BUY

Back in August 2009, Dissidia: Final Fantasy was released stateside after a successful launch in Japan months earlier. A mash up of the first ten games in the series’ main heroes and villains coming together for an epic battle royale, (or “dramatic progressive action” as Square likes to call it.) Dissidia proved to be one of the most successful PSP games released this generation, complete with months of fan speculation as to which characters deserved a place in the roster for its next, highly anticipated installment. Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy was announced, complete with nine new playable characters. Dissidia 012 herein referred to as simply 012 feels quite a bit like an expansion more than anything for its predecessor.

Much like how 012 is sort of an upgraded package to the original Dissidia, I consider this review an addition to my previous one, which I will leave a link to at the bottom of the page. Technically a prequel for the first game, we discover that the ever raging war between Cosmos and Chaos has occurred 12 times during the time frame of 012; and our roster of new characters (Lightning, Tifa, Kain, Laguna, Yuna and Vaan) are the ones who enabled the 13th cycle of the war to occur. The entire story from the original game is actually available in 012 as well, pretty much negating any need to purchase the previous installment for newcomers to the series. (However, for those of us who played the first game, it wasn’t a waste of our time—PP catalog items purchased, along with character levels and abilities mastered/any AP DO carry over, along with a few valuables.) While the story mode has been greatly expanded upon, and we get to see more of the on goings of Chaos’ side of the fence this time, thanks to Reports, the game’s plot still lacks a definitive villain mode.

As mentioned above, 012 threw nine new characters into the mix; Lightning from FFXIII, Kain from FFIV, Tifa from FFVII, Laguna from FFVIII, Yuna from FFX, Vaan from FFXII, Prishe from FFXI (I was extremely happy and pleasantly surprised to see her added) Gilgamesh from FFV, and Feral Chaos, who’s basically just a supped up version of the Chaos you fight in the game. (Every game needs a Sentinel, I suppose.) Another one of the biggest changes from the original game is the introduction of the Assist Gauge; A meter which fills up and allows you to summon an assist character for help. (This can be performed by pressing L1 and circle.) Any of the 29 characters can serve as an assist, and we also get a cameo appearance from FFVII’s Aerith, as a special assist, (complete with costume changes) though she is only available for those who purchased the Prologue of the game. The combat fundamentals of the game are the same as its predecessor, and you can still play in RPG mode—a more traditional turn based RPG style of game play for those who want to enjoy what 012 has to offer, without all the demands and trappings of a conventional Fighting/Action game. Some other new additions include elements like EX-Revenge. The EX Gauge was pretty broken in the previous game, so now players who also have their EX Gauge filled can activate there’s at the same time as an opponent, interrupting them and forcing their enemy into a slow motion, suspended state.

There have been some tweaks made to most of the original roster of characters, and the combat feels a bit more polished this time around too. One of my biggest complaints however, is that playing against the AI is still the same old song and dance; It’s obnoxiously cheap, complete with equipping multiple accessories your characters can only equip one of, and depending on the difficulty, it’ll sometimes take divine intervention for your character to land an HP attack, or you’ll simply have to resort to characters with more exploitable moves (Yuna’s Mega Flare with Bahamut, Cloud’s Omni Slash Version 5) are usually wonderful choices for stubborn AI opponents. Speaking of which, the combat is still just as customizable as it was in the first game, with certain characters like Bartz getting a few new moves available to them. The new set of characters play a bit like Shantotto and Gabranth did in the original; they’re a bit more unique and have a steeper learning curve than the original 20 do. Tifa has an entire “Feint” system, which entails her faking out attacks and canceling them before they execute; Lightning can actually change Paradigms, and thus, her Bravery Attacks will change with them, (she can even heal her Bravery as a Medic) and Prishe actually skill chains, much like you actually would in Final Fantasy XI.

The actual story lines of the game feels more fleshed out and attended to as well. There is actually a world map now in story mode; and you can interact with your party members/the characters accompanying you, along with fighting randomized Mannekins usually guarding a treasure chest. Along with the PP Catalog returning from the previous game, we also have the KP Catalog, or “Kupo Points.” These points can be collected by entering certain gateways on the world map and winning battles, or chaining battles under certain conditions. While the PP Catalog offers you items like new costumes, stages or music, the KP catalog varies from Moogle to Moogle, with a variety of accessories, armor and weapons available from each one. The regular shop in the Customization menu is still available as well, but the Moogle shops offer unique items not found there sometimes.

In addition to Story Modes, Arcade and Free Battle, there is also Labyrinth mode; which replaces the various Course modes from the first game. (i.e. Black Jack and Lunar Whale.) I must say, I found the Labyrinth to be very off putting when held up against the original Courses. You could prepare for the Courses in the previous game by farming items through Story, Arcade or Free Battle mode; The Labyrinth mode is unique in that you can’t bring any equipment from previous modes in with you, and you must wear what you find exclusively within the Labyrinth. It functions the same way the various Courses did; You pick and choose Job Cards, or Battles (Or Party Battles now; you acquire party members who join you randomly and will be playable should your main character fall) until you find a door to the next area of the Labyrinth. You collect medals the same way you would before, and can spend them on gear as it comes your way, but most of this gear will actually disappear when you exit or lose in the Labyrinth. The only gear you can retain and reuse upon re-entering the Labyrinth, must have a “Cottage” icon, or a Tent. This icon also allows you to re-enter from a later point, instead of starting over. Despite powering through even the more difficult courses of the first game, I find the Labyrinth to be a bit off putting and a step in the wrong direction personally, and preferred to farm my battle items via Story or Free Battle this time. Why should I not be able to use all the gear I’ve already worked for/spent gil or KP on Square-Enix? It also became further tedious to have to equip every little scrap of gear I came across while inside the Labyrinth, only to know that some of it would disappear anyway.

