Battery Acid

Drop In/Drop Out: 3DS Edition

biggumby — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:15:48 +0000

: 3DS Edition

Greenyz (Francis Basco) and BigGumby (Dustin Grissom) have both had their 3DS’ since launch (Greenyz went to the midnight launch!). Although some people may not be as impulsive as we were when buying the next generation Nintendo handheld, there are some people out there that may still be questioning whether now is the time to buy a 3DS, or if there even is a time at all. With this feature, Greenyz and I (BigGumby) are hoping that we can put your worries to rest, and help you with your lingering question: Should I “drop in” or “drop out” of getting a 3DS? To do this, we are going to run through all of the key features with the system, including the user-interface, the hardware, the built-in software, it’s online offerings, StreetPass and SpotPass, the eShop, and, of course, the 3D effect. So, let’s get started!

BigGumby: I’m pretty impressed with how the system looks and feels. Unlike the previous DS models, this feels less like a toy and more like a sturdy piece of state of the art technology. Wouldn’t you agree?

Greenyz: Definitely. It’s a such drastic difference comparing the 3DS and the original DS. Although my screen does seem a bit wobbly which can be distracting.

BigGumby: Yeah, the screen doesn’t seem to stick in a position as well as the DSi did. What do you think about the new Circle Pad? Personally, I think it’s fantastic. It works great, and it’s super comfortable. It is a huge step up for handhelds in terms of control.

Greenyz: Yeah it’s really surprising how great it is. It’s extremely smooth. Although I did seem to rely a bit more on the d-pad when playing Street Fighter since it doesn’t seem to detect subtle movements that well. But other games that use the circle pad don’t seem to have the same problem, so it might just be the game.

BigGumby: I had problems with the circle pad in street fighter as well, it hurt my thumb after awhile. Besides all of this, everything else is all pretty much like the older DS models (besides a plethora of helpful LEDs!). One complaint I do have, though, is the placement of the stylus. I was so used to having it on the right side of the DSi that having it on the back is a major downgrade and an annoying issue.

Nintendo goes for a sleeker design with the 3DS

Greenyz: Haha yeah. When my friend first tried out the 3DS he had a bit of trouble finding the stylus. I’m also glad to see the return of the volume slider. I feel I have more control over the volume when I have one. I also feel it’s a bit weird having the headphone jack in the center of the device as opposed to somewhere off to the side.

BigGumby: Yeah, some weird design choices. Another weird design flaw would be that if you leave your 3DS closed for too long, it’ll eventually leave 2 straight line on the top screen, this can be easily wiped off with your fingers, but it’s kind of odd that this is present, although it’s not a big deal. I love the telescopic stylus though, it’s pretty helpful with people with big hands!

Greenyz: Yeah I agree. How do you feel about the colors? I’m pretty disappointed really. Cosmo Blue seems a bit distracting and black seems a bit too boring.

BigGumby: Yeah, the colors are a bit lacking, but I’m sure they’ll be more down the line. I personally got the black one and I think it looks pretty nice. All in all, it’s a wonderfully crafted system, but with a few tiny flaws here and there.

Greenyz: Yeah I’m pretty satisfied.

Greenyz: So the biggest thing about the 3DS is its ability to display 3D without the need for expensive glasses. It’s pretty crazy seeing it in person. Surprisingly, rather than seeing objects popping out of the screen, you get a feeling that you’re looking into a window.
Seeing the HUD of games on different planes has to be my favorite use of the effect so far. How about you?

BigGumby: I love the 3D, but most of all I love showing it to people for the first time. Those videos Nintendo made with 3DS first time reactions are almost spot on!
My favorite use of the effect is probably the 3D dioramas in Pilotwings. If you move one in the perfect position, it literally seems to be popping out of the screen 1 or 2 inches! I had to show everyone!

Greenyz: I should spend more time with that game since I haven’t even seen one yet, haha. So how high do you usually set the 3D slider to get your preferred 3D effect?
When I first opened the device, the slider was usually at the lower settings but as I spent more time with the device I seemed to prefer putting the 3D slider really high sometimes at its maximum level.

: Not far from the truth

BigGumby: I’ve had pretty much had the same experience as you did with the 3D slider. Start low, then eventually slide it up higher and higher. I think it depends on the game. For most of the built in software, I can put it on maximum and it looks great, but for Pilotwings I usually put it up 3/4 the way to the top. The effect looks great nonetheless.

