Remakes & Remasterpieces 3: An Ongoing Look at the Best in the Biz

These remakes and remasters are certainly NOT turkeys by any stretch of the word. As many of us in the United States [hopefully safely] enjoy our Thanksgiving weekend, SPC returns with its ongoing look at the best video game remakes and remasters. These games greatly improved on their originals, or breathed new life into old classics with a fresh approach that ultimately worked out wonderfully in the end. These latest five remakes and remasters truly shine brightly and most definitely do their originals justice.

To read which games were featured in SPC's previous installments of Remakes & Remasterpieces, look no further than Volume One and Volume Two.

Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)

The original Final Fantasy VII was a three-disc game that spanned a myriad of locations and had such an involved plot that it would have been impossible for Square Enix to dedicate one of their patented humongous, bloated budgets to remaking the entire game--at least in any timely fashion. Instead, the developers decided to retell the story of Final Fantasy VII in multiple parts, starting with Midgar. While this did bring a fair amount of bloat and padding into the game, everything else is so remarkably remade that it's hard not to appreciate this game for everything that it did and everything new it brought to an old classic. It was truly a brave and bold choice to move towards a more action-oriented approach to combat, going for a Kingdom Hearts-like feel instead of the traditional active-time battle system of the original FF7, but it overall worked for this remake. Battles are equally challenging in difficulty and dazzling in spectacle.

And, really, that's what Final Fantasy VII Remake represents--a risk that ultimately played out well. The developers could have easily remade the Midgar portion of Final Fantasy VII and stuck closely to what made the original work so well. Instead, they opted to reimagine many parts of the original, from combat all the way to the story. Whether the latter works is a matter of opinion, but the thrill of reliving key moments of Final Fantasy VII's Midgar chapter alongside the extended scenarios which fleshed out the cast of characters even better than the original did up to that point in the original was fantastic to experience. Doing it all with jaw-dropping graphics, a soundtrack that excels in every way, and combat that is so expertly and enjoyably crafted makes Final Fantasy VII Remake a terrific remake and reimaging of a classic game.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (NSW)

Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii was a massive, almost overwhelming RPG that frankly the Wii hardware didn't do justice. Don't get me wrong--the game was excellent and the Wii didn't make the game and less fun. It just didn't look the greatest. With the Nintendo Switch, Monolith Soft sought to bring their classic RPG to a new generation of fans as well as bring a fresh coat of paint to its masterpiece for old fans as well. That's exactly what it did with Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, which has a subtitle that is totally not just for show. This version of Xenoblade is definitely definitive.

The ghoulish-looking character models from the Wii have all been "glowed up" as it were, offering more emotion and detail than ever before. The worlds and environments, which were already equally gorgeous as they were expansive, have never looked better on the Nintendo Switch. The Switch version offers more color, more vibrancy, and more personality. The addition of the epilogue to the base game, Future Connected, brings an entirely new story with a brand-new area to explore as well. It's a bite-sized adventure that brings even more Xenoblade goodness to players. There are few 100+ hour games that I'd merrily play through again, but Xenoblade Chronicles is one of those. The Definitive Edition only made that case for me even clearer, making an excellent game on the Wii even more so on the Switch.

Trials of Mana (NSW, PS4, PC)

While Final Fantasy VII Remake took a major risk in changing a lot of things that fans loved about the original game and was ultimately successful for it, another Square Enix remake (also releasing that month), played it much more safely. However, it was successful in its own way as well. Trials of Mana didn't really change up much of the foundation of the original Super Famicom game, other than brilliantly revitalizing a 2D world into a fully 3D one. Everything else was essentially similar to the Super Famicom original, and really, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Trials of Mana's remake made for a superb adventure that harkened back to classic RPGs of yesteryear, despite it having the skin of a modern game. The new visuals look absolutely fantastic, even on the Switch version, which is the version the accompanying screenshots were taken from. The world was great fun to explore, the different ways the story played out depending on which three of the six main characters you chose made for some pleasant replay value, and the combat system, although basic compared to its contemporaries, offered both challenge and fun. It all adds up to a remake that tickled all the nostalgia strings of this particular player while remaining a fresh RPG experience.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (PS4, XB1, PC)

This year saw a lot of remarkable remakes, and Activision isn't any stranger from remaking its catalog as of late. We saw Activision having success with both Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. Next up was the revitalization of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and unlike its previous attempt at remaking the Birdman's game, this remake from Activision releasing early this past September was a tremendous success.