The new cast of characters and the new addition to the story, Chapter 000: Confessions of the Creator, An Untold Tale. In this chapter, the final installment of the game’s story allows you to choose your five favorite characters (I simply adore my team of Prishe, Tifa, Lightning, Terra and Yuna) to power through a series of high end, difficult opponents and gates (and by gates, I mean the type of grids you move through and fight Mannekins to clear a stage, much like the first game) for the final showdown to bring a TRUE end to the war between Cosmos and Chaos. I also greatly enjoyed the game’s Reports (an optional series of individual battles with some cut scene meat thrown in) section of the story. Many of the cut scenes and character interactions were very cute, entertaining and surprising. (Laguna and Squall’s “Dad, you’re embarrassing me!” dynamic will make FFVIII fans feel all warm and fuzzy.) The presentation of the story, along with all the new content really makes the game feel like less of a generic good vs. evil confrontation, and taps more deeply into the personalities of the arsenal of characters the Final Fantasy series has given us over the years.

Overall, I really enjoyed Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy. The game feels far more complete now, with my only real complaints being the new Labyrinth system, (seriously, does ANYONE who’s ever played a video game like their items being taken away/disappearing before important things take place?) along with the fact that I feel the game REALLY needs a training mode. Although the combat is simple in its own way, not having an avenue to try out a new move you unlocked (because the AI certainly isn’t going to let you hit them unless you make them a complete gimp in Free Battle; and upon doing that, they just die too quickly.) The Museum mode was also a fantastic addition; this allows you to view any character model in any costume you’ve unlocked, in addition to compiling voice data and profiles for each character and their respective game. We all know Square-Enix has certainly had a rough year in 2010, but there’s always been something about their artistic direction and the way they render their characters that makes me all kinds of mesmerized. Being as that 012 is still a Fighting game at face value though, paired with it’s obnoxious AI, I believe the game’s replay value lies in not only how invested you are in the Final Fantasy series as a whole (I may be too invested) but also with how many friends you have to enjoy the game with. You can still obtain Friend Cards, and fight a ghost of your friend’s character or team. There will also be a slew of DLC for this installment as well. Ad-hoc it up with a good friend, and this is one of the best games you can purchase on the PSP.

You can also read my original review of Dissidia: Final Fantasy here on GamingAngels.

ESRB: E (for Everyone)
Genre: Racing
Players: Single-Player (Online: 1-6)
Developer: SCE San Diego Studio
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: May 25, 2010

BUY/RENT

The PSP version is a graphically watered down counterpart of the main console game, available this May, but the game’s art style transitions nicely to Sony’s handheld. ModNation Racers hopes to become what Little Big Planet became to gamers, but for the racing genre. Despite not usually being a fan of platformers, Little Big Planet’s innovation and versatility as a game along with it’s customizable elements really won me over. ModNation Racers is attempting to innovate a far more difficult genre to diversify, however. And while I easily consider it the best Kart Racing game I’ve played on a handheld so far, it didn’t quite breathe new life into it’s genre the way Little Big Planet did.

ModNation is the first Kart Racing game to really borrow inspiration from LBP’s “Play, Create, Share” motto in that the game provides players with countless different options to customize their own “Mod” which is your Sackboy like character, your kart and even to create your own track. Practically all of your customization options are initially locked, so players will want to quickly get into the game’s Career Mode. The game’s story opens with your racer, Tag, looking to make a name for himself as a kart racer in the ModNation Racing Championship Circuit. Your first race is Tag’s qualifying race, in which you must place third or higher to advance to the main Championship. Two funny Sports Newscasters, Biff Tradwell and Gary Reasons report on Tag’s entry and rise to become a top kart racer. For a game with little emphasis on the story, the dialogue is funny and well written, as is the commentary during races with funny quips like, “Do you need an eye doctor or a map? Stay on the course!” It also spoofs melodramatic car commercials, and the racing industry in general.

The game’s learning curve is a bit steeper than most other kart racing games. R1 is to accelerate, L1 is to brake/reverse, triangle is to turbo boost, circle is to activate your shield [to block items], x is to hop [for hopping over certain course obstacles], and square is to use an item. The D-pad also functions separately from the analog, in that you can stomp the ground by tapping down, or sideswipe another racer by pressing up. Holding X also allows you to drift. Players will need to utilize every facet of game play to be successful during races. From drifting during sharp turns, learning how to aim items effectively and to side swiping other racers, the game has a bit more depth than other kart racing games do. Items are also more diverse than the shells and banana peels of Mario Kart. Rockets and thunder bolts will miss opponents if not timed well or if aimed poorly on certain legs of the track. The game has good physics and tight controls to compliment it’s steep learning curve, though.

ModNation’s largest draw is definitely it’s customization. Practically every element of the game is deeply customizable with a wide array of options. The game’s Career mode even integrates the customization process into it very nicely. As Tag advances through races, he becomes well known for his outrageous and bizarre costumes, which then ushers the player into a customization tutorial. This allows you to make Tag into anything you want him to be, while retaining the flow of the story. Players have nearly limitless combinations of character parts, including over 455 types of eyes, 330 mouths, and few hundred options for every other facial feature, article of clothing, hair and head accessories. Most of these options also have up to 128 different color choices as well. You can also customize your own kart, with design elements divided by categories of parts, accessories, body and decals. The Parts tab allows you to choose from suspension, spoilers, seats, wheels, steering wheels, and engines. Accessories allows you to choose from antennas, hood ornaments and license plates. Both your mod and your kart can be further customized with the download option, which I wasn’t able to fully explore, but I surmise players will be able to upload their own graphics to the game, similar to how you could in LBP.

