GameHaven

Apologies,

2009-11-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

Whoops!

Apparently I accidentally mixed up the names in the credits sections on my last two posts- credit goes to Dan Zlotoff, not Romeo Corsi, for both of those!

Sorry!

Need for...Soundtrack?!

2009-11-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

I'm pleased to announce that the entire Need for Speed: Shift soundtrack has been posted online for your listening pleasure!

Link to MySpace Page – http://bit.ly/10neAP
Full Soundtrack List - http://bit.ly/nQ4kO
Official Site - www.needforspeed.com

Hope you enjoy it, drop me a comment with your thoughts!

-Phampok/lol_its_raph

PS. Big thanks to Dan Zlotoff and RocketXL for sending the links over!

Need for Speed Shift - Review

2009-10-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

Graphics-4/5
Need for Speed has always been a industry-leading franchise in terms of visuals. However, the past few entries in recent years haven't really lived up to that status, with other games such as PGR, Test Drive Unlimited, and Gran Turismo jumping ahead. However, Shift is a nice reform in status- it's beautiful. While it's certainly still not the prettiest game on the market, Shift really has a fine level of polish, from car detail and damage to the environments and weather. The presentation, in menus and in-game, is ultra-clean, although the white text can be hard to see at times.

Sound-2/5
The sound effects are awesome. All the usual car sounds, from the revving of engines to the screech of tires, are present. However, one big thing is missing- music. No music plays during races, only post-race, and what does play isn't very enticing. Voice acting by the narrator is pretty good at best; it's not too compelling and usually ends up getting skipped.

Gameplay-5/5
Need for Speed: Shift takes the track-focused racing of ProStreet and adds in many RPG-lite elements, resulting in an addictive take on the racing genre. Winning races builds up your Driver level and adds badges to your Driver Profile, earning you a reputation and more money to buy vehicular upgrades with. It's this "one more level" mentality that keeps the game fresh and helps players to keep progressing through the tiers in order to finish the game.

Online-4/5
Nothing too outstanding here, all the same basic matchmaking options. What's here works, and it's all that's expected from a racing game. Runs silky smooth and easy to figure out.

Closing Comments
Need for Speed Shift is a nice comeback after some less-than-impressive entries in the series and the challenge to constantly improve one's Driver Profile and level ends up becoming an addictive battle. Pop in your iPod while playing and you're good to go.

Overall: 4/5
Good: Looks good, easy to grasp a hold of, addictive, large variety of tasks
Bad: Weak sound

-lol_its_raph

NOTE: Thanks to Dan Zlotoff and RocketXL for sending me the review copy as well as supplying assets.

King of Fighters XII Review

2009-07-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Graphics-5/5
The first thing that pops out at the player when they boot up KOFXII are the absolutely stunning graphics. All the characters are beautifully drawn and the animations are top-notch. The backgrounds are very detailed and full of motion and nice effects. Everything from special effects to simple counters cause beautiful effects to appear, both from the characters and in the background. There really isn't much negative to say about the graphics- they're full of old-school 2-D appeal but sharper and crisper than ever.

Sound-3/5
While the graphics are great, the same can't be said for the sound. Yes, the music is great and fits the atmosphere marvelously. The effects, however, begin to grate on the player's nerves after just a few matches. There's only so many Japanese yelps and cries that a man can take before he begins to lose his mind.

Gameplay-3/5
KOFXII is a hardcore game. Button mashers need not apply- I tried and failed miserably. It's all about knowing a character's strengths and weaknesses and mastering all their combos. There's Arcade mode, Versus, Practice, and Online mode. Arcade is standard 3-on-3 KOF, trying to win as quick as possible. Versus is Player vs Player action, while Online just takes that action online. Practice is just that- a place to hone your abilities. The game is nice and plays nice enough, but it feels behind it's time. People want games that are easy to pick up and play, and KOF definitely isn't enjoyed best this way.

Online-3/5
Online's simple and fluid enough, with the standard quick matches, custom matches, and friend matches. I jumped into quick match for a bit and found the competition tough but it was fun enough. Players can also spectate other matches while they wait for theirs to begin, which is nice. However, there's just too much wait time between matches to stay hooked for too long.

Extras-3/5
The game comes with a custom KOF theme on the same disc and there's an in-game gallery mode, so those are both nice. But beyond that, there really isn't much extra to see or do here. It's nice addictions for big fans but otherwise nothing too special.

Closing Comments
KOFXII is a nice game for hardcore-fighting game fans and KOF die-hards. However, to the average fighting fan or casual gamer, it really can't be recommended when there are such better alternatives such as Street Fighter IV, Soul Calibur IV, or even Blazblue. Rent it for the trophies if you must, and if it happens to keep you hooked, then congratulations.

Overall: 3/5
Good: Beautiful graphics, nice sound, challenging
Bad: Hard for casual players, a bit too "old school"

-lol_its_raph

NOTE: Thanks to Romeo Corsi and RocketXL for sending me the review copy as well as supplying assets.

new again;

2009-07-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hey there!

It's been a while. A really long time since I've posted, sorry about that.
I've been working on my personal blog, raphabas.wordpress.com, and other things in my life.

Anyway, now that I'm returning, more or less, I'll be sure to update periodcally with some reviews.

Until then,
phampok (Actually, my new PSN ID is lol_its_raph)

bmth

2008-11-27T09:39:00.001-08:00

bring me the horizon is awesome.
check them out.

I Set My Friends on Fire

2008-11-26T14:05:00.000-08:00

Check them out.

Update- Hiatus

2008-09-13T15:09:00.001-07:00

Hey,

I realized I haven't posted in a while, and for good reason- I've been busy. Video game wise and otherwise, I haven't been able to squeeze in extra blogging time.
Video games? I just got Burnout Paradise, Rainbow Six Vegas, Need For Speed Carbon, and Mario Super Sluggers (Wii). Not to mention that the Warhawk trophy patch has hit and the SOCOM: Confrontation Public Beta has started, I've been super busy.
Otherwise? School, life, etc. Nothing too big, but you know how it is.
So, with a heavy heart, I'm hear to say that I'm going to be taking a bit of a hiatus.
Sorry.

Be back someday,
phampok

Update- Help Insomniac Games Choose R2's Cover

2008-08-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Apparently the folks at Insomniac Games need our help choosing Resistance 2's Collector's Edition cover.

Link to article here.

I say pick 3. Definitely.

Cheers,
phampok

Update- Burnout Paradise to hit PSN

2008-08-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Say whaaat?

That's right, the smash hit Burnout Paradise is going to be released on the PSN as a downloadable title for $20.

Just click on the picture for a link to the Official Playstation Blog post by Jeremy Chubb.

Sure, it's going to take a ton of HD space and I still prefer having it on disc...but this is still great news. Also, it won't be the same as a store-bough original copy- the downloaded version will already come with all the latest updates and patches installed.

That's entertainment,
phampok

Preview- Mafia 2 vs. Godfather 2

2008-08-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

With two big Mafia games coming out, Mafia II and Godfather 2, which one will you be the don of?

Godfather 2 (link to IGN article)

GF2 seems to be focusing on controlling the entire mob, as you can coordinate different minions and each action affects the mob's progress. Boasting a new visual style (which I hate), GF2 looks to be...interesting.

Mafia II (Link to IGN article)
Not much is known about this one other than a trailer (pre-rendered, by the looks of it)

So which one are you excited for, if at all?
Personally...Mafia II is looking to be a must-have.

Respect,
phampok

Update- Hurray!

2008-08-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Just another quick post to fill my daily quota! PSN update today, highlights being Bionic Commando: Rearmed ($10) and a demo, along with a demo of 1942: Joint Strike!
I played both demos and both are fantastic additions to the PSN library, I highly plan on buying BC:R at some point.
Then again, in a week, RaC:QFB is hitting the PSN.
Oh snap.

