GameLight - Puyo Puyo Tetris

Source: Youtube Channel puyosega

Amitie is back with more Puyo Puyo going up against Tetris!  A Puyo Puyo crossover with Tetris isn't too surprising, but it's finally being made.  I've been a fan of both games for the longest time as most people have who play these puzzle games.  Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine and Kirby's Avalanche have been two games that didn't use the name "Puyo" in the title that I played with Puyo Pop Fever being one of my favorite iterations of the series.  For Tetris, I'd say Tetris DS by was the best version of Tetris I have played for the best controls, mechanics, color scheme, and variety in modes.  So how much will the game change with these two mega puzzle blockbusters put together?  It doesn't seem much as both games have had versus mode in their respective games which seems to be the base concept for this crossover.  It doesn't seem all that different or game changing.  Why not go all out and have a super puzzle crossover!  Have games like Columns, Puzzle Fighter, Puzzle League, and maybe even Puzzle Bobble (Bust-A-Move) be part of the action and have the player choose which game they want to play and challenge other puzzle players.  Make it even more outrageous with 8 players instead of just 2!  But in all seriousness, I hope there's more to the game than just straight up versus PuyoPuyo against Tetris.  The game releases next year on PS3, PS Vita, Wii U, and 3DS in Japan.  No mention of a Western release has been made.

Source:
-Joystiq - Puyo Puyo Tetris makes sense

NewNews - Phantasy Star Nova

Image from Joystiq (Source below)

Yay, news about Phantasy Star Nova!  Booo, it's not about Phantasy Star Online 2!!!  As excited as I am about another Phantasy Star in the making, Sega hasn't really reached out to fans of Phantasy Star in the Western market in the past few years.  Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinite wasn't brought over and Phantasy Star Online 2 was announced for the West a year ago with a set launch of Spring 2013 as we approach the Fall of 2013.  The launch of PSO2 in the West has not been canceled, but it has been postponed until further notice.  With that said, can we even expect to see Phantasy Star Nova here?

Phantasy Star Nova will be developed by Tri-Ace and published by Sega.  The game can be played Offline or cooperatively online for up to 4-players.  Given Tri-Ace's past projects, I'm wondering if the game will be a bit more traditional with turn-based elements rather than an Action-RPG experience.  It's possible that it could be turn-based Action-RPG like the Tales series (which their project with Radiata Stories and Star Ocean was like).  The last three games developed by Tri-Ace were released and seen in the Western market for the Playstation 3: Resonance of Fate, Star Ocean: The Last Hope International, and Final Fantasy XIII-2.  Whatever it may be, I look forward to seeing Phantasy Star Nova in the future.  Phantasy Star Nova is set to launch on the PS Vita in Japan in 2014.

Source:
-Joystiq - Phantasy Star Nova announced for Vita

VGCulture - Hatsune Miku Project DIVA F Controller

Play-Asia Site: Hatsune Miku -Project Diva- F Controller for PS3 Source: Youtube Channel shinstc

Holy mother of rhythm game controllers, I want this so bad!  So I managed to nab myself a physical copy of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F in fear that they all get sold out, but I had nothing to worry about (which might be bad in terms of sales and for future plans of porting the 2nd game).  I had come across a controller created by Hori that was made for the game specifically and thought it was an interesting design.  When I looked it up online to see if there were any video demonstrations for it, I realized I was looking at a "mini" version and that this was the original version (shown in the video above).  The Original is larger, the buttons light up, and has a swipe pad rather than an analog stick.  It's so shiny and has that arcade feel to it!  It's also really expensive.  It was $499 when I checked it up online last night at Play-Asia, but due to the release of Project DIVA F yesterday, it seems they have lowered the price down to $399.  Not to mention shipping costs $50+ depending on where you live in the world.

Image from Amazon.com

This is a picture of the Mini version that has no light up buttons, no swipe pad, but it lighter and smaller for easier transportation and usage on your lap.  Still, the cheapest ones I've found that isn't used is around $145 at eBay or $168 at Amazon.  As much as I want the controller, I can't justify the purchase of it.  It's more expensive than the fightstick I bought and will be mainly used for one game as opposed to my fightstick where I play over 20+ games on it (Fighting, platformers, shoot-em-ups).  After seeing the controller, playing on controller doesn't seem as much fun anymore.  The controller design reminds me of an old music rhythm game called Pop 'n Music.
Source: Youtube Channel bootsee

For those who are a bit more dedicated and want an authentic arcade experience with Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, you can grab the original controller at Play-Asia on the link on top or the Mini version from your select online store such as Amazon.  Maybe I'll get a mini if it drops down in price.

NewNews - Project DIVA F for Retail

Source: Youtube Channel HatsuneMiku

I didn't realize they were bringing a retail version of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F for North America.  One of my biggest gripes of the game being brought over was that it was going to be digitally sold only, and that made me decide not to get it.  But now that it has a retail version coming out...I'm just hoping there will be copies left after tonights launch because I didn't pre-order it.  So yes, if you were looking forward to the game and want a physical copy of the game, North America will be getting them!  Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F releases tonight for $49.99 retail and $59.99 digitally (as far as I've heard) for the Playstation 3 only.  No release for the PS Vita has been announced for the West yet.

NewNews - Sonic Games at lowest Price

Steam Page: Sonic Hits Collection
Source: Youtube Channel Barack Lasagna

Sadly, Steam Summer Sales did not begin today and will start next Thursday.  Sonic games are on sale this weekend with some of the lowest prices I've seen and are the prices I've been waiting for to get some of them.  Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and Left 4 Dead 2 is also free to play on Steam this weekend until Sunday 1PM.  Left 4 Dead 2 just got out of beta for its update in special modifier settings.  Also, Final Fantasy VII was added to Steam!  We just got to wait one more week for awesome sales galore.

NewNews - Phantasy Star Online 2 still Delayed

Official Site: http://www.pso2.com/us/
Source: Youtube Channel Grand Tickler

Last Friday, I mentioned that the biggest disappointment of this year's E3 wasn't something that was shown but the lack thereof.  I guess I wasn't alone in hopes of hearing something from Sega about the Western release of Phantasy Star Online 2 as many fans had anticipated a launch date.  Jason Schreier of Kotaku had reached out to Sega for answers and was told that the Western release is still delayed until they are able to announce to the public.  The exact message Schreier got from Sega was:

"SEGA can officially confirm that PSO2 has been delayed. We don't have any specifics but will update everyone as soon as there are more details to share."

So the waiting game continues as the one year anniversary of PSO2's release in Japan quickly approaches.  Sega's resources might have its priority on others games and preparing for E3 and thus has slowed down the localization and launch of PSO2.  I have no doubt that PSO2 will be immensely popular in the West, but I cannot say how profitable it will be for Sega.  This might be another reason why it's taking so long to launch as production figures out what's the best market and course of action to take for the Western Market compared to that in Japan.  Whatever the case may be, I can only hope that PSO2 will release some time this year.

Source:
-Kotaku - Sega Still Says Phantasy Star Online 2 Is 'Delayed'

VGCulture - Filler - Music - Days of Old

Source: Youtube Channel SWBeta

Anarchy Reigns (Max Anarchy) had one heck of a soundtrack.  I was instantly entranced by it the first time I played the game and heard "Ruthless".  As I played more of the game, I heard tracks I liked even more than "Ruthless".  Even after completing the campaign, I can't stop listening to the soundtrack.  They all have good beats to them, catchy hooks, and some of the best rapping/free-styling I've heard in a while.  It can be tough to find videogame music sometimes, but there is an official soundtrack that can be purchased digitally on Amazon for Anarchy Reigns.  Next week will be a busy week for all involved in the videogame industry/scene as E3's showing will be held from June 11th-June 13th.  So until then, rest up for those attending and have a great weekend to everyone.

GameLight - Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F

Playstation Blog: Project DIVA F for PS3 in August
Source: Youtube Channel cymusic0102

I just mentioned this game just last Friday and how the Western Market was probably never going to see it.  Well I have been proven wrong today as Sega has announced a North American release of its Music Rhythm game Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F for the Playstation 3 in August of this year.  What's more, there will be a Demo released on June 11th next week to download off of PSN.  As happy as I was to hear this, I realized that the game will most likely be distributed digitally and not physically as a disc.  As far as I know, the game will be released digitally only.  I have expressed my dislike for digitally distributed games on consoles and am immediately saddened by the fact that this game will be digital only.  Still, the game sounds very interesting with a lot of content: 38 songs, 90 outfits and accessories, and all 6 of the official Vocaloid characters.  I'm hoping the game will be released for $20, but I have a feeling it might release for $40-$50.  If it was released as a physical copy with a really nice box and disc art, I'd probably feel okay about spending that much for it.  In any case, I'll be trying out the demo next Tuesday and will keep an eye out for its release.  Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F will release for the PS3 this August digitally on the PSN store.

Source:
-Joystiq - Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F synthesizing North America this August

VGCulture - Music - Online Game Addicts Sprechchor

Source: Youtube Channel TensaiRyuu

Project DIVA f, featuring virtual pop idol Hatsune Miku, isn't a game the Western Market will probably get to see.  I remember hearing about Hatsune Miku showing up in Phantasy Star Online 2 in the Japanese servers.  I later found out that it was a music video featuring the lobby from Phantasy Star Online 2 within the game Project DIVA f with Hatsune Miku dressed as a Force class character.  I also saw videos of people playing Phantasy Star Online 2 seeing the video within the Lobby itself on the big-screen.  So I logged onto PSO2 and sure enough it was playing this particular video.  The song is like an anthem for online games and MMO players.  Its fast-paced beat in a exciting drum 'n bass rhythm with its catchy melody makes it one of my favorite songs from the Project DIVA f collection.  Although I'll probably never get to play the game, it's a lot of fun watching and listening to all the music videos from the game.  Also, I can't wait for the release of Phantasy Star Online 2 for the West.  I am incredibly excited for it.

