I finally got my grubby little mitts on Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core for my PSP. I must say, the game was worth the wait and it’s brought back some memories.

Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core is the perfect PSP game, in my opinion. Well, perfect in the sense that you get an action packed game, in a small package. Think back to the days of Cloud, Aeris, and the rest of the motley crew from Final Fantasy VII. This game serves as the ground work for that title, and when you dive in, you’ll immediately be taken back only to be pushed forward with your knowledge.

The combat system is similar to many hack and slash games found on the market. You can access your spells, items, etc… in battle using the right and left shoulder buttons. You will also be equipped with your “DMW”, or Digital Mind Wave, allows you to execute punishing limit breaks, decrease the effect of status ailments, increase your strength, or even level up. Square nailed this one when it came to combat. It may take a little getting used to but with enough practice you won’t be in crisis for too long.

All in all, I give this game a 9 out of 10. The only fault I can give is the inability to skip through the CG cut screens. I believe that this should be standard in any title these days, but other than that, the game is greeeaaaat.

I can still remember the Cutscene. A bio-mech of a human infiltrates a space station. He is able to sneak past multiple guards to reach his final destination. The only thing between him and victory is a giant, mechanical robot, armed with a hell of a turret gun. He makes quick work of the giant, proceeds back to his rendezvous point, and leaves the debris of the space station behind. This was the Dark Sector I remember; The same game that prompted me to buy the PS3 in the first place. Aside from Heavenly Sword, this was my guiding light in those early days. Of course, Dark Sector was changed back in 2006. The question is, was it for the better or the worse?

The game I am reviewing today is stretch from its previous design. The creators cited changes in the industry as the reasoning behind the changes. Instead of an entire suit of bio-mech armor, you play as Hayden Tenno with a bio-arm that’s been infected. Thanks to your new adaptation, you now possess the glaive, think boomerang but 5 times cooler. The glaive is handy for making short work of your foes. It also provides you with some cool in – game cutscenes. The game is well versed in the art of gore, and I must say it plays out nicely. However, I believe this new adaptation falls short of my original expectations. Perhaps it was my over hyped view from above, perhaps it was the time it took to hit the market, or perhaps it was the fact that Hayden looks more human now than mech in his past life. In any event, I don’t feel the love from Dark Sector. It almost feels like Gears of War, but in this day and age, you want to carve your own niche, make your own way.

I give the game a 7 out of 10. Great graphics, seemingly interesting storyline, but something is definitely missing.

UPDATE: I decided to revisit the land of Darkness in Dark Sector and I must say the plot is interesting. I am stepping my previous ranking up to an 8 out of 10.

The year is some time wayyyy before I was born and the setting is dark. A goddess named Hel is running rampant and your job is to stop her and her legion of doom. Such is the lifestyle in Viking: Battle for Asgard. Now I’m going to give you Devon’s quick and dirty review of this fun PS3 title.

You pick up the blade of Skarin. He is one of the strongest warriors in his land and he was chosen to rid the land of Hel’s forces. Through out the game you are presented with opportunities to free your comrades in arms. Once freed, they too will join your fight and serve as your army. The more men you free, the larger your army will grow. The game plays out for the most part like a typical hack and slash but with uber graphics. Sega made sure to pay attention to detail when it came to this title. Of course no game would be complete without the slow motion super star shots. Yes, the battle has that too.

Skarin is no push over and the enemies will fall at your feet, but if all else fails, be sure to make use of the elemental runes by attaching them to your blade. All in all, I give this game an 8 out of 10. Now go grab it and let the good times roll.

You’ll have to excuse my latest absence. I’ve been more than a haze, with the day time job, Reality Knights work, and of course the video games. I ran through a few games over the weekend. Of course none of that would have been possible if I didn’t finish Timeshift.  :megaman:

Timeshift is a nice ride on a slow day. You see, I’ve been waiting ever so patiently for the release of Dark Sector, Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid, and of course Final Fantasy. While I was waiting, I needed something to hold me over. Timeshift is all that and a bag of chips. You are a physicist with a hidden agenda. Your goal this time around is to stop the evil Dr. Krone, by any means necessary. When the game starts, you are immediately roped into the action. Needless to say, your ability to control time is the greatest weapon you will have and it also makes for one fun event after another. Through out the game you are challenged to use your time controlling abilities in new, special ways. One of the game’s tips is to “think in four dimensions”, and they are ohhh so right.

So how does it rank?

The game is top notch, in a league of PS3 games that are just OK, Timeshift stands out. I definitely give this one a 9 out of 10. If you haven’t played Timeshift yet, then you definitely want to pick it up and let the good times roll.  :shroom:

I finally got my hands on Capcom’s new shooter, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. The game play is somewhat unique, the plot looks intriguing, and best of all I get to ride around in big machines. Here’s Devon quick and dirty review of the game.

The introduction to Lost Planet does a good job of pulling you into the plot, introducing you to the main character, and leaves you wanting to see this one through to the end to figure out the inner workings. The plot seems simple enough on the surface, the Akrid are a new bad ass race of alien beings that threaten the very existence of our new home. You play as Wayne, the son of an officer in Earth’s Frontier Force. Thanks to the power of the VS, a mecha that is piloted by humans, you now stand a better chance of taking down the Akrid on their home turf.

The Action

The action in this game is non – stop. As soon as you turn a corner, expect to be confronted by more Akrid. They will roll onto the scene and potentially take your life in one blow if your not careful.

The Gameplay Controls

The controls take some getting used to, but once you have a handle on them, it’s smooth sailing from then on. Piloting the VS is as easy as walking with 1 hand tied behind your back at first, but you’ll get a handle on that too.

Final Answer

I give Lost Planet a 8 out of 10. It has great graphics, an interesting plot, and a constant source of action, which can only be fun. Grab this one while it can be got.  :borg: