Press The Buttons

Mini-Review: Sonic Classic Collection

This article was originally published at Kombo.com on March 15, 2010.

It's sometimes difficult to accept that there are young fans of Sonic the Hedgehog who have never actually played the character's original Sega Genesis adventures. For these children, Sonic sprang into existence with titles such as Sonic Heroes, Sonic Advance, and Sonic Rush. Despite the fact that Sega has re-released their flagship character's early adventures in compilations such as Sonic Mega Collection, Sega Genesis Collection, and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, the holy quartet of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles (and the various lock-on technology combinations therein) have never turned up in a single collection for a handheld system until now with the Nintendo DS release of Sonic Classic Collection. Bundling the aforementioned games together on a single game card, Sega aims to introduce the blue blur to a new generation in preparation for the upcoming Genesis-imitating Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

Assuming that most readers have played a classic Sonic game before, there's no need to recap Dr. Robotnik's scheme to gather the Chaos Emeralds to power his Death Egg, nor should the concepts of spin dashes and collecting rings need additional explanation. Instead, the technical side of the Collection needs a closer look. Worth noting right up front is the fact that the games found in the Collection are not ports of the original Genesis titles, but are actually emulated using a properly licensed, legitimate, and slightly updated version of the jEnesisDS emulator that homebrew aficionados have been using for a while now. Emulating the games avoids the embarrassing results of half-assed ports like the Game Boy Advance title Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis, but introduces a few new quirks and changes that long-time Sonic fans will notice right away, while those who have never played the original games will likely remain unaware of any tinkering. Overall, this compilation presents a mostly faithful handheld version of the original classics perfect for new players and returning speedsters alike.

Mini-Review: NBA 2K12 Legends Showcase

I'm not the guy you want to ask about sports video games.  My pal and Power Button podcast co-host Brad Hilderbrand is.  As I did several months ago when NBA 2K12 from 2K sports arrived, I asked him to check out the latest sports game to land on my virtual doorstep.  Here's his review of the recently released NBA 2K12 Legends Showcase downloadable expansion for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 available now via the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store.

---

Hey there Press the Buttons readers! It’s Brad from the podcast and now official unofficial PTB sports guy back with another review. The 2K folks sent over a review code for NBA 2K12 Legends Showcase so I decided to put it through its paces and report back. The verdict? It’s a fun distraction, but it likely won’t be long before the novelty wears off and you return to playing the more traditional game modes.

Mini-Review: Bionic Commando

This article was originally published at Kombo.com on June 15, 2009.

Building on the momentum of 2008's Bionic Commando Rearmed, Capcom and GRIN have put together a full 3D action game that skips ahead to several years after Nathan Spencer rescued Super Joe and ended the Imperial plan to revive their leader and conquer the world with the Albatross. We rejoin Spencer shortly after the Federation capital of Ascension City is incinerated with nuclear weapons. Super Joe — now in charge of the Federation's Tactical Arms and Security Committee — springs Spencer from prison, reunites him with his bionic arm, and sends him into the radioactive ruins in search of the people behind the bombing. Spencer's ultimate objective unfolds as the story progresses as part of an engrossing narrative that keeps players guessing all the way to the end as Spencer's past keeps catching up with his future.

Bionic Commando has taken a lot of heat in the gaming community and I've already taken the time to defend what some see as key weaknesses and failings, and as I've played through the game I've come to realize that some players are judging this game based on its gun-toting combat capabilities, but evaluating Spencer's adventure with an eye on his arsenal is not what Bionic Commando is all about. Spencer's best weapon is, by far, his bionic arm. Locking the arm onto a target takes plenty of practice and patience. Most players will fail early and often while - pardon the pun - getting into the swing of things. In skilled hands, however, the arm becomes the most important tool in the game. Just about every major item or object in the game is snaggable by the arm, allowing Spencer to climb just about anywhere. Small and medium-sized items such as rocks and cars can be tossed at enemies with crushing force. The arm can even lock on to enemies to hold them in place as Spencer leaps into the air and delivers a harsh kick to the target. Most impressively, mastering the bionic arm allows players to swing through the air again and again without stopping with momentum carrying Spencer across great distances in mere moments. Swinging madly is just plain fun, and Spencer's enthusiastic howls and shouts prove that he's having just as much as I am.

Mini-Review: Just Cause 2

This article was originally published at Kombo.com on April 8, 2010.

Plenty of video games promise that players can do just about anything during the course of the adventure and then deliver mixed results, but Just Cause 2 from Avalanche Studios and Square-Enix for the Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and PC delivers the purest form of the action-sandbox genre to date. Cast as secret agent protagonist Rico Rodrigeuz, players have one basic ever-present objective: cause chaos. While there is a storyline involving a fellow agent who has gone native on the military dictatorship island of Panau and Rico's mission to find out just what has gone wrong, it's all window dressing to justify the ongoing chaos. With thousands of structures to destroy, dozens of vehicles to hijack, and an endless army of soldiers to kill, Just Cause 2 presents more to do than any other game in recent memory, and ultimately that freedom to do just about anything in the name of destruction provides a seldom seen side of the genre.

