Random Screenshot 35: Akumajou Dracula X Gekka no Yasoukyoku

 

Akumajou Dracula X Gekka no Yasoukyoku (Saturn) Konami Nagoya 1998

The Saturn was a 2-D powerhouse, so it made sense to port Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which was arguably the PSX's best looking 2-D game, to the system. However, Konami farmed the work out to their less talented Nagoya branch and the results were a mixed bag. On the surface it looks and sounds like the PSX version, but that is where the similarities end. There is heavy slowdown through out the game which makes some boss fights very annoying. If multiple enemies surround your character there is heavier slowdown which can cause cheap deaths and frustration. Sound effects are also muffled for some odd reason. On the upside, Maria and Richter are immediately selectable. Maria plays like a mix of Richter and a fighting game character with command inputs for her magic attacks. She is an absolute tank that makes the game far too easy, but she still plays better than the version of her selectable in the PSP port. New levels and enemies were added, but both are lackluster and forgettable, as is the addition of some badly done remixes from classic Casltevania titles such as a version of Bloody Tears that sounds like it being played on a kid's Casio keyboard. If you love the PSX version, give the Saturn version a look. It is not a superior version of the classic game in any shape or form, but some of the wacky new additions are worth checking out if you are a hardcore fan or Castlevania guru.

75,000 Hits

Thank you to everyone who gives this blog a look. It is now over 75,000 page views, which is pretty awesome. I am actually trying to decide on a contest for when it reaches 100,000. That is far away, but it will make this gaming geek a happy man to give back to his readers. Please leave any suggestions for a contest in the comments box. I look forward to reading your suggestions.

Fan Art of Metal Gear

I am a big fan of Metal Gear. The series has a great plot (for the most part), amazing visuals, and tight gameplay. I still hope Metal Gear Rising turns out to be a good game, of course Raiden has much to prove since he was such a little bitch in Metal Gear Solid 2. Let's hope cyborg Raiden  is less whiny and more manly! Anyway, here is some fan art from Pixiv for this amazing series...

Here is one more picture for you Snatcher fans.

Random Screenshot 34: Queen's Gate Spiral Chaos

Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos (PSP) Namco Bandai 2011

Do you like Super Robot Wars? Do you like scantily clad women? Do you have a PSP? If you answered yes to at least two of these questions then consider importing Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos. The game plays like SRW, but uses the characters from the Queen's Blade universe and various fighting game heroines instead. Notable guests include Mai from Fatal Fury, Cham Cham from Samurai Showdown, and Noelle Vermillion from Blazblue. The game could be written off as mere fan service since the goal in most fights is to shred the opponent's clothing, but there is some heavy strategy involved in the battle system as well. Sure reward videos do play of the girls frolicking in a lake and there is the all important hot springs scene...um...well okay the game is pretty pervy. However, that doesn't mean Queen's Blade: Spiral Chaos is a lame game, with all of the cool crossover cameos and plenty of story routes, this is a strategy RPG for otaku and SRW nerds alike.

Bad Box Art of the Week: Dino City

Awesome Box Art of the Week: Castlevania The Dracula X Chronicles

A Big Book for Valkyria Chronicles Fans

 

For fans of the PS3 game,Valkyria Chronicles, Udon is releasing an English version of the Valkyria Chronicles Design Archive. The book is a whopping 400 pages of sketches, design details, and developer interviews. It is will be released in a few days, so get on over to Amazon and pre-order while it is still cheap. For those who haven't played this game, drop what you are doing and go get it. Valkyria Chronicles is the best PS3 exclusive and sports some of the fanciest graphics pretty much ever, I would say it is even in my top ten games of this console generation. Support good games and cool design books by ordering this gem, we don't get nearly enough of these in the US. It also includes bikini art, which should sway some of you who like anime T&A.

