Breath of Fire review is up!

Just put up the review for Breath of Fire on SUPER-NES.COM. I know the Breath of Fire games are long overdue, but I should have the review for Breath of Fire II up later this week. It all depends on how much playing time I can get on it between now and then. It's a busy week. On a side note, I'm also going to be adding a review for an import Super Famicom game next week as well for those of you out there who've been requesting more import reviews. Rest assured, they're coming.

Spooky Favorites #1 - Ghosts 'n Goblins

Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for. Well at least all 4 of you. The #1 Spooky Favorite. It was a toss up when I was deciding whether to put up the NES or the Arcade version but I finally went with the arcade version since I pumped so many quarters into the machine many moons ago. You'd think a game about a knight and some ghosts wouldn't be too tough, but the one thing fans of this series know without a doubt is that Ghosts 'n Goblins is one extremely difficult game to beat. Just ask the many rolls of quarters I went through trying. I didn't even eat lunch most of the time, instead spending all my lunch money trying to get to the end of this game. Needless to say, my mother finally got tired of me blowing all my lunch money and bought me the game for my NES system only if I'd promise not to spend my lunch money on video games from then on. From that day forth I never spent my lunch money on video games anymore. Okay so I didn't spend all my lunch money on video games anymore.

I'm still to this day not completely sure what it was about this game that kept me coming back for more. To be honest with you, I could go through $10 worth of quarters in less than an hour and a half playing this beast. As I got better at the game I think I liked the fact that people would actually come to watch me play it knowing how far I could get in the game since not many could come close. Maybe it was the show-off in me. Ghosts 'n Goblins kicked off what has become an outstanding side-scroller series, but I think this first title will always be my favorite, no matter how good the newer games are. If you've been in a coma or on a deserted island for the past 20 years and haven't played this amazing game, do yourself a favor and track it down. This game will give you all you can handle and then some. Everyone have a Happy Halloween! (RATING: 9.8/10)

Spooky Favorites #2 - Kid Dracula

I really went back into the vaults for this one. Not only is Kid Dracula fairly old, it's also quite obscure around the gaming community. Kid Dracula is to the Castlevania series what Parodius is to the Gradius series. It's more of a parody than anything, but much like the Parodius games, it's a solid platformer that many gamers missed out on the first time around. Being a big Castlevania nut, I bought the game back when it was first released and I've been playing it ever since. It's still one of my favorite games and one of the few reasons I still keep the GBA SP system around.

In Kid Dracula you take on the role of Dracula's son. The game plays out a lot like the original Castlevania titles and places a huge emphasis on platforming. The levels even share a lot of similarities to the Castlevania levels, complete with the now trademark clock tower level. One interesting game play feature of Kid Dracula is the ability for him to turn into a vampire bat. This makes navigating many of the tricky levels a lot easier, but he can only stay in bat form for a short period of time so you can't just fly through all of the levels that way. You'll face off with the traditional boss fight at the end of each level, and despite the fact that this is an original Game Boy game, these bosses are actually pretty well done and challenging. If you still own a system capable of playing the original Game Boy games, do yourself a favor and track this little gem down. It's easily one of the best Game Boy games ever created and a great title for anyone that's a fan of the Castlevania series. (RATING: 9.7/10)

Spooky Favorites #3 - Ghouls 'N Ghosts

I loved the first Ghosts & Goblins game in the arcades and on the NES system. I bet I pumped enough quarters in the arcade game to buy the entire video game cabinet, not to mention the countless hours I spent in front on my NES playing it at home. When I heard that the sequel, Ghouls & Ghosts, was coming to the upcoming Sega Genesis system, I began saving my pennies from that moment on and I bought a Genesis on launch day. I was also standing at the Toys R Us doors the day Ghouls & Ghosts was released for the Genesis and didn't leave the house for a week once I got the game home. As difficult as the first game was, Ghouls & Ghosts even managed to eclipse it, but it was so much fun, I didn't care how hard it was.


Ghouls & Ghosts retianed all of the classic game play the original title featured, but it also added a few new options as well. The special attacks helped out a little, but pound for pound this is still one of the hardest damn games I've ever played. And what made it even worse was that to truly beat the game you had to play through it from start to finish not once, but twice in order to get the ending. The visual step up was what impressed me the most, but the musical upgrade was pretty impressive as well. I still play the Ghouls games all the time, but when I'm up for a real challenge, it's Ghouls & Ghosts for the Sega Genesis that I turn to. It's still one of the best video games ever made. (RATING: 9.6/10)

Spooky Favorites #4 - Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Picture this. It's a nice Saturday afternoon and your neighbors are having a fun family BBQ when all of a sudden their backyard is overrun with mutant Zombies. What's a guy to do. Pick up a water pistol and blow the Zombies' heads off, that's what. You're job in the game is to rescue your neighbors from the zombies, werewolves, and vampires. You'll have to traverse suburban neigborhoods, shopping malls, as well as Egyptian pyramids in an effort to save everyone. Once you've dispersed all of the enemies in a level and left at least one neigbor alive, a door will open and it's on to the next level. Needless to say, these levels get harder as you go along.

You're armed in the beginning with only a water pistol, but you will be able to access more weapons as the game progresses. Everything from tomatoes, coke cans, a bazooka, and even a flame thrower later on in the game will be yours for the taking. This might sound like every other run and gun game you've played but trust me, Zombies At My Neighbors might be goofy, but it's one hell of a fun game. I won this one at a Halloween Carnival while I was in college and I've been playing it every since. If you're up for something different or maybe you're just in the mood to mutilate some Zombie butt, you'll not find a more enjoyable game than this one. It's easily one of the most underrated SNES games of all time. (RATING: 9.5)

Spooky Favorites #5 - Cotton

Now here's a game I bet nobody expected to make the list. How many shooters do you know that feature a little girl riding a broom. Okay so there's two, but this is the one most people will recognize. The game features a much darker tone than most other cute 'em ups, and the difficulty in the Cotton games is generally pretty high as well. You'd better bring your "A" game for this baby. Don't let the cute witch riding on the broom lull you into a false sense of security. The original Cotton game is available for several systems including: Neo Geo Pocket Color, PC Engine Super CD, TurboGrafx-16 Super CD, as well as the original arcade title. They're all quite good, but you'd be hard-pressed to beat the arcade version if you want the best overall version of the game.

As with most shooters you're goal is to shoot your way through each of the game's many levels and take out the boss at the end of each level. The levels themselves are tough enough, but some of the boss fights in Cotton are downright brutal, especially in the later levels. Visually the game is fantastic and features tons of vibrant colors that make up the surroundings. The graveyard level is still my all-time favorite with that spooky gray background that's swirling around with the wind. If you're up for something a little different and a game that will challenge even seasoned shooter fans, give Cotton a try. It's still one of the best shooters out there. (RATING: 9.4/10)

Spooky Favorites #6 - Demon's Crest

I had been a huge fan of the Ghosts & Goblins series since the first game in the arcades and on my NES system so it was exciting when I heard news that Capcom was working on a spin-off for the Super NES that featured the menacing demon Firebrand from the Ghosts & Goblins series. The game was in development for quite some time and it was even reported in one of the game magazines that Capcom was abandoning the project altogether due to creative differences within their development team. Needless to say, this rumor ended up being false and the game was finally released on the Super Nintendo system at the end of 1994. The game was never the type of hit the Ghosts & Goblins games were, but it's acquired a strong cult following over the years and remains a favorite among Super NES fans.

In Demon's Crest you took on the role of Firebrand the flying demon. You had to traverse the many areas of the game and could visit any location using a fancy mode-7 overhead map. The game still played like an action/side-scroller but it also added new moves for the demon including flying and hovering in mid air. Much like the Ghosts & Goblins titles, Demon's Crest also came with a hefty dose of difficulty. The game was tough, but it was so much fun and featured such amazing visuals that it was difficult to put down once you began playing it. If you like the Ghosts & Goblins or Ghouls & Ghosts games, you should really track this title down. Not only is it a fantastic spinoff, it's an amazing game in and of itself as well. (RATING: 9.2)

Spooky Favorites #7 - Castlevania

There are very few video games that have impacted my life the way the original Castlevania title has. Over the years it's become one of my favorite game series and one that I still enjoy all these years later. While the Castlevania games have gotten more intricate and deeper as fas as game play goes over the years, it's difficult to fault the original with it's arcade-like feel. In the original Castlevania game you took on the role of Simon Belmont, famed vampire hunter, and your job was to traverse dracula's castle and disperse of the evil one once and for all. Now we all know that you can't ever really get rid of Dracula, but it's spawned one of the most beloved video game series in history and one that continues to thrive among gamers still today.

The day I got Castlevania for my NES I had been wanting Legend of Zelda with a passion. Of course thousands of other gamers wanted it as well which explains why you couldn't find the game in any stores for the longest time. After sending my uncle after three games, I ended up getting my last choice which was Castlevania. I was pretty dissapointed when he came back from the city with it and not Legend of Zelda, so much so that I sat the game on my bed and went out to ride my motocross bike. Later that night I was bored and finally took the game out of the box and fired it up on my NES. It was then that I discovered what would become one of my all-time favorite video games. If you want to see where it all started, pick this classic title up. It's still one of the best games out there, even 22 years later. Damn I'm getting old. (RATING: 9.2/10)

Star Ocean review now up!

Got the new Star Ocean review up on SUPER-NES.COM tonight. It went a little longer than I'd hoped, but there was just so much to say about the game. If you want to check it out, click on the box art graphic and it will take you to the review. And for anyone that's not tried this translated game out yet, please do yourself a favor and give it a try. It's just an outstanding rpg. For those who don't know, Square-Enix is working on a remake of the game for the PSP due out in 2008, so that's something else to look for in the future.

Spooky Favorites #8 - Nosferatu

There are very few games I can think of that were as hyped up as Nosferatu for the Super NES system. Not only was this game in development for several years, but there was a time when I wondered if it would ever see the light of day. Seta delayed the release more times than I can count and most people, myself included, assumed that all of this extra development time was going to go into making this one of the greatest games ever made. It's no wonder that Nosferatu is considered a major dissapointment despite the fact that it's still a very solid action title. It's difficult to describe the game but the best way to describe it would be to liken it to a cross between Prince of Persia and Castlevania. It might sound strange, but it somehow works.

The visuals in Nosferatu are outstanding, especially by Super NES standards, and the animation in all of the characters and enemies is astounding as well. It's really the game play that makes Nosferatu what it is. There's tons of things your character can do. Everything from jumping across chasms, climbing up walls, and even punching and kicking enemies. At the end of each level there's the patented boss fight to liven things up a bit. If you like action titles and have never tried Nosferatu out, you should really try to track down a copy. It might not have lived up to the insane amount of hype it garnered back in the day but it's still one of the better SNES action titles and one worth locating a copy of. (RATING: 8.3/10)

Spooky Favorites #9 - MediEvil

History tells the story of Sir Daniel Fortesque, brave knight and slayer of dragons. Okay so that's the story he tells everyone. The King so loves the stories he tells that he makes Sir Daniel an honorary knight. But when the evil wizard Zarok attacks the kingdom, Sir Daniel is thrust into battle where he only lasts a matter of seconds before he's hit with the first arrow fired right into his right eyeball killing him instantly. Feeling sorry for Sir Daniel, the king erects a burial monument declaring that Sir Daniel was the knight responsible for slaying the evil wizard. One hundred years later the evil Zarok returns and the villagers resurrect Sir Daniel in the hopes that he'll live up to the stories he's told and finally become the hero he's so longed to be. Now it's your turn to take control of Sir Daniel and lead him to victory in this classic Playstation One adventure.

MediEvil has a very "Nightmare Before Christmas" look to it that always appealed to me. The play control was good for the time, but hasn't held up as well as many other games from this time period. That's not to take anything away from this great adventure game. The game features some solid platforming action, and if you like a little hack -n- slash thrown in, you'll especially love this game. I bought the PSP remake of the game, but I still prefer playing the PSone original on my Playstation 3. Outstanding and spooky visuals abound throughout the game and the game is quite a long quest so you'll get your money's worth out of this one. If you've never played MediEvil, it's definitely a game fans of this genre should check out. Not quite up to par with some of the modern adventure titles but still a lot of fun if you want to take a trip down memory lane. Easily one of the better Playstation adventure titles and also one of the most original. (RATING: 7.8/10)

Spooky Favorites #10 - Haunted House

I really went back into the vault for this one. For those not familiar with this game, Haunted House was a very unique game for the Atari 2600 system. You're job was to enter a haunted mansion in which you had to locate the three hidden peices of the magical urn. You had nine lives in which to do it in. As you wandered around the pitch dark mansion the only thing you could see was your eyes glowing in the darkness. You had an unlimited supply of matches that you could strike which would light up a small area around you long enough for you to see, at least until a ghost or gust of wind blew the match out. You also had to deal with giant tarantulas and vampire bats as well. Once you collected all three urn peices and got out of the mansion you were then given a score. The fewer matches you used, the better the score.

The game featured a very simple premise that was easy at first and became more challenging as the game went on. Since you could only carry one item at a time, you had to be careful in choosing which to use. The sceptre would make you immune to enemy attacks but you had to put the sceptre down in order to use keys and other items. By today's standards this game looks absolutely archaic, but back in the day it was a lot of fun to play. I still drag it out on occasion just for old time's sake. If you're looking for a spooky old-school classic, this is a good one! (RATING: 8.0/10)

SUPER-NES.COM Import Reviews!

Since the day that I uploaded the first version of SUPER-NES.COM, the one request I've gotten more than any other is for me to review some of the import Super Nintendo titles that never saw a US release. The reviews of Terranigma and Seiken Densetsu 3 have always been the most popular reviews on the site and in the almost two years since I last updated the site, I've gotten a lot of new requests for these imports. I've chosen five import titles that I've played over the years, thanks to the hard work of the translators at Dejap, and I'm going to be writing reviews for each of these five titles over the coming weeks beginning with the Enix classic Star Ocean. I'll have the Star Ocean review up within the next few days. Reviews for Bahamut Lagoon, Tales of Phantasia, Dragon Quest V, and Dragon Quest VI will follow.