So, what’s your opinion on the 3D’s viewing angle?

Greenyz: I felt the sweetspot for the 3D was at a reasonable distance but at times of intense gaming, like in Street Fighter, I found myself moving outside the angle either through the wobbly screen or my reactions to the matches.
Anyone that’s ever tried a 3DS knows when you move out the sweetspot not only does you lose the 3D effect but your screen gets really blurry which can sometimes really mess up your game. How do you feel about this?

BigGumby: The “sweet spot” isn’t very flexible, for sure, but it’s not as big of a problem as some may assume. Occasionally my hands start to drift to the left or right during playtime (bringing the system along with it). This causes the screen to get a little blurry or start to show a double image. It’s quick to fix but I wish it were a bit more flexible.

BigGumby: So, let’s get into the user-interface of the system. The UI is quite similar to the DSi’s menu system, but with a list of improvements. This includes improvements to both the functionality of the menu and the visual finesse.

Greenyz: My favorite feature is how easy it is to organize applications. Having control over how many rows and columns is a welcome feature. Easy access to the web browser and friends list is great as well.

BigGumby: Yep, it’s pretty much easier to do everything. Speaking of the friends list, let’s go more in depth about that. Friend codes are still present, but luckily you will not need to exchange friend codes for each individual game! It’s definitely a step forward, and the friends list is presented in a pretty cool way. You can see your friend’s Mii, when he/she was last online, what their favorite game is, and what they are currently playing. It’s definitely an improvement over the Wii and DS!

Greenyz: Yeah it’s great. The only real problem is the fact that you can’t talk or message any of your friends through the 3DS. It’s a small complaint and Nintendo can always add it in if they want to in a later update.

: “Need more charac” indeed

BigGumby: Yeah, it’s kind of annoying when the only way to communicate with a friend is through a 12 letter status message everyone else on your friends list can see. I spent like 20 minutes trying to figure out how to fit a sentence that asked you whether Super Mario Land was any good or not in 12 characters, I ended up using “SML worth it?” Nintendo has the ability to change this, let’s hope they do!

Greenyz: Yeah the text limit is weird. So with the new system Nintendo’s set up you’re now able to do multiple things at once. For example, you can browse the Internet, check your friends list, write notes, and take pictures even while you have game running. It’s really neat.

BigGumby: Yep, it’s a powerful machine. If you get stuck on a certain point in the game, you can click the home button, then the internet browser to look up a walk-through, all while not interrupting your game! You can also take notes on certain games to help you out.

BigGumby: Let’s get into StreetPass now, I think it is one of the system’s most unique features!

Greenyz: It’s the best new feature the 3DS in my opinion! I love it. Being able to get new content in-game just by passing by a person that has a 3DS is great. Just seeing random 3DS owners that you passed by is fun in itself.

BigGumby: To me, it’s a system seller. It’s fantastic and makes you want to bring your 3DS everywhere you go! Which is helpful with getting Spotpass updates, too (we’ll go more into that in minute). StreetPass is utilized in many retail games, such as figure battling and collecting in Street Fighter, but it is also used in a few built in games on the 3DS. There is a mini-RPG built into the system, called Find Mii. Your Mii is taken captive and you must use other people’s Miis you find with StreetPass to defeat monsters to save your Mii! Really cool! Also, there is my favorite, Puzzle Swap. In Puzzle Swap you exchange puzzle pieces that other 3DS users have obtained to complete a 3D diorama or picture based on famous Nintendo franchises. It’s super fun and addicting. Have you had any StreetPass hits?

: StreetPass is easily one of the best reasons to get a 3DS

Greenyz: Yeah I’ve had a few, mostly when on campus. Find Mii and Puzzle Swap are some of my favorite games on the 3DS. It’s really fun to pop open your 3DS each day and play a short game of Find Mii and collect a puzzle piece that others have collected before.

BigGumby: It’s a great feature, but if you can’t get any StreetPass hits (keep trying!) you can use Playcoins. You gain play coins by simply walking. There is a built in pedometer, every 100 steps you take you get a play coin. You can use these to buy Puzzle Pieces, to hire characters to fight in Find Mii, or use them in retail games that support them (like buying costumes in Street Fighter). Another cool feature built into the 3DS is SpotPass. Your 3DS is always looking for an access point, SpotPass automatically connects your 3DS to the internet and downloads DLC and other cool things to your system. This gives you a persistent online experience not unlike Xbox Live.