Not just remaking the first game's levels, but also the wildly popular second game's as well. Both game's levels were a part of the same career mode, allowing players to choose from a pro skater or their own custom creation that could be outfitted with various unlockable clothing items and gear. New challenges meant that even longtime THPS fanatics were tested to their utmost abilities. Most importantly, however, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 absolutely NAILED the feel of the old games, offering tight, precise, and awesome feeling controls that seemed like 1999 never left us and that games like Tony Hawk's Ride, Shred, and Pro Skater 5 were just fever dreams. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 was made with the proper amount of TLC--so much so that it is a stellar tribute to the classic THPS games and totally deserves to skate with the best that the series has to offer.

Bully: Scholarship Edition (360, Wii, PC)

Last but not least, we have a game that originally launched on the PlayStation 2 and later found itself a generation later appearing on both the Xbox 360/PC and the Nintendo Wii. It's Bully: Scholarship Edition, a Rockstar Games title that saw players take on the role of Jimmy at Bullworth Academy, causing various shenanigans as he butted heads with both school administration and other students. While the HD version was more of a remastered version that played just as well as the PS2 original but looked a bit sharper and cleaner, the Wii version, too, was worthwhile--though for different reasons. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk's motion controls, especially when used in the various class mini-games, were absolutely cleverly done and fine examples of motion controls done right. Definitely not the "waggle" nonsense that made so many despise certain Wii efforts at the time. What it amounts to is two different versions of Bully: Scholarship Edition that are worthwhile and worthy of sticking after class for.

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Do you have a remake or remaster that has yet to be on an edition of Remakes & Remasterpieces that you would like to see on a future volume? Let the SPC community know in the comments section.

How Was I Supposed to Know THAT!? ~ Obtuse Things in Games - Volume Three

Welcome to the third edition of SuperPhillip Central's ongoing look at moments in games both past and present which left many players dumbfounded on how to progress, what to do, where to go, and other less than intuitive means to move forward. Why, the solutions to these problematic points in games are practically obtuse! We're going fully retro with the theme this time on volume three with five more games that brought most players' progress to a brick wall.

Check out past volumes of SuperPhillip Central's look at obtuse things in games with these two links:

Volume One
Volume Two

Leaving Someone to Die (a.k.a The Hero's Way!) - Cave Story (Multi)

This first game's seen a seemingly infinite amount of ports and remakes across a wide range of platforms, with the most recent being the Nintendo Switch. While the game is now on another new platform, Cave Story still retains the same method required to obtain the good ending after all of these years. However, as we've seen on previous volumes of "How Was I Supposed to Know THAT!?", some games just don't make things fair on its players.

During his adventure, our hero comes across a Professor Booster who falls out of a portal and into a chasm below. The logical thing, after all, with you being a hero, would be to dive down that pit and check on the unfortunate fellow. However, that's actually not what you're supposed to do. Instead, you're meant to ignore what just happened with the Professor as well as his probable pain and suffering, and move along like nothing happened. This requires a well executed bit of decidedly challenging platforming to otherwise not fall into the chasm alongside the Professor. Because if you enter the pit, requiring you to speak to Professor Booster, the event where the character heals from his fall and finishes a special item for you doesn't happen, thus blocking your ability to get the good ending of Cave Story.

It's something as simple as following an otherwise innocent, little event to its conclusion (i.e. not ignoring a fallen, friendly NPC suffer from his injuries) that can instantly jeopardize a Good Ending run in Cave Story into something worse. If you know that doing this event will affect you earning the good ending going in (which most players starting out will not), you can avoid falling into the pit or just reset the game. If not, you won't be any the wiser as to why you haven't seen the best ending Cave Story has to offer.

Loitering in Dracula's Castle - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Multi)

The Mirror Cuirass and the Knuckle Duster are two items that you can retrieve in Dracula's Castle in Castlevania: Symphony of the Knight by using the Mist ability, earned a good amount of time in the game. They're helpful items to acquire by that point in the game, but they're even better to nab earlier on. However, they're locked behind a gated door, impervious to anything passing it except Alucard's aforementioned Mist ability, so this is but a pipe dream, right? Not so, dear reader! And so long after playing Symphony of the Night for the first time, I was stunned to learn that I could acquire these two prized items ahead of time, or how anyone could have found this to begin with.

A room directly above the one containing the items is a dead end with a wall showing clear cracks. Breaking this portion of the wall will reveal a Pot Roast recovery item. That's that, right? Well, actually, no. There's more to this room than meets the eye, but it requires some patience. Literally.
The space left by the broken wall requires Alucard to plant firm feet on it and stay still for 20 seconds or so. Suddenly, an elevator will slowly lower down, revealing entrance into the room possessing the Mirror Cuirass and the Knuckle Duster, proudly resting on adjoining pedestals, awaiting to be plucked and plundered by Dracula's son.

Call Someone Up from the Tech Department, Please - X-Men (GEN)

"Ah, dammit! The 'reset the computer' warning is blaring away again, Ted." 
"Can't you just do what you did last time, Paul, and kick it a few times to shut it up?"

