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Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"The real problem FFXIII-2 faced was the expectations, which have, for this series, grown to the point where no one could possibly manage them. But putting that aside? This is a heck of a ride."
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Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"The real problem FFXIII-2 faced was the expectations, which have, for this series, grown to the point where no one could possibly manage them. But putting that aside? This is a heck of a ride."
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Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (PS3, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"The Metal Gear Solid HD collection is freaking good value. Each game on its own is alone is still almost worth full retail price. Throw the three of them together, and you have a package that is essential."
Boom Street aka Fortune Street (Wii, 5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"This game has all the charm of the other Mario Party games, but Fortune Street is different in that it has real depth to back the charm up. For board game fans, this game will have them throwing out those copies of Mario Party; this is an unfortunately obscure but brilliant little game. And now we just have to hope for a 3DS version – Fortune Street on the go would be incredible."
Pokemon Rumble Blast (3DS, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"The lack of a community and multiplayer is a stark contrast to the socially-heavy “real” Pokemon games, and a reminder that Pokemon is best experienced with friends. Still, the quality of the game is undeniable, and its charm sees it through to the end. Pokemon Rumble Blast might be little more than a stop-gap for the next real Pokemon game, but it’s anything but a lazy cash-in."
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD (PS3, 3.5/5) - Review by Sam M.
"What it does, it does well. I wish that there was a stronger following outside of Japan, because the Monster Hunter series is just a blast of fun every time I pick it up, but, at the same time, the lack of innovation and a lackluster graphic update lowers the final score for me."
Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends (PS3, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Bleach: Soul Resurrection is a generally mindless button masher. This is in a whole other league, and IGN, Gamespot and all those other 'critics' that can't be bothered playing these games before slapping a score on them can go learn some Japanese and read how reviews are meant to be written."
Kirby Mass Attack (DS, 3.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Kirby survives, and is indeed a worthwhile purchase on the strength of its leading character, the bright happy visuals and the stellar music score. Just like Yoshi’s Story, then."
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 (DS, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"This is a 50+ hour monster collecting single player RPG, with a far more cohesive and interesting story than Pokemon, but none of the social element that has people downing 200+ hours of breeding and training in that series. Which one appeals to you more?"
Bleach: Soul Resurreccion (PS3, 2.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"If you are looking for a Warriors game, you’d be better off with something from Tecmo Koei. Despite all this though, if you are a fan of Bleach, there’s some mindless fun to be had here. Nothing's broken, it's just that there's nothing especially inspired in here, either."
Sonic Adventure (PSN, XBLA, 3/5) - Review by Clark A.
"Sonic Adventure is an anomaly in that it has aged rather poorly but is still a tremendous value. If you can wrap your head around that, it means the people who do enjoy it will have a genuinely amusing experience that lasts over 50 hours. Hedgehog haters and 3D platforming newcomers need not apply."
Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland (PS3, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"It’s not a hard and heavy game, and it’s not an especially memorable one. What Totori is is simple, joyous fun. It’s fun to play through, it’s fun to laugh at its silly moments. Don’t go in expecting a work of art, and you’ll get your money’s worth with this."
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Dark Souls (PS3,360, 5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Dark Souls is the game of the year. It’s an utterly brilliant RPG with a finely tuned difficulty curve, a massive, organic world and visceral combat."
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White Knight Chronicles 2 (PS3, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"[And] if you weren’t a fan of the original – don’t bother with this one. It’s a pity that you can’t get into the game though, since this is what Final Fantasy I through to VI would have been were they released on the PS3 – relentlessly traditional JRPGs. Anyone who complains about this game for what it is are clearly not from the same crowd that claims that the JRPG is dead."
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Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (PS3, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Where EA is trying more and more to attract the casual players in with its sports games with single button controls and cute, silly, big heads, PES continues to happily support the soccer fans that want a bit more. It's a stiff challenge to rise up to if you're coming fresh off being a superhero at FIFA, but ultimately this is the more rewarding game."
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Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition (XBLA, PSN, 4.5/5) - Review by Clark A.
"Ultimately, this is one of the best fighting games you’ll find on the downloadable market or retail. It has some noteworthy shortcomings, particularly the Trials mode, but it’s still the definitive version of Street Fighter III - a worthy alternative to any 2D fighter. "
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Shin Megami Tensei Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP, 4.5/5) - Review by Clark A.
"Shin Megami Tensei Persona 2: Innocent Sin is worth your time and money. Aside from minor quibbles with the visuals, it delivers admirably on all fronts. Simply put, an essential buy for fans of the Persona series and any RPG fan willing to demonstrate a bit of patience, because again, this is a difficult game at times."
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Love Plus (DS, 5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Unfortunately, the weight of text and the fact that this is more interactive story book than game means that understanding Japanese is necessary to get much out of this game at all, and the 3DS game will be much the same. Still, if you have a working understanding of Japanese, have a go at this game. Once you push thought the stigma, it might just surprise you."
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Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns (DS, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"The series is set to move to the 3DS soon, and indeed this exact game is going to be the 3DS' maiden Harvest Moon, but we still recommend this simple visual style. It will likely not be replicated many more times, and while this is now an old formula, it's been around for so long for a very simple reason: it's a great formula. As much as we like the idea of the franchise heading into 3D and gaining new gameplay quirks, a lowly Alpaca is sometimes enough to warrant a purchase."
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Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii, 3.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Yes, it's a good game, and yes, I do recommend it to JRPG fans, but it is by no means an essential game for everyone, and while I do half expect NoA's stubbornness on the matter to be a marketing trick, I will also completely understand if this game doesn't get an American release. It's a JRPG, and a standard one at that."
