What games are you playing?

I checked the iTunes store for the first time in months and was horrified by a few games I stumbled across, which I am now playing along with the above mentioned games...

WWE Wrestlefest (iPhone) - I find it ironic that I was playing the original arcade game the same day I discovered that the THQ had done their own version of the formula. It's not done nearly as well as the original, but it's still a solid wrestling title...But like many iPhone games that use touch screen analog controls and buttons, the controls can be frustratingly bad at times. But, this will probably be the closest thing to a portable version of Wrestlefest that I'll get without putting an emulator on my iPod Touch, so I'll take it.

Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary (iPhone) - Grand Theft Auto III remains my favorite game in the series to this day. Later games in the franchise tweaked and refined everything to make the gameplay in GTA3 feel pretty dated, but for old fogeys like me that enjoyed this game when it came out, having a portable version is like a dream come true. It's really impressive that they seemed to have gotten everything in this, too...From the radio stations, to the cutscenes, to the hidden packages to discover...From the time that I've put into the game so far, everything seems to be there. I'm very impressed.

Chaos Rings Omega (iPhone) - I LOVED the original Chaos Rings. I thought it was pricey, and avoided it until it was on sale....And upon playing it, realized that I would have gladly paid the $14 price tag it went at. Chaos Rings Omega is the sequel in the series and is out at an $11 price tag. I bit the bullet and went against my "no download-only game will be purchased for over $10" rule to get it. Haven't got a chance to play it yet, but I will be playing it shortly, and if it's anything like the original Chaos Rings, I'll absolutely love this game.

got psxe working on my computer, playing my old Grandia disc. Still love it.

I been playing Ni No Kuni: Shikkoku no Madōshi for the DS. It's an interesting game. It comes with an book that has tips for the locations, spells, and much more. From what I get, it is an turn based RPG and you can have allies that are monsters kind of like Pokemon as they evolve. This may take awhile to get far it because as I found out, you need the book for the spells and it doesn't help that I know nothing on Japanese. Oh well I enjoy what I played so far and it will get me ready for the PS3 version coming at the end of this year.

Lost in Shadow (Wii)

Holy crap is this game awesome! Three times I thought it was over and it turns out I still have more game play. Love the whole World one plays in as well.

Half Life 2 on PS3
and Final Fantasy VIII in PC =)

Pokémon Red (Game Boy 1996) - I was one of the many who played the first two generations when they came out, and I'm pleased to say I really got into Red again despite my having since experienced later generations. For me, I'm not too hindered by the graphical inferiority of this game - the games haven't come as far as some series in this aspect. What I've found in playing this is that every aspect of the formula besides minor tweaks was there from square one, and thus this one's about as contemporary to me as Sapphire though also more nostalgic. I do feel that Gold/Silver makes for another downright classic experience, though I'll have to play Ruby/Sapphire once more and then later generations afterwards to really get a feel for what they brought to the table. I might be treating post-Gold/Silver games terribly unfairly, but I guess I'll have an opinion about it whenever I get to playing them.

See a more complete review HERE.

just downloaded Final Fantasy for my phone. I will be playing it some extent. Also a Simpsons Arcade game which is not the same one I played in arcades and a Street Fighter Alpha with on ly I think 5 players :( and Sonic 2.

just downloaded Final Fantasy for my phone. I will be playing it some extent. Also a Simpsons Arcade game which is not the same one I played in arcades and a Street Fighter Alpha with only I think 5 players :( and Sonic 2.

just downloaded Final Fantasy for my phone. I will be playing it some extent. Also a Simpsons Arcade game which is not the same one I played in arcades and a Street Fighter Alpha with only I think 5 players :( and Sonic 2.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (Playstation 3) - I'm finally back to playing games on consoles, in addition to the handhelds. Right now, I'm working my way through Snake Eater...And having problems getting adjusted to the controls, as I had really gotten used to the 3DS controls for the game by the time I had finished it. Haven't decided if I'll make the attempt at a platinum trophy for this one or not yet, but I likely will.

Fallout: New Vegas - Ultimate Edition (Playstation 3) - They couldn't call it "Game of the Year" Edition because the game was so dang buggy that nobody in their right mind could give it those honors. That being said, I'm a few hours into it and the game has yet to freeze on me....But it's gotten choppy at times, teasing that it would. Quite frankly, buggy or not, New Vegas is still fun to play...It just could have been much better had the ironed out all or most of the problems prior to releasing it.

MLB 12: The Show (Playstation Vita) - Another buggy game. It plays okay, but there seems to be a bug that randomly freezes the game sometimes when you come back to the menu after a training session. There's also an odd bug that incorrectly states what you did during the game when you go up to bat. Hit a homerun in the 3rd inning, when you go to bat in the 8th, the game might say that you hit that homerun in the 5th inning instead. I do like, however, that I've been in the minors for the year-and-a-half's worth of Road to the Show that I've played. The previous game's minors felt unnecessary as I would easily get out of AA and AAA and into the major leagues before the first season was over. Spending more time in the minors before making it to the majors will help make it feel so much cooler when I finally make it to the major league and go to my first at-bat in a giant, packed stadium in contrast to the tiny baseball fields I'm playing on, and getting accustomed to, in the minors.

Chaos Rings Omega (iPhone) - I loved the first Chaos Rings. This one starts out the same...And then you get hit with a rather unique twist. Unfortunately, the game feels more like add-on content at times, with the vast majority of the enemies and environments being recycled from the first game. Granted, game story-wise, it makes sense for everything to be the same, but it just makes the game feel a little cheap if you've already played the first game.

Oh wow, I found a PS2 at Goodwill for 20 bucks and it works and had Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 inside it. My games are packed up as I am about to move but I will be playing something soon on the other side, I do hope. I'm thinking Radiata Stories. Never finished it. Or Persona 3, last game I was playing. So long unfinished, I think I need to restart.

Sonic the Hedgehog: McDonald's Series 1 (Electronic 2003) - I remember getting particularly excited about this series when it first came out, and going out of my way to get all six games. I also didn't want to play too much of them once I had beaten them once because I was afraid of the battery running out; one time a friend of mine really wanted to play them and I wouldn't let him. I'm not sure what I was saving the batteries for, but I'm glad I did because they had enough power for me to play them all almost a decade from their last being turned on! It took all of ten minutes. They're really, really short and really, really easy. Trying to get a perfect game on Tails Sky Patrol and Aiai Banana Catch might extend that time though. As for Tails's game, when I turned it back on for the first time in almost ten years there were three Tails's on each level of the screen, and thus I couldn't play the game fairly. I tried turning it off and back on, but in the end I just let it go through a playthrough like it was and it was fixed when the game started over.

See a more complete review HERE.

Finally finished Lost and Damned, and the Ballad of Gay Tony.

I been playing Birth by Sleep, The Sims Freeplay, Pokemon Black, and Phantasy Star Online Ep 1/2 for Gamecube.

101 Pinball World (DSiWare 2012) - I sort of went off on a different train of thought inbetween playing this and the next one I plan on playing. This game could have been so much better if the board layout had been smarter and the physics more natural. I don't agree that it deserves a 1/10, which is what the only other review I've found online had it ranked, but a 2/5 is quite fitting.

See a more complete review HERE.

Finally finished Ni No Kuni for the DS and now I will wait for the PS3 version later this year.

Silent Hill: Downpour (Playstation 3) - It's not what I expected or wanted so far...But it's not bad, either. I'm only an hour or two in, but so far it feels less like a Silent Hill game and more like Alan Wake. I do like the new option to press L1 to look behind you as you walk around...It kind of brings a paranoia to me as I play. I find myself constantly looking behind me to make sure that there aren't any nasty creatures trying to ambush me...Because they will. But anyway, so far it's an okay game...It just doesn't feel like a Silent Hill game to me thus far.

Plants vs. Zombies (iPhone) - I finally caved in and played this game, which I've been avoiding like the plague. I really dislike most strategy defense games...So, I thought I'd hate this game. But, I should've listened to Virgil and Dante, who suggested this game to me over a year ago...It's quite good. Not only is this a defense-based game that I can play without getting bored, I'm having a good time as I'm playing through it. The price has also dropped down to $0.99 USD, so it's definitely worth a purchase at that cost.

Crazy Pinball (DSiWare 2010) - This game is much better than 101 Pinball World. That being said, there isn't anything different here that you can't get in any other quality pinball video game. Just well-done downloadable, on-the-go pinballin'. I don't know why this comment and my review are so brief, but maybe it's because there isn't much to explain: it is what it is.