The new and improved SUPER-NES.COM

To be honest, I've neglected this site for almost two years. I've promised myself countless times that I was going to revamp the site design I used on the original site which I always hated, but I somehow always managed to put it off. I even made a half-hearted attempt a few months ago but I hated it even more than the original layout. Well over the past two weeks I've been working on the new layout and switching all of the pages over and I'm happy to say that the new and much improved SUPER-NES.COM site is up and running. I'm also working on three new reviews, which will be the first new reviews to hit the site in almost two years. Click on the graphic to visit the new site and feel free to email or leave me comments about the new design. I can take it.

And thanks to all those who've bugged the living shit out of me over the past two years to get the site going again. (The petition was a nice touch, by the way.) You're hard work has finally paid off. : ) ENJOY!

Gaming News 101

Now that we're hitting the holiday shopping season we're finally seeing the barrage of gaming news that normally sets in this time of year. I thought I'd take a look at a few of the gaming news stories that are popping up around the net this week and offer my usual pithy commentary on them. I'll be gentle.

* Sony's Playstation 3 system sales increase by 173% with the introduction of the 40GB Playstation 3 model in Europe. Now let's face it, there's no way sales could have gotten much worse, but a 173% increase is pretty impressive just the same. Apparently, European gamers appreciated the price drop despite the lack of backward compatibility that didn't even put a dent in sales of the console. Maybe Sony know what they're doing after all. I'll reserve my comments any further until we see how this cheaper Playstation 3 console with no backward compatibility for Playstation 2 games sells here in the US.

* Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, has stated that they will have twice as many Wii consoles available for sale during this holiday season than they had last season. Of course that's not saying much considering the console was extremely scarce last season during its launch as well. Will this be enough consoles to meet demand, especially with Super Mario Galaxy being released in November? I seriously doubt it and if your child has a Nintendo Wii on their wish list, you had better get out there and track one down now. It's only going to get worse as we get closer to Christmas.

* Super Smash Bros. Brawl is pushed back into 2008. I called this one back in March. I knew there was no way Nintendo was going to ship three of their biggest franchises within four months of each other, especially if they were still having suppply problems with the Wii console when the holiday shopping season began. It's probably just as well with the huge number of other titles coming out between now and Christmas. My wallet is already not terribly happy with me as things stand now.

* Rock Band, the newest musical sensation game for the Playstation 3 system, will only be available in the $169.99 bundle throughout the holidays. Yep, you heard right. If you want to play Rock Band, you're going to have to shell out for the whole setup, which includes the mic, guitar, and drums. The game will be available in seperate packages in 2008, but for now it's all or nothing.

* In an expected move, Nintendo has stated officially that they are not dropping the price of their Wii console this holiday season. In all honesty, why should they? Retailers already can't keep these things on store shelves at $249.99. They'd have to be crazy to drop the price of it now, or anytime soon for that matter. This is the holiday season, a time for making money! I mean giving.

Omega Five - Xbox Live Arcade

Hudson isn't stopping with the success of their Bomberman Live release on Xbox Live Arcade. Now they've got an all-new shoot 'em up in store for Xbox 360 owners called Omega Five. This will be the first next-generation shooter and it's all taking place in 720p high-definition glory. I've watched some high-definition video of the game in action and it's absolutely stunning. If this game plays half as good as it looks, shooter fans are in for a real treat when this game hits the Xbox Live Marketplace. As soon as I hear a release date, I'll post more on this amazing title. Click on the logo to visit Hudson's information page for the game.

Gate of Thunder hits the Virtual Console!

Hudson will release the first TurboGrafx-16 CD title on the Wii Virtual Console tomorrow and they couldn't have picked a better title to kick things off with. Gate of Thunder is not only one of the greatest shooters ever made, it's also one of the greatest video games in history as well. As I said in the review, if you're a fan of shooters you absolutely must own this game. And if you're not a big fan of shooters, get it anyway! As close to a perfect video game as I've ever played and the only TurboGrafx-16 game I'll likely ever give a perfect "10" score to.

** Click on the Gate of Thunder cover to check out the full review of the game at Virtual-Turbo! **

Rez and Ikaruga coming to Xbox Live Arcade!

