A Portrait of Ruin, Magic Swords & My Personal Force that is ripe with THUNDER – Welcome to the storm that packs less punch than Mike Tyson when he’s not fighting women known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. I’m your host that really needs a female companion. Sisters, cousins, sheep, small woodland animals, its getting bad. I spend most nights alone (okay actually I spend all nights alone). Anyhow, last week I was playing wi…h the fact to get another bunny or cat which means I was just displacing my loneliness into a poor defenseless animal. (you’re in a game column remember), oh right. Went into EB Games this past week, bought three dvds and no games. This is getting bad, but that will change this week, Marvel Ultimate Alliance bitches!
Ode To Morgan Webb
This just in, Morgan is really really cute. Seriously, don’t you just appreciate a girl that cute in a nice blue top and jeans. I mean that is good american wear right there. The kind you want to take home to mom and dad and say I did alright. Then if you can make it through your dad flirting with her and rubbing her leg under the table, then you just might get a goodnight kiss. At least this is what happens at my house, you know its not my fault mom moved away several years ago and won’t return your calls. *cry cry*, I miss Morgan.
Quick news stories of interest
In anticipation of the December release of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for the Nintendo DS, as well as in celebration of Castlevania’s 20th anniversary this year, Konami’s sending this dual-screen sequel off in style with one of the coolest pre-ordering bonuses the system has seen so far.
Anyone who pre-orders Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin from GameStop, EB Games, and GameCrazy retail store locations will receive — free of charge — a brilliant collectible that will appease even the most minor of Castlevania fans.
The wax-sealed package will feature a 48-page artbook detailing every game in the Castlevania series, a 20th anniversary soundtrack CD that covers the best music of the series, a timeline poster detailing key events and characters in the Castlevania series, a special edition DS Lite Castlevania stylus that extends for comfort, as well as a special game case that allows gamers to keep both Castlevania DS games close in their possession. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin ships in mid-December.
Wow, you have to scratch your head at this since its on a portable system and collectible packages such as these for the little handhelds are very rare to begin with. That being said, I honestly will consider purchasing one even if I don’t have a DS. I adore the Castlevania franchise and would love to have items in my possession that go over the timeline, talk about each game and provide a very interesting overview of the experience. Hey, at least I can listen to the soundtrack included. That is if I decide to actually open the sucker *smirk*. But kudos to the Konami folks for keeping 2d alive and realizing there are some true collectors out there that will appreciate it (or the cha-ching that will be heard by the Ebayers).
Sony Reveals PS3 Pack-Ins, Pricing
At this year’s SCEA Gamer’s Day, Sony not only talked about the power of the PlayStation 3, but finally iterated what gamers will find inside the box and announced software and peripheral pricing. For both editions of the new console, here’s what Sony is packing in:
* One Sixaxis controller (with a 20 meter wireless range and 30
hours of battery life on one charge.
* According to Sony it’s “ready to go out of the box.”)
* AC cord (no external power source or brick)
* USB mini-cable
* Ethernet cable
* Multi-AV cable with composite connectors
The box we saw pictured — for the 60 GB edition — had a simple black and white design. It was fairly large, however, and includes a handle.
In addition to the box contents, Sony offered a first list of prices. First party software will sell for a suggested $59.99. Peripherals available at launch include the wireless Sixaxis controller for $49.99 and a memory card adapter for $14.99. A Blu-ray player remote will be available in December for $24.99.
As a treat, the first 500,000 PlayStation 3 units shipped will include the Blu-ray edition of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The bonus puts the Blu-ray edition of the Will Ferrell film in customers’ hands ahead of its retail release on December 12.
According to SCE president Kaz Hirai, the PlayStation 3 is in full production and coming off the line “literally as we speak.”
Hrmmm, runs over list. Interesting, like the Multi-AV Cable with composite. Like the AC Cord, no brick, $59.99 games *grumble*. Okay, I guess they are just going to squeeze us. I believe PS1 was $40, PS2 was $50, so PS3 is $60. $70 will be coming our way again. *sigh*, there must be a lot of rich kids in the world, let me tell yah…cause there is no love here. First 500,000 get Talladega Nights, geeez…you know we could actually pack in a game orrrrrr….we can pack in a movie that while it is good; won’t show off Blu-Ray at all. Nice move Sony! Needless to say I still don’t know what I want; I wish I could make up my mind so I can come up with a strategy on how to procure it.
