3DS Region locked

So apparently you won't be able to play Japanese 3DS games on a American 3DS system. Nintendo has decide to make the devices region locked. This is the first time a gameboy has been region locked. If you want to to play a Japanese game on your ds you can. Nintendo claims to be doing this for the benefit of the players but it's clear it's a move to prevent the importation of games from a region where do to currency or the local economy can be sold cheaper. it's a move to protect retailers. I just hope someone comes out with a sd import device so I can play region locked games. Plenty of games like love plus which I mentioned in an earlier post will likely never be released outside of Japan.

Neo Geo Color Pocket

Since I have been posting a lot about the 3DS I figured I would spend some time discussing another portable system while I wait for the 3DS. The Neo Geo Color Pocket had a pretty short consumer life span. It was competing with the game boy color. In my opinion the NGCP was superior in just about every way to the GBC but it was poorly marketed. The NGCP had horoscope/calendar program built in, a crisp color display, and was well designed. The back if the NGCP was easy to grip and it had joystick that duped in the middle making it easy to use. The amount of games that were released for the system was small but all the titles were solid. I will be doing reviews for the three best games from my NGCP collection shortly. Below is a picture of my NGCP, my three favorite games, an the back of the unit. Sorry the photos are all upside down. My iPhone is being moody.

So Ronery....

I am working on a few new reviews that will be up next week. For now though I just wanted to share this trailer I came across. I predicted there would be dating sims for the 3DS and apparently there will be one available for the Japanese launch of the 3DS. Check it out. My Japanese isn't so great but aparently the imaginary girl in the video thanks it's really nice that you can look at her from any angle you'd like using the gyro sensor built in to the 3DS. Real women are over rated.



A little ashamed to admit this but kind of want.

Mission Accomplished !

So I went to the local GameStop which I dread because they are always swamped and under staffed and I reserved  the 3DS. It's coming out March 27 and I will be there before the store opens because I am that awesome. (What's up with Nintendo releasing stuff on Sundays?) I mostly cover retro and obscure games on this blog. I actually think the 3DS will spawn tons of obscure titles. Most of which I might have to import but oh well. With a 3D display, microphone, touch screen, face camera, 3D camera and the ability to communicate with other 3DS even when in sleep mode the likely hood for strange games is good. I think there will definably be some dating sims/hentai games, although we probably won't see them outside of Japan. There were already a few Japanese DS titles. Also any simulation/rpg games are likely to offer some alter reality options like actually seeing things from the real world imported in to the game and becoming part of the experience. There are already Iphone games that use gps and the camera to let you find and zap monsters/aliens. I expect lots of obscure/unique titles and I look forward to it. Imagine a Katamari game where you are rolling stuff up in 3D and then suddenly you realized you just roll up a picture frame on a desk with your photo in it. My genitals are tingling with delight. I haven't been this excited for a new console since I bought my Dreamcast way back in the day.::FLASHBACK:: Built in modem and a memory card with a screen......This system will be around for years! ::END FLASH BACK:: It's the same kind of feeling except I really think that the gadgets on the 3DS will be used by the developers for some awesome intuitive game features. I will post an unboxing video and I will do a review of some of the launch titles when it comes out so be sure to check back in March. Until then I have a few titles I will be reviewing so be sure to check back soon.

3DS - You will be mine

I was at first a bit skeptical. This whole 3D nonsense seems like such a gimic. Avatar came out and now everything is in 3D. So when Nintendo announced it was going to release a new DS that would feature a 3D screen I was annoyed. This wouldn't be Nintendo's first foray in to three dimensions. The last journey in to the third dimension did not go so well. I had a virtual boy. It cost me 25 dollars in quarters, which I had saved up from my allowance. I plunked down on the counter to a less than pleased Electronics Boutique employee and collected the box from a huge pile of identical boxes. For 25 dollars the virtual boy came with a game. It came with mario tennis and obviously at the small price you can assume it was on clearance and hadn't sold well .Few games actually tuck advantage of the 3d and the graphics were decent but the red laser graphics would give you splitting head aches. I used to have horrible headaches from playing. What kind of kid stops playing video games because a console suggests you take a break every half hour pfftt. I now have to wear glasses occasionally which may or may not have anything to do with the virtual boy. So what changed my mind. I saw some game play vids on Nintendo's site that show the star fox, street fighter, and a new resident evil game that look gorgeous. They also are three titles that are more for the core gamer market. Aside from Zelda games Nintendo hasn't been releasing many games that are appropriately difficult enough for the core gamer market. I will be preording my 3ds and you can expect reviews posted here on my blog shortly after I have it in my hands.

