It has been said that Pokemon Black and White are an attempt to revitalize the series–so how does this new generation hold up?

There will be spoilers in here, so if you want to be surprised, click away now.

Still with me? Let’s embark on our Unovan adventure…

Story-Very Good

This is not your typical “get eight badges and stop the evil team” tale–while this is what you eventually have to do, the way the evil team, Team Plasma, is designed and characterized make you sympathetic to them, and they even have justification for their plot to take over the world (they want to do this under the guise of “liberating” Pokemon from their trainers, but our hero/heroine discovers what they REALLY want to do). No more are the evil teams evil just because–the character development on both sides shows how well Pokemon as a whole is moving foward in storytelling. It is only kept from being Excellent because, well, it is your same old “get the eight badges and stop the evil team” plot!

Graphics-Very Good

The graphics here are very nicely done for being sprite based, and the city design pushes the DS to its full power–you can see rustling grass and dirt flying (which are clues to hiding Pokemon) In addition to having passing of day and night, the seasons also change here, making for four completely different looks and songs for each location (this even affects some Pokemon as well.) Overall, the attention to detail makes you really feel like you are right there alongside your character.

Sound/Music: Very Good

The soundtrack is a blend of old and new–while some old favorites are here (the final Gary battle from Red/Blue/Yellow returns, to name one example), the new tracks are just as good, and you’ll likely find yourself humming or singing along to at least one of them (case in point: vs. Cheren, one of the two rivals in the game) The music is also affected by how well you are doing in battle–doing great against a Gym Leader results in the Red/Blue opening being mixed into the soundtrack when you get down to their last Pokemon–as if the game is telling you “Yes! You’re almost there!” Doing badly results in the game switching to a minor key as the low HP warning beep becomes part of the music, signaling “Hey, you’re fixing to lose a Pokemon here!” Overall, the music is very enjoyable and enhances the experience, thankfully with no annoying tracks.

Gameplay: Excellent

Where do I begin with what has been changed for this generation–in addition to a new region (Unova) new Pokemon (bringing the grand total to 649 Pokemon), new items, new characters, and new moves, we have:

–a revamped 3D battle system
–3 on 3 battles
–a revamped HP bar (rather than sitting and watching it drain, appropriate sized chunks are taken off of it, speeding up the battle process)
–the ability to send your saved game to others via Wi-fi
–Pokemon Centers and Pokemarts are now conveiniently in one place
–The Dream World, a Wi fi area to obtain Pokemon from previous generations, many with new abilities

and that’s only scratching the surface!

Combine this with plenty to do besides the quest and afterwards, and you’ll be playing for a long time.

Overall, this is a very refreshing take on the standard Pokemon game that moves both the formula and the franchise forward in a big way.

Final Score: Very Good (4/5)

But was this grand adventure worth the wait?

There will be spoilers in here, so if you want to be surprised, click away now.

Still with me? Let’s begin the reverie:

Story: Very Good

While certainly not original in terms of the ultimate goal (you still have to save the world), the game does a good job with the theme of finding oneself–the story begins with our hero (I named him Arran) on an epic quest to save the world. Just as his adversary is about to put the smackdown on him, we learn that it was all a dream–but our hero has no clue who he is. Complicating things further are an accidental foray into the world of dreams and a message from the guardian spirit of his village telling him to save the world and find himself in the process. Along the way, he meets up with various allies in both worlds that are dealing with the same problem. The idea of two interconnected worlds may evoke Zelda to some people (and it certainly did on its initial release on the SNES), but overall, DQ6 manages to take these tropes and the timeless theme of finding yourself and weave them into a beautiful narrative.

Graphics: Excellent

The cartoony DBZ style graphics you know and love are back, but of note here are the effects, such as fire and flashing light–these and other effects are very nicely done, which shows how much love the team put into sprucing up the old graphics. In addition, characters turn transparent when they fall into the dream world, which is a neat effect in itself. Overall, it is very clean and sharp looking, and worthy of Square’s high standards.

Sound/Music: Very Good

Again, most tunes you know and love are here–the bombastic opening, the file select, the spell cast noise, and the like. While most of the other songs are reasonably likeable, the normal battle track can grate on your nerves after a while, keeping this from earning an Excellent. Grievances with the normal battle theme aside, this is a pretty solid soundtrack suited for an epic adventure.

