Last post of 2008: The first trailer for the new Street Fighter movie

Sorry for the lack of posts (I was at Vegas since last Sunday - more that madness later if I feel like it), but this is pretty much my last post of 2008, which is the trailer for the new Street Fighter movie: The Legend of Chun-Li starring Kristen Kreuk (from Smallville fame) as the Chunster. All I have to say about this is that the trailer I posted here is in Japanese and the movie will suck.

The question is which movie will be worse - This or Dragonball: Evolution? Its more like pick your poison.

Singstar ABBA - The secret best game ever??

SingStar for the PS2 and the PS3 has been pretty successful (okay not as much here in the U.S. compared to Europe), but combining the awesomeness of Singstar with arguably the most influential pop group around, ABBA, into one game is probably the secret best game ever. From "Dancing Queen" to "Mamma Mia," pretty much all of Abba's hits are available to sing and get embarrassed like this one dude in the clip above taking advantage of YouTube and Singstar's special video feature. Even though I'm not really into karaoke games, this one might as well be the one to get.

The PS3 experience so far... Almost a week already

As I'm downloading Lumines Supernova off the Playstation Network (I do love Lumines), I might as well do a write up of my PS3 experience so far in terms of impressions of games that I can have now. I really don't have any plans to type up a long form review of them anyway (Lumines will be my first PSN game review - maybe WipeOut HD). Other than that, here's what I have so far.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - As the game that comes with the 160 GB PS3, I say its a pretty good choice as Uncharted is a showcase of what the system can do in terms of graphics and presentation. I just beaten it today on Normal and boy, what a great game that felt short and sweet. The presentation aspect of this game is just flat out beautiful from the amazing graphics (Naughty Dog did say that this game didn't use the PS3's full potential in terms of power, but they plan to with the sequel) and the awesome music. It felt playing through a movie with great characters like Nathan Drake, who is pretty awesome after playing this. The supporting cast is pretty good too with Elena and Sully. After playing the Gears games, I felt comfortable with Uncharted's cover-based gameplay with the gun combat. The melee combat is not bad and I would like to see it better for the sequel. Other than a few sketchy sections (I'm not a fan of the boat sequences and you have to stop and shoot), Uncharted is indeed one of the better games on PS3 even though it originally came out last year.

Pain - This downloadable game is free with the 160 GB bundle, so I did download it anyway. I don't see myself playing it seriously and it is a good diversion game to mess around. Its good for a few rounds of jacking your character up for high scores. I don't plan on buying any of the DLC like the movie studio and the amusement park.

Mortal Kombat II - I bought this one yesterday (hey its MK II for five bucks) and its good to keep around as an old-school game (it is the arcade version). Surprisingly, it looks pretty good on PS3 being arcade perfect and great borders surrounding the game screen. Of course, no one plays it anymore online as I just play the single player. I didn't remember the arcade version being too hard, but the A.I. in this port is pretty crazy and cheap. At least, its better than UMK3 and MK vs. DC Universe as for most people, MK II is pretty much the last good Mortal Kombat game (u can make a case for UMK3 however). Plus, what's up with the select button being pause?

SSFIIT HD Remix - I double dipped for this one since I still love this game. Yeah, the online play sucks compared to the XBLA version because the netcode is better and barely people play it when I play online, but everything else is better. The controls felt better with the Dual Shock 3 nailing moves as well as no sound issues compared to the XBLA version (read my XBLA version review if u don't know what I mean).

WipeOut HD - This is one of many reasons why PSN is better than Xbox Live Arcade if u compare to two of them in terms of quality. WipeOut HD is just amazing as I'm almost done with the campaign on novice (I haven't played online yet, but I will soon) and on the final stretch, the computer A.I. do step up to be competitive. No wonder this game is hard according to some people. I am playing with the assists on as I'm still a noob to this game, but I might as well take it off soon. It is also arguably one of the better looking PSN games out today and in general compared to any 360 game in existence. Zone mode is fantastic and beautiful as well as the soundtrack too. I'll be playing this one for a while.

Sonic Unleashed Demo - Yeah, I downloaded this again just to try out the demos portion of the Playstation Store and yes, this game still sucks whether you love Sonic or not.

That's it so far regarding my PS3 experience. Hopefully after Christmas, I'll have more to blog about like maybe LittleBigPlanet and Buzz Quiz TV (This will be my party game replacement for the rhythm games).

Plus, buy Singstar ABBA if u have Singstar.

More Tekken 6 BR clips for the day...

Another day and another Tekken 6 BR video I like to put up here. This one features one of the new characters Alisa and she cleans house with her crazy style of chainsaws, jetpacks, exploding heads, and rockets. I can totally see a lot of people playing as her at SoCal soon. Gosh, this game is too good just like Street Fighter IV.



Here's a clip of Marduk ownage wearing a football outfit as he climbs up the ranks.



Finally some good Lars footage and he's actually a cooler character than I thought. I won't mind learning him soon.

Tekken 6 BR video for the day...

I'm putting up another Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion match video featuring my favorite character (also my main) Bryan and Julia. As expected, Bryan is still a pretty good character as his wall game is still as good as ever along with some new moves. Its pretty crazy that all the new moves and properties (low parrying is now an automatic bound in BR) for the 30+ characters can make a difference in a fight as it gives them more tools to play around with pending on their purposes like launching or a stun. Gosh, I can't wait to play this as it is pretty much the definitive version of Tekken 6 and hopefully it will be worth the long wait on consoles.

The plunge from 360 to PS3: Aftermath

So the plunge happened yesterday as I have now a Playstation 3 instead of a Xbox 360 for a day and so far, I'm loving it. I currently have the 160 GB that came with Uncharted (going through it slowly, but so far its pretty good) and Pain for free (need to play that later). Even though it didn't come with component or HDMI cables, I had to roll with standard def for a bit before getting HDMI cables of my own and it makes a huge difference. At 1080i and 1080p, it flats out looks cleaner and better than the 360 from playing Uncharted and WipeOut HD (loving that game so far too). My only setback with the PS3 so far is dealing with the slow download times (Wipeout took hours to download), but I'll eventually deal with it in the end anyway. I also messed around with Home for a bit and it still has potential, but yeah it had a rocky start of some sort. Tomorrow, I'm going to buy SSFIIT HD Remix again (this time on PSN) and Lumines Supernova once its out on Tuesday via the Playstation Store. I'm also planning to get LittleBigPlanet after Christmas and maybe even Buzz Quiz TV as I need a party game if others come by. And yes, Blu-Ray is truly awesome if u have HDMI and a TV that supports 1080p (need to buy The Dark Knight again I guess).

Is the plunge worth it? I think so, I'm only buying Skate 2 next month and then the madness heats up again with my most wanted game Street Fighter IV (still buying the Collector's Edition and the Tournament Edition Arcade Stick). I guess I have to buy Killzone 2 too now that I have this system even though I'm getting tired of first-person shooters taking over the gaming world currently.

Off-topic: Here's another Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion video with Zafina and Kazuya matches. I'm loving some of the new stages so far like the Fountain and the Skyscraper stages (Great BGM too) while other new stages feel weird and random like the Spanish stage on tomatoes and a forest filled with sheep.

New pics of Street Fighter IV (First gameplay pics of Rose)

And the hits keep on coming, Kotaku released some new screenshots of the console versions of Street Fighter IV featuring Dan, Gen, Cammy, and the first gameplay pics of Rose in action. Actually, Rose looks pretty good and a fine addition to the roster considering her style of play. Her signature special moves from the Alpha games return and who knows what her Ultra will be anyway. The link above has more pics, but here are some of my favorites of the bunch (Rose is featured since there are not a lot of pics of her in action till now).