Fragile Dreams: Ruins of the Moon Review - Wii

I recently picked up a copy of Fragile Dreams: Ruins of the Moon, while at gamestop during one of my hour long "what the hell do I want, I can't leave empty handed" visits. I settled for Fragile Dreams. I had picked the game up a few times and it looked appealing. I also noticed it was published by Xseed, who has published quite a few interesting titles lately.

The game takes place in japan, years after some event killed most the people on earth. In the game you take on the role of Seto. Seto is a 15 year old boy who lived with an old man in an old observatory. When the old man dies, seto leaves the observatory in search of surviviors.

The world of the game is a lonely place full of rusty fences, delapidated building, and crumbling subway stations. The game does a good job making the player feel all alone.

As far as Gameplay, Seto will have to fight on ghosts, demons, robots and other spooky things. Seto can equip a melee weapon or a long range weapon. Long range weapons should be used only when the occasional calls for it because when you are holding a long randed weapon Seto can't carry a flashlight. Thats right, Seto finds himself wandering in the dark most of the game. Pointing the wii mote at the screen will allow you to move the flash light. Enemies sneak up on you in the dark and some can only be seen when you point the flash light at them. Some enemies are weakened by light giving you the challenge of keeping the light on them as you position Seto to attack. You also use the light to find things. You will notice fireflies circling around items of interest and also a swirling green circle will mark things you can pick up. Besides food and weapons you will find mystery items. You can only determine what these items are when resting by a fire. Sometimes the mystery item is a normal item, sometimes it's a valuable mineral/gem stone or a item with a memory attached. If it's an item with a memory attached a short story or bit of dialogue will come up which represents one of the last experiences of someone who has died. The controls work well for the game. The only beef I really have with gameplay is that the map in the menu screen does not show you where you are located. you have to study it and your surroundings to figure out where you are. Enemies respawn and in some areas it's easy to get lost. I kept having to back track through underground passages fighting the same enemies. Enemies seem to linger in specific areas. Many times it makes more sense just to run past them. Your resources are limited and all weapons eventually brake. You do from time to time run in to a strange merchant when you stop to rest by a fire. Make sure you always carry a back up weapon. So basicly you search through the world looking for survivors and occasionally travel with a companion.


The graphics are pretty top notch for the wii. The characters look very Shonen anime-ish. The world is small but the for the most part small touches and details make the environments seem non repetitive.

As far as Sound. The music is great. Especially the opening and closing song. Sound effects are great too and they stuff gets louder the closer you are to it. Sounds come through the wii mote when you point the flash light at things. This helps you find enemies and can be super spooky sometimes. The voice work for the principle characters is good. However some of the speeches that accompanies the Memories you find are not so great. I don't blame the actors so much as there is so much speech and this is a low budget title. Overall thought the sound and voice work do a great job enhancing the atmosphere

So to go over the Pluses and Minuses

Good: Great Game Concept, Original Control and Gameplay Mechanics, Haunting Game World, Some Great Plot Twists, A little replay value if you don't find all the Memories the first time through,Excellent sound effects and music, Main Characters are voiced well


 Bad: Easy to get lost, Kind of short (my first play though was around 16 hours), Some enemies can only be defeated in a very particular fashion, enemies respawn immediately after leaving an area, ending was ok but not satisfying and I feel like a sequel is needed to tie off a few loose ends that are pointed out in the closing monologue

The weird: What good does being friendly to stray cats do and how do I feed them the cat food I keep finding, how come some of the enemies look so bizzare...jelly fish what?

If you are looking for a story driven game with rpg elements I reccomend this game. It's also one of the few wii titles that caters to core gamers instead of casual gamers

Mario Bros Movie Trailer - GTA Style

It's ah me Mario. I loled so hard