Story of Seasons is pretty much a Harvest Moon game not called Harvest Moon. Confused? Don't be. All you need to know is that Japanese players and English importers have been loving this game with some calling it the best farm sim ever. Yes, better than Harvest Moon! Story of Seasons will release next month in North America.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Better Late Than Never Reviews: Jet Set Radio (PS3, 360, Vita) Review
Happy Tuesday morning, everyone! Hope your Monday night went well and that you sleep well, too! I'm already up and at 'em with a new review, a Better Late Than Never Review, to be exact. These are for games that are too new to be retro and too old to be considered new. Don't understand? Don't worry about it. You can blame it on having just wakened up.
We kick off this Tuesday with a review of an HD version of a Dreamcast classic. If you read this post headline, then you probably know what it is. If not... well.. maybe you need some more sleep.
Oh, dear Dreamcast, how you met a cruel and quick fate, but your library will forever be heralded for the wild, wacky, and wonderful games you gave the industry and our hobby. Jet Set Radio (known as Jet Grind Radio originally in North America) was one of those games, and it is well known for being an eclectic title, as well as for pioneering the cel-shaded art style. That alone makes it a winner in my book. However, I didn't actually own a Dreamcast, so the downloadable version on the PlayStation Vita (also available on the PS3 and 360) was my first go at it. While the art style certain holds up to modern standards, the actual gameplay is another story.
First, I'd like to just say how fantastic the new high-definition visuals for this digital version of Jet Set Radio really is. The original was a looker and still is today, but this HD remastering is on a whole different level. The colors are bright, vibrant, and pop out splendidly. The characters are modeled with great detail, too. Finally, speaking of details, the levels have seen their geometry upgraded by a sizable amount. Tokyo-to feels even more like an inviting place to skate, grind, and cause trouble for the man in with this HD iteration.
Jet Set Radio has you controlling one of the members of The GGs as you skate, jump, grind, skitch, and spray your way through one of over a dozen individual levels. It's much less like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and more like a 3D platformer, except instead of a pair of running shoes, your characters wear a pair of inline skates.
The goal of most levels is to find and spray over other gangs' graffiti with your own. Once all of these spots have been tagged over by The GGs, you successfully complete the level. The other type of levels have you chasing after three moving targets of rival gang members with the objective to spray each ten times on the back within the time limit. There is no greater diss than marking your territory (in spray paint form, you dirty birdies) on a rival gang member's back.
Levels start out as small sections of each of the three regions of Tokyo-to, but as you progress through the game, these small section become interconnected, allowing for some very satisfying exploration, especially if you're a fan of hunting for the elusive Graffiti Souls collectibles like I was! That said, levels are also timed and have everyone from policemen and swat dogs to gang members and attack helicopters attacking you if you aren't careful.
In order to spray over gang graffiti and blank walls, you need to collect spray cans which are littered throughout the many levels of Jet Set Radio. While small graffiti spots only require a quick tap of the left shoulder button to spray them, mid-size and larger spray spots require something less passive. When you spray such a spot, and as long as you have enough paint, you enter a mini-game of sorts where you move the analog stick in the required movements (e.g. a 360 clockwise circle, a counterclockwise half-circle) with quick timing. The more you paint in one fell swoop, the higher the amount of points you get.
Points are not necessary to worry about when just going through the story for fun. However, if you want to unlock every character, you need to get "Jet" rankings on every level. Not only are successful spray painting sessions mandatory, but performing tricks is encouraged as well. Thankfully, these are limited in Jet Set Radio to nothing complicated. There is just grinding, wall rides, and midair tricks that are automatically performed if you have enough speed... and the game decides it's going to do one for you.
