Undertow Live Arcade Mini Review

In short, Undertow is a steal at 800 MS points so enjoy and download away!

THE GOOD:
3 Different Races, 4 different units
Interesting Single Player Campaign/Story

Gorgeous Graphics

16 Player Multiplayer (with bots)

Co-Op Story mode online and split screen

Easy to learn Controls

Deep Strategy

Fantastic Balance and Map Design

THE BAD:

Campaign is too short

Can't Play as Alien Race (yet?)

Ranked Matches can be hard to find (Player matches much easier)

Undertow is one of the best looking games to come out on Xbox Live Arcade yet. I'm pretty sure it is the first one with ingame cinematics and voice acting as well. Undertow's gameplay is simple on the surface...think Geometry wars...but offers 4 different classes, 3 upgrades for each class and cleverly designed levels that all bring out the deeper strategies of the submerged, chaotic gameplay. The key strategies in this game revolve around the 4 classes of units, how you upgrade them through the course of a match, and how you dynamically change classes/use them in different situations. I wont' go into all the units, but basically there is a versatile, quick scuba diver, a slower, stronger powersuit, a quick submarine, and a slow lumbering underwater tank. The vehicles are good in the open waters where as the divers and powersuit units are best for the underwater caverns and tunnels. The game is an absolute steal at 800 points and puts a lot of the other Live Arcade titles to shame. It offers a complete package with single player, co-op campaign, and a very addictive multiplayer experience in a beautiful, Unreal (literally) package. Download the Demo and you'll see what I mean.

Gameplay: 9/10

Graphics: 10/10

Sound/Music: 8/10

Lasting Appeal: 9/10

Verdict: 90%

Puzzle Fighter II HD Remix Review

This is a VERY addictive game. If you even remotely liked Tetris, or Dr. Mario, you should download this game. I should also mention that Y and Z modes are for wusses.


Graphics: 9/10
Pros: The gems and puzzle pieces look stunning in this HD version. Nearly perfect 2D graphics for a puzzle game- pieces are easy to see and effects are entrancing.

Cons: Puzzle Fighters could've used some redrawing instead of simply smoothing.

Gameplay: 10/10

Pros: Slap Tetris and Dr. Mario Together with some Capcom characters and you have one addictive game. The X modes are MUCH better than Y/Z and have a great risk/reward mentality....do I explode this large gem now that's filling up most of my screen...or do I wait and make it even bigger...only to lose because my screen has been attacked and filled with gems. This game takes the addictive play of tetris and adds in an amazing competitive edge. One of the best puzzlers ever.

Sound/Music: 8/10

Pros: Music is catchy and addictive and sound effects are visceral and fit the game.

Cons: Sakura's stage music is so annoying! I hate it. The music/sfx seem to be set especially high and are significantly louder than any other game, dvd, or tv show on my tv. I always have to turn down the volume.

Lasting Appeal: 9.5/10

Pros: Great Local competitive play, great online play, and addictive gameplay will keep you coming back for more and losing yourself in hours of matches. The achievements are pretty challenging too and keep you working towards something.

Cons: There could be some more characters (8 and 3 secret) and while it's nice having the Y/Z modes...they lack the balance of X' mode.

Average: 91.25%
Tilt: +0.75%

It's nice that they updated the graphics and really revitalized this game. It's a real gem from a previous era of gaming. Nothing beats sitting next to someone on the same couch and exploding a huge power gem for the win. For $10, this game is one of the best Live Arcade Offerings yet.

Verdict: 92%

Band of Bugs Review

So Far Band of Bugs has been slammed by critics and has an average review score of 69/100. DO NOT be swayed by this without trying the game. The basic problem in a lot of these reviews is that they view Band of Bugs as too easy for tactic/strategy game fans and too hard for casual players. My problem with so many of the reviews is that they seem to be reviewing and critiquing the concept of Band of Bugs (create a simplistic and more casual tactics experience) than the actual game itself. Why such glowing reviews when Ninjabee simplified RTS genre in Outpost Kaloki? Aren't RTS fans as hardcore and particular as Tactics/Strategy fans? Apparently not.

In the end, a review is just a person's opinion. Typically, I think that all the critics reviews average out correctly, but that doesn't seem to be the case with Band of Bugs. At least, that's not the direction the reviews are heading. I can only hope that I fairly review the game and voice some opinion or perspective that is worthwhile.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Phenomenal 2D art..Gigantic HD handdrawn depictions of all the bugs look great! 3D engine looks good for a Live release and all the different types of units and teams are easily discerned. The animation of all the critters is stellar.
Cons: The different color line shading does detract from the graphics somewhat...taking this option off is usually not worth doing in multiplayer, but it does improve the 3D graphics.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: Fully Featured game with an enjoyable campaign, a multitute of online modes, and a level editor. This is where Band of Bugs has really been critiqued and while I found the campaign somewhat easy, I was very entertained and it was all over too quickly. I was actually left with questions about Maal's origin and hope that DLC will fill in these holes. The campaign dialogue is absolutely brilliant and quite witty and funny. While strategy/tactics fans may find the game easy or simplistic, the point of the game was to make this genre of games more approachable and casual. Outpost Kaloki certainly simplified RTS games, and I loved that it did (not being the biggest RTS fan) even though I struggle to beat certain levels. While I agree that Band of Bugs is no Tactics Ogre, Fire Emblem, etc. is it fair to compare it to these full retail games? I don't think so...it would be like comparing Outpost Kaloki to Command & Conquer 3.
Cons: I did miss the rock-paper-scissors weapon element that is present in the fire emblems, but this game is supposed to be simplistic. I do agree with some of the other reviews about the RPG elements and stat-tracking. Adding in some character customization would have been great...from naming them, to picking 2-3 skills/abilities/spells. I think it could have been added while still staying simplistic and casual.

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: The bug voices/gibberish is absolutely great and works perfectly with the game's sense of humor and tone. The sound FX as a whole are well thought out and distinctive to certain units, actions, etc. The Music is good and fits with the theme...
Cons: ..but some of the music misses and feels a little repetetive...ok only 1 particular song, but still a con.

Lasting Appeal: 10/10
Pros: I find it hard for anyone to argue over the feature set in this game. It offers a variety of multiplayer modes: Spider Hunter, Elimination, Capture, etc. both online and locally. There is also the great addition of a Level Editor plus a full 20 mission campaign story mode with additional stand alone missions. It's a game chock-full-to the brim with features for $10.
Cons: My complaint is squarely on the online multiplayer... I have found it very hard to find ranked games and virtually all the games I have played have been Spider Hunter. I really love elimination and find a human opponent very fun to compete with online...so Band of Bug players stop playing Spider Hunter.