GameLight - Sonic Lost World

Official JP Site: http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicLostWorld/
Source: Youtube Channel IGN

I hope everyone had a peaceful and fulfilling long weekend!  I was surprised with a trailer for the newest Sonic game today which included gameplay!  It seems Nintendo has swept up another game for itself as an exclusive for the Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.  It reminds me of Super Mario Galaxy, but there has been mention that the game shows a lot of ideas from canceled Sonic game "Sonic X-treme".  When the game was mentioned last week, I heard it was going to involve dinosaurs and time travel to the past of some sort.  That really worried me.  Then I watch this video and the first thing that shows up is 6 very cartoon-ish, villain-type characters.  Though I haven't played Sonic Colors yet, it seems to have a similar aesthetic in character design.  I'm not sure what to think of the game yet, but I am happy to see another Sonic game.  It's going to be hard to live up to Sonic Generations, that's for sure.  No official release date, but supposedly out by the end of this year.  More information will probably be available at this year's E3.

NewNews - Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- gets announced

YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/arcsystemworks
Source: Top Link

I knew another Guilty Gear game was in the making, but I wasn't sure what to expect.  This little trailer took me by surprise when it revealed that the new Guilty Gear will be featuring 3D models utilizing the Unreal Engine rather than 2D hand-drawn sprites.  I have to say that it looks incredible in that it's clean looking and still has the smooth animations of a 2D fighter.  I am elated to hear Daisuke Ishiwatari taking the position of the Director once again and continuing a great series I thought would be lost forever (lost rights to Guilty Gear but eventually bought it back).  Guilty Gear was a game I avoided when it first came out because it looked so dark.  What got me into the series was listening to Dizzy's Theme "Awe of She" and instantly falling in love with the music for the game.  I eventually tried out the game and really liked the mechanics of air-dashing, combos, and unique specials for characters and became a fan of the series.  I am very impressed with the trailer and am looking forward to the release of the newest installment in the Guilty Gear series.

GameLight Review - Anarchy Reigns

Official Site: [Not working]
Source: Youtube Channel otakubutgangsta

Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: [Playstation 3], Xbox 360
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Genre: Beat 'em Up

Pros:
+ Easy to pick up combat mechanics
+ Great music that really enhances the experience
+ Exciting online multiplayer with 11 different modes
+ A campaign mode for a single-player experience
+ Tutorial, training and simulation modes to practice for multiplayer

Cons:
- Can get repetitive, especially for those who aren't fans of Beat'emUp
- A match can get one-sided by chance depending on items and level events
- The story doesn't get in-depth and ends up being simple and vague

Recommended: Maybe, beat 'em ups aren't for everyone to begin with, and the main attraction is multiplayer which is uncertain if people still play it.

Anarchy Reigns wasn't something high on my priority list, but I got it after finding out that it was only $30 and a friend of mines wanted to play together online.  Multiplayer is pretty fun, but I was hoping for a single-player experience as well.  Fortunately for me, there was a campaign waiting for me to play.  I thought single-player was going to be like fighting games where you fight each of the characters in the game, which is somewhat true.  Single-player provides open-map environments where random events and enemies appear while quests and side-quests appear for the player to progress through the story.  Combat is a bit confusing at first, but can be picked up fairly quickly after an hour or so.  By positioning yourself and utilizing all the skills a character has, the player can take on dozens of enemies and come out unscathed.  The story is simple and a bit vague, but I suppose it's nice to have rather than having all the characters fight each other in a cliché fashion.  Despite being a sort of sequel to MadWorld, the gameplay, art direction, and story are pretty different.  The one thing that's similar is how great the music is.  At its core, Anarchy Reigns is a beat 'em up and has the mechanics that makes it a fun and entertaining experience.  Single-player is great for relaxing and fighting hundreds of enemies while multiplayer provides a competitive and exciting experience against other players.

Aesthetics
Art-style: Neo-Urban 3D
+ Dark, yet colorful, the environment is almost like walking into a comic book
+ Characters are designed with unique and quirky aspects that make them stand out
+ Level designs make for a lively environment that changes frequently
+ Simple and clean user-interface makes navigating the menu easy
+ Voice acting is pretty good, especially love Blacker Baron's voice
+ Music is so good that I put it too max and put Sfx to 75% instead
+ Amazing animations and effects for special attacks

- All special moves have 1 animation, there's no variation
- Kind of liked the over-the-top violence from MadWorld, toned down in this
- With only 4 different environments, level variety might feel limited
Aesthetics: 9/10

Buttons
Controller: PS3 Controller
+ Keys are mapped in a familiar fashion and is easy to adjust to
+ Basic combos are easy to pull off
+ Special moves are simple while still allowing complex combos to be done
+ Lock-on helps with keeping enemies in vision
+ There's counters to everything, it's just a matter of being able to perform it

