Questions & Answers #2

Well we've come to the end of 2007. It was a great year for gaming as the console wars have heated up. With the possibility of news of a new portable game system or two and some big name console releases, 2008 is looking to be just as outstanding a year. Here's one more round of questions and answers to end the year with. Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone and once again, thanks for reading the blog!

1. When is Banjo Threeie coming out? - Well that's a very good question. Unfortunately, it's also one no one but the folks at Rare can answer. I'm even betting that they don't even know if the truth be told. We should get some news about the title at E3, but it's looking more and more likely that we won't see it until 2009. I know, I'm tired of waiting as well.

2. Why have you not had more coverage of Super Smash Bros. Brawl? - Well once I knew it was delayed into 2008, I put it on the back burner, especially given that Super Mario Galaxy was coming during the holidays. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the Smash Bros. series, but I'm still a little excited to see how this game will be and I know it's become one of Nintendo's biggest franchises. I'll try to get some more info up as the February release approaches.

3. Is Lords of Thunder ever going to come out on the Virtual Console? - It sure is. In fact, it's likely to come during the first quarter of 2008 if what I'm hearing is correct. There must be a lot of other system releases for January as so far Hudson only has one confirmed title set for release and that's Riot Zone. Just be patient, Lords of Thunder is coming as is Ys Book I & II.

4. Are you ever going to update the Salt Water Stafi web site? - Yes, in fact I just uploaded the first Densetsu no Stafi review. I've been working overtime on the Densetsu no Stafi 2 FAQ lately, so I apologize that my other sites have suffered a little neglect because of it. Maybe now that the holidays are over, I'll have more time to work on all this stuff.

5. Did Sony ever fix the 720p problem with the Playstation 3 Blu-Ray movies? - Yes. Sony fixed it so that the Playstation 3 can now output Blu-Ray movies at 720p as well as the games so you no longer have to switch back and forth when viewing movies and playing games. I was pretty happy they fixed it as well.

6. Are you still adding new reviews to Super-NES.com and if so, which games are coming soon? - Yes I'm still adding new reviews. I just recently added reviews for Paladin's Quest and Do Re Mi Fantasy and more are coming including a review for Zombies Ate My Neighbors.

7. Are Final Fantasy: Crisis Core and Gran Turismo ever going to be released? - Well the wait has been long for these two titles, but it's looking like Final Fantasy: Crisis Core is going to be hitting store shelves here in the US in early 2008. The tentative date is set for March 25, 2008. So far, no word on when/if Gran Turismo PSP will be released.

8. What do you consider to be the most underrated games of 2007? - There are a number of games that haven't sold really well that I think are top shelf. Zak & Wiki for the Nintendo Wii is an outstanding game that really uses the Wii controls to perfection that many are overlooking. Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure for the PSP is also a fantastic 3-D platformer/adventure that hasn't sold terribly well. And last but not least is Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker for the Nintendo DS is one of the best games to come out this year and yet it hasn't exactly lit up the sales charts here in the US. There are many more, but those are my top 3.

9. Will Sony ever get their head out of their ass? - I had to include this one because I get tons of questions about this and most are worded exactly like this one. Truth is, Sony has made some mistakes early on in the Playstation 3 system's life, but they're picking up some ground with the recent price drops. The lack of PS2 backward compatibility hasn't seemed to affect the sales of the new consoles at all, in fact the sales of the Playstation 3 have almost doubled since the 40GB model went to retail. They've got a lot of ground to make up, but at least Sony has made the move to get back on the right track. We'll see how 2008 goes for them.

10. Why do you continue to be such a PSP fanboy? - Man I never get tired of this question and you'd think these would be thinning out by now, but so far that hasn't happened. I love all game systems, no matter what company makes them. I love my Nintendo DS system but I've just always preferred the PSP system for some reason. And the RPGs that are coming for the system this year don't seem to point to a change in my PSP love anytime soon either. Love what you love and play what you want to play. I'll do the same. : )

Densetsu no Stafi review up!

That's right! I finally got the Densetsu no Stafi review up on Salt Water Stafi this afternoon. I know it's been a long time coming, but with all of the releases this holiday season, it's been tough to find time to work on the site. I'm working on the Densetsu no Stafi 2 review now so it should be up soon. Suffice it to say, if you haven't tried any of the Stafi games, what the heck are you waiting for? Click on the Densetsu no Stafi box to visit the review on Salt Water Stafi. Enjoy!

