September TurboGrafx-16 VC Releases Announced!

Well it looks like it's going to be another solid month for the TurboGrafx-16 section of the Wii Virtual Console. Hudson has just released the list of September releases and there are some solid titles in the mix. The September releases are: Bonk III : Bonk's Big Adventure, Neutopia II, World Class Baseball, and Legend of Hero Tonma. If you want more information on these titles, check out the previews at Virtual Turbo. Just click on the logo to the left to head over there. Enjoy!

** I had to shoot video and write up previews for the new VC releases, so Blue Dragon impressions will be coming tomorrow now. Sorry about that. **

Blue Dragon Gets Mixed Reviews!

If you visit any of the Blue Dragon forums and message boards, you'll notice that there's a lot of discrepancy in the many review scores the game has received so far. So just how is Blue Dragon and has it lived up to the mammoth amount of hype that's surrounded the game since it was first announced? First let's take a look at the review scores of the major media outlets.

GameSpot - 6.0/10
IGN - 7.9/10
OXM - 7.5/10
EGM - 6.83/10
Game Informer - 9/10
1UP - 6.5/10

So there you have it. Everything from a mediocre 6.0 to a great 9.0. But why has opinions on this game varied so greatly? I think a lot of it comes from the fact that Blue Dragon has been one of the most hyped up games I've ever encountered in my 27 years of gaming. All we've been hearing for two years is that three of the biggest names in RPG gaming were working on this game. Not to mention the fact that several of these members helped create one of the most respected and beloved RPGs ever made in Chrono Trigger. It would only make sense that a dream team such as this could create nothing short of earth-shattering. Unfortunately that hype has probably hurt Blue Dragon more than it's helped it. I doubt that Blue Dragon could have ever lived up to the hype that was unfairly heaped upon it no matter how good it turned out to be. With that said, I think we're seeing a lot of dissapointed media reviewers that are taking that frustration out with their review scores and that to me isn't being completely fair. I've put about 10 hours into the game and plan to put in another 6+ hours tomorrow and I'll write up some impressions of my own here then. So far, it's been fairly impressive to me. Much more so than some reviews might have lead you to believe anyway. Check back tomorrow for the rest of the story.

Next up...September!

Well August is almost over. It's hard to believe that we are rapidly approaching the holiday season once again. The upside is that this is the time of year when all of the great games normally come pouring out in the fourth quarter. The downside is that my game review workload gets cranked up a few notches. To end the month I'll be taking a look at Blue Dragon tomorrow when I pick the game up. Nick the PR guy at Namco was also kind enough to send me an early review copy of Eternal Sonata, so I'll have a review of that near the end of the week as well. That should just about take care of the last three days of August.

Looking on into September, I've got one of the new slim Sony PSP systems in Felicia Blue already preordered for its September 20th release, not to mention one of the nice official Sony slim PSP cases in the same color coming as well. I'll of course snap pics of both of them and do a write up for each of them once they're here. It will be about time a decent soft PSP carry case is made available. Of course there's also a couple of other big releases in September including the almighty return of Master Chief in "Halo 3" for the Xbox 360 and Sony's ace-in-the-hole epic action title "Heavenly Sword" for the PS3. There are more releases, in fact quite a few of them, so I'll be throwing them into the mix as well. Until then, thanks once again to everyone who visits the blog and writes in. Always good to hear from you guys!

Official Sony Slim PSP Pouch Cases

It seems that Sony is taking the initiative and releasing a set of cases for their new slim PSP system. There's much more to these cases than the simple pouches that they packaged with early PSP packages. These pouches zip closed and feature multiple pockets inside to keep accessories, along with your new slim PSP system as well. The pouches come in multiple colors to match the color choices available on the slim PSP system. Currently these cases will only be available in Japan, but it's probably only a matter of time before we see them released here in the US. They'll hit retail shelves in Japan on September 20, the same day the new slim PSP makes its debut.

As you can see in the picture, these pouch cases feature multiple pockets inside to hold all of your PSP accessories. Judging from the picture, it would seem that these pouch cases are fairly large in size as they dwarf the slim PSP system that's seen inside the case. It also seems that the slim PSP will fit inside even with the optional TV tuner still attached to it. If these cases are as durable as they look, this could give the third party cases a serious run for their money. If you can't wait, you can always import one of these babies from Play-Asia. They have them listed for $19.90.

