• Tag Archives Nintendo DS

  • Electronic Gaming Monthly (July 2008)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Electronic Gaming Monthly – July 2008

    Electronic Gaming Monthly was one of the best and longest running video game magazines in the U.S. It’s closest competitor in terms of success was probably GamePro but I always liked EGM better. The July 2008 issue includes:

    Features

    • Cover Story: Gears of War 2 – An exclusive look at this third-person shooter for the Xbox 360.
    • Banjo-Kazooie 3 – A hands-on preview, including screen shots, of this 3D platform game sequel from Rare for the Xbox 360.
    • Game guns in real life – A military expert discusses the realism (or lack thereof) of videogame weaponry.

    Letters

    • Our feedback to your feedback – Letters from readers about games and politics, Guitar Hero and Rock Band vs. playing real instruments, and more.

    Press Start

    • Feeling Disconnected? – Playing games online with Nintendo’s Wii.
    • Foreign Object – A look at an odd Nintendo DS game from Japan targeting girls called Duel Love.
    • Grand Theft Auto IV Revisited – A look at five things you might not have done in your first playthrough of Grand Theft Auto IV.
    • Preview: Bioshock on PS3 – A first look at the PlayStation 3 version of this classic first person shooter.
    • The Big Ones – A brief look at the upcoming Halo Wars for the Xbox 360 and Killzone 2 for the PS3.

    • Survival of the Fittest – A look at the effect of Wii Fit on Nintendo and the video game industry in general.
    • Preview: Legendary – A first look, including screen shots, of this fantasy themed first person shooter for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
    • Preview: Project Origin – A first look at this sequel to the horror themed shooter F.E.A.R. for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
    • Take This Job – Part of a series of articles that looks at various jobs in the gaming industry. This part looks at the job of game company President.
    • Old-School Summer – A look at a variety of old-school RPG style games including Final Fantasy IV, Izuna 2, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon, From the Abyss, and Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen.
    • Rumor Mill – Rumors of a new Killer Instinct games, a new Medal of Honor game, a transformable controller for the PS3, and more.

    Reviews

    • Boom Blox – An explosive 3D puzzle game for the Wii.
    • Wii Fit – An exercise game for the Wii that is sort of a spiritual sequel to the Power Pad on the original NES.
    • Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit – A mediocre Dragon Ball Z themed fighting game for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
    • Hail to the Chimp – A decent set of mini-games for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
    • Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures – An Indiana Jones entry into the plethora of Lego games. This one is for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
    • Hellboy: The Science of Evil – This third person action game based on the 2004 Hellboy movie turns out to not be nearly as good as the movie.
    • Gran Turismo 5: Prologue – A solid entry into the long running racing series on various PlayStation consoles. This one is for the PS3.
    • Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard – An excellent old school style RPG for the Nintendo DS.
    • Operation Darkness> – A World War II horror-strategy-role-playing game for the Xbox 360 that isn’t nearly as good as it sounds.
    • Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift – A solid tactical RPG for the DS that fans of other Final Fantasy Tactics games should love.
    • Secret Agent Clank – A 3D platform game for the PSP that isn’t nearly as good as the original Ratchet & Clank.
    • Space Invaders Extreme – A pretty good modern take on the classic Space Invaders for the Nintendo DS and PSP.
    • Arkanoid DS – Arkanoid was the pinnacle of Breakout style games and this is a solid version for the Nintendo DS.
    • Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – Another solid entry into this long-running PlayStation series that started life on the NES.
    • Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles – My Life as a King – The third entry in this RPG series for the Nintendo DS is an excellent choice for Final Fantasy RPG fans.

    Game Over

    • Seanbaby’s Rest of the Crap – Reviews of Nintendo games from the junk pile including Jenga World Tour for the Wii, John Deere: Harvest in the Heartland for the DS, Homie Rollerz for the DS, Go Diego Go! Safari Rescue for the Wii, and more.
    • Retronauts Presents: The Mind of Miyamoto – A look back at the life of Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto.