Mini-Review: Dante's Inferno

This article was originally published at Kombo.com on March 10, 2010.

Electronic Arts turned a lot of baffled heads when the company announced a video game inspired by / based on the classic Divine Comedy epic poem, but the end result is actually better than it has any right to be. Turning Dante's Inferno into a big dumb action game in the God of War mold for the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 makes for an interesting exercise, as protagonist Dante must descend into the circles of Hell after his beloved Beatrice is slain and her soul taken into the underworld by the devil himself who intends to make her his unholy bride and Queen of Hell. The ensuing adventure goes deeper than you'd expect, as the player is actually drawn into the action and becomes part of Dante's trials. Comparisons to Sony's God of War and its progtagonist Kratos are inevitable, as the two games have plenty in common. Both games star a morally gray hero who has done unspeakable horrors in the name of religion, who were one day pushed too far, and who now vow revenge against powers greater than each. Both games play largely the same with similar camera perspectives, control schemes, and skill tweaks. Both games even have a combat power-up system through which slain enemies become a form of currency used to buy upgrades. While there are many glaring similarities, Dante's Inferno has a unique twist that sets it apart from Kratos's saga when it comes to thematic presentation and the playing of tricks on the player beyond mere gameplay mechanics.

Mini-Review: NBA 2K12

I can tell you all about the chronology of Metroid or how Ratchet and Clank first met, but when it comes to sports games, I am woefully unprepared for conversation.  I've never been a sports guy outside of whimsical titles such as Mario Golf, so when a copy of NBA 2K12 for the Microsoft Xbox 360 (also available for the Sony PlayStation 3 and PC) from 2K Sports landed at my door, I knew I was terribly unprepared to review it with any level of expertise.  Fortunately, I knew who I could turn to for help: Brad Hilderbrand, my good friend and Power Button podcast co-host.  I leave you in his capable dribbling hands for this mini-review.  Brad?

Mini-Review: The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition

Nintendo has always had a knack for introducing gameplay ideas that are just a little ahead of their time.  Consider The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords for the Game Boy Advance, for instance.  Released in 2002, in order to get the most of out it, one needed to have three friends, four Game Boy Advance units, four copies of the game, and a link cable to tie it all together.  That's a lot of stuff to procure and produce just to play a game.  The connectivity requirements make much more sense today in the era of the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS when local multiplayer is easier to do thanks to wireless connections.  Considering that few played Four Swords the way it was intended to be played a decade ago, Nintendo has revived the game and given it an upgrade for its modern family of handhelds.  Available as a free DSiWare download for the DSi, DSi XL, and 3DS through the end of February 2012, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition combines the game nobody played with a handful of new additions and upgrades that make this adventure required playing for Zelda fans everywhere.

Mini-Review: BloodRayne: Betrayal

 

After enduring a rough few years, the BloodRayne franchise has returned under the guiding hands of Majesco and WayForward Technologies as a downloadable title for the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360.  Featuring the gorgeously impressive hand-drawn animation for which WayForward has become known and a striking musical score, BloodRayne: Betrayal sends the half-vampire heroine through a series of side-scrolling 2D levels to create an intriguing title that feels like a combination of Konami's Castlevania (although I understand that the development team hates that comparison) and Electronic Arts's Shank.  Unfortunately, presentation isn't everything and the game is missing a key ingredient: fun.

Battle Of The Nintendo 3DS Storage Cases: Waterfield Designs Travel Case

Following on from pitting various Nintendo 3DS storage bags and cases against each other, a new challenger enters the ring.  Waterfield Designs sent over one of its 3DS Travel Cases for me to check out, and I have to admit that I was looking forward to receiving it.  Four years ago the company sent two of its Sony PlayStation Portable storage bags for me to review, and all this time later I'm still using them on a semi-regular basis.  The PSP cases held up exceptionally through the years, so I have high hopes for the 3DS bag.  That's a long-term evaluation though.  How does the case stand up in the short-term?

Battle Of The Nintendo 3DS Storage Cases: Mad Catz Traveler Bag VS Power A Expedition Case

As those of us who have been hauling around portable gaming hardware for years know, keeping track of stray game cards, accessories, and even the game system itself can be a daunting task.  During the original Game Boy generation I had one of these to keep everything in its place, but modern times call for more compact solutions.  Several different companies that produce carrying cases and bags for the Nintendo 3DS have offered up review samples of their latest wares, so it seems only proper to pit them all in combat with each other in an old fashioned carrying case fight club.