Peace,
phampok

Update- Cries for Far Cry 2

2008-08-13T09:32:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

As you can tell by the Far Cry 2 widget and the fact that I listed it as my number one anticipated game of '08, I'm all about Far Cry 2 here.

So, with that in mind, I've added a Far Cry 2 Flickr photo slideshow, right under the Chatbox.

So go check some of them out, it's some nifty stuff. Also, please feel free to say something in either the Chatbox or in a post comment. Thanks!

Wagh!
phampok

Personal- Lifestyle

2008-08-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Some of you may care, others may want me to shut up and get back to the games. Regardless, I figured I'd just put in an occasional personal post regarding my non-gaming life.

I recently had to put up with the misadventures of camping for nearly a week. Sure, I have a camper, but I still hated it. I could barely go outside because of the torrential downpours that occurred daily, and I got a raging case of poison ivy- still unhealed. My legs are monstrous.

I've also recently had the pleasure to go experience a local Ska show. Truly amazing. Bands playing were This is a Stick Up, Forty Lashes, and Silent Distortion (pictured). All three were fantastic and I bought a shirt from TiaSU.

Lately I've been also getting back on top of my running schedule, running a meager two miles a day. Yeah, it's not much, but it's something. I'll work my way up before track season starts.

Speaking of sports, that reminds me of school...sophomore year begins August 27th. I can't wait.

In other news, I've been in a Disney mood, watching Toy Story and the Hunchback of Notre Dame again. Toy Story is still brilliant and Hunchback is easily my favorite musical of all time, portraying a surprisingly dark side of Disney. I've also gone and seen The Dark Knight for the third time. Hurray? I like the movie, what can I say.

Besides my days being filled with music such as Bubba Sparxxx (Mainly his album Deliverance), Blink-182 (As always), Eve 6, Mindless Self Indulgence (Recently turned on to their older album Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy) and more, life's been pretty awesome.
Sure, thanks to my unruly personality my social life may have taken a hit, but I always find my way back up to my feet. Hopefully.

Two things to look forward to, really- Far Cry 2 on October 1st and a concert on October 10th (Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Thrice, Gaslight Anthem). Awesome.

Until then, that's this month's Lifestyle.

Peace,
phampok

Update- Warhawk update coming soon, v1.5

2008-08-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hey!

Get ready to soar to the skies again- Warhawk is getting patch 1.5 on August 27th.
Link to the awesomeness.
What's including?
Everything that matters.

-Custom in-game music (Hell yes)
-XMB Trophies (All 57 of 'em)
-Training Tutorials (About time)
-Retract Clan Invites
-New paint schemes/insignias (Hurrah)
-Ceremonial Blades (for Tourney contestants)
-"Rookie" Server Color-Coding

So, pretty much everything we asked for and more.
Screw the upcoming holiday season, I'm back to Warhawk.

Love,
phampok

Update- More Trophy Patches/Lists

2008-08-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Look at that- more games offering trophy support. Thanks to the always fantastic ps3trophies.org (Sign up today! You'll find me on there), we now have trophy lists for the following:

Retail
-Buzz! Quiz TV [25 Trophies]
-Uncharted: Drake's Fortune [48 Trophies]
-Warhawk (Patch is currently unreleased) [57 Trophies]

PSN
-PixelJunk Eden [20 Trophies]
-Super Startdust HD [17 Trophies]

For anyone that's counting, that's a total of 167 trophies. Ooh baby.

Get hunting,
phampok

Update- Layout Fixed

2008-08-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hey you,

Checkitout, my first day back and I already got on top of the layout issue- all fixed!

You love me,
phampok

Update- Back! Layout...messed up?

2008-08-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Back from camping, did you all miss me?
I bet you did.
But for some reason, my new Blogger layout isn't displaying properly.
Hmph.
Please be patient as I work to fix it.

Kthxbai,
phampok

Personal- Away

2008-08-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

I'm going away camping from Wednesday-Sunday...I know you'll miss me.
So, until then, behave.

Peace,
phampok

Update- The Last Guy

2008-08-05T06:55:00.001-07:00

Hey there,

Some of you may have already heard about the PSN's upcoming game called 'The Last Guy'. For those of you who haven't heard of this quirkly little title, the premise is simple- playing on Google Maps-esque areas, you guide a hero and must collect people into a parade to lead them back to safe zones without being killed by spiders/monsters.
Awesome? I think so.

However, a Japanese promotional website is allowing you to play a watered down version of TLG on any website- even this one! Click this link to play. (Move the mouse pointer to move, collect civilians, bring them to the green safe zone.)

Enjoy,
phampok

Preview- Bioshock

2008-08-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

As most of you know, the hit x360 game Bioshock is making its way to the PS3 later this year.
With added features and trophy support, many users are adding Bioshock to the top of their wish lists, but one question has remained- will the game have exactly the same trophies as the x360's achievements?
In a recent blog post on the Official Playstation Blog, Tynan Wales addressed this question.
While most of the trophies will be the same, the PS3 will be getting new trophies of its own. The only two confirmed, however, are both incredibly hard to get- 'A Man Chooses', a gold trophy awarded for beating the game on Survivor, and 'I Choose the Impossible', another gold trophy for beating the game on Survivor...without Vita Chambers.
So yes, PS3 gets its own unique trophies, but they're impossible to get.

Hurray!
phampok

Update- Epic New Layout

2008-08-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Notice anything different?
Yeah, I'm mainly pointing out the rather awesome looking new site layout.
Do you like it?
Yes? No? Oh, yes? A lot?

Thank you,
phampok

Update- Chatbox

2008-08-04T15:33:00.001-07:00

Hello,

Lookee lookee, chatbox added to the bar on the side of the site, right under my Twitterz.
Oh, speaking of that, y'like it? I can now keep you all updated on-the-go through Twitter being linked with my phone.
Cool.
Also, a nice Top 10! feature and a review of Condemned 2 have been posted.
Hurray?
I think so.

Peace,
phampok

Review- Condemned 2: Bloodshot

2008-08-04T14:39:00.001-07:00

Using a much more unforgiving and cynical review tone in mind, here's my review for Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3).

Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Genre: First Person Horror (2-8 Online) Developer: Monolith Publisher: SEGA Release: 3/18/2008

The Fake Sound of Progress

Why so serious? Oh wait, wrong article. Maybe I was confused because like the Joker in The Dark Knight, Condemend 2 is a sick and twisted romp through a dark world, filled with quick frights and fast action.

In Condemned 2, you play as Ethan Thomas- an ex-SCU-agent-turned-violent-alcoholic. The game's story is refreshing from other games on the market, and the sense of character is completely different. However, while the game starts off creepy , with a great story, by the game's end it spirals down into a mess of events dealing with everything from super powers to cult activity to inner demons. Nevertheless, if you can make sense of the story, it's a phenomenal one that I enjoyed thoroughly.

The game is brutal.

Sound wise, the game doesn't miss a beat and fares marvelously.The game's dialogue is excellently written, carrying emotional impact whenever the characters speak, and the game's musical score is exceptional, making your heart pound with tension.

Accenting the game's grim story is a beautiful graphics engine. Like the original, Condemned 2 is hardly a first-person shooter, but rather a first-person horror/action game. Seeing the game through first-person just shows how dark, grim, and simply beautiful the environments are. Character models look and move excellently, and the level design ranges from a hotel to a doll factory to a lodge in the deep country- constantly frightening. There are also plenty of visual effects, from black and white filters to hallucinations, the game is sure to make you mad if you play in the dark. However, it is at times overdone, detracting from the game's otherwise immersive experience and making you ponder how something even makes sense. Also, the game's liquid effects, particularly water, and its cut scene graphics are nothing to marvel at, at times even laughable.