Average: 90.00%
Tilt: +2.00%

Don't get me wrong, Band of Bugs has it's issue and may not be a homerun for Strategy Fans, but it delivers on a ton of features. While RPG elements and custom Bug armies would have been great, this game's purpose was to offer a simplified and more casual Tactics gameplay experience. Ninjabee certainly delivered on this goal and exceeded their previous titles in the story mode and dialogue category if you ask me. My biggest issue with the game is that I wanted more of the campaign, more Maal, and that I find it incredibly hard and time consuming to find online ranked elimination/capture matches. Everyone plays Spider Hunter! I don't think I've mentioned that the turn system works FANTASTIC for online matches and keeps them action packed. Great design decision! All in all Band of Bugs offers a lot of game for $10. Perhaps the reason for all the low reviews is that people are comparing it to $50-60 titles, since the quality of the game and features resemble those full priced titles over the typical offerings of Xbox Live. Give Band of Bugs a chance, you probably will find yourself smiling and chuckling along with Maal and his gang.

Verdict: 92%

Eets: Chowdown Xbox Live Review

Eets Chowdown is yet another PC indie game that has successfully made the leap to Xbox Live Arcade. You definitely get your moneys worth of puzzles and gameplay, but for the price you may be better off saving 5 cents and getting a level editor with it all.

Gameplay: 7/10
Pros: Gameplay is a mix between Lemmings and the Incredible Machine. Difficulty is well paced throughout the game. Being able to load the solution reduces frustration.
Cons: Things get repetitive at about puzzle 70, and you just have to take a break. Game is fine in small doses, but long play sessions feel monotonous

Graphics: 9.5/10
Pros: This is how games should look! Great and original 2D graphics give Eets a real unique flare and visual style. Animation is top-notch.
Cons: I guess it's not impressive having gorgeous 2D graphics with a solid framerate since there's never too much going on at once.

Sound/Music: 7/10
Pros: Sound FX are good, I especially love Eets little happy noices, scared noises, or whatever.
Cons: Music is really bare bones and budget. It's fine if you're not paying attention to it, but if you really listen you can tell it's just the bare minimum needed for a game like this.

Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10
Pros: For $10 you get a whole lot of puzzling and a good minigame. You can save replays and play the minigame multiplayer locally.
Cons: For $9.95 you can get the same game and swap the minigame for a level editor and downloadable levels on the PC. Game is still monotonous in long play sessions.

Average: 80.00%
Tilt: +2.00%

This game deserves a little boost since it is a phenomenal value with some clever and challenging achievements. I love playing games on my Xbox and TV over my PC and tiny screen, so the LIVE version is for me. It's great for a couple puzzles now a couple puzzles later while you wait for a demo to download or whatever and that's really what LIVE ARCADE games are for.

VERDICT: 82%

NBA Street Homecourt XBOX 360 Review

Is Homecourt as good as Street Vol.2?…Not so much.



Don’t get me wrong, NBA Street is by no means a bad game. In fact, it is chock full of high production values and is a vast improvement over Volume 3. Despite all of this, Vol. 2 is still the best in the series in my eyes.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: The new gamebreaker system is great and offers a good system of risk and reward (opposing players can ‘steal’ gamebreakers). The fluidity of animations and the countermoves (a button appears over a ball handler or defender and if you press it you will bounce the ball through a defender’s legs, or steal the ball.) are also great additions.
Cons: The intuition of the kick pass (press down on the right stick) is gone! Blocking long range shots is way too easy and makes games dunkfests. Trick Remixer brings with it a lack of differing dunks, trick moves.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: The graphics are good, the player animations are absolutely superb and the game has an organic overall feel because of the look and especially the animations of all the players. The filters put on the gameplay and ‘biography’ videos are sweet.
Cons: The courts are not that spectacular and don’t offer the variety of looks and tones (rooftops, dark alleyways) of previous street titles.

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: As always EA has spent a fortune on licensed tracks which are excellent. Voice work for the player biographies is excellent.
Cons: Voice work is a mixed bag during gameplay. It bothers me that we get great Carmelo voice work for in between game segments but then have generic player voices for nearly all the NBA stars. Players just all sound the same in game- generic. This may be nitpicking, but why not get voice work from all the players or just rip it from game footage? I want Iverson to sound like Iverson.

Lasting Appeal: 7/10
Pros: Online play is great (something Vol. 2 lacked) and there area several different game modes, and street games to be played. There’s achievements and all that too.
Cons: Achievements are incredibly easy. There are only 16 and they are each worth an absurd amount (like 50 points). They are also incredibly easy to get and I had over 200 within the first hour. The flash of NBA street and it’s appeal has worn off over the years.

Average: 82.50%
Tilt: -0.50%

EA is a massive studio (which I must admit I distaste ever since they monopolized the NFL license) and they crank out sequels nearly every year. As a result, their games always have the polish in the graphics and sound department, but the gameplay can drastically fluctuate from sequel to sequel. The Street series is lucky because it doesn’t suffer from the strict annual release schedule of Madden. Nonetheless, while Homecourt is much much better than Vol 3, it’s no Vol 2.

Verdict: 82%

Assault Heroes Xbox Live Review

So I was finally swayed by the positive reviews and the whole “IGN Xbox Live Arcade game of the year.” While I would not have voted Assault Heroes as the best of the year (Outpost Kaloki), it is certainly an entertaining game in a classic genre that works well on the XBOX Arcade.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: Blast-fest! Gameplay is completely reminiscent of the old 2D sidescrolling shooters. The game has a way of feeling unique despite copying off of many other shooter elements.
Cons: Shooting is fun, but it’s hard to see some of the shots coming at you and they get lost in some of the environments.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Definitely one of the best looking Arcade games out there right now (besides Roboblitz) it’s a 2D game, but everything is in 3D so trees get knocked down and explosive barrels have pretty impressive physics, etc. The water level is freaking sweet!
Cons: There’s always room for improvement…and in this game, the underground levels which feature a zoom in of your human gunslinger show the low polygon counts of some of the models.

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: Each weapon has a unique sound, and explosions boom and crackle. The sound is pretty perfect for the futuristic A-team premise too.
Cons: All the enemy shots, explosions, and your fire cause you to lose some of the sound effects. The warning beeping when your vehicle is about to blow up goes on way too long and is annoying.

