Our Favorite Games Through the Years - Part 6 - Gaming Thoughts

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

This was the era where Chalgyr’s Game Room started, over a decade ago now. What started as a small blog to review some games that were semi-recent-ish at the time has turned into a full-fledged site that has seen numerous contributors over the years. There were a ton of great games that released during this period, as evidenced below.

Robert:

PlayStation 3: Assassin's Creed II

I struggled with this particular platform, in large because I was deep in the midst of my anti-Sony days (and to a degree, still am) and in part because there are a ton of really good games on the PS3. From the Uncharted series to the numerous Need for Speed titles, to a host of others and all with their own elements of nostalgia or have their own special meanings ... I had been considering putting any one of the numerous Tales games, or the Trails titles, or maybe the Atelier and Devil May Cry games in. So many to choose! So I picked Assassin's Creed II, in part because it's still one of my favorite games of all time (therefore made quite the impression) but also because no matter what I do, when I reminisce about the PS3 days, Ezio always creeps into my thoughts. I could be thinking about Rogue Galaxy and how it was a criminally under-appreciated RPG, or how absolutely wonderful the .Hack games were, or just how action-packed a Tomb Raider title truly is ... but then there's Ezio and ACII just lurking in the shadows, waiting for that moment to strike.

I spent hundreds of hours wandering the streets of ACII, gathering every little thing I could (and of course, spending quite the time making sure my outfit was just right) and sometimes doing nothing more than wandering the streets and soaking in the sounds of a time and space that I'll never be able to experience for real. That's magic right there.

Xbox 360: Halo: Reach

I think that this is a given, though there are some truly great contenders here- from Call of Duty: Black Ops to Dragon Age to Mass Effect 2 to any number of racing or sports games. The 360's library of titles was huge and fit me perfectly at the time, but the one game that I still compare others to to this day ... Halo: Reach. Reach is an interesting beast- any fans of the Halo franchise will likely know about the Fall of Reach; not only was it the prelude to Halo: CE, but by Halo: Reach's release, Halo and it's lore/history were household names. What I find fascinating about it is similar to why I find the success behind James Cameron's Titanic fascinating ... we already know how the story ends yet no matter what, we can't stop rewatching/replaying.

With how Halo: Combat Evolved and the original Xbox ushered in a new era for both Microsoft and gaming in general, Bungie's magnum opus and their last outing with the Halo franchise before moving on to other projects, brought with it the end of that era (for me). While there are many great games that came to the 360 after Reach's release, none of them gripped me the way Reach did. Brilliant and customizable co-op, exciting multiplayer modes, and a deeply touching (and in some cases, slightly traumatic ... ❤️ Kat) story helped close a chapter in my life, one of heartache and pain, but also of insurmountable mountains of joy, entertainment, and healthy escapism- it's only fitting that amongst the pantheon of greats in a console that's hard to beat, it was Bungie's first and final outings with the UNSC, Covenant, and everything in between, that truly gave life to two consoles and an entire decade of memories.

Nintendo Wii: New Super Mario Brothers

New Super Mario Brothers is a bit of an odd one- there were so many great games on Wii, but none really clicked with me the way New Super Mario Brothers did. I think, though, that it has more to do with life outside of the game than it does the actual title. Yes, it's fun, yes it has some excellent replayability, but what made it special to me was that it brought my family closer in a time when things were rough. We'd laugh endlessly as we bubbled our way to safety and it became more about how bad we could cheese the game with the bubbles and less about playing it- I have so many warm memories of late nights after a long days' work and a short reprieve from a colicky baby. Sometimes that's all it takes ... that and the little "bloop" sound that the bubbles make.

Pierre-Yves:

DS / 3DS: Etrian Odyssey

I’m grouping these two together. The Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 3DS are like the SNES, an absolute treasure trove of games such as: Final Fantasy Remakes, obscure JRPGs, niche RPGs, Radiant Historia, Luigi’s Mansion, Shin Megami Tensei IV and so much more.

HOWEVER, I’m doing another grouping as this series was simply one of the best and I’m a bit sad that Atlus haven’t found a way to bring it over to the Nintendo Switch. Etrian Odyssey. These old school Wizardry inspired titles, first person dungeon crawlers, not only had a brutal nature to them, but you had another component to worry about. Map making. Did you write down the proper shortcut paths? Or did you mislabel them? Were you well prepared or were you “murderlated” by a giant beast type known as a FOE which if encountered? RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

At least in the early stages of each game. There were a fair number of releases and re-released and then to add to the awesomeness there was also Persona Q and Persona Q2 which were side stories to Persona 3-4-5.

Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

So there’s a theme here isn’t there? Yes, more Legend of Zelda. While Wind Waker was cute looking to help mask the dangers ahead, Twilight Princess was dark. At the time being the first title that I was getting for the Wii, I went right through this title with every moment that I could fit in between work and school.

The world design was great, Link wasn’t always just a human but could turn into a wolf to solve certain challenges and this was finally one of those first titles that hinted that the fan theories of history and timelines may actually be a thing…

PS3: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

This is another tough one. Such a library to choose from, but when I think of the PS3? Castlevania: Lords of Shadow comes to mind. Mission based for its story instead of a metroidvania which it’s half of the reason for the style, the narrative of this adventure is what drew me in. Patrick Steward and Robert Carlyle, that right there was enough in the voice acting department to just make one’s jaw drop and they weren’t alone. Add in a great combat system and the ability to return for things that may have been missed? I think I’m going to go play this again now if you’ll excuse me…

Xbox 360: Tales of Vesperia

Bandai’s Tales of Studio’s Tale of Series. From the SNES to the PS1, to the PS2, this would be one of the two main reasons I got an Xbox 360. That and Mass Effect. Tales of Vesperia however to me, other than the lackluster ending and no post credits, would have everything. A protagonist who wasn’t a shiny white knight, a supporting cast that were all great to have around in and out of battle and that includes “Captain Carol” *laughs*. It was everything that I wanted in a Tales of and I was happy with the ports to the latest generation and I totally do not own Tales of Vesperia on the PS3/4, Xbox 360/One and the Nintendo Switch… you do!

Richard:

PlayStation 3: Tales of Graces F.

For my PS3 choice I have a game that's tied for my favorite Tales title: Tales of Graces F. I consider Tales of Graces F to be one of the best Tales titles in the franchise, right up there with Tales of Symphonia. Tales of Graces had a great battle system, an interesting array of characters, a "true man speaks with his back", and was a great game to play with friends. It's also the first Tales game I never played as the main character, interestingly enough. The bonus dungeon was also really hilarious, and the angriest I've ever been at chickens and eels. I had a lot of fun with Tales of Graces, making it my favorite PS3 title.

Wii: Trauma Center

I'm gonna toss out another one that's probably less well known for my Wii choice: Trauma Center: Second Opinion. Who knew surgery could be so much fun, if not a little frustrating at times? Following the work of a surgeon in training, Trauma Centre is like a surgery simulator where you will perform operations such as putting in pacemakers, removing glass from traumatic injuries and sewing up patients, to confronting a dangerous man-made disease. I have fond memories of playing this in University with my roommates. We decided to all do our laundry, so we brought a TV down to the laundry room and played while watching over our clothes. Good times, good times. Even with the sentimental value though, Trauma Center is a really fun title and series in general, despite some of the earlier installments being a little finicky with your controls. I'm actually thinking about cracking it back out right now. In fact, I will once I finish writing this.

Nick:

Nintendo Wii: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Most of the games on my list so far have leaned heavily into the single player experience, with a focus on story. There were plenty of great options on this platform that fit that bill as well – but something about this iteration of Mario Bros. resonated with my family and I a lot. We sat around, playing this game for hours and hours together, and had a blast doing so. It was a chaotic mix of competition and cooperation that brought out the worst and best in all of us, but also created a ton of really fun memories.

Microsoft Xbox 360: The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

This is where things really start to get ridiculous. In some ways, the last several entries I had were a bit easier, because while there were a ton of really good games on most of those platforms, I was generally a broke college kid raising a family who did not get to buy a ton of games. Around the time the Xbox 360 came out, I finally had access to grown-up money, and I started buying a lot more games again. Gear of War was my first real banger for the console, and I loved it, and there were tons of memorable games that came out, but Oblivion was probably my single biggest time-sink on the 360. I did -everything- that there was to be done. I explored the nooks and crannies of the nooks and crannies. I owned all the houses and decorated them with all kinds of ridiculous crap that I picked up and kept like a digital hoard. It was the first DLC I ever bought for a game. Yup, I had horse armor. It was ridiculous, but no regrets either.