This news isn't exactly hot off the presses, but I find it odd that most Xbox 360 message boards are hardly buzzing about the upcoming release of two of the greastest shooters ever created. Rez, which made an appearance on the Japanese Dreamcast as well as the US Playstation 2 console, is one of the most unique shooters out there. It's also one of the most enjoyable ones as well. Ikaruga needs no introduction to shooter fans as it's the sequel to the hugely popular Saturn shoot 'em up Radiant Silvergun. Ikaruga also appeared on the Japanese Dreamcast and also the Nintendo Gamecube here in the US. Ikaruga is similar in style to Radiant Silvergun but Treasure added a new game play system to the mix to give the game a feel all its own. One similarity that Ikaruga definitely shares with Radiant Silvergun is its high degree of difficulty. The HD video I've seen of these two games running on the Xbox 360 is stunning to say the least and it's about time these classics are given new life on one of the current generation consoles. If you're a shooter fan, you don't want to miss either of these games when they hit Xbox Live Arcade. As soon as I get some release dates, I'll post them on here.

Forgotten Favorites - Simon's Quest (NES)

Castlevania has, and always will be, one of my all time favorite video game series. It all started the day I bought the first Castlevania title for my NES back in 1986 and continues on today over 20 years later. With Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles coming out for the Sony PSP system this month, I decided to drag out Simon's Quest and give it another play through. I know it's coming to the Wii Virtual Console sometime in the very near future, but I just couldn't wait any longer. It didn't take more than a few minutes of playing to remember why it is that Simon's Quest has become my all-time favorite Castlevania title.

Simon's Quest was a big change from the linear arcade-style game play of the first Castlevania game and introduced more of an RPG feel to the game play as well. The game offered multiple paths to take as well as more of a focus on exploration. The game also sported a unique feature in which the game continuously changed from day to night and then back again. The traditional Castlevania platforming was still present in full force and the tough bosses were back also. While I was a huge fan of the first game, I immediately loved the changes Konami had made to this sequel and despite all of the innovations made to the series over the years, not one game has ever eclipsed Simon's Quest on my list of Castlevania favorites. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that someday Konami will see fit to update these classics, especially this one. (RATING: 9.5/10)

** Beginning on October 22, each day I'll be covering a Forgotten Favorite game that features a spooky or haunted theme for the 10 days leading up until Halloween Night when I'll cover my all-time favorite spooky video game title. **

Final Fantasy Tactics PSP - Impressions

I haven't played Final Fantasy Tactics since it was first released on the original Playstation system. I loved the game and have often wanted to go back and locate a copy to play. After picking up the updated version for the PSP system today and spending several hours with it, it's clear that either (a) this game hasn't aged as well as I had hoped, or (b) my tastes in strategy games has changed a lot over the years. It might not have helped that I just finished playing through Jeanne D'Arc, but Final Fantasy Tactics just feels a little outdated to me. The new cinemas are gorgeous and the voiced dialog is a nice touch as well, but the game didn't get much of a facelift in the actual game itself. In fact the game has a rather blurry look to it as if Square incorporated some type of "smoothing" technology into the game's visuals. The music is still fantastic and the game play has held up fairly well, but it's clear to me that strategy games have improved over the years and Final Fantasy Tactics, while still a great game, is beginning to fall behind the curve a bit. If you loved the original, you'll most likely enjoy this remake, but if you're looking for an outstanding strategy game for the PSP, I'd have to recommend Jeanne D'Arc over this one. (RATING: 7/10)

Forgotten Favorites - LocoRoco (PSP)

Now here's a game that many people took one look at and quickly dismissed. To be honest, it's no small wonder. LocoRoco is about as visually odd as you can get. It's also got an insane musical score to go along with it. As if that wasn't enough, the game play is very simple and unique. It's safe to say that this isn't a game for everybody. But for those that can appreciate the fresh and original game play experience it offers up, it's actually a terrific and utterly addictive game that is very difficult to put down once you began playing it.

You use the left and right PSP shoulder buttons to tilt the screen right and left which will cause your blob to roll. By pressing both shoulder buttons at once, you can make your blob jump into the air. Your goal in the game is to safely gather up all of the blobs hiding in pods throughout each level and make it to the goal at the end of the level. While this might sound simple enough, the levels get gradually more intricate and difficult as the game progresses. You will even be called upon to split up the giant blob into a group of smaller blobs in order to traverse some tight areas in each level. Visually the game is something fresh and different and the soundtrack is just so over-the-top silly that it really makes playing the game an absolute blast. If you've not picked this game up yet, at least do yourself a favor and download the demo and give it a try. LocoRoco is one of the most unique games I've played in years and a worthy addition to any PSP owner's game library. (RATING: 9.1/10)

Release Angry Beavers on DVD!

I consider myself a patient man, but I've been waiting years for Nickelodeon to finally release the Angry Beavers series on DVD. I'd even settle for iTunes or Xbox Live Marketplace downloads. This is one of my all-time favorite Nick series and I think it's high time these episodes (including the never-aired finale) were released to the public. I taped a lot of episodes years ago, but they were lost when I moved. How hard would it be to put these in a DVD collection? I'm thinking of boycotting Nickelodeon but I'm no sure if I can go that long without watching Spongebob. I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed that the Beavers will make a comeback.