Me-Wii Christmas..at least for some people!

I honestly thought that the other day when I was in Gamestop looking through the PSP games that I had seen it all. I listened as the girl behind the counter answered the telephone no less than 20 times in the 15 minutes I was there and each time I heard her say, "no, we're sold out of Wii systems until after Christmas." I finally told her that she should just put that on an answering machine and call it a day. She smiled, but I could tell she was getting tired of hearing about the Nintendo Wii. She told me that she didn't even like the play her Wii system when she went home after hearing about it all day long. After that 15 minutes, I can understand why. But I'm rambling again. Back to what I was saying.

I thought I had seen it all until this morning when I popped into Target to grab a few more gift bags and swung by the video game section to take one last look around. As I was walking back to the game section I saw a security guard blow by me in a dead-on sprint. I hurried behind him to see what was going on and there it was, two morons in a fist fight over one damn Wii system that they had brought out from the back. These two idiots knocked over the entire CD rack, and I'm talking the entire row holding hundreds of CDs. Two security guards were doing all they could to separate the two guys while the girl clerk kept telling people to move back. Finally two real policemen showed up and put a quick end to the ruckus. Both guys were bloodied and still cussing at each other the whole way as they were led out of the store in handcuffs. And you know what's funny? Neither one of them ended up with the Wii. But guess who did?

That's right, little old me. I jumped on it as fifty people dove into the pit and I fought them all off with a mop handle and my checkbook cover. Okay, so that's not how it happened. Truth is, I merely asked the clerk if they had any more Wii systems and she told me that I could have the one they had brought out to the "now on his way to jail" guy that had just left us. And I didn't even have to throw a punch. My first thought was to put it on eBay, but that seemed too cliche'. So I took it to the toy drive the local news station holds each year and I donated it to the kiddies. That's right people, I got a karma boost out the wazoo. But after witnessing that pitiful spectacle at Target, I had to do something nice with it after all the trouble it had caused. And two days before Christmas of all times. If people had listened to me a few months ago they'd all have a Wii by now. : )

I think people are forgetting what Christmas is supposed to be about. It's turned into a popularity contest with parents trying to get their child the toy that no one else can get. Tis the season to be jolly. Unless your the two morons exchanging presents with their kids in the county lockup.

So what's the moral of the story. Who knows. Just have a Merry Christmas and try not to get killed doing so. And thanks to all who read the blog. I'll post on anything gaming-related I get for Christmas. But don't expect much, I haven't been a very good boy this year. Of course I rarely am. : )

Nanostray 2 (Nintendo DS)

Well I got in a preview build of Nanostray 2 today and I have to say, it's pretty good. I loved the original game, but even I can admit that it had some shortcomings that kept it from being one of the elite shoot em' ups. You can rest easy now as the developers have fixed pretty much everything that was wrong with the first title and cranked up the difficulty a few notches as well. This game looks and feels a lot like Ikaruga or Radiant Silvergun at times and now the developers have included quite a few horizontal-scrolling levels as well. The visuals are impressive, but it's the bosses that have really impressed me the most so far. The music is very similar in style to the first game, and it's pretty solid as well. You now have a classic control option that allows you to toggle through the different firepower using the shoulder button as well, which fixes one of the major problems with the first game in which you had to use the touchscreen for this task. Take my word for it, you're not going to have a split second to take your eyes off of this screen as you're generally being bombarded with enormous amounts of enemy bullets. It's insane! If you're a shooter fan, this is your game as it's one of the best shmups I've played in years and a worthy addition to the DS game library. I'll have more on this one after I've had more time to play it. So far, it's been extremely impressive.

Next Gen Portables?

Can you feel it coming? It's gotta be getting closer given that the Nintendo DS has now been available for over three years. The Game Boy Advance lifespan was a little over three and a half years, so the time is rapidly approaching when we're going to start hearing about the next wave of portable game systems. Especially now that Nintendo actually has some competition, although it's certainly not been much of a threat to Nintendo's domination of the portable market so far. We've already been hearing rumblings about Sony's next iteration of the Playstation Portable and we've also heard bits and pieces for several years about a possible Game Boy Evolution system. I'd bet that by E3, Tokyo Game Show at the very latest, that we'll start hearing about these next generation portables.