Lasting Appeal: 8/10
Pros: Pretty long single player campaign with a very good variety of levels in both graphics and even gameplay. Coop is supported throughout the game, both online and locally. Achievements are actually tricky to come by and require some skill.
Cons: Not sure you’ll want to play through again unless you are obsessed with achievements and high scores, but definitely gives you a good bang for your buck.

Average: 85.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

I don’t see any need to adjust this score. Assault Heroes is one of the most complete and polished Live packages. If you like shooters, it’s definitely worth a download.

Verdict: 85%

You can purchase the MS points to acquire this title through Amazon. Buying from Amazon helps support the people who write such great reviews as the one above.

Super Jazzman PC Game Review

Super Jazzman is a real homage to the classic 2D Adventure games popularized on the PC in the late 80s and throughout the 90s. It offers a great adventure experience if that’s a genre you enjoy and have missed, but has a few flaws that keep it from greatness. In the end though, if you like adventure games and feel the need for one and a charming one at that, then Jazzman is for you.

Gameplay: 9/10
Pros: The same mind bending puzzles and click interface make it into Jazzman. Click to use, look at, move, etc. standard move set/controls in a game genre long forgotten. Anyone remember Lost Secret of the Rainforest?...just checking
Cons: The excitement of these games is never in the gameplay, but rather figuring out what to do. There’s also no replay value in these adventures since once you figure it all out and get the story, you’re ready to move on since figuring out the mystery and what to do next is the whole point of the game.

Graphics: 7/10
Pros: The graphics are well animated and have excellent sprite and pixel work…\
Cons: …the problem is that the game window is incredibly small…like 320 x 200 pixels or something. It’s really hard to see the object you need to pick up when it’s a whole 10 pixels.

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: The sounds are all done really well and fit the mood of the music. I love the walking echo.
Cons: There’s not really any music and the sounds are somewhat minimal. It is nice to not have elevator music repeating over and over as you are trying to figure out where Jazzman should fly to next.

Lasting Appeal: 8/10
Pros: This is hard one for me to judge since I haven’t played the whole adventure, but so far it’s been a charming story that works well.
Cons: As stated earlier, the nature of these games is the initial puzzle solving and figuring out the story. Like most books, you’ll read it (or in this case: play it through) once and be done with it.

Average: 80.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

For my little closing, I would like to point out that Herculean Effort is very paranoid about piracy. Super Jazzman has the most ridiculous protection I have ever gone through with an Indie Game. Even after downloading the full version, getting a password to unzip it and install it. You still have to put in a code when it boots up and then it’s only registered on one computer. A little overzealous if you ask me, but again it doesn’t really effect gameplay. I just thought it was an interesting factoid.

Verdict: 80%

MR. Robot PC Review

Mr. Robot immediately impresses with its visual style and presentation. The dialogue is witty and funny, and the different robots even exude personality. It’s a more traditional style RPG and the battles are nothing to rave about, but the room puzzles are fun and all in all Mr. Robot is a solid package.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: The game is very well-tuned and tweaked and all the menus etc. are easy to navigate. The buttons are simple: Action and Jump and the game is instantly playable. The game offers a pretty engaging and enjoying little story and the RPG battles are more traditional, but succinct and fun.
Cons: The isometric view makes moving around Mr. Robot a little awkward. I found the Mouse control to be very poor and clunky and switched to the keyboard to move around and jump, etc. In my opinion, the other weakpoint of the gameplay is the generic, traditional RPG battles, though I have to admit they are well spread out.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Definitely one of the strongest aspects of this title, the graphics are great and have a nice 3D feel to them. I am especially fond of all the robot animations which are incredibly fluid. The robots really come to life.
Cons: The battles take place in cyber space which apparently doesn’t look as good as real space. The textures, spaceship look gets repetitive.

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: No complaints…it all fits within the genre and game
Cons: I would’ve loved to see some voice work because the dialogue is already really funny and witty and could’ve really excelled and amplified the experience if the personalities could’ve come through more with different voices. It’s understandable that an Indie studio doesn’t contract such work though.

Lasting Appeal: 8/10
Pros: I have to admit that I don’t like Mr. Robot as much as Moonpod’s first title, Starscape, but Mr. Robot is a very refined and delightful title. The story is stronger than Starscape’s and the writing is really topnotch.
Cons: It’s an RPG and I’m not sure if you’ll want to play the story over an over again since the battles, I found to be somewhat tedious and too “old school.” It lacks the inventive real time engines of the newer RPGs like Final Fantasy X, Grandia, etc.

Average: 82.50%
Tilt: +0.50%

Indie RPGs are very difficult to execute and even harder to execute well. The scope of Mr. Robot is perfect: it takes place on a massive ship- with a finite area and sectors to cover. The thing that really keeps you playing Mr. Robot is the writing and personalities of all the robots. They really are all quite charming. This game is simply charming, and while it’s $5 more than most Indie Titles, the production values, graphics, presentation, etc. all make it an understandable increase in price and quality.

Verdict: 83%

Visit the Moonpod Website to Download the Demo or Buy Mr. Robot

UNO Xbox Live Review

I’m going to try and keep this short because there’s really not much to explain, it’s Uno. The truth is that this game is very addictive and is very difficult not to recommend at such a low price. Online multiplayer is phenomenal. A definite buy for casual game fans.

Gameplay: 8.5/10
Pros: It’s Uno, so it’s a proven formula for a game already, but the implementation and ease of playing makes the whole experience really great. The game is fun and addictive to play, which is perfect for Xbox Live Arcade.
Cons: It’s just a card game that we’ve all played before and that takes away from the newness or uniqueness of the experience.

Graphics: 6/10
Pros: Not really important in a card game, and as you can imagine there are 4 different colored cards and a sort of virtual tabletop. You can actually use your Xbox Vision camera if you wish and different decks change the graphics.
Cons: Despite the great presentation and use of the Uno license, the graphics are just cards and pretty menus.

Music/Sound: 10/10
Pros: I really want to play Uno games with the sound and music that this game uses. It just fits so well. The music relaxes me and all the little card sounds and Uno chimes work really well…the music/sounds add to the experience without being annoying, over the top, or repetitive…Truly remarkable.
Cons: ?

