January 2010

Polar Panic

January 13, 2010

Reviews / Xbox 360 / by Eric Schabel Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Polar Panic from Valcon Games is an XBLA puzzle game about a polar bear cleverly named Polar who must overcome an evil corporation run by the heartless and equally cleverly named Mr. Big in order to save his arctic homeland and his bear friends. How will Polar combat this corporation all on his own, you ask? By crushing his enemies with blocks of ice, of course! Polar Panic may have a cute cartoon presentation, but don’t let that fool you—the game can be quite difficult. 

Polar Panic features three main single player modes: the story campaign, Puzzle Mode, and Survivor Mode. No matter which mode you play, each map is composed of tiles and is displayed from an overhead isometric perspective. In Story Mode players will find themselves facing off against numerous trappers that Mr. Big has sent out to stop Polar in his tracks. Story Mode spans ten chapters and 50 levels, and features boss fights at the end of every other chapter. The over-arching goal of each level is to defeat all of the trappers on the map, but there are also secondary objectives such as rescuing your fellow polar bears and destroying igloos or snowmen. In order to eliminate his enemies, Polar needs to make use of the many ice blocks covering each map, pushing them so that they slide into and squish the trappers. However, there are several different types of trappers and some of them, such as those toting flamethrowers, cannot be attacked head on because they will simply melt the ice blocks. On occasion Polar will also be able to make use of dynamite crates and special “freeze” power blocks to dispatch multiple baddies quickly.

Trappers, even the ones who throw sticks of dynamite, are not the most difficult obstacle you will face in Story Mode, and neither are the boss fights where you face off against Mr. Big in one of his many machines. No, the worst enemy in this game is the time limit that constantly ticks away as you play. Although it is usually simple in most levels to finish off all of the trappers and get to the exit tile within the time limit, if you wish to complete secondary objectives and receive a good rating at the end of a level, the game becomes almost a little too unforgiving. In other words, the difficulty curve in Polar Panic is steep; in later levels it becomes almost impossible to earn an A rating without multiple attempts, even on the easiest setting, all because of the timer. Story Mode has some fun levels, but it really could have been balanced better.

I actually enjoyed Polar Panic‘s other two modes, Puzzle and Survivor, more than the main story campaign. In Puzzle Mode, you have to make your way through 50 maps that challenge you to plan out your moves in advance before attempting to clear the levels. Puzzle Mode does not feature any trapper enemies, instead mixing things up by using special blocks and tiles to block your path. As with the story mode, you are graded at the end of each level, but in Puzzle Mode your grade is based on the number of moves you executed before getting to the exit. In Survivor Mode, you face wave after wave of trappers until you run out of lives. Survivor Mode is probably my favorite mode of Polar Panic; it is really satisfying to squish multiple trappers with one block of ice, and even more so when you manage to blow them up with a crate of explosives. It can get pretty frantic when the map is crowded with trappers trying to off poor Polar. Both Puzzle and Survivor Mode benefit greatly by challenging the player without having to resort to a constantly ticking clock.

Polar Panic is a fun but frustrating XBLA puzzle game. The game doesn’t really bring anything new to the table, but Polar Panic is worth checking out, especially for the Puzzle and Survivor modes. The Story Mode has respectable length, but it is unforgiving and not as fun as it could have been with some tweaking. If you have a craving for some puzzle action, you might want to consider downloading this game, especially if it happens to be on sale.

Pros: Puzzle Mode and Survivor Mode

Cons: Unforgiving difficulty curve in Story Mode, no online play

Plays Like: Pengo, Bomberman

 

Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth

January 13, 2010

Reviews / Wii / by Andrew Passafiume Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Castlevania is one of Konami’s many long running and beloved series, but the more recent releases have changed the formula completely. With the success of Symphony of the Night, the series had changed from the old school formula everyone grew up with to a “Metroid style” that has since taken over. Although there is still an occasional old school Castlevania release, they usually lead to disappointment. And this is where Adventure ReBirth comes in. 

Adventure ReBirth is a “remake” of the original Castlevania Adventure on the Game Boy, although I use the term loosely, as the game has as much in common with that game as it does the Metroid style games we are now accustomed to. It is an old school Castlevania game, but does not resemble the original Adventure title at all. Instead, consider this a brand new Castlevania adventure that feels a lot like Super Castlevania IV or Rondo of Blood on the SNES.

The game’s look is very reminiscent of the classic Castlevania games, giving off an old school vibe. And although there is “voice acting” (Dracula, among a couple of other bosses, speak during their battles), the game plays just like it would on the SNES. The controls are incredibly responsive and the level design is excellent as well.