See a more complete review HERE.

Silent Hill: Downpour (Playstation 3) - Still. I haven't had a whole lot of time to sit down and play on a console lately, but every now and then I've been plugging a few hours into this game. I keep stumbling across side missions, which are okay and all, and seem to encourage folks to explore, but quite frankly, side missions or not, I always take my time and enjoy the scenery in the Silent Hill games, so they're not really having an effect on me. I don't think the game is nearly as bad as some of the reviews I've seen make it out to be, but it is rather buggy and unless you're into survival horror, you might not enjoy your time here nearly as much as someone who does. That being said, I'm still enjoying my time here so far and look forward to the next chance I have to sit down and play it for more than just a few minutes.

Persona 3 Portable (Playstation Portable) - Finally decided to play it after holding off in hopes that my hacked PSP would get updated software to allow me to play it on there so I could take screenshots. No screenshots for this game, but that won't stop my enjoyment of it. Persona 3 was one of my favorite games over the past ten years, and this portable version is different enough where I'm happy to play through it again normally...And when I'm done with that, I can always play through again, this time as a female, for a different viewpoint on the whole story. That's pretty neat.

F1 2011 (Playstation Vita) - I was afraid that I'd hate this game. I don't like hitting the breaks in my racing games. Letting off the gas and/or drifting is the best you'll get out of me most of the time. But F1 2011 is actually quite fun, even for someone like me who prefers arcade-style racing games over realistic simulations most of the time. It's not overly amazing or anything, but it's a solid racing title that entertained me without the use of turbos, drifting, or cartoon characters in go-karts...And that's no easy task.

Been playing Xenoblade Chronicles since I finally not sick enough to be in bed. I have to say, I really liking it so far.

Xenoblade Chronicles is my next purchase. Looks so damn awesome!
Right now I'm playing Ocean Star: First Departure on the PSP and it's a pretty good game. Too much back tracking at times though, which adds to fighting enemies with 50HP when my attack is at 700 per person...lol.

Battlefield 3, Battlefield 3, Battlefield 3! I simply can't stop playing this game. I'm so addicted to it that I have other games that are still wrapped in their plastic. I thinks it's better than Modern Warfare 3 in both game play and graphics. It's now my favorite game of all time.

Metroid (eShop 2011) - Yes, the granddaddy of my favorite genre! I will say it was less frustrating being able to save at any point. I also feel kinda good that I didn't use a strategy guide except to help with bosses and then to find the items I was missing before fighting Mother Brain. It's not really a perfect game, and it's still very frustrating, but it deserves respect for what it did. Aaaaand that's why it goes to the retirement home by 11:00 tomorrow morning.

See a more complete review HERE.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (Nintendo DS 2008) - My ability to critique video games has gotten quite a bit better since the last two times I played this game. That being said, I actually appreciated it a lot more this time. Spidey's controls are a pleasure to make use of, the combat is so deep, and the Metroidvania basis holds up well since getting power-ups and backtracking never seem to be a chore. It's a little short, but it's substantial in length and what's there is amazing.

See a more complete review HERE.

Mass Effect 2 (Playstation 3) - With Mass Effect 3 out, I thought it was about time I give in and play the second Mass Effect so I can get caught up to date. Not too far into it yet, so I don't have much of an opinion at the moment, but I do enjoy the little comic in the beginning which goes over the entire story of the first Mass Effect, also allowing you to insert which choice you made in each situation, which I'm hoping leads to this game being affected by choices I made in the first game....But we'll see.

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND (Playstation Vita) - I've always been a fan of the BlazBlue games, and this one looks absolutely gorgeous on the Vita. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is quite nice, but from what I've played so far, BlazBlue has the potential to surpass it and be the top fighter on the system...Though with Mortal Kombat out soon, my opinion of that could possibly change sooner than later as I was a huge fan of the console version. But anyway, after I spend some more time with it and beat it with a few other characters, I'll likely place it on the ol' Vita list and rank it accordingly.