Sony PlayStation 3: The Last of Us – There were so many titles that I loved on the PlayStation 3. My most played game was likely one of the Maddens that Landon and I had a long-running franchise of. There are so many good titles here I could talk about at length, and The Last of Us feels like a really ‘safe’, ‘mainstream’ choice given some of my weirder entries up until now. At the end of the day though, this game just hit me emotionally. The story, the characters, the tense gameplay, all of it. My son played through it as well, and it’s one we both talked about quite a bit while we were playing and after. I played through it again on PS4 as well later and was surprised at how much the story resonated with me still, even after a second go-round. 

Article by Robert, Pierre-Yves, Richard, and Nick

Read More

The PlayStation 1: An Appreciation

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

LAUNCH

1993 marked the start of the coveted Fifth Generation in Video Gaming, before being overtaken by the legendary Sixth Generation in 1998, and officially retiring in 2006.

Shifting from pseudo-3D graphics to fully realized 3D worlds (among other noteworthy achievements), the Fifth Generation started a legacy that has failed to stop. One of the major contributors in this Era was Sony’s PlayStation.

Released on December 4th 1994, the PlayStation was destined to become a fan favorite even before reaching the drawing board. The release of this console gave gamers something new to hook their idiotbox to, and a new rival to Sega and Nintendo – the pioneers and dominators of the previous Eras – and gaming in general.

As one of the top three console available on the market, the PlayStation quickly bested its rivals - the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64 - and established itself as the de facto leader of the Generation.

Since the PlayStation was also chiefly targeted at a much older audience (as opposed to Sega and Nintendo who, more or less, kept their following young), the PlayStation was able to reach a much wider audience; with many games released for the console spawning countless sequels and a dedicated cult following for a fair few, even acquiring its own mascots in the shapes of Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and Sir Daniel Fortesque; who, though never quite reaching the ubiquitous heights of Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Donkey Kong, are just as lovable and remain permanent fixtures in the industry.

The success of the console led Sony to release a follow-up, the PlayStation 2, in the year 2000, to even more critical and commercial success. Following the path, Sony added the PlayStation Portable in 2004, the PlayStation 3 in 2006, and the PlayStation 4 in 2013, to the ever-growing family. The newest addition, the PlayStation 5, is just mere months away from being released (at the time of writing).

Though each received varying critical and commercial reception, one thing has always been clear: whether Sony is facing off against Nintendo, Microsoft, Sega, or *ahem*, SouljaGame, it has always answered back with a powerful system worthy of more than just attention. True, the others reciprocated with even more robust consoles and innovative features, none have achieved in knocking Sony out of the ball park.

CONTROLLER

The original controller conceived for the PlayStation was nothing more than a modified SNES controller with an extra pair of shoulder buttons and grip holders. Elephant grey in color, the controller was light and easy to use. The design and the different colored action buttons would go on to define the PlayStation and would come to be known as the signature of the series’.

Sometimes all you need to see is the blue X or the green Triangle and you know the PlayStation is lurking somewhere in sight.

But yet there was something missing. Something big. Something the Louvre Museum without Mona Lisa big. With the 3D on the rise, as well as manually operational in-game cameras, Sony knew they had to come up with a feature that would allow the player to control the camera and engage in the action simultaneously. The answer came in the form of a stick. Two of them, to be precise.

Released in 1998, the new and improved PlayStation controller, the DualShock, hit the right chord – bringing a new method of playing games - and satisfied fans the world over. Unlike its immediate predecessor, the Dual Analog Controller, which had an impressed surface on either stick, the dual sticks in DualShock were round and rubber gripped, giving more efficiency. Also, the grip holders were longer, perfectly angled that you could use the dual sticks with your thumbs with ease.

Still elephant grey in color in its original release, they also came in dark grey, black, and transparent blue. Third-party releases included a see-through orange with black buttons and an opaque pink with light grey buttons.

Though the third-party unofficial controllers don’t harm the system, they’re not recognized as official but are still fun to collect, seeing the different colors they appear in. They can also be customized to match with your current favorite game or series.

MODELS

If we were to take the other definition of the word, then there can be no doubt that Reiko Nagase is the official lady mascot of the PlayStation.

She appears in several Ridge Racer installments of racing games – one of the best series on the PlayStation - as a grid girl.