UPDATE - Check out today's 1up Show for a preview of this game (with way better gameplay footage than the G4 preview) as the 1up fellas went to San Jose's Keystone II to talk to Capcom's Seth Killian more about SF IV and the scene in general at Keystone II. The same episode has previews of Noby Noby Boy and Resident Evil 5 too.

Metal Gear DLC for LittleBigPlanet = Amazing!!!

LittleBigPlanet gets all crazy on Tuesday with the Metal Gear Solid-specific DLC with new Sackboys and Sackgirls along with new levels created by Media Molecule. The Metal Gear-inspired levels look amazing and add along the charm of LBP from the paint gun to Snake Sackboy. This is obviously the best DLC for LittleBigPlanet so far since they have been adding more themed Sackboys like Street Fighter and Santa along with more objects for user-based levels. If this Metal Gear DLC is a success, which will be, then who knows how other games will get the LBP treatment (Final Fantasy VII - Sephrioth Sackboy does exist, or even Street Fighter).

Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion is out at Japanese Arcades

Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion, Namco's first major update to Tekken 6, is now out at Japanese arcades. Just like Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, this ain't your bread and butter update. Tons of gameplay changes in terms of moves (either new ones or change in properties), two new characters with Lars and Alisa, the health meters going back to green and red, new stages and customizations, and a new crappy announcer that reminds me of Tekken 5.0. As for an American release, it is likely to come here (at least SoCal) in a month or two at places like Super Arcade in Walnut. I guess I'm returning to Tekken soon - even though I suck when I play normal T6 against the stiff competition compared to Street Fighter IV.

OutRun goes downloadable...

Sega surprisingly announced OutRun Online Arcade today for Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network for an early 2009 release. Developed by Sumo Digital (who did OutRun Coast to Coast for PS3 and XBOX), this is pretty much a cleaned up version of OutRun 2 SP (Special Tours) for the Arcade (maybe Coast to Coast too). I have actually wanted to this in downloadable form and Sega finally answered. This is hopefully a start of a new vision for downloadable games by Sega like Capcom has been doing since last year. Maybe more classic racers by Sega (there are so many to choose from) are just waiting to be revisited again.

The plunge from 360 to PS3 is going down!!!

I have been thinking lately about some risky decisions involving the plunge from the 360 to Sony's almighty Playstation 3. I'm about had it with Microsoft's hardware issues regarding the 360 from red rings of death (I dealt with it four times), stratching discs, and so on. If you're going short-term, the 360 is still a viable console, but people eventually have to realize if your console is manufactured from launch to last year, that thing is going to die out eventually. If you're able to get a Jasper 360 (the newest model out now), you're safe from any RROD issues. I'm been a supporter of this system ever since its launch getting it on the first day three years ago. Now, after five strikes, I have given them so many chances and it is about time to make a change. The Xbox has pretty much reached its peak last year and this year as their lineup for 2009 exclusives-wise looks bleak for now (Halo Wars, Alan Wake, Halo 3 ODST). Sure, they have been making strides to get former third-party exclusives to their system ever since the 360's launch (GTA IV, FF XIII, Tekken 6 BR, DMC4), but since their hardware issues have probably prevented them from getting more sales, the 360 is running out of life.

With my likely jump to PS3 sometime soon, I would give up a lot of stuff and memories the 360 provided me for three years. From 56,030 achievement points, Xbox Live Arcade, Rock Band and Guitar Hero taking my money week after week, and shooter-heaven with Halo and Gears, Microsoft has been pulling the right strings in terms of giving people more games that people want on their system. I don't mind being rhythm game-less for a year till the inevitable Rock Band 3 and Guitar Hero 5 come out. Their Live service has been proven a success over time even though you have to pay 50 bucks a year to subscribe and play against others online with XBL Gold. I spent so much money on anything Marketplace related from themes, gamer pics, Rock Band songs, DLC, XBLA games, and so on. Plus, I will leave behind a friends list of 60+ people even though 20 of them are worth playing against (Gears 2, SSFIIT HD Remix). I am keeping my 20 GB HDD in case as I have an extra 20 GB that came with the Halo 360 to sell off.

I still feel that it is not too late to get a Playstation 3 right now considering that their 2009 lineup is stacked compared to 360 and Wii. There is still time to catch up on past games that came out the past two years (MGS4, LittleBigPlanet, Uncharted, Resistance 2) till the new year's batch of first-party games and exclusives (Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, God of War III). Sony's PS3 is a little open towards external devices compared to Microsoft's strict hardware policy on 360 specifically in terms of hard drive space. You can actually use external hard drives on PS3 rather than the 360-only hard drives that are expensive for how much space contained. Sure, I have to buy a new set of accessories for the PS3 (PS Eye, another Dual Shock 3, the ugly chatpad, the awesome PS3-branded Bluetooth headset that comes with SOCOM), but the system itself is more reliable compared to the 360's hardware issues.

If the plunge happens, I want it to happen this weekend. I had enough with the 360 and their stupid hardware problems. I'm tired of wasting money on DLC, themes, and pics. The Playstation Store seems more friendly now with less themes, quality over quantity PSN titles to buy (double dip for SSFIIT HD Remix, WipeOut HD, and upcoming original and innvovative games like Flower and Noby Noby Boy), and Home (it had a rocky start, but the potential is still there to be special compared to the 360's NXE). I also have to cancel my Xbox Live subscription and sell everything Xbox related (my Halo 360 in its current shape, all of my games that I have now, guitars, RB1 drums, controllers, and other accessories) to get enough store credit to pay the system for less. Sorry, Microsoft, I gave you too many chances, but now it is time to join the light side.

UPDATE - The 360's other major hardware issue, stratching discs, has reached the front page of Yahoo. Think about that too if you're still enjoying their system.

If anyone thinks I'm changing to a PS3 fanboy after this, then that's your opinion. I still like the 360 because of its advantages, but its weaknesses are turning to a boiling point for me. Do you still want to believe in the past and present ways Microsoft provides you, or believe in the future with Blu-Ray and more originality with Sony? That's your call...

Will my tag change?? - Hopefully no... My PSN ID will be the same (G Unit Ver1)

UPDATE 2 - This plunge is officially going down this weekend!!!

Games I would buy on PS3 that I want now...

• LittleBigPlanet
• Metal Gear Solid 4
• Motorstorm: Pacific Rift
• Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
• WipeOut HD
• SSFIIT HD Remix
• Pixeljunk Eden
• Buzz Quiz TV
• SingStar

PS3's current 2009 lineup that is stacked...

• Skate 2
• Street Fighter IV (now I have to change my pre-order from the 360 version)
• Flower
• Noby Noby Boy
• Killzone 2
• Resident Evil 5
• Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion
• Infamous
• God of War III (probably 2010)
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• Final Fantasy XIII / Versus XIII (2010 as well)

Street Fighter IV on tonight's X-Play...

Tonight's X-Play on G4 (whether u love the channel or not) had a preview of the console versions for Street Fighter IV. While the gameplay footage is not as good as what I posted related to my current favorite game, the interview with Capcom's Seth Killian (I met him at Comic-Con) is surprisingly good (it is a sort of basics interview in terms of questions if u played the game like me lately) if you're never paid attention to the game yet with what's in the console versions, the focus attack, and the online being as good as SSFIIT HD Remix latency wise according to Seth. And yes, I'm buying that stick they showed during this preview (already pre-ordered with the Limited Edition, currently 360, but maybe PS3 if things go the right way).

