I recently got the privelge to try out Contact for the DS, a single-player RPG from Atlus. At first glance, the game appears to be fairly deep for a handheld RPG, and the box informs you that it is out-of-the-ordinary. However, I find the truth to be much different.
In Contact, there are three separate entities: the player, the professor, and the hero character. Your mission is to go around collecting these fuel cells, fighting all sorts of baddies along the way, and using powerful stickers to your advantage. You can master seven different fighting classes, represented by costumes, and three different weapons classes, not to mention side-professions such as cooking and fishing. When your character is low on health, just find a bathtub lying around somewhere.
The problem I find with this game is the horrible amount of repetition. It's the same situation with most RPG's - level up your character until he can defeat the area boss, then do it all again on the next stage, and so on. In all honesty, I never did finish this title.
The graphics on the game are mostly 2D, with only occasional moments of simple 3D. Still, the environments look good and are pretty well detailed. The music and sounds are on par with the game, though they are nothing extraordinary. If you are really into the linear-gameplay RPG scene, then you may like this. Otherwise, I recommend ignoring it.
My Ratings:
Sound 3/5
Graphics 4/5
Storyline 2/5
Replay Value 2/5
Overall 2/5
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Mario Party DS
What is there to say? If you've played most of the previous Mario Party titles, you know what to expect from this DS game - running your favorite Nintendo characters around a game board and playing mini-games.
Overall, Nintendo did a superb job putting a 3D Mario Party title on the DS. The boards are entertaining, and the mini-games are new and unique, except for the occasional game here and there. These new games can utilize the button set, touch screen, microphone, or any combination of the three.
Perhaps the best feature of this game is the single-pack multiplayer functionality. Up to four people can play full games off of one game pack, and the loading times are relatively small. As per usual, though, each player will need his or her own DS system. Of course, this game can also be played alone. There is a storyline to follow, and the other players will be NPCs.
As with any previous Mario Party title, this game is hard on your equipment. This is something to keep in mind if you are concerned with the longevity of your DS system. Many games include pressing "A" repeatedly as fast as you can or other similar repetitions, and may end up wearing out your buttons and touch screen relatively faster than other titles.
When all is considered, this is a great multiplayer game and a great addition to the Mario Party line-up. Gameplay and replay value are up to par with the others, but the background music and sounds will get annoying after a while. If you are a Mario Party fan, check this title out.
My Ratings:
Sound 2/5
Graphics 5/5
Storyline 2/5
Replay Value 5/5
Overall 3/5
Overall, Nintendo did a superb job putting a 3D Mario Party title on the DS. The boards are entertaining, and the mini-games are new and unique, except for the occasional game here and there. These new games can utilize the button set, touch screen, microphone, or any combination of the three.
Perhaps the best feature of this game is the single-pack multiplayer functionality. Up to four people can play full games off of one game pack, and the loading times are relatively small. As per usual, though, each player will need his or her own DS system. Of course, this game can also be played alone. There is a storyline to follow, and the other players will be NPCs.
As with any previous Mario Party title, this game is hard on your equipment. This is something to keep in mind if you are concerned with the longevity of your DS system. Many games include pressing "A" repeatedly as fast as you can or other similar repetitions, and may end up wearing out your buttons and touch screen relatively faster than other titles.
When all is considered, this is a great multiplayer game and a great addition to the Mario Party line-up. Gameplay and replay value are up to par with the others, but the background music and sounds will get annoying after a while. If you are a Mario Party fan, check this title out.
My Ratings:
Sound 2/5
Graphics 5/5
Storyline 2/5
Replay Value 5/5
Overall 3/5
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
At first I was intrigued by this game's premise, so I decided to pick up a copy. What a surprise this game turned out to be! With loads of puzzle content and extras, the mystery-like storyline, and fun characters, I recommend this title to anyone who enjoys a true intellectual experience with their games.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village boasts fully animated cut scenes, voice acting, and hand-drawn scenery; it's truly a piece of art. The storyline retains your interest throughout the game, and I even found myself guessing along with it. The gameplay overall is limited, but one needs to remember that this is a brainteaser collection put in the contents of an elegant game.
If you take the time to solve all the puzzles you come across, you can expect roughly 20 hours of gameplay. Even when you think you've solved all the puzzles, you can still get new puzzles every week if you have a Wi-Fi connection. For a unique title, I recommend trying this game out.
My Ratings:
Sound 4/5
Graphics 5/5
Storyline 5/5
Replay Value 3/5
Overall 4/5
Professor Layton and the Curious Village boasts fully animated cut scenes, voice acting, and hand-drawn scenery; it's truly a piece of art. The storyline retains your interest throughout the game, and I even found myself guessing along with it. The gameplay overall is limited, but one needs to remember that this is a brainteaser collection put in the contents of an elegant game.
If you take the time to solve all the puzzles you come across, you can expect roughly 20 hours of gameplay. Even when you think you've solved all the puzzles, you can still get new puzzles every week if you have a Wi-Fi connection. For a unique title, I recommend trying this game out.
My Ratings:
Sound 4/5
Graphics 5/5
Storyline 5/5
Replay Value 3/5
Overall 4/5
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