Slim PSP hitting retail shelves in September!

Sony is getting set to release the newly redesigned slim PSP system across the globe in September. The US will get only one color, Piano Black, but Japan will be getting a total of 6 different colors. They include: Piano Black, Ice Silver, Felicia Blue, Rose Pink, Lavender Purple, and Ceramic White. As usual, Japan gets all the cool stuff and we get stuck with the leftover crap. That's why I've already preordered my Felicia Blue model from Japan. Sony is also releasing a really cool carry case for these new systems and I'll show them in tomorrow's entry. Could this redesign spark interest in the PSP system the way the DS Lite did? Only time will tell.

Minna no Golf 5 (PS3) - Q & A

Okay I'm scrapping the "Love/Hate" write up in favor of answering some of the many questions I've received regarding Minna no Golf 5. When I went back and looked through the emails I had saved, there were quite a few more emails than I remembered. I just thought I might be able to better answer these questions in a Q & A format. If I didn't answer your question, I'll try to answer some more in a future article. But for now, here goes.

How is the online tournaments in Minna no Golf 5? The online portion of Minna no Golf 5 is sort of hit and miss. Some parts of the online function feel tight and well thought out and others feel like they were basically just thrown together at the last minute. You basically go into a lobby and sign up for the next available tournament. Sometimes the wait can be as long as 30 minutes, but the good news is that you can run around the lobby with your character and interact with other gamers waiting on tournaments. The tournaments themselves are basically timed holes in which you have about a minute and a half to complete each hole. It works, but it just feels a bit clunky at times. Maybe Clap Hanz will polish things up a bit before the US release of the game.

How are the 6 new golf courses? To be honest, they're all gorgeous. Having said that, they all feel like courses we've all played before as well. There's not really a standout course, although a case could be made for the African Safari Course. They basically look and feel like slightly more detailed courses from past games with a few new landmarks thrown in for effect. As usual, the green themselves become more sloped as you progress through the game and the wind picks up to keep things interesting. Don't get me wrong, the courses are all great, but they just don't feel terribly new and original.

Can you choose which swing system you want to use? Most of the time, yes. There are certain challenges that will require you to use one method or the other. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the new system, at least a little bit, for the challenges that arise that require you to use it. Some online tournaments also require you to use the new method as well, so better to be prepared.

Did they bring back the mini-golf feature? Nope. Once again, the mini-golf games are not included with this release. Maybe they can release a mini-golf course for download at some point, but for now, it's nowhere to be found.

Can I play the import version of Minna no Golf 5 on my US Playstation 3 console? Yep. That's exactly what I'm doing right now. There is a lot of Japanese menus, but once you figure them out, navigating the game is quite manageable. There are some menu translations on GameFaqs to help you out.

How many characters are available in the game? There are 15 characters in all. Most of them are unlockable through the challenge play. Some characters you unlock by beating them one-on-one in challenge mode, and others can be unlocked through special cards that you win at the end of matches.

Do you still level your character up as you win tournaments? Yes, leveling up is basically accomplished just like it's been in past Hot Shots Golf games. As you level up, your character's individual stats also become better. Better golf clubs and balls can also make your stats better.

When is Hot Shots Golf 5 coming out in the US? The soft release date is still October 1, 2007. But since we still don't even have the US cover art, it wouldn't surprise me if the game slipped further into 2007 and possibly even early 2008.

Is there any downloadable content available for Minna no Golf 5 yet? Not yet, but Clap Hanz has already stated that there will be downloadable content made available at some point. New golf courses and new characters have been mentioned as some possibilities.

Does it still take forever to unlock all of the courses and characters? Pretty much. There are quite a few challenges in each level and there are 10 levels. The good news is that you don't have to beat every single challenge in each level in order to move on to the next level. Once you've beaten a certain number of challenges in each level, you will then be able to face off with a character one-on-one. If you beat that character in match play, you can then move on to the next level. You can always go back and play the challenges you skipped the first time around later on.

I'll answer some more questions later on.

Neutopia FINALLY released on the Virtual Console!

