A new PC Engine plan of attack (or at least an attempt) ;)

I have developed a gaming affliction thru the years... CHAIN GAMING! I never had this problem when I was younger. Maybe it's because I had less $ to get new games, or the fact that my game library as a kid was rather meager. This has lead me to play a game for a bit, get bored/stuck...and move on to a new game. This is especially bad when it come to an rpg (Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru I'm def looking at you). After awhile I comeback to said game, and have completely forgot where I am/where to go/what to do next...and yet another restart.


NOW I am trying a new tactic to try and break myself of the bane of my gaming existence. I have now pulled out 4 PC Engine games, and WILL NOT pull out anymore to play until they are beat 9barring testing new games I receive). As sad as this sounds, I'm hoping this will kill the chain gamer in me.


To start this experiment off these are the chosen games:

Wish me Luck :)

Falcom rumors of goodness US bound FOUNDED!!

XSEED bringing over Falcom games!!   (courtesy of RPGamer)

Starting in late summer XSEED will be bringing over a number of Falcom's game library that has been rumored for months, and clamored for by fans.  The first will be Ys Seven in late summer followed by Ys: The Oath in Felghana before years end.  The most interesting, and ambitious game planned is the Sora no Kiseki trilogy.  Considered modern classics by many fans, and are all extremely large games ( the second game is the first (and only ?) psp game to come on 2 UMD's with extremely large scripts to translate.

Hopefully these games are heavily marketed, and sell well.  Falcom has a very solid, and rabid fanbase, but many previous attempts to bring their games over have fallen flat.  Shoddy translation jobs, poor porting ( abysmal load times, etc.), and very little to no marketing have not done much to help these titles out.  XSEED  seems to be ready to do these games justice, so there is hope.

Today was a VERY good day :)

I have been on much more of a game bender lately, but a shopping run today changed that.

Nostalgia arrived (FINALLY) from a contest on RPGFan.com, Legend of Kage 2 was a paltry $6 shipped.  The dvd's are all from Best Buy, all for $10 each, sweet sweet reduced prices FTW.  Looks like movie time galore soon. :)

One of the BEST PC Engine games ever

Son Son II

Capcom/NEC Avenue really hit on out of the park with Son Son II. This little 2 meg bruiser is quality from the first minute you fire it up.  Based on the chinese legend of the Journey West/monkey king. Seven levels of supreme platforming goodness await you.  You gain $ (the ubiquitous Capcom zenny) by collectiing fruit which you use for items, weapons, and magic.  Hidden secrets abound throughout the first-rate designed levels, capped off by cool end level bosses.

 

  

 

Another colorful game with excellent control, and good challenge.  Music is quality,and fits the  game quite well.  Luckily this classic can also be nabbed for a reasonable price.  There is also a translated rom out there (though hardly necessary).  Out of my 300+  PCE/TG games this is a solid top 5 game, and possibly my #1 Huey of all time.

Getting back to OBEYING the PC Engine

Genji Tsushin Agedama

  

For sometime now I have been a proponent of this criminally, oft ignored hidden gem in the PCE library. This game is based off an anime, and manga series of the same name.  A "forced scroll" platformer (ala Monster Lair) with colorful graphics, quality control, and cool attacks.

  

  

  

You start with a typical peashooter of a weapon, but get power-ups of varying colors that add some uniqe attacks.   Your special attacks vary by color, and also by how long you hold the button down (the colored gauge determines what attack is unleashed).  Control is buttery smooth, and responsive.  Graphically it's not a powerhouse, but still throws some very enjoyable scenes up, with a  a decent amount of stage variety.  Music is upbeat, and excellent chip tunage.

                               

                                 

This is easily one of my favorite PCE games that I regularly return to.  In my opinion a MUST OWN.

*Pictures & videos compliments of Sunteampaul @ The PC Engine Bible*

Soma Bringer...modern classic

Soma Bringer is a action RPG game by developer Monolith Soft (of Xenosga, NamcoXCapcom, and Baten Kaitos fame) for the DS.  Originally released in japan in early 2008, there are still no plans for a release outside of japan.


When you start up, you can choose from 8 different characters each one having a unique class/weapon specialties (though the main story stays the same for all).  Characters are customizable thru weapons, armor, and  gaining AP as you level up, you also gain CP (Character Points), which can be used to increase the character's four base statistics. These base statistics determine the strength of physical and magical attacks, as well as maximum HP/SP, defensive power and so on. The statistics that can be boosted are Strength, Magic, Health and Skillfulness.

Combat is fast paced (reminiscent of Diablo 2), with the added ability to map your special attacks to the 4 buttons (X, Y, B, A).  You camera angle is adjustable with the select button, and automatically zooms in when attacking an enemy. Controls are fluid, and well implemented (your 2 companions that you can choose are AI controlled).





Though early on game time, Soma Bringer sure seems to be another gem that will sadly not be brought over to the US.

GOD EATER IS COMING!!!!

One of my more anticipated PSP games of 2010 has just recently been announced for release in the US. There is a downloadable demo out now for the japanese version (downloaded over 1.5 million times)!!

Taking more than a few cues from the runaway success of the Monster Hunter series, God Eater injects much more anime style to it.


                  

NamcoBandai has handed off localization to D3Publisher, and will be released in Q3 of this year.

 

  

 

God Eater is set where the earth has been ruined by  beasts known as the Aragami and mankind’s only hope against them is the Jinki weapons and the God Eaters behind them. This game lures players with more than 100 missions. Players can change their game strategy at any time by instantly switching between weapon forms to slash, shoot, and devour gigantic enemies (35 unique enemy types to find items and customize from) to alter the strength, pattern and elemental type for super powerful attacks.  A unique predator mode will add a new level of strategy as players transform their Jinki to beast form to gain a boost in stats and special bullets to launch potent attacks. Featuring cooperative modes, players can hunt with AI controlled party members or join hunting parties with up to four players via local adhoc mode or connect the PSP system to the PlayStation 3  to play online using adhocParty.