However, a game's presentation can all be for naught if the gameplay isn't there to back it up. Thankfully, Condemned 2 covers the gameplay department fairly well. The game cuts back on the forensic part of the previous game and focusing more on combat, for better and for worse. The combat engine is marvelous, intuitive , and visceral, focusing on melee. However, the game does have a larger amount of gunplay this time around, which I didn't like. Also, there are still investigations to take part in, but are hard to complete if you're playing on a SD TV, as the investigation text isn't clear and you're forced to guess. Also, the games online play is very minimal, with few players and fewer modes. I can't help but wish that they had eschewed an online mode altogether and focused a tad more on the single-player.

Overall, the game does all a sequel should do- improve the graphics, add upon the story, and introduce new gameplay concepts. However, is it truly better? The brutal finishers from the first game have been cut back upon, there just seems to be an overload of unnecessary blood, the story spirals into madness, and the online play is useless. Does Condemned 2 take the series to new heights? No. Is it still an amazing, fright-filled adventure? Hell yes.

Overall: 8.5
Good: Beautiful, Immersive, Great Combat
Bad: Effects Overdone, Online Sucks, Gameplay hasn't truly evolved

Editor's Note: If this review could be based solely on personal preference, I'd score it as a 9 or so. Sure, there are more guns, Sure, the visual effects are overdone. Sure, the online may womp. Who cares? I still found this to be an amazing game and I love it, through and through. It may not be perfect, but it sure is awesome.

Thanks to IGN.com for Screenshots, and thanks to Gamespot.com for release info.

Preview- Skate 2

2008-08-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm excited.
What, you're not?
Watch that video again.
Looks incredibly promising, much more versatile than the first.
Here's hoping there's no game-breaking lag this time around.

Hurray,
phampok

Feature- Top 10! (Games of 08)

2008-08-02T11:54:00.001-07:00

Top 10!
...Games I want in '08

Another new feature for my blog, 'Top 10!' Here I'll post my Top 10...of anything! Top 10 favorite games of all time, Top 10 worst movies, Top 10...anything, anything at all!

So now, here's my Top 10...

Top 10 Games I want in '08!

#10. Saints Row 2

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Volition Inc.
Release: 10/14/08

Why? One look at that screen shot should answer that question. Dressed as a weiner, armed with a gun. Saints Row 2 is the goofy alternative to Grand Theft Auto 4- same open-world gang gameplay, but not hampered by realistic touches. Add a touch or two of zaniness that allows you to do things like, oh, I don't know...car surfing...and you have a recipe for success.

Why not? Can Saints Row 2 really be a hit in the wake of GTA IV? Also, this is the first Saints game on the PS3 (the first was a 360 exclusive). Will it still be functional, taking good use of the PS3? Or will it be a technical blunder, like The Orange Box?

---

#9. Star Wars: Force Unleashed

Publisher: LucasArts
Developer: LucasArts
Release: 9/16/08

Why? Combine amazing graphics and amazing physics (courtesy of the Euphoria engine) with slick controls and one of the most revered IPs in the world, and what do you get? One badass game that I for one can't wait for. It's the definitive Star Wars game, that's why. Well, at least until the next KOTOR.

Why not? Can SW:FU live up to all the hype? It still has the potential to be a dud and it has a lot to live up to. Will gameplay match the graphics? Or will this just be a pretty crapfest?

---

#8. Fallout 3

Publisher: Bethesda
Developer: Bethesda
Release: 10/7/08

Why? Take Bethesda's last game, the smash-hit RPG Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, hand them the reigns to Fallout, a revered classic set in a post-apocalyptic world, and let them go wild. What do you get? A faithful recreation of a destroyed Washington DC, with the intuitive VATS gameplay system, mixing turn-based with real-time, all depending on how you want to play.

Why not? It's a barren, post-apocalyptic world. If you're the only one alive, won't that make things a bit...boring?

---

#7. Mirror's Edge

Publisher: EA Games
Developer: EA DICE
Release: 11/11/08

Why? If Fallout's VATS system is intuitive, then words cannot begin to describe Mirror's Edge. Revolutionary, maybe? DICE is responsible for the utterly amazing Battlefield franchise, so I'm one who's eager to get my hands on their new IP. After all...parkour in first person? let's hope this is one game that doesn't slip and fall.

Why not? As with every new IP, no one knows what to expect, and something like first-person free running could be very tricky to pull off correctly.

---

#6. Brutal Legend

Publisher: Vivendi
Developer: Double Fine
Release: 12/2/08

Why? Tim Schafer, the creator of the amazing cult-classic Psychonauts (my favorite game of all time) is behind this game. 'Nuff said. In case you're not convinced, here's the scoop: open-world hack n' slash, homage to Metal music, lead character is voiced by Jack Black, online play.

Why not? Thanks to the Vivendi/Activison merger, there's a chance Brutal Legend will actually be scrapped. So that's a big 'Why Not'- it doesn't get released. Assuming it does, this would be Tim's first game with online, and it's a new IP.

---

#5. Resistance 2

Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Insomniac Games
Release: 11/4/08

Why? Possibly the biggest shooter to release this year, the hype around this game is huge. 60-player online matches, 8-player co-op campaign, robust online community...did I mention it's the sequel to the PS3's largest FPS yet? Oh, and it's by Insomniac Games. Yeah, go get it.

Why not? 60 player online matches could easily delve into madness, and sometimes 'more' isn't always the answer. Weill R2's online be able to match up to Call of Duty 4's deep and addictive online play?

---

#4. Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty

Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Insomniac Games
Release: 8/21/08

Why? Ratchet and Clank Future returns to the PS3 as a 3-4 hour, stand-alone, $15 downloadable romp. Introducing brand new light/dark gameplay elements, a larger focus on platforming, and more wrench abilities, this looks to be the perfect fix for Ratchet fans.

Why not? Will the $15 be worth the amount of time in the game? Will the new elements work with the series? Or is this entry just a cash-in?

---

#3. LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Media Molecule
Release: 10/21/08

Why? LBG is the most community-oriented game set to release this year, a cute and completely customizable platformer that lets you create everything, from your Sackboy's appearance, to the very level you play on. Add in four-player co-op...I'm sold. Play, Create, Share.

Why not? As with every new IP, LBP is a gamble, and hype is set so high it's almost guaranteed to fail. How can it possibly live up to its lofty goals of being the ultimate community game?

---

#2. Dead Space

Publisher: EA
Developer: EA
Release: 10/20/08

Why? Aside from the original Dead Rising, Condemned, and Siren, the amount of horror games has been lacking for next-gen. With no Resident Evil 5 releasing this year, what's there to turn to? Dead Space, that's what. What looks to be blisteringly difficult and full of thrills, this is easily the horror game of '08.

Why not? EA doesn't exactly have the best track record on the PS3, and since it's a new IP...*worries*.

---

#1. Far Cry 2

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Release: 10/1/08

Why? The original Far Cry was an amazing game, and Far Cry 2 looks to amplify the intensity of the first tenfold. The game is simply beautiful, taking place in Africa, and is told entirely through first-person. In your mission to rid the land of the notorious man known as the Jackal, you'll encounter intelligent AI, a fully living, breathing world, and incredibly action. Do you want to play as the stealthy type, going in at night and killing guards, or do you want to drive your vehicle into their camp, guns blaring? Or maybe you want to set the fields on fire and let them burn? It's all up to you, and I can't wait.

Why not? Will the consoles be able to handle such a beautiful and detailed open world? And how will the game breathe fresh life into the FPS experience when there are so many others available?

Honorable Mentions:
Motorstorm: Pacific Rift- Intense jungle-oriented sequel to the PS3's exclusive racer.
Prince of Persia- Beautiful storybook art with fast-paced action.
Midnight Club: Los Angeles- Rockstar's brilliant racing series makes its Next-Gen debut.
Guitar Hero: World Tour- Guitar Hero, but with every instrument and a custom song-creator.
Bioshock- Hit 360 game makes its splash on the PS3.