Lasting Appeal: 9.5/10
Pros: The games online system is really great and sets up and finds opponents for you very quickly. It’s sort of a simple matchmaking feature. The game is very appealing to the casual audience. Your girlfriends will take over your Xbox playing this game. Very easy to play online and you can even customize and adjust the rules.
Cons: The online ranking system should offer you the option of playing some of the more popular alternate rules. I’m a much bigger fan of not getting points and keeping your score low than you only get points if you win a particular game or hand. It requires more consistent play, but you only have the option of playing this mode unranked.

Average: 85.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

Because of the simplicity of the game I don’t feel I should tilt it up any further even though the game is a ton of fun and costs about as much as a deck of Uno cards (except on Xbox you don’t have to shuffle or sort your cards). It’s a great little addictive game. Uno is definitely worth the download time and a purchase.

Verdict: 85%

Dodge that Anvil PC GAME REVIEW

Dodge that Anvil borrows a lot from classic Looney Tunes: the main character is a rabbit and falling anvils are one of the most deadly and threatening objects to said rabbit. Unlike many of the shoddy Looney Tunes games out there, Dodge that Anvil does a great job instantly pulling you into a cartoon world. You’ll smile from the gameplay, world, characters, and antics in this title. This is an excellent little title, with a simple premise: grab/harvest carrots while dodging anvils, but ultimately a deep gaming experience thanks to armor vests, hardhats, jumbo veggies, flippers, etc. I should also mention that the game won the AdultSwim Award at the 2006 IGF, and was a finalist for the best web browser game so Congrats to RabidLab on that. Onto the scoring breakdown:

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: Very easy to pick up and play controls and game mechanics. There is lots of depth with purchasable gadgets, exploding beach balls, veggie bombs, etc.
Cons: Not a fan of the auto-jump feature and thought the mouse movement could be touchy.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Instantly appealing with a very clean and perfectly themed 3-D engine and landscape. The 2-D rabbit character works really well in keeping the Cartoon feel alive in a sleek 3D landscape. The menus, presentation, and tutorial screens are absolutely phenomenal…Presentation pushes this score up a notch
Cons: More animations for our lovable rabbit hero would’ve brought him to life more. Game as a whole lacks graphic variety after awhile (I’m reaching for critiques I know).

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: Cartoony to the max sounds enhance the Looney Tunes Feel. The game features music…
Cons: but the music isn’t very good, memorable, or even very loud. The Sound/Music department is probably the weakest part of the package, but for me it’s also the least important department, so no worries.

Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10
Pros: The story is delightful and engaging and as you progress more and more things become available- this spurs you to keep playing. As season’s pass on, you have the ability to play levels again for high scores, perfect harvests, etc.
Cons: Like most platformers, there is an end to the story and when that’s over, you have to really want to play the game on a new difficulty in order to get much replay value out of the title. That’s really just a fact of most platformers rather than a bash on this one.

Average: 83.75
Tilt: +2.25%

This game is instantly appealing and offers approachable gameplay to almost every game skill level. Everyone should click HERE to play the browser game and check out RabidLab’s website. You can also download the DEMO here and of course BUY the game if you enjoy it as much as I do.

Verdict: 86%

MiniGolf Mania PC Game Review

MiniGolf Mania is a gem. It's just tremendous fun. It is the only game I have played in the last 24 hours (which says a lot trust me) and I only took breaks to take notes, sleep, eat and the like. During one of my breaks, I headed over to Gametunnel.com and realized that MiniGolf Mania is #2 best sports game of the year...so I'm not the only one. This game is very deserving of not only a demo download, but a purchase.


Gameplay: 8.5/10
Pros: Tons of zany power-ups, outlandish holes, obstacles, etc. My favorite feature has to be the special ability balls, which add a touch of twitch gameplay. Basically, after hitting one of these balls you can click to activate it's ability...my favorite is the nudge backwards...this basically reverses the ball in real time. Once I got this ball, my scores drastically improved along with the fun I was having.
Cons: I wish there was a camera more like Hot Shots Golf, where you could see the contours and easily rotate the camera and look around. The Fly-by is sufficient, but I wanted more control with the arrow keys or something. I also would have preferred that the putting interface was a hold (to draw the putter back) and release (to hit) interface rather than a double click. It is hard to measure power and distance at first and the cup can be unforgiving.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Love the cartoon / handdrawn looking backgrounds. The 3-D engine is very attractive despite its simplicity...Torque consistently pops up in games that impress me visually (see Marble Blast). The crazy boost blasters and bounce pads look great and add to the zany feel. Playing the game sort of feels like you are in some crazy, zany world with wacky & fun physics.
Cons: Some of the polygons and backgrounds outside the hole (monochrome sand) detract from the feel. Safari animals do not fit the visual feel of the game and seem out of place...I was expecting more cartoonish and free-roaming animals.

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: Music is good, subdued, and well-suited to golf. Noises of the clinking ball are spot on.
Cons: Nothing really stands out as bad, there's just nothing exceptional to warrant above the solid-good range.

Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10
Pros: Game is FUN to play. 3 Courses and a 9-hole tutorial can entertain you for awhile with their multiple modes, wacky design, and ability balls definitely warrant the price of admission. The worldwide rankings and ability to enter a name/password and then collect points really motivates you to keep playing.
Cons: Could definitely have used another course especially since the gameplay is rather quick and you can breeze through one fairly quickly. I would have also liked to see some online matchmaking or head to head.

Average: 85.00%
Tilt: +3.00%

The game is instantly accessible and very enjoyable and when a game is really fun, you always want more of it and really can't hold it against the game. The game delivers in the fun department and that's what's important. TopMeadow definitely deserved the #2 spot for best Sports game of '06. You can learn more about MiniGolf Mania over on their website. Definitely check it out.

Verdict: 88%

Saints Row XBOX 360 Review

Saints Row is a shameless Grand Theft Auto clone…luckily it’s shamelessly good too. While originality points should be taken away from Volition (Red Faction 1+2, Descent Freespace), they have definitely proven themselves as superior developers. The Red Factions were both very good and introduced the ability to completely change the environment and blow holes in nearly anything. Someone please copy this! As it is a must for nearly any FPS game. Anyway getting back to Saints Row…in many respects it is better than GTA and my brother and I constantly found ourselves saying, “Wow that’s way better than GTA…Sweet!” so if you like GTA this is for you. If you hated GTA’s controls and thought it was overrated (That’s me) then this game is for you. If you are a diehard GTA fan…then you may find Saints Row’s copycatting too much to stomach. Saints Row has better graphics, controls, about the same story, better lasting appeal and multiplayer modes, and only suffers from a much worse sound and radio selection. This game is big and I’m not going to be able to get into every aspect, but nearly everything that worked in GTA is in this game and everything that didn’t has been fixed or dropped.