Rayman Origins (Playstation Vita) - I played a bit of it at the system's launch, and now I'm really sinking my teeth into it...And I believe I'm near the end. This game proves that 2D games can still produce absolutely gorgeous graphics...I really love the art style and design found here. The original Rayman looked amazing for its time, and Origins definitely followed in that regard. It also plays great. I still prefer Lumines to this game as my favorite on the handheld so far, but this really is a very close second.

Finally beat GTA San Andreas today and now going to fool around in the game.

I seem to be on a five-star gaming binge right now. =P

Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy 1991) - I really liked this one enough the first time around, but a second go had me enjoying it even more. The Game Boy's graphical and audio capabilities are of course quite limited, but I almost feel as if this game would have lost some of its atmosphere had it been in color, kind of like a movie shot in monochrome black and white. Return of Samus is certainly set apart from the rest in the series, as the Metroid hit list is a great breath of fresh air compared to entering layers and beating bosses. I wish there was a map, but other than that I think this game is quite awesome.

See a more complete review HERE.

SNK Vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium (Neo Geo Pocket Color 1999) - I've been playing this one alongside my other gaming for over three months now, starting it while I was making my way through Pokemon Trading Card Game. Despite the fact I own Mortal Kombat 2 for the Game Gear and have played that one my fair share, Match of the Millennium is the first non-Smash Bros.-style fighting game I've really gotten into. I love my chibi super-deformed anime characters, and don't you judge me for it. I unlocked all the characters and their combos, so I'd say I'm about done here. I really had some fun making customized win lines for my personal fighters, too.

See a more complete review HERE.

Daniel X: The Ultimate Power (Nintendo DS 2010) - I may have played it before, and when I played it before, I had played it before as Web of Shadows, but it's still a fast, fun, smooth, accessible game and you gotta love that. It certainly doesn't win points for originality, but after making it Griptonite promptly put out Shattered Dimensions, which had a satisfactory amount of differences, so we're cool.

See a more complete review HERE.

Aconcagua (PSone, 2000) - This is a 2-disc Japanese survival-adventure game set in the snowy peaks of the Andes. I finished playing it today, and I have to say it is a masterpiece of a video game, combining a fully 3D environment with minimalist point-and-click mechanics and a cinematic feel reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid. I hate that this game never came out in the US or European markets, but the cutscenes are all in English and/or Spanish and so it is totally playable without knowing Japanese. However, I actually have made a walkthrough and a fairly thorough translation file for the game, so I will eventually post a video playthrough (sans commentary, ugh, commentary on playthroughs is a pet peeve of mine) from beginning to end, inserting English subtitles for all the Japanese in-game texts.

Here is a very good review of the game from hardcoregaming101.com: Aconcagua (PS1) review.

And now I'm going to finally beat Lost in Shadow for the Wii. By the way, is anyone else excited for The Last Story coming out here in the US???

Same here and I preordered The Last Story. I saw an article on it in Nintendo Power and I'm very interested.

Lost in Shadow (Wii) - Beat it yesterday. The game, that is. Tended to linger a bit toward the end, but I thought the final boss battle was well worth the effort. Interesting and vertigo-inspiring visuals with obvious love for TeamICO. Good game, but I'm glad it's over.

Journey (PSN) - The wife played this one. It was hyped up beyond reason, so I was expecting ball-crushing disappointment. But it wasn't bad at all. It reminded me of the audiovisuals in this other, older PSN title called Everyday Shooter. thatgamecompany has apparently lost some of their original staff, so I wonder if this game was their peak.

Limbo (PSN) - Right now, I'm finishing up this very interesting little black & white game. The lighting and shadows is what I really like about this one. It sort of looks like a grainy silent film at parts.

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King (Game Boy Advance 2005) - If you like Metroidvanias and Halloween, then play post-Symphony of the Night Castlevanias and this game. I'd played it before (see page 4), and my thoughts are the same now: it's no all-time classic, but it's good fun. I just love the Halloween atmosphere, but what else is new? I'd love it if TOSE did more Metroidvanias, especially a Starfy one, but then maybe they have and just didn't take credit for it. =P

See a more complete review HERE.

