Homicide from Neocrisis (linked above) writes: I’m pretty sure most of you know Square-Enix (formerly Squaresoft and Enix, two different companies).
They are one of the most successful and well known companies today mostly for their JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. On a Sunday morning, I somehow stumbled onto the Square-Enix’s Wikipedia page.
I saw their earlier titles such as Secret of Mana, Chrono and Super Mario RPG. They all brought a smile to my face as I can remember the days when I was a kid and enjoyed them.
Then their latest games were shown and the smile went away. Square went from being one of the best JRPG makers out there to just another RPG maker.
Is Square still the JRPG king we all know or have they lost it?
Paste Magazine has created a 'Top 10 NES Games of All Time' list today.
To quote: The video games on this list kept me company through many an elementary-school sleepover at friends' houses, provided endless fodder for recess playground conversation and even inspired a few short stories from yours truly (each plot revolving around the fantasy of getting sucked inside a video game).
In honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I dedicate this list and to Shigeru Miyamoto and all the other folks at Nintendo who made all that fun possible... oh, and of course my beloved aunt Jean who sent me and my siblings our first NES console.
10. Gradius [Konami] - 1986 Collecting the power-up pellets and pimping out your little spaceship provided the irresistible hook. Once you got three rows of lasers firing, your robotic foes stood little chance.
9. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse [Konami] - 1990 The Belmont... More »
For gamers, the new year usually begins after mid-November and this year’s no different; pretty much all major console exclusives have been released.
So, this is the first time that we can actually look back at 2008 and see which console had the best exclusives for the year - the PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii.
To do this, I decided to tally up the Metascore ratings (as of 11/20) for what are arguably the top ten exclusives for each console. Games that are available on PC and only one console are on the list as well (World of Goo and Left 4 Dead are two examples). So let’s dive right in to those potentially forum-rioting numbers:
Nintendo Wii: 1. No More Heroes - 83%
2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 94%
3. Mario Kart Wii - 82%
4. Wii Fit - 80%
5. Wario Land: Shake it! - 78%
6. Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility - 64%
7. World of Goo - 95%
8. Wii Music - 63%
9. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the N... More »
There's general agreement that Sony stumbled out of the gate with the PlayStation 3. Months of intense hype were followed by a late launch (fully a year after the Xbox 360) and a staggering $600 price tag for the deluxe model.
Even worse, the PS3 didn't initially have any real must-have exclusive titles, and despite the power of its vaunted Cell processor, multiplatform games from third-party developers didn't look appreciably better than the respective titles on the Xbox 360.
Since then, the company's been modifying the PlayStation product line to better fit the competitive market landscape. As of August 2008, a new "bargain" PS3 is available with a larger, 80GB hard drive, and a "deluxe" model is due in November, doubling the capacity to 160GB.
Both, however, lack backward compatibility with PS2 games and do not come with flash card readers. If those features are a must, it might be best to pick up the 80GB "Metal Gear" bundle version on eBay w... More »
As a big thank you to Spore fans and to celebrate the release of Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack, which ships to retailers today, gamers who download and install Patch 3 will be rewarded with 24 brand spanking-new and exclusive exoskeleton limbs for the Creature Creator!
Press Release: Spore Patch 3 Now Available with 24 FREE Creature Limbs!
• Additional Patch Features:
• Fix for esc key not bringing up Options in Galaxy Game Entry
• Update to help keep achievements on the server in sync with achievements in the game
This patch is available for both PC and Mac.
To check out what Spore is all about, log on to: www.spore.com
While perusing the aisles of my local Target this evening, I noticed something that caught my attention.
Nintendo has apparently just released a controller combo pack that includes a Wii Remote, Nunchuck, and Mario Kart Steering wheel, without telling a soul in the press. This is very bizarre as game companies usually like us to be aware of even the most mundane of its business moves (e.g. picture pack releases on Xbox Live.)
This is an officially licensed set that includes all authentic Nintendo accessories. Somewhat surprising though, is the $74.99 price point for the bundle.
Some may seek out the pack thinking they are getting a good deal, but don’t let this fool you. Nintendo has done nothing for the consumer in terms of savings. Bought separately, all of the items in the bundle cost the exact same price as the bundle. Technically, you would save two cents by purchasing them individually. Wii Remote ($39.99) + Wii Wheel ($14.99) + Nunchaku ... More »
Every year kids (and adults that wish they were still kids) make lists of what they what for Christmas. This year there are tons of great titles to enjoy. We’re here to help you along with that list. Here are some of the great games of the year for any system.
The Nintendo Wii is sure to be another big seller this season. Whether your just now getting the system or looking for a good game you may have missed, we got you covered.
First we have the music games. It really doesn’t matter which you get, if you’re into feeling like your in the music any of the instrument games are good for you. You can choose from Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero, or even the new Guitar Hero World Tour. All these games are great for family and friends, or a solo bash. Maybe you’re looking for those hidden gems, well then you definitely want to look up World of Goo and de Blob.
If you’re looking for mass market hits you have the new shooter Call of Duty: World at Wa... More »
The console market today is as tough as any industry there is, but it wasn't always like this. For the past several years the PS2 has been the console to trump, and before it there was the original PlayStation which also dominated the market.
One unclear question still remains though; will the PlayStation 3 remain atop the market? Many analysts believe that this will in fact hold true, but why are they claiming this? In my personal opinion, here are the Top 5 reasons that the PlayStation 3 will eventually re-take the lead in the game industries market.
#5 The Xbox 360 and How It Matches Up
The Xbox 360 is a great console, but it has its flaws. The Xbox 360 is a very similar console to the PS3. They have similar play and they have similar specifications. The Xbox 360 has an estimated 30% failure rate and this will cost Microsoft dearly. The Xbox 360 is struggling to maintain its position in America, and if that isn't enough it can't even ga... More »
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