Imagine, if you will, a roadblock in a Sega Genesis game that was even larger than that seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 3's Barrel of Doom, covered previously on the first volume of this article series. It involves an infamous place where plenty of X-Men players got stuck. What's worse, it's near the end of the game. (Which begs the question, "Why did these Sega Genesis developers keep their most fiendish tricks near the end of their games?")

There is a point in the second-to-last level in X-Men where players are told to "reset the computer." The first thing that comes to one's mind might be to just punch and kick at the computer screen, only to feel confused when each extremity thrown does nothing to help at all. Then, it must be something within the level itself that one has to go back, find, and destroy? After all, there were plenty of henchmen to take out, so one might have easily missed something in the process.

Unfortunately, these possible solutions turned out to not be solutions at all. The actual solution is for the player to quickly press the Reset button of their actual Sega Genesis. (Quickly press, not hold, as that would actually start the game over again.) In doing this fourth wall-breaking action, the computer in the facility would do as players intended. Of course, those that managed to think that far outside of the box, much more actually convince their young selves that tapping the Reset button wouldn't eliminate all of their progress up to this point in the game, probably weren't too confident if they came up with the correct solution. In a pre-Internet world, this one was worth calling a video game tips and tricks hotline for... or lucking out and having a friend from school find out for themselves so they could tell everyone on the playground during lunch.

A Jump is But A Jump, Except When It's Not - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)

From one team of mutants to another, we look at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles now. Their NES outing was a part-platforming, part-swimming, part over-the-head roamer that was and is still well known for its brutal difficulty. It also contrasts greatly with the majority of TMNT games that followed such as the more popular side-scrolling beat-em-up games. The brutal difficulty was as much part of the game actually being hard in challenge and being hard because many points in TMNT were counter-intuitive.

One of the most famous initial struggling points outside of the dam level, which occurs in the very first level of the game. The level is set at the docks where multiple side-scrolling sections of sewers connect the overhead perspective where the Turtles control the van to get from place to place (sewer to sewer, warehouse to warehouse) within the relatively confined quarters.

A particularly notable sewer has a point where you have to make a one-square-wide jump over a chasm, or go falling to the bottom level where you must make your way back up to the spot to try the jump again. Time and time again players will find themselves just missing the opposite side of the gap that looks like it should a breeze to make. Well, it actually is a breeze to make... because it's not a jump. Instead, a Turtle can just walk across it like the chasm isn't even there -- the same chasm that seemed to far across to do anything but jump over is the one you can just across. I share your exact sentiments, Angry Video Game Nerd, and thanks for the reminder about this one.

Riddle Me This - King's Quest (PC)

We save the worst (obtuse thing of this volume) for last! Now, the King's Quest series of point-and-click adventure games is known for usually having at least one completely *cue the article series name* "How Was I Supposed to Know THAT!?" puzzle in them. These are puzzles that require you to have some outside knowledge that isn't bestowed upon you from the actual game. Well, this riddle from a mysterious gnome in the original King's Quest was the one that started them all!

This old gnome gives players three opportunities to guess his name. While you do receive one hint in the form of a nearby house's letter cryptically reading "Sometimes it is wise to think backwards", that's all you really get. To go beyond that assumed clue, you need to do some thinking of the big picture, which is that King's Quest is a series tied to fairy tale lore, so it makes sense for the series to use some names from those tales for its own characters. Who is a well known gnome in fairy tales? Rumplestiltskin.

However, simply typing in "Rumplestiltskin" as your guess isn't good enough. That letter from the house with the cryptic clue comes into play now. Unfortunately, if your thought was to spell "Rumplestiltskin" backwards, it wasn't correct, and it wouldn't be good enough for the old gnome in the original version of King's Quest. Instead, you had to not only come up with a base name to work off with using outside information, but know to spell that name using a backwards version of the alphabet (e.g. A = Z, I = R). This finally will lead you to the solution of "Ifnkovhgroghprm." I'll just say if that gnome ever asks me another riddle like that nowadays, I'll just steal the damn magic beans from him.

One-Sentence Reviews - Volume Three

It's been over a year since we've last taken a glance at this segment. It seems to be a yearly tradition on SuperPhillip Central. Perhaps I could make it come more often. What do you think? Regardless, it's time for One-Sentence Reviews once again. This is where I review a game in a sentence or less. Sometimes I happen to create a run-on which I get called out for justifiably, but I generally play by the rules. I have another thirty games (some reviewed fully already) just waiting to have their moment in the proverbial sun. How will I like them?

