PS2 Game Review - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance

A PS2 Game Review
By Le Chupacabra

Dark Alliance is a true sleeper-hit. From a first glance, all you expect is an archetypal hack-and-slash title based on an existing license. By all means, it’s an accurate description - which fails to see the true fun that awaits…

The story is indeed simplistic at best, but its undeniably classic Dungeons & Dragons-style world still makes it an enjoyable ride. The first task (as it is in all D&D stories) is to curb the rat problem that plagues the rather voluptuous barmaid. Before you know it, you’re lead to the nest of the Thieves' Guild (who said thieves weren’t civil-minded?) that happens to run by another more powerful group. This group is also under orders from someone higher up and the hierarchy continues, constituting the major “twists” of the story.

This is a ‘dungeon-hack’ in the purest sense; you make your way through several dungeons that seem to go further underground. On the way you’ll be attacked by typical D&D fantasy creatures ranging from kobolds to bugbears to large gelatinous cubes. No, really, these lumps of Jell-O will attempt to maul you so it’s better that you hack them to bite-sized pieces quickly. This isn’t the deepest game in the world; you mostly have to attack by hammering X in between blocking (R1) and spell-casting. Despite its incredibly simplistic nature, the fighting is surprisingly addictive and very fun! The intuitive control system for micro-managing Health and Mana items and magic only helps make it more enjoyable. There are plenty of boxes to bash and treasure chests to loot which in turn contain valuable items and gold. You can pawn these items and use the gold to buy better weapons and armour from the local vendor. It’s a simplified shop system, yet the large range of products and your tight budgeting instincts make it an extremely fun mini-game. You’ll be eyeing the Flaming Bastard Sword of Defence +3 for a while and when you finally get the money to buy it, it’s quite satisfying. And then the Lightening Long Sword +5 looks enticing as well and soon enough you’ll fight against the hordes of darkness to get that little number as well. It’s a superficial mechanism which ends up offering hours of genuine fulfillment and enjoyment.

Now here comes the part that makes turns this game from a solid, fun title into an insanely addictive joy-ride: Co-operative mode.

Playing solo is nice, but when you play Dark Alliance in Co-op mode, you will have the time of your life! The fun you get out of all those gameplay mechanics I mentioned increases fifty-fold. While you cast magic at enemies from afar, your friend/sibling/relative can be hacking the enemies apart from up close. You can quietly open the door to a room and as the denizens of evil rush out, your partner takes out the welcoming party with his trusty bow-work; you rush in with your Flaming Bastard Sword to take out the rest. Teamwork has never been this exhilarating and rewarding. There’s always a rush for the boxes and chest since, despite being a team effort, its still ‘finder’s keepers’. Mutiny can often be heavy in the air as the faster Elf gets all the goodies while the slower Dwarf grumpily takes down the bugbears. This leads to a bout of competitiveness that ratchets up the fun-factor even higher. Since you also level up at different rates, it’s possible that you make even become more dependent on your stronger team-mate and once again, you’re bound by his/her trust and skill with the blade. What can seem slightly frustrating at first leads to real camaraderie and sincere gratification. It won’t be uncommon to ask your richer companion to buy you a weapon you need and then you can return the favour later; it’s real-world dealing and interaction presented with much fervour in this amazing game. Having your partner scream words of encouragement as you take the last slashes at the final boss makes the whole game one emotional rollercoaster ride. Play the game in Co-op and I swear you will not regret your time spent.

This game’s a looker, though its age will show now since it’s a 2001 title. The levels have a gritty fantasy vibe and the character designs are great, though the pseudo-isometric perspective makes it difficult to see the smaller ones. The lighting effects are divine! But the best part is the water – it has this strange, mercurial effect that’s a joy to play around with. You can entertain yourself for hours as you run around in puddles and watch how realistically the waves form and interact with you, the edges and other waves. There’s a physics lesson on waves right there kids! But trust me, the water is amazing; you must see it! The game’s music is minimalistic but the voice acting makes up for it completely. Each character is very well voice-acted and it’s joy to hear them speak their lines. There are plenty of cameos with John-Rhys Davies (Gimli of LOTR fame) voicing the dwarves while Cam Clarke (Liquid Snake from MGS) plays a meek, “I’m-so-scared-I-WILL-piss-in-my-pants” priest.

Here’s a pretty good game that you’ll enjoy by yourself. When you play with a friend, it becomes a surprisingly emotional journey that’s a pure blast. Oh and a word of advice: ‘Ball Lightening’. Remember that phrase and you’ll thank me later!

Anime Review - Trigun

Trigun

An Anime Review By
Le Chupacabra

Shonen Gaho-sha/Victor Company
26 episodes
15+

Spiky blonde hair, a red coat and a trail of destruction... It can only mean one man - Vash the Stampede (how aptly named...)! Yet how could this clumsy, donut-loving fool be the legendary outlaw dubbed "The Humanoid Typhoon"? Regardless, it's upto insurance agents Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson to make sure he doesn't destroy what's left of the sandy, barren planet they live on…


It's not the best, but Trigun is definitely solid stuff. It wonderfully segues together action, drama and of course, comedy. By the end, you'll have gone on an enjoyable experience that'll leave you extremely satisfied and appreciative of the medium known as 'anime'.