By far the most engrossing and in depth part of the game is the feature to design and create your own track. The options in this are categorized by track layout, place props, deform terrain, paint terrain and sky. Each of these options has a wealth of sub catagories with extensive options to build your own dream track. Track layout allows you to control the flow and loop of your track, while determining how long one lap will be. Prop placement provides you with a wide array of structures to decorate your course with; There are over 200 different kinds of objects to place on or around your track, many of which are obstacles racers will have to avoid or interact with. (Speed boost panels, ramps, Thwomp like anvils that move up and down to crush racers going under them.) Deform terrain allows you to make your own mountains or hills around or impeding the layout of the track. Paint terrain allows players to paint the pavement of the track or even outer areas of it in any way they wish. Players can also choose the appearance of the sky, and the location of the track with choices like alpine, desert, seaside and jungle. You have near infinite options with how you design and create your own tracks, and this was certainly my favorite aspect of the game.

My least favorite aspect however, is some of the camera issues the game suffers from. The most irritating of these is when your kart becomes airborn after a jump. During landing the camera will pan around awkwardly, forcing your mod to drive in the opposite direction of the race. I experienced this quite a bit, and it was enough to cost me my place during races at critical times. Playing against the AI can become ad nauseum pretty quickly. The collective AI of the other racers seems to have no interest in winning, rather costing you the win is the goal. Against friends with the game however, I think it would be a lot more fun. I think the console version of the game would have a lot more replay value as well, considering the much smaller community available to PSP. “Play, Create, Share” is a lot more expansive on a console than on a handheld, but the game does quite a bit on it’s portable platform as well. I feel it’s definitely a buy if you have friends to play with, but as a single player game, I would only say to rent it. Overall, I would say ModNation racers is probably the best racing game I’ve played on a handheld. But much like LBP, it’s a networking, community based game and requires other people to play with to experience it’s full potential.

Candystand has taken their games away from your computer to the other gaming devices in your home. I’ve already reviewed their iPhone version of MatchMaker, but this game is from a completely different family tree.

Rating: E
Genre: Tower Defense (hence the “TD” in the name!)
Number of Players: 1
Publisher: Candystand
Cost: $3.99

BUY

There are eight maps to choose from.

Say hello to VectorTD. It is a simple (but deep!) tower defense game. You have eight maps, which get ravaged by small pixel terrorists called “Vectoids” that move from one end of the map to the other. There are seven different kinds of Vectoids, and they get stronger from wave to wave. Every Vectoid that makes it across the entire map drains one life out of you and then goes back to the beginning of the map until they’ve all been eliminated (and each vaporized Vectoid nets you a little cash, as a bonus). After defeating a wave, you get a little break (unless you turn those off, but as a tower defense newbie, I chose not to).

What’s that break for? Well, you’ve got to set up a defense somehow, right? Around the main path, you can place 11 different kinds of towers from four categories (green, red, purple and blue). Just buy the tower, and then place it. Each performs a certain attack, and you can increase its range by upgrading it, up to level 10.

Each Vectoid has a weakness, and it’s your job to determine it and buy the right kind of towers to work to your advantage. Since you get a preview of what’s coming up, this task is made pretty easy.

You also get to customize every tower by choosing what it targets. See, your towers are pretty smart. They can pick the weakest target in range and just shoot away until the HP is gone. They can pick the strongest target and weaken it. One class of towers even slows down its targets using this system, and you can get more shooting time in on individual Vectoids.

Occasionally, you also get a bonus. You can spend that bonus one of four ways. You can purchase one of two towers that increase the damage or range of the towers in its range, you can buy five more lives (remember, every Vectoid that makes it all the way through equals a lost life), and you can also up your interest rate, netting you more money after every wave.

It’s not long before you get in a groove. Spend your cash (or try skipping building for a wave to build up some cash reserves), let the Vectoids attempt to make it through your live fire course, and if they do, build some more – fast. If you fail completely, it’s okay. You can either start over completely on that map, or switch to something new. You may have to replay some maps a few times, since the action does get more and more hectic as you go on.

The music reminds me of being in a club (it’s the same as in the Flash version), and the action is in short bursts, just the way I like it. It was easy to learn, and all of the information I needed to play was available right from the start (though the instruction manual is a little difficult to get to – from what I recall, it required an analog stick press). It’s simple as a whole, but the concept has proven to be an addicting one. I’m glad that VectorTD is my first tower defense title, and I love how I can go back to it over and over again when I need a little timewaster.

Once again, the best part of Candystand selling games for other platforms is that you can try before you buy. To play the original Flash version of VectorTD, click here. In my experience with both, I know that they’re incredibly similar. The only thing that differs even slightly is the screen layout, but they made this with the PSP in mind, so that makes sense. (Doesn’t make it any more difficult to play, though.)

This tower defense title should be a joy to anyone who enjoys the genre already, but even if you’re new like I was, $3.99 is a pretty good price to find out just how much you enjoy it.

VectorTD  was provided by Candystand, and does not affect the outcome of this review.

ESRB: M for Mature
Genre: Relationship Simulation
Number of Players: One
Developer: Tecmo Koei
Release Date: March 30, 2010 (UMD), April 1, 2010 (Digital)

Buy

Buy it now from Amazon.com

Everything you’ve heard about the Dead or Alive Volleyball games is true, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been fun. Sure the girls have flawlessly perfect bodies, and yes, DOA breasts seem to have a special gravity field (or maybe lack thereof), but the relaxing vacation experience is really just as much fun for the girl gamers as it is for the guys. We just don’t take the game in a perverted manner, instead appreciating it for what it is, flaws and all.