"The soul still burns, but it's more of a weak ember than a raging inferno." SoulCalibur V (PS3, 360)


"Not as strong as its second game, but Uncharted 3 delivers on thrills, chills, and enjoyable gameplay." Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (PS3)

"You'll get hooked when you play Fishing Resort as it is the Wii's best fishing simulator." Fishing Resort (Wii)

"A poor ending doesn't damn this game from being anything short of excellent." Mass Effect 3 (PS3, 360)

"Full of goals to attain, characters and courses to unlock and master, and asynchronous multiplayer to enjoy, the latest mainline Hot Shots Golf entertains." Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational (PSV)

"Two Sonics for the price of one is one heck of a deal and one heck of a game." Sonic Generations (PS3, 360)


"The change to the familiar formula makes for a Ratchet game that is more action-oriented than past installments." Ratchet: Deadlocked (PS2)

"Taking the size and scope of Vice City and putting it on the small screen was no easy task, but Rockstar managed to squeak out an incredible open-world experience." Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP, PS2)

"A miniscule amount of mini-games, boring boards, and a Mega and Mini Mushroom gimmick make for a poor Mario Party experience." Mario Party 4 (GCN)

"The battle system is incredibly fun, offering a seemingly endless amount of tactics, strategy, and fun." Tales of Vesperia (360)

"The addition of new pinatas to lure to your gardens, new ways to breed and have them live there, and the gorgeous graphics create a game that makes you wish for the old days of Rare." Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

"Sakurai once again impresses with one of the, if not the, beefiest of games in terms of content on the Nintendo 3DS." Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)


"Get your whole body into the groove and shed those pounds as you shake your booty." Dance Central 2 (360)

"This game partly from the makers of Pikmin fails to satisfy with its boring combat and troublesome gameplay." Army Corps of Hell (PSV)

"As a perfectionist, having teammates perish permanently meant many migraines for a player like myself." Fire Emblem (GBA)

" Just like his latest project, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Super Smash Bros. Brawl comes packed with content in the form of characters, stages, trophies, music, and modes." Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

"Some chapters are tedious to play through and the game may be paper-thin, but it is certainly thick with fun." Super Paper Mario (Wii)

"Take your hat off and take a bow, Henry, as you've deserved it in your challenging and charming venture." Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure (DS)

"Wacky, wild, and wonderful, God Hand will kick your ass into the Milky Way." God Hand (PS2)

"Two artistic titles placed into one pleasant package make for a must buy, especially for those still waiting for The Last Guardian." The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection (PS3)

"Offering an abundant array of unique high-powered weaponry, Insomniac's last take on their FPS franchise entertains enormously with a compelling solo campaign that can be played with a friend online or off and fun multiplayer modes." Resistance 3 (PS3)


"A game that is visually appealing to the max that could have had much better pacing and much less padding for playtime." Okami (Wii, PS2)

"The trial-and-error gameplay of some levels and the waggle-to-roll mechanic might put off some players, but those who stick with Retro Studios' latest will discover one hell of a kong-frontation." Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)

"Who knew photographing Pokemon could be not only an addicting concept but also such a snap?" Pokemon Snap (N64)

"Getting to create your own monsters is a joy as is playing as them in this darling but forgotten PlayStation 2 title." Graffiti Kingdom (PS2)

"Crash and the gang give Mario Kart a run (or is it race?) for their money with creative track designs, a multitude of multiplayer modes, a plethora of racers to unlock, and a fun solo campaign." Crash Team Racing (PS1)

"The sense of speed is incredible even if the difficulty is insanely high." Wipeout HD (PS3)


"Revving your engine and jetting through dilapidated streets, rushing through destroyed buildings, and drifting around deadly corners make for one intense racing ride." MotorStorm Apocalypse (PS3)

"With over 600 individual monsters to catch, train, and collect, online battling via WiFi, and an engaging story to follow, the latest generation of Pokemon is one for the ages." Pokemon Black and Pokemon White (DS)

"As a fan of Final Fantasy Tactics and its PSP port, I really loved the tactical RPG gameplay of Tactics Ogre's PSP debut, even if it isn't really an original game all to itself." Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSP)

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Another end to another installment of One-Sentence Reviews. Did you like seeing this segment back in action after being gone for over a year? If you want even more OSR action, check out these two past editions:

Volume One
Volume Two

SPC Quickies - Volume Three: DS Blockbuster

If you recall, an affiliate and friend of ours, One Duck's Opinion, wrote up an exhaustive list of reviews of fifty-five of his DS games. Since my older brother is slouching on his next review, I'll be taking this opportunity to do the same except with my collection of DS games-- at least the ones I've played. Some of the games listed already have reviews to them. I will be glancing over them anyway. Like traditional quickies, I'll be rating these games from 0-5. I don't know if you can hear it, but I'm cracking my knuckles right now to get ready for this.