There are several different control options and play styles as well. You can use the Wii remote NES style, the Remote and Nunchuck, the Classic Controller, or even the GameCube controller. And with the amount of customizing you can do to the way the game controls, there is a control style for everybody.

You also get a nice selection of weapons, aside from the standard whip, which include a dagger you throw at enemies, a cross that acts as a boomerang, and holy water, effective at taking out multiple enemies on the ground at once. These helpful weapons are scattered throughout the game in candles and other destructible objects. If you have ever played a Castlevania before, this should not be new to you.

The only major complaint is the game’s length. Like the previous ReBirth titles, this game can be finished in about an hour on normal difficulty. The time you play it will definitely increase on hard, but don’t expect more than 2-3 hours at the most from that. And sadly, aside from the standard secret passageways, there isn’t much reason to replay this title once you finish it.

$10 is a good price for Castlevania ReBirth, although some may be disappointed by the length of the game. I would love to see a more lengthy adventure done in a similar style, but until then, this is your best bet for a solid old school Castlevania game.

ESRB: Rated T for teen; rated for animated blood and fantasy violence

Pros: Looks and plays just like a classic Castlevania game; solid controls; excellent presentation

Cons: Incredibly short game; next to no replayability

SB’s Most Anticipated of ’10

January 12, 2010

Features / Opinion / by Shawn Vermette Make a comment! / Tweet it!

So we’re at the beginning of a new year.  There’s a whole 12 months of gaming ahead of us, but we already know a lot of what we want to enjoy. 

My most anticipated titles of 2010 betray the true loves of my gaming world- RPGs and Strategy games.

Final Fantasy XIII

Do I really need to say why this is my most anticipated game of 2010? I’ve yet to meet a Final Fantasy game I didn’t like, and this one looks and sounds so beautiful and epic that I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect remains one of my favorite games of all time, and Bioware has promised to up the ante, storytelling, and decision making in Mass Effect 2. Needless to say, that just makes me all the more excited for it.

Splinter Cell: Conviction

The Splinter Cell series drew me in from the very beginning, and I’ve been waiting for Conviction for a very long time. The build-up of anticipation I had from the delays was made all the more powerful thanks to everything we saw for Conviction at E3 2009.

Alpha Protocol

Obsidian makes great games, but they usually create sequels to established properties. This time, they are creating their own IP- an action RPG based on a modern day espionage story. Considering my love of RPGs and espionage games…I’m really hoping this game lives up to my expectations.

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

I still play Starcraft with my brothers and friends. It is one of the best and most balanced RTS games to be ever be released. Thus, the release of the first episode of Starcraft II is my most anticipated PC games since Civilization IV.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy won our best game of the decade award. While I still haven’t had the opportunity to play it yet (it sits on my media cabinet mocking me), I’ve loved every single Mario platformer I’ve played, so I’m excited to see what Nintendo does for the sequel.

Halo: Reach

Halo: ODST had the best story of the Halo series, and the next Halo will be a prequel based on the book The Fall of Reach. It was a great book, with a great story and gave a lot of history for the Halo universe. Getting more Halo story and multiplayer? Great. Getting more Halo with more Spartans than just the Master Chief? Priceless.

Final Fantasy XIV

As I said before, I’ve never met a Final Fantasy game I didn’t like. True, Final Fantasy XIV is an MMORPG, but I’m still hoping for it to be a free to play MMORPG on the 360 if you’ve got XBL Gold. If so, it will eat up a lot of my time, as Square Enix has said that there will be a much greater focus on single player as well as multiplayer.

Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout 3 was amazing. Therefore, Fallout: New Vegas will also be amazing. True, it is coming out very soon after Fallout 3 is finished, but considering how fast Bethesda was able to churn out expansions for Fallout 3, and how they were definitely worthwhile for the most part, I’m excited to see what is in store for us in New Vegas.

Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight

Command & Conquer is my favorite RTS series. Thanks to the great storytelling, great gameplay, and awesome FMV sequences between missions, it’s been a very popular series for nearly fifteen years. Tiberian Twilight marks the finale of the Tiberium series of C&C games, and I can’t wait to see how things turn out.

 

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle

The original made our Best of the Decade list, and the sequel promises less boring, more action. How is this NOT a game to anticipate?

Metroid: Other M

The one clip we’ve seen from this title suggests a mix of 1st- and 3rd-person action, plus a curious plot development with a second Samus (that probably isn’t a dark Phazon clone). But Nintendo giving the reins to Team Ninja may be the most interesting development of all.

