Advertising

As an Amazon Associate, we earn commission from qualifying purchases.





Rainier's Articles


NDS Preview - 'Nostalgia'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Role-Playing
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Matrix Software
Release Date: September 2009

Nostalgia is an interesting-looking RPG for the Nintendo DS. Combining steampunk with traditional JRPG styles, the game shifts the nature of RPG combat just a little and has you exploring an interesting take on the world in the late 19th century. Naturally, it's designed to be nostalgic for many RPG fans indeed.

The basic story casts you as a finely dressed young lad whose father was apparently has disappeared; during my time with the game, the exact details aren't yet made clear to the player.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'The Bigs 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Sports
Publisher: 2K Sports
Developer: Blue Castle Games
Release Date: July 7, 2009

One of the more popular sports titles in the early '90s was a little game called NBA Jam. Developed by Midway, it was best known for being a less serious take on the sports genre. You had all of the famous teams and a good number of the famous players, but the gameplay was more fast-paced and less serious than other official titles of the generation. It featured arcade-style gimmicks, such as an almost complete lack of rules and the ability to

Xbox 360 Preview - 'Halo 3: ODST'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bungie
Release Date: September 22, 2009

Halo has always been the story of the Master Chief; it began with him waking up from cryostasis, and it ends the same way. The Halo universe however doesn't quite revolve around the Master Chief, as a number of the side materials, such as the novels and comics, also involve other characters. The first game to feature a story that didn't center on Master Chief was Halo Wars, and even that focused heavily on his fellow Spartans. Halo 3: ODST is unique

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Bayonetta'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Platinum Games
Release: Q4 2009

Hideki Kamiya's creative direction has inspired gamers and turned the tables on expectations with offerings such as Viewtiful Joe, Resident Evil, and Devil May Cry during his stay at Capcom's wonder factory. At Clover, his talents would paint a fantasy masterpiece through the cel-shaded artistry of Okami's gameplay. At Platinum Games and with Sega, he intends to do the same thing with Bayonetta. A playable demo was on the floor at E3, and Kamiya, along with producer Yusuke Hashimoto, were kindly on hand to discuss the game.

The

Wii Preview - 'Muramasa: The Demon Blade'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/RPG
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Vanilla Ware
Release: September 2009

Xseed Games, what were you thinking when you let Muramasa: The Demon Blade slip out of your hands and over to Ignition? You had a game that could have potentially given you indie cred faster than NIS America and Atlus' 2009 lineups combined, and you ended up passing on it. You even said that it was going to be awesome in a released statement after dropping it. Man, that's a strange move on your part.

OK, enough about the publisher switch. Muramasa: The Demon Blade

'Saints Row' (X360) - Screens & Trailer

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - E3 2005 May 20th

Under threat from rival gangs and corrupt officials, the 3rd Street Saints must conquer the city or face destruction. But this is no ordinary city. Gateway to the Rust Belt, Southern Cross is a living,breathing environment where enemies may strike back at any time and send you reeling for support.

14. 'Shadow Hearts: From the New World' (PS2)

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under Misc Events - Most Anticipated Games of 2006

Genre: RPG
Publisher: Xseed Games
Developer: Nautilus
Release Date: March 7, 2006

Alicia Ashby: Anyone who played Midway's releases of the two Shadow Hearts games quickly realized they were playing the best RPGs ever released for the PS2 - yes, even better than juggernauts like Final Fantasy and Star Ocean. Newcomer XSEED is showing off their localization skills with the release of the third game, From the New World, and it's shaping up to be everything fans could possibly want. The third game in the series follows a new protagonist and an adventure set in America, with a Chicago

'Project Wiki' - Screens

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

Webzen introduces Project Wiki (working title) for the PC, an innovative fairy-tale massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) featuring a classical cel-shaded cartoon style that allows for incredible emotional expression in a visually stunning world.

The seven Crystals of Time, which transcend all things, have the power to purify everything around them and the power to store time. Anyone who possesses the crystals may travel through time and space, and change the past to their liking. Some of the crystals have been taken by a mysterious force. It is up to you and your friends to save Project Wiki and

Xbox Preview - 'Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2005

Genre: FPS, simulation
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Bohemia Interactive
Release Date: October 3, 2005

The first thing I noticed when the fine developers at Bohemian sat down with me to demo Operation Flashpoint was that the graphics were… to put it kindly, not exactly cutting edge. In fact, they looked like just what they are, a port of low-power PC graphics from 2001. Given how many polys the Xbox can push, it was an initially disconcerting sight.

Seeing a bit more of the game started putting the graphics into perspective, though. Flashpoint is the rare Xbox title that isn’t interested in

'Whirlwind of Vietnam' - 12 New Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under Leipzig Games Convention - Leipzig Games Convention 2006