Advance Wars: Days of Ruin - War has changed. It's much darker, bleaker, but still full of adolescent commanding officers. Would you go to die for a sixteen year old? I digress. For the first time ever, you can hop online and battle friends and foes from across the globe with Wi-Fi warfare. With new units, a content-heavy single-player campaign, and online play, Days of Ruin is definitely one to recommend. 4/5


Advance Wars: Dual Strike - Andy, Max, Sami, and the gang are back with the very first Advance Wars game to hit the DS. Dual Strike takes its name from the one-two punch of CO powers that can be unleashed on your unsuspecting opponents. You can easily wipe out any resistance with these powers. Perhaps they're a bit overpowered, but it makes otherwise impossible battles all the more winnable. 4/5

Animal Crossing: Wild World - There's so much to do on the planet of Wild World. Befriend neighbors, do chores, furnish your house, pay off your debt to a weasel-y raccoon (yeah, right), collect new furniture and items, collect bugs, fish, gather seashells, create patterns for your clothes, and hop online and visit your friends. Animal Crossing had tons to do, and Wild World adds even more to the mix. Highly recommended. 5/5

Bomberman Land Touch! - An adventure full of mini-games to complete and tasks to do, Bomberman Land Touch! isn't your typical Bomberman. Sure, there's the classic Bomberman mode that you can play online that is separate from the single-player adventure, but the focus with Bombeman Land is all mini-games. Your mileage may vary. 3/5

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - My first ever Castlevania game, so I hold it near and dear to my heart. You gained souls from enemies and bosses. These souls granted you new powers to access new areas of the main castle. Bosses were memorable, many taking up most of the screen. The soundtrack is one of the series' best as well. 5/5

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - Easily the most forgettable game in the DS Castlevania trilogy, Portrait of Ruin gets its name from the many portraits you enter into new worlds and lands. The zombie-bashing, skeleton-slashing gameplay is present and accounted for, and the game is an entertaining romp for any fan of the genre. 4/5

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - I was supposed to write up a detailed review of this game, but I never managed to find the will to do so. Regardless, Order of Ecclesia is your standard Metroidvania fare. This time around, however, the world map is much more segmented and broken up into areas. If you like Castlevania, you'll love this more challenging game. 4/5


Chrono Trigger - I have never played the original Super Nintendo version of Chrono Trigger, so the DS remake was an entirely new beast for me. Featuring an entertaining battle system, time travel, and Yasunori Matsuda's magnum opus soundtrack, Chrono Trigger is a true winner for any RPG fan. 5/5

Clubhouse Games - Thirty-two classic parlor games, Clubhouse Games is packed with content. Don't like word games? Maybe the card games will be more down your alley. You can play online with up to five other friends, draw notes to one another, and have loads of fun. A great single-player and multi-player game for anyone, young and old. 4/5

Contra 4 - My butt is sore from Contra 4 continually kicking it. I no longer have a name because Contra 4 took it. Yes, it kicked my ass and took my name. This game is a Contra fan's explosive wet dream with two classic Contra games included, a balls-to-the-wall difficult challenge mode, and nine levels of increasingly grueling fun. Not for all, not for me. I'll stick with the easy games. 3/5

CrossworDS - Like crossword puzzles? Like word searches? Like anagrams? Then you'll love CrossworDS. It has hundreds of puzzles that will last you months. It's the perfect pick-up-and-play game. Definitely worth the twenty bucks. 4/5

Custom Robo Arena - I love robots, I love fighting, so this should have been a match-made in heaven. Too bad that the story is so juvenile and boring that it made playing through it nearly impossible. I couldn't complete it-- even with the cool robots and online play. 3/5

Diddy Kong Racing DS - This game is a good sign of what is wrong with today's Rare. They botched a perfectly good game. Blowing into the mic to start up your hovercraft at the beginning of a race? Seriously? Seriously??? 2/5

DK Jungle Climber - You can keep your wishes of Donkey Kong Country 4 because the DK King of Swing series is as close as you're going to get to it. The game used L and R to climb walls, bashing baddies, and collecting all sorts of goodies. This is a really cool game that can get quite challenging later on, too! 4/5

Dragon Ball Origins - I'm not a fan of the Dragon Ball series or any of its spin-offs. That's okay though because somehow I still enjoy the games. Dragon Ball Origins is no exception to this statement. Featuring stylus-based controls in conjunction with the d-pad, Origins is a fun little adventure that looks great, takes players up to the first Martial Arts Tournament, and oozes with humor. Check this one out. You won't be disappointed. 4/5

Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime - This adventure might be short at less than ten hours to complete, but it's a fun ride while it lasts. Rocket has to rescue his fellow Boingburg denizens from the clutches of the Plob! On the way he'll take part in tank battles which many folks are addicted to. Will you be one of them? 4/5

