Sunday Roundup: 3/24/13

Astal
Sega Saturn
Release Date: April 27th, 1995
Purchased at: Game Changers (Michigan City, IN – $24)

Even with my limited experience with the console, I’m already sensing that the Saturn is an amazing system. Astal is a platformer exclusive to the Saturn and features a look similar to that of the original Rayman. The game is the only one in the series despite it being positively received. I haven’t played the game yet but I have seen Astal before: He is on the cover of the Archie Comic’s Sonic Archive Vol. 5.

Syphon Filter 2
PS1
Release Date: February 29th, 2000
Purchased at: Game Changers (Michigan City, IN – $2)

Haha, only two dollars! Though I’m not going to play the game, I am actively looking for the entire series. I already have the first game, and I only need the third now on PS1 to complete the original trilogy. Despite my personal decisions against the game, it’s apparently supposed to be a pretty good FPS.

Asteroids
PS1
Release Date: November 13th, 1998
Purchased at: Game Changers (Michigan City, IN – $3)

Yeah, I probably should stop buying these lame reboots, but I just can’t pass up a game for only a few bucks! Asteroids here is also an easy buy for me because I recently picked up Frogger on the PS1. I also already have Centipede and Pong on the PlayStation, making it the console for 1980s reboots!

The World is Not Enough
PS1
Release Date: November 6th, 2000
Purchased at: Game Changers (Michigan City, IN – $4)

I’ve played the game before on the Nintendo 64when the game first came out, and since then I’ve had just one fond memory of TWINE. The first mission takes place in some bank, and while trying to figure out the controls, I accidentally punched this innocent bank teller in the face. Of course, this failed the mission, set off all kinds of alarms, and resulted in 007 getting gunned down by plenty of security guards. And that’s the thing I remember most about this game. Oh, and I suppose how it’s no where near as good as Goldeneye.

White Knight Chronicles: International Edition
PS3
Release Date: February 2nd, 2010
Purchased at: Game Changers (Michigan City, IN – $7)

Astal was probably the best deal out of the week at Game Changers, but White Knight Chronicles was the best find in my mind. I knew Astal was there, but I didn’t know about this one. I’ve been looking for the game since it came out, I’ve just been waiting for the exact price to match my expectation. Seven dollars is good for me, even though the Japanese RPG isn’t supposed to be all that good. But hey, there’s a sequel, which makes me more excited to pick this one up!

Red Faction: Armageddon
Xbox 360
Release Date: June 7th, 2011
Purchased at: Best Buy (Valparaiso, IN – $5)

There were about seven games on sale at this particular Best Buy, and each game was brand new and heavily marked down from the original price. I have yet to play a Red Faction game, and Armageddon is one of the best in the series. It’s also the last in the series, at least in the series under the helm of THQ.

Rayman Origins
3DS
Release Date: November 6th, 2012
Purchased at: Best Buy (Valparaiso, IN – $8)

Wow! What a deal on this one. Rayman Origins is almost brand new on the 3DS, so finding it this cheap was a steal in my mind. Not to mention it’s one of the best platforming games released this generation and the 3DS version is just as tight as the console version, Rayman Origins at $8 is an easy pick up.

I’ve had my eye on Genji for a long time now and finally decided to take the plunge and buy it. The gameplay is similar to Dynasty Warriors: there’s a lot of hacking and slashing with little else. If I recall, the game was supposed to be really great, but then ended up just being average. Well, it was good enough to spawn a PS3 sequel.

Now that I’ve come into possession of the original Klonoa: Door to Phantomile on the PS1 I’m a lot more likely to search out the rest of the games in the series. I was actually shocked to see the game this cheap, even without it’s case and manual. I’ve always had a high regard for the series and since this game is generally considered good I was more than happy to drop down a five and buy it!

I totally forgot this game existed! It’s a platforming game starring Mario’s dinosaur friend Yoshi and features a built-in sensor that allows you to tilt the Game Boy Advance system to cause the game environment to shift accordingly. It’s an interesting concept that can, in theory, be present in any game on the 3DS since it has the same gyro sensor that was made special for this game.