Mega Man 10

I loved MM9 with the full force of 20 years of nostalgia. My looking forward to this goes without question. (Although… Sheep Man? Really?)

Golden Sun DS

It’s been so long since the first two GS titles that I’ve probably forgotten most of the plot details, but I haven’t forgotten the awesome gameplay. I’m a little worried that they’ll implement a bunch of touch screen nonsense, but with the psynergies it could still work.

Lost in Shadow

A quirky little platformer that sees your character confined to the two-dimensional shadow of a three-dimensional world. Figuring out how to affect changes in the real world in order to allow you to progress seems like it could provide some original game play.

Again

Another adventure game by the creators of Hotel Dusk, except this time using photo-sprites rather than the noir sketches of their previous title. I love the fact that point-and-click style adventures are slowly making a return, having grown up on the early Sierra and LucasFilm games like King’s Quest and Maniac Mansion.

Sam and Max Season 2 (Wii)

What did I just say about point-and-click adventures? The X360 got this collection late last year, now it’s (finally) the Wii’s turn.

Infinite Space

A sci-fi RPG by Platinum games, creators of Viewtiful Joe, Okami, and MadWorld amongst other titles. Real-time 3d space battles between crazily-customized ships. It basically sounds like a space version of Skies of Arcadia (and it shares the same publisher in Sega), although with more emphasis on the ship aspect.

Monster Hunter Tri

I’m not wild about online cooperative games, but this just looks so epic. Apparently Tri has a strong focus on single player that is new to the series, so hopefully I won’t be missing out on the “real experience”.

The Legend of Zelda

Yeah, we don’t know a lot about this one right now. But it’s a new Zelda title… so it has to be anticipated. It’s almost a law of gaming.

 

Mass Effect 2

Bioware makes wonderful RPGs, and science fiction is my preferred setting. I can’t wait to see what will happen to the Shepard I took through the events of Mass Effect 1. I am also excited to see my old squad-mates and hear about what has happened to them since the events of ME1. Wrex. Shepard.

Metroid: Other M

I can’t get enough Metroid. The seclusion, the exploration, the blowing up everything that moves with super missiles. The series is a warm memory for me, and I haven’t found an entry yet that I didn’t enjoy. The prospect of making things a bit more action-oriented is interesting and new, but the trailers retain that old Metroid feel as well.

God of War III

I am a simple man to please. Big swords and plenty of guys to use them on is enough for me. The fact that I get wrapped up in the narrative is just icing on the cake. Kratos may not be complex, but his adventures are fun to play and entertaining for other folks in the house to watch. The combat is simple enough that I don’t die a whole lot and complex enough that I can pull off some really nice combos.

Final Fantasy XIII

As time goes on I find myself less and less drawn to JRPGs in favor of their western counterparts, but Square Enix still knows how to wow me. I loved the gambits in FFXII and the turn-based combat and sphere grid from FFX. Even though I haven’t read or seen much of this one I know it will be spending a lot of time in my PS3 this March.

 

Super Mario Galaxy 2

The sequel  to my favorite Mario game of all time? Sign me up. Galaxy is probably the best looking game on the Wii, and easily its best platformer. There’s no reason not to expect the sequel to be even better, and that’s why Super Mario Galaxy 2 is my most anticipated game of the year.

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect was everything I wanted in an RPG, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. I’ve also heard that elevators throughout the galaxy in Mass Effect 2 have been upgraded to run faster, what else could I ask for?

Metroid: Other M

The trailer for Other M that was shown at last year’s E3 was great, and I am interested to see how the new third person perspective and a stronger emphasis on story play out. I’m a little apprehensive about Other M being a collaboration between Nintendo and Team Ninja, though. On the one hand, I loved the Ninja Gaiden titles…on the other hand, such collaborations haven’t worked out so well for beloved Nintendo franchises in the past.

Final Fantasy XIII

I’m not a huge Final Fantasy fan, but the landmark series always seems to deliver, and I am pretty eager to try out this gorgeous new installment. If there is one thing Square knows how to make, it is a Final Fantasy RPG, and I am grateful that they have decided to bring XIII to the 360.

Okamiden: Chisaki Taiyou

I absolutely loved Okami, and that is why this game rounds out my list. Obviously the disbanded Clover Studios is not involved in the development of Okamiden, which is unfortunate, but the videos of this title that I have seen so far seem to indicate that Okamiden will remain very faithful to the original title’s style and gameplay mechanics. I’m also surprised at how nice it looks for a DS game.