I can't believe the console versions are just two months for release now.

Semi off-topic: 1up's Game Night might happen this Wednesday featuring either this game or Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Considering G4 is the first preview of the console versions, expect the major game sites to follow with their previews sometime during the week (Also there's a SF IV preview on the new Game Informer with Uncharted 2 on the cover).

Another Q Entertainment game goes Live... The Meteos Wars Review

Q? Entertainment has been a great supporter for Xbox Live Arcade releasing their successful games that were in previous systems for the current generation of consoles. Lumines Live, Every Extend Extra Extreme, and Rez HD have been wonderful games for the 360 with their artistic experiences of combining visuals and music. Meteos Wars is their fourth game on Xbox Live Arcade being a HD version of Meteos, which originally came out on the Nintendo DS in 2005. For those who never played Meteos before this one like me, it is an unique puzzle game matching up puzzle blocks to launch up rockets to the sky. It is as addictive as other puzzle games like Lumines as well as easy to pick up and play once you understand the core concepts. For this Xbox Live Arcade version, stylus-based controls that were in the DS original are replaced by the controller along with HD graphics and online play. Even though it is Q Entertainment's worst downloadable game so far compared to their previous games, Meteos Wars is still worth playing if you're a fan of the franchise and the developer themselves.

Meteos Wars has three single-player modes and online play, a first for the franchise. If you want to play alone, there is the Mission Mode, in which you face off against seven other planets on varying difficulties in succession. The object of competitive play is outlasting your opponent by letting their screen fill up to the top (at least one column is required) or outscoring them if under a time limit. On harder difficulties, the computer A.I. will give you a fight as good skills and fast reflexes are required to defeat them. This mode is worth it for the challenge, but the attack modes like 1-minute attack, 100 meteo-attack, and challenge attack are also worth playing testing various skills whether to score fast or survive. Multiplayer consists of both local and online by matchmaking. The online aspect of Meteos Wars is arguably the most disappointing feature with the majority of matches against online opponents lagging from the start. As a fast and frantic puzzle game, any sense of lag just makes the game feel slow and clunky, which is really unfortunate. Plus, there is not a lot of people that play it online which also takes a while to find matches. 

The core gameplay of Meteos Wars borders down to whether or not you like the controls. Those who played it previously on the DS, the touch-based controls feel right for speed and precision. On the 360 controller, moving pieces around consist of either the right analog stick or the face buttons, which feel slow compared to the DS controls. Those who never played Meteos on DS will adjust to the pad-based controls, but I can tell why this game is meant for a stylus. There is a diverse selection of planets to choose from to face off against CPU opponents or online. Certain characteristics like how the speed of rockets go up, the type of pieces used, and the size of the board do matter when choosing a planet to use. In addition, the Planetary Impact, a new gameplay feature for this version of Meteos, allows planets to do special attacks against the opposition like giving them a crater of unusable blocks or a beam that can eliminate columns of blocks. More planets are unlocked by beating the Mission mode a number of times on varied difficulties as well as accessories to dress up an avatar for doing certain tasks and achievements.

Graphically, the XBLA version of Meteos looks good enough in high definition. On certain planets, the pieces can look small compared to planets that have bigger boards which could be a little distracting at first. Of course, it is not as graphically intensive compared to their previous games like Rez HD since it is a straight out puzzler. There is no sense of slowdown during gameplay other than the occasional lag online as well. As for the sound, it delivers just like Lumines with various electronic tunes and the fusion of music into the gameplay when different sound effects come out as rockets are getting blasted to the sky.

 

Despite control issues and a lack of modes to play, Meteos Wars is still a good puzzle game for 800 Microsoft Points (ten dollars). The gameplay is still as addictive like previous versions for both solo and competitive play. The amount of planets to choose from and learning how to master the gameplay makes it surprisingly deep (If you know how to screen clear effectively, you will dominate online). There is enough replay value offered in terms of unlocking more planets, accessories, getting all 200 achievement points, and downloadable content. There is also a great stat system that tracks everything you done in the game from how many times you beaten mission mode, your online win/loss record, and other gameplay related stats. The online multiplayer is a disappointment as you are bound to run into a laggy match almost every time. If you love puzzle games that can be played in short bursts or a fan of Q Entertainment, Meteos Wars is worth your time and money.

Score = 7.5/10

Pros:

• The core gameplay of matching up blocks to build rockets translates well in HD
• Great puzzle game that can be played in short bursts
• The execution of the audio into the gameplay lives up to the developer's pedigree
• Enough replay value to keep players busy (unlocking more planets and accessories)

Cons:

• The 360 pad-based controls feel slow compared to DS touch-based controls
• The online multiplayer is a big disappointment thanks to lag happening in the majority of matches being played
• Lack of modes (both single and multiplayer) - Maybe more will added as DLC

The Intro Video for Skate 2...

Skate 2 is out next month and a great start for the new year. The intro video is now out courtesy of IGN maintaining the same style as Skate 1's intro with the hospital setting. This time the skateboarders are acting inside a prison of sorts and it is awesome. Well, compare the two intros (Skate 2 is above, Skate 1 is below) and determine which is better. To me, they're both equally awesome.



Random off-topic comment: Damn, Kanye West was at KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas concert last night as a surprise guest and I missed out. I expected it and didn't believe it would happen, but KROQ pulled it off after all.

A New X-Men Origins: Wolverine Trailer...

I don't know if it is the same trailer from San Diego Comic-Con, but now the X-Men Origins: Wolverine Trailer is now available for viewing everywhere and hopefully it will be awesome taking away the stain that was X-Men III: The Last Stand. Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine in this origin story, the Weapon X project, and so on. His rival Sabretooth is in this movie plus other mutants like fan favorite Gambit finally in a X-Men movie. It is expected to show up in theaters on May 1st, 2009 and likely lead the summer blockbuster season.

Perhaps the sickest thing done in Rock Band 2 so far...

Last weekend, four of the best Rock Band players joined forces to unleash a 100% full band FC unlike no other, which is "Snow" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. If u know this song in Rock Band, it is notoriously hard on guitar (I can't even pass this song on Expert and eventually deleted it). Full band FCs are pretty crazy, but this one is just on another level. Check out their videos if you want to see more full band FCs especially the vocalist Vixenita's videos since she is the "Queen of Vocals."

Off-topic 360 is crapping up again news/rant:

Ever since I got my Halo 360 back from repairs, a new problem rose with my console not reading discs anymore. I think it is the console itself (maybe even the disc tray) rather than the discs themselves since it takes a few tries to get it somewhat working. This is the case when I play Gears 2, Banjo, NBA 2K9, and rarely Rock Band 2 ("Hello There" Intro skips). At this point it is getting frustrating that I feel giving up on Microsoft's beloved system to head to the light side (aka Sony's Playstation 3 despite their lack of sales this holiday season). I was excited to play Gears 2 because of the new maps that came out today, but the disc read errors is getting me angry to a certain point. I guess I'm sticking to my downloadable games for now (Meteos Wars - review of that later today, and SSFIIT HD Remix).

The Trailers shown at the Spike VGAs...