Gameplay: Excellent

There have been a number of changes between this and the SNES version–aside from the obligatory name changes, one nice perk from the other DQ DS remakes carries over here–even inactive characters gain XP, which saves a lot of frustration trying to get every character evenly leveled. The biggest change comes in the Beastmaster class–no more can you recruit monsters, but you CAN recruit special slimes that will help the party (even Healie is back) Couple this with a number of mini games and three casinos, there’s plenty to do outside the main quest.

Aside from some annoying tracks and a story some may find cliche, this is still a very solid RPG that offers plenty to do, and worth a rental at least.

Final Word: Very Good (4/5)

Be forewarned, there will be spoilers in here, so if you want to be surprised, click away now.

Still with me? Let’s break the game down:

Story: Good (3.85/5)

The story revolves around a boy named Brandt, who lives in the village of Horne. When boys in the game’s world come of age, they have an audience with the king–so when Brandt has his audience, he is told to save the princess Aire from the Witch of the north, which is only the starting point towards uncovering and stopping a demon invasion. While very simple at its heart, the characters more than make up for it–Aire and Jusqua are perfect foils. Aire with her stuck up princess tendencies, and Jusqua as the hapless servant calmly deflecting Aire’s temper tantrums. Aire’s antics with the others alone could possibly justify plunking down $30 for the game–she is that funny.

Graphics: Very Good (4/5)

The game looks and feels very much like an old storybook or a pop-up book akin to Final Fantasy Tactics, perfectly lending itself to the retro feel that the team was going for. While there is a lot of blocky 3D in the game, and occasionally this poses a problem, in this case it adds to the retro styling.

Sound/Music: Poor (2/5)

Now, I am not saying that the music is bad here–there still many likeable tracks in the game. My problem is the fact that the soundtrack could’ve been so much more than NES style bleeps and bloops–couldn’t the team have remixed some old favorites from Final Fantasies of yore? That would’ve said “nostalgia” or “retro” far better than any number of bleeps and bloops–but maybe the team was going for an NES-like feel. That still makes it feel odd that 8 bit bleeps and bloops are coming from something so much more powerful than an NES, making for what I think is missed potential.

Gameplay: Very Good (4/5)

Here’s where the game both shines and creates a love/hate relationship with its audience–the job system is back within “crowns” that you unlock as the story progresses, and you can use gems that the monsters drop to upgrade the crowns and grant you new skills (or you can sell them for gil) This makes you think carefully about whether to sell the gems you find or save them to upgrade a crown.

Those expecting to find a turn based battle a la the SNES Final Fantasies will be sorely disappointed, 4 Heroes’ of Light’s battle system is reminescent of the NES Final Fantasies. Your characters are limited by a set of action points, and if they are used up, your character can’t do anything else until they earn back an action point. Couple this with an auto targeting system and up to 60 items in your inventory (15 things per character) and you have a refreshing new spin on the turn based battle that may leave you tearing your hair out in frustration if you don’t know what to expect going in. Even normal enemies can be challenging to the novice player–sometimes a little too hard. Fortunately, you cannot die in game–if all of your party members die, you lose some of the gems you have collected. So if you go in expecting a challenge, you’ll be satisfied, if not enthralled.

Final Word: Average (3/5)

The team at Square set out to create a retro style game with today’s technology when they designed 4 Heroes of Light. On some fronts, such as the storybook-like graphics and memorable characters, they succeeded, and on other fronts, like the music and the battle system, it falls flat. Despite its flaws, it is still an enjoyable experience and worth at least a rental–just come prepared for a challenge.

So when my copy arrived in the mail last week, I dove right in–and I can see why it sold like hotcakes in Japan.

Curious as to what spurred 3 million copies to fly off the shelves? Read on…

There will be spoilers in here, so if you want to be surprised, click away now.

Still with me? Let’s break the game down:

Story: Very Good (4/5)

You play the role of an apprentice Celestrian (the game’s answer to angels) in charge of guarding the small town of Angel Falls and collecting benevolessence (the people’s thanks and praises) to offer to Yggdrasil, the world tree. On one such offering, a flash of light knocks you down to the Protectorate (the world of humans) and causes you to lose your halo, wings, and angelic powers. With the help of a fast talking fairy named Stella, you set out on an epic journey to find Yggdrasil’s scattered fruit and help those in need, all the while seeking answers as to why the heavens were attacked.
While not exactly groundbreaking, it is still good, and drives the game along perfectly.