Yes, that is one of the few yet major places upon which Jet Set Radio bails and lands on its face. The game is highly inconsistent. This is no further showcased than in the actual platforming and exploration of the game. A lot of times you will have to grind on a rail to reach higher places. However, this is easier said than accomplished, as there is no grind button to speak of. Instead, you aim towards a rail or whatever, and you hope the Jet Set Radio gods deem that you worthy to grind on it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
How about when you have a lot of speed going into a grind and then magically have all your momentum disappear? Jumping from a platform to something far away is finicky whether you land the jump or not. It is highly frustrating, especially when a fall causes you to have to restart from an earlier portion of a level.
Then there is the clunky way each member of The GGs feels. The controls never felt like I was actually in control, which as any video game player worth their weight in ollies could tell you, is pretty counterproductive. Each skater feels very slow, and that's even with the boost ability. Delicate platforming is sometimes required, and this is pretty much impossible with how each skater controls. Nothing like making a jump only to have Beat, Gum, Dopey, or Bashful automatically turn around, making you fall off the platform with your face burrowing itself in one of your palms.
All that said, Jet Set Radio is still indubitably fun even if the actual jumping, skating, and movement mechanics are a bit dated and sometimes archaic. There is a lot of enjoyable exploration of the wonderfully designed levels, great variety of objectives, a killer soundtrack, and undeniable charm emanating from this Dreamcast classic turned digital delight. Jet Set Radio does bail and bail HARD concerning some aspects, but overall, it is a wild and worthwhile ride. Just watch out for the Rokkaku!
[SPC Says: C]
We kick off this Tuesday with a review of an HD version of a Dreamcast classic. If you read this post headline, then you probably know what it is. If not... well.. maybe you need some more sleep.
Skating Powered By The "Cel"
Oh, dear Dreamcast, how you met a cruel and quick fate, but your library will forever be heralded for the wild, wacky, and wonderful games you gave the industry and our hobby. Jet Set Radio (known as Jet Grind Radio originally in North America) was one of those games, and it is well known for being an eclectic title, as well as for pioneering the cel-shaded art style. That alone makes it a winner in my book. However, I didn't actually own a Dreamcast, so the downloadable version on the PlayStation Vita (also available on the PS3 and 360) was my first go at it. While the art style certain holds up to modern standards, the actual gameplay is another story.
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| It's pretty in stills, but it's even better in motion. |
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| With Tokyo-to's traffic, it's usually not the best of ideas to skate in the street. |
The goal of most levels is to find and spray over other gangs' graffiti with your own. Once all of these spots have been tagged over by The GGs, you successfully complete the level. The other type of levels have you chasing after three moving targets of rival gang members with the objective to spray each ten times on the back within the time limit. There is no greater diss than marking your territory (in spray paint form, you dirty birdies) on a rival gang member's back.
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| Tab is about to pop open a can on these gang fools! |
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| The helmets are for these officers' own protection. |
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| I call this masterpiece "The Beat Special." |
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| Other skaters will ask to challenge you in order for you to recruit them to The GGs' side. |
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| The controls are simple to learn, but they don't do their job 100% of the time. |
Then there is the clunky way each member of The GGs feels. The controls never felt like I was actually in control, which as any video game player worth their weight in ollies could tell you, is pretty counterproductive. Each skater feels very slow, and that's even with the boost ability. Delicate platforming is sometimes required, and this is pretty much impossible with how each skater controls. Nothing like making a jump only to have Beat, Gum, Dopey, or Bashful automatically turn around, making you fall off the platform with your face burrowing itself in one of your palms.
 |
| Just a bridge and a Beat with his thoughts. |
[SPC Says: C]
Monday, February 2, 2015
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS) European Friday the 13th TV Ad
Also releasing in Europe on the same day (February 13), here is the European The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D commercial. I don't usually post multiple versions of commercials, but this one is so good that I couldn't help myself!
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (3DS) North American Commercial
Nintendo of America has published to its YouTube channel the North American commercial for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D for the Nintendo 3DS. The game launches with the "New Nintendo 3DS XL" in North America on February 13.