Greenyz: So the camera functions of the DSi make a return in the 3DS. This time though, you’re able to take 3D pictures as well. Have you tried it out?

BigGumby: I have, actually. I’ve taken a few pictures just to test the 3D out, and I have to say, it works great! It’s really cool seeing the objects in your house popping out of your screen, but it doesn’t end there. There is this really cool mountain-making thing you can do when editing pictures, it makes for a sweet 3D effect. You gotta try it! The interface is pretty much the same as the DSi’s, but sadly there isn’t an option to upload to Facebook. Also, the image quality isn’t great, but it gets the job done. Have you tried it out?

Greenyz: Yeah I have. I actually haven’t messed around much with the editing tools but seeing 3D pictures is really cool. Camera quality is pretty bad at times but when you’re outside on a sunny day, you can get some really nice shots.

Lack of Facebook sharing is a bit disappointing but it makes sense since you can only really see 3D pictures on displays that can show 3D. It would have been nice, at least, for Nintendo to have added a feature where you could share pictures with other 3DSes.

: Miis are back!

BigGumby: Yeah, hopefully there is a firmware update in the future that related to the lack of sharing photos. The 3D photos are definitely worth messing with, though! So, next up is 3DS sound, yeah?

Greenyz: Sure. So another returning feature of the 3DS is a sound app where you can listen and record your own sounds and music. Unlike the DSi though, you can listen to music when the console is closed. That was a problem the DSi had and it’s good that Nintendo fixed it for the 3DS.

BigGumby: Yep, you can also listen to MP3s this time around, thankfully. You can also listen to what others are listening to via streetpass, which is a pretty cool feature. Other than that, nothing else has changed much from the DSi’s sound app.

Greenyz: So besides Find Mii and Puzzle Swap, Nintendo had other pre-installed games like Face Raiders and the AR Games. These games use the 3DS’ camera to capture your environment as their backdrops. I honestly just enjoying drawing 3D stuff on my desk which game did you find the most enjoyable?

BigGumby: Face Raiders is a really fun way to show off the system to other people, but it’s not something you’re going to keep coming back to (although there is a surprisingly large amount of content packed into the game). AR Games are cool, but I played them once and never went back. You definitely need to check them out though, I had more fun taking pictures of my Mii and Nintendo characters like Samus and Mario in the real world. It’s pretty cool but won’t hold your attention for a long time.

: The built-in software is fun… but not for long

Greenyz: So besides playing games and taking pictures, the camera for the 3DS can also be used to create Miis, the avatars that first appeared on the Wii. I haven’t had much luck getting accurate representations using the camera creator, how about you?

BigGumby: I made a Mii of myself and a Mii of a few of my family members and friends from scratch, they resembled who I was trying to portray, but didn’t look exactly like them. Then, once I met up with my friends, I tried the picture feature and was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy! The creations from the picture were better than the ones I made from scratch, so I suppose it varies from person to person and how you take the picture. Although sometimes it can be a bit unflattering!

Greenyz: Haha definitely. Anyway after getting past Mii creation you can use your Mii in a ton of different games just like the Wii. Like you said earlier it’s used for Street Pass games and some AR stuff.It’s cool that you can accessorize your Mii with hats that you’ve earned from Find Mii but it’s too bad they don’t show up anywhere else except for the Mii Plaza games. My favorite hat so far is the Kirby hat! What’s yours?

BigGumby: Haha, I’m loving my Metroid hat! You’re right, it’d be cool if they carried over to the Mii represented on your Gamecard. Oh well!

BigGumby: So, the eShop was recently added to the 3DS in a firmware update. It’s a huge improvement over any online distribution Nintendo has ever done! It blows the slow and ugly DSiWare shop and Wii Shop channel out of the water!

Greenyz: Haha I guess. Since I only ever go to the shops when I know what I’m going to buy, I rarely had problems with the shop. The interface is much nicer though.

BigGumby: Before, that is all you could do in a Nintendo shop. But now, you can discover things! The setup is great, it gives a lot of advertisement to games I’ve never even heard of before! It’s a huge improvement, and there’s even more coming soon! Netflix is coming this summer, and 3D trailers for games and upcoming movies (a 3D Green Lantern trailer was released recently) are already on the store. I’m looking forward to what’s to come.