Trigun is a deep foray into the mindset of one Vash the Stampede. He's the star of the show, and each of the 26 episodes is there to reinforce him as a character to remember. Vash is quite a wierd one, too. For someone possessing such brilliant shooting skills and having been known as a legendary outlaw, most of the time he hardly seems the part. Vash is a complete pacifist who always looks to resolve a situation without anyone dying. He has one of those "saving-people-things" you read about in books (by books, I mean Harry Potter). Sometimes an emotional wreck bursting into tears, Vash will have you scratching your head for quite some time as you try figure out why he does what he does.

That leads us to the story itself. Trigun is set in what is probably a perfectly alternate 'Spaghetti Western universe'. Before you scream "Cowboy Bebop", you should know that Trigun shares very little with Shinichiro Watanabe's opus. Saloon brawls, quick draw duels and Mexican standoffs are all juxtaposed with advanced "lost" technology and a world born of creativity and freshness. The series is chockful of classic action scenarios and plenty of hilarious moments. These only complement the deeply philosophical tones that are omnipresent. Yet despite the constant issues of moral ethics and questions about the concept of 'life', none of it becomes overbearing or preachy. This makes the Trigun experience extremely easy to get into and enjoy, regardless of your way of thinking.

Trigun has an interesting art style that goes with the whole "western in outer space" theme very well indeed. While I think Naruto has the best character designs, Trigun maintains a stylish look that you won't forget easily. The music usually takes a backseat to the drama and everything, but somehow its faint presence makes all the difference and really helps create a great atmosphere.

If there's anything wrong with Trigun, it's just that they concentrate too much on the main character. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but given such an interesting world, it feels like a missed opportunity. Most characters are just simple and somewhat two-dimensional. They're likeable, but there's nothing, you know, extraordinary about them. It's true that Nicholas D. Wolfwood gets some good screentime as does Vash's brother, Knives, but it's still nothing compared to the Humanoid Typhoon. There are quite a few filler episodes that often deviate from the main story and train of thought.

In the end, Trigun is a a great introduction to the world of anime. A great mixture of action, drama, comedy and philosophy, Trigun is definitely quality entertainment.

PS2 Game Review - Katamari Damacy

Katamari Damacy

A PS2 Game Review By
Le Chupacabra

I’ll say it flat out: Katamari Damacy is the most fun I’ve ever had in a videogame!

As if the name wasn’t enough to warrant a few frowns and quizzical glances, then the contents of the game will have ‘normal’ people thinking that anyone playing this title deserves to be locked away in a padded chamber!

As it is, The King of All Cosmos™ got a little…um…tipsy one night and knocked a “few” stars out of the sky. Realising his mistake he immediately sends for his pint-sized son to cover up for daddy’s giant blunder…

Playing as the miniscule Prince, you control a ball called a Katamari. Anything that touches the Katamari sticks to its surface and allows it to grow larger. The idea behind this is that you’ll have to roll over and cause items to stick to your Katamari and once you’ve completed that level’s objective, the King will take those items and transform them into one of the many stars that he...uh…misplaced.

What’s hard to describe is how awesome the gameplay feels. The Katamari is controlled via both Analog Sticks and much like a tank; pulling or pushing both sticks moves the Katamari back and forth while pushing one and pulling the other allows for turning. Due to the simplicity of the controls, you can pay attention to what counts the most: the gameplay. By rolling around, you collect things from thumbtacks to peanuts to…well…the sky’s the limit in this game, I swear! This game is probably the ultimate collect-‘em-up…bar none! The more items that stick to the Katamari, the bigger it grows. Odd shaped items also affect how your Katamari rolls, so if pencils and poles start attaching themselves it could either make things easier or harder. Since you’re so small, bumping into too-large objects often knocks some items off. Bumping into fast moving critters like mice and snails (oops, did I say fast?) does the same. In the early levels, you’ll learn to fear mice the same way the wizards in Harry Potter fear Voldem…er…You-Know-Who. Later you’ll grow to literally titanic proportions; whales, elephants and giant squid are incorporated into your bulk like they were mere ants. There’s an immensely satisfying feeling of power as you roll up people. They try to scarper from you, screaming like they they’re seeing Godzilla all over again (it is Japan after all!), but nevertheless they soon become part of you! That’s the odd thing about this game. I mean sure, there are fun level-specific objectives like time limits and collecting, say, as many crabs as possible so that the Cancer constellation can be reformed. But other than that, it’s just the sheer joy of rolling around and running amuck with the Katamari that keeps you playing on and on and on. Due to the fact that there are near-infinite items and that the game lists what you have and haven’t picked up, there’s an odd yet burning desire to go back and see what you’ve missed. You’ll also try to see how insanely large you can get within set time limits – when entire cities get rolled up just like that, you’re probably having the time of your life then!