Gameplay: 9/10
Pros: GTA take notice and for Grand Theft 4 please introduce a free aiming system like the one in Saints Row. How frustrating was the lock-on firing system in GTA? How many times did you beat a mission by luck or die because of awful controls? Too many, luckily Saints Row gives you full control of where to shoot with a free aim system on the right stick. It makes all the urban mayhem that much more fun. You also have to mention Saints Row’s excellent story progression where you have to earn respect in order to take on missions. How do you earn respect? Drug Trafficking, Insurance Fraud, Hostages, Stealing and Pawning merchandise, Being a hitman, Demolition Derbies, Escort missions, Snatching up Hoes, etc. (I’m sure I’m missing a few). Some of these modes are incredibly fun and as you progress up the story missions, the respect levels get harder as well.
Cons: Gameplay is a shameless copy of GTA and lacks some of the features that Rockstar developed over their 3 games: No Motorcycles, No Parachuting, Flying, etc. The story is also more focused on Gangs and City life so the city of Stillwater is not nearly as diverse as the world of San Andreas, which is a shame since the rural countryside and different cities really made Andreas shine.

Graphics: 8.5/10
Pros: The graphics really shame GTA and show that Rockstar will have no excuses for detail when the next-gen GTA is released- graffiti adorns the building which are a far cry from generic boxes and skyscrapers. There’s also no load time when you enter a building or store…just kick the door in and go! The carjacking animations are very fluid (and can be brutal- cap to the head anyone?). Oh and I forgot to mention that when you boot up the game and start up, you’ll design your criminal in a fully customizable create-a-character mode…really awesome idea and a very extensive feature.
Cons: Though the draw distance puts GTA to shame, there still is some fade-in with buildings. The game lacks the graphical prowess of many Xbox 360 games…though more detailed than GTA, it is less detailed than most of the other games I’ve played for the 360.

Sound/Music: 7/10
Pros: You can rip music to a customizable MP3 player in the menus. All the explosions and gunplay sounds great. Story voice work is very solid.
Cons: The soundtrack is just not up to snuff and offers no familiar artists. The radio commercials and talk DJs are just not as good or as funny as GTA.

Lasting Appeal: 9/10
Pros: 1-Player missions should take you 30-40 hours to complete and that doesn’t include all the other things that you are always welcome to do in a free-roaming game like this. Multiplayer! Though the co-op missions are weak, the versus modes are a lot of fun and these additional modes are a welcome commodity.
Cons: Better Co-op missions or the ability for a friend to jump in the world online/locally to help in the main campaign would have been incredible.

Average: 83.75%
Tilt: -1.75%

You have to take off points for the lack of originality. If you didn’t notice, GTA was mentioned quite a few times in the review. Saints Row is a total rip-off of Grand Theft Auto and although it focuses, hones, and improves on many aspects of Grand Theft, it has to lose points for originality.

Verdict: 82%

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Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin DS Review

Castlevania is an epic video game franchise and each new iteration is a solid entry into the series (minus the 3D ones). Almost every Castlevania fan points to Symphony of the Night as the pinnacle of the series, though Aria of Sorrow or even Dawn of Sorrow both approached excellence. For me the two best Castlevania games were Symphony of the Night for Sega Saturn (yes I had that obscure system) aka Nocturne in the Moonlight and Circle of the Moon for GBA. Circle of the Moon is by no means the best GBA Castlevania, but it did surprise me, impress me, entice me…and ultimately sold me on the Gameboy Advance as a system. Well, I should probably add Portrait of Ruin to that list because although it doesn’t feel as new and great as the 2 Castlevania’s that really won me over to the series, it really offers way more as far as game length, characters, modes, etc. So to end the ranting and really get to the summary of the review: Castlevania Portrait of Ruin doesn’t surprise, offers some new features, and is another great addition to the Castlevania franchise. It is better than last year’s Dawn of Sorrow, and although a Co-op adventure mode is truly a huge missed opportunity, the new partner mechanics are pretty cool and the painting mechanic is freaking awesome.

Gameplay: 8.5/10
Pros: This is how games are meant to play…classic side scrolling action adventure. Controls are immediately familiar to castlevania fans though there are several new partner features such as calling them in, dual attacks, switching etc. that are fun to learn and work really well. Game is challenging and intense as always. The new portrait system will hopefully be used in future titles.
Cons: Touch features from Dawn of Sorrow were almost completely dropped…there’s no sealing of bosses or touch screen doors to unlock. I think the dual screen could be used for more than just a map. Finally, the dual character mechanic could have been utilized a lot more for puzzles and goddamn a co-op mode would’ve been sweet!

Graphics: 8.5/10
Pros: Good ole pixel art! As always, Castlevania sports excellent sprites, animations, and even some sweet 3D backgrounds. It’s built on the same engine as Dawn of Sorrow and the new iteration looks just as good if not better.
Cons: Some enemies have been rehashed from the previous games and I would have liked to see more 3D, sprite effects, etc.

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: All the old familiar sounds sound as good as ever. There is some good voice work even though it is minimal and the score is perfectly creepy and atmospheric.
Cons: The story is still told in text boxes, and the music isn’t as memorable as previous installments.

Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10
Pros: The game offers a lot when it comes to castle real estate and terrain to explore. The paintings are very large worlds and allow you to visit very different locales. As with any other Castlevania game, the decent story and great gameplay will keep you adventuring to the end. There are some other modes and characters, which offer some replay value, but ultimately the modes are a novelty, and you may not want to play through the adventure all over again.

Average: 83.75%
Tilt: +0.25%

Castlevania Portrait of Ruin is a must for anyone who has enjoyed any previous Castlevania game. It is one of the better sequels to come along in awhile and is a great platform action/adventure. If you’ve never been into Castlevania, I’m not sure this game changes it up enough to warrant a go, but if you’ve never heard or played one, this is an excellent place to start.

Verdict: 84%

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Yoshi's Island DS Review

Yoshi's Island doesn't mess with the original's formula and really just adds some new elements here and there. The new multiple baby element is really cool, but doesn't change the feel of the game at all. Basically, this game is for you if you liked the SNES original or Gameboy re-release. It's not going to surprise you in any way (if you've played the original) but it is a solid Nintendo platformer.

