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Unite fellow Workers!

Red Faction came out with the great idea of changeable terrain. It was a really interesting concept when it was first released, I remember on the PC Demo I would practice making little mole holes with explosives through rock walls. I never played it all the way through, but now that it’s coming to PSN as a PS2 Classic!

What was Red Faction about again??

From what I remember you play as a Martian miner who has been beat down by the bourgeoisie Earthlings for the last time and you start taking matters into your own hands. This was a cool look into Marxist theory, and considering I took a Russian Language and Culture degree, this concept is actually pretty interesting. Of course this game was very popular and it became a franchise with many sequels. Having never played the first one I might have to check this one out.

That is if I wasn’t flying to Korea on Tuesday… Damn…

Check it out on Tuesday.

PSoneclassics

Hopefully Vita PSone playability coming soon?

A surprise posting by the Playstation Blog through their weekly post on the Drop, two new psoneclassics coming to the network before the landmark release of Legend of Dragoon next week.

If you've ever dreamed of shooting drug dealers in a mech, this is for you.

The first, Future Cop LAPD

This game is sort of a mech shooting adventure game. I remember playing this back in the day on the PC, it was a ton of fun and had a lot of re-playability with a special tower defence like mode. I’m not sure how well it plays as a PSoneclassic, but I’ll certainly be interested to try it out. You play a LAPD Mech that has to take out drug dealers and terrorists, it can run around on two legs, or switch into a hover mode. I’ve been jealous of this game being released in EU for a while, so I’m glad I get a chance to try it.

The second Darkstalkers 3

The third release in Capcom’s fighting franchise that introduced us to the sexy Morrigan. The first game Darkstalkers The Night Warriors was already released on the network back in October. These games were celebrated as the genesis for the Marvel Vs. Capcom games (using similar fighting systems), so if that’s your thing, you should be excited.

Overall this is a pretty good haul for PSoneclassics, let’s just hope that the Vita gets PSoneclassics playability soon like Sony promised. Any time is good Sony, we’re waiting for ya.

PSoneclassics.com

PSoneclassics.com

Garry Gaber was a Lucas Arts employee working with some of my favourite games ever. He worked on Star Wars Shadows of the Empire for the N64, and Star Wars Dark Forces 2 Jedi Knight. Now with his own studio out of Austin Texas he’s working to build a space combat game in the vein of X-wing Vs. Tie Fighter (another favourite of mine), and most importantly release it on both the PC and the Vita.

He’s started a Kickstarter for the game, and the word needs to get out! They’re about 1/3rd of the way there, and for only 15 bucks you get a free digital copy of the game either on PC or PSVita, so get out there and start kickstarting!

Here’s the link to the Kickstarter

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/732317316/starlight-inceptiontm

oddly enough, that's the only colour you'll see in Escape Plan

Escape Plan

Escape Plan was one of the original launch title for the Vita, and one of the games that had me most interested in the system when I first saw it demoed. The game just oozes style, and I wanted to see how it played on the new device. Is this game something to load up on your Vita or should you just leave it to look cool on other people’s Vita’s? Keep reading to find out the whole story for Escape Plan on the Vita.

Story

This is a puzzle game so story is pretty bare bones… You play as two different characters, Lil and Laarg, two strange ink people who are for some reason imprisoned by a guy named Bakugan. Considering that no one ever speaks in this game (although you do hear Bakugan getting upset once and a while), there’s no personification to speak of, and it’s sort of not the point, like in any puzzle game that isn’t Portal, the Story isn’t the focal point.

Lil and Laarg Derpin out.

Gameplay

This is something that I was really wondering about when I first saw the game play. Escape Plan uses almost exclusively the dual touch screens for controls. This input method have you control your characters, and the things around the environment, like moving objects in the level to help Lil and Laarg survive and make it to the next screen. The sad part about this, is that it doesn’t really work quite well… I don’t think this has anything to do with the developers not knowing how to use the touch screens, but I think that sadly touch screen controls will always be less comfortable than button controls.

Feats that would be easy to perform with regular buttons become difficult and frustrating using the touch screens, and another problem is if you don’t have massive hands it’s difficult to switch between the back and front touch screens without changing your handle on the Vita, and that lead to a lot of unnecessary deaths in this game. The controls just never got out of the way like they do in other games where you just “are” the character.

Many times I had figured out the puzzle quite quickly, but because of the slow and clunky controls it made me want to smash my console. This game does not play well.

The game looks beautiful, but that little brick you see Lil walking into kills you... just like the gameplay...