However, the use of the word in this context refers to the internal and external aspects of the different models that were released worldwide. Though many differ only so slightly in terms of chips, graphics, and circuits, there have been only two externally radically different designs overall.

The first and original resembled a square shoe box. Despite appearing to be bulky and heavy, in reality it doesn't weigh much. In fact it is surprisingly light. This model has two large buttons on either side of the CD tray and one smaller button on the left. This one is the reset button. The other two are power-on and open CD tray.

The PAL variants have text on the buttons instead of symbols, which is present in the NTSC versions. Once again, just as how it is with the controller, the color scheme is grey - though customizing is possible.

In 2000, six years after the release of the shoe box, Sony revealed a new and re-engineered model. This time it resembled a perfectly curved scrambled egg. Called the PSOne, this model is smaller in size. In fact, it is only a few centimeters bigger than a standard-sized book.

This time around there are only two buttons on the console, the power-on button and the CD tray one. The reset button has been merged with the power-on button. So basically, if your game freezes, you have to switch off the console and then power it on; something that doesn't pose much of a problem, truth be told.

Another change that was observed was its color scheme of both the console and the controller. Abandoning elephant grey for ceramic white, this color scheme was more easier to the eye and gave off a cheerful air, as though the console was more eager to play the games than you were.

I bought my "model 2", the PSOne, in the year 2000, hot off the shelves straight from the Sony HQ in Muscat, Oman. At around 115 riyals, the price was reasonable enough. For those comfortable with dollars, this equals to $299.99. My PSOne came with a free controller and a memory card but with no game. I don’t exactly remember what my first game on the console was, but I’m pretty sure it was the original Medal of Honor.

After storing countless memories on various 1MB memory cards and having some of the most happiest memories I can think up of - one of which is detailed below if you care to read it - it was time to retire and climb up one rung on the ladder; enter the PlayStation 2.

When this bad boy entered my life, I gave my PSOne to my (then) young cousins; who then proceeded to break it apart in two in just a week. I’m dead serious

I never thought it possible to cause any kind of damage on the ferrite bead of the controller, but my cousins did the impossible. The CD tray was ripped off, my 90+ collection of CD’s was reduced to no more than 20-25, one of the controllers – a translucent blue – was cracked, with one of the dual sticks taken out. And the wires... oh, don’t get me started on them. To spare you the horror, the best I can say is that they were covered from top to bottom in electric tape for fear of a shock.

I repeat: I’m dead serious.

Quite a-while ago, someone was selling his PlayStation and PlayStation 2, with a bunch of games, EyeToy for the latter, and Light Guns for the former. I was particularly interested in the former - the model 1, or the shoe box.

I don’t know why, but I always wanted to own that particular model, so for about 20 riyals I bought the whole lot. That’s about $51.25.

Talk about a bargain, eh?

MY FAVORITE MEMORY

Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of the Super Heroes is a superb crossover fighting and one of the finest from 90's gaming. As the name implies, familiar characters from the more famous titles of Capcom and the Marvel universe clash and collide - and occasionally join forces as allies.

Each character is beautifully animated. Characters like Hulk and Venom are wonderfully detailed; their sinews and popping veins standing out like no other. When the green rage-monster moves, aggression and force can be felt at every step; likewise with the symbiote, whose slimy nature is fluid and precise. The energetic, detailed sprites not only give life and energy to the characters, but also to the whole “I’m just here to win” attitude that is so prevalent with such fighters. I haven’t played a more energetic, electrifying and awesome game as Clash of the Super Heroes.

With that being said, a particular memory that I hold close to my heart comes to mind, which I would like to share it with you:

Back in 2003 when I was in the 4th grade, my school held a fundraiser for the hurricane victims in Sri Lanka. Since there were no limitations as to what one could do to participate and donate, I and a couple of my friends decided that we would use my TV and PlayStation (since I lived practically next door to the school) to accept donations.

Our idea was to charge a small fee per game for a limited play-time (500 baisa for 30 minutes; 1 riyal for 60 minutes); with the money incurred going to the fundraiser. At the end of the day, we managed to accumulate round 15 riyals (roughly $40). Though this wasn’t very much - even at the time - it was a major effort for a couple of ten year olds.

When the fundraiser time was drawing to a close, and with the crowd thinning every passing hour, my friends and I decided to stick round and play games to our liking. The one game we all agreed on was Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of the Super Heroes: a favorite across the classroom.

For the next couple of hours or so - well into midnight - I and four of my friends took turns to whip the virtual asses out of each other. No alliances mind you, only enemies. At every successful victory, the victorious would retain his position, while the defeated would get rotated to the other person, and so on. What makes this particular memory such a happy one, is it was the first time I was engaging in multi-player co-operative style of playing I had only heard about in magazines and online forums.

Our playful, hushed swearing, attempts at distracting the other player, and screeching reminders to use the combo attack are all what stick vividly in my mind. Anyone who has ever engaged in multi-player combat with their friends - especially when it gets loud and chaotic - will know the feeling. It's one of those memories that etches itself permanently in your brain.

Though I'm not at all close to my classmates now, and it's been decades since I last touched my PlayStation, this particular highlight stands out among the rest when I think back of school. Whenever I'm having an off day or just want to think about a time where innocence reigned supreme, I often invariably go back to this moment... a moment where we acted good for a cause and kicked each other's asses.

GAMES

The PlayStation 1 boasts an impressive library of games that is at once versatile, with defining titles from practically every genre. Several of the launch titles became an instant hit and the immediate success enjoyed by many led to numerous sequels and spin-offs.

Rayman by Ubisoft marked his first appearance on this console, though it was originally designed for the poorly received Atari Jaguar. Rayman was very well-received and the console was blessed with three sequels, with the immediate sequel, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, being one of PlayStation greatest games.

Popular arcade hits like Tekken were successfully ported onto the console to even more acclaim, spawning an ongoing series that is still being cited as an influence by contemporary developers and designers. The racing genre found a new abode, and the console enjoyed a wide and varied range of racers from Need for Speed to Gran Turismo to Ridge Racer to Test Drive.

The tail-end of the 90’s was the golden era for the console. Legendary titles such as Tomb Raider, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Tekken 3, Metal Gear Solid, Twisted Metal, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VIII, Ape Escape, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night all made their first appearance on this console and are closely associated with it.

Most of the aforementioned games have been ported to other platforms - and with improved quality - but for most of us, it was on the PlayStation that we enjoyed them first.

One of my favorite genres, the first-person shooter (FPS), didn’t exactly embrace the console with open arms, with only a handful of good FPS’s to speak about.

The progenitor of the WWII FPS sub-genre, Medal of Honor, remains the best ever FPS to ever grace the PlayStation 1. True, Quake II was also a tremendous success, but the PC version is what everyone remembers the best (and maybe perhaps the N64 port, too). If you were to take out the ‘shooter’ part, then Myst and Riven were also very good ports. Other titles - namely Doom, Duke Nukem, and The Stygian Abyss - also got ports and received varying degrees of feedback, but it's their original PC / DOS versions that remain the best.

In terms of pioneering or originating a genre, the PlayStation has had quite a few. The survival-horror genre had already existed since the age of Atari 2600 and SNES; but it was through the combined successes of Resident Evil and Silent Hill that the 'true' blueprint of the genre was laid out: one that is still being followed to this day.

The stealth genre, along with dramatic, cinematic cutscenes and symphonic music, was single-handedly invented by Metal Gear Solid: considered by many to be just about the greatest game ever to be released on the console.

In the role-playing game genre (RPGs), all the Final Fantasy games are considered as not only some of the best in the genre, but as also some of the best the industry has to offer. The most cited instalment is Final Fantasy VII. Known for changing the blueprint of the genre completely, it features a death of a prominent character so shocking and saddening that it changed people's perceptions on video games forever; and is almost universally declared as an apex point of art, expression, narrative, and emotion in video games.

The impressive capabilities of the console meant that 3D titles and FMV-heavy games could finally be given ample of elbow room to show-off their potential. Unfortunately, as it goes in the world of technology and innovation, most games have now aged rather badly.

In an age of realistic graphics and cinema-like quality, games like Tekken 3 and Bushido Blade are jarring to look at, what with all the polygons and edges going around in frenzy circles. One of my all-time favorite games in the world, Colin McRae Rally, now looks like a hodgepodge of porridge.

But I cannot harp on the now-outdated visual fidelity too much. Graphics alone do not a good game make. Did Colossal Cave Adventure have graphics? No, nothing but text, but yet it is still one of the most popular and groundbreaking titles ever made. Playing as the The Rock in all his glory in WWF Smackdown 2: Know Your Role was a fan-favorite of everyone back in the day. His misshapen, pixelated nose stands testament to how far we've come in visual quality.