Silent Hill 2 HD (Playstation 3) - Part of the Silent Hill HD Collection, I don't really remember this game much...I mostly remember playing this game prior to being talked into going to a club back in college. Scary part of that night out involved me attempting the splits and feeling like I tore myself a new one...Needless to say, I still have no idea how to dance. Anyway, I remember loving this game when it came out...And I'll have to play through the PS2 version again to verify that it's the same on the original game, but the controls feel rather twitchy here...And I'm fighting with the camera a lot. Without confirming that the original and HD versions are exactly the same as far as controls go, I'm gonna say that the control scheme has not aged particularly well.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss (Playstation Vita) - I'm trying to get this one played and beat prior to me purchasing more Vita games like Mortal Kombat and Disgaea 3. So far, it's solid. I'm not very far into it, but I like how you're not forced to use only buttons or use only touch screen controls...How you choose to play, whether it be all buttons, all touch screen, or a combination of the two, is all up to you. I'm sure I'll miss some inside jokes referencing the other games (I've only played the first Uncharted) but, that's the price I pay for owning more games than I can keep up with playing.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (Nintendo DS 2010) - It's not an entirely new experience for those who have already played Web of Shadows, but there's quite a bit different and it certainly isn't a complete derivative of said game like Daniel X was. The multiverse aspect is something I really enjoy, what with the Amazing, Noir, and 2099 Spider-Men playable in their respective dimensions. The Boss Rush Mode is fun as well, and though I don't think I'd have the patience to do the Time Trial Mode (having an in-game counter irks me), its inclusion is well-suited for speed runs. The challenges aren't something I intend to concern myself with at the moment, but I might try them out when I feel like returning to the game but don't feel the need to go through the whole story mode again.

See a more complete review HERE.

Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (Game Boy Advance 2004) - I actually got to play the game to the final boss and 90% completion this time. Still wiped my memory upon turning it on later, to my dismay. I swear, Game Boy Advance cartridges are the worst for storing memory. Great game, though. I love the different palettes you can earn for Kirby, and having to re-do paths in the map over and over didn't really bother me. It's a great marriage of usual Kirby fare with the series' more experimental side. Taking into account the confusing map and the occasionally poor AI of the helper Kirbys, this truly is a near-flawless game.

See a more complete review HERE.

I'm actually playing Two Worlds( i know) for the 360 at the moment but apart from the awful slowdown it's not that bad.

Fable III (Xbox 360) - Yup, did my one-or-two times a year pull out the Xbox 360 routine just 'cause I was in the mood for some Fable. I hadn't played Fable III until now...And I'm only a few hours in and "saved" the first area, but I'm just not enjoying this one as much as the previous games so far...Which seems to be a trend as I enjoyed the original Fable more than Fable II. Maybe as I continue on, the game will pick up a bit, but for now I'm really not that impressed with this title at the moment.

Mortal Kombat (Playstation Vita) - I really, really enjoyed the latest Mortal Kombat game released on consoles, so I was looking forward to this portable version of the game. So far, I'm enjoying it. I kind of forgot how to execute certain moves and such, so it may take me a little bit to get back into fighting form, but I'm looking forward to completing the story mode all over again.

Dark Void Zero (DSiWare 2010) - This is my first first-play Metroidvania in quite a while, and I've been wanting to play the game for longer. I was afraid it'd be too hard for me, because (spoiler!) I'm not the best gamer out there. I tried Easy mode when I was initially having trouble with Normal, but, deciding there wasn't any substantial difference, I just went with Normal for my playthrough. The first level was hard, and the second level was the hardest in the game. I beat the last level without much trouble, though, and surprised myself with how I was able to beat the final boss on my first set of lives facing it. Now Dark Void Zero is a throwback to the old days, but it doesn't intentionally throw in cheap glitches and graphical hiccups like some games. Moreover, the level design is just fantastic: some Metroidvanias just insert a hallway here, a room there, but Dark Void Zero is truly a product of intelligent design. Everything I've heard about Spider-Man: Edge of Time, Other Ocean's next Metroidvania attempt, is that it's disappointing. At least the sound of things are that Griptonite is back on Spider-Man, and maybe someday Other Ocean will return to this title's style of gameplay like they've been saying they would.

See a more complete review HERE.

