Photo Dojo Released At Long Last

Finally, Photo Dojo is out. I heard about this months ago, played it at PAX, and now it's out. For the next couple weeks, it's free to download from DSi Ware. I suggest you check it out!

More Details and Video for Okamiden

Another game I mentioned in my Top 10 for 2010, Okamiden is the sequel to the PS2 (and subsequent Wii port) Okami, first released in 2006. While at this point unlikely to come to the US in this calendar year, it should come out in Japan this year.

Kotaku released a short feature with a play-through of some of the game's sequences. The new video shown really highlights the bright and colorful art design, bringing the descendants of the previous game to life. The control scheme of the stylus and control pad lend themselves perfectly as an input method, allowing the drawing of spells on the touch screen with unprecedented accuracy. The combat itself looks great, similar to the previous title, still quick and acrobatic as it was on the PS2. Should be an excellent sequel and fun in its own right, whenever it does release outside of Japan.

Nintendo 3DS This Year?

I've been following news of the 3DS for some time, ever since the official announcement from Nintendo. The official press release said that the new hardware was supposed to be shown in the flesh at the 2010 E3 and out by March 2011. However, a new update suggests that Nintendo may beat their prediction and release the hardware by October. Whether this is just in Japan or in other markets is yet to be seen. But I'm increasingly interested in the handheld space, and a more full-featured Nintendo product that is backward compatible with the DS could replace my existing Lite. More info in June with E3.

Rumbling Down the Spirit Tracks

Even with much noise about Mass Effect 2, I haven't given up on Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. I played a bit more this weekend, managed to visit the last of the train spirit guys and open up the last temple in the fiery mountains. The boss fights have been the highlight of the game, although pretty much everything is fun. Looking forward to delving into the last temple and cleaning it out of whatever mean baddie lurks at the heart of the dungeon.

A Brief Intro to Spirit Tracks

I was gifted with The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for Christmas, but didn't play at all until I finished Assassin's Creed 2. Now that I'm into the new Link adventure, I am just loving it. It has a lot of charm, and I welcome the companion in the form of spirit Zelda. Her witty and insightful comments bring a lot of life to the game.

The game itself has a huge amount of charm, from the environments and towns to little touches like the train and Link's hilarious facial expressions. It's the perfect game to play in and laugh along with.

I've only gotten into the first couple dungeons, but the two boss fights so far have been a delight. I didn't have to think too hard to figure out how to defeat them, but the second was a perfect challenge, requiring you to draw paths and evade your enemy, leaving me with a half sliver of heart at the end. The game so far has been perfectly paced. I'm looking forward to returning to it!

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver Get US Release Dates

Never much of a mystery, it was sure that the US versions of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver would get a March-ish release. However, that's now been confirmed, and both will be available on March 14th. I can say with only a small amout of schoolboy shame that I will be buying both copies -- and taking for myself which my son doesn't want.

Top Ten for 2010

Gaming for 2010 is starting to look like 2007 Part II. We've got so many sequels coming out, it's incredible. Bioshock, Mass Effect, Super Mario Galaxy, Lost Planet, and Assassin's Creed II (yes it came out in 2009 but not for PC!) are all returning in 2010 for their second chapter. But there are only so many titles you can follow. With dozens coming out just in the first quarter alone, what are the most exciting -- at least to me? Well I'll tell you. Here are my Top Ten games for 2010.

10. Final Fantasy XIII
Rounding out the top ten is FFXIII. The first of the series to appear on the PS3, the futuristic RPG has a chance to be the best yet. Or a huge disappointment.

9. Okamiden
The hand-held sequel to the PS2 adventure game, Okamiden features a cute little dog-deity and a childish rider adventuring and using magic via the stylus. If it shares the same Zelda-like heritage of its ancestor, it should be a great action-adventure game.