Greenyz: I have one criticism though about the new shop. Like you said, there’s a bunch of new trailers that released recently. I was so excited to see all the new trailers in 3D. For once people would get a better grasp of what the games would look like when running on a system. The problem though is I had to wait for each trailer to download individually before I could download the other. It would have been much nicer if I could have downloaded multiple videos at a time instead of waiting. Did you have an issue with this?

: The eShop is a huge improvement over the Wii and DS shops

BigGumby: This has been an issue with all Nintendo systems. Unlike the Xbox 360 or PS3, you cannot download videos or games in the background while you do something else. You have to watch a little animation that shows the progress of your download until it’s done. It’s a bummer, as that’s something I really would have liked fixed. Luckily the progress is more apparent than it was on the Wii.

Greenyz: Alternatively Nintendo could release a video channel just like the Wii’s Nintendo Channel, where we could stream multiple videos. Easy access is really all I care about.

BigGumby: You can go to a game’s page on the eShop and check out screen shots, a description, and even videos. These videos stream, but it seems to only work for 2D games (like DSiWare games).

Greenyz: Oh cool. Hopefully 3D games get the same treatment. Anyway most of the DSiWare games and apps have made it back on the 3DS. It’s great for those who missed some games, but for those who’ve already bought software on the DSi, there’s an option to transfer those games to the 3DS. I recently gave my DSi to my brother so I haven’t tried it out. Have you?

BigGumby: I actually sold my DSi to one of my friends (yeah, I’m not nice enough to just give it to him like you did to your brother, haha), so I couldn’t try this out. Haha, so I guess we’ll skip that part! But yeah, there are over 250 DSiWare games to download right now. You can either buy an eShop card at a store, which only come in an increment of 20 dollars, or use a credit card. The lowest amount of money you can put in with a credit card is 5 dollars. Along with DSiWare and video downloads, there is also the Virtual Console and original 3DS downloads. Pokedex 3D and a remastered version of Excite Bike in 3D are free.

: Pokedex 3D: Free on the eShop!

Greenyz: (haha I bought my original DS from a friend ) That brings another thing I’m not too wild about but I’m willing to look past about the eShop. I was hoping now that Nintendo embraced cash prices, as opposed to points, you would be able to directly buy games and spend the amount of the actual game. Instead you have to prepay a certain amount of money for an in-store balance that you can then buy games with. It sort of causes problems when your left with a dollar’s worth of “change”. Everything is price above a dollar so my balance is basically useless.

BigGumby: That does get annoying, everything is priced at $_.99 plus tax, so you always have left over change after buying something. I guess at some point it’ll amount to something, right? I am glad that Nintendo got away from the “Every NES games is [blank] dollars and every [blank] game is [blank] dollars.” The pricing is much more dynamic now, it all starts at 1.99 dollars and can go up in increments of 1 dollar from there. It makes sense for when a game that doesn’t have much content, like the Gameboy game RadarScope, costs less than another Gamboy game, like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, that is worth more. In the end, I’d say the positives definitely out-weight the negatives, wouldn’t you say?

Greenyz: Yeah, definitely.

BigGumby: I think that that statement, that the positives definitely outweigh the negatives, works not only for the eShop, but for the whole system itself. It’s a fantastic system and has a lot of potential! I’d definitely recommend you make the investment, especially considering all of the great games coming out this year!

Greenyz: It’s really tough to say. I usually buy new gaming consoles at launch just to mess around with the system and see what kind of potential the feature could bring to gaming. But if what you want is content, I’d say wait a bit. The 3DS is in its early stages. The software lineup is small at the moment, a lot of promised features like Netflix haven’t come out yet, and there’s few 3DS eShop exclusive games at the moment. So if you want a lot of games and features on your 3DS, it’s best to wait for more content to come out first.

BigGumby: I say take the investment route, games ARE coming, so why not buy it now? If you are thinking of trading in your old DS for a 3DS, I say do it now. But hey, we both like the system and we both understand that there aren’t many retails games worth buying right now. You make the choice that suits you best! Hopefully this feature will help you on your purchasing decision!

Greenyz: Bye!

Press Release: The abstract landings of Proun

Greenyz — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:55:00 +0000

Utrecht, Netherlands, 19 April 2011
The abstract landscapes of Proun – now in a new trailer, and in museums!

