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Rainier's Articles


NDS Preview - 'Cooking Mama'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2006

Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: Majesco
Developer: Taito
Release Date: Q4 2006

Cooking Mama is poised to take over the US in a whirlwind of Japanese-influenced culinary awesomeness. This title, a hit in Japan, is quite possibly the first in a new genre of cooking games, being followed up later this year, of course, by Devil May Cook and World of Foodcraft.

All kidding aside, Cooking Mama features over 76 real recipes for Japanese dishes such as yakitori (meat and veggie skewers) and okonomiyaki (a kind of Japanese pancake). The game is laid out as a series of mini-games which divide up

NDS Preview - 'Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2006

Genre: Action
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Release Date: Fall 2006

The year is 1944. Thirty-three years ago, John Morris and Eric LeCarde defeated Dracula's niece, Elizabeth Bartley, and in so doing, saved the world. As usual.

Now, in the middle of World War II, another vampire has raised Dracula's castle. Two mysterious girls are using the chaos of the war as cover to raise Dracula yet again. John's son Jonathan – the current wielder of the Vampire Killer whip – and his childhood friend Charlotte Orlean are the only people who can prevent Dracula's newest resurrection.

If history is

Time Crisis: Crisis Zone (PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

The action takes place in Garland Square, on the outskirts of London. The newly opened complex has been taken over by a terrorist group, and it’s up to you to liberate it. Enjoy an unprecedented level of interaction with the background: shoot CDs and books off of store shelves, burn racks of clothing, break glass, or slice through metal bars. Blaze through levels using double-gun shooting action with two

'Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2' (PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - E3 2004 May 12th

Introducing the next great sports title for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Whether you wish to play through a career and progress through the professional tennis rankings, or go head-to-head with your friends in an arcade match, Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 offers a complete set of compelling modes and features. Pick your favorite pro player or create your own and prepare to take the sport by storm!

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Bioshock'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2006

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Irrational
Release Date: 2007

It's been long enough that quite a few gamers have never heard of the System Shock games, two benchmark PC games that set the bar for challenging FPSes and, in their own way, for survival horror. When you hear older gamers talking about SHODAN or crawling through hallways with only a wrench to defend themselves, they're referring to the arguably classic System Shock 2.

(It's also unfortunately out of print. Would it be too much to ask that somebody run off another batch of those?)

Bioshock is a

Tales of Symphonia (NGC) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

How much are you willing to sacrifice for the chance to save your world? In a dying village on Sylvarant, legend has it that a Chosen One will one day appear from amongst the people and the land will be reborn. Enter a world of beautiful cel-shaded graphics and high-quality Anime cut scenes by renowned artist Kosuke Fujishima. Command real-time battles in a unique 3D battle system that gives

PSP Preview - 'Tekken: Dark Resurrection'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2006

Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Release Date: Q3 2006

This year's E3 featured an astounding number of PSP titles that were just plain fun to play, which is something that the handheld console has been lacking until now. Tekken: Dark Resurrection was among those titles, and it was perhaps the single game I put in the most time with during E3. While it is largely a straight port of the limited arcade release by the same name, T:DR is certainly more portable than an arcade machine.

The most important facet of any fighting game is

Xenosaga II (PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

The sequel to Monolith Soft’s popular epic six-part RPG saga, Xenosaga: Episode I, Xenosaga Episode II returns with much of the cast from the original. Again exclusive to the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system from Sony, Xenosaga Episode II picks up right where Episode I left off. With a new, more realistic looking character art style, players can also look forward to improved graphics, an improved battle interface, more outdoor environments (rain, snow, rivers, etc) and much more.

Will Xenosaga Episode II uncover its predecessor’s mysteries including the history between Jr., Albedo, and Gaignun Kukai or will it reveal the mysteries

'Ace Combat 5' (PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

Introducing Wingman Command, 'Ace Combat 5' is the premier air combat game combining ultra-realistic graphics and dog fighting with the sheer excitement of commanding a squadron, knowing that their fate is in your hands.

“There is an incredible expectation of quality associated with the ACE COMBAT series,” said Garry Cole, executive vice president of sales for Namco Hometek Inc. “More than one million people have enjoyed ACE COMBAT®04 and our development team has been hard at work to make sure those fans have a great sequel to look forward to. With a compelling storyline, unbelievably realistic graphics and great new exclusive

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Army of Two'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2006

Genre: Action
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Montreal
Release Date: 2007

We live in perilous times, my friends. These days, the game industry is either all about the single-player experience, or the dynamics of (God help us, sometimes massive) multiplayer. Remember back in the day, when it was only about two people? In games like Streets of Rage, Contra and Final Fight, you had to help out your partner every step of the way, or face mutual destruction. These days, we're lucky to get a "cooperative mode" in the games of our choice.

Enter Electronic Arts, who wants