Neo Geo arrvies on Virtual Console!

SNK is due to release the first Neo Geo arcade game titles onto the Wii Virtual Console today. The three titles set for release are: Fatal Fury, World Heroes, and Art of Fighting. All three games are early titles, but definitely worth a look for fans of the 2-D fighting genre. I'm going to pick up at least one title today, most likely Art of Fighting, just to see how they look and play on the Virtual Console. I already own a Neo Geo MVS Candy arcade cabinet, but my curiousity wants to know how these are going to turn out on the Virtual Console. I'll post impressions in tomorrow's blog entry. Each title will cost 900 Wii Points, but that's a small price to pay considering that these titles used to cost over $250 each back when they were first released on the Neo Geo systems.

I'm happy to report that I downloaded both World Heroes and Art of Fighting and they both play exactly like the Neo Geo arcade versions. They look pretty sharp too for those of you who have an HDTV and the sound is top notch. Lot of bass. I can't wait to see how Samurai Shodown and Last Blade look on the Virtual Console.

Sony's mistakes are mounting!

I love Sony and I have for many years. I even kept a notebook of every game magazine and newspaper clipping leading up to the release of the original Playstation. I walked into Sears on launch day and even had to explain to the clerk in the electronics section what exactly a Playstation system was. Over the years I've owned both the Playstation and Playstation 2 systems as well as the original PSP. I now own the new slim model PSP system and the 60GB Playstation 3 console, yes the one with the Emotion Engine. Having said all of that, I have to admit that I'm now beginning to get more and more concerned with Sony and their decision making process regarding the Playstation 3 system. It seems that Sony just continues to make one unexplainable decision after another and the worst part is that there seems to be no end in sight. I thought today we'd take a look at a few of the key mistakes that have been made in the hopes of making some semblance of sense out of this whole thing.

* May 8, 2006 - Sony drops the bombshell at E3 2006 by releasing the stunning price point of their upcoming Playstation 3 console. The 60GB model will retail for $599 and the slightly stripped down 20GB model will retail for $499. Needless to say, most people were shocked at the lofty price tag as many were expecting Sony to price the system to compete with Microsoft's Xbox 360 console at around $399. It didn't happen.

* April 11, 2007 - Word leaks out around the internet regarding a Best Buy document that states that Sony has discontinued the 20GB Playstation 3 model altogether without any announcement whatsoever. Not long after this leak, Sony indeed confirms that the 20GB model is no more, but there's a reason for this that everyone finds out a few months later. Read on.

* July 9, 2007 - Sony announces a surprise $100 price drop for the 60GB Playstation 3 system and people are finally convinced that Sony is back on the right track. At least for a few hours until it's announced by a Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe spokesperson that the price drop is only temporary due to the fact that Sony has discontinued the 60GB Playstation 3 model and are only discounting the price to $499 until all remaining 60GB stock is bought up. This spokesperson is then publicly crucified on most internet gaming message boards until Sony Computer Entertainment America's president Kaz Hirai confirms that Sony has indeed discontinued the 60GB model. He then went on to reassure everyone that there was still plenty of 60GB Playstation 3 systems available to the public. It's also brought to light that Sony is readying an 80GB Playstation 3 system that would ship in the United States sometime in August for $599.95 with more good news that the game Motorstorm would also be included in the package.

* July 10, 2007 - It's revealed that this new 80GB Playstation 3 model will no longer contain the Emotion Engine that is responsible for running all Playstation 1 and Playstation 2 games on the Playstation 3 system. Backward compatibility will now be performed using software emulation. As expected it would later turn out that many classic Playstation 1 and Playstation 2 titles had assorted glitches and problems running on this emulation software, with some not running at all. The news just gets better and better doesn't.

* September 12, 2007 - Sony's much-anticipated action title Heavenly Sword is released to mixed reviews. Despite loads of praise for the game's gorgeous visuals and intense game play, the game is heavily criticized for its overly short length and the game fails to jump start sales of the Playstation 3 console the way many had hoped it would.

* October 5, 2007 - Sony of Europe announces a new 40GB Playstation 3 model for release in Europe for $399. This marks the lowest price point yet for the system. But there's a catch. This new model will have two less USB ports, no card readers, and will have absolutely NO BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY for Playstation 2 titles whatsoever. Not even using the emulation software as is used in the 80GB Playstation 3 console. There has been much confusion regarding this move but to clarify things a bit, here's a quote from the official Sony Computer Entertainment Europe press release - "The new model is no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 titles, reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature amongst later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles." Doesn't sound good, does it? Most message board users didn't think so either, as many of the forums have been flooded with complaints about this removal of the backward compatibility since the announcement was first made. And that's putting it lightly.

