graphics for this upcoming Fire Emblem look great. The colors resonate well with the type of fantasy game and the 3D images do not disappoint at all. The characters so far seem to have their own cliche JRPG personalities, but heck, isn't that why we love these types of games? The movement of the characters are smooth as well. I don't feel like I am waiting a life time to watch my character attack with his tome spell. If you really enjoy tactical JRPG's I think you are going to like this game. This is one game that will separate the Nintendo 3DS from the rest of its competition. I know where my $40.00 is going next week!

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen; Playstation 3, Xbox 360 --Apr.23, 2013

This gem was obviously going to end up on my list. If you have played the original masterpiece from Capcom, you will understand the excitement of this new add-on. For those that have not played the original masterpiece, this expansion will contain the original game to play your hearts content out. For previous owners, Capcom being Capcom, will try and justify the $30.00-$40.00 tag with unlimited ferrystones, 100,000 rift stones, and new armor. What does this new expansion have to offer both veterans and new comers to the series? Well, this expansion adds more items, weapons/armors, new looks, and a whole new place to explore since it was not apparent that this game already had an abundance of items and quests. Obviously, new comers may not noticed the added content but it seems like Capcom has listened to their fanbase and brought a means to teleport from place to place. THANK GOD. Traveling in this game could take awhile, especially when you encountered a Griffin or Chimera and felt obligated to obliterate them. Yes, I am aware that Capcom added more to the game besides what I have stated, but those are the most important features right now. I am really looking forward to this game to continue on my quest as the Arisen and journey to--spoilers--get my heart back yet again. It's definitely a game to pick up if you are new player or a veteran looking to expand from the original.

Soul Sacrifice; Playstation Vita --Apr. 30, 2013

Oh man does this game sound brutal. I mean spine tearing, eye poking, flesh ripping brutal. This game is like Mortal Kombat and Monster Hunter had a love child and shared it with the world. Well, not the world but with a select few of us that purchased the Playstation Vita. It is a game that the Playstation Vita needs to make it a competitor in this changing game market. This game will do that, or so we hope. Who would not want to sacrifice body parts or their comrades to take down giant creepy looking monsters? I know I do since I am ruthless in combat.

Just look how crazy this game looks. LOOK I TELL YOU! The designs of these monsters are absolutely crazy. I mean acid trip crazy. What is with the long necked face coming out of the water like a serpent? Where do they come up with these designs? Well, I will go more in-depth of this game when I finally have a chance to play a demo or the real game. If you are a fan of Monster Hunter games, this is one game I don't think anyone will want to miss. PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR SOUL SACRIFICED!


Phantasy Star Online 2; PC, Playstation Vita --TBA

Nothing says we have a love-hate relationship with Sega by stating this game will be released in the West but not giving us release dates for the good 'ol USA's and EU's PC version and even worse, not letting us know if the Playstation Vita version will be localized in the West. It will be a crying shame if it isn't, since the Playstation Vita could really use it over here. Man, has it been a long time since I could beat up holiday on rappy's--not sure if that should be a 's or ies--for rare loot or make my HUmar look like a BAMF.

GOSH DARN I AM EXPLODING WITH ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS GAME. The graphics look much improved from its ancestor--yes I am calling PSO that since it's around a decade old--and it looks like this game will bring long time fans back for another round. I just hope it gets localized for the Vita for some of us who cannot afford a new computer at the moment. Oh, did I mention it's free to play and YOU CAN FINALLY JUMP?



The Last of Us; Playstation 3 --May 7, 2013

Yes, I am actually looking forward to a survival-horror game. I know, it sounds unusual for me since I am not a big fan of them--see almost every zombie game ever made that bores me to tears--but this game really does look good. This game looks to change that dynamic or at least attempt to change the dynamic of typical survival-horror games. The Last of Us as it currently seems to be a Resident Evil meets 40 Days and has a swingers party with Metal Gear Solid. You fight off infected people and people who don't like you while being all stealthy like Snake. I don't have much else to say about this game currently, but I hope it doesn't fail and does not end up being another boring zombie hybrid.


Tales of Xillia; Playstation 3 -- Q3 Hopefully

Last but not the least, the last game I am really anticipating is the Tales of Xillia localization. This game is already out in Japan has received many positive reviews. It has been a very long time since I have played a Tales game--the last one I believe was on the Gamecube--but this game looks like it will end this generations consoles with a bang. I can be a bit of a sucker when it comes to these types of games for a variety of reasons. For one, the visuals for this game look amazing. They are so colorful and vibrant that I might actually lose my sight from staring too long. Second, the Tales series have been known to bring a unique gaming experience by the way battles play out. You would probably have to play one to understand, it really has been awhile since the last one I have played so I cannot really describe it well enough for people. After seeing that this game will be localized, I might have to pick up the Vesperia and Abyss 3DS to prepare myself for this game.


Well that sums up the games I am really looking forward to this year. I well aware that other games like Pokemon X/Y, Monster Hunter 3,545^2, and Luigi's Mansion will be coming out soon, but those games are not my most anticipated. I also am well aware that my list doesn't really have any Xbox360 games but that is due to the lack of games being announced for the system that are not multi-platformed. I know this isn't a definitive list of games and I am sure more games will be announced for this year as time moves forward, but as of today, these are my most anticipated games.