Nintendo has already stated that the next Game Boy system will be completely separate from the DS system in terms of both design and competition. They're plan is to have both systems selling simultaneously, although I doubt that's going to go over very well with the gaming public that will have to buy games for both. It sounds to me like Nintendo is just trying to stretch the selling point of the DS a bit as I don't see the DS lasting too terribly long once the new Game Boy system arrives. Some rumors involve the new Game Boy being basically a portable version of the Gamecube hardware while others point to the system remaining more of a 2-D powerhouse like past Game Boy systems. Some say Nintendo is likely to move to the optical medium, but I wouldn't bet on that given the stingy way Nintendo has always been about battery life. Remember this is a company that didn't even include a backlight for the majority of the Game Boy's lifespan. My bet would be that Nintendo shoots for Gamecube type power, but still sticks with some type of flash medium when it comes to games.

As for Sony, who knows. There's already been rumors of a built-in hard drive that will allow for the games to be downloaded over their Playstation Store service, and that's probably a pretty safe bet. The only thing that might limit that is that Sony likes to keep the "console experience in the palm of your hand" type of setup so that might limit them too much as far as what could be done with the system in keeping the downloads of manageable size. Sony's generally been quite stubborn about their types of media so it wouldn't surprise me if they stuck with the UMD discs in the long run. As far as visual capabilities, you'd have to think that it would fall somewhere between the Playstation 2 and Playstation 3 systems. Sony likes to push their hardware, but I'd imagine it would be closer to the Playstation 2 than the Playstation 3. You'd also have to think that Sony would include a second analog stick since that was one of the main complaints of the original PSP system. Hopefully Sony has learned their lesson and will try to keep costs down with their next portable so that they can be more competitive with Nintendo from the start this next time.

It's fun to already start speculating, but truth be told, we have no clue what's coming in the next round of portable game systems. Both companies have been very tight-lipped about the whole thing, but I think we're going to start to see information sometime during the middle of 2008. Look for E3 to be a good place to start the ball rolling, but possibly as late as the Tokyo Game Show. The Nintendo DS is still breaking sales records so Nintendo might be content to ride this one out a tad longer but I don't see Sony sitting this one out too much longer. With slow sales of their Playstation 3 console and the PSP not doing a lot better, they might be looking to get a bit of a head start on the next round of portable wars. Sony's now got their feet wet in the portable market, but they're not going to be content with that for too long. Either way, it's win/win for us gamers.

Star Ocean: First Departure US Release?

There's been a lot of confusion regarding a North American release of Star Ocean: First Departure for the Sony PSP but this is what I've found so far. Below is an actual press release from Square-Enix regarding the two updated PSP versions of the Star Ocean series and notice how it specifically says "never before localized in North America" in the product description. I can't see why they would specifically mention that if they were not planning on finally localizing this title for a US release. Here is the product description word for word from the official press release.

STAR OCEAN 1: First Departure
Platform: PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system
Genre: RPG
Release Date: TBA
Initially released toward the end of the Super Famicom’s life cycle, and never before localized for North America, the origin of the STAR OCEAN series receives a total makeover for the PSP system. Additional scenarios and characters, integrated 2D and 3D graphics in the style of the PS one™ game console hit STAR OCEAN 2, fully animated movies, and other bonus features transform the game into a completely new experience.

You can click on the logo above to visit this official Square-Enix press release in its entirety.

Star Ocean: First Departure (PSP)

I'll admit, when I was finally able to play through the translated Star Ocean game for the Super Famicom, it was indeed a great experience for me. I had wanted to play that game for several years and was quite thankful for the folks at Dejap for putting in all of the time and hard work they did translating the game. Now Square-Enix is about to release a new version of this original for the Sony PSP system. Not only that, but the game is also getting a complete makeover with new 3-D visuals, a remixed soundtrack, and some of the best looking anime cutscenes the PSP has ever seen. Star Ocean: First Departure, as it's called, will be released in Japan on December 27, 2007. I've watched tons of videos of the game in action not to mention stared at more screenshots than I can count and the only thing I can say is WOW! The entire game just looks brand new and they spared no time and expense at giving this classic title the facelift it's long needed. And the PSP seems to fit the game like a glove with its widescreen LCD display. The PSP is turning out to be quite the little rpg machine and I'm loving every second of it. I'll have more on this title once it's released at the end of December as I have a copy on preorder from Play-Asia. Until then, take a look at the comparison screenshots below of the original Super Famicom version versus the new PSP update. Not too shabby, huh?