- Camera controls can be a bit tricky while in combat with multiple enemies
- Keys cannot be changed/customized
Buttons: 8/10

Concept & Content
Core Concept: Utilize attacks, specials, items and grabs to defeat all enemies
+ An entertaining single-player campaign
+ An exciting and competitive online multiplayer
+ Lots of characters to choose from (18 including Bayonetta DLC)
+ 11 different multiplayer game modes!!!
+ Levels have random events adding a dynamic element into the fight
+ Story isn't elaborated very far, but it was nice to have for single-player
+ Special moves and techniques are universal in execution, but differ in ability
+ Simulation mode allows solo-play multiplayer experience for practice

- Single-player length and content is very limited compared to multiplayer
- The combat system can be repetitive for some players
- Multiplayer falls apart once the community is gone
- There isn't enough references from MadWorld for the fans
- A fight in multiplayer can really be one-sided by chance (items, specials, etc.)
Concept and Content: 8/10

Duration
+ Progression in campaign is split piece by piece (quests) with a nice flow
+ Some quests requires using a weapon or vehicle which mixes the gameplay
+ Multiplayer provides plenty of modes to play, lots of gameplay time
+ Simulation is a fun mode to play to get the multiplayer experience when offline
+ 3 different difficulties for campaign, with about 50 quests

- The campaign is actually very short and story isn't elaborated very much
- Game can feel repetitive if played for long durations at a time
- A whole chunk of the game is gone if players don't play online anymore
Durations: 7/10

Fun
+ I like the characters, they're all unique in personality and combat style
+ I'm glad there was a single-player campaign for me to play
+ Combat is satisfying and is most exciting in multiplayer
+ Blacker Baron's lines and voice acting was truly the best
+ The music is so good, I can't stop listening to them.  Very catchy hooks and beats

- The campaign can get boring after playing for long durations, must take breaks
- I would've really liked to see the characters and story have more depth to them
Fun: 8/10

Overall
I really liked the art style the game took and it was an interesting change to see the characters from MadWorld in color.  The music just blew me away.  The style of RnB and electronic is similar to MadWorld and even has many of the same contributing artists work on this one, but I think a lot of the songs are even better.  The fast beats and catchy hooks make for an enhanced experience for the game.  Combat seems a bit too simplistic at first, but gets a lot more interesting when they're utilized more effectively alongside items, level events, and alongside team-members.  The game does feel like it favors a niche audience as beat 'em ups are not widely popular but has always had its fanbase.  It can be very repetitive for those who don't enjoy the game and so I would mainly recommend the game to those who know they like beat 'em ups.  Anarchy Reigns is a pretty solid beat 'em up with satisfactory entertainment and I'm glad I had gotten it.  Overall: 8/10

GameLight Review - Sonic Generations

Official Site: http://www.sega.com/games/sonic-generations/
Steam Page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/71340/
Source: Youtube Channel MachinimaTrailer

Developer: Sonic Team (Xbox 360, PS3), Devil's Details (PC), Dimps (3DS)
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, [PC], 3DS (3DS version is different)
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Genre: Platformer, Action-Adventure

Pros:
+ Beautiful graphics with dynamic level designs
+ A tribute to all Sonic games that released before it
+ High-speed gameplay with incredible boss battles
+ Great remixed tunes and levels of past Sonic games
+ Incredible gameplay on Classic 2D and modern 3D side alike
+ Easy to pick up and play, but still provides a decent challenge
+ A game that fans and non-fans could enjoy

Cons:
- Missing out on a LOT of reference and nostalgia if never played a sonic game
- 3D portions of the game might be challenging for new players/non-gamers
- No Multiplayer of any form other than online leaderboards
- Very short game if played through without playing the extras

Recommended: Absolutely!  Veteran or New to the series, fan or not, Sonic Generations is a game that anyone could enjoy.

Sonic Generations is like a huge "Thank You" from Sega to the fans for supporting Sonic through the 20 years.  It takes all the greatest elements of every Sonic game ever made with the best levels, music, and mechanics to create the ultimate homage.  With half of the game played as Classic Sonic while the other half is played as Modern Sonic, fans of both the 2D era and 3D era will have their fill of Sonic action.  The game is fast-paced, slick, and stylish as a Sonic game should be.  The game challenging but never overwhelming.  Some of the challenges will be a bit frustrating, but the main game is mostly great.  The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, the music is exciting, and the gameplay is solid.  This is definitely the best Sonic game I've played in years and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys videogames and not just Sonic fans.