Well it took them long enough, but Hudson has snuck in the release of Neutopia on the Wii Virtual Console today. Although it wasn't updated on their VPCE site, Neutopia did in fact get released on the VC today for 600 points. If you're not familiar with this brilliant little adventure/RPG, click on the box art to visit the review of the game on Virtual-Turbo. It's basically a Zelda clone, only it's a lot better overall in terms of both visuals and game play. It's easily one of the best TurboGrafx-16 games ever made and was #1 on the "Most Wanted TurboGrafx-16 Games" list since Virtual Turbo first went live. Don't miss this little gem! (Rating: 9/10)

Forgotten Favorites - Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones

For any of you that haven't experienced these fantastic strategy games, let me just say, you're really missing out. The first Fire Emblem game was amazing, but to me, it was this sequel that really kicked things into high gear. Great story lines, beautiful musical scores, and some of the best strategy-style battles you're ever likely to experience on a game system, let alone a portable. While RPG enthusiasts might feel like they don't have enough control since the game carries you along via the ongoing storyline, anyone that can appreciate strategy will immediately fall in love with the battle system the game employs. You get to make the calls as to where to position your fighters and how they will attack. But having to also keep an eye on how your enemy is positioning themselves also adds another dimension to the experience. If you have a Wal Mart near you, they were selling this game packaged with Marble Madness for $14.99, so grab one if they're still available. Heck, I even went and grabbed an extra one just to keep as a backup I like the game so much. One of my all-time favorite GBA titles. (Rating: 9/10)

Surround Sound in a Box!

I can honestly say that when I saw people on the gaming forums raving about the Logitech Z-5500 digital surround sound system, I thought they had to be exaggerating about their performance. I mean this was basically a "surround sound in a box" system for $399.99. But after getting all three of the current generation consoles, I figured it would at least be worth the $400 to try them out. Nothing could prepare me for how great this speaker system was. Not only are they extremely powerful and loud, but the bass that's produced by the 10" subwoofer is incredible. I'm talking about shaking the walls powerful. The surround sound separation is also very solid and spaceous. If you've got one of the current game consoles, do yourself a favor and pick a set of these up. All you need is an optical audio cable and you're ready to rock. Take my word for it, one taste of Gears of War or Resistance: Fall of Man with these babies and you'll never be able to play without them again. (Rating: 9/10)

Coming Soon - Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker

For fans of the previous Dragon Warrior Monster games here in the US, it won't be long until US fans will finally get a new original game in the series. Square/Enix is releasing "Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker" on November 7, 2007 so maybe we can all enjoy a little Dragon Quest Monsters fun along with our Thanksgiving Dinner. Be sure to get your preorders in, as sometimes these titles aren't produced in high numbers, and considering this will be smack-dab in the middle of the holiday shopping season, there's no reason to take a chance of not being able to land a copy on release day. I'll have a larger write-up later this week with some new screenshots of the game in action as well.

Stickin' it to the man!

Back in 1983, Konami released an arcade game that would become a huge hit in arcades across the country. It would also become one of the most revised arcade games as well. The arcade game used two run buttons that had to be pushed in rapid succession as quickly as possible. The faster you pushed the buttons, the faster your character would run. As with anything else in life, there's always a way to cheat. People began using "cheat sticks" in order to make the character run even faster than could be achieved using just the two buttons alone. The stick was placed between your fingers and resting on your middle finger. Then, using a see-saw technique, the stick was quickly rocked back and forth hitting the two run buttons in a super-fast motion. Now normally this wouldn't be too big of a deal, but Konami didn't like the fact that by using this cheating method, gamers could basically make one quarter last 2 hours since it made qualifying in each event so easy. And Konami can't make money if gamers aren't pumping the quarters into their arcade game, so they came up with a revision of the controls. They added these little half-circle button guards around the run buttons to make it difficult to use the cheat sticks. But gamers are creative people and they found ways around this by making cheat sticks that could fit down into these button guards. Konami then decided to not only fix this problem once and for all, but also punish gamers for their cheating ways. They installed trackballs that were now used to make your character run. Unfortunately running your hands across this trackball in rapid succession caused some of the most unsightly and painful blisters on your hands you can imagine. The first time I played the game with the trackball, I barely made it through two championships before my hands began stinging and burning so badly that I just couldn't play anymore. I began wearing a racqueball glove just to play the game. I thought I was being pretty creative until I saw a guy come into the arcade one day with this little contraption that had a little spinning motor and rubber wheel. When he held it against the trackball, it spun the trackball so fast that he maxed out every record on the game, including mine. With Track & Field, the ways people found to cheat became more interesting than even the arcade game itself.