Reasons the Sega Genesis was better than the SNES
Thunder Force II-IV
The Thunder force series of games were an unique 3 shooters in that they all had the same back story but showed different levels of combat. The 2nd one in the series, had both top view and horizontal scrolling. the third one in the series switched to just horizontal scrolling and then the 4th one adopted a new name in Lightening Force, kept the horizontal scrolling but added the fact that stages were beyond the height of the tv screen, making enemies more problematic and power ups easier to miss. The back story however was always about the Galaxy Federation (the good guys) and the ORN Empire (the bad guys). A true much missed cult status series of games; not the best…but far far from the worst.
Retro Game of the Week
Magic Sword – Arcade, SNES
This is one of my favorite games on the soon to be released Capcom Classics 2. It found its way to arcades and the Super Nintendo. The story was that two warriors go on a quest to destroy the Black Orb which just happens to be on the top of a huge Dragon Tower. At the top of the tower was Drokkmar, the master of the Orb. This was a great horizontal scrolling adventure game which had the usual assortment food, monsters, attacks, and artifacts. There was some neat stuff included new magical weapons after each boss they defeat. There was also a magic bar that gave you a powerful ranged attack when it became strong enough. Also with keys, you could save allies and these same allies would actually fight with you with different attacks, a shadow type attack if you will. Great game all around, and should be fantastic fun to soon play once again.
PS2
Devil May Cry Greatest Hits Set
Dot.Hack G.U.
Eureka Sevel Vol 1: The New Wave
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Nicktoons:Battle for Volcano Island
Phantasy Star Universe
Snoopy vs the Red Baron
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Strawberry Shortcake: Adventures in the Land of Dreams
Tokobot Plus: Mysteries of the Karakuri
PSP
WTF: Work Time Fun
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded
Dynasty Warriors 2
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Snoopy vs the Red Baron
ATV Off Road Fury Pro
XBox 360
Cars
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Phantasy Star Universe
XBox
Fuel
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Reservoir Dogs
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Gamecube
Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island
Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Edition
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
DS
Magical Starsign
Strawberry Shortcake Strawberryland Games
Hammy Goes Nuts
Nacho Libre
Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island
Scurge: Hive
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
Touch Detective
Star Trek: Tactical Assault
GBA
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island
Scurge: Hive
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
Well, all you need to know this week is that Marvel Ultimate Alliance comes out. That’s it really. Nothing else is all that important. I’m still trying to make sure there aren’t exclusive characters in different copies of the game. I don’t think so, that be insane from a production standpoint. Oh by the way, Circuit City is the one running the promotion where you get X3 The Game. Unfortunately you have to wait until Wednesday at 5:00pm. Who thought up of this stuff? I’ll be there. Also Phantasy Star Universe drums down this week, I hope the pay per month system works well, I’ll be interested to see how many people join this sucker. If a lot do then I might just be interested in the crack they are selling. Also, a kind of historical week…first week I’ve noticed that the DS releases outnumber the GBA ones by 2 to 1. Oh BTW, if anybody happens upon a spare box for the Devil May Cry Greatest Hits Set…you know who to send it too (cause I’m not rebuying those suckers again :)).
Some Final Thoughts and Mutterings
Well thank you for tuning in for another column. It’s been wonderful. I’ve been thinking that maybe we need to change the Sega Genesis column in a few weeks but I can’t think to what. Maybe somebody should brain storm out there and send me ideas. Has to be gaming related naturally but that’s about the only restriction. I’ll even send you a company t-shirt as soon as jfrost sends me two of them. Or one if they are really ugly. Anyhow, heed my words, tis better to receive than to give something that you got free in a 80% or fill up your bucket sale. Or the clap. Take care folks.
As Always,
Kedrix of Aldrianian
(*The Forgotten One*)