Graphics: Excellent (5/5)

The graphics are your typical DBZ style 2D you have come to expect from Dragon Quest, and they lend to the game’s world immensely–everything is crisp, clean, and colorful. There are a few minor blockiness issues with the 3D, but for the most part, 3D is clean and realistic as well.

Sound/Music: Excellent (5/5)

All the classic DQ noises and songs are here–the bombastic overture, the file select theme, and the spell cast noise are among the old favorites present. The new tracks are also nice to listen to as well, and some of them bear a striking resemblance to other songs (For instance, the inn in Stornway sounds like the Yodel Song in Snow White, for example)

Gameplay: 5/5 (Excellent)

Here’s where the game really shines, with a 45-50 hour main story that gives way to a ton of post game content. Also scattered throughout the game are mini-quests not unlike an MMO, and some of them have nice rewards. There’s also plenty to do on Wi Fi, with a marketplace of DLC and the ability to tag team with other players. You can even customize your characters, so you could hypothetically have a party of DQ all stars running around.

Final Word: Excellent (4.95/5)

A wealth of things to do and a lengthy story make it well worth the few minor issues–a great choice for a DS RPG.

According to Capcom Dark Void Zero had been in development in the 80′s for the PlayChoice 10, which was a dual-screen arcade machine, but was quickly canceled. Years later Capcom finds Dark Void Zero buried deep within their vault and decide to create a remake called Dark Void for the PS3 and 360, but they simply couldn’t leave Dark Void Zero to rot in the vault so they decided to put it on the DSI. Now if you think this heartwarming tale of love and betrayal might sound too good to be true you are indeed correct because Capcom simply wanted to make a spinoff game to Dark Void to hype it up.

Dark Void Zero puts you in the shoes(or should we say jetpack?) of Rusty, a test-pilot for Nikola Tesla’s jetpack. With the help of your jetpack and your friends guns and bullets you go on a mission to close Portal X and save the human race.Other Ocean Interactive clearly understands what makes a classic 8-bit game fun and have mixed various games together to form Dark Void Zero. They even included a clever joke where you have to blow into the DSI mic to clear dust from the cartridge shown in the game to start it. It’s also got a great soundtrack to jam to while you waste enemy scum. Did I mention it’s an 8-bit game?

There are 3 worlds for you to conquer and each has it’s own theme full of different enemies. The game is similar to Metroid in that there are also five different weapons to find in each level but you can only hold onto one at a time. You can also find the jetpack and enjoy being able to fly like a bird while your enemies stay grounded like rocks. You can fly upward by holding the button or simply hover by double tapping it. The controls for both the jetpack movement and combat itself are very tight and work well. Dark Void Zero doesn’t share the same cruel difficulty as it’s cousin Megaman but that’s not to say it isn’t difficult. You will die quite a few times in the game but it’s not impossible to beat, plus the checkpoints scattered throughout the game are generous. There are also tech points and journal entries hidden within each world for the completionists.

The game could be completed in less than 2 hours and there’s even a Steam achievement for completing it in 34 minutes, but you’ll probably replay it to get the high score. It supports a local high score leaderboard and I wondered why not include an online leaderboard but quickly put it off since personally I feel better knowing I could beat my friends than the enthusiasts online who get bigger scores than mine. Yes I’m a sore loser and cry when I’m near the bottom of the leaderboards in Megaman 10, so what you wanna fight about it? I should mention the Steam version of the game does indeed include an online leaderboard. The PC version also includes gamepad support and 2 alternate endings.

The Final Word
For $5 you can’t go wrong with purchasing Dark Void Zero. It’s got everything you’d want in a classic NES game and has a wicked good soundtrack to boot. The only complaint I could pull from this is that Nintendo only allows you to add $10 to your DSI so you’ll have some extra points left over. It seems Capcom understands that 8-bit games are coming back and are happily supporting it with games like Dark Void Zero, Megaman 9/10, and the minigames in No More Heroes.