About six months ago I was going through some of my old junior high and high school stuff that was still buried in a closet at my mother's house and I came across an interesting momento. So no, I haven't lost my mind and began phtographing old sticks. That's actually the original cheat stick that I was using back in the mid-80's while I was in junior high and high school. I had no idea that I had saved it, but it was in the zipper pouch of one of my old Trapper Keepers. I hadn't thought much about it until Track & Field was released on the Xbox Live Arcade last week and I decided now would be a good time to talk about it. Sadly I can't use the stick with the Xbox 360 controller, but I've already come up with a way to get super high scores. It just doesn't require me to kill my fingers with a cheat stick or wear a racqueball glove. : )

Salt Water Stafi - The Web Site!

Well due to an overwhelming response to the Stafi articles, I've decided to take the plunge and give Stafi a home all his own. The page will contain news, reviews, and other assorted Stafi stuff for all your viewing pleasure. I've got the screenshots all up, but the reviews I'll be working on over the weekend and next week. I also request that anyone who has any stafi artwork that they've done to please send it to me. I already have a couple of drawings people have sent, but I'm going to wait until I have a number of peices of artwork before I upload that page. The reviews should keep me busy in the meantime. Enjoy! **Click on the logo to visit the page and the URL is also in the "Links" section.**

Playstation Store - Piyotama

For those who've checked the Playstation Store today, you'll notice a new addition to the family. Actually it's a chicken, to be exact. And who doesn't love a cute little chicken. Especially when it's dipped it a nice and spicy buffalo wing sauce dripping with...Oh sorry, I got off track. Anyway, Sony's Japan Studio has dropped this unique puzzler on to the US Playstation Store and I've had a few hours to get the hang of it and I must say, it's not too shabby. It's got a fairly simple style in which you have to maneuver eggs around in order to line up like-colored eggs. Once you've made a line of 4 or more eggs, they highlight. Now you get to shake that Sixaxis controller in order to warm them up and make them hatch. You can even go for combos of lined up eggs to get huge bonus points. The mama hen is constantly laying new eggs so you'll have to be quick in order to keep the eggs from overflowing. Piyotama isn't going to set the gaming world on fire with any cutting-edge types of innovations, but it's a fun little puzzler for the $2.99 price tag. If you like quick moments of fun without a lot of thought required, pick this one up. It's also cute enough for even young children to get into. (RATING: 7/10)

Densetsu no Stafi (GBA) - Review

Densetsu no Stafi, or Legend of Stafi as it's called in the US, is a unique platformer title that's seen 4 releases to date. Three for the Game Boy Advance and one for the Nintendo DS system. The games feature a cute and loveable starfish named Stafi. The game is generally considered more of a "cult" favorite outside of Japan, but it's unique blend of platforming action and puzzle-solving aspects has made the game a big hit in Japan. We'll start by taking a look at the first game in the series released on the Game Boy Advance system in 2002 and see how it stacks up against the three future releases as well.

The variety in the game play of Stafi is what makes the game so difficult to put down once you begin playing it. You'll have to navigate the many levels of the game and complete certain tasks given to you by the many sea creatures you'll come into contact with. While most of the instruction is in Japanese, the animations themselves will generally give you a good indicator of what you need to do in order to advance further into the level. Along the way you'll pick up additional moves that you'll need in order to gain access to many of the later levels. You'll also get a chance to take control of a vehicle in certain areas that adds a little variety to the already solid game play. As with most platformers, there's the trademark boss fight at the end of each level. This is where the game really starts to shine as the bosses are not only quite humorous to look at, but the challenge of figuring out how to defeat them is equally fun. It's worth noting that there's not nearly as much platforming in this first release as found in the sequels, but don't let that scare you off. There's still plenty of enjoyable game play to go around. (GAMEPLAY: 8.5/10)

Visually Densetsu no Stafi is the least flashy of the series, but that doesn't mean it's a slouch by any stretch. As with all the Stafi releases, everything around you is vibrant and crisp. There's no limit to the sheer amount of colorful scenery you'll come into contact with throughout the game. It's also a nice touch that you never hardly see the same type of area twice as the developers have done a great job of mixing things up with all of the surroundings. There's a little scaling and rotation thrown in here and there, but it's more of an afterthought than anything. It's still safe to say that all of the visual charm and personality that the Densetsu no Stafi games have become so well known for is present in this title. (GRAPHICS: 8.0/10)