At its heart, DOA Paradise is a portable version of Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball 2 with some tweaking. Select your favourite DOA girl and enjoy a two week vacation on New Zack Island chilling by the pool, kicking up sand at the beach, meeting up at the volleyball courts, getting a bit wet during a friendly pool hop competition, and gambling at the casino. There are no jet skis this trip, but that’s fine by me since I wasn’t a big fan of them in the first place.

Dead or Alive Paradise features all nine familiar faces from DOAXVB2, and introduces a new playable character: Rio, the black jack dealer from the casino. A Guide to the Girls has been made readily available throughout the game for your referral needs. Pay special attention to it, as it contains hints as to who is easier to recruit as a friend for your special lady, as well as clues to favourite colours, food and beverages.

The most important aspect of the game is still your interaction with the other girls on the island. You don’t want to be alienated during your fortnight of frolicking, so just make sure you spend your money wisely and earn it when you need it. Spending money on your intended girlfriend should be your #1 priority. Make sure you know what your girlfriend’s favourite colour or food is so you don’t get her the wrong thing and ruin a budding relationship and wrap it up nice and pretty. Is your partner into flashy, skimpy bikinis, or does she prefer a slightly more modest look? The selection is the Sports Shop changes on a regular basis.

There are three ways to earn Zack Dollars: Pool Hopping, Beach Volleyball, and Casino games. Volleyball is by far my favourite way, as I am flawless with the perfect serves (worth an extra 3000ZD each time) and the killer spikes (5000ZD). That way, even if I lose the match, I still walk away with enough money in my pocket to buy some accessories, treats or new balls. The Casino is fun, and if you are good at Poker and Blackjack, you might want to visit nightly. Slot Machines are provided as well but those are too much of a risk for my liking.

Once you have a decent bit of savings, you’ll want to hit up the Sports Shop to purchase bikinis and volleyballs. All of the classic looks are back and waiting for you to collect. I’ve barely made a dent in Lei Fang and Lisa’s closets at this point, and I know that probably a hundred hours will be needed in order to acquire a good portion. But that’s part of the fun of Dead or Alive Paradise. There is so much replay value and so many items to unlock in order to obtain the 100% character completions. Zack of All Trades has all of the random goodies like food and collectibles. And if you’re looking for some sunglasses or a flower for your hair, a quick trip to the Accessory Shop will help rejuvenate your look.

Dead or Alive Paradise features Venus Clips, glamour videos of the DOA girls dancing in the side, sitting poolside and sipping on drinks, sunbathing and several others. Each girl has over 150 videos for you to unlock. During Venus Clips, hitting the Right Bumper gives you access to your camera. Your camera allows you to take snapshots of your character or her partner and save directly onto your memory stick. On average, the pictures run between 100-150kb, so if you want to take several photos, make sure you have enough room. After you complete your first 2 week stay on the Island, Private Paradise becomes available. Here you can string together your favourite Venus Clips and create a Paradise Flick for your personal pleasure. Snapshots taken and saved on your memory stick or hard drive are saved in a SCREENSHOT folder and can easily be copied over to your computer for uploading. Now all my favourite shots of Lei Fang and Kokoro can be combined to create a super awesome desktop background!!

One of the best features from the previous volleyball games is the Radio Station and having the ability to import your own music. DOA Paradise also offers this function, and any music you have in your MUSIC folder (excluding subfolders) is automatically added to the playlist. Since there are only seven tracks included with the game, I highly recommend adding some music to your memory; the playlist starts to annoy quickly if you don’t.

So after reading through all of this you are probably wanting to know what I think of the game? Does it offend me as a female gamer? Is it really as creepy as they say it is?

If you follow me on Twitter or have been on GamingAngels long enough, odds are you will have seen me speak about my love of the DOA franchise. Dead or Alive is my guilty pleasure and I will never apologize for my love of the people behind the fighting and volleyball incarnations. So yes, I enjoyed the game. Having a portable version that I can take on take on trips or play while my husband is using the TV is great. Each vacation can run between 2-4 hours depending on how you run through it and what you are trying to achieve each time. And since I play for the completion, I’m sure this will be another 80 hours and up addition to my sorely lacking PSP library.

Now let’s get down to the “creepy voyeurism” accusations. Due to flack from certain gaming sites, Tecmo Koei decided to run with an advertising campaign insinuating what certain types of gamers might intend to do with a portable game such as this. Let’s face it, this isn’t new news, and every Dead or Alive game has been criticized for the unnatural boob physics and the hotness of the girls. There have been rumoured cheats that allow for the girls to be naked in the Volleyball titles, a line of real bikinis for your girlfriend inspired by the closet of DOAXB, and giant body pillows you can cuddle up to at night. So yes, why not capitalize on all the pre-conceived notions to sell your game? I still don’t find this creepy. Instead I feel sorry for those gamers who will be playing this because they are socially awkward and have issues talking to real women.

However, there is another market that plays the game for what it is: virtual Barbie dolls. Its all about playing dress up and getting your virtual DOA dolls to like each other. Most girls (including myself, even though I have been a tomboy forever) have had Barbies or fashion dolls as children. We wouldn’t be caught dead doing that now, so Dead or Alive fills the space in gaming for big girls who want to collect and swap outfits in the digital realm.

To my sisters in the DOA sorority, Paradise is well worth the $30 for our on-the-go entertainment. We are no longer tied down to having to play in the privacy of our homes. We are free to show our DOA love by plane, train, bus, dogsled, camel, horse, or whichever means of transportation suits you best. Let’s collect every possible bathing suit, attempt to get Ayane and Kasumi to partner up (yeah, we know it’s impossible, but as females we won’t ever stop trying!) and post our favourite screenshots for all the world to see.

To the male readers of this review, please use DOA Paradise responsibly!