The Spike TV Video Game Awards are going on now here at the West Coast and while the awards aspect is laughable in terms of who won, the major attraction is the exclusive trailers of some of the hottest games for the next year. One of the big trailers being shown is another teaser for God of War III (above) and it looks good for being a tease of more Kratos ownage. Other big trailers are below.



Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is the first major DLC for Rockstar's fourth entry in the GTA franchise. While it is more GTA IV than just Niko starring this bike gang, it is coming out on February 17, the same day as Street Fighter IV, and it is likely taking a pass for a while. Exclusively on Xbox Live, I think this new storyline is a good enough reason to return to Liberty City one more time despite GTA IV being somewhat overrated (more on that soon in a later blog post).



Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is next up and it looks as good as the first game in which now Nathan Drake is transversing through snow and if you want to read more on what's new, check out the new Game Informer issue with this game on the cover. In this trailer above, looks like Drake is in a bad spot inside a falling bus.



Finally, Brutal Legend still lives!!! The next game by Double Fine (The folks that brought you Grim Fandango and Psychonauts) now has a publisher, which is EA as expected. Considering Double Fine's pedigree, this game is going to be good no matter what.

The latest Final Fantasy XIII Trailers now available for U.S. viewing...

These trailers for Final Fantasy XIII (above) and Versus XIII (below) have been seen before over at Japan because of a Square-Enix event that happened during earlier this summer, but now they're available for viewing online everywhere else. Yes, the CG still looks amazing for both games (keep in mind Versus XIII is made by the Kingdom Hearts team), but still no new gameplay is being shown yet. Plus, most of us still don't know what the hell is going on story-wise and how these two games are related within the same setting and universe. The FFXIII Demo is expected to come out sometime in Spring 2009 within the Blu-Ray edition of FFVIII: Advent Children over at Japan (at least PS3 is somewhat region-free for U.S. people to mess with). As for these games themselves, there is still no clear release date for either of them. Based on speculation, the earliest FFXIII would be released is around Fall 2009 and Versus XIII sometime in 2010.

Final Fantasy Dissidia is out next week at Japan...

Final Fantasy Dissidia, the fighter/RPG mash-up of Final Fantasy characters, comes out for the PSP next week at Japan. This is definitely not your typical Final Fantasy game as pretty much every significant character from this legendary franchise is in the game in some way or another. Here's a Cloud / Sephiroth battle as an example of the fast and frantic fighting that Dissidia has with the infamous "One Winged Angel" song playing in the background. Also, it seems that signature moves are there in some capacity. Supposedly, the story mode takes 40 hours to beat on average, but those who want 100% completion can exceed 100 hours. As for a U.S. release of Dissidia, it is likely sometime next year (look how long Crisis Core came out between JP and US versions), but those who are willing to play it next week can since the PSP is region free.

A New Trailer for Terminator Salvation...

Here's a better trailer for a better movie compared to Dragonball, which is Terminator Salvation starring Christian Bale (Batman from The Dark Knight) as John Connor. Expect this movie to be one of many big summer blockbusters next year in theaters.

The 1st Dragonball Evolution Trailer is out...

Finally, an official trailer for the Dragonball live-action movie, now sub-titled Evolution (still a bad title), is now out with the movie releasing in March 13, 2009.

And yes, this movie still sucks...

The last amazing PS2 game is out here!!!

SMT: Persona 4 is finally out in the States today for the PS2 (Wow I have been plugging anything Japanese related today with TvC and Dragon Quest X). Even though I'm not a Japanese RPG fan, I do respect this franchise's recent greatness with Persona 3, FES, and now Persona 4. For those who don't know about this, it is pretty much the best non Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy based RPG series around in gaming with its unique and unorthodox style. The anime look is awesome and it is just full of crazy stuff (hence the intro and amazing music above). Yeah, it is on the PS2 and most of us have now to the current generation of consoles, but those who still never jumped in to the HD Era yet, this is indeed the last amazing game on the PS2. I highly recommend buying this if you're a crazy JRPG fan especially after disappointments in the current generation this year like The Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery (Lost Odyssey, Tales of Vesperia, and Valkyria Chronicles seem to be the good JRPGs this year for 360 and PS3).

Plus, there's also Kingdom Hearts: RE Chain of Memories that came out last week on PS2, which is the remake of the GBA game with PS2 graphics (that appeared on KH II Final Mix last year). Anyone that skipped the GBA original should check this one out even though this takes place between the first and second games. Its no Kingdom Hearts III or even any of the upcoming handheld games, but for Kingdom Hearts fans, it is worth it if u haven't played KH II Final Mix yet. Then again, I'm not a Kingdom Hearts fan either, but I might as well plug this one too.

Anyway, buy Persona 4 if u still have a PS2!!!!

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is out at Japan!!! (Plus a updated bombshell!!!)

My only reason for a Japanese Wii these days is for this one game, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes. It came out today at Japan (its the 11th there I guess) and likely be only there for a while since the Wii is not region-free. It is also out on arcades there, but I think it won't get the console exclusive characters like Viewitiful Joe. For those who don't know, TvC is the next crossover game by Capcom (last crossover game in this style is Marvel vs. Capcom 2) and supposedly going to be the second coming of the versus series (They don't have Marvel licensing anymore). Just like MvC2, the controls are a little awkward at first not being a six-button fighter like the Street Fighter games, but focuses on four buttons of light, medium, and heavy attacks (no punch or kick variety) and something else I forgot. The Wii version also has mini-games that utilize the Wiimote for specific things. The roster is a who's who of Capcom and the Tatsunoko anime brand (which is why a U.S. release is doubtful because of that licensing). At least the Capcom lineup supports a diverse cast from past and recent games like Soki from Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, Batsu from Rival Schools, and a Lost Planet Vital Suit (Hell, even the final boss of Okami, Yami, is a final boss). I do hope Tatsunoko vs. Capcom comes out officially in the States in some fashion whether on the Wii, or some arcades willing to pony up for an official cabinet (especially here at SoCal).

Random UPDATE: So Dragon Quest X is just announced exclusively for the Wii which is another reason to pony up for a Japanese Wii and DQ IX is not even out yet on DS (now on March 28 at Japan). For those you don't know Dragon Quest, it is the biggest RPG franchise in Japan (yes, even bigger than Final Fantasy). Getting DQ X exclusive for Wii is a big thing for Nintendo and now they pretty much own Japan with that announcement (the Wii and DS continue to dominate Japan - well maybe till Final Fantasy XIII comes out on PS3 there).

Basically the Wii's future might be not so bad after all.

• Tatsunoko vs. Capcom (I want this game!!!)
• Punch-Out!!
• Sin & Punishment 2
• MadWorld
• Monster Hunter Tri
• Dragon Quest X (likely in 2010 at this point)

The Boxing Torch has been Passed...

I just came back from watching Manny Pacquiao owning Oscar De La Hoya in a boxing "dream match" and let's just say the boxing torch has been passed. Right from the beginning you can tell who will win and Manny goes all off on Oscar throughout the whole fight. Clearly, Golden Boy looked like an old hag going at heavyweight speed compared to Pac-Man's quickness and evasive tactics. Oscar was flat outmatched and outclassed tonight as pretty much the changing of the guard has taken place with Manny proving in a big fight setting being the best pound-for-pound fighter in the boxing business today. The TKO win at Round 9 felt right as Manny was punching Oscar left and right for the previous eight rounds. I was disappointed there were no knockdowns as Golden Boy knew he was defeated and had to throw the towel. It was better for him to do that anyway rather than get knocked out, so he admitted defeat in a cowardly way I guess. The Philippines is probably still rioting and go crazy over this win, but Pac-Man fought a smart fight and decisively beat Golden Boy up tonight.