Tekken: Blood Vengeance Review

Tonight I went to the premier of Tekken: Blood Vengeance. The movie was a mixed bag of cool fight scenes, odd humor, and cheesy dialogue. The movie was shown in 3-D, which looked quite amazing and disorienting at the same time. Honestly, I could have done without 3-D, but this was the only way to watch the film in theaters, so I can't complain too much. Let's start with the plot...(beware some spoilers below)

The movie mainly follows the adventures of Ling Xiaoyu and Alisa Bosconivitch. Ling Xiaoyu gets transferred to an international school by Anna, in a convert effort to capture a young man named Shin. Shin was infected with a rare mutagen that grants immortality and each of the Mishima men want him dead or alive. Xiaoyu and Alisa both fall for the guy, and ultimately join forces to rescue him. Did I mention Devil Jin and Devil Kazuya fight Dragon Ball Z style?

The plot has plenty of cameos from characters like Lee (who is hilarious), Lei, and Ganryu. Don't expect everyone to appear however, as the movie doesn't follow a tournament plot line. I admired this idea, as most fighting game animes or films try to cram in every character and it always seems too forced for my liking. Keeping the cast down to a select few allowed for more character exploration and a descent story. Don't go into Tekken: BV expecting Shakespeare, but it is certainly better than the recent Tekken live action film or any Uwe Boll nonsense.

The movie has plenty of funny scenes. Panda has her shining moments but the show stealer is the Mishima misfit, Lee. He is a teacher and odd caretaker for school girls, Alisa and Xiaoyu. His lines are delivered in a superbly aloof manner, and the audience cracked up whenever he appeared. Unfortunately, the movie also has plenty of unintentional humor from poorly written dialogue.

The voice acting seemed to employ every well-known anime voice actor and actress in the biz. This gave the movie a strong dub, but also distracts with jarring performances from Jin, who sounds way too old and Anna, who sounds really over the top whenever she speaks. Dialogue is hit and miss, mainly miss. One scene toward the end had the audience cracking up as every other line seemed like a gay innuendo. It started to feel like Tobias from Arrested Development wrote the script at this point...what a blow hard!

The fight scenes are what the fans came to see, and for the most part, Tekken: BV doesn't disappoint. Alisa's chainsaw mode gets represented to dramatic effect, and Xiaoyu looks cool using her fighting style to avoid the berserk android. Later in the film, the whole Mishima family throws down, and it is really badass to see your favorite signature moves being used to tear down Kyoto Castle. The devil battle is the film's highlight, with an unfortunate lackluster "fight" occurring afterwards that feels anti-climatic and very "un-Tekken" like.

 Overall, this movie should be a real treat for Tekken fans. However, I would avoid this movie unless you know the Tekken cast or love CGI films, because there isn't much background story given for those unfamiliar with the franchise. The movie will be released on PS3 as Tekken Hybrid, a dual pack with the film on Bluray and a HD upgrade for fan favorite, Tekken Tag Team Tournament. The movie with debut in Japan in September. Hopefully Namco sees fit to release Tekken Hybrid on Xbox 360 as well.

Collecting Saturn Imports

I have become a Sega Saturn addict lately. Between Hyper Duel and Elevator Action Returns, I am loving this old system's beautiful 2-D graphics and lovely control pad. Collecting Japanese Saturn games is not the cheapest hobby. However, I feel inclined to do so, because the games are very fun and cover art is usually so fucking awesome.

 Example of a cool cover and classic underboob.

Prices for import Saturn games range from cheap (Puyo Puyo Sun is only $5) to the insanely expensive (Radiant Silvergun is $250+.) The Saturn is one of the few systems where the rare games are usually worth the money. There are a few stinkers like the ultra rare and horrid, Final Fight Revenge, but for the most part, the hard to find games are said to be worth the price tag. For fans of arcade style fighters and shooters, the Saturn import library is essential. Unlike the Dreamcast, almost every good game from Capcom and SNK stayed in Japan.