8. God of War III
I've always known the first two games were great, if brutal, third-person brawlers in the Castlevania or Diablo style, with a style all of its own. But since playing the recently-released remastered collection on PS3, I'm certainly looking forward to the first native PS3 version. Should be a bloody good time.

7. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
I'm cautiously optimistic about this one. The last game, Prince of Persia, was a delight, with its lighter focus on combat and more centered around acrobatic exploration. This "darker" game may be more towards the fighting and brooding style. Let's hope they go easy on the dark eyeliner.

6. Professor Layton & The Final Time Travel
We've all had a lot of fun around my house with the first two translated games in the series, most recently the Diabolical Box. If Nintendo keeps up, we should have the third game, The Final Time Travel, in the United States in 2010.

5. Metroid: Other M
It's been a while since new life was breathed into the Metroid series. Prime was ground-breaking at the time, and while Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was good, Other M looks to be an incredible remake of the classic franchise. With additional character exposition, there could be a great story behind this Team Ninja-powered brawler.

4. Command and Conquer 4
A fitting location for this game, and only slightly influenced by its title. I've enjoyed the latest outings in the series, and the refinement and final chapter should be a proper send-off. Mobile and flexible bases along with additional options promise expanded game-play options beyond just tank rushes.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2
The first game was an adorable and challenging adventure in a bright and detailed world. The two-player co-op was also a fun game mode, something my wife enjoyed teaming up with me on. I'm hoping the addition of Yoshi and new environments to explore keeps the same charm and bright visual design while still being a challenging platformer in a dynamic, three-dimensional space.

2. Mass Effect 2
This properly epic space RPG gripped me in 2008, and I'm very much looking forward to the sequel. The fact that the choices you made in the previous game will carry over into the new game interests me, and it will be cool to see the impact that you made in the game world. The "darker" feel of the sequel worries me, but should still be a great adventure.

1. Gran Turismo 5
The granddaddy of them all, this is a big reason why I bought a PS3. Two years later, I might get to play GT5 on it. With luck, we could see GT5 in the States by June.

Zelda Spirit Tracks Reviews

Holding off on picking up The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks -- gotta leave something on the Christmas list! But by all that I've seen, the game is pretty good. Kotaku has a pretty good roundup of reviews, all generally positive. The Metacritic score is 87. And Gamestop has some pretty good things to say.

It doesn't seem like a blockbuster to drop everything and go get, but it is a good follow-up to Phantom Hourglass and a worthy entry to the Legend of Zelda series. Cool with me.

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Preview

Can't believe I haven't said a word about the upcoming DS title The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. The release date of December 7 is coming up soon, and is a game I'm anticipating, since I really enjoyed the best control of the previous Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

However, the whole Link on a Train thing has gotten some criticism, while I've never really had a problem with it. I think our hero looks pretty awesome up on that train engine blasting fools with a huge cannon. Anyway, ars technica had a little bit to say about the game. Previewer is pretty positive about the feel of the game, especially for any old-timers who played with model trains. Even considering it's not just for old people, I think the move to land-based transportation will be immaterial, as 95% of the game will be in dungeons using gadgets -- and let's not forget that instead of just battling them this time, Link will be able to command the phantoms! Should be a bunch of fun.

Some video!

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Complete

Finished Bowser's Inside Story this afternoon. The last fight was a lot of fun, but certainly tricky. Had to pull out all the stops. Just tough enough -- it was the first battle I'd actually failed.

I was expecting one more battle, but the ending was very appropriate. Funny to the end.

Bowser's Inside Story Nearly Complete

Finally had some more time to play the wonderful Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Crazy busy weekend and beginning of the week, but now I'm back at it.

I've made it back to Peach's Castle, trying to rescue the princess and clear out the evil lord. No, this time it's not Bowser. Crazy, I know. The enemies here are the toughest yet, and a mini-boss trash robot fight was crazy. Luigi getting shoved into a trash can cracked me up.

But, my game just told me to take a break. What gives?

Oh now it's ringing at me. Better pick it up!