- MonsterVine Rating: Good

There will be spoilers in here, so if you want to be surprised, click away now.

Still with me? Let’s return to that whole new world we live in…

Story: Good

The addition of a new female character adds another dimension to a classic story. Unlike the familiar red-haired rival (who is also back), she serves as more of a cheerleader, teaching you how to interact with the Pokemon following you and occassionally giving you items. The Kimono Girls play a larger role in the story as well, with your first encounter being in Violet City. In addition, Eusine and Buena (from Pokemon Crystal) also make an appearance. To review, it’s still your classic “collect eight badges and stop the evil team” tale typical of the Pokemon series, but the number of faces both old and new breathe new life into a well loved generation.

Graphics: Very Good

The Pokemon team put a lot of effort into sprucing up the old graphics, and the sheer detail really shines–every human and Pokemon looks lifelike (or as lifelike as possible on a handheld) and the environs are richly detailed, especially the Gyms–Azalea Gym looks very much like a forest, with you riding on Spinarak platforms to get to Bugsy. Ecruteak Gym is a narrow trek through a shadowy void to get to Morty, and Cianwood Gym consists of two mountains and a “waterfall” (which you must turn off in order for Chuck to even battle you). Even the 3-D image of Lugia flying at the title is fluid and realistic, and shows no sign of the blockiness seen in other DS titles with 3-D. The attention to detail really feels like you are questing across two regions with your team.

Sound/Music: Excellent

Every classic track from Gold and Silver is remixed for the DS, and there are some new songs as well–for example, Ho’oh and Lugia now get their own battle themes, as do the other Legendaries. Both the old tracks and the new sound very nice, and fit their environs perfectly, with some so good, you want to hear them again and again (such as the final showdown with Lance/Red)

Gameplay: Excellent

Both Heart Gold and Soul Silver offer plenty to do outside of the main quest. The Bug Catching Contest, the radio shows, the Trainer House, and even the Safari Zone (a feature absent in the originals) return; but there’s also some new events, namely the Pokeathlon–something like a mini Olympics for your Pokemon (complete with your character changing into a jersey) and a Battle Frontier–and many more daily events. Even the games come with a fun extra–a pocket pedometer called the Pokewalker, which allows you to build up a Pokemon simply by going about your routine.

While some, like the Pokeathlon, might be fun to do once or twice (the stylus controls for many of the games will take some practice), others will keep you coming back again and again.

The menu has been relegated to the bottom screen, and the Pokegear has been tweaked–no more will you have to pain over deleting someone’s phone number. The menu being on the bottom screen may feel awkward to those that have played the originals, but I got used to it rather quickly. The sheer number of things to do will keep fans and newcomers busy for quite some time.

Final Score: Very Good

If you played the originals and loved them, get these games. If you missed out on the second generation, definitely pick these up. If you’re just getting into Pokemon for the very first time, this is a very good place to begin your adventure. Either way, the remakes of the Johto era were well worth the 10 year wait.

Now that the game has arrived stateside, I can safely assure you that Team Zelda took a gamble or two, and the results are refreshingly fabulous!

But before we depart aboard the Zelda Express, let me warn you that there are going to be spoilers in here, so if you want to be surprised, click away now.

Still with me? Come aboard…

Story: Excellent

The story this time is a refreshing twist on the well worn “save the princess” routine–and for the first time in Zelda history, Zelda actually gets to go with Link on his quest, in a way.

Set 100 years after Phantom Hourglass, we are first told of a battle between good and evil. While the spirits of good were unable to defeat the demon king, they did manage to imprison him inside a Tower of Spirits. The chains manifest themselves in the world in the form of railroad tracks. When we meet up with Link (who is being told the aforementioned story above), he is a budding engineer about to receive his engineer’s certification. Upon receiving said certification, Zelda slips him a note to meet her in her chamber. There, she tells Link about the Spirit Tracks (the chains holding the demon king) disappearing, and how she needs to get to the Tower of Spirits. After a harrowing encounter that leads to Zelda appearing to be kidnapped, her spirit returns to Link–and so the two of them set out to rescue Zelda’s body, restore the Spirit Tracks, and stop the demon king’s return. It’s a blend of old and new with a fair amount of twists and turns along the way that will delight newcomers and veterans alike

Graphics: Excellent

The graphics here are retouched a little from Phantom Hourglass, and it really shows here–there isn’t any lag or blockiness to be found, and the cel-shaded style makes for a number of humorous expressions that add to the characters’ personalities (and give the player a giggle or two)

Sound/Music: Good

Many of the songs from Phantom Hourglass return, as do the Zelda theme (if only for a few seconds) the “got item” stinger, and the secret noise, but there are also some new songs as well–the overworld theme being my personal favorite.