Samurai Jack: The Amulet of Time (Game Boy Advance 2003) - I wanted to play something easier inbetween Dark Void Zero and my next game, and like Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows I've played through Samurai Jack at least a couple times before so I have a good idea of what it's about. The music is incredible; other than that, nothing really blew me away. The whole RPG system seems rather unnecessary, as once you get Jack upped even a little the game becomes a real pushover. And pushovers tend to get pushed over, which is what I did to this particular pushover. I don't like that once you beat Aku the game saves your file at the very beginning of the game all over again with no choice of your own to remain at the end of the previous runthrough or to start right over at the monk's temple, albeit with all your stat upgrades. This is one of the last non-Castlevania Metroidvanias I've been meaning to re-review from my stock of mini-reviews I did over a couple years ago for my Metroidvanias in Review, as well as the first game I posted about playing in this here thread (on page 4, to be exact), and while I enjoyed it, it didn't leave too much of a lasting impression on me - even after three or so plays.

See a more complete review HERE.

Dragon Warrior (NES) - I've never beaten this game, and with the three-day Memorial Day weekend here in the States, I felt it was a nice time to make the attempt. That said, Dragon Warrior was fantastic for its time, but playing it today, it didn't necessarily age well. If you don't mind leveling up, then you'll likely enjoy your time here...But if you hate grinding levels, then you're probably going to hate this game pretty quickly. It's still a revolutionary game, as it wasn't the first RPG of this kind, but it was the first very popular one.

Without realizing it, I was almost at the end of Dragon Warrior when I posted that, so onto new games...

Dragon Warrior II (NES) - Only an hour or so into it, but even in that short span of time, you can see vast improvements in the functionality of the controls. No more need to open a menu in order to climb stairs. Also, this game introduces the concept of a party, where as the original was a solo effort by one, lone hero...And as a result, you can find yourself facing more than one enemy at a time as well. But anyway, I'm hoping this game takes longer than the two days I spent on the first Dragon Warrior.

Dead Rising (Xbox 360) - I actually wanted to play this almost a year ago when I had Dead Rising 2 fever. I'm struggling with the controls for some reason or another. Not sure if I'll stick with the game to beat it like I did for Dead Rising 2, or if I'll just enjoy killing a bunch of zombies and move onto something else, but for now I'm enjoying my time playing it, like I did back in the fall of 2007, which is what my last save file was from. If I don't beat it, I hope I don't put off playing it again for another 5 years.

Odin Sphere for PS2. I like it, it is different than what I have played before, great story, cute characters and great 2D play.

It's wishful thinking, I know, but I hope the NES Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy games come to the 3DS eShop. I really want to run through those series at some point.

Shaman King: Master of Spirits (Game Boy Advance 2004) - I got really angry at this game at the end, because I couldn't access many of the bosses and thus wasn't able to get the Grand Tao Dragon (which would've made backtracking leagues less stressful with the ability to skip levels I'd already visited), Into the Antiquity (which would have made the final boss a whole lot easier), or a number of the Tome Pages (which would have given me useful extra SP). In the end, I chalked it up to a glitch with my cartridge that doesn't normally happen, as I don't remember it occurring when I played it a few years or so years ago and haven't heard complaints of it around the internet. It was kind of a nostalgic play, before it got frustrating due to A) my not having access to some of the stuff that would've helped me out significantly, and B) the general amping up of the difficulty later on.

See a more complete review HERE.

Playing Pandora's Tower for the Wii. Just beaten 2 towers with eleven more to go.

Dragon Warrior III (NES) - Continuing on in the Dragon Warrior franchise...Only an hour or so in, but in comparison to the first two, the difficulty thus far seems much lower. Leveling up is also happening much quicker. Just got the Thief's Key and already at level 8. The party is also kind of unique as in DW2, you recruited two in-game characters to your party. In DW3, you create up to three other generic party members to join you. I've played this game before, as I have with the other Dragon Warrior games, but playing these all in order, one after another, it's really interesting watching how the series evolved with each game.

Aliens: Infestation (Nintendo DS 2011) - I actually finished this almost two weeks ago. It's a fascinating premise: an Alien game based on Metroid, which was based on the Alien series in the first place. It's not the most fun to play, as - except for the cool weapons - you mostly get key cards and stuff which don't amount to altogether satisfying means of progression. But the meta-homage factor along with the variety of marines to collect (Gotta Catch 'Em All!) is compelling stuff. WayForward made a decidedly darker Metroidvania than they're known for, and it was mostly a success.