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - That Rat Bastard Groundhog Edition
Today is Groundhog Day, and apparently Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Therefore, there will be six more weeks of winter. Well, this Phil says that groundhog is a rat bastard. That said, his "weather report" is hardly going to ruin this week's edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Instead, I have great tunes for you guys this week, including themes from Parasite Eve, Boom Blox, and Mario Kart: Super Circuit! I see my own shadow, but that's because I'm standing in front of a lamp right now. Anyway, let's get to the cool tunes!
v806. Parasite Eve (PS1) - Primal Eyes
Yoko Shimomura to me is the female equivalent of Nobuo Uematsu. Her composing skills and compositions for the video games she works on are out of this world. She is on a totally different level, just like Uematsu. Her work on Parasite Eve is also fantastic, offering tense, melodramatic, and spacey themes all in one soundtrack.
v807. Boom Blox (Wii) - Blockland
Let's shift gears completely from sci-fi horror to wacky puzzle goodness with Boom Blox. It was part of a supposed three game deal with Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and Electronic Arts. At least Boom Blox made it out, and I'm grateful, as the game is a ton of party goodness fun. The soundtrack was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, whose music I was first introduced to with his Rugrats cartoon score.
v808. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS) - Weyard
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn was set 30 years after the events of The Lost Age. It saw the children of the heroes from the first game embark on their own adventure. Motoi Sakuraba was brought on board to compose the music for this third Golden Sun game, as he is known to be Camelot Software Planning's go-to composer. While the soundtrack isn't his best work, it still features plenty of excellent tracks, including this world map theme.
v809. Shadow the Hedgehog (PS2, GCN, XBX) - GUN Fortress
We go from a heroic theme to something relaxing and chill with the GUN Fortress level theme from Shadow the Hedgehog. Laced with guitar and percussive beats, GUN Fortress does not have nearly the amount of edge as the other themes in the game. It is a welcome change, as GUN Fortress itself as a level is a much slower paced one.
v810. Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA) - Cheese Land
To finish off this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, we go to a place where the streets are paved with cheese. No, this isn't "An American Tail", this is Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Cheese Land, a ridiculously zany track concept for even Mario Kart! The song is suitably catchy and will have almost anyone finding the theme bopping around in their heads as they race on this cheesy track.
v806. Parasite Eve (PS1) - Primal Eyes
Yoko Shimomura to me is the female equivalent of Nobuo Uematsu. Her composing skills and compositions for the video games she works on are out of this world. She is on a totally different level, just like Uematsu. Her work on Parasite Eve is also fantastic, offering tense, melodramatic, and spacey themes all in one soundtrack.
v807. Boom Blox (Wii) - Blockland
Let's shift gears completely from sci-fi horror to wacky puzzle goodness with Boom Blox. It was part of a supposed three game deal with Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and Electronic Arts. At least Boom Blox made it out, and I'm grateful, as the game is a ton of party goodness fun. The soundtrack was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, whose music I was first introduced to with his Rugrats cartoon score.
v808. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS) - Weyard
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn was set 30 years after the events of The Lost Age. It saw the children of the heroes from the first game embark on their own adventure. Motoi Sakuraba was brought on board to compose the music for this third Golden Sun game, as he is known to be Camelot Software Planning's go-to composer. While the soundtrack isn't his best work, it still features plenty of excellent tracks, including this world map theme.
v809. Shadow the Hedgehog (PS2, GCN, XBX) - GUN Fortress
We go from a heroic theme to something relaxing and chill with the GUN Fortress level theme from Shadow the Hedgehog. Laced with guitar and percussive beats, GUN Fortress does not have nearly the amount of edge as the other themes in the game. It is a welcome change, as GUN Fortress itself as a level is a much slower paced one.
v810. Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA) - Cheese Land
To finish off this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, we go to a place where the streets are paved with cheese. No, this isn't "An American Tail", this is Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Cheese Land, a ridiculously zany track concept for even Mario Kart! The song is suitably catchy and will have almost anyone finding the theme bopping around in their heads as they race on this cheesy track.
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