AndrewTS

I've played the Trusty Bell/Eternal Sonata demo. I quite like it, but have a few complaints. First off, I like that detail and care put into the overworld, and I hope the full game has some way more stunning environments. However, they don't really look too "next gen" to me, and more "slightly better than PS2." The visual style is definitely pleasant, with some really fine cel-shaded characters. However, it doesn't appear to have any voice acting--all of the cutscenes so far have been brief and very visual. As for the gameplay, there's good and bad. First off--enemies are visible in the overworld, so there's no random battles. Loading between the field and battle screen seems almost nonexistent (granted, that doesn't mean the same when it's off a disc, but we'll see). When you enter battles, you get a time-frozen look at the battlefield, and your main character gets to select his turn. Yes, it's turn based, but not really menu-driven. Each time a character gets a turn, the screen is frozen...you can look around the battlefield to plan your next move. You get a "time gauge" that starts depleting as soon as you do anything. The battlefield requires you to maneuver close to the enemies for close range attacks, or you can pick a more distant position for far range attacks (like spells). Before it empties, you'll probably want to position your character where the baddies can't easily retaliate, or gang up on a baddie if you want to finish it quickly. You aren't limited to one attack by turn, just time. A problem, though--all of the views are either too close or too far out; if they're too close, you can't see all the enemies, so if you plan to attack one then the other, or just move out of harm's way after hitting, you might need to switch to another view. It's kind of distracting to do so, especially since it's not a freely-controllable camera and you have so little time for your turn. The controls are laid out like this during battle: Left stick for movement, LB and RB for cycling through items. X to use a selected item, Y for a magic attack, B for guard (only used when you're on defense), A for your standard attack. The field has light and dark patches. Depending on the terrain you're on, you will do a different magic attack (specific to your character it seems). I assume you earn more/upgrade them and swap them as you wish. LB+RB will escape from battles. You have a lot of offensive options because of the terrain changing your attack, and space/placement (for example, your main character has a sword skill he uses that is identical to Crono's Slash in Chrono Trigger--a straight-line attack. So if two or more enemies are lined up, you can position yourself so that you can strike multiple targets at the same time. Defensively, you want to try to position yourself so that you can kill enemies quickly and avoid retaliation and team-ups. Attacking from behind takes longer but prevents enemies from guarding themselves. However, if you hit and run, you'll want to turn to face enemies before your turn is up. If you're attacked, you can use B to guard at the right moment when an enemy strikes. The biggest complaint I have with this setup is use of recovery items/spells. First off, it appears you may not be able to select another target for a recovery item. So you have to use a heal item on yourself if your life is low, but if you're too late a character may be KOed. There's a party member with a heal spell, but again you can't select a target. The game decides who "needs it the most", and heals them appropriately. This was a big problem with the boss fight I encountered, as my lead character in the front lines needed the healing far more than a backup character who took heavy damage, but wasn't in any immediate danger. Of course, this may change/have changed for the US/final JPN release.

Screw Halo talk (for now). How you like Crackdown? <---- My gamertag if you're up for coop Prediction: in H3 beta you'll get fragged a lot and be sore over it.

Bumped to say, um, there's going to be a Wii version at some point, and nobody is telling us about the controls. Source: like every game site right now. More importantly, I found this: Lara dies many, many, many times in the original Tomb Raider.

Yeah, I think there's like 2 of those games, too. They're like a whole cadre of palette swaps for no real reason, and it doesn't appear that any of them are related to Joe Musashi or his kin. Alex: Oh yeah--I forgot to mention: Alex, these "generic ninja" guys have *names*. Ryu Hayabusa is the Ninja Gaiden lead, Joe Musashi is the lead in most of the Shinobi games (Hotsuma in the PS2 game, Ibana is the lead in Nightshade, Sho in Legions). Joe and Ryu maintain distinctive looks through most of their games, as well. Are you a ninjaist?

I'd like to note that this Press Release is basically useless. First off, there's no indication of when the heck it is coming out, so it's probably coming out later than the other versions. And I've googled--the Wii version does not have an announced release date (it does say "in development" too). Secondly, nothing is mentioned about the control scheme. When you're mentioning a Wii point, the method/control scheme is going to be a big factor in choosing which version. Just a confirmation of GC controller or not would be acceptable, guys. Instead, all we know is that Wii version is coming, Lord knows when or how it will control. Gee, thanks guys. I appreciate that we're getting Wii ports of new games now instead of games that are already budget release on other systems (hello, Ubi). I think I'll just buy the PS2 game I *actually know the release date and controls for*. Eidos did something similar with the GC version--they announced a release for GC long after the current versions were out, said it would have exclusive content...and I don't know if it actually did. Nothing on the box or any reviews mentioned it. Looks dark blue to me. Ninja Gaiden 2 and 3 are quite distinctly blue, too.

I believe you're referring the horseback scene in Shinobi 3 on Genesis. So yeah, that would be Shinobi. With Ninja Gaiden, think 8-bit. Think blue ninja who primarily attacks with his sword. Think incredibly high difficulty and cheap deaths. Shinobi is more fair and balanced, although the original game and Shadow Dancer are basically arcade games/arcade style (so, harder overall, but still good). Oh, avoid Cyber Shinobi or Shinobi NES. Both are garbage. And the Game Gear Shinobi is really weird. http://www.gamespot.com/sms/action/shinobi...iews;continue;5 Here's an interesting comparison/review of the first game.

