First Impressions: Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

In preparation for the release of Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, I have been frantically trying to catch up in the Kingdom Hearts series. A few weeks ago, I was about 10 hours into Kingdom Hearts II, but playing through it was a very slow process: I thought the combat uninspired and the storyline stale.

So I'm afraid to say I quit. I hoped that the two Kingdom Hearts entries on Nintendo DS would impress me.

Enter Kingdom Hearts Re:coded for the Nintendo DS. I'm glad to report that Re:coded is a really excellent RPG.This may seem strange if you know the game's basic story: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Jiminy Cricket are trying to repair Jiminy's journal from the first Kingdom Hearts adventure. To do so, they enlist the help of a digital Sora. The player will traverse all the same worlds that are in the first Kingdom Hearts game.

In theory, it may seem kinda lame, but rest assured Re:coded and the original Kingdom Hearts are far from the same game. Button-mashy combat that is a staple of the series is present in Re:coded, but a variety of other play styles are thrown into the mix with pleasing results. A well-designed platforming stage at the end of Traverse Town is one such example. My favorite gameplay deviation has to be the turn-based battle system in Olympus Coliseum.

Re:coded has really impressed me up to this point, so I can't help but be optimistic about Dream Drop Distance.

Don't mess with the best! A review of Super Smash Bros. Brawl

It's been the privilege of gamers all over the world to play the Super Smash Bros. series. Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii has been out for a few years now, but I recently bought my very own copy of it (for many years I shared a Wii and a copy of the game with my younger siblings).

Brawl belongs to the fighting video game genre. At it's most basic, it sees up to four players duking it out as their favorite Nintendo characters on one of the many Nintendo-inspired arenas the game has to offer. As players are hit, their damage percentages go up, and the higher the percentage, the farther they fly when hit. A life is lost when they are hit out of the level's boundary.

That's the gist of it. But I'm sure most of you know all about that. Now I want to focus on the gameplay in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The controls work incredibly well and are even customizable. Players can use the Wii remote + nunchuck, classic controller, Gamecube controller, or even Wii remote by itself. From there, the controls can be further personalized and assigned to player names.

Brawl pulls off an incredible feat by creating an unprecedented balance amongst a massive and varied character roster. No one character will give a player an inherent advantage, but you'll find that certain types of characters fit your playing style better than others. When it comes to the line-up itself, you'll find no shortage of great fighters to choose from. From Mario to Marth, from Pikachu to Pit, there's a character for everyone.

On the content front, Brawl is no slacker. When you're with friends, the battles you can create are virtually unlimited thanks to options that alter play mode, time limit, item frequency, and much more. A large collection of arenas adds to the variety, and a level building tool allows players to contribute something of their own to the game's depth. If you don't happen to have a friend to play with, no worries. Brawl also contains an extensive amount of solo modes, one of which is the colossal Subspace Emissary adventure.

Slick menus, smooth-running graphics, and an okay online mode round out one of the best gaming experiences on Wii. In short, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is simply a must-own game for any Wii owner.

Metroid Prime and lots of screaming

I don't like to be horrified. Whether it's games, movies, or books, the "horror" genre is the last I would deliberately seek out.

I wouldn't call Metroid Prime a "horror" game, but it has a distinctly spooky atmosphere about it. It's terrifying, but in a very satisfying way. Does that make sense? Well, what if I just told you that I have screamed, out loud, many times while playing it?

What's the game's secret? It's got to be a combination of a lot of things, including art direction, level design, and music and sound effects. Especially music and sound effects. Just listening to some of the boss themes will send shivers down my spine, no problem. Sometimes you hear things. You hear, but don't see. You move forward a couple of steps, ever so cautious, look around for whatever's making the noise, and still you don't see.

I think atmosphere is the calling card of the Metroid series. I've played a lot of Metroid games, but none boast the same raw, well-defined creepy feel as Metroid Prime. Then again, I haven't even reached the second or third Prime games yet.

You're playing that?!



For some it's this way, for others it's opposite

All of us have those game genres that we absolutely cannot stand! The question is why? Why do most girls hate sport and killing games? Why do most guys love those? It's all a matter of opinion!

Personally I can't stand games that involve guns and shooting/killing or games that you play a sport in! Every time I see one of my little brothers playing those types of games I say something along the lines of, "You're playing that?" Every time they answer back, "This game is awesome!" I have never ever understood it.

I'm not saying those games are lacking in any way (especially considering the fact that shooting games improve your reaction speeds in real life), I just really hate those types of games! I'm more of a strategizing kinda gal myself!

I believe girls are more peace-loving and calm, and that's why the majority of us love games genres like RPG and Platformers. Men, on the other hand, love the action and adrenaline that come with fast paced shooting games.

What about you? What kind of games do you enjoy most to play? Why do you think that certain people enjoy certain games? Leave your response in the comment section below! We love to hear from you guys!

Frustrations about memory cards



Admit it: They're all evil!

I have been looking for my PlayStation memory card for months. It's so frustrating losing one; actually it's frustrating having them in the first place!

1. When lost, they are never to be found again.
2. Must buy a new one (around $15 for a good one).
3. All old game data is COMPLETELY GONE.
4. Now you have to start over on all the games that you had gotten really far on.
5. If you are so unlucky as to have two memory cards, you will constantly forget what one the game you are playing is saved on.

Okay, so I admit these aren't really all "valid" or whatever; once again it's all pretty much just me ranting about how I lost my memory cards. Now I have to get a new one and start all my games over!

What do you guys think about these devils?