Today a new trailer for the upcoming PC indie racing game Proun has been released:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zmuj_BdV-E

Proun is a very special game. Its unique abstract art style has attracted quite some attention, including from events and museums. The Van Abbe museum for contemporary art is currently displaying the game Proun as part of an El Lissitzky exhibition. The Van Abbe is one of the biggest modern art museums in the Netherlands and houses works by famous artists like Picasso, Kandinsky and Warhol.

That Proun is being shown as a work of art amongst such great artists is absolutely thrilling, and a milestone to the whole “games as art” discussion. To many people, art is defined by what museums exhibit, and apparently this important museum considers this game to be real art, and shows it in a normal exhibition.

Proun is also being shown at the La Gaîté Lyrique museum in Paris, where the French Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand recently delayed his delegation during a visit, because he thought playing just one level of Proun was not enough. Of course, he was right.

According to Joost van Dongen: “With Proun I tried to make something that looks radically different from most other games, and so far reactions have been very positive. I am both happy and surprised that following my own stubborn vision worked out so well!”

To celebrate all of this, a new trailer for Proun has been released, which shows the geometric landscapes that the player races through. The new trailer is called “Proun’s Abstract Landscapes”, and shows the game in beautiful slow-motion.

About Proun
Proun is a strange racing game in a world of geometric objects and large coloured surfaces. You avoid obstacles by rotating around a cable in order to gain as much speed as possible. There is no up or down; there is only the cable to which you are attached. Proun will be released for PC in Spring 2011.

About Joost van Dongen
Joost van Dongen is a Dutch indie game creator, who has been working on Proun in his spare time for almost six years now. In his daily life, Joost is lead programmer and co-founder of Ronimo Games, the game development studio that created the award winning side-scrolling strategy game Swords & Soldiers (PS3/Wii/PC/Mac/iPhone/iPad). When they were still students, Ronimo Games also created the original version of the colourful painting extravaganza De Blob, which was bought by THQ and recently saw a new sequel. Proun, however, is mainly a solo project that is developed by Joost in the weekends and evenings.

Press Release: BIT.TRIP RUNNER AVAILABLE ON STEAM TOMORROW

Greenyz — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:29:08 +0000

The IGF Award-Nominated WiiWare game BIT.TRIP RUNNER will be available for PC/OSX via the Steam service tomorrow!

New features for the Steam version include:

HD graphics

Online Leaderboards

Achievements

New Difficulty Modes

Whether you’ve played RUNNER before or not, this version is definitely worth plugging your eyes into. Whether playing it with an Xbox 360 controller, a Wii Remote via Bluetooth, or with the keyboard, RUNNER will invade your soul and confound your senses.

Press Release: Gaijin Games Acquires Independent Game Studio, Robotube Games

Greenyz — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:38:15 +0000

In an act of total dominance, Gaijin Games acquired Robotube Games today.

Robotube Games is an independent game development studio specializing in the development of web-based puzzle games as well as short-form video game documentary filmmaking.

Gaijin Games is an independent game development studio specializing in rhythm-music games and the pursuit of imagination through gameplay.

The acquisition comes on the heels of Gaijin’s completion of the critically acclaimed BIT.TRIP series, and marks a new direction for the company. Studio head and CEO Alex Neuse, had this to say:

“Our bio-absorption of Robotube Games, its licenses, brands, personnel, and flavors allows us to head in new directions that Gaijin Games was heretofore unable to pursue. Building up brands has always been a passion of ours, and this acquisition allows us to focus on creating more unique franchises faster than ever. As Gaijin Games pursues bigger, more dev-time-intensive projects, Robotube Games will be working to keep the creative juices flowing, rounding out the suite of quality fun-products that you all colloquially refer to as ‘video games’.”

In regards to the change in ownership and added financial support that Gaijin brings to Robotube, Jason Cirillo, CEO of Robotube Games had this to add:

“Since 1934, Robotube has been creating fun, experimental video games. We’re a small team, but we’ve always followed our philosophy to do what we’re passionate about. Meeting Gaijin made it obvious very quickly that we needed to work on awesome stuff together. Of course, being held nude and at gunpoint isn’t the way I always imagined this would go down, but it couldn’t have been by better guys than the Gaijin team. I was treated humanely during this whole process.”