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker - When you combine Pokemon style capturing and collecting with the world of Dragon Quest, you get Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, a game permeating with content. The single-player mode can last upwards of thirty-to-forty hours as you go after and try to collect all of the over 200 monsters. Then you can take your monsters online and battle with friends or strangers via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. 4/5

Elebits: The Adventures of Kai & Zero - This Elebits game is nothing like the Wii original. Sure, you still suck up Elebits by tapping at them with the stylus, but now it's an adventure game more akin to Zelda than Elebits. The story is pretty poor, but the gameplay is rewarding enough to keep players coming back for more. 3/5

Elite Beat Agents - A rhythm-based game featuring a trio of funkadelic agents, Elite Beat Agents may turn some people off with some of the song choices. Avril Lavenge? (Who really cares enough about her to get the spelling right.) Get that $@$# out of here. Touch, tap, and slide the stylus around the screen in time with the music for a high score. Fun, but I couldn't stay with it long enough to beat it. 3/5

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time - Echoes of Time is the indirect sequel to Ring of Fates showcasing online play for up to four players. The action-RPG aspect of the game is still here as is the dungeon-crawling. The 3D visuals are quite pleasing to the eye as well. 4/5


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates - Ring of Fates is an action-RPG with a lot of heart. The story isn't going to win any awards, but the gameplay is fun and easy enough for anyone to get into. Between this and Echoes of Time, however, Echoes of Time is the better game. 4/5

Final Fantasy III - A game stuck in the early nineties, Final Fantasy III is as old-school as it gets. A lack of being able to save anywhere, and the brutal difficulty made this fantasy one I could pass over quite easily. It's still a competent game, but it's definitely not for everyone. 3/5

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales - Like Bomberman Land Touch!, this is a mini-game compilation under the guise of an adventure. Play multiple mini-games each with a fairy tale theme and each with familiar monsters and music from the Final Fantasy franchise. You can take on people online in two player card battles. Overall, a charming little game worthy of a look at the very least. 3/5

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - I must be getting burnt out on these types of games. I couldn't play more than a couple of hours before being bored. The drive here, shoot these people up, move here gameplay just doesn't do it for me anymore. I will congratulate Rockstar on trying to make the series work on the DS. 3/5

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure - By jolly! Meet Henry Hatsworth. He's looking for pieces of a legendary golden suit. Part platformer, part puzzler, you're constantly switching between leaping across chasms on the top screen and taking part in Panel de Pon-styled puzzles on the bottom screen. The game's rather challenging, too, so get ready to be frustrated at certain parts! 4/5

Kirby Canvas Curse - One of the earliest DS games, Kirby Canvas Curse came out the June after the DS released. It was right in the middle of a drought, something that the DS would not see ever again to this day. The game is played by drawing lines that Kirby follows. This highly intuitive, highly entertaining game is still one of the best uses of the DS. 5/5

Kirby Squeak Squad - There's not much that can be said about this Kirby adventure. It's rather generic, lackluster, and just uninspired. It's a breeze to play through with the only longevity coming from finding hidden treasure chests in the various worlds. Not Kirby's best entry, but it's a playable one nonetheless. 2/5

Kirby Super Star Ultra - Kirby Super Star Ultra is a remake of Kirby Super Star, a collection of mini-games and adventures including the Metroid-styled Great Cave Offensive, Meta Knight's Revenge, and many more. While Squeak Squad felt uninspired, Ultra makes up for that in spades with a wonderful collection of Kirby cuteness. 4/5

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - Link hits the DS with a stylus-controlled journey on and off the seas. The controls worked great, but the big problem with the game was constantly returning to the Temple of the Ocean King after every dungeon, trudging through the same rooms over and over again. Not my cup of tea, but the rest of the game was terrific. 4/5


Lunar Knights - Kojima Productions does something different-- they make a game that is more gameplay than cutscenes! Wow! This Boktai sequel features an isometric view in dungeons with hack and slack/hack and shoot gameplay that just didn't click with me. It was repetitive, and the story was laughable (as is usual with something from Kojima) at best. 2/5

Magical Starsign - A real paint-by-numbers RPG, Magical Starsign doesn't really do much to make itself stand out from the many much better RPGs on the system. If you're a fan of Brownie Brown (all three of you), then you'll probably love this game. 2/5

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time - I'm very excited for next week as Bowser's Inside Story comes out. The second of the Mario & Luigi trilogy, Partners in Time, featured a time travel mechanic, bosses that took forever to kill, and a disconnected world. What the game did right was be entertaining through and through with its fun gameplay and trademark humor. 4/5

