Parasite Eve 2 Boxart

Parasite Eve 2

Original Release date: September 12th, 2000

Release on PSN: August 23rd, 2011

Price: 5.99

I haven’t been playing very many games lately, and that’s because of one game, Parasite Eve 2. Let me tell you why.

Story

Once again you play as the protagonist from the first game, Aya Brea, formerly at New York City cop, now working for the Feds after the events of Parasite Eve. This time you’re part of a task force that finds strange mutated monsters and shoots them. This takes you all over to different locations in the States, but it also gets rid of the open world and colourful setting of New York City as seen in the first game. Really, I haven’t played all the way through the title so I couldn’t tell you if the story is worth experiencing or not, but you’ll see my problem with it when you look at the next section.

Crash Bandicoot

Price: 5.99

Original Release date: August 31st 1996

Release date on PSN: December 4th, 2006

Developer: Naughty Dog

Story

After playing through this whole game I didn’t even know there was a story in Crash Bandicoot. Not until I finished the game did I see a cinematic for why Crash was making his way through these levels. Apparently a Dr. Neo Cortex was trying to make Crash into a General for his mutated army so he could rule the world. Unfortunately the procedure was not a success and Crash escaped, although leaving behind his lady Crash Bandicoot behind. So that’s pretty much it, you’re looking for your Princess Peach. Not really a killer story in this one but it’s a platformer and you’re here for the gameplay so why obsess over the story hmm? I think giving the main character (who is Crash Bandicoot if you didn’t already know) a deep storyline wouldn’t really make it accessible to kids in the same way. Also, I’m not sure I could take a talking Bandicoot that seriously.

Vagrant Story

Original Release Date: May 15, 2000

Release on PSN: March 1, 2011

Price: 5.99

Story

In Vagrant Story you play as Ashley Riot, a knight in a special order. You’re chasing down an assassin with special powers who has lead a plot against the royal family, and you need to follow him through dungeons and some really interesting (beautiful) locations. You will be spending a lot of your time underground, and the story is brought to life with comic style cut-scenes with no dialogue, but comic style dialogue bubbles. This works decent enough, but considering I couldn’t get past six hours into this game (you’ll see why in the gameplay section) I couldn’t really give a decent review of Vagrant Story’s plot. So excuse me for that, now onto gameplay!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games, or Музей Советских Игровых Автоматов

The Soviet Museum of Arcade Games

During my current travels I went to visit my girlfriend Saerom ( a rabid Pokemon Addict) in Moscow for a few weeks, and we managed to make our way to the Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines. For old school gamers this is like finding a bunch of great old relics, that can teach you a bit of the history of games that you never really knew about in the first place, I mean… the Soviet Union had Arcades??? Lets see how they play…

Parasite Eve

Original Release date: September 9th 1998

PSN release date: March 15th 2011

Price: 5.99

Megaman 2

Released as a Japanese Import

Price: $5.99

Original Release date: December 24th, 1988

Released on PSN: February 1st, 2011

Story

It’s the year 200X and Dr Wiley is at it again, and has corrupted more Robot Masters to do his bidding. You play as Megaman, a Robot created by Dr. Light to defeat these Robot Masters and bring Dr. Wiley to justice.

There’s really no dialogue in this game, just a few sentences, but they’re all in Japanese (seeing as this is an import title), so you won’t be moved by the story, but then again, this is not a story driven game, it’s all about the gameplay, just like the last one.

Mega Man Review (Japanese Import)

This is my first Japanese Import I’ve bought from the Playstation store, most games are non story based, but a collection of shooters and puzzle games, that have no real back story, and Mega Man is no different.

Story

Not really a story in this one, except Dr.Wily had created some Robot Masters for you to battle, and there are six beginning stages that you can choose yourself, then a final 4 part level where you go for Dr.Wily himself. The story in this one is not really the point, but you probably know that already.

Final Fantasy 8

Original release date:  September 9th, 1999

Release date on PSN: December 17th, 2009

Price: $9.99

Crash Team Racing

Original Release Date: September 30th, 1999

Release Date on PSN: AUg 10th, 2010

Price: 5.99

Story

This is a Kart Racer, but oddly enough there’s a little bit of a story mode in here, it’s nothing to write home about, but it’s better than just going through tournaments over and over. You can pick from a number of racers to complete this adventure, but your ultimate goal is to save the world from an Alien threat by… beating them at Kart Racing… Ok so it doesn’t make any sense, but it was actually quite enjoyable. There is an overworld to drive between tracks, and even bosses to compete against after you win trophies in enough races. Most of the time the regular tracks are the most fun though.

Medal of Honor

Original release date: November 11th, 1999

Release date on PSN: June 2nd, 2009

Price : 5.99

Story

Medal of Honor is a truly legendary game, and the story that goes along with it is legendary as well. This one started the craze of WW2 shooters and I can tell why, it’s engaging and there are always a place to go and nazis to shoot along the way. The real propaganda videos spliced between missions are great to watch as well, you get a little bit of history with your gaming expercience and it’s a refreshing change to most shooters.