Robotube Games is currently working on an iPad version of Bloktonik, its fresh take on the falling tile puzzle genre, which is targeting a Spring release. Future projects are just dying to be announced, but won’t be until Gaijin and Robotube are good and ready to announce them. Maybe at GDC next week. Maybe not.

Gaijin Games is currently working on an unannounced Nintendo 3DS project as well as bringing its multi-award-nominated rhythm platformer BIT.TRIP RUNNER to the PC/Mac. More info on their year of domination will be revealed at GDC next week.

BA Giveaway: Free Xbox live, Nintendo, or PSN points card!

biggumby — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:36:45 +0000

Want to easily obtain free points for your favorite gaming system? Look no further, as Battery Acid has you covered! It will only take a few easy steps, and you might even meet some new friends! Instructions after the break!

Accepted applicants:
Members who joined after the contest has started.
Members who have completed the necessary requirements.

Instructions:
First, you must join the Battery Acid forums. To do this, follow these quick steps:

Click on “forums” at the top right of this page. (Or, click HERE)
Create an account on this forum!

Now that you are a member of the Battery Acid Community, follow these steps to sign up for the contest!

Now that you have an account, find the board that says “Contests”, this is under “Site Related”.
Now, find the topic in “Contests” that says “Free Xbox, Nintendo, or PSN points card application!”
Finally, just follow the instructions on that topic!

This is a really easy and really fun way to earn free points for your favorite console, and hey, you might even make some new friends!

Bit. Trip BEAT is now available on the Mac App Store!

Greenyz — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:19:39 +0000

BIT.TRIP BEAT makes an appearance on the Mac App Store today! And guess what? It’s lookin’ good!

The indie game phenomenon that is BIT.TRIP is making its way from platform to platform, and in its most recent step towards world domination, has landed directly on the super-sweet Mac App Store!

With such a killer metacritic rating for BIT.TRIP BEAT across multiple platforms, can you really go wrong buying the game YET AGAIN? No. No, you cannot.

Check out the Mac App Store version features:

From gameplay to visuals to music and imagination, BIT.TRIP BEAT is inspired by classic games in every way. Get sucked into a whole new world of sight and sound as you juggle beats and ride the vibe in this modern look at the beginning of it all.

BIT.TRIP BEAT for Mac is a brand-new version of the critically adored console game and it marks the beginning of CommanderVideo’s epic journey of the soul with:

* Classic Gameplay!
* Brain-Melting Visuals!
* Crazy Boss Battles!
* Intriguing Cutscenes!
* A Rockin’ Chiptune-Inspired Soundtrack!
* Special Chiptune Guest Star Bit Shifter!

Download BIT.TRIP BEAT and start your own BIT.TRIP today!

Now featuring:
* Leaderboards (for Steam users)!
* Achievements (for Steam users)!
* Brand New Easy Mode!

If you’re a human who enjoys awesome stuff, you’ll love BIT.TRIP BEAT.

Oh, and the Mac monitors are so super-choice that this game looks positively DEEEEELISH! You heard it here first. Officially, from the desk of Alex Neuse, regular man.

Love,

Alex

press release

Ghost Trick (DS) review

Greenyz — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:16:15 +0000

From lawyers to ghosts! Shu Takumi’s done it again.

Meet Sissel, a well-dressed man with some crazy shades and even crazier hair. He’s mad. Know why? Well, he seems to have lost his memory, but more importantly, he’s dead. Waking up dead to a talking lamp can definitely be a strange experience, but what’s even stranger is not only is Sissel dead, but he seems to have the power of the dead as well. With only a night until he disappears forever and the power to turn back time and manipulate objects, Sissel takes this opportunity and challenge to try and jog back his memory and find out how and why he died. This is Ghost Trick.

In each level you are forced to find a way to manipulate and move through the environment to either find clues about your death, or even save the lives of people who might be your only clue. After a death, Sissel has the power to go back four minutes prior to that person’s death in hope that you can save that person. Game play options are pretty slim, you can either switch to ghost mode where time freezes and you can move through the environment, or use your tricks to manipulate some items in certain ways. Each level is a strict puzzle that you’ll need to figure out.