Call me crazy, but that's it. Thoughts? Opinions?

-phampok

Update- Calm Before the Storm

2008-07-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Yo there,

I got in contact with Dan again, he says my review copy of Soul Calibur IV would be arriving a little late- next week. Ah well, better late than never, I suppose.
Meanwhile, I'm having a BLAST with Burnout Paradise- simply amazing.

Rock on,
phampok

Update- What's Up

2008-07-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

Hey,

I just rented Burnout Paradise and I'm happy to say, as the title suggests, I'm in paradise. I've been playing as much as possible as I wait for my review copy of Soul Calibur IV- sorry for the delay!
So expect reviews for Burnout and SCIV as soon as possible. I'm also working on another feature, so stay tuned.

Until then,
phampok

Update- Reviews/Features Only

2008-07-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Why hello there,

Due in part to my laziness and also due in part to a rapidly changing industry, I'm not going to even try to post all the latest gaming news here anymore.
Now, my blog will focus on quality (hopefully) reviews and features (such as YGS!), as well as the occasional tidbit of information that I find interesting.

Until then,
phampok

Feature- Your Game SUCKS! (Guitar Hero III Edition)

2008-07-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

Your Game SUCKS!
...and here's why

Welcome to my newest feature for my blog, 'Your Game SUCKS!'. Here I'll take popular games, which I myself may or may not enjoy, and heavily criticize them for anything and everything I can.
Please don't hurt me.

Without further ado, the first game to be bashed,

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Here I am, the disc to the newest installment in the critically-acclaimed Guitar Hero franchise spinning in my Playstation 3, wit ha plastic, sticker-laden wireless guitar being held in my hands so that I may escape from my nerdy, often-ridiculed life and ascend to being a pixelated rock god.
As the game loads, my eyes are treated to images of macho, long-haired guitarists wailing away, as mindless guitar solos attack my ears. I get to the Main Menu- a cluttered list of modes and options with a static backdrop of what I assume is supposed to be some guitar gods. Very cliché, and in need of improvement.
Since I'm a lonely chap with a lot of spare time, I decide to begin Career mode. To begin this lackluster tour to nowhere, I have to choose a band name- The Hotties- and then choose a guitarist. Oh gosh, it's so hard to choose from such a colorful roster of misfits! From the plump, Jack Black-lookalike Axel Steel to the twelve-year-old, J-Rock Midori, this roster couldn't have been worse.
Much like guitarists in real life, the beginning doesn't look too promising- a campy animated cutscene kicks the game off, detracting from the experience simply because the game's sad attempts at humor make me sigh in frustration, and once I skip the remainder of the scene, I'm treated to a terrible opening song list with songs ranging from boring, droning, campfire sing-along 'Story of my Life' to the groan-worthy 'Slow Ride'.
I finally select the first song I'm supposed to play and 'enjoy', and lo-and-behold, I'm thrown into a backyard venue that looks worse than New Orleans after Katrina. I begin to play, and it's moderately tolerable until...oh? What is this? I'm clearly hitting the notes, yet the game doesn't recognize it. Seems I have to calibrate the audio/video/controller lag, further distracting from the supposedly immersive experience (Unless this is the game's equivalent to tuning your guitar, in which case it recreates the boring process perfectly).
Once I make the game playable again, I go back and redo my song. I continue to play through the game, realizing the much-applauded and improved graphics engine still had its fair share of plain textures, jaggies, and of course, robotic and stiff character movement. Why is it that my band looks like a group of traveling bums? A drummer with a perpetual look of stupidity, a bassist who's never heard of scissors, and a stranger with a face not even a mother could love.
As I play on, I face many more issues- the Star Power enjoys activating itself at the slightest twitch of my hand, the wireless controller enjoys not syncing correctly and not matching button presses, the venues continue to suck (ranging from a run-down bar to freaking Hell itself. Why, tell me please, why would you play in Hell? Look, I don't care if you signed a deal with an anime Satan with bad hair, if you're playing for the dead in hell, you must suck).
Of course, the entire game experience is based on the wonderful (*cough*) music you get to recreate. Fantastic ideas, folks, now can someone please tell me why I'm playing the mind-numbingly boring 'The Seeker' by The Who in a game that's supposed to rock? Not to mention as the game continues, it gets ridiculously difficult as you're forced to play plenty of metal songs. I haven't heard a soundtrack this bad since watching High School Musical.
Like others, I was excited to try out the new guitar duels that were all-the-rage. Of course, these weren't used to their full advantage. Instead of being treated to an epic battle of raging guitars fit to bring me to my knees, I'm found playing regular songs, sans Star Power. Perhaps it's actually good that there's only three in the game, since they're nothing all that special and instead require you to play an extra song (Oh, the torture).
Once thoroughly analyzed, it's evident that Guitar Hero III is just another colossal failure. And that was just after the Career Mode.

Cheers,
phampok

Update- Site Redesign

2008-07-22T07:04:00.001-07:00

Hey there,

It's been an exciting past few days for me.
First, I got the privilege of going to see The Dark Knight (here's the quick and dirty: awesome movie, a tad bit too long, Joker is amazing).
Also, as I previously posted, I was contacted about becoming a part of the EGN PS blog. After going over the blog and seeing what it has to offer, however, I've decided to actually withdraw from their blog and continue flying solo. Best of luck to them.
I've also received another email from Dan about getting my Soul Calibur copy. Apparently, RocketXL will be getting them soon, so I'll have it mailed to me shortly. Can't wait to play and review it.
Speaking of reviews, I was going over my past reviews and even my latest SingStar review, and I really didn't like how they looked. I didn't like the layout so much of the older ones (I will, however, be sticking to my new review layout) and I realized the short-and-to-the-point shtick was just a ploy to get out of writing a lot. I've also realized that I gave high scores very easily. I don't like that approach, and I realized I was being hypocritical- I commonly scold GamePro magazine for giving such high scores easily, yet here I am doing the same.
So from now on, longer, harsher reviews.
Hurray?

Game on,
Phampok

Update- Woah, People Read this Blog

2008-07-20T07:09:00.001-07:00

Hey there,

Yes, it's true- people actually read this?! In fact, I've just become an Associate Editor/Reviewer for a larger site, Engage Playstation. I was contacted by Jared Fretwell via email to help work on that blog as a reviewer, so I accepted!
From now on, I'll be posting info both on this blog and on the Engage PS blog. But that blog will probably be updated more frequently, so it'd be in your better interests to check it out more often!

E3 news/game reviews coming shortly, I've been busy and I apologize.

Game on,
phampok

Update- E3!

2008-07-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

Hello,

E3 this week!
Microsoft's 360's coverage is today, and I'll post some info about how it went, only if it's something that's overly interesting, though.
Once the PS3 coverage starts, expect full coverage!
In other news, I've been working on reviews...sort of...and I plan on uploading them all in a big rush.
So until then,

Wee,
phampok

Update- What I've Been Up To

2008-07-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Howdy,

Now that 2.41 is back online, I've been playing the crap out of Super Stardust HD as well as lurking on PS3trophies.org
Successful past few days, eh?
I managed to collect the majority of SSHD trophies, save for 5, as evident in my Playfire PS3 gamercard!

I recommend using Playfire.com for setting up your PS3 gamercard, but since there's no trophy API yet, you have to do it manually everytime you get new trophies.
Anyway, I'm working on new reviews for older games I have, so look for them to be up shortly.

Until then,
phampok

Update- Firmware Version 2.41 Online

2008-07-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Kudos to Sony- Firmware version 2.41 is now up online!
Fixes all the glitches of 2.40, and now SSHD v.4.00 is online too!
So I've been busy trying to get trophies.
...It's hard if you suck.
Ah well.