Graphics

Here is something that the game does really well. Escape Plan runs in a retro black and white art style that really does look great, if Tim Burton worked in game design you might see a few more games with this design. The music in the game is also great, using classical music and old tunes to – with the black and white art style – create a cool atmosphere that certainly does make this game a pleasure to look at. It does show a great attention to detail, but sadly that great style doesn’t prevent the gameplay from getting in the way.

Is Escape Plan worth playing?

This is a game with a lot of style, but really it doesn’t deliver on the gameplay side. They had an interesting idea, but at the end of the day I felt like I was playing something more at home on an ipod than a “hardcore” gaming device. It shows that the limitations of Touch screens still persist even when you have two of them. It was a noble effort, but the idea was ultimately flawed.

5.5/10

A good idea but Escape Plan’s controls are clunky and obtrusive.

Oh well, at least it wasn’t on a weekend like it was last time, hopefully some new features come out of it.

PSoneclassics.com

There is no box art, so... Here

Once again another PS Vita launch title is being reviewed, I was lucky enough to grab a free copy of this from a nice person on reddit. Super StarDust Delta is the Vita version of Super Stardust HD on the PS3, that I received free from Sony during the whole PSN hack episode. I have probably played this game on the PS3 about 10 minutes total. And to start with the Vita version I actually wasn’t that interested in it until I started to figure my way around the controls and then… well… Continue reading and you’ll find out.

Gameplay

Super StarDust Delta is a twin stick shooter in the most classic sense. Move with the left stick shoot with the right, it’s a basic concept but it still feels great, and the Vita’s analog sticks do a great job of keeping the action moving smoothly. You’re charged with destroying different types of asteroids that are flying around different planets, these could be made of Ice, or Rock, so you have to switch between different weapons to be more effective. These can be upgraded with pick ups you get from destroying special green asteroids. You get another few weapons as well like the charge (triggered with the left shoulder button), which turns on a temporary shield and rams your target, Missiles which shoot out around out in a large circle to help you when you’re surrounded (triggered by the front touch screen), and a Black Hole, triggered by the back touch screen which spins the asteroids around the center for easy targeting (you can also chose where you want the black hole to go by dragging your hand on the back pad, it’s really easy to trigger this one by accident though).

Points!

The main difficulty in this game is the shear amount of things on screen at once, you’ll be fighting not only asteroids, but other enemies, like ships trying to kamikaze themselves on your hull, explosive charges that follow you, and big scary bosses at the end of every level that are all a ton of fun. You have to figure out your strategy for each boss, but you won’t be tearing your hair out, and overall the gameplay is fun, engaging and not cheap.

There are tons of extra mini games and alternate control options included in the game as well (especially if you buy it with the Blast pack that adds on even more content).

Graphics

There is a lot of colour in this game

This game is beautiful, not only do the colours pop on screen but it runs really smooth. One gripe I have about the presentation though is how the camera moves when you’re playing. The levels are a little too big for the Vita, so to look down or up you have to use the accelerometer in the device to change your view. It feels a little off to me to say the least, and it prevents you from lets say, playing while in bed if you don’t sit upright.

That little gripe aside, the graphics are bright and run well, the music is good, and everything is easy to see on screen, so you don’t get jumped by a barely visible foe. There’s not too much that could wrong on this one, considering they just had to update the same graphics from the PS3 Version, and nothing did, the OLED screen also helps a lot to have those colours pop.

Should you buy Super StarDust Delta?

One of Super Stardust Delta's bosses

Absolutely yes. this past week alone I’ve replayed the the arcade mission through at least ten times to improve my score and get up on the worldwide highscore lists. It takes the place that Everyday Shooter had for me on the original PSP, that is to say, an addictive, engaging and fun experience, that you can pick up and play without having to invest hours and hours into. The graphics are great and the gameplay is very solid. This should keep you entertained for a while.

Super Stardust Delta is a great launch title for the Vita, and will stay on my system for a long time.

8.5/10

Just last week, the Sony Bend PSP games, also known as the best shooters to ever be released on the platform were removed from the Playstation store. This included Resistance Retribution, Syphon Filter Logan’s Shadow and Syphon Filter Dark Mirror. Why they were removed is a mystery at this point, put most educated guesses point to the same reason MotorStorm Arctic Edge was removed, that there was some glitch in the software that allowed you to load a PSP emulator onto the PSVita.

I don’t blame Sony for removing that possibility for piracy, but still these games were some of the best on the PSP, and I was hoping to at least play through Resistance Retribution at some point on my Vita. (Maybe Motorstorm Arctic Edge as well!). Considering that Sony is so Firmware happy lately, maybe they’ll update these games back onto the store once the loop is fixed.