I get the feeling there's only a little bit left of the game to play, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

More Fun With Mario, Luigi, and Bowser

Only had little pieces here and there to play more of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, but it continues to delight. The game can be pretty tricky, meaning the difficulty of the fights can be tough I think if you don't do the timed battle responses well. I have some trouble getting the timing right for counter-attacks dropping down from the top screen, but I guess that's the point. However, a little practice makes perfect.

I have the feeling I'm well over half-way through the story of the game, with most areas unlocked. It still feels very fresh, and I love the way that additional abilities and ways of moving around the game world continue to be unlocked. The world itself isn't very big, but because you keep opening up new ways to jump, swirl, burrow, and slide, you can reach farther and higher to access previously unaccessible areas. Makes me really appreciate the design of the world.

The Bowser boss fights have been a lot of fun. Particularly the last fight I had with a train rumbling down the tracks. The train entered into a hill and transformed the hill into a living construct that healed when clouds rained on it. Really imaginative. And satisfying when I slammed that hill into another barrier, exploding it. I finally got that train and those traitors inside! They'll think twice about crossing the Koopa King!

That Little Guy Is So Cute!

I don't know if it's the wagging tail, the boundy leaps, or the fact that flowers sprout where footsteps fall, but that little creature from Okamiden on DS is adorable. New trailer below shows cuteness glory:

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

When I picked up Scribblenauts last week, I also picked up the new Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Initially I played Scribblenauts, but once I started in on Bowser's Story, I have not been able to put it down. It's just a lot of fun.

For starters, it manages to meld classic RPG elements of equipping and levelling up characters with action and timing gameplay elements characteristic of side-scrolling Mario adventure games. When I found myself as Mario and Luigi returning adrenaline particles into Bowser's arm muscles via hammer bashes in a kind of rhythm game in order to pump him up enough to lift an entire castle, I knew the game was pretty special. There are so many crazy gameplay moments that you just can't see anywhere else. Bowser's towering hulk blowing massive fireballs, so cool. So many others, they're all great action elements and are a good break from the turn-based combat.

However, even in the "regular" turn-based combat in the game, you barely sit still. This ain't Final Fantasy where you hit "Attack" and come back twenty minutes later with a sandwich. You have to jump and hammer enemies in evasion and counter-attacks. As Bowser, you have to shield yourself or punch out those foolish enough to step up to the Koopa King. Long Mario's punching bag, you get the feeling that if he had a little more brainpower to match his brawn, Bowser would have been running the Mushroom Kingdom a long time ago, because he's a rough dude. It's a blast to get to play as him.

Bowser just steals the show. The character portrayed in the game is this kind of dimwitted but intensely strong anti-hero that you can't help but laugh at and cheer on. Yes he's just plain mean, but hilarious to watch do it.

So much of the game is just plain funny. The RPG tropes that get stomped all over in several sections really cracked me up. My favorite was the boss who advised you to go and save your game, because you never really know what's going to happen next! From Bowser's funny dialog to Mario and Luigi's emphatic gestures and fast Italian speech, all the elements are there for an amusing, quirky ride.

The game looks great, too. Mario and Luigi are bright and animated, Bowser is hulking and detailed, and the environments are lush and cool. Soundwork is the same high quality, from hammer bashes to flame bursts.

Wow I just can't say enough about how good this game is. Six hours in and not once have I been frustrated or lost or unhappy. Every combat is interesting and crazy, from the enemies to special attacks to shifting internal and external combat.

I'm really happy I picked this game up, and if you like RPGs at all, this is not one to miss.