“Review product was provided by Tecmo Koei and does not affect the outcome of this review.”

ESRB: E for Everyone
Publisher: Chillingo
Number of Players: One
Size: 13 MB
Price: $4.99 (US)

BUY

The third game in my PSP Minis collection comes in the form of a top down shooter. Dracula: Undead Awakening puts me in the shoes of a vampire hunter and has me mow down monsters swarming from all sides.

That's an awful hungry looking pack of werewolves

There are three major settings to choose from: Grave Park, Frozen Earth, and Castle Hall. You’ll be moving about the screen with either your analog nub or the arrow keys and using the buttons on the right to shoot either up, down, left or right to destroy the oncoming hordes of ghouls. Shooting is pretty standard; hold down the button on the right that corresponds with the direction you wish to aim and hold it down.

Enemies defeated will leave behind health packs, new weapons and ammo that you will need to stay alive and rank up. Every once in a while, you will will see a Perk has become available to you. Depending on which weapons you have and the level of your character you will be able to select one special bonus. These range from more powerful shots, earning extra points or health, and a wide variety of other upgrades.

If there's a princess in this castle, odds are she's undead

Dracula: Undead Awakening has a few different types of game modes. No matter which mode you choose, you will have to stay alive as long as you can. There are no extra lives to pick up, and staying alive is the only way to level up and claim the top scores for each mode.

I quite like having a mindless shooter to play and kill time with while waiting for doctors who are running late or sitting on airport tarmac in Atlanta during a snowstorm (worst plane trip ever). It really is all about luck and skill, but even for myself, never getting past Level 1 didn’t matter so much as just seeing how many points I could rack up. Think Geometry Wars, but on the PSP and with vampires and werewolves. Pretty amazing for only being 13 MB large.

*Review code was provided by Chillingo, and does not affect the outcome of this review.*

As Resident Evil before it, Silent Hill has gone through some serious ups and downs (though it may be hard mining for material to work with in a location known for absolute nothingness, there is no excuse for Silent Hill 4 : The Room).

Developer: Climax Studios
Genre: Survival Horror
ESRB: M
Number of players: 1
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: January 19th, 2010

BUY

To fans of the series, one bad installment after another seemed like the direction this sleepy town’s story was headed. Like Weezer’s Blue Album, Silent Hill 2 was regarded by most as this sub-genre’s pinnacle of human achievement that has yet to be matched. With the bar set so unbelievably high, it shouldn’t be a surprise that nothing has really compared to the “I can’t sleep without the lights on” horror of James Sunderland’s last trip through small town hell. With that said, Silent Hill has really blossomed on the PSP.

Maybe it’s the difference between being huddled over the modest screen, headphones in, one-joystick playing style, as opposed to conventional console gaming. It adds an extra layer to the madness when the audio is right in your ear, or when the playability area is not large enough to see who’s chasing you. While I believe this contributes to the enjoyment (and why I chose to get Shattered Memories on PSP instead of the Wii [sorry Nintendo]), it really is the return to what made Silent Hill great that allows Shattered Memories to be so brilliant and fun.

The first Silent Hill for the PSP, Silent Hill : Origins, tells the story of a lonely trucker named Travis. His own horrible life, the worst parts trapped in his subconscious until wrecking his rig in Silent Hill, shape the town into the manic Nurse-inhabited hell hole we all know and love. Interesting, fun, and deeply disturbing, Origins invited the player back to the town and let them know that things were going to be cool again. Shattered Memories finds us hanging out with original protagonist Harry Mason, as well as most of the other characters from the first game, re-imagined for this installment.

The phone plays a huge part in Shattered Memories. Clunky at times, though it's interesting calling the various phone numbers scattered around the city, and it adds an extra layer to the creepiness.

Without giving too much away, Harry crashes his car, loses his daughter, and tries to find her in Silent Hill. While this sounds exactly like every other Silent Hill game (except for 4, which I’ve already explained is dead to me), Harry’s adventure is set apart by the fact that there’s no combat. None, whatsoever. There are definitely creepy alleyways and dark halls that I proceeded into with caution, but all of the enemies have been consigned to specific Dark Silent Hill times. Believe me, this is awesome. I understand that this is a horror game, and as such, there needs to be a certain level of tension that comes with every new corner, but for too long did I loathe trying to get something done and being unable to do it because I was once again chased off by those unyielding, armless torso monsters. A game can be scary without bothering you every 5 minutes. With Shattered Memories, I was able to explore and interact with my environment. Every time I was too comfortable in my superiority, the game would transform into Dark Silent Hill and the chase was on. The fact that my character was defenseless added to the dread.

Another interest mechanic employed by the developers was the psychological aspect of this installment. Actions having consequences is all the rage these days, but I’ve never seen it employed on such a bare-bones level like this game. Throughout the story, there are brief first-person respites in a psychologist’s office, where he’ll ask you questions about seemingly random things, ranging from high school memories to color association. This, coupled with things the player looks at specifically while in-game (like spending a little too much time looking at the row of alcohol bottles, or women in lingerie), creates a unique experience for every player. Not only does it affect the ending, but there are also subtle differences along the way. It’s worth playing again at least once to answer the questions differently for a new experience.

Perhaps this is what the developers were counting on, the person wanting to play the game over immediately, which is why the game clocks in at about 10 hours of active gameplay. I have nothing against games that cut out all of the BS and don’t waste my time by just getting to the point and leaving me satisfied, but if you’re going to make it short, at least include something along the lines of Game+ or unlockables. When I beat Shattered Memories in a day, I was a bit shocked but figured that by beating it I surely unlocked a new outfit or something that would further entice me to play again. Imagine my disappointment when I got to just play the game over again without any bonus for beating it the first time.