But misshapen nose or not, Spidey’s point butt in Spider-Man 2000 or not, these games are still as enjoyable as they were when they first came out. In fact, I dare say they’re more entertaining than most contemporary games, simply because of the fact the developers took extra time to balance the look and feel of the game. Nostalgia and a certain respectful regard for vintage graphics also adds to the charm.

Yes, I respect my elders.

Here's a little animation I'd made last year for the PS1's 25th Anniversary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXDdWW-ImaA

Feature article written by Hamza and re-published with permission for Chalgyr's Game Room.

Read More

Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault - PS3 Review

Welcome to the end of the world Commander! From this day forward you’ll be taking control over Kimberly, a middle of nowhere facility with a quirky crew and just about no real relief because let’s be honest, “you don’t need it”. With giant monsters that roam the world in search for the only substance that keeps your cities running it’s up to you to protect your citizens and your resources.

Read More

XBLAZE Lost: Memories - PS3 Review

While Arc System Works is no doubt best known for their take on the fighting genre, XBLAZE: Lost Memories shows that the talented team can pull of a completely different style of game as well. Set in the world as the popular Blazblue series, Lost Memories expands on the excellent story found in XBLAZE Code: Embryo and offers us an even broader look at the world in unique, interesting ways.

Read More

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 - PS3 Review

Not wasting any time once I finished the first, I went straight from One Piece Pirate Warriors into One Piece Pirate Warriors 2.

There were several things that were immediately apparent when starting off the second entry into this Warriors spin-off. The first entry tried to be rather different with its puzzle platforming style which worked in some cases but felt a bit strained in others. Moving away from that style, One Piece Pirate Warriors 2 instead concentrates more on the core Warrior system and takes a bit from the Samurai series for a much faster paced experience both attack buttons for creating combos in that ever enjoyable 1v1000 feel.

Read More

One Piece: Pirate Warriors - PS3 Review

If one thing can be said for certain, it is that Omega Force knows how to make a game. On the off chance that the name doesn’t ring a bell, they are the developers for Temco Koei’s Warrior series. Dynasty, Samurai, Orochi, we are all pretty big fans of and that doesn’t include Hyrule Warriors, Bladestorm, Toukiden, the upcoming Dragon Quest Heroes.

Read More

Suikoden III - PS3 Review

Louis this one is for you!

Years ago my above friend did something that I’ve never looked back on or once regretted. He sold me his PS1, which was my move away from Nintendo based consoles for quite a while. Sometime after this he introduced me to what is pretty much a cult classic: Suikoden II. Fast forward another few years and I bought my brother’s PS2, making it my own. Louis came over throwing Suikoden III at me before he was heading out of town for a weekend. While I enjoyed Suikoden II, it to me didn’t hold a candle to Suikoden III, which was my favorite entry in the series until the release of the fifth. Back once again, Konami have re-released Suikoden III on the PSN, making it playable for both the PSIII and the Vita. While physically sitting on my shelf, it has been too long since I’ve picked it up. Being able to review it now is an honor.

Read More

Games of June

It’s that time again! June is looking rather heavy release wise with huge titles such as Batman: Arkham Knight to the newest Final Fantasy XIV Expansion and a new Lego Game! Who honestly doesn't love Lego?

I think it also goes without saying that Hyperdimension Neptunia Rebirth:3 is also releasing. I can't help loving that series and how far it's come since it's first release.

Multiplatform Releases

Lego Jurassic World (PS4 / PS3 / XB1 / XB360 / 3DS / WiiU)

I'm going to fanboy for a few seconds in my own little world for this one.

A) I Love Lego
B) I loved Jurassic Park
C) Both make me think of my dad who was really really awesome, brought me to see the movie and bought me god knows how many Lego sets to design incredible worlds of my own for weekends on end.

Pretty much my childhood is in this game and it looks really good. TT Games have come a long way since the original Star Wars and I hope to see them continue to make great games going further.

J-Stars Victory Vs+ (PS4 / PS3)

This is honestly not something that I ever thought that we would get but I'm quite happy that we are. Here we have a slew of amazing characters from weekly Shonen Jump all coming in together for a battle royal to rain supreme. Honestly? My money is on Gin because everyone knows that the lazy guy is the ultimate badass. That and he could be seen eating his parfait! Well for two whole seconds anyways.

BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend (PS4 / PS3 / XB1)

BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma is the re-work of the third main entry into the BlazBlue universe. I've got to make the admission that I've only ever played the first entry but in my defense I have gotten utterly demolished in multiple Guilty Gear iterations. The newest version is looking really nice and it might be a good time to jump back into it.

Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4 / XB1 / PC)

This is the second Warner Brothers title on the this for the month. Back into the hands of Rocksteady Studios, our caped crusader is back for what might be his biggest game yet. Arkham Knight takes place after the events of City and leaves the whole of Arkham open for Batman to take on his enemies that would do his city harm. Not only does the game look stunning, does the voice-cast sound incredible, but you get to drive the Batmobile! (<- Priorities)

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward (PS4 / PS3 / PC)

While originally a failure I'm glad that Square went back to the drawing board with FF XIV which has not only seen success but is now receiving an expansion. Adding in new story, classes, and locations, players will now have more to do!

The Elder Scrolls Online (PS4 / XB1)

Our second MMO on the list, which is already out for PCs, is The Elder Scrolls online which is coming to owners of PlayStation 4s and / or an Xbox Ones. Having been out for a while now console players will have some catching up to do compared to those that have already had their hands on it for a while now.

Legend of Kay HD (PS4 / WiiU / PC)

Originally released back on the PS2 back in 2005, The Legend of Kay is being re-released with an HD upgrade like a lot of older releases have been of late. These are good because without them, I wouldn't have ever played Ratchet and Clank or Jack and Daxter. HD remakes like these are always welcome!

"10 years after its initial release, Legend of Kay - Anniversary is a thoroughly remastered version of the original game: high-resolution textures; new, more detailed character models; modern rendering techniques and crystal-clear surround sound give this great classic a new shine. Full of fond allusions to old martial arts films and pop culture quotes, Legend of Kay - Anniversary is both an incredibly funny game and a challenging action-adventure for young and old alike."

-Amazon

Sony PlayStation 4

Onechanbara Z2 Chaos

While I may not have had the chance to play the original, I am looking forward to the next entry of Onechanbara with its quick paced combat against hordes of undead. Releasing at the end of the month should give me enough time to get acquainted with the first entry on the Xbox 360. Here's the trailer below!

Sony PlayStation Vita

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re:Birth 3: V Generation

It's finally here! My current favorite into the series is back and upgraded with the same treatments in Rebirth:3. Re-experience Neptune's adventure in a parallel world where is she not the Goddess Purple Heart but instead just along for the ride.

Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy

Originally supposed to be released not long ago, Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy is finally upon us with some Dungeon Crawling RPG awesomeness to keep one occupied over the summer.

PC

Now for a few quick picks coming out on Steam, enjoy the following trailers and screenshots!

Star Hammer The Vanguard Prophecy

Death Pirate

RESCUE 2: Everyday Heroes

Dungeon Crawlers HD

Pierre-Yves

Read More

Month in Review - May

Looks like it’s that time of the month again! See everything that we’ve been up to and catch up on anything you may have missed.

Read More

Gradius V - PS3 Review

Horizontal shooters have been around forever now it seems, but the Gradius series has long been considered one of the best franchises in the shooter genre, and for very good reason. Recently Konami released Gradius V, the PS2 classic, on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners. If you enjoy insanely hard shooters? Gradius V is worthwhile blast from the past.

Read More

Dragon Ball Xenoverse - PS3 Review

Dragon Ball is what got me into anime when I was younger and I’ve honestly been a fan ever since. Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Fairy Tail, all fall into a category that Dragon Ball Z made quite popular. For me it was never the search for the Dragon Balls themselves, or ever the story, but more the fights that were found inside of Dragon Ball Z and the movies. I simply have always loved Dragon Ball’s level of combat. While there have been a slew of Dragon Ball games over the years, Xenoverse is the first to take the player and let them experience the combat with their own character in an original story.