While the game sometimes gives you layaway, one mistake might mean messing up the entire situation. This is the biggest problem with Ghost Trick. Unless you know exactly what you’re doing, you’re going to have to experiment, but then restart back from the beginning of the situation. Experimenting isn’t always helpful either since each puzzle is so strict in what it’s asking that you may not know when to do what. It’s definitely not bad, but expect to rewind a lot and fast forward through the repeated text. An undo feature would have been nice. Game play mechanics don’t really change much. Sissel’s powers stay the same from beginning to end, and while it is limited, each level manages to do something different with your move set. But expect to see some interesting stuff later on…

The characters are the star of the game here, even more so than the story. Sissel is surrounded by a colorful cast that each has their unique quirks and actions. Missile the Pomeranian is definitely the break-out character of the game, as his lines and delivery are both adorable and amusing. His extreme loyalty and dedication is inspiring. Personality is packed in this game thanks to the entertaining characters and the beautiful animation. Charming is definitely a word you should associate with this game.

Despite being story-heavy, the characters are largely what made the game impossible to drop. Being in a mystery, you’re left in the dark for a majority of the game and the explanations and reveal might be a bit silly. You have to give applause for Shu Takumi, because the game can go from silly to serious at any moment. Add in twists in the game, and you can see how it can be a pretty awesome roller coaster ride.

Game play mechanics can be a bit simplistic at times and the puzzles too demanding, but if you’re looking for a character and plot driven game then this is the game for you.

Press Release: The Official BIT.TRIP FLUX Trailer is out!

Greenyz — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 02:12:20 +0000

Since CommanderVideo’s final journey is just around the corner, we’ve released the Official BIT.TRIP FLUX Trailer today! BIT.TRIP FLUX will be available soon for the Nintendo WiiWare service.

The BIT.TRIP series comes full-circle with BIT.TRIP FLUX: CommanderVideo’s final adventure.

Grab your Wii Remote and get ready for classic paddle-based gameplay as CommanderVideo returns to the source.

Whether playing in single-player or in two player co-op, you’ll be faced with new challenges that will make even the most experienced BIT.TRIPPERS weep.

Enjoy new challenges presented within the familiar paddle-based gameplay which started the phenomenon called BIT.TRIP.

New Power-Ups including the Fullscreen Paddle!
New Beat Types including Avoid Blobs!
Mid-Level Checkpoints!
Classic BIT.TRIP BEAT Gameplay with all the Modes including the new Meta Mode!
Bit Shifter Returns as the Chiptune Gueststar!

And now a word from our sponsors…

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Dead Space (Mobile) review

Greenyz — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:55:20 +0000

Naysayers be damned! Dead Space Mobile manages to prove that iDevice gaming has the potential to offer meaty, more hardcore oriented gaming and at a higher value than other portable devices.

You play as Vandal, a new convert of Unitology sent on a special, covert mission for the Church. Things go to hell as soon as the game begins once you find out that the Church has screwed you, and your guide Tyler, over, as your actions release a Necromorph outbreak in the mines. You are soon contacted by the government and must try to fix the damage you caused in order to stop this outbreak from spreading. Occurring on the mines of Titan, a nearby facility of The Sprawl, and the setting of Dead Space 2, you know how this is going to end. There aren’t any logs to listen to or people to interact with directly, but expect to see some twists and trippy moments in the game.

You control your character as if you were manipulating an in-game analog stick on the left and move the camera by dragging the screen on the right or left. Shooting is handled by tapping the right side of the screen to go into an aiming mode, then by tapping again to shoot. You can switch between secondary modes by tilting your iPhone/iPod/iPad. In aiming mode, you can activate Stasis by tapping an icon on the back of your character. I found that activating Stasis was very difficult to pull off consistently as the game sometimes could not register my taps, but the issue may not be a problem for those who play this on the iPad with its larger screen. While Stasis is somewhat useful in some fights, you learn to play without it. Thankfully, the game gets rid of Med Packs for regenerating health, and while it can sometimes be used as a crutch to lean on, it’s still very much possible to die.

Besides managing your ammo, inventory is not something you have to deal with in this game. Just like in Dead Space, you can upgrade your weapons and suit at Benches and buy better suits and ammo at stores.