Anyone playing the Resident Evil 5 JP Demo?

The Japanese demo of Resident Evil 5 is out for 360 (a week or two later on PSN), which is basically a run-through (also playable for co-op) of the demo levels we have seen tons of times, but it is finally nice to have this out as a download. Even though I would love to play this now and desperately get a Japanese account, I can wait since this exact demo to be released next month in the States. For those that don't have it, here's what the demo provides in these clips.

Tekken 6 BR is out this month at Japan...

After nearly a year of vanilla Tekken 6, Bloodline Rebellion is coming to Japanese arcades in less than two weeks (the 18th). Hopefully, some arcades here at SoCal are willing to pony up for the new board a month or two after. While I'm still bummed that the console versions are coming out in Fall 2009 rather than the the summertime, it will be a feature-complete fighter like previous games. Then again, there are rumors that Namco might go the console exclusive character route again for Tekken just like Soul Calibur IV and honestly, there's enough characters (like 30+) in Tekken 6 BR, and why are they adding more just to get more sales (Well, this ploy worked for Soul Calibur IV). Anyway, here's the latest trailer from an Atari European event (they're publishing it at Europe) and what looks to be the new intro with Jin riding on the bike doing crazy things and then meeting up with Kazuya to maybe finish it all. It's just crazy that Street Fighter IV came out on arcades later than Tekken 6 and it is coming out for consoles before Tekken, which shows which company is handling their franchise right or wrong I guess. I just hope Namco doesn't screw up the Tekken franchise like they pretty much did with Soul Calibur personally (compare that to Capcom's handling of the Street Fighter machine these days with SSF2T HD Remix out and kicking ass and SF IV taking over my life soon).

The best week of Rock Band DLC comes out next week...

Okay, it is not really the best batch of songs as Rock Band DLC ever, but close enough to me since the highly anticipated No Doubt compilation (Basically their Greatest Hits album, The Singles 1992-2003,) comes out on Tuesday for 360 owners and Thursday on PSN. The 13 songs are indeed the best of the best from them.

• "Just A Girl"
• "Its My Life"
• "Hey Baby"
• "Bathwater"
• "Sunday Morning"
• "Hella Good"
• "Underneath It All"
• "Excuse Me Mr."
• "Running"
• "Spiderwebs"
• "Simple Kind of Life"
• "Don't Speak"
• "Ex-Girlfriend"

I'm really curious how the Rock Steady stuff will play out in Rock Band 2 since most of their singles are not really rock at first glance. For the females that are worried about the lack of songs catered to them, this is just perfect and will be amazing for parties. Now thanks to this pack of songs, I should have another big gathering soon to test these songs out.

Guitar Hero WT finally gets the right Pumpkins song...

Even though I prefer Rock Band 2 than Guitar Hero World Tour in terms of rhythm game to get this holiday season (Guitar Hero 5 already happening next year = Boo!!!), some of GHWT's DLC is actually pretty good songs-wise (chart-wise is a toss-up) like this Smashing Pumpkins Pack that came out today. "1979" headlines the pack and probably the other popular mainstream Pumpkins song that has not been available on these games (You can argue for other Pumpkins songs) till now. Now I won't mind "1979" in Rock Band 2 someday, but who knows when that will happen. At least next week for Rock Band DLC is the No Doubt compilation pack (Likely, not confirmed yet), which I will buy in a heartbeat.

Plus, my Halo 360 is back (Finally!!!) and working.

Numerous reasons MvC2 is broken...

This combo video contains numerous reasons why Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is a "broken" fighting game yet people like me still love it. This game just has too many combinations and possibilities, which is why videos like this can happen. Of course, MvC2 is a high-tier fest in tournament play. but coming up with crazy combos like here is just another tip of the iceberg for this eight-year old fighter.

More time trials for Mirror's Edge soon...

Nuevos mapas para Mirror´s Edge from Electronic Arts on Vimeo.

The first downloadable content for Mirror's Edge is shown in this clip which is more trials, but not in the city the game is set at. Instead, these time trials feel like MGS VR Missions style levels in some random spot. This DLC is expected to come out next month and who knows if it is PS3 exclusive or not since they were promised exclusive DLC.

The definitive fighter for the fans by the fans... The Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Review

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix has been through a lot since its announcement in the beginning of last year. You can tell that it is Capcom's biggest and most ambitious downloadable game to date considering how popular the original Super Turbo is for fourteen years. From the new art courtesy of Udon Comics, the folks that also do the art for the Street Fighter comic books, and the new rebalanced gameplay that was consulted by professional players, this ain't your ordinary downloadable game or port. This HD Remix feels like a high budgeted fan-made project for the fans that is still fun and nearly perfect as a fighting game. As if Street Fighter is back in a big way with Street Fighter IV, Super Turbo HD is a reminder why fighting games are still around and its renaissance has just begun.

The biggest purpose for this HD Remix is the rebalanced gameplay since the original Super Turbo was fairly unbalanced for a while. Higher tier characters like Balrog and Dhalsim dominated while low tiers Cammy, T. Hawk, and Fei Long struggle to compete among the rest of the roster. Lots of changes have taken place for this rebalance even though most of them don't seem so obvious at the gate. While it still plays the Super Turbo we all know and love for more than a decade, the new changes make it a completely different game and there is a reason to use every character because they were changed mostly for the better. Some characters gained new moves like Ryu's fake fireball and Bison's fake slide while the majority of the cast have easier inputs for their special moves. For example, Zangier and T. Hawk are even dangerous with their simpler commands for their special throws and E. Honda can absorb fireballs with his jab Sumo Headbutt. Akuma is also now playable and balanced enough to be a viable character like he is in later Street Fighter games, but he is still difficult to beat in the single player arcade mode. If you're not a fan of the new changes, you can still play HD Remix the classic way and it is still as good as it was in the 90s, but the new changes do make the rebalanced mode more fun for veterans and friendly to newcomers.

ST HD Remix offers single and multiplayer modes typical of the fighting genre with the standard 12-stage arcade mode of defeating eight opponents and then the four bosses (Balrog, Vega, Sagat, and M. Bison). In the original Super Turbo, the difficulty was notoriously hard with the computer A.I. nailing combos and reversal attacks like nothing as if they were human characters. Now in HD Remix, the difficulty is toned down to an easier level as if it is a warmup for the online mayhem. Speaking of the online multiplayer, it is the best online fighting game out now with the best netcode for a fighter (near GGPO-like) with lagless matches. The online's structure is the normal quick and ranked match options along with the quarter match feature that was in the disappointing XBLA port of Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting. There is also a tournament mode to set up brackets of players to match up. Of course, your connection does matter when playing online, but my experience online has been nearly perfect despite some laggy moments, disconnects, and random bugs revolving the display of health meters and the screen itself.

Graphically, this HD Remix feels like a whole new game thanks to the new art done by Udon. The move animations still feel the same as they were fourteen years ago with these new sprites and even the projectiles and flame effects are unchanged. The stages themselves are also remade with the new art and now the detail is there in the background of various people doing random things. The game also goes widescreen because of being HD and still looks beautiful as if it is a comic book on whatever size TV it is on. Even the endings are remade with the new art to tell the characters' stories better. For purists, you can still turn on the old sprites for the characters, but the stages don't go back to their original ways so the old sprites in the remade backgrounds feel out of place.