Get online,
phampok

Update- New setup

2008-07-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hey,

You must've noticed the new blog layout, so kudos. Also, scroll down a bit to see my SingStar review. All new PS3 reviews will be following that format from now, although I'm goign to try to get my own screens and videos.
Also, each post will now be one of the following formats:

Update- Just contains info about anything PS3 related.
Feature- A special post containing a special video or article I made.
Review- A review of a game.
News- Used for PS3 news, like E3 coverage and whatnot.

So yeah, hope you like the new setup.
In other news, I purchased Super Stardust HD yesterday, along with its expansion pack, just to get some trophies. Unfortunately, since v2.40 of the firmware was pulled, the latest SSHD patch was pulled, too, so no trophies for me (even though I have 2.40) until the update goes live again.
When will that be? That's anyone's guess.

Be sure to leaves comments (I set it so now anyone can comment) because I sure do appreciate them.

Tell your friends,
phampok

Update- Warhawk Trophies News

2008-07-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

Aye there,

PSU Forum Post

More news about Warhawk trophies thanks to Dylan Jobe!
Quick summary- 56 trophies will be in the v.15 patch, 1.4 and 1.5 were made parallel- expect both soon. 10 of the trophies WILL be unlocked retroactively, and there's also a new booster along the way.

Click the link anyway.

Peace,
phampok

Review- SingStar

2008-07-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

SingStar
Genre: Karaoke (1-8 Players) Developer: SCEA London Publisher: SCEA Release: 5/20/2008

Just keep Singing

SingStar for the PS3 delivers more of the same SingStar experience that we've all grown accustomed to. For those who don't know what SingStar is, here's the deal: game comes with two microphones and about 30-ish songs. Boot up and jump into your favorite song, making a fool of yourself, singing along, trying to match the pitch of the singer.

Game screen

The main joy in SingStar has always been singing with friends, and now, along with the usual bevy of offline modes, there's an awesome online community. Here you can create your own 'MySingstar' profile, have a little about me, upload your best scores, and with the help of the PlayStation Eye, upload videos, pictures, or audio recordings of yourself. Fun? Yes. Embarassing? Most definitely.
Thanks to downloadable content, there's now an online SingStore, containing a catalog of over 230 songs at the moment, all available to download ($1.50 each).
SingStar is pretty much the same game we've grown to love, but now endlessly replayable. There's one hiccup in the experience, though- no online play. What?! That's right. No online dueling, sing-alongs, nothing. Major missed opportunity.

SingStore

Besides that small factor, everythign else works like a charm. The music is great, the video quality is great, the mics work great, the online is great, everything is great.
However, buy with caution- if you're not the singing type, you probably wont get far with this game.

Note: Go here for a complete list of songs in SingStar, updated every two weeks

-phampok

(Pictures courtesy of IGN. Original pictures/videos coming soon)

Update- 2.40 Impressions (and some news)

2008-07-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yo,

/time warp to 11:53 PM, July 1st.

I'm sitting in my chair, PS3 controller in hand, awaiting the night to turn to day and for July 2nd to come around. I finish my match of Warhawk and decide to go check for an update anyway, even if it's a little early. Lo and behold, PS3 system OS version 2.40 was released early!
I eagerly downloaded and installed it without a hitch, and then went into a game of PAIN, which I thought had trophies. Unfortunately...nope.
The in-game XMB is really cool, and it's nice messaging friends while in-game, and the new profiles are nice too. Everything is very streamlined and I really dig it, buuuut...no games make use of custom soundtracks yet, and only Super Stardust HD uses trophies. Bummer? I think so.
Furthermore, Insomniac Games confirmed that for now, they're not planning on patching Resistance: FoM or Ratchet and Clank Future: ToD until after R2 ships because they want to focus on it. (Link to story here)

/time warp back to current day and date

After you get over the time warp sickness, I've got some news for you, although not so good...
It seems the 2.40 update is causing some harm, as it bricked many people's PS3's and causing a bit of difficulty for a lot of people. Unfortunately, the update has been pulled and is not available at the moment. However, if you downloaded the update successfully (like myself) then you keep the update.

I've also signed up for video-hosting web site Viddler, so I'm going to host all of my videos (gameplay, reviews, etc) on there because of better-than-YouTube service and quality.

Speaking of YouTube, the PS3 now integrated the YouTube API, allowing gyou to upload videos of gameplay directly to YouTube via game patch. Currently, only one game supports the feature (the Japanese game Mainichi Issho), but more should follow suit. (Link to article here)

In relation to the aforementioned R2, the new issue of GamePro actually has something useful- R2 Beta Codes! Grab an issue while you can! (Story link here)

In relation to this blog, I'm working on a new review format, so expect all future reviews to be following it.

Other than that, not much else to say.

Game on,
Phampok

Update- Firmware Update 2.40 Videos

2008-07-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

Straight from Sony's official Playstation Blog, here is a video detailing the features of the upcoming update.
Awesome? Indeed.

There is a part two, but the video constantly gets an error for some reason.
Here's a link to the blog post if you're interested.

Woo,
Phampok

Update- Back?

2008-07-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Sorry for such a long hiatus. I'm going to be doing my best to get back up on my feet now, so here's to hoping all goes well.
I'm planning on updating my review system and giving the site a bit of an overall, so I'll post all the planned updates sooner or later.
In the mean time, here's a bit of news for you.

I was contacted by Dan Zlotoff of RocketXL for reviewing a copy of Soul Calibur IV, which I'm absolutely stoked about, so expect a review as soon as I get my hands on it. I've also managed to get a digital camera, so expect some screenshots and videos if I can get some decent-quality ones. In the meantime, check out this little widget for Soul Calibur IV.

I was also contacted by Amanda Nelson of RocketXL about reviewing Top Spin 3, but I didn't manage to reply in time, eschewing my chances of getting a copy. Bummer, but check out this link to the widget anyway. (For some reason, couldn't get it embedded)

In other news, here's a link to something you may find very exciting...
PS3 Firmware Update 2.40 for July 2nd, 2008

Thanks to GameSpot, we now know what to expect and when.
In-game XMB, in-game music, and in-game trophies are all fine and dandy, and I can't wait to try it all out.

Game on,
Phampok

Review- Ridge Racer 7

2007-09-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

After dragging my *** for so long, I guess it's finally time to just get this over with. I present you with the Ridge Racer 7 review.

Ridge Racer 7
Arcade Racing
Full Game
E

I've long been a racing game fan, but I only liked "street racing" games like Midnight Club and Need for Speed. Now, after playing Ridge Racer 7, I can proudly say I'm an arcade racing game fan, too.

RR7 places you in the shoes of *insert PSN username here*, the newest drift racer to visit Ridge State, "the home of drift racing". From there you'll need to complete Manufacturer's races to establish relationships with Manufacturers (enabling you to earn and buy vehicles and upgrades), compete in the Ridge State Gran Prix (essentially a tournament mode), and do UFRA Special Challenges (races with set rules). Along the way you'll earn credits and fame points, opening up new events and races.

Races are immense fun, thanks to the simple controls and outstanding drift. You'll literally "drive sideways" around corners, filling up Nitrous as you drift. The sense of speed is excellent, and you never get tired of using a tank of NoS. I also think it's noteworthy to say that the motion-sensing controls (which are optional) are actually good, and it is possible to win races using them.

Online play is also a ton of fun, with dozens of leaderboards, modes, and settings that can be changed for each race. There are always people online, and many different types of games will appeal to everyone. Whether or not you're looking for a competitive race, one that's just for fun, or a team race, you'll always be delighted.

Graphically, this game fares very well. You can easily tell it's next-gen, with amazingly detailed environments, and the vehicles and lighting are amazing. Reflections and shading make the game seem much nicer and polished. The excellent detail and motion blur just sweeten up the deal.