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #1 Gurumin

Here it is. My all-time favorite PSP game to date. A fellow gamer recommended this game to me and I have to admit, it's become one of favorite video games of all time. The game features a unique mix of platforming, rpg, and puzzle-solving elements to it and surrounds the entire experience with original and charming characters to carry the storyline along. The play control is spot-on and the level layouts get gradually more challenging as the game progresses. This is another one of those games that was nearly impossible for me to put down once I began playing it. And after playing the import version for several months, it was quite easy to play through the US release as I had no idea the story was so charming and endearing. Being a huge fan of platformers and rpgs, this game provides the perfect mix of the two into one outstanding title that sadly many PSP owners have missed out on. If for some reason you've passed on trying out Gurumin, you really owe it to yourself to not dismiss this as just another off-beat title as you'll be missing one of the most unique and enjoyable adventure titles out there. If only all games could be this charming and fun. This is the best the PSP has to offer, in my humble opinion. Okay so it's not so humble, but you get the idea. : )

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #2 Minna no Golf Portable 2

I went back and forth over which game to include here and truth be told, you could just as easily put Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee here as well as they're both outstanding games. I went with Minna no Golf Portable 2 for the simple fact that it's basically the same game as the first title, but with new characters, items, and 6 new golf courses thrown into the mix. There isn't another PSP game that I've logged more hours on than these Hot Shots Golf Portable titles. Up until I got Minna no Golf Portable 2 last week, I was still consistently playing the first game every chance I got. This new sequel also has online tournament play which gives it an endless amount of replay value and is very well-designed. As many countless hours as I played on the first Hot Shots Golf game, it's obvious that I'm going to do the very same thing with this one. If ever there were a game that was perfectly fit for a portable game system, it's this one. Very easy to just pick up and play, even if you only have a few minutes at a time. Thankfully Clap Hanz pretty much left the game play system the same, which is a good thing as it was already perfectly executed. It might have been nice to have the new swing system used in Minna no Golf 5 for the Playstation 3 system included as a bonus feature, but I didn't find it that great anyway. If you love arcade golf titles, there is no better game than the Hot Shots Golf games and this is the best one of the series by far. You can even find the original Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee at retailers for under $20 so you really can't go wrong with any of these outstanding titles.

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #3 Loco Roco

I'm going to be honest with you, the first time I saw screenshots of this game, I thought it was the most ridiculous looking thing I'd ever seen. I didn't even bother downloading the free demo for the PSP when it came out. In fact, I didn't give this game a second thought even months after it was released here in the US. I had gotten an extra copy of Gurumin from Majesco after I had already bought the final retail release so I ended up trading it for Loco Roco. I only did it because the guy really wanted the Gurumin game and he had nothing else to offer so I took it. I know, I'm a nice guy. But that kindness was well rewarded when I finally did give Loco Roco a try. Not only was it one of the most creative games I'd ever played, but it was the perfect game for a portable system with it's quick bouts of game play. You couldn't ask for a more simple control scheme and its simplicity is what makes it so much fun to play and so difficult to put down. Who would have thought that guiding a bunch of blobs around by tilting the surroundings would be so much fun and so challenging all at the same time? I still catch myself taking this game along when I go out of town simply because I can just pick it up and immediately get drawn into the game. And for those who've tried the pathetic Playstation 3 Store version, don't let that scare you away. If you want to play the real game, pick up the PSP version. I'm not sure why they changed the way the game played given its success, but they really messed up a perfect formula that I hope is put back to normal by the time the PSP sequel is released. Loco Roco is easily one of the best games the PSP has to offer and one every PSP owner should have in their game library.