Read More

Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea - PS3 Review

The Atelier series is one that we hear at Chalgyr's Game Room really enjoy. We have been covering the numerous Atelier games for years now and it is one of the most unique and interesting JRPG franchises that we have seen in a long time. Focusing primarily on grinding and crafting, with solid story lines, lovable characters, and a unique twist on the genre, the Atelier series has always tried to be a bit different. With Atelier Shallie: Alchemist of the Dusk Sea they are trying to not only refine the franchise's existing staples, but to bring some of the more standard features of the JRPG genre to the series for the first time. How does Shallie pan out? Read on for more details.

Read More

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters - PS3 Review

Visual novels are great, and they have been steadily making their way to North America in more forms on more consoles than ever. Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters is not what I would consider a true visual novel, because there are some additional game elements that make it more of a hybrid with a strategy game. That is not a bad thing at all, and these blended genres open up the door to a wider audience and hopefully in time pave the way for even more games like this.

Read More

The Awakened Fate Ultimatum - PS3 Review

The Awakened Fate Ultimatum is the sequel to NIS America's The Guided Fate Paradox from late 2013. I enjoyed that particular title a great deal, despite the fact that the roguelike genre tends to drive me a little nutty at times. One thing that helps is that the series blends roguelike elements, without being a true representation of the genre. The Awakened Fate Ultimatum is a solid sequel that feels very similar to the first game while still making a handful of notable changes.

Read More

Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late - PS3 Review

Excellent pacing, colorful anime style graphics, unique characters and a story that is actually interesting? Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late may have a somewhat ridiculous title, but the game itself is a thinking man's fighter that manages to stand out and be itself in a genre littered with too many sequels and far too few fresh ideas.

Read More

F1 2014 - PS3 Review

I have long been a fan of Codemasters' titles as they have had a successful history of releasing quality racing titles, from the stunning Grid titles to DiRT. On top of some of the most enjoyable racing games, Codemasters has also brought us the sorely underrated Operation Flashpoint games as well as the wonderful Overlord franchise. Given that Codemasters develops some of my favorite racing titles like DiRT and Grid, and they have been developing the F1 series for five years now and they have long been the "it" studio for all of your F1 goodness and it looks to continue the trend with F1 2014. While this is the first F1 game that I have played since the Super Nintendo's F1 Pole Position, I am looking forward to what these masters of racing games can bring me.

Read More

Digimon All-Star Rumble - PS3 Review

I grew up on Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! and still play the latter online today. Digimon sort of fell into that same area, but was never quite as interesting to me. I followed along now and again, but the property never reached must-have status for me, despite a generally fond impression of it all. There had been talk in some corners about new Digimon games coming to the west - unfortunately the one we got, All-Star Rumble, is fun but mud puddle shallow. That is not to say you cannot splash around in it and have a good time, but it runs out of content and tricks fairly quickly.

Read More

Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star - PS3 Review

Ar nosurge: Ode to An Unborn Star is a continuation of a PlayStation Vita title called Surge Concerto: Ciel nosurge which was a life simulation game that has not seen a release outside of Japan (yet), and something of a pseudo-prequel to the Ar Tonelico series that is also developed by Gust. The reason I mention a pseudo-prequel is that Ar nosurge and Ar Tonelico take place in the same universe with the same mythos and even a number of the same mechanics between the two franchises, however the similarities stop there as the games each cover their own topics at their own times with non-related characters. Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star, Gust's most recent release here in the West uses the Dive system as seen in the Ar Tonelico series as well as a few other feature so fans of Gust's previous works will certain feel right at home.

Read More

Sacred 3 - PS3 Review

Sacred is a game that comes with a lot of history behind it. I had originally picked up Scared off a shelf at a now very long defunct computer store that we used to have which carried the obscure games as if they were the norm. I liked the way Sacred looked, and to this day I do not regret it what-so-ever. I bought Sacred 2 when it came out, hell I bought it again not only on the PS3, but also as a Gold Edition on Steam for the Expansion content. Needless to say, I’ve always loved the series with the Dark Elf/Vampiress as my favorite characters of the first, followed by the Seraphim and High Elf in the second. Sadly when Ascaron announced that it was closing its doors I figured that we would never get another chance to play a new Sacred until Deep Silver came along and produced Sacred 3.

Read More

Arcana Heart 3: LOVEMAX!!!!! - PS3 Review

For fighting fans, there is actually quite a bit to like about Arcana Heart 3, despite an awkward title and lackluster story. Combat is the name of the game, and here it is a solid 2D fighter with smooth, responsive controls and a large cast of diversely designed characters.

Read More