    …and more!


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  • Super Princess Peach (Nintendo DS)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/691355782429753344/sonoshe-super-princess-peach-2005

    Super Princess Peach was released for the Nintendo DS in 2006 (2005 in Japan). As a game obviously aimed at young girls, this is not something I played or would have had an interest in at the time. Having said that, as a platform game, it is more or less on par with similar games featuring Super Mario.

    Super Princess Peach features eight worlds, each of which contains six levels and a boss battle. If you’ve played Super Mario Bros. games from the same era then much of the scenery and enemies will look at least vaguely familiar. There are, however, a few unique twists in terms of game play. Princess Peach has various “vibe” powers that are controlled by her emotions. The player can change her mood at any point. Each mood, of which there are four, comes with a different power and affects enemies differently. These moods are joy, gloom, rage and calm. Each power is needed to solve certain puzzles or defeat certain enemies. When these powers are used, the “emotion meter” is depleted but it can be replenished by collecting certain items.

    The plot of the game, not that it really matters, involves Vibe Island, a location near the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser has built a castle there in his search for the rumored Vibe Scepter, a magical weapon that controls the emotions of others. Obviously, your goal is to stop him.

    Generally speaking, this game got good reviews. However, it is clearly aimed at a younger audience because the one significant complaint is how easy the game is. You have unlimited continues so in effect you have infinite lives. It can also be quite hard to die. While those that like platform games can find plenty to like with this game (even if you aren’t a girl) the lack of difficulty will certainly be off-putting or those wanting a real challenge.

    If you do want to give this one a try, the only release I am aware of is for the Nintendo DS so you’ll have to find an original cart or make do with emulation. There also aren’t any sequels that I know of. However, there was one previous game that starred Peach as the main character. That was a Nelsonic Game Watch (not to be confused with Game & Watch) game titled Princess Toadstool’s Castle Run. However, that one came out in 1990 and there’s no real relationship between the two other than the character.

    If you do want to give this one a try, the only release I am aware of is for the Nintendo DS so you’ll have to find an original cart or make do with emulation. There also aren’t any sequels that I know of. However, there was one previous game that starred Peach as the main character. That was a Nelsonic Game Watch (not to be confused with Game & Watch) game titled Princess Toadstool’s Castle Run. However, that one came out in 1990 and there’s no real relationship between the two other than the character.


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  • The World Ends With You (Nintendo DS)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment


    ‘The World Ends With You’

    [DS] [USA] [MAGAZINE] [2008]

    • Nintendo Power, May 2008 (#228)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/181373922821/vgprintads-the-world-ends-with-you-ds-usa

    The World Ends with You is an action RPG by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS. This game was released in April 2008 and was influenced by the developer’s previous game, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories as well as by the Shibuya shopping district of Tokyo where the game takes place and the youth culture of that area. This game is certainly unique though it probably isn’t for everybody.

    Unlike most RPGs, this one is not set in a fantasy world or in some sci-fi future. It is set in the modern day. However, there are certainly fantasy elements in that the game takes place largely on an alternate plane of reality. The plot is a little difficult to describe but it involves battling the dead or what they become anyway. The control system is as unique as the plot though this isn’t always for the best. Combat uses both screens of the DS and includes performing touchscreen based actions, voice commands and other actions. However, the touchscreen isn’t quite precise enough to make this a smooth experience. However, relatively minor control issues aside, this game got mostly positive reviews and is certainly one of the more unique RPGs out there. It’s worth giving it a try just for that reason.

    If you don’t have a DS you can also play the relatively recently released The World Ends with You: Final Remix for the Nintendo Switch. It is an enhanced port of the original and was released just last year in 2018. Previously there were also mobile releases for both iOS (2012) and Android (2014). These newer releases have been reworked to work on a single screen as opposed to the dual screens of the DS. Otherwise you’ll have to track down the original DS version as I don’t think the experience will translate very well to an emulator.



    📂This entry was posted in Game Boy Retro Games 📎and tagged