Yeah, part of why I stopped caring about Xplay is it became less about the reviews and more about forced skits and snark. It used to seem more balanced to me (not necessarily when Kate left, but after G4 took it over) a long time ago. I miss Leo the most from the network. That guy was awesome.

Halo was the Xbox killer app. That's not to say there weren't other decent/good Xbox games. However, Project Gotham and DOA3 weren't likely going to sell systems by themselves. Halo was, at the time, a phenomenon. It was the first good console title to offer a good online multiplayer (it seems), plus had solid single player as well. Most importantly, it was exclusive. Part of XBox 1's edge was its online play, but it needed something to really drive home the point that it was something you wanted. And I don't even really like Halo.

Is that the first "___ in peril?" continue screen, or can you name others beforehand? Other examples that come to mind is the dynamite wrapped around your guy in Final Fight, falling down that well in Mortal Kombat 4, and there's probably dozens more out there.

From what I gathered, people say single player Halo is better than single player Halo 2, while multiplayer Halo 2 is better than single player Halo. At least this is what my cousin believes, and I have no opinion on it. It appears hardly anyone plays Halo for single-player, though. So if that's what you're looking for, you're probably barking up the wrong tree, GQ.

Tomb Raider Legend got a late Gamecube release. Like, just before Twilight Princess hit Wii I believe. I don't see how you can easily confuse Ninja Gaiden with Shinobi. Shinobi's not so ridiculous hard. Ninja Gaiden is the series that is almost exactly like NES Castlevania, but with ninjas and awesome cinema scenes. And the Xbox series doesn't really have much to do with the NES games. Tecmo just wanted Team Ninja to make their ninja game(s) Ninja Gaiden for nostalgia's sake. I find the NES games frustrating yet accessible (thank you spirits for unlimited continues, a la CV). The Xbox game I find frustrating and inaccessible.

Extended Play was one of the better shows on ZDTV/TechTV before it was gobbled up by G4. TechTV/ZDTV had better shows and from what I understand better ratings, but G4 had more money behind it. My current cable company doesn't even carry it anymore, but it had G4TechTV for a little bit, and X-Play was basically the only watchable show because they cancelled everything else good. Icons was sometimes watchable. Judgment Day was gawd awful, mainly because of the dumbass midget fuck Tommy Tallerico. His partner in crime was some douchebag that was like the Michael Cole of video game TV, and sounded like just one of those clueless shills that plays on Gamestop closed-dircuit TV. My channel 3 is now CSPAN-2. Prime Minister's Questions is more entertaining than anything I was seeing on G4TechTV by the time they'd cancelled it, so I don't count it any major loss. I think I briefly remember Munn. They probably put Morgan on there because she brought the snark. I felt the one they had before her (Kate I think?) was a better host, though. Anytime MBs bring up Webb, there's the "she's a man, baby!" contingent and the "OMG SO HAWT!" contingent. Consider me in neither.

3 effin' dollars.

Rant: Well, since you have Crackdown, how about some Keys-less co-op sometime soon? Trusty Bell/Eternal Sonata demo has hit the XBLM...in Japan. I made myself a Japan doppelganger and I'm downloading it. Details on both here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155787

Get a room, you guys.

The problem is with Keys to the City, which is free. Actually it's not even that downloading it causes problems, it's being involved in co-op with somebody who downloaded it. Urk. The dev is working on a fix and have posted a workaround. And crap like this is another reason I'm wary of DLC.

I'm passing on the pay content for now, hoping it goes free eventually. BTW, saw a teaser vid of Naruto for 360: http://xbox360.qj.net/Images-and-a-video-f...pg/49/aid/92113 The license doesn't interest me terribly, but it's Ubi Montreal, and this one isn't a rushed movie tie-in like TMNT was, so I expect a good title.

I thought the Alpha OVA was pretty good (it had Ryu trying to keep from being taken over by the "dark Hado", lots of fighting, and I believe Ryu kicked Sakura's ass). There was a sequel I've never seen.

Since Raul's dead, it would basically have to be. Way to strike while the iron's hot. It's only been, oh, 13 years since the first movie and 7 years since the last original game was released.

Hopefully the game modes are free. I'd assume so for the achievement points. Oh, when Gundam Musou hits the US, there will be a 360 version released the same time: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/786/786814p1.html Ok, here's the Crackdown DLC lowdown. http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/05...te-and-dlc.aspx I'll pass on the pay stuff. It sucks you gotta buy the new vehics, but not entirely unexpected.

Mask of the Phantasm?

Enix fans--feel left out of the Square whoring? Good news! PSP is getting a full blown remake of Star Ocean and apparently a tweaked port of Star Ocean 2 as well. Oh, and Star Ocean 4 is coming too. http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3159370

Crackdown is awesome, haven't played the others. Crackdown is getting new DLC soon (I think all of it free), too, probably after the H3B ends.

Dragon's Curse is really good. Ristar is very good but if you can get it on Sonic Mega Collection + or Sega Genesis Collection go for that. New Adventure Island is decentish but the NES games are far better IMO. Beyond Oasis is good and it isn't on another current compilation.