Soundwise, this game is amazing. Dozens of funky pop-techno songs accompany the usual humming engines and squealing tires. Also, if you're willing to pay an extra buck or so, you can download dozens of more tunes from the PSN. Personally, I haven't bought them, but I'm sure they're worth it. Overall, this game is music to my ears.
The replayability of RR7 is excellent- a great single player, engaging online, and an endless amount of downloadable content makes RR7 a never-ending racer. For racing fans, you must pick this one up. For others, it's recommended to at least rent it. You won't regret it.

CLOSING NOTE
-Excellent Single-Player
-Simple, effective controls
-Great online play
-Outstanding graphics
-Superb sound
-Tons of downloadable content (most of which is free!)

-Recommended-

Review- Dynasty Warriors Gundam

2007-08-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is! After receiving my free copy in the mail (courtesy of Romeo Corsi- thanks!), I eagerly booted up my PS3, popped in the disc, sat back, and prepared to see how the retail version fared. The demo was, to put it plain and simple, total crap. I expected the retail version to be better, and to my delight, it is. It’s not going to win any awards, other than best Gundam game ever made, but it is enjoyable for a little while.

REVIEW
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
Hack and Slash
Retail

Playing the demo, I never planned to play this game. Going into the game, I was curious to see if Namco Bandai go fix what had been a colossal mess. And, in fact, they did. This is a mildly-entertaining game, but is better for casual players. With missions lasting from about 15 to 20 minutes, and a recommended playing time of about a mission or two, the game can last quite a bit, but is horrible for extended play times.

The gameplay is practically unchanged: mash the attack button, use boost to dodge when you need to, and when your meter fills up, use a special attack. Sound fun? If it does, this is the perfect game for you!

Even so, destroying hordes of enemies is actually entertaining for a mission or two. Periodic boss battles and quick cinematic sequences break up the gameplay and it’s nice overall.
There’s three gameplay modes: Original, Official, and Two Player.

Original takes the characters from the G Gundam series and puts them in a new story line following a new planet set to collide with Earth. You can choose from three pilots, each with a different Mobile Suit and different missions. Official follows the original Gundam characters going through events from the TV series. Again, three pilots from the outset.

The pilots are diverse enough to offer different experiences and levels, and its fun to switch between pilots, playing different levels.

Two Player is a nice change of pace, allowing you to do a split screen battle against one another or see who can kill more baddies in single player. It’s fun, but the battles are very hard due to low starting health and I haven’t gotten a chance to try the killing challenge yet.

However, the game does get repetitive and I highly recommend not playing for more than a mission or two at a time. Doing more will quickly get tiresome and you’ll come to hate the game.

Graphically, the game has not changed, and still looks like an early PS2 game. C’mon Namco, how can this even remotely pass for next-gen? While I admit the character models are nice, looking like accurate three dimensional representations of their TV characters, the surrounding environments are bland and ugly. Special attacks look nice, however, but are truly nothing special. The lip-syncing is better now, but if you look realy closely, you’ll notice it’s still a bit off. However, there is one highlight: the character briefings. Whenever you’re being briefed for a mission, all speaking characters are shown as nice, crisp 2D images. But overall, trust me; the visuals of this game do it no good.

Soundwise, the game has improved a bit. The voice acting is better, although it could still be better and some of the dialogue is downright awful. The music is also noting special, and you’ll quickly forget how it sounds. The sound effects are good enough that they work, but I’m not going to mince words- they could use a tune up as well.

Overall, the game is enjoyable when played in portions or with a friend, but will not appeal to the hardcore gamer crowd. For Gundam/Dynasty Warrior fans, this is a dream come true, but for the rest of us, the high repetitiveness and low quality graphics and sound make this game warrant only a rental. Try before you buy, folks.

CLOSING NOTES
-Fun gameplay, but gets repetitive quickly
-Best played a mission or two at a time
-PS2 quality graphics (if that)
-Mediocre voice acting with forgettable music and effects
-Niche title; try before you buy

Demo- Heavenly Sword

2007-08-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Sword
Action
Demo

Ah, finally, a demo of the hyped, heavily-anticipated Heavenly Sword! How is it? It's a crappy demo, plain and simple.
You are Nariko, armed with Heavenly Sword, trying to take down devil King Bohan (correct me if I'm wrong).
The demo starts with a quick cinematic and then puts you in action. Controls are simple and easy to pick up, and the timed button-press sequence is easy.
However, once battling a horde of enemies, it becomes hard to focus. You aren't aware of what enemies have low health, which ones are still strong, and which ones to foucs on. Also, it's hard to focus on a lone enemy when hordes of them are pounding at you.
Graphically, the game is beautiful, with excellent facial expressions, attention to detail, and environments. However, the attacks aren't very fluid, instead feeling like stop-motion art.
Soundwise, the game fares well, with excellent ambience, sound effects, and musical score.
However, this is a bad demo for one main reason: it can be finished in all of five minutes, and leaves much to be wanted. It's incredibly short, and is a major let down.
I'm sure the final version will be much more polished and fare better, but this quick demo warrants onle one play through, if that.

On a side note, it has been said that this is the game in an incredibly early stage, so the final product will be much different. Not sure if that's true, though.

CLOSING NOTE:
-Easy controls
-Confusing but entertaining combat
-Beautiful graphics
-Excellent sound
-Incredibly short
-Only worth the download if you can't wait for the retail version

(See? A quick, but detailed review for a quick demo!)

Demo- Folklore

2007-08-25T08:45:00.001-07:00

Now that I'm back in action, I've decided to go with a new review style.
Demos will recieve longer, more in-depth reviews than the previously have, but, there will not be any point system of any kind. Many people simply judge things based by how they're labelled (something taught to me by a friend), so now I'm not going to be using a point system.
However, if you're in a rush and don't care to read the entire review, just read the closig note at the bottom for a quick summary.
I hope you like this new format, and here's the first review using it.

Folkore
Action/RPG
Demo

This game was not on my radar and totally caught me by surprise. A mix of action and light role-playing elements, Folklore is an inventive and amazing demo, and now I can't wait to experience the retail version.
Selecting either Ellen or Keats, you must travel into the Netherworld. Ellen, searching for her mother. Keats, searching to unravel the area's secrets.
However, Folkore shatters normal RPG and action game conventions- both characters are normal, everyday people. You won't see them weilding massive weapons downing enemies by the hundreds.
Instead, you must use the powers of "Folk" you've defeated. Starting off with threee Folk, with a total of four available for use at once, each assigned to either triangle, square, circle, or X, you must battle and take the "id"s of new Folk.
In order to capture the Folks' id, you must weaken them and then rip it right out of them by vigirsouly shaking the controller. For stronger Folk, you'll have to either Beat down the id first (Keats) or Rip the id out (Ellen).
Keats also has the ability to "transcend", becoming a powerful, destructive being that can lay waste to anyone and anything in sight for a short period of time.
You'll need to use the captured Folks' abilities to expose enemies' weaknesses and progress farther. All in all, the gameplay works very well, and never gets tiring.
It's a very different experience playing as Ellen and Keats, with varying abilities, Folk, and landscapes. It should add a nice change in the final version that'll take away repetetiveness.
Visually, the game is beautiful, with constantly moving environments, incredibly detailed character and enemy models, and fluid animations.
Soundwise, the game scores. (See what I did there?) The music fits perfectly, and the sound effects and ambience are excellent.
The only flaw I found were some camera issues, but they were only apparent during Keats' boss battle.
The demo has immense replayability- a full level for both Ellen and Keats, and a boss at the end of both levels. This is an incredible demo, the best I've experienced thus far, and is a must-download.
I can't wait for the final product.

CLOSING NOTE
-Intriguing and innovative story
-Excellent controls and gameplay
-Beautiful graphics
-Great sound
-Only flaw is the camera, but not that apparent
-A must-download

Reviews- Downloadable Games

2007-07-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

Well, thanks to some luck, one of my friends on the PSN, Helloskinny, sent me all of his downloaded games, so now I have a plethora of new games to talk about. Woo!