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #4 Lumines

Having spent a small fortune to import the Sony PSP system when it launched in Japan, I had very little money left. But after seeing post after post on the Gamefaqs PSP message board about how outstanding Lumines was, I just couldn't help myself and ended up buying it from Play-Asia and going over my credit card limit. I got slapped with a $50 penalty the following month but after playing Lumines, it was well worth it. I'm not a big fan of puzzlers, but even I can admit that Lumines is one of the most addictive games I've ever played in my life. The unique combination of pulsing musical beats and tetris-like game play really makes this one of the most enjoyable games you'll ever likely play. I do love Lumines II, but this original was just so surprising and so much fun that I had to put it in this #4 spot. I can safely say that it was Lumines that finally made me put down Minna no Golf Portable for awhile when I first got my PSP system and not many games can say that they've accomplished that unimaginable task. For anyone out there that hasn't played some version of Lumines yet, please do yourself a favor and give it a try, even if you're not a fan of the puzzle genre. Lumines is one of those unique experiences that just can't be described with mere words. You have to play it to fully understand what makes it so special. Meteos was great, but it's Lumines that will most likely go down as the game that made a puzzler fan out of me. Who'd have thought it?

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #5 PoPoLoCrois

Now most of you will most likely be surprised to see this game so far down on my top ten list. I know, it's confusing given how much I've raved about this game in the past. In all honesty I still think this is the most charming rpg I've ever played in my entire life, and it's still one of my PSP favorites and most likely will be the reason I hang onto my PSP long after it's served its purpose. I was lucky enough to get a preview build of this game from Agetec a full 6 months before it was finally released here in the US and I loved every second of it. In fact, they had to pry that preview build out of my hands just to get it back. I'm about to play through this game for the second time and I'm as excited as I was the first time I fired it up and began playing it. I love the turn-based combat system and the way it uses a strategy-style grid to make it more interesting. Sure the load times can be a bit annoying but it's a small price to pay for such an endearing storyline and enjoyable game play experience. I keep hoping that we'll see more PopoloCrois games here in the US, but so far, that's not happening. Such a shame too, as this is one of the best rpgs money can buy for the PSP system and even though it's seen some great rpg releases, I still can't ever get enough. Whether you're an rpg fan or not, you really need to give PoPoLoCrois a try. It's easily one of the most rewarding gaming experiences I've had in a very long time and a must-have for the PSP system, in my opinion. If I was playing it right now, it would probably be #1 on this list. : )

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #6 Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles

You had to know that this one was coming. Already one of my favorite Castlevania titles, I was thrilled when Konami announced that they were working on an updated version of the Japanese-only Dracula X: Rondo of Blood title for the PSP system. Konami gave the game a 3-D visual makeover and added some nice cutscenes to make an already outstanding game even better. They even threw in a remixed soundtrack that sounds better than ever. I was also pleased to see that they included the original PC Engine version of the game as well as the Playstation classic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. What more could a Castlevania fan possibly ask for? The game is still tough as nails later on in the game, but for anyone that still appreciates the action-style Castlevania titles of old, you'll certainly find a lot to love with Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles on the PSP system. It's obviously not going to appeal to just anyone, especially gamers who've grown accustomed to the "Metroid-Vania" type games that have been released more recently, but it's hard to argue that this is still one of the best Castlevania releases of them all and a classic that definitely deserved its long-awaited US release. If you haven't given this one a try, you don't know what you're missing. This game is reason enough to own a PSP system in and of itself.

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #7 Jeanne D'Arc

Here's another PSP game that took me by complete surprise. I'm a huge RPG fan, and slowly over the past 10 years I've developed a liking for strategy titles, mainly in part to the Fire Emblem and Shining Force series of games. I bought this game while I was out of town on a business trip in San Antonio and I lost several nights of sleep while playing it. The game features a compelling storyline and a very well laid out turn-based combat system. The visuals in the game are outstanding and the soundtrack is solid as well. This game hasn't gotten a lot of exposure since its release but rpg and strategy game fans should give this game a look. I've logged over 30 hours on it already and it's a game that I like to go back and pick up from time to time especially when I have a few hours to kill. Trust me, this is a game that's tough to put down once you get into it. About the only gripe I have is that the story tends to hurry you along quite often and while it makes for a brisk pacing, it often makes you feel like you're just going through the motions in some places. I would have liked to have seen more exploration, but this is, after all, still a strategy title and that's just not generally a part of the equation. If you haven't tried this one out, it's one of the best PSP exclusives out there and one solid strategy title.