Aesthetics
Art-style: 2.5D and 3D
+ Bright, colorful, and dynamically changing environments
+ Faithful recreations of levels in both 2D and 3D games
+ Crazy fast semi-auto-pathed scenes that run smoothly and stylishly
+ The animations are slick and modern, but captures the essence of their origins
+ The music remixes of past songs are amazing
+ A lot of the sound effects are similar or the same as its origin
+ All boss battles are large in scale and has a sense of Sonic's speed
+ The white space is an interesting presentation for level selection


- A few instances where the camera is at an odd angle and blocks vision
- I really want to find flaw or fault in graphics or audio, but there isn't that many
Aesthetics: 10/10

Buttons
Controller: Keyboard or [gamepad] (I didn't try keyboard at all)
+ Familiar controls to those who've play Sonic games
+ Tight and responsive controls for the craziest of speed and platforming
+ Speed-ups and bumpers will direct the player to prevent odd direction pathing
+ Advanced techniques are taught slowly and progressively
+ There's a single button for a spin dash for classic Sonic now

- Some running parts have odd problems where Sonic keeps going to one direction
- Spin dashing (2D) or boosting (3D) on slanted area causes Sonic to turn around
Buttons: 8/10

Concept & Content
Core Concept: Run and jump to get to the goal
+ Taking the best levels and having both 2D and 3D play favors both sides of fans
+ Despite having the modern graphics, the game holds the essence of the originals
+ Simple story, but makes a plausible case for why all the past levels are here
+ As usual, each level has multiple paths that can be taken
+ Levels are faithful recreations of the originals with believable counterparts
+ Besides the main game, there's challenges, collecting, and online leaderboards
+ Lots of characters in past Sonic games make an appearance a help out
+ A really cheap DLC that adds a Casino Night Pinball game

- Some of the challenges aren't that fun and have questionable design choices
- For videogame veterans, the game could be considered "too easy"
- Sadly, no multiplayer of any kind (cooperative, race, etc.)
- An extra set of levels from Sonic 3, Sonic Rush, and Sonic CD would be nice
Concept & Content: 9/10

Duration
+ Despite taking a lot of the first levels of each game, progressively gets tougher
+ The game progression is played at the player's choice, can ignore most extras
+ Levels can be replayed for higher scores and collecting red coins
+ Challenges can be replayed for higher scores, or be ignore for the most part
+ Online mode posts highest scores on leaderboards for competitive aspect

- If challenges were ignored, the main game is actually incredibly short
- Some of the challenges feel like dumb time fillers for the game
Duration: 8/10

Fun
+ Hearing Green Hill Zone's theme and in 3D brought a tear to my eye
+ The 3D renditions of the 2D levels blew me away
+ Gameplay felt great for classic and modern side
+ Going super fast while staying in control is how Sonic games should be
+ I loved the boss battles, they were all so exciting (Silver was the surprising one)
+ I was so happy to see all the auto-path scenes work flawlessly
+ The music remixes are so great, I can't stop listening to them
+ Final boss made good use of both Sonics and left a good impression of the game

- There's a few challenges I just don't like (especially the one with Rouge)
- It would've been nice to have some sort of multiplayer (co-op, race)
Fun: 10/10

Overall
The last Sonic game I played and enjoyed was Sonic Rush for the Nintendo DS 7 years ago.  I have tried Sonic games from then till now but have only purchased Sonic 2006 last year to play through and only go through 1/3rd of it (completed Sonic's Story) before I gave up.  It was a painful experience and one that's still fresh in my mind which was why I quickly bought Sonic Generations when it went on sale.  What scared me was seeing the "Crisis City" level from Sonic 2006 in Sonic Generations, but even that level turned out to be really fun.  Everything that's great about Sonic games have been brought together and put into a single game.  The graphics are bright and colorful, the music is exciting and nostalgic, and the gameplay is fast and exhilarating.  Even after completing the game, I can't stop thinking about how exciting the boss battles were, how fast I was going speeding through enemies, how beautiful the levels looked, or how catchy the songs are as I listen to them.  I would definitely recommend this game to any gamer, Sonic fan or not.  What really concerns me now is "how in the heck is Sonic Team going to outdo this creation?"  Overall: 9/10

NewNews - Project X Zone NA launch will get extra stuff

Official Japanese Site: http://pxz.channel.or.jp/
Source: Youtube Channel NintendoWorldReport

3DS Tactics collaboration Project X Zone involving a collaboration between 3 major game companies has a surprise for gamers in North America.  Joystiq just shared that nice tidbit about the launch copies of Project X Zone in NA.  Along with the $40 game, those who purchase the game at launch will get a mini-artbook, a poster, and a music CD.  I'm hoping it's the full soundtrack, but I've bought 2 games with soundtracks with them in the past and they turned out to be special tracks.  It's great and all, but it'd also be nice to have the full soundtrack of a game to listen to.  With so many distinguishable characters and series in this one game, it's sure to be filled with lots of memorable themes from their respective games.

Also, Project X Zone has an official launch date now: June 25, 2013.  I think it's one of the few games I'm buying on day one this year.

Source:
-Joystiq - Project X Zone launch copies come with extra stuff

NewNews - Phantasy Star Online 2 NA Launch gets delayed

Official Site: http://www.pso2.com/us/

I knew this was going to happen when it was announced last year to have a spring launch in 2013 in North America.  Not only has no news been updated on the PSO2 website, but no hints of advertisements or trailers for the West has appeared.  I can only think that Sega is planning something big for PSO2 at E3.  I honestly don't need them to tell me how awesome it is, I already know from playing on the Japanese servers!  I just want to play it in English without having to consort to using patches.