Ports

Rampage: World Tour
Arcade beat-'em-up
Price: $5
ESRB: E
Well, this is the classic Rampage arcade game ported to the PS3, with hi-def support and online play and leaderboards. For those of you not in the know, Rampage is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up, placing you and two friends in the shoes of three monsters: the gorilla-like George, the giant lizard Lizzy, and the blue wolf Ralph. You must cause as much carnage as possible by destroying buildings, throwing cars, eating citizens, and more. In this edition you traverse the globe to destroy famous cities all over the world, such as London, Paris, New York, and more. I haven't had a chance to play online, as there's never anyone online whenever I go. The scoreboards are a nice edition, although it shows me how badly I suck. As for hi-def, I don't have a hi-def TV, so it doesn't benefit me.

Score: 8/10 (Repetitive gameplay and lack of online players mar this title. However, it is a blast with your friends)

Joust
Action
Price: $5
ESRB: E
Again, this is a port of the classic arcade game, Joust, along with hi-def support, leaderboards, and online multiplayer. In Joust you are a knight on an ostrich, and you must stomp on enemy knights and take the ostrich eggs. Warning: this game is incredibly addictive- you may never stop playing. Again, no one was playing online every time I checked, but the leaderboards are nice and hi-def is useless for me. A great game, and one of my most-played games.

Score: 9/10 (If only the online play was more efficient, this port would be perfect)

Q*Bert
Platformer
Price: $5
ESRB: E
Wow, this is getting repetitive. A port of the arcade classic Q*Bert with, you guessed it ,hi-def support and online leaderboards. (Q*bert does not support online multiplayer) This is an incredibly addictive platformer where you must navigate your "noser", Q*Bert, to change all the blocks in the level to a different color. Various enemies try to stop you in this task, and this game really tests your reflexes. Incredibly addictive, and one of my most played downloaded games, if not the most played. However, the leaderboards aren't as good as in the other games because they only reach the 200th player, who has a score hovering around 50,000, while my highest score is barely above 10,000. So unless you are incredible at Q*Bert, don't expect the leaderboards to be of much use other than comparing scores between you and friends.

Score: 9/10 (Small leaderboards and lack of online multiplayer mar this title. Incredibly addictive nonetheless.)

Mortal Kombat II
Fighting
Price: $5
ESRB: M
"Fatality!" Oww. This game offers a serious beatdown to anyone man enough to play it. A port of MKII, with added online multiplayer, leaderboards, and hi-def support. This is simply a fighting game, so there's not much to explain. The controls are nearly spot-on, although fatalities seem unusually difficult to perform. Also, once someone starts to hit you, you're pretty much done for. How I miss counters...Anyway, I actually did play online with this, and got severely pwnd, every time. Even in single-player, this game is incredibly tough, and requires a lot of skill and patience. Nonetheless, it's a lot of fun to revisit this title and every victory seems like a monumental accomplishment.

Score: 8/10 (Incredible difficulty, but everything pretty much works as expected)

Non-Ports

Calling all Cars!
Combat racing
Price: $10
ESRB: E
This is incredible. By mixing cartoony graphics, frantic action, tight controls, and great sound, Dave Jaffe (Yes, the guy responsible for God of War) has created the best downloadable game I have yet seen. You and three other cops, online or off, must race to capture various escaping criminals in small, arena-like levels. Since this is combat racing, various weapons and tools are at your disposal to stay ahead of the competition. The single-player is well rounded, with tournaments as well as single events. The multiplayer is even better: you can play on a singe console, LAN, or online. Here's the catch: people actually play online! And it supports headset chat and quick match-making options. It's a ton of fun, and fully worth the money.

Score: 10/10 (100% worth your money, with incredible fun and replayability, and a really fun online component)

flOw
Err...
Price: $8
ESRB: E
Ok, I guarantee you've never played a game like flOw before. There is no story, there is no HUD, there is no interface, nothing. You select the game, it boots up. Shows the ads in the beginning, and then the screen reads: "go with the flow...tip the controller to move/press any button for a boost/press 'start' to pause/friends can dive in anytime" and it starts. No objective, nothign. You basically make your own game. However, it is very entertaining, especially with a friend. The SIXAXIS controls, while they do take a few minutes to get used to, soon become second nature. The game's visuals are mega trippy, and best played in the dark. Nonetheless, this is a weird little project that provides some fun. Not sure if it's worth $8, but apprently it falsl into a "love it or hate it" category, as my friend could not stop playing, and I was done after ten minutes. Also, it should be noted that the game is short- very short.

Score: 8/10 (This can hardly be called a game, and the simple objective might turn off some players, but it's fun nonetheless, and extra trippy when played in the dark with a friend)

Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection
Fighting
Price: $20
ESRB: T
If you've played Tekken, you've played this. A fighter in the same vein as Virtua Fighter, with a huge amount of fighters and customization for each fighter. Many ranks to rise, but few modes to play. Also, not many unlockables. The graphics are equal to that of its arcade brethren, which means they are weak for the PS3. The sound is great, although the character voices, like in most fighters, suck. They promised online play, but it's nonexistent- yet. They promise it's coming, so until then, $20 is waay too much for this arcade port. Yes, it's a lot of fun, and the multiplayer (on one console) is a blast, but there's really nothing justifying it's price tag. Skimp out for now. (I like it a lot, since I got it for free, but $20 is way too much)

Score: 7/10 ($20 is too much for this, which offers nothing more than arcade fighting for two players. Once the promised online component comes, I'll be much happier, but until then, this is a disappointment. Stick with MKII, even if it is harder. Yes, this game is fun, but not worth the money.)

Well, there you go!
If you have a PS3 and want to play me, my username is phampok. Or, if you have a question, feel free to email me at raf_gpm@yahoo.com or send me a message via PSN.

News- Sony E3 Press Conference

2007-07-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

Well, it just finished and I watched the whole thing courtesy of G4TV, and I must say: Sony's press conference was freakin' amazing. Easily the best of the three, Sony delivered so much jaw-dropping footage and info, that "I just took a deuce in the brown bowl".

To kick things off, the screens showed an avatar of Jack Tretton inside Sony's Home. He began to talk, showing off some of the environments of Home. he then appeared onstage and spoke more. He then went back to Home and met the avatar of Kaz Hirai. Kaz then came onstage and began to talk about the PSP. I won't go in detail, because this is about the PS3, but here's the quick lowdown:

-New PSP model- lighter, thinner, and can output media
-New PSP color- white
-New PSP bundle- White PSP with Darth Vader on the back bundled with the new Star Wars Battlefront game, exclusive for the PS3 (this PSP was presented to Jack by Chewbacca- funny stuff)
-Quick videos of some new upcoming PSP games (Sorry- I wasn't paying much attention here, the camera footage sucked)

Anyway, Kaz is now gone, so Jack goes back inside Home. He then turns the attention to Phil Harrison's avatar, and before coming onstage, Phil shows over more features of Home, such as the website and ingame camera.
Phil comes onstage, talks, and then shows how Home is essentially a networking tool, and how you can jump to any game from Home. Phile then went on to play a game of MotorStorm online, and pwnd all before crashing.
Phil, now out of Home, starts to show new games that will be available on the PSN:

-PAIN (The goal is to launch your character into the environment and cause as much pain as possible)
-echoChrome (I can't remember the name but this puzzler looks incredibly promising)
-WipeOut HD (Wipeout with goregouse, crisp, 1080p HD graphics)
-SOCOM Confrontation (Online-only version of SOCOM, available on Blu-Ray and through PSN)
-WarHawk (Same as SOCOM, looks EPIC)

They then begin to show normal, Blu-Ray games being released for the PS3. I'm sure I'll forget some, but these are the most memorable.