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #8 Tales of Eternia

Why this game hasn't been released in the US by now is beyond me. I'm glad now that I imported this game from Europe back when it came out. This game was originally released on the Playstation system as Tales of Destiny II here in the US. I've long been a fan of the "Tales of" series, and Tales of Eternia is one of the best. Gorgeous visuals, some great new cinemas, and an engrossing storyline all come together in this outstanding rpg package to make up what is one of the best rpgs yet for the PSP system. Namco saw fit to release the arguably mediocre Tales of the World, but somehow can't find the time to simply repackage this amazing game for a US release. If you're an rpg fan, you've most likely already imported this game a long time ago and if you haven't picked it up yet, you really owe it to yourself to track down a copy. While some Playstation ports to the PSP haven't turned out too well, Tales of Eternia is one that actually turned out even better than the original. And by a significant margin I might add. There's just so much to love about this charming entry in the series and the PSP version of the game is top notch from start to finish. Of all of the "Tales of" games I own, this is the one I rank as the best.

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #9 Gripshift

I'm normally not much of a fan of racing games so when this title magically appeared on my desk for review, I put it off as long as I possibly could. But once I began playing this unique title, it was then that I realized what an underrated game it really was. This is one of those games that you just can't seem to put down once you begin playing it. Using a unique mix of puzzle, racing, and platforming elements, Gripshift produces one of the most addictive and original game play experiences you're likely to encounter. I've played through this entire game from start to finish and I even downloaded the Playstation 3 Store version of the game as well. The goal in each level is to finish the level within a set time limit. Along the way you'll have to pick up stars, grab nitro booster tanks, and also locate the GS logo that's normally carefully hidden somewhere in each level. It becomes much trickier as the levels begin to get more difficult and the time limits get shorter. If you can appreciate something a little different and love to have fun with a game, give Gripshift a try. It might make a believer out of you the same way it did me.

Corbie's PSP Top 10 - #10 Legend of Heroes III

I realize that the Legend of Heroes rpg series is not very well though of here in the US. In fact, due to the sloppy translation efforts it's even shunned by many rpg fans. I'm not going to excuse these half-hearted translations, and they do bring the overall experience down a notch or two, but I think if you can get past this issue, you'll find a very enjoyable and engrossing rpg experience. There have been three US Playstation Portable releases so far, but it's this third installment of the series that I find myself drawn back to more often than any of the others. The combat system is a tad simplistic in design, but it works well enough and makes doing combat quick and painless as long as you level up regularly. Visually the game is solid, although not quite as flashy as some of the other PSP exclusive rpgs. The musical score is where the Legend of Heroes games really shine and Song of the Ocean is an apt title for this game as it's got some absolutely outstanding musical pieces strung throughout the game. Even the battle music is upbeat and very listenable considering how many times you'll hear it. If you haven't given this series a try yet, you're missing out on a very standard, yet uniquely charming, rpg adventure. It's still one of my PSP favorites.

Minna no Golf Portable 2 - Impressions

It's no secret that I love the Hot Shots Golf series of games. In the three years I've owned Minna no Golf 1 for the PSP, I've logged over 900 hours on it. Yes, you read that right, 900 hours. I've even searched for information on a possible sequel for the past two years almost daily. I was thrilled when Minna no Golf 5 came out in Japan for the Playstation 3 system and I snapped it up the day it was released and played it pretty much like I play all of the other Hot Shots Golf games which is like a crazed lunatic. At least it was something to tide me over until Minna no Golf Portable 2 was released the other day for the PSP. I've waited long and hard for this game and I've already logged about 25 hours on it. So was it worth the long wait and does it live up to the traditions set by previous Hot Shots Golf titles? Read on.

First let's clear up one bit of misinformation. There are 12 golf courses to play in the game, but only 6 are new. The game basically takes the 6 courses from the first Minna no Golf game and brings them directly over to this title with no changes other than pin placements. The courses look exactly the same as they did in Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee. The new courses are a welcome addition, although a couple of them are very similar in look and feel to some courses found in the original PSP game. The new courses also look a lot better and much more detailed, especially the backdrops. The only real downside is that once again you have to unlock the courses as you play and win various challenges. This wouldn't be so bad except that you have to also unlock the older golf courses as well. It's a small gripe, but it seems a bit tedious to have to open the original courses all over again.

