Sunday Roundup: 12/30/12

The original Centipede is a bonafide classic in every respect of the word. Maybe because of its status or perhaps due to it being available at this restaurant I enjoyed going to with my family when I was younger, Centipede has always had a place in my gaming heart. To be honest, I think Centipede: Infestation actually looks like a decent game. I was reassured by this possibility when I discovered that WayForward handled development. Considering WayForward did an excellent job with the Double Dragon reboot and the Adventure Time game, I’m hoping for something great!

The peculiar thing about this game is that it comes in a double game case. You know, the ones that all the Final Fantasy games come in on the PS1 where there’s room for up to four discs? Anyway, the game only comes with one disc, and in fact sitting next to this copy of the game was a nearly identical version of the game in a standard case for the exact same price… so why the added bulk? I couldn’t put my finger on it until I noticed that you can use 3D glasses with the game! So I’m left to assume the added room was for the included 3D glasses that shipped with the game. Sadly I don’t have these glasses, but I do have an alright Contra game.

Shortly after picking up Night Warriors on the Saturn, I was delighted to receive the superior Darkstalkers 3 for Christmas! Sadly the last installment in Capcom’s neglected 2D fighter (sans any compilations), Darkstalkers 3 is one of the better fighting games out there. Fortunately the game is getting a re-release on PSN and Xbox Live in 2013, but screw that! I can play as Morrigan now! Thanks, Laura!

Retro Studios revamped the Metroid series for Nintendo in the form of Metroid Prime (hey, check out later on in this post!), so leave it to them to revive yet another of Nintendo’s cherished series’. DKC Returns brings back the same action from the SNES era of games, including Diddy Kong, collecting Bananas, and smooth, solid gameplay. I’m actually very happy to have gotten this as a gift, and I’m equally excited to finally be able to play what will likely become one of the Wii’s most honored games!

Ugh… Seven Sorrows. I absolutely loved Gauntlet: Legends and Gauntlet: Dark Legacy on the Nintendo 64 and GameCube respectively. The memories my brother and I have playing those games will be some of the best I will ever have. And then there was this game. I played the game way back when it came out with that same brother and I believe he gave it more credit than I did, but I thought it was complete garbage. It took everything that made Guantlet Gauntlet (AKA Leveling and mindless killing) and replaced it with uninspired levels, a boring story, and just plain lame multiplayer. I’m still waiting for a proper sequel to Dark Legacy, but I am afraid I’ll be waiting indefinitely…

Speaking of games that just shit all over their former glory, Golden Axe: Beast Rider has so little to do with Sega’s classic Golden Axe series that it should be ashamed to even bear the moniker. The only good thing about Beast Rider is that I actually managed to grad the game brand new and still in the factory sealed packaging thanks to GameStop listing it as used but only having the new copy of the game. I should have known better when I saw the game on the “Used” shelf… no one could have traded this game in because no one bought it.

I don’t know what it is but Kirby games have always appealed to me. Maybe it’s his pink body, happy demeanor, or sublime gameplay, but Kirby and I … we go back. Anyhow, now the little guy is celebrating his 20th anniversary in one of the best ways imaginable: A compilation disc containing some of his best adventures packaged with a music CD and special art/history book! And that music CD isn’t just a throwaway extra: The Kirby series has fantastic music!

Man, what a great game gift! Klonoa: Door to Phantomile isn’t the rarest game out there, but it’s one that’s somewhat hard to find. I’ve only see the game once in the wild, and that was for something like $80, which is grossly overpriced. On top of that, the game is actually supposed to be pretty damn good, featuring decent platforming and level design, as well as top-notch graphics. So you can imagine my excitement when I opened up this gem on Christmas morning 🙂 Thanks again, Laura!

You might be asking yourself at this point, “Did he get anything besides video games cor Christmas?” And I’d have to answer you, “Yes. Yes I did,” but the things that I actually wanted were mostly games. So that’s how games like Skyward Sword end up in my collection. I usually try to play a series in order of release and seeing as I have somehow managed to fall very far behind on the Zelda series, I’m not sure when I’ll be getting to this one. But I have only heard truly remarkable things about this game, so here’s hoping it’s sooner rather than later.

Two things about Mario Hoops: I have already started playing the game. It’s an interesting take on basketball that somehow works, yet seems very boring at the same time. So that’s sad. But I did win my first game by 500 points. Yes… I won a basketball game by 500 points. The second thing is that the game is developed by Square Enix and actually features Final Fantasy characters as playable characters, including a black mage and even Cactaur! This is actually the main reason why I’ve been searching for the game for years.

I’ve also already started this game. Initial reports are that it’s generally the same as previous Mario Tennis games and the Gyro controls are a complete joke and should be entirely ignored. I do, however, think the implementation of colored zones you have to step in a perform the correct return shot (like a top spin or drop shot) in order to execute special, more devastating shots is a good choice. Online gameplay was pretty fun too, but one match of incredible lag (which I still managed to pull out) hampered an otherwise great first impression.

Ahh, here’s Retro Studio’s other game! With Corruption the Metroid Prime series comes to an end. Likewise, owning the trilogy has also been accomplished. I have only actually played the first Prime on the GameCube and I absolutely loved it. The atmosphere especially drew me in from the very start of the game. The amount of detail in that game (and hopefully numbers 2 and 3) was amazing and I’m looking forward to two more fun adventures with Samus Aran!

You know, I have never played any game in the New Super Mario Bros. series besides the Wii version, New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The first game in the series appeared on the DS as well as my Christmas list and looks like a really great game that I’ve never gotten around to playing or buying. I usually don’t clump games like these in my “play games in order of their release” maxim, so expect to see this bad boy again in the coming weeks.

Oh man, FINALLY! I have been looking for this game at a low price and in decent shape every since the game came out back in ’06! A prequel to the very first DS game I EVER purchased, Feel the Magic XY/XX, The Rub Rabbits is a minigame collection that takes full advantage of the DS’s system features. So it’s in many fashions the exact same thing as Feel the Magic, which is precisely what I was looking for. A unique art style and quirky love story gave the first game lasting appeal, so hopefully that’s been extended in this sequel/prequel.

Final Fantasy!!
Something has to be said when a game’s expansive catalog of orchestral tracks, themes, and overworld music can become the basis for an entire spinoff title. Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is a rhythm game featuring the best music the FF series has to offer. A unique visual style and gameplay method combine with the series’ staple RPG roots to create a one-of-a-kind gaming experience that Final Fantasy fans simply cannot miss!

Easily the game I was most looking forward to receiving this Christmas, The Walking Dead is already shaping up to be worth all the hype I’ve heard about it. Having only completed Episode 1 at the time of this writing I cannot delve deep in conversation with other gamer’s about the storyline, but I can say that I saved Duck and almost instantly regretted that decision when I found out he’s an annoying young boy that doesn’t have a gun like the other guy had!

My brothers and I were talking about this game one night this past week, and then the next day we were shopping for gifts at the mall and stopped into the game store and there the game was on the shelf! And at a decent price! Haha, I was more than happy to pick this one up for the Saturn and relive some of the best gaming moments from my childhood. The commentary from Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler is still fresh in my mind! It’s a total debacle!

Lastly this week we have XCOM. The more and more I read about this game upon its release the more I started to want to play it. I have never played a game in the XCOM series (even though I own four of them thanks to a past Steam sale), I am still very interested in the sci-fi setting, RPG elements, and strategic gameplay. Even with all this going for it, I think the game will be this year’s Skyrim: I really wanted the game as a Christmas gift, perhaps more than any other, and yet I might not get around to playing it!