In all honesty, this whole situation has begun to make even the most ardent Playstation fans wonder what in the hell a company like Sony that's dominated the previous two console generations was thinking when they made these decisions. Sony's heaped much of the blame over the years on Ken Kuturagi, but at least when he was in charge, they were leading the console market. It would seem to me that they need to stop the finger-pointing and start making the right decisions to bring the Playstation 3 console back into contention the way it should have been all along. Until that happens, those of us who own a Playstation 3 system will just have to keep holding on to the promise that we were made when this system was announced. That the Playstation 3 was the console of the future. I've got a question...when's the future going to get here?

No Wii Under the Tree?

This Christmas could end up being a blue Christmas for many people hoping to find a Nintendo Wii system under their trees this holiday season. It's already widely known that Nintendo Wii systems have been in short supply at retailers since the system launched almost a full year ago. It's still quite difficult to find a system sitting on a store shelf, at least for more than a few seconds and Nintendo's head honcho Reggie Fils-Aime doesn't offer much hope for landing a Wii system anytime before the end of 2007. Not mincing words, the outspoken exec said that a lot of children will be left wanting this holiday season. "We're working very hard to make sure that consumers are satisfied this holiday, but I can't guarantee that we're going to meet demand," he said. "As a matter of fact, I can tell you on the record we won't." Parents with children wanting a Wii had better start looking now, and daily if possible. That is unless you want to have to face that dissapointing look on your children's faces come Christmas morning. Even Santa can't help you with this one unless your willing to settle for a Playstation 3 console. He's got plenty of those on hand.

Star Ocean: First Departure (Sony PSP)

For those of you out there that don't already know, Square-Enix is hard at work on a brand new PSP Star Ocean title called Star Ocean: First Departure. I got a chance to see some high-quality video of the game in action and I've got to say, if you're a Star Ocean fan, this is one to keep your eyes peeled for. Outstanding anime sequences, great voice work, and some very catchy and melodic music stood out even from the short two minute video piece I took a look at. No word yet on a US release, but we can all keep our fingers crossed that the PSP is going to see yet another fantastic RPG title in the future. The more the merrier I always say. I'll post more on this upcoming title when I get some new info.

Jeanne D'Arc (PSP)

With Final Fantasy Tactics: War or the Lions coming for the PSP this month, I almost missed out on Jeanne D'Arc. I finally broke down and bought it the other day after hearing so many good things about it on the various gaming message boards and am I ever glad I did. Not only is this the best strategy title to date for the PSP, it's also one of the best strategy titles I've ever played. Great mix of RPG storyline with strategy-style combat. The game takes a classic storyline and molds an entire game around it and it really works out perfectly. If you're a fan of strategy titles, you've got to give Jeanne D'Arc a try. I'll have a more thorough review of the game soon but right now I'm up to my ears in game reviews. This game is an absolute steal at $29.99! (RATING: 9.2/10)

Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - Impressions

Well the game that Zelda fans have been waiting an eternity for has finally arrived. The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass is now upon us. There have been so many questions surrounding this title, especially since it was announced that the game would be completely controlled with the DS touchscreen. The game is billed as a sequel to the Gamecube Zelda: Windwaker title and features the same cel-shaded art style of the aforementioned release. The obvious question on most people's minds is - was the wait worth it? I picked up the game this morning and I've put about 4 hours into it and I'm here to tell you that this is one extremely fun Zelda game. It might take some gamers a little getting used to the new style of control, but you'll quickly realize why the developers have made use of it.

For starters, the visuals in Phantom Hourglass are spectacular, especially considering that this is a DS title. The cel shaded look makes the game stand out from all of the previous portable Zelda titles and gives it a very "console" like look and feel. Throughout the game you'll also be treated to 3-D scenes that are more up close and personal and show that the DS has some serious 3-D capabilities when developers put in the time to make solid use of them. The music in the game is the best I've heard since Link to the Past. There are some terrific musical tracks throughout the game, some familiar and some completely new. The game play is obviously where this game is likely to rub some gamers the wrong way. That's not to say it's not good, it's just a little different. Having the game controlled solely using the touchscreen might seem odd at first, but once you begin to see all that can be accomplished with this technique, you'll better understand why they chose to make use of it. Unlike some DS games, the touchscreen use doesn't feel forced or tacked-on the way it has in some previous titles. The only real downside to having to use the touchscreen for everything is that it can cause hand and arm fatigue after long playing sessions. This is not a game you're likely to sit down and play for hours at a time, at least not if you value the use of your hands.

Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was a long time coming, but after playing the game, it's obvious that the extra time in development has greatly helped the game feel more polished and complete. This is a game that's going to go down as one of the great Zelda titles. Not because of it's unique touchscreen controls, but because it's got everything a great Zelda title should have. Beautiful visuals, memorable music, and an engaging storyline all come together to form what is one of the best adventure games the DS has seen to date. If your a Zelda fan, this game is an absolute must-have and even if you're not a Zelda fan, the unique game play of this title might just make a believer out of you. If you'll excuse me, I hear Zelda calling my name. (RATING: 9.3/10)

Ratchet is Back!

I picked up the demo of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction for the Playstation 3 today and I've put about an hour into playing through the first level of the game a few times and I have to say, this game is everything I hoped for and a lot more. To say that I'm impressed with this game would be a gross uunderstatement. Visually this game is stunning. If ever there were a last generation game that's coming into the current generation in full force it's this one. All in full 16x9 720p high-definition glory. Insomniac were able to pull graphic power out of the Playstation 2 that most developers couldn't even dream of doing, but they've gone way above the call of duty with their newest Ratchet title. And don't even get me started on the music and earth-shattering sound effects. If you've got a decent Dolby surround sound setup, your neighbors are in for a treat. The futuristic bullet trains whizzing by alone will likely warrant a visit from your local police department. So now we know it looks and sounds amazing, but what about the game play?

For those who were more than a little dissapointed with Insomniac taking the Ratchet serires in more of a "shooter" type of direction with the last two releases, you can relax now. The platforming is back and there's plenty of it to go around. Not only do you get to run and jump across platforms, but in the first level alone you'll get to grind along rails with futuristic bullet trains whizzing by your side as well as use anti-gravity pads that will rocket Ratchet high into the air and on to another level of platforms. It's an impressive visual feature that you have to see to believe. Now shooting fans need fear not, as there's still tons of weapons and enemy blasting to keep you busy. There's not a down moment in the entire demo level and the staggering part is that this is only the first level. I was already excited about this title for the Playstation 3, but now I'm going to be camped out the morning of release day for this one. This is the most impressive Playstation 3 title I've played to date and one that everybody should be getting excited about come release day on October 31st. (RATING: 9.4/10)

October - So many games...so little time!

This is going to be a huge month for gaming. Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass kicks things off tomorrow and I'll have full game impressions tomorrow evening. There's also Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles and Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions for the Sony PSP that i'll be picking up on release day. I'm still kicking around the idea of grabbing Crash of the Titans on one of the systems, but I'm still not sure which system I want it for. I'm leaning towards the Xbox 360, but I'd be more apt to play it with all of the traveling I have to do this month on my PSP. As if all of these weren't enough, Project Gotham Racing 4 is hitting the Xbox 360 this month also. I'm going to try and pick up a copy of the Ratchet & Clank Future demo for the Playstation 3 system tomorrow when I pick up Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Couple all of this with the Wii Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, and Playstation 3 Store releases and this month should keep me and my blog quite busy. And since Halloween is this month, I've got a few spooky surprises as well. : )

My First Console RPG

I am a huge RPG fan and have been for over 25 years. I began playing RPGs on my Apple II and Commodore 64 computers back in 1982. I was playing such games as: Wizardry, Ultiima, Phantasie, Bard's Tale, and Temple of Apshai. When the NES system debuted in 1985, I began spending more time gaming on it and more time using my computer for more productive tasks like word processing and programming. I tried to find a good RPG fix on the NES, but despite my love of the two Zelda titles and a little known early Falcom title called Legacy of the Wizard, it just wasn't the same as those classic turn-based RPGs I had grown to love during the early 80's on those personal computers. That is until one day when I walked into the local hardware store and saw the game that would turn me into the console RPG fan I am to this very day.

I had just graduated from high school and my mother sent me to the local hardware store to pick up some stuff for her. While I was there I normally always looked though the small video game case they had in the store. While this was a hardware store, they generally had about 8-10 NES games on hand to choose from. Luckily for me they were normally not games I was interested in. I had seen commercials for an RPG on TV called Dragon Warrior and I was more than a little interested in it. I guess that's why I was so shocked to actually see the game in that display case. I only had about eight bucks on me at the time so I put Dragon Warrior on layaway and figured I could probably pay it off over the next few weeks if I was lucky. The problem was it was killing me. I wanted to play that game so badly I could barely see straight. I finally pleaded with my mother to go ahead and give me the money to get it and I'd pay her back. She gave in quite easily and I ran back up to that store and grabbed the game. I don't think I left my room for two weeks. I loved that game and still do for that matter. I keep hoping that Square-Enix might someday remake the first game for the PSP the way they've done the first two Final Fantasy games. Hey, I can always dream. Dragon Warrior kicked off a love of console RPGs that still burns strong in me today. I might own over 100 RPGs at present time, but it's Dragon Warrior that started it all. (NOSTALGIA RATING: 9/10)