Level progression is somewhat boring in this game. You move through tight corridors that can sometimes be indistinguishable, meaning a heavy reliance on your Locator to show you the correct path, and most levels have a Tram sequence, where you must deal with a wave of Necromorphs in a platform-like level. Zero-G moments are almost non-existent for a majority of the game. If you die or decide you’ve had enough, you can rest knowing that your progress won’t disappear in vain thanks to the generous checkpoint system. Some might complain that this makes the game too easy, but this game is on a portable platform and the checkpoint system is designed with this in mind.

Presentation and production values are great, not only for being an App Store game, but also for portable gaming in general. Atmosphere and sound translates well into portable form, but occasionally you get an ugly environment here or there.

On the normal difficulty, this game lasted me approximately five hours. New game+ is available, and since I didn’t even max out my weapons and suit, don’t think there’s nothing to do after your first play through. For the price, you’re getting an amazing game and a great example of what higher production gaming can be for the platform. Oh and achievements are in.

If you want a deeper game on your iDevice, or a fan of the Dead Space franchise, this game is not one to skip.

Chapter by Chapter – Dead Space (Mobile)

Greenyz — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:26:56 +0000

Oh man what a good game. I wish I knew about the screen capture trick on the iPhone earlier so some chapter lack images. Oh yeah don’t forget I spoil the entire game basically.

Chapter 1

(Taken from New Game+)

Character movement is handled with an in-game analog sticks. Left is character movement and right is camera movement. It’s dual stick movement.

Camera movement kind of bothers me. You can turn the camera but instead you have to drag it. It makes the game feel really clunky.

Plasma Cutter is in. You alternate the gun through tilting. It’s responds decently. It’s not too sensitive at least.

Aiming is handled by tapping at the ride side of the screen to go into an aim mode. I think you can reload by tapping your gun because I’ve accidentally reloaded a few times.

Vandal is the name of the main character a new convert. Things go to hell quickly. So far the standard Slasher Necromorph is all that is seen.

End by going to an elevator.

Chapter 2

Finally got stasis. You tap an icon on the back of your character when you’re in aiming mode. So far the fights haven’t been that intense. One or two enemies at a time on-screen.

Last battle of the level I think had three to four enemies at once. Lurkers now appear.

Camera movement makes Telekenisis stuff pretty annoying but there hasn’t been any intense moments so far where it’s necessary.

Another elevator ending. The government is mad at Vandal for I think causing the outbreak of Necromorphs in Level 1. Something like that, I dunno.

Chapter 3

Exploder showed up. Swarmers showed up a bit later. It’s easier to play this game when you anticipate the “surprises”. I think I can’t activate the Stasis because my fingers get sweaty (gross).

Oh yeah I can upgrade weapons and buy armor. I couldn’t afford the armor since I needed ammo.

I noticed you can cheat the game because it’s somewhat robotic. Similar to activating actions in Resident Evil, enemies going into an attack animation if you get close enough to them to activate it. If you manage to get to the Necromorphs before they start attacking you can spam the melee prompt and gain invincibilty frames. I guess I’m playing it wrong… :/

Chapter 4

This image probably doesn't belong here.

Went by without much of a hitch.

Chapter 5

Did I encounter a glitch. Vandal said “Who’s there?” I see a mirror image of myself. When I walk back it walks back, when I move forward it moved forward. When I walked into it I saw a flash of light and I exited the game. O_O

Chapter 6

Getting used to the controls. Intense gunplay is almost impossible due to the controls though so I usually just wait for enemies to come to me so I don’t have to struggle with the controls.

Chapter 7

End battle with the Brute was annoying. I got used to playing without stasis because it can never recognize me tapping the screen but it’s almost impossible to not use it for this fight.

Chapter 8

Fuuuuck you game. You finally caught me with that Necromorph after going to the shop. Boo there was a locked door that needed a Power Node but I moved into the next level unknowingly and now I’ll never know what was in that room.

Chapter 9

This is a later chapter but I didn't have any better images of the new gun :3

Core Extractor! Giant room with something in the center! Boss time!!! That was easier than I thought.

Chapter 10, 11

Wat okay I got so into the game that I forgot to pay attention. The game just got intense. Of course Tyler would betray you. After a lack of Zero-G moments it’s good to see some finally come up. Trippy Marker scenes as well.

Chapter 12

Somewhat anti-climactic boss and ending. Some of the platform sequences were more intense than this boss fight but I’m happy it’s not as frustrating as those sequences as well. Oh yeah pulling a Metroid, pretty surprising but not really since the character’s real identity was hidden and never explored.