As for the sound, a new soundtrack was made specifically for this HD Remix courtesy of Overclocked Remix, a recognized group of remixers for video game music. It is perhaps the greatest soundtrack for a fighting game with these remixed tunes using different genres of music from the rocking Ken BGM, the jazzy Vegas-themed Balrog BGM, and the epicness of Fei Long's stage. Even though it may not feel like true fighting game music for some, these tunes are simply good enough to play even in everyday activities. If you're not a fan of the remixed music, there is still the old-school music to bust out to if you prefer that. The sound effects and voices remain unchanged, but I am bothered when I usually hear the left side player's voice and don't hear the right side player's voice at all. Also, some voices were changed for the better like Guile's Sonic Boom voice returning to his old Street Fighter II ways and even a new announcer, but other nitpicky sound bugs like the music not playing sometimes when playing online matches prevent this amazing game from perfection.

Even though Street Fighter IV will be the true second coming of Street Fighter II and the center of the fighting game renaissance, Super Turbo HD Remix is how a remake should be handled when in the right hands. It is the definitive fighter for the fans by the fans from the rebalanced gameplay allowing the whole roster to be competitive, the new art by Udon, and the awesome remixed soundtrack. For 1200 Microsoft Points (or fifteen bucks), you're getting a lot of game out of this HD Remix for fighting game fans. There is enough depth for newcomers to try the game since it is easier to pull off some moves and supers for the majority of characters while veterans have to adjust to the changes that some old tricks might not fly in this remix. Despite some bugs and sound issues, HD Remix is close to perfection as a downloadable game and a complete package and it is the perfect time to play fighting games again.

Score = 9.5/10

Pros:

• Amazing rebalanced gameplay allowing the whole roster of characters to be competitive
• The new art by Udon comics make the game feel like an actual comic book
• Even with the rebalanced characters, the game is still as deep as ever
• A special remixed soundtrack that feels like a tribute to the original tunes.
• The best online netcode for a fighting game that is near GGPO level

Cons:

• Various sound issues like the 2P side not saying anything
• Random bugs like weird health meters and black screens do happen

The Trailer for the Evo 2K8 DVDs

This trailer is indeed hype with the influence being from a Nike commercial earlier this year. It is for the Evo 2k8 DVD set remembering the greatness that it is the Evolution Championships. I actually never been to one yet and I hope to some day. The games featured are Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Super SFII Turbo, Tekken 5 DR, SFIII: 3rd Strike, Capcom vs. SNK 2, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I think this will be the last year with that constient lineup of fighters since the genre to off to new and perhaps better things. My hopeful Evo 2k9 lineup will be... (the major games likely)

• Street Fighter IV
• Super SFII Turbo HD Remix (replacing old ST)
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• SFIII: 3rd Strike (people still play this)
• Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion (hoping console versions will be out at that time.

Missing there is Soul Calibur IV, BlazBlue, Virtua Fighter 5 R, King of Fighters XII, and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom since Evo does use console versions rather than the arcade versions. The Soul Calibur games don't really a great turnout at this tournament as well as the Virtua Fighter games, but enough people are there to do it even though it won't be like the turnout for MvC2 or SFIV. Plus, who knows when the console versions of BlazBlue and King of Fighters XII will come out and if before Evo, then they will be in some way or another. As for TvC, we'll see how many people here are willing to buy Japanese Wiis since this game is out next week at Japan and for the arcades too.

Revisiting a bear and a bird's first tale... The Banjo-Kazooie XBLA Review

Ten years ago, the original Banjo-Kazooie bust into the gaming scene by Rare for the Nintendo 64. It was the developer's return to the genre that put themselves to the map, which is the platformer. While it is their first 3D platformer, it was a great fan favorite on Nintendo's system using what Super Mario 64 did as a template to take the genre to different heights. It introduced us to the bear, Banjo, and his bird buddy, Kazooie, as they attempt to save his sister Tooty from the clutches of Gruntilda the witch. Now that Banjo is back in a big and better way in Nuts & Bolts for the Xbox 360, Mircosoft and Rare, with 4J Studios doing the development, decided to re-release their first adventure on Xbox Live Arcade to bring fans and new players to the franchise. This XBLA port is a great nostalgic trip for those like me who played it ten years ago and also a great way to introduce players to the Banjo-Kazooie universe.

Microsoft and Rare decided to let this port be free if you pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts. Otherwise, the game is 1200 Microsoft Points (fifteen dollars) for those who didn't do that. 4J Studios did a great job of making the original 360-friendly eliminating any Nintendo material (well except the Game Boy when selecting a file) and making the controls familiar and even simpler for those who experienced it the first time around. The game's core content remains the same of Banjo and Kazooie transversing through Gruntilda's Lair and the nine diverse worlds collecting jiggys (puzzle pieces) and music notes to progress through the game. The game's story and personality also remains unchanged with different characters that need help, Mumbo Jumbo changing Banjo to different animals pending on the world, and also the humor. Quite simply, the gameplay still holds up to today's gaming standards especially for the platformer genre since there isn't as much platformers in this current generation.

Even though the core gameplay still holds up today, the same frustrations from ten years ago are still here and it is the non-platforming elements. Flying and swimming are still a pain to control at times when trying to precise. This is usually the case for the swimming levels like Clanker's Cavern and Rusty Bucket Bay when trying to get those last notes or Jinjos to complete the level as one bad move in the water could often lead to a lost life. As for the flying, it is also frustrating at times with its turning and mistiming a Beak Bomb because the angle wasn't right. Aiming with the eggs is also another frustrating aspect that is still in this port when trying to get the angle right for the shot. Rare actually started going crazy in the collect-a-thon department in Banjo-Kazooie with collecting eggs, feathers, and Mumbo tokens, but it wasn't as overboard as let's say Donkey Kong 64. Despite these frustrations, the jumping and combat are the game's greatest strengths regarding its gameplay.

The original Banjo-Kazooie had a secret feature that is supposed to link up with its sequel Banjo-Tooie, but unfortunately, this feature, called Stop n' Swop, never really took shape on the Nintendo 64. For this XBLA port, Stop n' Swop makes its return and actually has a purpose that getting these secret eggs and the ice key will give you special parts for Banjo and Kazooie's new adventure, Nuts & Bolts. In addition, normal progression through the game also unlocks new gamer pictures for the player which also involves getting the achievements. Speaking of achievements, they are pretty much easy if you 100% the game getting all jiggys, music notes, extra honeycomb pieces to increase Banjo's health, and doing the bonus puzzles Bottles give you back in Spiral Mountain. Normally, it will take players eight hours to beat the game, but at least ten to twelve hours getting everything.

I was really impressed of the overhauled graphics for this Live Arcade port. The game has been cleaned up for the 360 with no jaggies and full widescreen support. While it still looks a Nintendo 64 game, it is definitely an improvement on the 360. With the cleaned up visuals, the game runs at a crisp 60 frames per second, but slowdown does occur at frequent times when swimming and even on the select file screen. This slowdown usually happens when running the game at 1080i, but supposedly gone when running at 720p or lower. The camera, typical of the platformer genre, can be bad at times when trying to get the perfect angle, but it mostly works well even though the camera controls like in the Nintendo 64 with the right stick acting like the C buttons. I hoped this port had full right stick camera control like today's games, but I guess 4J Studios had to keep it similar for purists.

