Wants List for the Start of 2013

A big long list of games and consoles I'm actively looking for at the moment:

Mega CD
Darius Burst - PSP
Love Hina - Japanese GBA
Hajime No Ippo - Japanese GBA
Tryrush Deppy - Japanese Saturn
Ketsui - Japanese DS
Ghost Pilots - Neo Geo AES
V-V/GrindStorner - Megadrive
Power Drift - Saturn
Instant Brain - Japanese 360
Harmful Park - Japanese PS1
Rule of Rose - PS1
Sega Rally - Japanese GBA
Run Sabre - SNES
Demon's Blazon - SNES
Unirally - SNES
Steam Hearts - Japanese Saturn
Sega Ages 2500 - Japanese PS1, titles I've still not picked up out of this collection.
Capcom Classics Reloaded - PSP
Star Soldier - PSP
SC Gundam X - SNES
The Itsudemo Puzzle - Japanese GBA
Space Invaders - Japanese SNES
Star Communicator - Japanese GBA
Rayxanaber III - PC Engine
Metal Slug 7 - DS
Okami Zekkeiban - PS3
Pocket Station

Favourite Puzzle Games

 

 Another list for 2013, this time my favourite puzzle games. I've been really surprised to see how many of these titles are handheld, I guess the pick up and put down nature of the genre lends itself to portable gaming.

Anyway in no particular order:

Puzzle Quest (XBL) - I love the XBL version of this, the combination of a solid puzzle game with some RPG elements and a fantasy setting works really well. One of the rare puzzle games with an interesting storyline and a character levelling system, much more than just a puzzle game.

Meteos (DS) - Strange Shooter/Puzzle hybrid that's really addictive once you get the hang of it. Works exremely well with the touchscreen. There's a Disney version of the title that's a completely different game and actually tougher because they tweaked the gameplay to stop people mashing the screen to get random lines. 

Bust a Move 2 (PS1) - Everyone knows the series, played through the night pi$$ed on numerous occasions (onemoregoitis) against my mate on the mighty PS1 port. One of the few puzzle games that relies on pure skill when placing bubbles as well as forward planning. There's a great 1 player campaign with a ton of levels but the game comes into it's own in two player.

Puzzle Fighter (PS1) - Classic combination of Street fighter and a Puzzle Game - tbh the puzzle aspect of the game is strong enough to stand on it own two feet without the addition of the franchise. I really like the fact the individual character have strengths and weaknesses. PS1 or Saturn version for me, the xbl version is cool but the control system feels a bit off to me. 

Cleopatra Fortune (PS2) - Firstly I recommend the PS2 version of the game purely because it's on Taito Arcade hits 2 which is really cheap, the Japanese Saturn version is very pricey. Egyption themed puzzle game which is probably the closest game to Tetris out of all the games I've picked. Not only is the game fiendisly difficult later on it's also very accessible initially - there's a nice difficulty curve. One of the most charning puzzle games I've ever played, looks gorgeous too.

Lumines (PSP/Vita) - Short bursts of intense play, damn good fun and a killer soundtrack.

New Dreamcast Shooter Announced: Ghost Blade

Hucast confirmed today a new DC project they are working, Ghost Blade is due for release sometime 2013 and will be a caravan-type scoring game.

The great thing about the release is that there will be a five stage game mode as well as the traditional time based scoring modes.

Looking forward to this one even though details are scarce at the moment:

"Brand NEW Sega Dreamcast game in the works!

Since Redux: Dark Matters was planned to be finished in December 2012 – but we took the extra time to give the game an 7th “Dark Planet” stage – we now have another team working on “The Ghost Blade” project.
The Ghost Blade

The Ghost Blade – Caravan Shooting Game

What is it going to be? Well, another ace shoot ‘em up for the Sega Dreamcast with focus on arcade action joy and elaborate scoring system. And various player ships too choose from and a load of game modes, such as 5 stage game mode or challenging caravan game mode and last but not least: time attack.

Now, some interesting facts for you:

Game Features:

3 Game Modes with 3 player ships too choose from.

Screen Orientation:

TATE ( “3:4”) and YOKO (“4:3”)

Game Modes:

    Stage Mode: 5 Stages
    Caravan Mode: 2 min./5 min.
    Time Attack

Release: TBA 2013

From now on expect some frequent updates on this blog and facebook/twitter

More news soon! Stay tuned!"

Redux: Dark Matters - DC. Update #11

 
A tantalising bit of news from the Kickstarter Redux update #11  about another Dreamcast game in development, fingers crossed it's another shmup:

"As mentioned in previous updates we still offer a "Kickstarter Discount Account" for hucast.com as a cool bonus for our pledgers. If you're not bothering to purchase right now - it might be interesting for you in the future to get our new games.
And the best news is that we're actually working on a new game with another programming team for Sega Dreamcast while the other team is still  working on "Dark Planet" stage! Stay tuned.

Anyway, now head on over to hucast.com and see what we've got for you! To get the 10% discount on ALL orders, FOREVER, simply follow these steps:

 1. Register at hucast.com

 2. Send kickstarter account request to info@hucast.net with kickstarter pledge proof. (Example: http://z44i.img-up.net/proof5e2e.png) or send us the email you got from kickstarter as pledge proof.

 3. Wait for confirmation

 4. Go shopping and receive 10% discount on ALL orders. Ever.

Enjoy!"

Top Ten Handheld Games

My top 10 has changed quite a bit in the last year as my collection has expanded. I still think Astroboy is my favourite handheld game, here's my top 10 in no particular order.

1. Astro Boy The Omega Factor - GBA
2. Uncharted: Golden Abyss - PS Vita
3. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - GBA
4. Gradius Collection - PSP
5. Empire of Steel - GBA
6. Metroid Fusion - GBA
7. Williams Pinball Classics - PSP
8. R-Type - GB
9. Final Fight One - GBA
10. Contra 4 - DS

Edit - Last Year's List

 1 AstroBoy the Omega Factor - GBA
2 Metroid Fusion - GBA
3 Gradius Advance/Galaxies - GBA
4 Empire of Steel - GBA
5 Ridge Racer - PSP
6 Final Fight One - GBA
7 Everybody's Golf - PSP
8 Gottlieb Pinball Classics - PSP
9 Okami Den - DS
10 Meteos - DS

Today's Post 02/01/2013

Virtua Tennis 4 world Tour Edition has the dubious honour of being my first game of 2013. I picked the game up from Game for a very bargainous price of around £5.50 (£7 in the sale + I used some Game points to knock it down a bit further). I've been very impressed with the quality of the Vita games I've picked up so far and surprisingly Virtua Tennis 4 is one of the slickest on the system. The first thing that stands out on loading is the quality production values of the game, it certainly has been optimised for the Vita. There are a ton of game modes such as a career mode and arcade mode to keep you busy and I especially like the numerous bonus games that double as a levelling system in the career mode. Most importantly though It plays a very good game of tennis, you really have to work a strategy out when playing against the AI characters. One of the most complete and polished games on the system.

The Games of Space Year 2013

I tend to list a top ten of games I'm looking forward to in the new year and 2013 is no exception. Amazingly a few of the titles below were on last years list!

In no particular order

1. Metal Gear Revengeance - PS3
2. Ni No Kuni - PS3
3. Bioshock Infinite - 360
4. Sturmwind - DC
5. Anarchy Reigns - 360
6. Ginga Force - 360
7. Gunhound EX - PSP
8. Gran Theft Auto V - PS3
9. Dead Space 3 - PS3
10. Fist of the North Star Ken's Rage 2 - 360/PS3