-Unknown game by NCSoft. It was more of an announcement, but NCSoft, the company responsible for Guild Wars and Dungeon Runners, is now on board the PS3 to release new games.
-HAZE (A PS3-exclusive FPS, looks like a cross between Halo, Red Faction, and Farcry)
-Assassin's Creed (You play the role of an assassin in the medieval times- looks awesome)
-Resident Evil 5 (new trailer, takes place in the desert, enemies don't look like zombies- sure to be incredible)
-Unreal Tournament 3 (PS3 Exclusive FPS by Epic Games, the company that brought you Gears of War)
-Lair (Factor 5's PS3 exclusive dragon game)
-LittleBigPlanet (A PS3 exclusive that focuses on the community and fun instead of competition) -Madden 08 (No need to explain)
-Rock Band (like Guitar Hero except with every instrument)
-Medal of Honor: Airborne (The next FPS in the MOH series, encompasing open environments and air drops)
-Call of Duty 4 (the next COD game, set in modern times. The demo showed nuclear radiation along with many stealth elements)
-Metal Gear Solid 4 (supposedly run on the in-game engine, shows intense combat between Raiden and some baddie and a failed assassination by Snake- incredible)
-Ratchet and Clank Future (showed some gameplay clips and looks gorgeous and explosive)
-Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (lush graphics and explosive action make this a must-have)
-Singstar (showed teasers of online play and more)
-Folklore (an RPG where you can capture the souls of enemies by ripping them out of their bodies)
-Infamous (No idea. It's an original IP and you can apparently either save the world or literally tear it apart. Looked very impressive)
-Heavenly Sword ("The Goddess of War", this heavily-anticipated action game showed up for a brief moment and some rendered video is all that was shown. Nothing new.)

And Phil then ended the conference with the Killzone 2 footage. My impression? It's not over-hyped, it's under-hyped. Incredible. It showed a mix of ingame videos and gameplay, and the graphics are the best I've ever seen on a consol. The action? The most intense. This game could, and will be, the PS3 killer app.

Color me impressed.

Review- MediEvil

2007-07-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was browsing throught the PSN store and decided to skim through the PSX Classics section. There I saw one of my favorite games of all time: MediEvil! I loved this game for the PSX, and decided to buy it. Heck, it's only $6, why not? And you know what? I still love it!

MediEvil
Action/Platformer
An action/platformer with a gotchic theme and some cool, trippy visuals, MediEvil places you in the shoes of Sir Daniel Forteqsue, a supposedly great knight. However, history books lie alot. Dan is, in actuality, a fool who died on the first charge against evil sorcerer Zarok. However, Zarok is now back, and is taking over Gallowmere with his undead army. When the dead rise from their graves to serve Zarok, Dan rises from his grave- to get revenge!
Intene action, epic boss battles, and an insane difficulty level makes this a memorable and challenging game.

Totally worth the money- get it.

Review- MotorStorm

2007-07-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is. It took a while, but I finally decided to stop being lazy and type it up.

MotorStorm
Off-road Racer

I've never been a fan of traditional racing games like Gran Turismo and NASCAR, aways favoring combat racing, like Twisted Metal, or street racing, like Midnight Club. This is why MotorStorm appealed to me: multiple track paths, carnage, and speed, speed, speed. A recipe for success, right? Well, luckyily for PS3 owners, the answer is a resounding "YES!"

GAMEPLAY- 4.5/5
"Oh my god! That's insane!" Pretty much sums up the gameplay experience of MotorStorm. Combining an incredible sense of speed with perfect controls (except for the SIXAXIS- the motion sensing is WAY too sensisitive, making in inpractical to use at all) and excellent enemy AI. Warning: this game is tough. The AI will kick your butt. Which, of course, makes every win an accomplishment. You'lll be jumping up and down in joy every time you win. Also, the difficulty gets much harder as you move on. Sure, you may win a Tier 1 or Tier 2 race, but try a Tier 4! Unfortunately, there is an incredibly slim amount of tracks, which is a disappointment. However, by combing different vehicle classes for each track, the developers made it so each track doesn't get boring. Also, the online play is really fun, although some days there's no one online. (The first day I went online there was a grand total of 12 players...barely enough for one race) Overall, the gameplay is amazing.

GRAPHICS- 5/5
This game is simply beautiful. Incredibly detailed vehicles, detailed, constantly changing environments, and an incredible sense of speed make it one of the best tasting pieces of eye candy you will ever experience. The physics are another high point and it's almost more fun to watch the explosions than race. I have nothing to complain about in the visual department of this game- it is pure insanity.

REPLAY- 4.5/5
The replayability is immense in this game. Not only will the single-player keep you busy due to its increasing challenge, but the online multiplayer is also immense fun. You'll keep on playing, trying to unlock more tickets in single player and raise your rank online. It's hard to put this game down, thanks to how much fun the gameplay provides. The one knock I have against MotorStorm is that the challenge is sometimes too hard, turning you off and frustrating you- resulting in the game being turned off. If you can bear the challenge, the game will last you a long, long time.

SOUND- 5/5
The sound is amazing in this game- pulling you incredibly far into the game. The music fits the theme of the game perfectly. Music I would normally not like fits the game perfectly, and I found myself really liking it. The sound effects are perfect, and every bone-snapping crash sounds so brutal, you'll find yourself smiling in glee. Sheer insanity. Impossible not to love, especially when a competitor explodes in a flaming heap.

OVERALL- 4.5/5
For speed-freaks or racing fanatics, this game is impossible not to love. However, for people who can't stand the difficulty, this game is only worth a rental. Try before you buy, and if you like it, I'd highly recommend buying MotorStorm.

Review- Virtua Fighter 5

2007-06-29T17:45:00.001-07:00

VIRTUA FIGHTER 5
ARCADE FIGHTER

I love fighting games. There's few things better than beating the crap out of a buddy or finally pwning that one guy you couldn't beat. I'd never gotten into Virtua Fighter before, (Soul Calibur and Mortal Kombat FTW) but I found this a great experience nonetheless and thought it was one of the better fighter I've played in a while.

GAMEPLAY- 5/5
This game has it where it counts. Out of the plethora of modes, rings, and fighters, fighting has never been more fun. The controls are silky smooth, and the difficulty, although challenging, is incredibly fun. The standard Arcade and Vs modes are here, and Quest mode (I don't know if it was in previous VF games) is a lot of fun. You basically go to different arcades to fight various people and participate in tournaments to raise your rank and unlock things. Sure, there may not be any online play, and that's a bummer, but I won't grade a game down for something it doesn't have.

GRAPHICS- 4.75/5
Beautiful. These graphics are simply stunning. The characters look amazing with fluid animation, although some of their attacks make them look like morons, and the environments are breathtaking. Clothes sway, sweat forms, and more. Amazing. The one exception is that the characters look really shiny, making it look like they're oil-coated. Not a big problem, and it certainly didn't bother me.

REPLAY- 4.5/5
You'll have this game in your console for a long time, believe you me. With the various modes, the characters, rings, and the deep customization system, you'll be playing for a long time. I continually said "Just another minute" or "One more fight" as I tried to unlock that one new accessory or earn that new rank or beat that tough character. However, if you get really stuck on a fight or have played quite a few fights in a row, there's not much else to do, and I found myself quitting and playing another game.

SOUND- 4/5
I think this is where the game did the worst. No, it certainly didn't fail, but it did suffer the one downfall of all fighters- voice acting. The voices are atrocious; they assault my ears with horrible sound. The music is good, but I didn't really notice it much while playing. The sound effects, however, are great. You hear every bone-snapping punch and spine-crushing kick. Effects: awesome. Voices: crap. What'd you expect from a fighting game?

OVERALL- 4.5/5
A great game, and a must to rent (which I did). For fighting fans, there's not much else on the PS3, so this is an essential. However, online junkies beware- lack of online play may turn you off.

phampok's GamerBlog created

2007-06-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

phampok's GamerBlog has been created on this date.
It will be used to talk about video games I've played and other video game-related things.