Link also trades his ocarina for a new instrument this time around–a set of panpipes named the Spirit Flute. Along the way, you will learn a number of helpful songs that do everything from awaken sleeping beings to healing you in a dungeon, akin to Ocarina of Time. In addition, magical melodies are also the key to restoring the lost Spirit Tracks, and Link has to play along with the guardians of the different realms of Hyrule to create new Spirit Tracks, thereby granting him new ways to travel.

How you play the Spirit Flute is both a stroke of genius and a little frustrating the first time you do it. To play, you use the stylus to select the pipe you want to play, and blow into the mic to blow across it (just like real panpipes) On paper, it sounds easy, but with a little practice, it’s easy and enjoyable. (it helps if you tongue each note into the mic, I’ve found.) Despite this, the soundtrack is very pleasing to listen to, and follows in the Zelda tradition of wonderful music.

Gameplay: Good.

Like Phantom Hourglass, the stylus is used for all aspects of moving and attacking–just tap something to attack it, talk to it, or interact with it in some way. New to the party is the increased mic support–both for the Spirit Flute (mentioned before) and several other items.

Since you are traveling with Zelda’s spirit, she can help you by possessing a Phantom (those huge armored enemies from Phantom Hourglass) and taking control of it. This results in a number of new and interesting puzzles that require teamwork to complete, making for a refreshing experience all around.

Final Word: Very Good

Despite a few minor control issues, Spirit Tracks is a worthy addition to the Zelda story that also gives a risky but much needed breath of fresh air to the series. Fans and newcomers will not be disappointed.

Just be forwarned, there will be some spoilers in here, so if you want to be surprised, click away now.

Still with me? Let’s break the game down:

Story: At its heart, DQIV is a classic save-the-world tale. But by breaking up the experience to focus on specific characters, every character benefits with some time in the spotlight in some way, and we, the players, learn what makes them tick. For instance, Alena wants to prove herself in the tounament at Endor, Torneko wants to own his own shop, and sisters Meena and Maya want to learn who killed their father and why. Had this been one long experience, we probably would never learn so much about the characters (except maybe as a passing reference or in a cutscene), and breaking up the story into chapters makes the game that much better for it.

Graphics: The graphics are clean, colorful, and classic 2-D that look as if they came out of DBZ (which is not surprising when you consider that Akira Toriyama, creator of DBZ, is also the DQ character designer) There is also a rotating camera that literally allows you to see everything from a number of angles–which does prove crucial on your journey, as some items you will not be able to see until you do adjust the camera. That said, the only instance of 3-D I could find, the opening sequence, suffers from the same problem as Final Fantasy and Suikoden: It looks nice at the cost of looking blocky, grainy and squished, but this is likely caused by the DS’ lack of power compared to the big consoles.

Sound/Music: Most, if not all, the classic DQ noises and musical themes are here: the bombastic opening theme, the select file theme, the spell cast noise, noises for the heroes and monsters making their moves, and so on. They all sound great, lending to the environs and storyline perfectly.

Gameplay: Gameplay is easy to learn–use the D-pad to move around, A to interact with the world, and the shoulder buttons to manipulate the camera–no stylus or mic needed.

Rent or Buy?: An interesting spin on the RPG genre is worth at least a rental, if not a flat out purchase.

