I have very fond memories of Ulala and her dancing heroic antics in the original Space Channel 5. I had never, however, played Space Channel 5 Part 2, which was originally exclusive to the Dreamcast in Japan, until it was re-released on the PlayStation 2. The sequel was generally regarded as superior to its predecessor in terms of graphics, gameplay, game length, and more, but its limited release stunted its popularity and potential. Now, it makes its way to XBLA, and having taken the time to explore it, I can finally agree that it is, in fact, superior to its predecessor.

But is it superior…TO ITSELF? Read the full story

I’ve never been a big fan of fishing games. Part of that, I’m sure, is that I’ve never been a big fan of fishing in general. I find it to be extremely boring. Back in my Dreamcast days, SEGA Bass Fishing was a game I never gave any attention to, and it was definitely not one of the first that would come to mind if asked which classic Dreamcast games should be re-released on XBLA with HD updates. Read the full story

When I play sports games, baseball is definitely not one of my normal selection. I generally tend to pick up tennis or soccer before anything else. That being said, MLB Bobblehead Battle is a far cry from something like 2K Sports’ MLB 2K series. With a quirky bobblehead style, and gameplay reminiscent of an arcade game, MLB Bobblehead Battle, along with the other MLB Bobblehead entries from Konami, actually ends up being…gasp…FUN. Read the full story

There was a time when FIFA was not the first name that came to mind when you thought about the best game of digital football you could play. In this ancient time, years past, Pro Evolution Soccer, also known simply as PES, was renowned as the true aficionado’s game of choice for its focus on providing as true a football simulation as it could. Today, due to a lack of vigilance on Konami’s part and a serious effort on EA’s part, the name of Pro Evolution Soccer has fallen somewhat into obscurity in the shadow of EA’s FIFA series. A lesson has been learned, however, and Pro Evolution Soccer is trying to reclaim its former glory and standing. Read the full story

I’m willing to bet that not many people have wanted to play a video game starting a character that resembles John Goodman more than Arnold Schwarzenegger. The blue-collar, colloquial everyman is a great character for film or television, but he seems a strange fit for an action star. Yet, hero John Rochard manages to be an affable, memorable character who transforms a thin premise into one of the best downloadable offerings so far this year. Read the full story

Typically, the difficulty level of a game isn’t used as its main selling point, yet the allure and excitement built around Dark Souls is built strictly on the vaunted difficulty. Billed as the spiritual successor to the extremely difficult PS3 exclusive Demon Souls, From Software decided to make the difficulty an even bigger element in Dark Souls.  Even the back of the box contains the warning “Prepare to die a lot,” and this isn’t hyperbole. There are hundreds of different ways to die, and it will quickly feel like you’ve managed to find every one of them within a few hours. Dark Souls is every bit the cruel mistress it claims to be. Read the full story

When Resident Evil first came out, it introduced millions of gamers to the survival horror genre it solidified and defined. It also helped make zombies the oversaturated theme it is today. Well over a decade later, the franchise is still going strong with dozens of games across multiple gaming platforms. Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X recently made its debut on PSN and XBLA, but it originated on the underappreciated SEGA Dreamcast as Resident Evil CODE: Veronica. Due to adding the “X” to the end when re-released on the PlayStation 2, it rose to new levels of success and fame before making its way to the Gamecube as a rare port, and a must-have for fans. So, now that it’s made its way to another console, how does it stack up to its predecessors? Read the full story

Sit right down and I’ll tell you a tale…a tale of adventure, brotherhood, betrayal, justice, and revenge. The Gunstringer, the rootinest-tootinest sheriff in the West, was betrayed by his posse. With the spirit of revenge in him, he rises from the dead to enforce justice on his former friends. All variety of bandits and bad guys are thrown his way, but he plows through them all. Nobody can stand in front of the baddest undead marionette sheriff of them all…The Gunstringer. Read the full story

RAGE is an absolutely beautiful game. Regardless of what else may be said about the game, RAGE brings its post-apocalyptic world to stunning life with an amazingly crafted environment, wonderful character design, and smooth animations. And let me tell you something…by the time you get through the first disc of RAGE, you’ll be glad that it’s so beautiful…because you’re going to see a lot of the same places a lot of times. Read the full story

There are fantasy worlds in which orcs are noble creatures. Valiant, peaceful, and in harmony with nature, these orcs are worthy of respect and admiration. While I do appreciate the effort that has gone in to bringing a modicum of civility and gentility to a stereotypically barbarous and bloodthirsty race, my orcs of choice have always been, and always will be, Tolkien orcs. Orcs Must Die!, as you may be able to extrapolate from the name, pits you against the best of orcs, Tolkien orcs. They’re vile, bloodthirsty, and overwhelmingly numerous…and I couldn’t be more pleased. Read the full story