Gameplay: 9/10
Pros: Classic Platforming of old. Playing one of the SNES's best games is always fun. New babies with different powers is a really cool new feature even though some work better than others.
Cons: If you've played the original this really just feels like more of the same. It's great, but you've played it. The first boss is even the same (well 2 of them instead of 1). It could've used some more touch features.

Graphics: 8/10
Pros: Same cool morphing effects from the remake and original. Great art sense and pastel / cartoon feel.
Cons: A lot of the graphics and animations are just ripped from the original (GBA or SNES, isn't DS stronger?), but what really bothers me is that the title screen and level progression menu is exactly the same.

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: I love the Yoshi yelp and the baby crying really makes you feel anxious to get the baby back. Again, the sound and music will instantly feel familiar and is perfectly sufficient.
Cons: Nothing new, perfectly sufficient but lacking something...pizzaz perhaps?

Lasting Appeal: 7/10
Pros: If you missed out on owning a SNES or didn't buy the GBA remake then this is a must buy and you will absolutely love it, play it, beat it, and play it again. There are tons of levels and a lot of different worlds. The bosses especially stand out and were always excellent in this series, so you'll play through just to see and beat all of them.
Cons: I'm not sure how much you'll care about finding all the flowers and collecting everything. I for one will not play it again after I beat it, though I may try to score high enough on a level here and there to unlock the bonus levels.

Average: 80.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

End Result is that Yoshi's Island DS is a solid Nintendo Platformer that will surely please anyone who played the original. It copies the original in so many ways and just doesn't offer enough to live up to the original, which after all is a classic and arguably one of the best platformers of the 16-bit era. We are in a different era where the bar has been raised and doing the more of the same isn't enough to warrant a must buy title.

Verdict: 80%

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Yoshi's Island DS

Gibbage Indie PC GAME REVIEW!

GIBBAGE DEMO DOWNLOAD

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The things I think about Gibbage:
1. That it is very Fun with a human friend to play
2. It has some serious control issues
3. The gameplay is a cool mix of platforming and deathmatch
4. Graphics and presentation are sleek, unique, and that Gibbage has an exceptional artistic direction...but the game graphics are too small
5. Best Indie Game Music Ever!
6. That Gibbage embodies what the Indie game industry should be about: well-made, different and distinctive games, that are a true value for the amount of fun that can be had.

Does this all amount to a fantastic score and a must-buy game? Read on to Find out!

Gameplay: 6/10
Pros: Old-school / Retro twitch gameplay. Very fast and hectic. Unique yet familiar deathmatch gameplay. Plenty of levels, weapons, and great blood etc. effects. There's nothing better than a flowery meadow getting soaked with blood and clone parts during a match.
Cons: Controls are very frustrating. Sticking to walls is very awkward...I would've liked to see a wall slide type mechanic al la Megaman X. Jumping as a whole is inaccurate. I was unable to consistently double jump, land jumps, etc. and found myself falling to my death (in levels where possible). The controls are made even worse by the fact that it affects playability and results in lost matches or unintended deaths. The controls also make even the lowest difficulty A.I. look like a jumping ace. This control issue is a real shame because ultimately it is the only major flaw of Gibbage. There was also the occasional collision problem in some levels, but I always managed to free myself so no big deal.

Graphics: 8/10
Pros: Amazing Art Style and presentation. Love the cartoony clones, zombies, etc. Bomb explosions are a testament to a simple yet so sweet animation/effect...I just love the way they look. Again as noted above, the playfield gets saturated with blood, body parts, etc. which is really cool. Getting a frag and seeing the cute little clone falling to pieces is very rewarding.
Cons: Art-style may not be for everyone, but screw them... Only real issue is the size of the graphics. They are too small. I think shrinking the screen/or enabling scrolling would have really helped the graphics and art style shine.

Sound/Music: 10/10
Pros: Best Theme music ever! The gibbage opening music is part James Bond Spy Movie, meets groove, meets game, meets AMAZING! It is just so damn good. Instantly catchy and memorable...and the music just starts your engine and keeps it churning round after round, level after level. The sounds are completely sufficient...don't shine like the music, but honestly how could they?
Cons: I dare you to try and find some in this category!

Lasting Appeal: 9/10
Pros: Plenty of levels, weapons, and unique platform-collecting items and deathmatch gameplay for anyone. I found the AI to be very challenging on the lowest level (maybe I just suck) but I think there is a lot of replay value in that. The way levels are unlocked keeps you saying, "just one more to try out this new level"
Cons: The control issue is a problem. Jumping just does not feel right and there are issues...and quirks that you have to work through. Online Multiplayer would have been REALLY Nice, but I understand how hard it would've been and Gibbage, believe it or not, was made by only one person. That being said, I think Gibbage's gameplay could easily support 4 player deathmatch locally and online. Maybe these are just hopes and dreams...or for gibbage 2. 4-player would also make the graphics small size more excusable. While you are at it, some customizable match settings would be nice... i.e. first to 10 frags, or 10 lives, no collecting crystals, starting weapons, etc. would be really sweet! Not really critiques, so much as suggestions for the next Gibbage.

Average: 82.50%
Tilt: +4.50%

Gibbage, to me, is a symbol of what Indie games should be about: Unique games that are a great value, not some new match 3 clone or some ridiculously frilly and soul-less casual game (sorry bedazzled, bejeweled, whatever). Gibbage is very much a gamer's game. You know a category I don't have...value. Gibbage is only 6 pounds or about $10 and offers a lot and would score a perfect 10 in such a Value category. Gibbage features: 27 levels and tons of power-ups and weapons...yes online multiplayer would be sweet...and 4-player would be great...and both together would be an absolute "fun-gasm" (regardless of the control issues) but the game is only $10 so how can you really penalize it for not offering the features of a $60 Xbox 360 game or even a $20-$30 other PC indie title... you can't. How can you not want to support a guy who makes a game like this by himself? and runs a pretty darn good Indie Game Blog at that?...you can't, so download the Gibbage Demo and try it out... if you don't absolutely hate the controls...and can learn to sort of work around them....then you should invest in Gibbage, because an investment in fun is always...well fun.