Mario Hoops 3-on-3 - It was about time Mario and crew hit the hard-court and play a little basketball. Developed by Square-Enix of all people, 3-on-3 is oftentimes Mario Hoops 1-on-3. Your computer teammates just stand there, never helping out making games very infuriating and cheap. The game, however, is a good looker with a great soundtrack. It's just not that good of a game. 2/5

Mario Kart DS - One of the most complete Mario Kart experiences, Mario Kart DS features 32 races, sixteen old, sixteen new, a mission mode, online play, an emblem maker, and twelve different racers with multiple karts. There is no better Mario Kart game. Mario Kart DS is it. 5/5

Mario Party DS - Party hardy, Marty! Mario Party hits portables in a traditional game. Five boards, eight characters, and a myriad of cool mini-games that make use of the DS's hardware. What's the icing on this cake is that you can play all of the boards and mini-games with only one game card. No need for your buddies to buy the game for them to play it with you. I wish more DS games were like this! 4/5

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis - The original Mario vs. Donkey Kong put you in control of Mario as he jumped and hopped his way through levels straight out from the classic Donkey Kong games. The sequel puts you in control of the Mini Marios as the goal to get them to the goal without destroying any of them. The single-player will last you five hours or so while the ability to create your own puzzles and place them online puts the replay value up considerably. 3/5

Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS - Two Battle Network games rolled into one package, Double Team DS features both versions of Mega Man Battle Network 5. Little has been done to the tired and true formula of past Mega Man Battle Network games. If you've played one already, you probably have seen most of what Double Team DS has to offer. 3/5

Mega Man ZX - A more Metroid-styled Mega Man game, Mega Man ZX features one of the worst map systems I've ever come across. It makes trekking anywhere a considerable pain in the rear. The action of the game is what you'd expect from Mega Man, and here, Mega Man ZX does not disappoint. Just don't rely on the map. 3/5

Mega Man ZX Advent - In Mega Man ZX Advent, each boss you defeated would give you the ability to transform into them to access previously unreachable areas. The map system has been improved, the game is more enjoyable, and there's plenty of content to keep you blasting away for hours. 4/5

Metroid Prime Hunters - What do you get when you take Samus Aran and combine it with deathmatch-style gameplay? You get Metroid Prime Hunters. I personally couldn't get a grip of the touch-screen controls, so I used good old analog. The single-player was quite good if not more linear than usual, and the multi-player was just pure bliss if you played with friends. There's too many hackers online to make the game fun with strangers. 4/5


Metroid Prime Pinball - What do you get when you take Samus Aran and combine it with pinball? You get Metroid Prime Pinball. The game had multiple boards with different little gimmicks on each of them. I'm usually not good or patient with pinball, but Metroid Prime Pinball is one of my favorites of the genre. Somehow Metroid Prime Pinball worked taking Samus and keeping her in her morph ball for most of the time. 4/5

Nanostray - Nanostray is a top-down shmup that rivals Contra 4 in difficulty that is from the same game that made Iridion for the Game Boy Advance. The 3D visuals are extremely impressive, and while the game doesn't feature much in the way of bullet hell, it can be frustrating at times. 4/5

Nanostray 2 - Taking the successful formula of the original and improving on it, Nanostray 2 showcases new perspectives instead of just top-down levels. There's new side-scrolling levels featuring the same awesome graphics and bosses that made the first game so fun. 4/5

New Super Mario Bros. - I'll probably be writing a more-detailed review of this game in anticipation of the Wii installment. I really enjoy this game as it's a challenging Mario game-- if you go after the three gold coins per level, that is. I didn't like how two of the worlds were completely optional, and that some hidden areas required some of the less interesting power-ups. Other than, New Super Mario Bros. is a fantastic platformer. 5/5


Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword - Slash, slice, dice, and strike your enemies with the stylus. When playing, you hold the DS on its side like a book. You use the stylus to attack enemies and move around and you use any button to shield yourself. Another game that can kick your butt in an instant, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is an incredible effort on the DS. 4/5

Nintendogs - Take care of your dog, cater to its needs, play with it, take it on walks, enter it in competitions, and much more in Nintendogs. One of the more addictive features of the game is the sheer amount of goodies you can put on your dog from Mario and Luigi hats to new dog collars. The multimillion seller may not last you that long, but the ride is indeed a fun one. 4/5

Planet Puzzle League - It's Tetris Attack with a futuristic flair. Planet Puzzle League is yet another Nintendo property that hit the DS with online play. What isn't there in personality (no Yoshi, for example), the game offers in unique modes and hours upon hours of addicting gameplay. 4/5