Graphics: Good

The detail in the cutscenes is what struck me the most graphic wise, but otherwise, which you’re on the battlefield, the characters look like little blobs until your cursor highlights them. You then get a detailed picture of that character and their stats. If this was a big console remake, I would’ve liked more detail, but given this is on the DS, it is very nice looking, tiny blobs on the field aside. You can at least tell the basic classes and Marth apart via subtle details. (for example, clerics wear white robes and carry staves)

Story: Average

Given this is a remake of the first Fire Emblem which (until the release of Shadow Dragon) has not come stateside, the story is for the most part, very simple: Marth’s homeland is overrun by invaders, and he is forced to flee–while on the run, he amasses a band of followers and with the aid of the sword Falchion, takes back the kingdom that is rightfully his. However, Shadow Dragon has a few new chapters that attempt to set up and flesh out the story to give it depth, some of which are only unlocked if you have a certain number of units alive on the field. Cliche aside, the story is still well done, and I am glad that an attempt was at least made to flesh an NES era story out, but if you’re in the mood for a pure and simple heroic romp, this will be right up your alley.

Sound/Music: Good

Good games often come with good music, and Fire Emblem is no exception–there’s a musical theme for every major moment that usually fits well, but after a while of listening, they may all start to sound the same. But what makes it worth it is the music during the story scenes–it isn’t often that the music makes me want to keep playing.

Gameplay/Challenge: Excellent

Fire Emblem is a series notorious for its difficulty, and this can be a welcome challenge and the bane of your existence if you’re not prepared. Unlike others in its genre, you cannot revive fallen units, one they die, they’re gone. If Marth is the one to bite the dust, then it’s the dreaded Game Over screen for you. As a result, you have to play it cautious and plan ahead, as one wrong move can prove to be a needed unit’s demise. If you don’t mind having to reset chapters and ask for help (which you will likely do many many times), you’ll be fine, and the game’s first few chapters will ease you into the gameplay, but you need to come prepared with an iron will and patience if you want to survive.

Overall: Good

Graphics and a flat story bring it down a few points, but the music and high challenge factor more than make up for it–if you’re a strategy fan looking for something challenging, this is for you.

Just so you know, there will be spoilers for the game in here–so click away now if you don’t want to be spoiled.

Still with me? Let’s break down the game:

Story: Excellent

If anything, I could argue that the game’s biggest strength is its story. Basically, our hero (I named him Leon) and his friends find a book inside some ruins that magically appeared out of nowhere, and when he and some of his friends touch the book, they receive visions of heroes fighting against a dark force. This sets into motion a meeting of an alternate form of one of the hero’s friends from another world, which leads to the possibility that the hero himself is from another world. (which I have yet to find out) Furthermore, our heroes are drawn into a plot involving the Order of the One True Way (TM), an almost cult-like religion that claims everything is predetermined, and there’s nothing people can do to change fate. In addition, the Order is after the book the hero found (and as the story goes on, more like them) As the heroes’ battle against the Order goes on, the world’s other lands and more characters from other worlds get involved in the race to stop the Order (and the dark presence behind them) from turning the world into fatalistic zombies. There’s excitement, intriguing characters, betrayal, tension, friendships and alliances made and lost. I don’t think my brief summary above does it any justice.

If you’re looking for the kind of story that will really draw you in and keep you playing for hours (if not days) just to see what happens next, this game is for you.

Graphics: Good

Here we have a curious factor: The 2D pictures of the characters and many anime cutscenes are very well done, but at the same time, the 3-D environments and 3-D models of the characters look somewhat blocky (a problem I also encountered in Final Fantasy 3 DS)–but I guess this is due to the DS being less powerful than its console big brothers. 3-D blockiness aside, the graphics are still nice to look at, and are the closest thing to a big console you can get on a handheld.

Sound/Music: Excellent

One pleasent surprise for me was the game’s significant amount of voice–even the hero speaks. (but parts the player can name are muted out, such as your alliance just being referred to as “the Company”) That said, there wasn’t a voice I didn’t like among the hundreds of important characters. The music is just as great, although the battle track tends to get annoying after a while

Gameplay: Excellent

Most control is done with the buttons, but the stylus can stand in for the A button if you so desire. The battle system is your standard issue turn based battle, but the sheer number of characters availiable to you to use and customize–108–often makes or breaks your battle. Recruiting all 108 is no easy task either, with some characters a real challenge to obtain. In short, an easy to learn battle and customization system combined with an immense number of playable characters makes for a very enjoyable experience.

Overall, an epic storyline filled to the brim with excitement, characterization aplenty, and intrigue makes this a must buy for the DS owner.

Final Word: Excellent