Reviews by zigfried, page 7

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 review

That's what makes Digital Devil Saga 2 so powerful — it plays on prior knowledge, whether dealing with something trivial like the Omoikane or something significant like the Serph-Heat-Sera love triangle. That's also why it's so important…

Zigfried · December 11, 2005

Staff PSP HG exclusive

The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion review

Most RPG's would be content with just telling us, "Eimelle loved animals. This forest girl might be her." Legend of Heroes has already given us the background information to understand such a statement. That level of authenticity makes the…

Zigfried · November 28, 2005

Staff Genesis HG exclusive

Dynamite Duke review

Not a single enemy or background object — not even a parking meter right in front of you — can be hit with a melee attack. Until you reach the end-of-level boss, your punches and kicks are futile, harmlessly poking through whatever…

Zigfried · November 16, 2005

Staff PSP HG exclusive

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex review

Since Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a faithful Ghost in the Shell product, there's plenty of Kojima-level philosophizing. That's always been a franchise strength, even if the ancient Chinese philosopher name-dropping got a bit…

Zigfried · November 12, 2005

Staff Turbografx-CD HG exclusive

Ginga Fukei Densetsu: Sapphire review

Sapphire doesn't need deep weaponry. It just needs to ROCK . . . and with spotlight effects, smooth rotation, spinning polygons, lightning storms, and an unforgettable soundtrack by T's Music, it succeeds. But for all its explosive energy…

Zigfried · October 30, 2005

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Sega Ages: Hokuto no Ken review

If you want some Fist of the North Star action, buy the excellent PlayStation game instead; Bandai obviously cares about the franchise a lot more than Sega does.

Zigfried · October 25, 2005

Staff Xbox HG exclusive

Tecmo Classic Arcade review

Tecmo Cup tries to make soccer exciting, but it plays like a crippled Blade of Steel (NES) or NHL Hockey (Genesis), although I have to admit I was pretty excited when my very first kick scored a goal against the opposing team. Senjyo is an…

Zigfried · October 14, 2005

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Ys: The Ark of Napishtim review

Although the character models have changed, the music and locales are as gorgeous as before. Every room in the Temple of Memory is infested with skittering insects that drop from the ceilings, sometimes on Adol's head! With angler-like…

Zigfried · October 14, 2005

Staff Xbox HG exclusive

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball review

The volleyball action itself can be pretty intense. Your opponents behave differently depending on their confidence level — "unwilling" foes are like those girls in Phys Ed class who always let the volleyball fall at their feet because…

Zigfried · October 14, 2005

Staff Xbox HG exclusive

Ninja Gaiden Black review

If Ninja Gaiden is the story of the World's Greatest Super Ninja, then Ninja Gaiden Black is the epic tale of how a lowly dog becomes a Master Ninja. With each successive play, Black adds enemies and obstacles that not only make the game…

Zigfried · October 9, 2005

Staff Sega CD HG exclusive

Robo Aleste review

With the line sharply drawn between Motonari's alliance of evil and Nobunaga's force of... good?... Compile has infused a driving theme into their 12-stage epic. Each episode, whether it's a rain-streaked flight above placid farmland or a…

Zigfried · October 8, 2005

Staff Dreamcast HG exclusive

Himitsu: Tadagaita Natsu review

Himitsu tried my patience like few others. Following gal game tradition, the "introduction" consists of female photos scrolling across the screen while music plays. Himitsu's unique qualities are its amateurish character designs and a…

Zigfried · September 26, 2005

Staff Turbografx-CD HG exclusive

Advanced V.G. review

Advanced V.G. actually tries to be a "wacky" game with "crazy" characters. I spent most of my time stone-faced, wondering who decided that parading a bunch of stereotypes across the screen qualifies as comedy. It certainly doesn't qualify…

Zigfried · September 5, 2005

Staff X68000 HG exclusive

Mid-Garts review

Lightning flashed across the screen, volcanoes erupted in the background, laser beams blocked my way, fiery chimerae hurtled through the air, orcs tossed hammers from below, and gigantic rocks tried to squish poor me (and my dragon). The…

Zigfried · September 4, 2005

Staff Game Boy Advance HG exclusive

Riviera: The Promised Land review

Riviera: The Promised Land was one of the most kick-ass games ever released on the underachieving WonderSwan Crystal. Its GBA incarnation features loads of new voices (that's good) and majorly cutified character designs (that's bad), but…

Zigfried · August 28, 2005

Staff Turbografx-CD HG exclusive

Mami Inoue: Kono Hoshi ni Tatta Hitori no Kimi review

As you play this Super CD that uses chip music (except for one excruciatingly long and badly-photoshopped karaoke sequence), you get to do such exciting things as LOOK, TALK, and THINK. On one of the scripted adventure paths, you get to…

Zigfried · August 10, 2005

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana review

Between fighting slimes that look like little Puyo-Puyo's and enlisting the aid of the fairy yakuza Pilke, Atelier Iris is a fun adventure with enticingly colorful graphics and vibrantly peppy music. Sure, it lacks the touching drama of a…

Zigfried · August 4, 2005

Staff PC HG exclusive

Akane Maniax review

Despite being a sequel to the hentai classic Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, this is NOT a hentai game. There's no sex, no nudity, and only a few suggestive scenes. For the most part, it's an often comedic and sometimes touching sidestory that…

Zigfried · July 30, 2005

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity review

Stella Deus offers some of the better — but less daring — small-scale strategy RPG gaming to be found on any system. Stella Deus purposely avoids Final Fantasy Tactics' insane level of character customization and Shining Force 3's flashy…

Zigfried · July 13, 2005

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Death by Degrees review

When I heard about Death By Degrees, I was intrigued. Long story short: it failed. I still don't care about Nina Williams. Actually, it's worse than that — Death By Degrees makes this walking piece of plastic's lack of personality even…

Zigfried · July 4, 2005