As a tribute to Phantasy Star Online:
Source: Youtube Channel zirconst

Here's hoping it's only delayed till June or July.

Source:
Massively - Sega delays Phantasy Star Online 2's North American launch

VGCulture - Why everyone hates Sonic the Hedgehog 2006

Official Site: http://www.sega.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/
Source: Youtube Channel shadow76412

Quite often, you'll hear many negative comments on a Sonic the Hedgehog games released after 2004.  "Because it's a Sonic game" or "It's just really bad" are some generic comments you'll hear when the community describes why they didn't like the newest Sonic game.  Some may just join the bandwagon and bash on Sonic without ever playing a Sonic game while others have played the Sonic games and cannot articulate why they hated the game so much beyond "because it's bad".  I try my best not to believe everything said by critics and players on games as I've played and enjoyed many games that others do not like while I would fail to see games that many others enjoyed.  So last year, I found Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) for $15 and thought I'd finally give it a try.  I can explain in detail now of why everyone hated Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) for the Playstation 3.  But there were things I liked about it.

What I liked:
-Beginning cinematic was incredible and really beautiful
-Environments were colorful and lively
-A lot of the music was good

Everything that went wrong:

Aesthetics
-Camera control would move erratically quite often obscuring vision
-You can't see anything in the chase scenes when the camera faces Sonic
-In-game, the models actually look really bad and outdated
-Some level designs look so generic that it's difficult to discern where to go next
-Animations and hit-boxes are incredibly glitchy that look odd and affect gameplay

Buttons (Controls)
-In many of the scripted scenes, movement causes odd glitches
-When moving in wall running sequences, the sensitivity is impossible to control
-Controls for running scenes are unruly and clunky
-Homing attacks don't always trigger correctly
-Driving vehicles, snowboarding, etc. all feel too loose and aggravating to play

Concept and Content
-Way too many glitches with Sonic flying off screen or falling through the floor
-Scripted scenes often times don't go according to plan and kills Sonic
-For some odd reason it takes 5 minutes just to load a 1 second dialogue
-Loading takes a long time and comes up very often between scenes
-Boss battles have faulty hit-boxes and terrible camera controls
-The open town gets old really quick with lots of load time and boring quests
-Running scenes are riddle with hit-boxes problems where everything kills you
-It weirded out a lot of people for Sonic to have a romance with a Human
-There's 3 parts to the game, but levels are re-used a lot
-There are many times where I felt lost and the game doesn't help explain much

Duration
-The #1 biggest complaint is loading times, they happen often and last a while
-I wasted 2 hours just drudging through the bugs in the first level
-It was painful going through the game once, yet there's still 2 more parts left
-Getting through levels felt like a chore and having to start all over was annoying
-Getting lost in town and not knowing what to do next was a huge waste of time

Fun

-I tried so hard to like the game, but each new level made me hate it more
-It was frustrating enough to deal with glitches, but long load times made it worse
-It's a shame because I see a lot of great ideas in the game, but execution is bad


Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) easily took the spot of Golden Axe: Beast Rider as the worst PS3 game I have ever played thus far.  It's not uncommon to run into bugs in videogames, but to have them blatantly break the game constantly just by normally playing the game is inexcusable.  I understood why so many Sonic fans had lost faith in Sega after playing that travesty of a game, but I had hoped Sonic would make a grand return someday.  I heard promising things about Sonic Colors and have recently played Sonic Generations and seeing a return of the Blue Hedgehog.  For those who want to get into Quality Assurance and Game Testing in the Interactive Entertainment Industry, I highly recommend this game as it makes it easy to make mock reports on what went wrong during just one play through of the game.

Retroview - Phantasy Star Zero

Official Site: http://www.sega.com/games/phantasy-star-zero/
Source: Youtube Channel SegaAmerica

I remember waiting for Phantasy Star Zero to come out.  My wish for a Phantasy Star game on the Nintendo DS had come true and was so close.  It was one of the very few games I pre-ordered and picked up on the first day.  That was over 3 years ago when it was released back in November 10, 2009.  I didn't play over 100 hours on it like I thought I would, but I did manage to complete the main part of the game at least once.  Phantasy Star Online held a lot of great memories for gamers and so many were excited for Phantasy Star Universe.  Unfortunately, it wasn't met with the same type of love and appreciation for the game.

Many other gamers didn't like Phantasy Star Online to begin with because of the lack of story considering it's an RPG (there was absolutely a story to the game, but you had to pay attention to the conversations and message nodes to understand what was happening).  With Phantasy Star Universe, fans complained it was TOO much story and not enough gameplay among other changes to classes, combat mechanics and such.  Sega responded by making Phantasy Star Zero meet up between the two for an enjoyable experience for a portable system like the Nintendo DS.  They balanced the amount of story with gameplay while returning the combat mechanics back to the original Phantasy Star Online while adding some new ones such as charging attacks and abilities.