 

 

Glory of Heracles

When Nintendo finally debuts Japan-only games in the U.S., it usually goes well.  Fire Emblem.  Rhythm Heaven.  Advance Wars.  Starfy.  (Okay, so maybe that last one wasn’t such a hit.)  Heracles looks right up my alley, and with the Nintendo stamp on it, you know it’ll be polished.

Mass Effect 2

Immersive, deep worlds and interesting role-playing mechanics make this one a must-get for me.  Also, I can’t get enough of a long, involved interactive story.

ModNation Racers

Creation in LittleBigPlanet is fun.  Of course, the amount of fun you get out of one level is small, especially if you design it yourself.  ModNation creation is much easier, and racing is the kind of thing you can keep having fun doing.  It’s not as tight as Mario Kart, but I think the customization is worth it.  The beta has me worried about the online capabilities of the game, but I assume they’ll get the kinks worked out.

3D Dot Game Heroes

Retro homages make my heart warm.  Add in the magic word (customization), and I know this will be a timesink for me when it releases.

Valkyria Chronicles 2

I re-bought a PSP just in anticipation of this game.  The PS3 original was great, and though I wish the sequel were also on a console, I’ll take what I can get.

Arc Rise Fantasia

This JRPG has some obvious influences, but, well, I like those influences.  I’m getting a bit impatient with all the delays, but it looks like we’re finally nearing release.

Epic Mickey

This could be a big flop, or it could be one of the biggest releases of the decade.  I don’t see much chance of it being in-between.  No one expected such originality from the House of Mouse, but once we saw it, we were hooked.

Fable III

I’m sitting here with my fingers in my ears every time Peter Molyneux says anything, because he has a way of overselling his games and making the end result a disappointment.  That worked really well with Fable II, as that was one of my favorite games of 2008.  

Golden Sun DS

Okay, no one expected this at all when it was announced at E3 last year.  Camelot has moved on to more profitable games, and it was weird when they said they’d go back to a niche RPG.  Not that I’m complaining.  GSDS doesn’t look like it will wow us visually like the originals on GBA did, but the underlying gameplay was solid.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

How much would N64 gamers have done to get an entire game’s worth of more Super Mario 64 levels?  That’s pretty much the opportunity we have now.  I don’t expect anything breathtaking, but I do expect a heck of a lot of fun.

SB Asks: This side of the Q1 fence

January 12, 2010

News / by Graham Russell Make a comment! / Tweet it!

All through the fall, gamers were griping about delays and talking about how Q1 2010 would be better than Q4 2009.  Now that we’re here and starting to see the release of some of these games, do you think that’s true?  What are you looking forward to in January, February and March?  Let us know!

Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks

January 10, 2010

Reviews / Wii / by Shawn Vermette Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Ben 10 is the story of Ben Tennyson, an average kid who just happens to own a watch called an Omnitrix that allows him to transform into ten different aliens. Each alien has a different power that Ben is able to tap into and use in order to defend Earth from the various threats against it. In Ben 10: Vilgax Attacks, Ben’s nemesis, Vilgax, invades Earth with the intent of conquering the world and killing Ben. You’ll then follow Ben Tennyson as he travels throughout time and space attempting to thwart the invasion.

This is, for all intents and purposes, a game that only fans of the show will enjoy. The writing is reminiscent of the Cartoon Network show the game is based on, and each of the aliens from the show is present in the game. However, there is very little explanation about the strengths and special abilities of each alien. Unless you know the aliens from the show, there’ll be a lot of trial and error along the way as you attempt to figure out and remember the benefits and drawbacks of using each of the ten aliens. 

The control scheme works pretty well, with the controls being fairly standard for action games. Papaya Studios resisted the urge to add token motion controls, which I can appreciate. Motions wouldn’t have worked well with the rest of the control scheme. The graphics are fairly standard for the majority of Wii titles: sharper than last-gen graphics, but not really noteworthy. Additionally, the camera can be a pain to keep centered on the action. It’ll sometimes get stuck behind buildings or at an odd angle that makes the platforming difficult.

Ben 10: Vilgax Attacks is a very easy game. It’s next to impossible to die in the early stages of the game, and if you do die, you’ll simply start again from exactly where you died. This makes it ideal for people that are in the usual age group for fans of the Ben 10 series.

Plays Like:  Other Ben 10 games; Spongebob games

Pros: Faithful to the series; difficulty level fits the audience

Cons: Graphic design is simple and uninspired; camera hampers gameplay

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