The sound of this port remains unchanged maintaining the same charming soundtrack it had ten years ago. Back when this game came out in 1998, Rare did a great job of mixing a different version of a certain song in the same exact stage like running around in Gruntilda's Lair and then going in water allowing the music to change. This is also the case when visiting the nine themed worlds with varied versions of the background music. In the Nintendo 64 era, voice acting was a rarity and it clearly shows in Banjo-Kazooie when everyone talks like they're grunting to the point it gets a little annoying, but I'm glad they kept that in this game and Nuts & Bolts maintaining its charm and personality. The other sound effects can also be a little annoying when Banjo jumps around either single-handily or with Kazooie. Other than that, the sound still feels fine as it was ten years ago.

Banjo-Kazooie is still a great game to play in today's era of gaming as a nostaglic trip for those who experienced it ten years ago revisiting those great memories it provided. The port is handled very well by 4J studios with overhauled graphics and taking advantage of the connectivity with the other Banjo games in the franchise with the Stop n' Swop feature. The game still has the same frustrations with the non-platforming elements and moments of slowdown in certain parts of the game. If you pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts, you're getting a great deal getting this game for free and since the new entry is 40 bucks, it is perhaps the best gaming deal of the year. For those who didn't reserve it, you're still getting a great 12 hour experience for fifteen dollars to newcomers of the franchise and people dying to play a traditional platformer in this current generation. Who of thought that a bear and a bird could still be awesome when we are at a time when violence fills the gaming landscape. It is just nice and refreshing to play something that doesn't have guns or profanity.

Score = 8/10

Pros:

• A great 360-friendly port of the N64 game
• The Stop n' Swop feature finally matters especially if you're playing Nuts & Bolts
• Cleaned up graphics and widescreen support
• Core gameplay still holds up
• A great deal if you pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts

Cons:

• Non-platforming elements still feel frustrating as they were ten years ago
• Slowdown frequently happens at certain moments of the game (usually during swimming).
• For some people, 1200 Microsoft Points (15 bucks) might be too much considering it is a 12 hour game pending on their interests

Time to plug the SSFIIT HD Remix OST...

I still playing the hell out of SSFIIT HD Remix (just got the 100 ranked online wins achievement) and downloaded the official soundtrack that OC Remix has made specifically for this game the other day. It is perhaps one of the greatest soundtracks for a fighting game (Actually Street Fighter games have the best music of the genre with Tekken being runner-up personally) with so many memorable tunes being remixed to greatness. The only BGMs I don't really like are Zangief's and Blanka's. Other than that, I love everyone else's background stage music. I highly recommended downloading this soundtrack for fans of this game and the franchise, which you can download here.

Expect my SSFIIT HD Remix review tomorrow or Monday.

Off-topic stuff:

Okay, I got an e-mail on Wednesday from Microsoft saying my 360 repair is done will be shipped sometime next week. Then, I got a different e-mail from them today saying they haven't got it yet. WTF???? My Halo 360 better be back next week or I will be a little pissed off.

Also, Street Fighter Sackboys for LittleBigPlanet soon...  They're so cute and awesome!!!

SSFIIT HD Remix = My Thanksgiving Weekend...

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is finally here (Well, tomorrow on PS3 and Wednesday on XBLA) and I can't wait!!!!! Yeah, my Thanksgiving holiday is going to full of online ownage and ST greatness other than the usual holiday stuff like hosting the family party with likely a lot of Rock Band 2 because of little cousins, nephews, and neices, and dealing with Black Friday madness (maybe not on Black Friday). I'm currently borrowing a 360 temporarily till my Halo one comes back hopefully on Wednesday (It arrived at repairs today, so I don't know). If I really feel like it, a review may happen at the end of the weekend or sometime next week. Since my excitement is at a crazy high, it will get a very high score and potentially my downloadable game of the year (Rez HD is currently that one now) or even overall game of the year. I'm willing to try everyone out because of the rebalanced changes and use my arcade stick (My Hori EX2).

For a detailed feature list if u don't know everything HD Remix offers, Capcom Unity has a great post about that.

Off-topic stuff:

• I watched 24: Redemption today (TiVoed it last night) and it is a great preview for Season 7 on January.
  
• WWE Survivor Series PPV last night was crazy with Edge returning and winning the WWE Title (Yay!!!) and Cena winning the WHC (Booooo!!!)

I think I found my main for Street Fighter IV...

It turns out that M. Bison (Vega in JP) is my new main character to use for my current favorite game, Street Fighter IV. I have been watching videos of him in action like this match above and got around to play a similar style like whoever is playing him in that clip. I actually cleaned house with that style yesterday at Super Arcade winning most of my matches during that session. I just love his rushdown that leads to his faster and meaner Scissor Kicks (I'm still learning to time those Scissor Kicks during those rushdown combos, but I'm getting there). His Psycho Crusher is not that bad in this one and not has overpowered it used to be in SFII Championship Edition. I think he is one of the higher tier characters in SF IV due to what toys u can mess with from timed teleports, Head Stomps and Devil Reverses. It also feels satisfying to do his Focus Attack and then finishing it with his Ultra, as I got that timing down for that one.

I usually use the charge characters in this game (Blanka, Honda, Guile mostly till Bison) and I have decent success with them, but I think I will have better success with Bison if I play that rushdown style like in the clip above. I can still use other characters like the shotos (Ryu, Ken, and Akuma) and Sagat, but I don't do well as those guys (Sagat is the best character in SF IV now). I'm willing to learn the new characters like Abel and Rufus, but I haven't done so yet and trying to learn them as opponents is a little frustrating trying to figure what style they will play as. I'm also willing to use the console exclusive characters like Cammy, Fei Long, Rose, and Gen (sorry Sakura and Dan) when that comes out on February 17.

I just need to master the cancelling system (EX special cancels, focus dash cancels, and throw escapes) and I will be way better than I am now. I just love this game too much and I feel like playing it now again.

BlazBlue is out for Arcades...

Aksys Games, the folks that made the Guilty Gear games, has finally released BlazBlue to various arcades at Japan and the U.S. BlazBlue is basically a HD Guilty Gear with new characters and new storylines, but still plays it at its core with crazy air combos, supers, distortion finishes, and other technical stuff. The nearest arcade at SoCal that should have the game by now or in the coming days is Family Fun Arcade over at the San Fernando Valley for now (who knows if Arcade Infinity over at Diamond Plaza or Super Arcade at Walnut will get it either). Actually, I'm not that good at the Guilty Gear games (I use Ky as my main), but I'm willing to learn BlazBlue if I feel like it since the protagonist, Ragna (I think that's his name), is pretty awesome especially his Gambit Royal-Flush like super.

On the Fence: Lips

Lips, Microsoft's new karaoke game and potential SingStar killer, is already out for 70 bucks with two glittery microphones. It has been getting mixed reactions from just being other singing game to arguably one of the better ones around. At least it is the 360's best karaoke game with lame competition with such games like Disney Sing It! and the Karaoke Revolution American Idol series. The video quality of the music videos is pretty good and the soundtrack is not bad as I'm posting some favorites from the bunch that would be in heavy rotation if I bought this thing. Featured in this post are "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis and "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco, but there are other songs that makes Lips worth it like "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai, "Umbrella" by Rihanna, "With You" by Chris Brown, and more. Downloadable content is already out for Lips as well with "The Remedy" by Jason Mraz and "Violet Hill" by Coldplay ("All Star" by Smash Mouth and "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton is also announced). The other big feature Lips has is the ability to sing any song via portable devices like the Zune and iPod, but supposedly this feature wasn't executed as well as it could have with no music video support and lyrics (either know the song or try to BSit).