See a more complete review HERE.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PlayStation 1997) - Playing this again, I was shocked and appalled at just how complete of an experience it gave me and how pretty much everything that came afterward in Iga's Castleroids (minus Tactical Souls) is right here in this 1997 classic. I love the Halloween feel to it all, being able to customize the inside and outside colors of Joseph's Cloak, training my familiars, and exploring every nook and cranny of the castles. This may not be my series favorite, but it's not far behind Super Castlevania IV on my list and is by no means a weaker game. It's my favorite Metroidvania for what it's worth from someone so new to said genre. =P

See a more complete review HERE.

Blue Dragon (Xbox 360) - Played this a few years ago, got to the middle of disk two and quit for reasons I can't fully remember. Been playing it again for the past week and I'm on disk 3, seemingly near the end of the game (though I still have a few more magic barrier colors to unlock) and I think I enjoy this game more than I had before. It's a very basic, very simple RPG and it's almost too easy. I've been finding myself getting into fights, and then I turn my attention away to something else and just hit the "A" button repeatedly until I hear the music signifying the end of the battle. Marumaro also may be earning himself a spot on my "least favorite game characters" list...I really find him to be obnoxious. All of the other characters I don't mind, though.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (Playstation Vita) - Not playing it quite yet, but I will be shortly. Been looking forward to this for quite some time. I mentioned when I played the 3DS Metal Gear Solid 3, that it might've been better off on the Vita due to the lack of buttons on the 3DS. Well, we'll find out if I was right or not soon enough. Unless Konami really botched the translation from Playstation 3 to Vita, I'm pretty sure this game will be topping my "Playstation Vita Games - ranked by preference" list by the time I'm done.

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (Game Boy Advance 2001) - I used to be unable to pick up magazines and comics unless I started with issue #1, so I had no qualms getting the short-lived Nintendo Power Advance's first issue in anticipation of Nintendo's next handheld system. I was fascinated with all of the games receiving walkthroughs in the issue, but none more than Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. I owe the game for getting me into Castlevania, my all-time favorite video game series, as well as for inspiring my love for Metroidvanias, Halloween, classic horror literature, Universal Monsters, and bubble tea. That said, Symphony of the Night is so incredible that Circle kind of gets left in the dust. The map seems uninspired, with the different sections not connecting as seemlessly into one another as in Symphony and power-up hallways getting inserted wherever space was available rather than in creative spots. I actually like the dark look to it all, though Nathan Graves's sprite doesn't hold its own against other iconic Belmont sprites. The music, while recycled, is redone well, and the handful of new tracks are great. With the extra modes, I would have greatly preferred a Skeleton Mode, a BearTank Mode, and of course a Hugh Baldwin Mode, the last of which has been agreed upon as being lost potential. I've played and beaten this game in every mode previously, and while I don't think it's as impressive as Symphony, it was perhaps the most important play in my development as a gamer.

See a more complete review HERE.

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Game Boy Advance 2002) - When I in middle school, my favorite GBA Castlevania was Circle of the Moon, and I also liked Aria of Sorrow a good deal. I wasn't fond of Harmony of Dissonance as I found its graphics cartoony and its magic system overly simple. I lost it somehow and haven't been able to play it for many many (about seven) years. Getting back into it, I see how wrong I - as well as the market when it came out - was. The magic system is simplified, but less-is-more and do you ever really need anything other than the core sub-weapons? It's my view that the Circle of the Moon's DSS and Aria of Sorrow's Tactical Souls distracted the developers from creating as fun a Metroidvania experience as they could have, and weren't as useful in their gameplay beyond combat. The dual castles in Harmony make the exploration extremely addictive, the controls are less heavy and more suited to the style of platformer that it is, and I can now fully appreciate the game's graphical scheme. And oh, the atmosphere; for me, gameplay is first and foremost, but when it comes to graphics and music, they should work together to create the tone. The game takes a lot from Symphony of the Night, but actually works what it borrows together into a uniquely fun experience.

See a more complete review HERE.

Unless Konami really botched the translation from Playstation 3 to Vita, I'm pretty sure this game will be topping my "Playstation Vita Games - ranked by preference" list by the time I'm done.

I'll be rooting for it! I actually think it's kinda cool that the series is topping several of your "ranked by preference" lists. =]