Musically Stafi is actually a fairly strong Game Boy Advance effort. All of the tunes in the game are upbeat and seem to fit the theme of the game perfectly. The sound effects range from mediocre to over-the-top silly, but as you'll find out when you play future versions of the game, they're always used consistently throughout the series. The music does seem to repeat a lot so the only real drawback with the cutesy soundtrack is the fact that it can become slightly repetitive after long playing sessions. Luckily the game doesn't last so long that the track will be permanently burned into your ear drums. Much like the visuals, this first game in the series sports the weakest soundtrack of the bunch but still manages to be a solid musical effort. (SOUND/MUSIC: 7.0/10)


If you haven't played any of the Densetsu no Stafi titles, you really owe it to yourself to give this unique platformer a try. The games might be a little on the easy side for veteran platformer fans, but it's a fun ride just the same. There's a lot to be said of the type of charm and personality that these games exude and couple that with the fact that the game has a solid control system and what you have is one of the most enjoyable Game Boy Advance adventures around. If you're new to the Stafi games, this one is the perfect place to get your feet wet. The game might start off a little slowly, but when it picks up, the addictive nature of this game series really shines through and will send you in search of other Stafi releases. (OVERALL: 8.5/10)

More Stafi...

WOW! I can't believe all the email I've gotten from people about the Stafi article. I guess there are a lot of Stafi fans out there much like myself. Well I hear you, and over the course of the next week or so, I'll be reviewing each of the four Densetsu no Stafi releases. They're honestly all terrific games, but I'll give you a more in-depth rundown of each game, starting with the first GBA release "Densetsu no Stafi." I'll try to have the review for it up within the next day or so. Thanks again for all the positive comments about the article. It's much appreciated. : )

Beautiful Katamari (Xbox 360) - Demo

Well I got the Official Xbox Magazine demo disc today and I've put in a little time with the "Beautiful Katamari" demo and I have to say, it's pretty much what I expected. Not a lot new to the mix as it looks, sounds, and plays like all of the previous Katamari games. Despite the fact that it's on the Xbox 360, the visuals are pretty much the same as they were on the Playstation 2 system, although that's really just the graphical style of the game at work. Simple and extremely vibrant. The game does look nice and sharp on the HDTV and the Dolby 5.1 surround sound is equally impressive. Control is executed using the two analog sticks on the controller. Anyone that's played any of the previous Katamari outings will immediately feel right at home behind the controls of the game. The demo only contains one level, but it's enough to get an idea of what to expect from the full game that will hit store shelves on October 16th. My recommendation is if you're a fan of the series, this is one to put on your wish list, but if you're not a fan, this game doesn't look to contain anything new that might change your mind. Basically just more of the same with some high-definition bells and whistles thrown in for good measure.(Demo Rating: 7/10)

Salt Water Stafi!

Let me first say that the simple fact that Nintendo has never seen fit to bring any of the Densetsu no Stafi titles over to the US is a damn shame. These four games are all absolutely outstanding titles that honestly deserve a place among US gamer's GBA and DS game libraries. The careful mixture of platforming and puzzle elements give the games a certain addictive quality that makes them nearly impossible to put down once you begin playing them. The game also uses cute cutscenes to carry the storyline along and keep you interested in the happenings going on around you.

I didn't discover the Stafi games until Densetsu no Stafi 3 was released for the Game Boy Advance system in Japan. I had seen the game mentioned all the time in certain gaming circles so I decided to give it a try. To say that I immediately fell in the love with the game would be an understatement, and not long after that I went back and bought the previous two GBA releases as well. Needless to say, when Densetsu no Stafi 4 was released for the Nintendo DS system, I preordered it and played through it as soon as it came in the mail. As usual, the game was phenomenal and really used the DS' 3-D capabailities for the cutscenes in some unique ways, yet still played in the same great 2-D style found in all of the previous Stafi releases. Even the amazing boss battles were taken to new levels with the DS release. All of the Stafi games feature a lot of replay value as you can always go back and collect everything you missed the first time around in order to perfect the games. The bottom line is if you've never experienced the Stafi games, please do yourself a favor and track down at least one of them. Although every game is an excellent title, here's the order in which I'd rank the games: (1) Densetsu no Stafi 4, (2) Densetsu no Stafi 3, (3) Densetsu no Stafi 1, (4) Densetsu no Stafi 2.