Pokemon Diamond - Gotta catch 'em all all over again! The DS installment of the Pokemon franchise along with Pokemon Pearl, the game trumpets better visuals and online play. Those burnt out from the Pokemon franchise won't be getting into this game any time soon, but for the rest of us, there's so many Pokemon to capture and collect that we'll be playing til sunrise. 4/5

Professor Layton and the Curious Village - Professor Layton is a series of brain twisters all loosely connected by an overlaying story. With over 100 puzzles to solve, many of which are just clever beyond words, Professor Layton is a game that shouldn't be passed up. 4/5

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box - Taking the same formula from the Curious Village, the Diabolical Box features more locales, more puzzles, and more content to take in. Both Curious Village and Diabolical Box are worth getting. I remember letting my mom play one of the games, and she's no gamer at all. She very much enjoyed her time with Professor Layton. 4/5

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence - Deadly Silence always reminds of farts being silent and deadly. Take that as you will. Deadly Silence is a remake of the original Resident Evil for the original Playstation. It featured some touch controls, but it was mainly the same game. Dated graphics and dated gameplay, but it still holds up well in most aspects. Those like me who never played the original got the most out of the game. 3/5

Soul Bubbles - An innovative game, Soul Bubbles has you guiding bubbles filled with souls across various game levels and worlds. The game isn't overly challenging, so it makes for a perfect game to sit back and relax to. What it lacks in difficulty it makes up for in sheer inventiveness. 3/5

Sonic Rush - Sonic speeds onto the DS with a worthwhile game full of fast fun and platforming peril. One gripe I do have is that the game uses way too many bottomless pits, something that the next game will rectify. Besides that, armed with an awesome soundtrack and impressive visuals, Sonic Rush is a great game for those wanting to forget those 3D Sonic games... 4/5


Sonic Rush Adventure - Add one obnoxious new friend for Sonic in Marine, a disjointed flow of zones, and jet skis, and you get Sonic Rush Adventure. While many of the problems of Sonic Rush were fixed, the decision to force the player to ride to different zones and islands wasn't one I was satisfied with. Still, those who love 2D Sonic and speed will love Sonic Rush Adventure. 4/5

Star Fox Command - Some people dislike Star Fox Assault. I'm in the camp that dislikes Command. It was part real-time strategy, part dogfighting. The game was just highly repetitive utilizing the same structure for each mission. Shoot all bad guys, fly through rings, destroy mothership #345. 2/5

Super Mario 64 DS - You take the original Super Mario 64, put it to the DS, add three new playable characters (Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario), add some touch-based mini-games, thirty new stars, and updated graphics, and you have a game that's still one of my favorites. I remember being amazed at the visuals and that a portable could produce them (this was before the PSP, of course). Great game even when just playing with the d-pad. 5/5

Super Princess Peach - Princess Peach has never been the heroine or star of her own game. Until now. Mario and Luigi have somehow been abducted, and it's up to Peach to rescue them through eight worlds with multiple levels, secrets to be found, and bosses to beat down. The soundtrack is lively, the visuals are colorful, and the game, although easy, is a blast to play. 4/5

Tetris DS - A rare gem on the DS, Tetris DS is now out of production, and it can fetch for a high price on eBay. Unlike Planet Puzzle League, Tetris DS is filled to the brim with personality whether its from Mario or Samus Aran of Metroid fame. There's a ton of different modes and options available including online. If you own this game, hold it to your heart and cherish it. It's a great one! 4/5

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground - Tony Hawk translated quite well to a portable with Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. Sure, the character creator was plenty poor, but the actual skating and grinding worked really wonderfully. Online play was just the cherry on top of this great game, one that I enjoyed much more than the console versions. 4/5

The World Ends With You - This action-RPG featured a ton of annoying characters, but thankfully the gameplay saved it. The battles were controlled with the stylus, and each ability used a different method of unleashing it. For instance, drawing a circle would initiate an orb attack. This innovative and highly creative RPG is worth seeking out. 4/5


Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble - The final game in the Viewtiful Joe line of games (thanks for killing it, Capcom), Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble may not have been a technical marvel (only two enemies could be on the screen at once), but it was an entertaining game for the short time I played through it. 3/5

Yoshi's Island DS - A direct sequel to the Super Nintendo's Yoshi Island, the DS version is different in that it features multiple babies with different powers, a much more challenging adventure, and a horrible soundtrack. I really enjoyed this retread on old ground, and those claiming that Nintendo games are too easy should check this one out. 4/5

Yoshi's Touch & Go - This game is something more for an arcade than the DS. The goal is to get as high of a score as possible, drawing lines for Yoshi to walk on and shooting eggs to defeat enemies. One could say this game is a tech demo of the DS's capabilities, but it's an enjoyable little jaunt for sure. 3/5

There you have it. 63 games, 63 Quickies. My thanks to Psychoduck for the inspiration to do this!