Microsoft's casual approach this fall had a rocky start with Scene It! Box Office Smash and You're in the Movies, but Lips is the best one of the bunch which gives them potential to do better if Lips becomes a "platform" like Rock Band (those mics need to be compatible with RB2 and GH World Tour anyway sooner or later). I guess if you're tired of singing rock songs in those mentioned games, Lips is worth the purchase for the diverse selection of songs across all genres.

Wanted on GameTrailers TV

The Wanted game is the cover feature in this week's GameTrailers TV revealing more of it since its initial announcement. The subtitle is called Weapons of Fate and it hopes to execute the experience of curved bullets well during Winter 09.

The other major game shown is F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, which is coming out on February 10 (another big month for FPSs with that and Killzone 2) and looking great so far. February is already turning to a stacked month with my favorite Street Fighter IV, the two FPSs, and the GTA IV DLC.

Other trailers that debuted in this episode are for Batman: Arkham Asylum (below) and The Punisher: No Mercy.

The 10th Anniversary of the Ocarina of Time...

10 years ago, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released on the Nintendo 64 and became to many people like me the greatest game of all-time. It was the beginning of a new era for the Zelda franchise being in 3D for the first time and also defining perfection for its time. It was considered the first "perfect" game in the Internet age of our society with 10s in nearly every game site in existence and still the #1 game in Gamerankings. You can read a detailed history of the game before its release in this NeoGAF thread made by TSA, perhaps the most known Zelda fan today. Otherwise, read on for my memories and thoughts of Zelda OOT.

Honestly, Ocarina of Time was my first Zelda game due to all the hype before its release on the N64 courtesy of Nintendo Power mostly. I remember that day 10 years ago in 6th grade getting the game at Toys R Us expecting something special and different as I wasn't really into the action adventure genre at that time. Unfortunately, I didn't get the infamous gold cartridge, but I was happy just having the game period back then. 

The intro just grabs you right away explaining the epic storyline involving the Triforce and being some nobody, which is Link, and then becoming somebody at the end of the game. It was a great beginning in the Kokiri Forest being introduced to your fairy friend and guide, Navi, and then realizing you're playing a 3D Zelda. Even the first dungeon, The Deku Tree, is only the beginning of the true adventure after getting the first Spiritual Stone and then seeing the tree die. Once you leave the forest, the first of many touching and emotional moments with Saria giving Link the Ocarina was amazing. Hyrule Field allows the game to have that openness the 2D games provided with the hub world filled with hidden secrets (all those holes for more rupees and heart pieces), important spots (Hyrule Castle, Lake Hylia, and Death Mountain). The day/night cycle is also one of many breakthroughs OOT had changing the perspective on things happening. Okay, I feel like I'm going to describe every aspect of the game now...

Another defining moment was the first meeting with Zelda in the castle revealing more of the storyline and how Ganondorf is one bad dude with a plan of world domination. More emotions and memories were there as I was watching that cutscene on Thanksgiving Day in 1998 and you couldn't skip it if you're in a hurry, which was the case that time before heading to a family party. The game simply opens way more than expected after getting Zelda's Lullaby for the Ocarina as well as Saria's Song. The ocarina was also a revolutionary game mechanic for its time being key to gameplay progression and even its customability when just randomly playing. Being Young Link in the first three dungeons (Dodongo's Cavern and Jabu-Jabu) felt like a great warmup of what's yet to come when you get the Master Sword in the Temple of Time.

Becoming Adult Link was another crazy moment in the Ocarina of Time. It opened up the game to a whole different level and a different aspect of the storyline with the time travel and Ganondorf taking over Hyrule. It almost became a whole new game with playing as Adult Link transversing through challenging dungeons like the infamous Water Temple. The different gimmicks these dungeons that challenged the player felt great and natural when dealing with the elements and having the neccessary equipment to navigate through these places. Even the boss battles turned up to 11 when being as Adult Link with Phantom Ganon, Volvagia, Morpha, Bongo Bongo, and Twinrova with the challenge and scale. When getting all the medallions, the final stretch truly begins in Ganon's Castle and the infamous Sheik reveal as Zelda was also another memorable moment and a WTF at that time when many people didn't expect it at all. The culminatic finale against Ganondorf (The castle escape) and eventually pig Ganon defined epic in every way as you feel like you want to kick his ass. After defeating Ganon in the end, I felt like I achieved something totally amazing and the ending felt perfect with the final blow along with what happened to Link and Zelda at the end.

The core gameplay of Zelda OOT was unique and original for its time with the combat system and the revolutionary Z-Targeting. Melee combat felt natural and precise as if you're in a real battle despite its limitations. Even projectile combat with the Hero's Bow, Hookshot, and the magic had that sense of precision when trying to aim at certain spots or switches. Yeah, the auto-jumping was awkward for something like this, but most people didn't mind it. The exploration and the completionist mentality also pushed players to new heights getting every weapon, heart piece, and everything else from the Gold Skulltulas, upgraded wallets, and bottles filled with blue potions. I unfortunately didn't 100% the game as I remembered missing two full hearts for the 20, the Ice Arrow (it wasn't a neccessity compared to its purpose in Majora's Mask), and the Poes.

I actually beaten the game in February 1999 because I was stuck in the Spirit Temple for a while and took a month break from it (I was playing F-Zero X at that time as well). I remembered doing the final stretch with Ganon's Castle on a Saturday and then the final boss battles on the next day after many attempts. It was kind of frustrating at that time for me deflecting Ganondorf's projectiles without Z-Targeting counting seconds to time the sword swipe. After beating the castle escape and pig Ganon in one attempt, I felt glad not doing it again without dying even though I was down to less than three hearts (with double life) and out of healing items. Stastically, I died only once at the Redead area getting the Hylian Shield getting the game over screen. After dealing with that, I was driven to never see a game over screen again as if I feel like I will die, I just reset the system and try again, which is the case in some areas.

Back in 1998, Zelda OOT was the best looking N64 game with many diverse locales that felt iconic. In addition to that, it had an amazing soundtrack and perhaps my favorite gaming soundtrack till Super Mario Galaxy. As for Nintendo games then and now, the lack of voice acting was noticeable, but no one cared being the silent hero. Many iconic tracks were in this game from some of the ocarina songs, the Hyrule Field BGM, and the Ganon battles. Other than that, OOT had amazing music and graphics (The music is still relevant, but the polygonal graphics had its run in the late 1990s).

I feel like I'm missing a lot of other stuff why Ocarina of Time is amazing as I could write about this all day. It established a core formula that was used for Wind Waker and Twlight Princess as those games couldn't match OOT's quality (Majora's Mask was a great departure, but I never finished it). Many memorable moments throughout the lengthy campaign has even touched people's lives. Its legacy continued to live on with speed runs of the game being beaten in three hours thanks to many exploits like the infamous power crouch stab and sequence breaking. I can't believe this game is already ten years old being out in arguably the greatest year of video games (Half-Life, Tekken 3, Metal Gear Solid, Starcraft, and many more) in 1998. To me, it was an one time and one time only thing as I beaten it once and never wanted to play it again (like Portal, Braid, and Super Mario Galaxy). You will never get the same feeling playing it multiple times compared to the first time which is the case for Ocarina of Time. I tried to play it again on GameCube with Master Quest (the harder version), but it didn't as special as it was the first time around.

So Happy 10th Anniversary I guess...