The Unmatched Potential of Scribblenauts

Just picked up Scribblenauts, and it's adorable. It's also a great game. It's a great game because it really allows you to play. Not the WoW / Sacred 2 whack-a-mole "play" type, or the Call of Duty / TF2 shooting gallery "play", or even the Company of Heroes / Sins of a Solar Empire crank-out-units "play". No, I'm talking about like when you were a kid throwing things down the stairs to see what would happen play. Like when you would pit armies of Lego bricks against stuffed animals play. Running arou nd outside hide-and-seek play. Scribblenauts allows you to go nuts, to just try new things, to be creative and play a game like a child, with few objectives and a story only you create. It's just a heck of a lot of fun. Sometimes we take our gaming way too seriously. I'm glad to see a game like Scribblenauts on the unserious spectrum.

Okami for DS?

Although I wrote about this game a year and a half ago and still haven't picked it up, the news of a DS version gets me excited. Okamiden is a shrunken version of the original game, and just looks adorable. Not much info yet, but the preview below shows promise:

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box Completed

I picked up the second Professor Layton game last week. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box sees the Professor and apprentice Luke seeking out the Elysian Box, a supposedly cursed artifact of a mysterious origin that kills all who open it. Once the box kills his mentor, Layton promises to find the box and its origin in the hopes of explaining his teacher's death.

I enjoyed the game a great deal. First of all the writing, voice work, and visual design are all top notch. The presentation of the game is incredibly polished and unique, blending anime style with old English conventions. The full motion video sequences are a delight, and add greatly to the text-driven conversations in presenting the story.

And what a story it is. The characters within are interesting, if a little caricatured, but Layton and the other main story characters are nuanced and likable. You're forever rooting for the cool and calm Layton and his plucky apprentice, along with all the other protagonists. Predictably, the story takes a huge twist, but ends perfectly.

The puzzles that make up a huge majority of the gameplay are satisfying. Few take the cop-out of tricks, but just enough to make yourself feel clever. The best are three-dimensional visualization puzzles, such as filling boxes with irregularly shaped objects or imagining how an unfolded cube would look folded back up. The rope and maze puzzles are also fun, made easier by a memo function that allows you to draw freely on an overlay without interacting on the puzzle below, tracing the paths of wires, ropes, and other objects. A few puzzles deeply puzzled me, but not so much that the hints didn't help, making the search for hint coins a fun and necessary part of the game.

The additional mini-games, such as the camera assembly and subsequent photo mode, hamster exercise, and tea brewing games are a fun distraction, adding to the main story and giving great benefits if you choose to complete them.

In all, the second puzzling adventure from Level-5 Games is a fun time, and you won't be able to put it down once you start because you, just like Layton and friends, will want to find out the real mystery of the Elysian Box. The final puzzle is a fantastic payoff not to be missed!

Scribblenauts Creative Director Interview

Good interview with the creative director of 5th Cell, the crew behind the much-anticipated Scribblenauts. Video below:



Scribblenauts releases next week. I have my pre-order ready!

A Sense of Accomplishment?

Everyone is going to make fun of me, but this is seriously a big moment in my life: I captured Articuno without using the Master Ball! I swear the bird was the toughest video game moment I've ever had. Seriously it took me six or eight hours, it was insane.

Pics or it didn't happen you say? Alright!



I know I'm a huge nerd playing a child's game, but I don't care what you say. My kid will think I'm a hero, and that makes me awesome!

Scribblenauts: Scribble Nots?

I suppose I should write something about Scribblenauts. The darling of gaming blog Kotaku, declared Best in Show at E3 2009 by IGN and many other gaming outlets, and all-around good guy, Scribblenauts is billed as a puzzle game with action elements. It also seems to be somewhat of a sandbox game, as the main game mechanic centers around being able to scribble in one of thousands of nouns (family-friendly nouns thank-you-very-much) in order to gird your character, the Naut in question here, otherwise known as Maxwell, with tools and allies to work through the two hundred levels in the game.

All of which begs the question: Could this be the most hilarious game ever? Already we have God vs. The Kraken. What could be next? David vs. Goliath? Peanut vs. Jelly? Who knows the storm that will unleash when Dogs vs. Cats battle?!!? I can't wait.

Scribblenauts releases on September 15, 2009. View the actual, for-real trailer here.