The game takes advantage of the touch screen which has access to maps, AI commands, and text messages.  Then, there's also free online cooperative gameplay with players around the world.  I tried it and it really worked!  Online gameplay on the Nintendo DS was definitely better than the Nintendo Wii at the time.  Everything that made the Phantasy Star series past PSO fun returned with lots of different weapons, feeding mags, strategic 3 part combo attacks, and cooperative play.

With a game like Phantasy Star Zero, I was hoping more developers would be able to create games with as much content, online accessibility, and replay value in the future for handheld systems.  I was hoping Heroes of Ruin would be one of those games for the Nintendo 3DS but ended up having no end-game content.  I guess I can count on Sonic Team to continue to make games I wouldn't mind playing for hours on end when it comes to the Phantasy Star series.  Especially with Phantasy Star Online 2 coming out.

Although I didn't play it as much as I thought I would, it's a game I still come back to once in a while.  The game is still pretty pricey at most retail stores, but it's worth playing if you enjoy Action-RPGs and own a Nintendo DS or 3DS.

NewNews - Project x Zone coming to North America

Official Japanese Site: http://pxz.channel.or.jp/
Source: Youtube Channel IGNentertainment

After months of hearing "Japan exclusive" and "no plans of Western release" we finally get an announcement from Namco Bandai yesterday that they are, in fact, bringing Project x Zone to North America.  This made me so happy and excited I wanted to burst into tears but held it in so I could finish reading the rest of the details.  The estimated release date at the moment is summer of this year 2013.  I hope that means the first day of summer in June so we don't have to wait too long.  Seriously, there weren't that many games to really look forward to this year.  But then games like Pandora's Tower and now Project x Zone gets the okay to bring over to America suddenly changes my perspective on the games coming out this year!  For those unfamiliar with the game, Project x Zone is a Strategy-RPG with grid based movements like a Tactics game and 2D-combo based Action combat featuring over 200 characters across 29 different games from Capcom, Namco Bandai, and Sega.  This is one game I'm willing to pay full price on the first day to get.  This seems like a better year for Japanese developed games with titles like Phantasy Star Online 2, Bayonetta 2, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Dark Souls 2, Final Fantasy XIII - Lightning Returns, Pandora's Tower and this game coming out this year.

Source:
-Crunchroll - "Project X Zone" and More Announced for North America

GameLight - Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed PC

Team Fortress 2 Post: http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=9761
Steam Page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/212480/
Source: Youtube Channel SegaAmerica

I always try to find a way to hang onto Sonic the Hedgehog despite negative feedback from the community on how it's the end of days for the blue speed demon and of course having to endure 1/3 of Sonic the Hedgehog 2006.  I remember seeing Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing on sale for $4.99 on steam and felt compelled to buy it, but ended up not since I'm still working through my crazy backlog.  So when I heard the sequel was coming out, I was thinking of getting that instead.  The game has already released on most systems other than the 3DS and PC.  Just revealed today are 3 new characters exclusive to the Steam PC version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed: The guy from Football Manager, one of the shogunates from Total War: Shogun, and the Heavy, Pyro, and Spy from Team Fortress 2 who I believe appear as one unit but changes depending on the vehicle.  I also saw Joe Musashi from the Shinobi series in the trailer.  I'm not much of a racing game fan, but I do enjoy the more crazier and unrealistic racing games if I do play one.  I also have a lot of fond memories of Sega games and their characters so this game is a huge treat to Sega fans.  Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is currently available for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita, and will be available for PC on January 31st and Nintendo 3DS on February 13th.  As a pre-order special on Steam, the game is 10% off for $26.99 until it is released and will return to its original price of $29.99.

GameLight Review - Shinobi (3DS)

Official Site: http://www.sega.com/games/shinobi/
Source: Youtube Channel IGNentertainment

Developer: Griptonite Games
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Genre: Side-Scroll Action Platformer

Pros:
+ Fast-paced Arcade action of the classic 2D Shinobi series
+ Great combat mechanics with very challenging gameplay
+ Even the easiest difficulty level will provide a decent challenge
+ It's possible to record an entire level to show off speed runs
+ Exciting boss battles that reminiscence gameplay from the retro days

Cons:
- A fairly short game of ~5 hours
- You will die a lot
- The game can be unforgiving with all sorts of enemies, traps, and pitfalls
- Some parts require a leap of faith or making mistakes to learn from them
- That last stretch can be quite a chore

Recommended: Yes, if found for less than $15 and is a classic Action game fan

Shinobi for the Nintendo 3DS revisits its classic 2D gameplay of the retro days.  As with most Ninja-themed games, the story begins with the village under siege and the main protagonists goes out to fight this mysterious enemy.  Much like the classic Shinobi games, the player keeps moving to the right unless stated otherwise to reach the next level.  Between the start and end of the level are bottomless pits, hazardous traps, and dangerous enemies.  The player, taking the role of Jiro Musashi, will cut, execute, jump, and grapple their way through monsters, ninjas, and formidable bosses.  Unlike Shinobi Legions where the player can deflect projectiles with a sword swing, Jiro Musashi is able to parry many different attacks including machine gun fire.  The flow of combat by utilizing shurikens, sword slash combos, and parries make for a satisfying adventure throughout the game.  The game was extremely difficulty, but the easiest difficulty allowed a infinite number of lives and continues so that the player can get through the game at least once and know all the placements of traps and enemies before attempting a harder difficulty.  It doesn't exactly capture the charm and memorable aspects of its predecessors such as The Revenge of Shinobi, but has possibly the slickest and most satisfying combat system out of all the 2D Shinobi series.