The game play has remained pretty much unchanged, although there are a few new touches here and there. You still have the classic swing system which will feel quite familiar to anyone who's played the original PSP Hot Shots Golf game. I was kinda hoping that Clap Hanz would include the new swing system found in Minna no Golf 5 for the Playstation 3, but you can't have everything. One nice touch is the new mini-golf challenge. Instead of the putting challenge found in the original PSP title, you now have to chip into different holes that feature various point amounts. Much like the real courses, you have to take into account distance and wind conditions as you make your shots. You play nine round in which all of your earned points are tallied up. Although it's very similar to the putting challenge in Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, there's a little more playability to this challenge and it doesn't seem to get old quite as fast. In fact, I've found this mini-game hard to put down.

The single biggest addition to this sequel has got to be the online tournament modes. Unlike the tournament system found in Minna no Golf 5 on the PS3, Clap Hanz has thankfully made it much easier to jump into a tournament. No more sitting around various lobbies waiting for a tee time. The game will also automatically place you in the tournaments you can currently play. There are even times when the game will allow you to play courses that you don't even have unlocked in your game yet, although this doesn't happen terribly often. Another unique feature in this game is the way you can see all of your opponent's balls whizzing by. They look like a group of fireflies flying around. It at least gives you more of a feeling of being in an actual tournament instead of only staring at names and scorecards in between holes. You can even set up your own tournaments complete with passwords so only you and your designated players can play. Clap Hanz did a really outstanding job with the online portion of this game and it's really given the game a whole new level of replayability.

Clap Hanz obviously took the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" mentality with this sequel as it still looks, feels, and plays almost exactly like the previous game. I personally find this to be a good thing as there wasn't really anything wrong with the original game. The addition of online tournament play, more characters, 6 new golf courses, and a few game play touch-ups here and there all come together to form one of the best games yet for the PSP and a worthy addition to the line of Hot Shots Golf games. Let's just hope that we don't have to wait another three years for another one. (RATING: 9.3/10)

There's currently no word on a US release, but given the success of the original Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, it's pretty much a no-brainer that this title will eventually reach US shores. Now exactly when that will happen is still a mystery as we still don't even have a firm release date for Hot Shots Golf 5 and it's been available in Japan for months now. If I get a release date on either I'll be sure and post it on here. My advice is, if you love this series, import both titles as they're worth every penny and they're very easy to play even if you can't read Japanese at all.

Corbie's Sony PSP Top 10

I'm still getting a large number of requests for the top ten lists, so here goes the last top ten of 2007. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Sony's PSP system. In fact, it's quickly become my all-time favorite portable game system, and this is coming from someone who owns just about every portable game system ever released including such obscure systems as the Sega Nomad, WonderSwan Color, and even the Neo Geo Pocket Color. I love all of the portables, but at the end of the day, it's the PSP that I think is the single greatest portable gaming system ever created. I won't even tell you what I paid to import the PSP system back when it was first released in Japan, but it was worth every penny of it to me. I currently own 48 PSP games so I thought I'd take a little time to do a Sony PSP Top 10 list for all of you Playstation Portable fans out there. And for those of you who still don't own a PSP, you don't know what you're missing!

** Those who are waiting for the PSP Minna no Golf Portable 2 impressions, I've been playing it for the past two days and I'll have the article up on Tuesday as well as #10 on the top ten list. **

Is 2008 the year for Playstation 3?

All of the signs so far point to it. The price drop to $399 has already lifted sales of the Playstation 3 system ahead of Nintendo's molten-hot Wii in Japan this past month, and US sales numbers have been pretty impressive as well this holiday shopping season. I guess it's safe to say that the mammoth price tag was one of the main things holding the Playstation 3 back this year after all. There are already rumors that Sony is working on a follow-up to their Playstation Portable system so maybe Sony's had its fill of seeing the other hardware makers getting all of the attention and are ready to get some spotlight time of their own. One thing's for sure - Sony's going to have their work cut out for them as Nintendo still has the Super Smash Bros. Brawl bomb to drop in the first quarter of 2008 and Microsoft reportedly has a few surprises up their sleeves as well. And Banjo Threeie has got to come out someday. My bet would stay with Nintendo as it's hard to bet against the company that's on such a roll at the moment. They're still priced quite a bit below the other two competing consoles and with the mega-hit Super Smash Bros. Brawl coming soon, I don't see their momentum diminishing much in the near future. Having said that, I do see Sony making up some much-needed ground and Microsoft had better get on the stick or they're going to get bumped back to third place. Should be an interesting 2008 for sure.