PSoneclassics.com

Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus boxart

Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus

This game was originally released on the original Xbox as Ninja Gaiden Black, then it was updated to “Sigma” for the PS3. The Sigma plus you would rightly assume is the Vita port of this game, should it have been left out of the launch window or is it one of the best titles on the system? Keep reading to find out.

Story

Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus isn’t a narrative powerhouse, but it’s full of a great kind of kitch story telling. It’s about honor and family, sensei’s and demons. The fun is actually in the cheese, and in that way the story doesn’t disappoint. You play as Ryu Hayabusa, a member of the Dragon lineage (and the Dragon Clan as it turns out). Your family protects the Dragon swords, one evil sword and one…not so evil one that Ryu carries around. In the first chapter Ryu’s village is attacked and your adventure begins.

You meet a few interesting characters along the way, and even get to play as another character in the story (a monster hunter named Rachel). Really though this game is about the great action and challenge you’ll face while playing this title. The story doesn’t drive you forward like some of the great narratives in the medium, but it keeps you interested with the next strange conversation you’ll hear, or by learning a little more about Ryu and his famous sword.

Gameplay

Killing people with these is so satisfying...

This is where this title really shines. As an action game Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is a thrilling experience, the action is challenging of course, but it’s never cheap, and you always know that when you die, no matter how frustrating it may be, that if you practice you’ll improve. You start with the Dragon sword, but as the game continues you get numerous other weapons to rely on. Throwing weapons, bombs, staves, dual katanas, nunchuku, etc. etc. Some of these weapons are necessary for certain enemy types, but they’re all fun to use, and easy to learn. Ninpo magic is something you’ll work with as well, which is a bit of a help especially in boss battles. I didn’t use it very often preferring the melee combat, but the Ninpo magic certainly saved my butt when I was in a jam.

There is a bit of platforming in the game, but luckily Ryu is an agile guy, and can run along walls, climb ledges, and do just about anything you need. Don’t expect Assassin’s Creed level of platforming, but those sections in this game usually make you think, and although they were sometimes frustrating, just like the combat, it isn’t cheap.

Upgrades are another thing you’ll find in Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus, you can upgrade your accessories for upgrades (like extra health or defence) and every weapon can be upgraded to do more damage ala God of War. Upgrades, health potions and accessories are all available for purchase from in game shops and strangely enough statues of blacksmiths. You buy upgrades with the yellow orbs you collect from killing enemies. It has a familar economic feel just like other action games, and it works well, and there’s just that much more incentive to go out and kill some more baddies.

Some of the shooting mechanics are a little annoying though, you use the touch screen to shoot arrows and other projectiles. They take a little while to get used to, but luckily they’re not that common of a hindrance. You’re lucky in the way that you can kill almost any enemy with your awesome melee combat.

Well Hello Madame.

Graphics

Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus actually looks quite good on the Vita. The game runs really smooth, and the animations  are great. The first time you see Ryu use nunchucks you might get a flashback of Bruce Lee from Enter the Dragon. They took a lot of care when they first made this title. The animations are different for each weapon as well, making them all really interesting to use.

The environments in this game aren’t the most exciting, but then again you have to take into account when this game was made. It won’t blow you away with amazing settings like Uncharted Golden Abyss did, but the places you see in this game are at least quite varied, you’ll go from a small village to a large capital city, to dungeons, and even an Egyptian crypt. I don’t give away all the environments of course, that would spoil it a bit, but you’ll be surprised along your way, that’s for sure.

The voice overs are actually well done too, they really push the cheese factor that the story calls for. The pre-rendered cutscenes are great too, you’d be surprised how over the top they are. The music is decent as well, but it won’t really blow your mind. I don’t ever remember it being annoying or memorable in either way, I guess I was more working on the great combat.

I shouldn't like her outfit... but I do.

Is Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus Worth it?

Undeniably yes. If you’ve never played this title and have a Vita, buy it. There was a ton of content in this game too, it took me almost 20 hours to complete the main story, and there are many “ninja challenges” that test your skills too. The difficulty in this title is a little extreme as well, and for perhaps good reason they developers put in a mercy button for you (after dying a few times they ask you if you would like to continue your quest, if you say no, you’ll be pulled back into the game at a lower difficulty, this wasn’t explained sadly though, so I unwittingly ended up finishing the game on the lowest difficulty, there being three).

What really had me hooked, and I mean up till 3am in the morning hooked on this game is the great gameplay that is visceral and satisfying. This is a great title for the Vita, make sure to check it out.

9/10