This happens far too often.

The Dark Silent Hill levels were different and cool (they’re ice levels, get it?), but got really frustrating after a while. I was fine with the premise of it, but Dark Silent Hill involved running through a maze of doors to an appropriate destination. It was the kind of Silent Hill maze where the doors don’t make sense and never lead you to where you think you’re going. It’s tedious running through door after door after door, running into the same swarms of naked ladies when you’re just trying to find where you were 10 minutes ago. While there are a couple hang ups (and what game doesn’t have them), Shattered Memories was much more than just a guy with a flashlight who doesn’t know when to come in from the weather. The final scenes of Harry falling, the water to the lighthouse, and the psychologists office are all very powerful and emotional. Rarely does a game strike a chord like that within me, but for a game that spends most of its time finding out what makes the player tick, it’s hardly a surprise.

While I would hesitate before spending the $30 for a new copy (equating to about $3 an hour), I’d definitely recommend adding Shattered Memories to your PSP library. Support a company when they get it right, so we have better luck getting more quality installments in the future.

In my opinion, you can never have too many video games with zombies. Usually, you are spending all your time shooting them in the head, severing their limbs and trying to figure out how to stop the outbreak from spreading. We spend all this time destroying them, but what about the people who create and control them?

Give your zombies increased mobility with wheelchairs

Zombie Tycoon pits you as a budding ZEO (Zombie Executive Officer). You are given access to three zombie units with which you will terrorize the streets, destroying buildings and eating brains as you plan your global domination. Each of the game’s ten levels boasts a new map with various obstacles and items to collect. With the over 100 items, you can arm your zombie minions to the teeth, equipping them with items such as balloons to lift them over crevasses or gas masks to keep them safe from the toxic fumes people are defending certain buildings with. Capturing hospitals will give you tokens allowing you to increase the size of your respective armies. Each group can be controlled separately using the respective Square, Triangle or Circle buttons, or by using the X button to tell them all to attack the same target.

Find replacement limbs to replace severed ones

If you think it’s going to be easy to blast through, then you better be a strategy genius. Eventually the humans decide to fight back, as well as rebuilding hospitals giving them back control. You really need to keep on top of where your zombies are and make sure they aren’t being killed off by someone wielding a chainsaw while you have them attacking a building. You must have your squad near a hospital in order to use the tokens, and if a whole unit falls, you must find a token to revive them before you can build more of that particular group. Sometimes it is best to barrel through, while other times you should venture out a little, regroup, then move out a bit further.

For $8, Zombie Tycoon is well worth the money, as it provides great strategy and a healthy amount of game time.

ESRB:

Sometimes you just want a simple distraction, something that doesn’t require reaching a checkpoint. I was looking for something along these lines for a trip I recently took, and since I had a bit of money left in my PSN wallet, I decided to check out a couple different Minis games. The first one I purchased was Bloons, which caught my attention first because of the price, and secondly because a friend had mentioned it when I asked Twitter for suggestions.

Bloons gives you control of a delightful little monkey who throws darts at balloons. Each level gives you a target amount of balloons that must be popped in order to proceed. In the beginning, its relatively simple, aiming with the digital pad left and right to throw your allotted darts. As you progress, you will discover special balloons containing items such as bombs or ice, which when popped will destroy or alter your level. Some types of bricks you encounter will also have special properties, like breaking when hit or be rubbery, causing darts to bounce off them. Eventually I discovered that I could also push up or down on the digital pad to increase and decrease the height I wished my darts to soar to. (I skipped the tutorial, otherwise I would have known that sooner.)

Overall, Bloons offers quite a challenge and is well worth the money spent. There are around 70 levels of increasing difficulty to be mastered and with the added feature of a level editor, you can always try to create your own should you feel the desire to. It’s a great game to play for a level or two at a time or for as long as you want.

BUY

Dissidia: Final Fantasy is Square Enix’s latest spin off of their beloved flagship series, but unlike other installments, the PSP exclusive fighting/action hybrid is quite in unique and innovative. Square Enix’s forays into the fighting or action genre have not always been well received, with their Playstation One fighter, Ehrgeiz being largely over looked, and their debut title for the Playstation 2, The Bouncer falling through the cracks to make room for more revered action games, like Devil May Cry. But for those of us who’ve invested the money in purchasing a PSP, we will find ourselves hooked on another gem of a fighting game with a particular fighting engine all it’s own.

Dissidia tells the story of the god Chaos, the goddess Cosmos, and the war that’s been waging between them. They’ve each enlisted the help of the villains and heroes respectively, from the first ten Final Fantasy games. Our ten protagonists are trying to help Cosmos restore harmony to the universe she and Chaos reside in. Each protagonist has their own story mode in which they set out to retrieve the crystals Cosmos has instructed them to find. The main story mode is comprised of a board game like series of areas in which you move your piece (represented by a figure of the character you chose) through an arrangement of tiles, either containing enemies, or various treasure or items that you collect on your route to a boss piece, or a “Stigma of Chaos” piece that advances you through the story.

When engaging an enemy piece, you’re taken into a battle. Combat in Dissidia is simple, yet intricate at the same time. Characters have an HP stat, and a BRV stat. BRV, short for Bravery is an offensive stat that not only protects HP, but determines how much you can damage your opponent. When your BRV is broken [by reducing the number to 0 through Bravery attacks] or you break an opponent’s BRV, their HP then becomes vulnerable. (Although it’s still possible to damage HP before breaking BRV through HP attacks.) Square button is for HP attacks, while circle is for BRV attacks. Characters start out with a few basic abilities, either magic or physical and will gain more as they level up and master those. Terrain is very important to the flow of combat in Dissidia, as moves are divided by aerial attacks and ground attacks, and differ greatly from each other. Abilities are customizable and may be allocated to any command maneuver. The basic commands are, Button, Button + analog toward opponent, Button + analog away from opponent. As a character levels, more intricate combos will become available and will require specific strings of attacks or scenarios to use.