Here is my current wish list:

Batsugun Early bullet hell shooter from Toaplan, the last game before the company's demise

Princess Crown The original Vanillaware game, looks very similar to Odin Sphere

Dracula XX The Saturn version of this hit had new levels and a playable Maria added in

Blast Wind Cool looking shooter from Technosoft, creators of the Thunderforce series

Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter Versus game with a console exclusive character, superb arcade port

I also want this shirt:

Awesome Box Art of the Week: The King of Fighters 97 (Saturn)

Bad Box Art of the Week: White Men Can't Jump

Help Bring Back MML 3

Join the fight against Capcom's MML 3 cancellation. Go to the Facebook page 100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3. Only  the fans can convince them to change their mind. It seems impossible, but we have to at least try.

Is Mega Man Dead?

In recent days Capcom has broken many hearts. First Mega Man Legends 3 was cancelled and today it was revealed that Rock nor his X iteration will be included in the upcoming cashgrab, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. This is personally upsetting on many levels. One of my earliest gaming memories is renting Mega Man 3 and scribbling down the continue passwords in hopes of beating it one day. At about the age of ten, I experienced Mega Man X, and found it to be one my favorite games on the SNES (and it continues to be to this day.) Later I would love the Mega Man Legends series and the Mega Man Zero series on GBA. This is not to mention my retro collecting of the original series and the X series. I even own the Mega Man Complete Works art book and a model kit of Rock Man from Japan. I love the Blue Bomber.

 Earlier this year, Capcom canned Mega Man Universe, a downloadable game which gave players the ability to make their own Mega Man game Little Big Planet style. Many speculated it was due to the product being low quality, so I sucked up that lame excuse and carried on. I kept holding out for Mega Man Legends 3, knowing in my heart, Capcom wouldn't cancel something that so many people wanted for so long for (and still do.) How wrong I was...

MML 3 was using fan input to decide how characters worked and what type of cast the game would have; the project seemed like a labor of love right from the start and inspired me to take an interest in the creation process, even swearing to buy a 3DS when the Prototype version emerged on the eShop channel. However, long time Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune left Capcom last year, and things started to unravel. He despised the top guys at Capcom for their incompetence and lack of fan appreciation, and left to form his own studio. Without Inafune, suddenly everything Mega Man started to come an end, with the final nail in the coffin being MML3's cancellation which could be due to a lack of 3DS sales or an intentional stab at Inafune's legacy from spiteful corporate assholes.

The series hasn't sold too well in the past few years, with the exception of Mega Man 9. However, many fans (myself included) feel like Mega Man is the mascot for Capcom. It would be like Nintendo cancelling all of their Mario titles, fans would certainly question what the hell is going on in the corporate office. Capcom of Europe is blaming MML3 fans for the cancellation, citing a general lack of interest among gamers...I call bullshit on that excuse. For me, today's leak of the entire roster of UMvC 3 confirmed that Capcom no longer cares about the Mega Man franchise. Capcom ran polls on their site to see which popular characters should make into the MvC sequel, and Mega Man X ranked 2nd overall. This didn't seem to matter to Capcom who decided Frank West is a better character to have in the game, when no one really gives a shit about him.

Unlike Capcom, I will say farewell old friend. It has been a good ride, Rock. I will continue to throw in Mega Man 2 or Mega Man X whenever I need a good action game to remind me of why I love video games in the first place.

RIP MEGA MAN
December 1987-March 2010

Bad Box Art of the Week: Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu

Awesome Box Art of the Week: F-Zero X (Japan)

Here's the Lousy Club Nintendo 2011 Gold and Platinum Rewards

This year's Club Nintendo Gold and Platinum rewards are now available. Gold members get calendars...isn't it always calendars for Gold? Platinum gets a a Super Mario Bros. themed pin set. Both rewards are really crappy compared to previous years' Mario statue and exclusive Punch Out download. It has been a bad year to be a Nintendo fan...

Sonic 20th Anniversary Fan Art

It is Sonic's 20th anniversary this year. I used to love the Sonic the Hedgehog games as child. However, these days most of the Sonic games are pretty bad. I hope Sonic Generations reproduces the good old days of speed and fun platforming levels. Here is some fan art to celebrate this Sega All Star and his friends.

Don't feel left out Nintendo fans. Here is one for you...