Forgotten Favorites - Lords of Thunder

Very few games get my blood pumping like Lords of Thunder. I came home from college one afternoon to find a promo video of Lords of Thunder in my mailbox. After watching about 3 minutes of it, I dug out my current Diehard Gamefan magazine, flipped to the retailers in the back, and ordered a Turbo Duo system and Lords of Thunder. I even sprung for overnight UPS shipping at a whopping $28.50. I don't think I left my bedroom for 2 weeks because I just couldn't put Lords of Thunder down. That rocking soundtrack and intense shooter action was a thing of beauty. I dug the game out this afternoon and ran through it again and it feels as outstanding today as it did 15 years ago. This is the type of game that will remind you why you play and love video games to begin with. If you've never played Lords of Thunder, please do yourself a favor and give it a go. It's easily one of the 10 greatest video games ever made in my book. (Rating: 9.5/10)

Import Impressions - Minna no Golf 5 (PS3)

Well I've put about 10 hours into the import of Minna no Golf 5 for the Playstation 3 and I have to say, it's pretty impressive. It's not graphically quite as impressive as I had hoped, but it's still the best looking Hot Shots Golf game to date by a good margin. The game's new swing method is fun to use, and offers a tad more realism to the experience, but it will take some serious getting used to for long-time fans of the series who are used to the classic swing method. The good news is that most of the time you have a choice as to which system you want to use. Only in a few rare circumstances does the game force you to use the new swing method during specific challenges.

I'm going to assume that most of you reading this have at least played a previous Hot Shots Golf game and are familiar with the classic swing style. The new style is still fairly straight-forward. You press the "X" button to make your character begin their club drawback. At a certain point in this drawback when you think you have enough power, you press the "X" button again which sets the power rating and continues the club drawback. The farther back the player draws back the club, the more power the swing will contain. Once the club is ready to swing, a circle will appear over your ball that starts out large and then quickly animates down to the size of your ball and quickly begins growing larger again. You want to time your button press at the moment when the circle is at its smallest size. That's the best shot you can hit. As the circle gets larger your shot accuracy and power begin to drop down. As with the classic swing mechanic, timing is everything. This is really the only difference in the two swing methods, and both work equally well once you get a grip on them. After using both for a good amount of time, I have to admit, I'm really liking the new method as it adds a little more challenge to the mix for those of us who've gotten pretty solid with the classic swing style.

There are 6 full 18-hole courses to choose from, although you'll have to beat the challenges in order to unlock them. You'll also be able to win accessories and better golf clubs through the challenge mode as well. The more experience you get, the better your golfer becomes in terms of power, control, and accuracy. The online mode is another feature worth talking about. At the moment you can only play in random tournaments, but Sony has stated that they are working on a downloadable update that will eventually allow players to select their individual oponents and host their own tournaments. While the current online format is adequate, these new features would obviously make the experience much more personalized and dynamic. This game also lends itself heavily to downloadable content like new accessories, golf courses, and game play features that can all be added down the road. Overall if your a Hot Shots Golf fan, this is a game to put on your must-have list. It's everything we've come to expect from the series and then some. And if you can't wait a few months, remember the Playstation 3 system is region-free so you can always import this one. It's fairly import friendly.(Import Rating: 9/10)

Xbox 360 Elite

Okay so my Xbox 360 has only been gone a few days, but I couldn't stand it anymore. I went out today and bought an Xbox 360 Elite system at Target. I almost bought another Premium system but I figured, why not grab the Elite for that 120GB Hard Drive. It's only money, right? It looks nice and sleek, and at least now it matches my Playstation 3, but it's taking a little getting used to after owning the white 360 for so long. Now I just have to be patient and wait for Blue Dragon at the end of this month and Eternal Sonata at the end of next month. Namco-Bandai is supposed to send me a review copy of Eternal Sonata a little early, so maybe I'll get to dive into it a little sooner than I thought. As usual, I'll have impressions of both games when I get my hands on them.