Sports Island 3D (3DS, 3/5) - Review by Matt S.
"So all up, Sports Island 3D is throwaway, but it is fun, and if you want to see just how much 3D can do for sports games, here's a good game to act as a tech demo."
"Rapid Angel is no longer quite as inventive as it was in its halcyon days, but it still remains a solid PlayStation sidescroller and offers a ton of fun. Only players fluent in Japanese will truly be able to appreciate the cinematic sequences, but at $US5.99, Rapid Angel definitely warrants a look."
"How much you get out of this game will probably depend on whether Japanese food gets you salivating, but as a celebration of how awesome yakiniku is, this game is held together by a simple but addictive gameplay formula and as such, is easy to recommend for anyone who want something distinctly Japanese, but still accessible."
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 (PS3, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Considering this game puts you in control of hulking great robots, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 does an impressive job in building a fluid, action-packed Warriors experience. How much you enjoy this will be largely tied in to how much of a Warriors and Gundam fan you are, but it’s a technically proficient game, so its niche should lap it up."
Zookeeper DX (iPad, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"In the end, this remains a hugely charming and addictive game, and with bigger icons to play with, it’s even more intuitive than ever before. The music has even been improved in the years; it’s still no orchestral masterpiece, but it’s pleasant. If you like match-3 puzzlers, and you have and iPad, do yourself a favour and invest in this game."
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (DS, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"This is a must have game for JRPG fans naturally. It’s also the best Dragon Quest game on the DS – it’s better than the ports of IV and V, and it’s even superior to the original, ‘modern’ Dragon Quest IX. It’s proof that executing a simple concept well is better than trying to be too clever."
White Knight Chronicles: Origins (PSP, 3.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Uninhibited by superfluous features like plot and exploration, the game focuses on developing, piece by piece, a character you can be proud of, and in doing so, this is something of a pure JRPG experience. The Monster Hunter inspiration runs deep, but Origins is its own game, and a worthy addition to a very well-supported genre on the PSP."
"Densetsu no Stafy may warrant a purchase, but you had best know what you’re getting into. Ultimately, it comes down to how many hours you wish to invest in a single game to achieve 100 per cent completion. If you intend to play through the game once and never again, Stafy is a commendable platforming game, but it’s not for everyone."
"While racing games push further into the realm of simulation, Sega Rally Online Arcade stands on its mud-slinging, fast action rally racing arcade past. While nothing will ever beat the nostalgic memories of sitting in that double seated arcade cabinet years ago, Sega Rally Online Arcade is still a podium contender."
Dead or Alive: Dimensions (3DS, 4.5/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Dead or Alive Dimensions
cements Tecmo Koei as the best amongst the 3DS’ early wave publishers. It’s a game that has had a lot of care put into it, and like Tecmo’s previous 3DS game, Samurai Warriors Chronicles (and unlike most other 3DS games currently available) this is a fully featured game on par if not superior to most console fighters."
cements Tecmo Koei as the best amongst the 3DS’ early wave publishers. It’s a game that has had a lot of care put into it, and like Tecmo’s previous 3DS game, Samurai Warriors Chronicles (and unlike most other 3DS games currently available) this is a fully featured game on par if not superior to most console fighters.""If you want to take a trip down memory lane, it won’t fail you, but it won’t last long and the latter two titles are recommended more so due to their vast upgrades in mechanics. Still, it’s hard to go wrong at a price of 1000 Wii Points."
"In the end, No More Heroes might have ruled the roost on the Wii, but that just goes to show how poor the action game selection is on that console. Bring the formula onto a far more technically capable console like the PlayStation 3, and it falls flat fast."
"Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 relies far too heavily on nostalgia and muddles around with ingredients in the formula that had no legitimate reason to be changed. Instead of feeling like a sequel, it is essentially a bizarre mishmash of Sonic’s first two outings…only with half the difficulty, dubiously altered physics, a homing attack, and vastly improved graphics."
"After all this time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has still not been bettered. There's a timeless quality to this game that Nintendo has simply failed to recapture since. Zelda: Ocarina of Time is available on Virtual Console already, and is an essential purchase if you're not willing to wait for the 3DS retail release."
Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy (PSP, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy
is simultaneously the greatest and worst game I’ve ever played. Somewhere under the whirlwind mash-up of fighting game and hardcore JRPG is an addictive and nearly endless experience, but getting there is like trying to dig through solid granite with a plastic spoon.Once you get there, though, it’s also, by far, the most rewarding fighting game out there."
is simultaneously the greatest and worst game I’ve ever played. Somewhere under the whirlwind mash-up of fighting game and hardcore JRPG is an addictive and nearly endless experience, but getting there is like trying to dig through solid granite with a plastic spoon.Once you get there, though, it’s also, by far, the most rewarding fighting game out there."Final Fantasy III (iPhone, iPad, DS, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"As with other iPhone Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy III is an expensive game by App Store standards, but it’s a good one. Given the choice between this, and some of the tripe other developers and publishers pass off as “RPG,” we know exactly which one we’d go for."
"First up - and this will be a relief to most - the difficulty is still there. Wizardry remains a game of mathematics, of careful party construction, and of unforgiving deaths. The mazes remain long, winding, and sprout random encounters like weeds."
Chocobo Racing (PlayStation One, 4/5) - Review by Matt S.
"Ultimately Chocobo Racing doesn’t reach the heights of Mario Kart – it lacks the 4-player multiplayer and the depth of tracks, but it is nonetheless a polished experience with a few tricks of its own. Well worth the cheap asking price – and best of all, there’s very little in the game that can’t be understood without knowing Japanese!"