Other modes include a more classic Arcade mode, Quick Battle; where you can customize any aspect of a fight you wish, and eventually the Dual Colloseum; and endless gauntlet of battles through cards you draw, mainly used to collect high level equipment and items. Dissidia has a leveling system where, much like in traditional Final Fantasy games, you can level to 100, while increasing your HP, BRV and statistics while gaining access to stronger equipment and accessories. The game has tons of collectables including extra costumes, secret characters, icons depicting hundreds of Final Fantasy characters throughout the series, and best of all, rearranged and remixed music from all games throughout the series, all of which are buyable via the game’s PP catalogue.

Dissidia upholds the Square Enix standard of comely, beautifully unmatched character models as well as environments that push a system to it’s limits. The character designs were all updated from their respective games and tailored by Nomura to work well together, many of the sprite originating characters getting a complete overhaul aesthetically. Promoted as a 20th Anniversary title of the Final Fantasy series, the game truly feels like a celebratory game and a thank you to the fans for supporting the series since 1988. Fans of the series can finally answer the questions they’ve been debating for years; “Who would win in a fight!? Kefka or Sephiroth!?” One of my own personal favorite features in the game is of course, The Ad-Hoc based multiplayer. Not only giving the game a surge of replay value on top of it’s myriad of collectibles, [there are near infinite combinations of accessories and equipment to customize your character and enhance the abilities you allocate to them] you’ll have ample amounts of fun trying out the game’s 22 characters and finding the one who’s style of play suits you the most.

While the story in Dissidia is a little flat and predictable, some of the character specific monologues are sometimes profound and nostalgic of the series. The real draw of this game is it’s unique combat system and Ad-Hoc mode (which you can now REALLY enjoy with the North American PSN Release of Ad-Hoc party this November) so I would consider the story merely the back drop to the game play. Dissidia: Final Fantasy is a great addition to any PSP gamer’s library, and a must have for fans of the series. Even those who aren’t will still be able to enjoy this precise fighting/action blend, which would serve as a great introduction to the series for newcomers as well.

And then, tomorrow, you can be on the look out of what games and items each of us are asking for this holiday season. Enjoy!

Nintendo DS

Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
Rating: E for Everyone
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $33.99
Release Date: September 14th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
A brand new story featuring our favorite plumbers and their nemesis bowser.  This time, you get the option of two different story lines, one feature Bowser, and one focused on the microbe sized plumbers and their princess. ~Cherith & Netzach

Professor Layton & Diabolical Box
Rating: E for Everyone
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $28.82
Release Date: August 24th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Gaming Angels Review
Professor Layton and Luke are back with another wonderful puzzle filled tale. When the Professor’s mentor is found dead in his apartment, the pair finds themselves in pursuit of an infamous treasure and the mystery surrounding it. ~Yukino

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Rating: E for Everyone
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $29.82
Release Date: October 12th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
The latest installment in the Pokemon series, Explorers of Sky lets you play as one of 19 different Pokemon. There is a fairly good amount of reading in Pokemon titles, so if your child struggles with reading, this is not the game for them. ~Yukino

Scribblenauts
Rating: Everyone 10+
Developer: Warner Bros.
Price: $27.99
Release Date: September 15th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Scribblenauts is an adorable game that’s fun for all ages. It’s got a bunch of challenges and the ways they can be solved are limited only by your imagination, so even after you beat them, it’ll be different every time you go back. ~Cherith & Netzach

Nostalgia
Rating: Everyone 10+
Developer: Ignition
Price: $33.99
Release Date: October 27th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
This is an amazing little RPG from Ignition. It’s got a great story, combat system and entertaining characters. It’s reminiscent of Skies of Arcadia, but now on the DS with a fun soundtrack and AIRSHIPS! You can’t go wrong with this for RPG fans. ~Cherith & Trina

Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $27.99
Release Date: September 15th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Following the storyline of the popular anime series and showcasing the grown up, new look of Naruto and his friends, this 3D fighting game will test players’ ninja skills through head-to-head matches on their quest to save what’s most important to them: their friendships. ~Yukino

Sushi Academy
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: City Interactive
Price: $19.99
Release Date: November 2nd, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Japanophiles in particular will enjoy this game that follows a similar sort of formula as the Cooking Mama series – except it’s sushi of all different types. You’ll be amazed at how many different sushi dishes are available, and amused at the reactions your sushi sensei has upon completing your chosen dish. Definitely a lot of fun – Japanophile or not. ~Naomi

Nintendo Wii

Squeeballs Party
Rating: E +10
Developer: PDP Gaming
Price: $19.99
Release Date: October 15th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
See Cherith’s Review here
This game can’t really be talked up more than it already was in my review. But, even if you’re not picking it up for yourself, it’ll be a great addition to the collection of the avid Wii gamer on your list. ~Cherith

New Super Mario Bros Wii
Rating: E for Everyone
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $46.99
Release Date: November 15, 2009
GA Amazon Link
A throwback to the original Mario Bros style, you can now play with up to 4 people with the newest Super Mario adventure for the Wii. Work together to complete the level, while battling each other for most points or coins collected.

NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer
Rating: E for Everyone
Developer: Lightening Fish
Price:
Release Date: September 18th, 2009 (EU)
See more at the NewU website
If you are already using your Wii to get fit by using either Wii Fit or EA Sports Active, then here’s another one to add to your collection. It includes exercise plans for those who don’t exercise at all, to exercise plans for those who regularly love to feel the burn. And in addition to that, it also has a whole heap of recipes (with instructions) and can create a weekly meal plan as well as sorting out your shopping list for you! Brilliant! (Not currently available in the US. ~Naomi

Beatles Rock Band
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: EA
Price: $239.00 ($49.96 Game Only)
Release Date: September 9th, 2009
GA Amazon Link or here (game only)
This is great, even for people that don’t think they know Beatles songs, playing through the story mode of Beatles Rock Band gives you an amazing look at their history and you’ll probably recognize more songs than you think. The title has also had strong DLC which will keep you playing. ~Trina

Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: Ignition
Price: $46.99
Release Date: September 8th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Check out Stealthyslyth’s review
Beautiful animation and a good soundtrack make it such an interesting and beautiful game, I caught myself staring at the scenery quite a bit and enjoying the music before moving on to a new area. At points it even felt as if I was playing inside of a painting. RPGs and/or side scrolling game fans will highly enjoy this game! ~Stealthyslyth

Playstation 3

Beatles Rock Band
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: EA
Price: $239.00 ($49.96 Game Only)
Release Date: September 9th, 2009
GA Amazon Link or here (game only)
Take a trip back in time with the entire family with Beatles: Rock Band. Play as the Fab Four, rocking out in some of their most memorable stages with classic songs. All new Harmonies mode for up to three vocalists brings even more fun to the party. ~Yukino

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: Tecmo
Price: $56.99
Release Date: September 29th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Gaming Angels Review
Defend your family’s honor as Ryu Hayabusa in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. The Spider Ninja Clan has plans to allow the Underworld the chance to be free on earth. Updated from the 360 version, NGS2 has higher video resolution, a new look for Ayane, and new boss battles. ~Yukino

Batman: Arkham Asylum
Rating: M for Mature
Developer: Eidos
Price: $52.99
Release Date: August 25th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Gaming Angels Review
One of the best comic book based video games ever made, Batman: Arkham Asylum is an original story in the Batman universe. When the Dark Knight easily captures The Joker, it seems he has been lured into an elaborate trap. ~Yukino & Stealthyslyth

Playstation Portable (PSP)

Undead Knights
Rating: M for Mature
Developer: Tecmo
Price: $39.99
Release Date: September 29th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Gaming Angels Review
Control zombie minions as you seek revenge against the king for your wrongful murder. Undead Knights features customizable characters, an awesome metal soundtrack, and catchy pick up and play gaming. ~Yukino

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Rating: M for Mature
Developer: Atlus
Price: $36.99
Release Date: September 22nd, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Remake of the original PS1 title, with updated graphics for the PSP, Persona is a unique role playing game, using social networking to create new “Personas”, beings who aid our high school heroes fight against the demons that are invading the city. ~Yukino

Xbox 360

Beatles Rock Band
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: EA
Price: $239.00 ($49.96 Game Only)
Release Date: September 9th, 2009
GA Amazon Link or here (game only)
Gaming Angels Review
Take a trip back in time with the entire family with Beatles: Rock Band. Play as the Fab Four, rocking out in some of their most memorable stages with classic songs. All new Harmonies mode for up to three vocalists brings even more fun to the party. ~Yukino

Magna Carta 2
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: Namco
Price: $56.99
Release Date: October 13th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Stripped of her crown and throne by an evil usurper, Princess Rzephillda plans to regain her rightful place and is accompanied by Juto, a boy who does not remember his past but could be the key to ending the war. This RPG boasts over 40 hours of gameplay, stunning cinematics and blends real time and turn based elements during battles. ~Yukino

Borderlands
Rating: M for Mature
Developer: 2K Games
Price: $39.00
Release Date: October 20th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Borderlands is an interesting game mixing an action and shooter style. It’s got a fun cooperative game play and a lot of new and cool gear. Also, this is one of the great new games in the RPG-FPS genre. ~Stealthyslyth

Brutal Legend
Rating: M for Mature
Developer: EA
Price: $44.00
Release Date: October 13th, 2009
GA Amazon Link
See RachelZoe’s review here!
Brutal Legend is a fun game with a great soundtrack for all the metal heads out there. The storyline is great and the various references that you’ll find in the game are awesome. ~Stealthyslyth & RachelZoe

Dragon Age: Origins
Rating: M for Mature
Developer: EA/Bioware
Price: $44.00
Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
GA Amazon Link
Bioware has done it again with this great RPG title. The story is engaging, the controls are easy to pick up and fans of Mass Effect or Fable II are going to be in for a treat with this game. And for a stocking stuffer – you can grab the prequel novel too!~Cherith & Netzach

PC

The Sims 3
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: EA
Price: $39.99
Release Date: June 2nd, 2009
GA Amazon Link
000000; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;">Read Cherith’s review
The Sims is always a good time if you’re into it. The new installation in The Sims franchise did not disappoint this summer, and has just recently released the first expansion: World Adventures. Definitely a must for Sims fans! ~Cherith & Stealthyslyth

Aion
Rating: T for Teen
Developer: NCSoft
Price: $46.99
Release Date: September 22nd, 2009
GA Amazon Link
A brand new fantasy world full of strange  inhabitants, creative enemies, and lots of secrets. Aion has an innovative  PvPvE system new to MMOs by combining both PvP and PvE gameplay. Good for MMO fans looking for something new.  ~Cherith & Stealthyslyth

Torchlight
Rating: Unrated
Developer: Runic Games
Price: $19.99
Release Date: October 27th, 2009
Grab it from the Torchlight site
This is an innovative new Action RPG in the same vein as Diablo, but with a bit of a Warcraft feel.  It’s cheap, it’s got great game play, with a straightforward play style that’s easy to pick up and put down whenever you want. ~Cherith & RachelZoe