Verdict: 87%

GIBBAGE DEMO DOWNLOAD

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Viva Pinata XBOX 360 REVIEW

Do not be turned off by Viva Pinata's colorful and kidlike presentation. Though Kids will probably adore all the colorful critters and simple controls, adults will love the depth, challenge, and overall uniqueness of the game. Is this game a "must-buy" like Gears of War? Not quite, but if you are a gamer open-minded to non-shooters and are looking for something that plays different...this game is for you. Yes this is the beginning of the review, but this game is one of the best "family" games I have ever played. There is obvious kid appeal, but nothing is overly cutesy or annoying. Adults will of course not really care to watch the "romancing danced" of the pinatas, but the game is smart enough to know that and will only show you a new movie if you breed a new species. You can skip this if you wish and watch two worm pinatas dance over and over again if you choose. The beginning of the game is very well paced and you're constantly trying to absorb everything that is thrown at you. RARE is back after a mediocre Perfect Dark Zero! OK, I'm rambling and this review is quickly deteriorating in quality so I will impose some structure:

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: There is a lot to do! and if you don't like the meaningless tasks of gardening, you can hire helpers to do it for you. The controls work well (thank god for the shortcut d-pad). It's not the most frantic gameplay, but this is a simulation game. The way you can do anything to your garden or quickly undo it and dynamically change it is just really satisfying and liberating. There are sooo many different pinatas with deep preferences and requirements.
Cons: There are times when there is too much going on or you get interupted from sodding the grass or cleaning up your lot. Then there are other times when you are waiting for something to do. Overall, it's a good pace, but you feel some of the busy times could be spread over the hectic times better. I found myself lacking direction after the initial tutorials dropped off. I kept working and eventually I got it, but a little more direction or objective list would help. There is no excuse for pinata, seed, etc information to have to be loaded. When I highlight an object and click info, a menu should pop up giving me basic stats. Some species are just too picky!

Graphics: 10/10
Pros: Gorgeous and vibrant garden and interesting creatures. There always so much going on...seeing a bustling garden is really a testament to the Xbox 360. The pinatas are animated really well and exude personality. The zany "human" characters all fall into the visual presentation well. The menu system and loading screens also stand out and embody the visual style of the game.
Cons: Yes the game is not as stunning or jaw-dropping as "Gears" but I can't think of anything to complain about or nitpick...maybe you can.

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: "human" characters voices are full of personality...my favorite is the sarcastic pet shop owner who is so un-thrilled with her job. The voiceovers are excellent. The pinata sounds are also tremendous and help clue you into the personality of the species. I love the pretztails and badgers (forget their pinata name).
Cons: There is some text to muddle through and I know that if Knights of the Old Republic can voice all that text, that Viva Pinata shouldn't have to resort to text when the voiceovers are so good. Also, I can't really remember what the music sounded like without rebooting up the game...so that can't be good...it's not bad...just doesn't stand out.

Lasting Appeal: 8/10
Pros: If you like it, you could conceivably play for a long time...like forever. It's not one of those games where you kill the evil overlord and the game is over. The objective and gameplay is all open-ended. Be the best gardener you can be!
Cons: As you start accumulating all of the upgrades and your gardent expands...you may see everything you want to see (it will take you a big junk of time though). I think the online component could've been better. Some sort of competitive gardening would have been cool, though the post office (send and trade things) is a cool Xbox Live feature.

Average: 87.50%
Tilt: +0.50%

This game is unlike anything you've played for the Xbox 360. It has similarities to other Sim games, but really just stands out as a result of its gameplay, graphics, and distinctive presentation. RARE is really showing that they may be able to reclaim their crown as a preminent developer. I mean remember when they dominated with games like Banjo Kazooie, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct? Rare made how many games for the original xbox? 1....Conkers...a remake at that? I'm glad that Microsoft is finally getting their money's worth (Microsoft paid a total of $377 million for the company) out of them with titles like Viva Pinata, a truly distinctive and rare game that adds a whole new genre to a console that is littered with First Person Shooters. It is very Refreshing to see not only a family oriented almost "Nintendo" game on Xbox, but an exceptional one at that.

Verdict: 88%

Professor Fizzwizzle PC Review

Let me start off by saying that Grubby Games has some of the absolute best kid's games on the market. That's not to say the appeal of Professor Fizzwizzle is only for kids, just that it has an excellent pace, graphics, sounds for kids, not to mention the problem-solving puzzles that make up the levels of the game. I must admit to using the "Solve Puzzle" feature on quite a few occasions myself. This feature is brilliant because at the moment a level gets frustrating and you feel it is impossible, you can simply pause and click for the solution. This definitely decreases the frustration factor and keeps you playing into the later levels. Prof. Fizzwizzle also keeps things interesting by adding new puzzle elements at a good pace from level to level. This keeps things from getting repetitive. In fact, my only major complaint with Prof. Fizzwizzle is that the gameplay is not for gamers. To the game's defense, it was not designed to appeal to the hardcore 2D gamers of yesteryear, the graphics whores of today's consoles, or the FPS/RTS pc crowd. This is a casual game, and if you take it as such, it is hard to find fault.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: Puzzles can be very challenging and continually add new elements or twists on old elements to keep things fresh. A plethora of modes and types of puzzles.
Cons: Actual Gameplay is simplistic. You use the arrow keys to move the professor around and that's really it, besides the occasional power-up. Perfect for casual gamers, but not for me.


Graphics: 8/10
Pros: Graphics are clean, simple, and perfectly themed for the game. Animations are REALLY good.
Cons: Lack of WOW factor. More game objects animated as well as the Professor!

Sound/Music: 9.5/10
Pros: Music is perfect, catchy and subdued. The last thing you want is some crazy rock music while you are trying to solve a puzzle. Sound is unintrusive as well.
Cons: Sound/Music are not show stealers, but they are not meant to be, especially in a game like this.

Lasting Appeal: 10/10
Pros: Tons of different levels, modes, and sets of puzzles. If you get tired with the included puzzles there is a level editor and a ton of downloadable levels on Grubby Games' website.
Cons: What more could you ask for?

Average: 88.75
Tilt: +0.25

Grubby Games knows the casual market. Professor Fizzwizzle has won tons of critical acclaim, awards, etc. and I'm sure has sold tons of copies as well. It understands exactly the type of people that enjoy and buy these types of games and offers a huge repetoire of levels and features for them. Console gamers, PC gamers, and old school gamers alike could enjoy this game...will they shell out the cash to buy it...I doubt it....but the casual gamer will and will love that they did. Rarely have I seen a casual game that is 1: an Original Idea 2: not some sort of match 3 or bejeweled clone 4: more than a simple click here/there game...ahem...cake mania and diner dash and 5: actually worth $20. What does Professor Fizzwizzle really do best? It offers you a tremendous value at $20, because of the number of levels, downloadable levels, and ability to make your own levels. If you enjoy this game, you will not stop playing it due to a lack of features...that's for sure.