Aesthetics
Art Style: 2.5D Cel-Shaded
+ The animations between attacks, special abilities, and movement are really fluid
+ The 3D effects add a nice sense of depth to the environment
+ Cut-scenes are short, but tells the story pretty well without words
+ Sound effects played a big part in making combat satisfying
+ Music was really exciting
+ Level designs and their environment were varied and enjoyable

- Some platforms were hard to spot and hazards were out of screen
- Some effects were to have an oil paint look but turned out flat and unrefined
- Music was great, but not particularly memorable
Aesthetics: 8/10

Buttons
Controller: Mostly all the 3DS keys with the touch screen utilizing the ninjitsu choice and for some mini-games
+ Classic run, jump, attack controls is nostalgic and feels great
+ The sword combo system makes for a really fun and satisfying combat
+ Attacks and actions are very reactive and precise
+ Key layout feels natural but can still be changed for player's preference
+ The new parry system provides a very wide range of approach in combat

- It can be difficult to memorize all the possible combos
Buttons: 9/10

Concept & Content
Core Concept: Side-Scroll Action-Platformer, get to the exit by going right unless stated otherwise while fighting off enemies and dodging hazards along the way
+ Level design rarely keeps the player from going just to the right
+ Enemies and bosses are challenging and a lot of fun to fight
+ Platforming can be difficult, but is rewarding as the player gets better
+ The combo system matched with the parry mechanic creates the best combat system in the 2D Shinobi series thus far
+ Shinobi would be an infuriating game were it not for the easiest difficulty (infinite lives and continues)
+ Players can trade special additional missions through streetpass
+ If the player gets certain achievements, specials are unlocked for freeplay

- Some parts of the game can be ambiguous of where to go and how to reach there
- There are checkpoints that are much too far apart, even for the easiest difficulty
- The difficulty of the game can be a turn off for a lot of players
- Chase scenes (Horse back, on top of trucks, on a jet) are strictly scripted and can be difficult to see in 3D when the camera angle changes around.
-There are certain parts in the game where the player will die a lot the first playthrough as some unexpected events will happen (learning through mistakes)
Concept and Content: 7/10


Duration
Completed Time: ~5 Hours
+ Great flow of action, platforming, and very light puzzles
+ Though not long, the time spent playing the game was enjoyable
+ The additional items and specials (auto parry) make for a fun replay
+ Freeplay is great for speed runners and high-score hunters
+ Higher difficulty levels are available for the most hardcore players which extend the replay value (much like classic retro games)

- 5 hours of gameplay for $20+ will upset some players
- Freeplay with the special abilities is more of a novelty than additional content
- Dying a lot will bring a halt to the pacing of the game if the player can't get past a certain point in a level
Duration: 7/10


Fun
+ First things to capture my attention was the 3D effects, combo system, and parry
+ The combo system and parry mechanic really rewarded the player for being creative with combining attacks and timing everything
+ As annoying as chase scenes were, they were pretty exciting
+ The difficulty did frustrate me at times, but I was generally rewarded with satisfaction at the end of each level
+ Boss fights can be really difficult, but they were really satisfying
+ The ending wasn't incredible, but finishing the game was gratifying
+ I think it'll be worth keeping the game to revisit freeplay mode with cheats or mission mode if not to replay the game over again

- It was annoying when check points brought the player back really far when dying
- All the little surprises of pitfalls, spikes, and enemies at the end of a drop were really frustrating and became more frequent near the end
- Sometimes, there are so many things flying towards the player that it feels impossible to counter, parry or dodge
- I'd probably be willing to play the game again, but I still wouldn't play anything beyond the easiest level just because of the many surprises that insta-kills me
Fun: 8/10

Overall
Shinobi definitely feels like an homage to the classics in the series with a more modern feel with its 3D effects and dynamic combat system.  The controls are tight, the gameplay is challenging, but the game is sadly not as enchanting or memorable as the originals.  Still, this iteration possesses possibly the best combat system out of all the 2D Shinobi games and is certainly geared towards gamers who want a challenge and to hardcore gamers who can show off their skills by reaching the highest scores with the fastest completion times.  I can't say the game is for everyone, but those who know they enjoy a bit of difficulty in their Action-Platformers will be able to enjoy the game. Overall: 7.8/10