Verdict: 89%
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Starfox Command DS REVIEW

So I've been playing Star Fox command for the past couple days and was actually pleasantly surprised. My favorite thing about the game has to be the difficulty (not in the flying and shooting, but in the strategy) and the multiple path type of gameplay. Let me elaborate. Each starfox mission usually encompasses either taking out a mothership, destroying a particular type of enemy, or shooting down a cruise missile. The controls are excellent for flying around and shooting down badguys, and I have only died a couple times in the heat of battle or failed the mission by running out of time. On the other hand, I have allowed enemy ships, and cruise missiles to destroy my flagship on many occasions. There's actually a lot of strategy involved in placing your ships and intercepting threats. At the same time you have to stay aggressive and go after the motherships to earn more turns (and thus leaving your flagship undefended). I actually found one of the first missions the hardest because while I was destroying every enemy I faced, the training mode does not describe any of the elements of the strategic map, so I lost a lot. You also start with only Fox McCloud and then meet up with your buddies. Luckily, flying around and moving my plane around was so much fun I just kept replaying it and eventually learned how it works. Basicaly, there's fog of war clouds that you can rub away with your stylus (only so many though) and then you draw paths for your plans to fly. Once you get into it the strategy elements are really cool, work well, and keep the difficulty of the game up. The graphics and actual missions are spot on StarFox 64 and give you little 3d arenas to fly around and shoot it out. In-game controls are excellent and each spaceship is actually a little different with weapons, lock-on abilities, etc. (I hate Slippy's ship! No Lock ON!). After the first mission you can choose which teammember to go after and the game splits into 3 paths and after every subsequent misison you have at least 2 different areas/missions to choose from. This gives the game excellent replay value! There is also online support and local multiplayer modes which are exactly like the old N64 free for alls. I've never been a very big StarFox fan, though I did really like the 1st one, but the depth the strategy elements have given the game make it totally my cup of tea.


Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: Controls are excellent and fluid, drawing paths and planning out attack patterns is a unique new feature, the old N64 dogfights return, different ships handle differently, EXCELLENT boss battles. Great Multiplayer dogfights.

Cons: The actual missions can get repetitive: destroy this enemy, chase missile, destroy mothership. Training missions don't adequately prepare you for new strategic elements. No true SNES on-rails missions.

Graphics: 8/10
Pros: Arwing ships all look different (there's even a tadpole type ship to play as), solid 3D engine that looks better than the original SNES starfox and almost as good as the N64 version.

Cons: Levels are small, and draw-distance could be farther. Some of the old N64 fog is used and actual terrain and levels aren't that varied.

Sound: 8/10
Pros: Sticks to the starfox theme music previously established. They also use this fun garbled voice when people talk (like the old SNES cart).
Cons: No spoken voice, which people may frown on.

Lasting Appeal: 9/10
Pros: Multiple paths in one player, many ways to enjoy multiplayer, decent difficulty without being frustrating, and a decent and engaging story.

Cons: Gameplay may not keep you coming back for the 3rd, or 4th time through the campaign mode. Missions can be repetitive.

Average: 82.5%
Tilt (+/-): +0.5%

Verdict: 83%

Megaman ZX DS Review

So here's a rambling review, that I did at work instead of doing....well work. So I just bought the black DS lite yesterday and Megaman ZX to go along with it. Now let me start off by saying that ZX is hard and the save system is bad and it sometimes takes awhile to get to the right mission (the map is horrible). That pretty much sums up the entirety of the negatives of this game. I could not put this game down. Granted I was a huge SNES Megaman X fan and have liked hard games such as PS2 Shinobi, so some of the negatives of the game do not bother me at all. The Gameplay is absolutely perfert! It is oldschool goodness to its best, Twitch addictive gameplay. The ability to change into 5 different megamen is also really cool. You can even turn into your human self (though I wish the Human had more abilities, he can just crouch into small spaces and doesn't scare people when he talks to them). The Graphics are sweet in my opinion and look really good, though I doubt they are really straining the DS hardware. The bosses are tough and everything is slickly animated. In fact, one of the megamen can shoot with either hand and the way you are facing accurately changes which hand animation-wise fires- very nice touch. There are 2 characters- guy and girl and although I am only past the first 7 or so bosses on Easy, I definitely have not found it overly difficult (though I have died) and look forward to replaying the game as the girl and on harder settings. Love this game. If you loved any of the X games you have to absolutely pick this one up. Currently, Metascore has this game at 80. I would says it is more of a 89-91. It sucks that there isn't a decent map on the bottom screen (or even in the menu) but I like not having to look at both screens all that much. Anyway, you can read the other reviews and complaints yourselves. I think most critiques are valid but are not that big of a deal. I'm pro difficulty, the save system is fine, but the map system - walking around finding where the missions are- definitely needs a huge improvement.

BREAKDOWN:
Gameplay: 10/10
Pros: Absolutely couldn't put this game down for the first 5 hours. I'm even itching to play it again now, but I'm at work and the DS is at home so I'll have to wait. The only reason I stopped is because I only have 1 mission left available to select and I don't know where section J is! Excellent control very responsive, classic megaman with 5 different versions!
Cons: Some may find it hard or just not like the Old School and difficult gameplay - NOT for CASUAL GAMERS!!

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Crisp and excellently animated sprites. Great Anime Sequences! Lush backgrounds with excellent scrolling aspects (foreground and parallax backgrounds). In the vein of great SNES games like Super Metroid, but crisper! with more colors!
Cons: Nothing that is truly next-gen...minimal graphics on 2nd Screen

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: All the classic sounds of dashing, shooting, etc. return. Music is good and fits the mood of the game.
Cons: When you complete a mission there is an annoying beeping until you file a mission report. Music/Sound doesn't really stay with you.

Lasting Appeal: 8/10
Pros: 2 Different characters, drastically more difficult difficulty levels, 5 different Megamen with different play mechanics. Huge world - lots of levels to explore. Only $30! SICK gameplay!

Cons: Too difficult- Too hard to explore and find next area or mission. Gameplay is tough for newcomers to Megaman games. Extra playtime attributed to re-traversing areas to find the next area or get back to a save point.

Average: 87.5%
Tilt (+/-): +2.5%

Verdict: 90%