If the sheer fun and absurdity of gameplay don’t keep you clamouring for more, then the absolutely eclectic soundtrack will. The music has one general theme which the game keeps playing repeatedly but with great variations. It’ll be a single-instrument ditty at first but soon it breaks out into an all-out cacophony of electronica. To say that the music is addictive is a gross understatement; the tunes will get stuck in your heads for WEEKS after you’ve stopped playing! Seriously, it’s impossible to not get enough of such awesome music! The King is vocalised weirdly, with each word sounding like turn-table scratches – it’s odd to hear but strangely endearing all at once. Also, some of the stuff he says is so effing random and bizarre that you’ll be at a loss for words. But it’s all in good fun and this truly gives the King a keen sense of being. The same holds true for most of writing in the game and it’s usually of the ‘utterly hilarious’ variety.

Graphics-wise, this game is an oddity (I sense a pattern emerging…). The items look very angular and sharp and the live objects look more like Lego toys. Infact, if you’re used to the best high-res graphical tricks of today, then you may as well pass out… In other words, the game looks very outdated… Yet, that’s where a lot of its charm stems from. Since there’s no need for any advanced graphical bells-and-whistles, the simple yet bold graphics allowed the developers to just fill the entire game world with life. There are so many objects strewn about utterly randomly, and yet in Katamari Damacy, there always seems to be a pattern to this seeming madness. It’s certainly different and the more you play it, the more endearing the looks become, believe me on this one!

I assume that I’m probably the only here who’s so excited about this game, but it shouldn’t be so. If words like ‘fun’, ‘enjoyable’ and ‘bizarre’ ever took solid form, they’d turn into a disc containing the game Katamari Damacy - and ‘tis the damned truth!

Fiction - Birds

This is my first proper bit of fiction! In my mind, it sort of works somewhat like a play - gleaned from how operatic and deliberate the settings are and also given that I decided to include the times of the day and locations. Most of the inspiration for this ridiculously romanticised (to the point that I plead guilty to the fact that no sort of thing probably ever took place... probably) piece came from Rurouni Kenshin - one of the most beautiful Samurai anime I've ever watched. Names are also based on various things I've encountered. 'Sagara' is homage to the character 'Sagara Sanosuke' from the Rurouni Kenshin anime while 'Chouji' was based on the rather gluttonous ninja from Naruto. 'Keiji' and 'Inafune' come from 'Keiji Inafune' - the guy who created Street Fighter II - my fave old school fighting game! But above all, the most important inspiration came from my father. It's his belief in justice and his desire to do the right thing - that's what struck me as awe-inspiring. There was a time when we found ourselves in a rather harrowing situation. My dad did something I didn't expect and in fact, later I said a bunch of stuff I shouldn't have. The things I said were something only a coward would say. Now, what did he do? When he was confronted with that situation, instead of backing down... my father stood his ground, stood for his beliefs, for who he was - and he took the situation head on. After everything I said, he wasn't the least bit angry (and he had every right to be) but instead, he calmly explained why he did what he did. That was a conversation I won't forget and everything he said - I hold those words close to my heart. Sagara-san may be named after a fictional character but he's truly based on my dad. I really can't express my thanks in words to my dad for everything he's done, but maybe I can repay part of it through my writing. Dad, you're the best!

BIRDS

It was the turbulent time of the Meiji Revolution period in 19th century feudal Japan. Wars ravaged across the island country and peace was only the stuff of dreams. Change was also taking place: Japan was on her way to becoming a nation-state under a central leadership. As a result, the noble Samurai - each bound usually to one of the thousands of feudal lords - were being wiped out...



Kuzokawa Village, Early morning

Sagara-san pushed aside the sliding paper-maché door and stormed into his room. His son, Inafune followed him in. The docile expression that Inafune usually wore had been replaced with that of anger, annoyance and exasperation. He disrespectfully slammed the door behind. Sagara-san feigned indifference to this emotional outburst, but Inafune knew that inside, his father was enraged at his behaviour. That gave him some satisfaction.

"Father?" questioned Inafune with some bitterness in his voice.

"You know that we are trying as hard as we can to locate him. I know he has been missing for quite some time, but given the circumstances, there is nothing you or I can do right now." Those were carefully measured words, and the calmness of his father's voice only angered Inafune further.

"Nothing? NOTHING? Father, you," Inafune almost spat, "are the head of the police station here! And Keiji was the son of the richest man in the village..."

"What does money have to do with this?" his father interrupted impatiently. "It's true the kidnappers do want ransom, but even if Okuwara-sama paid us to search harder and knowing him, he'd never - we can do no more at this stage. Instead, he should be gathering his money to pay the kidnappers at the allotted time. Let's hope he forgets his miserly attitude when it comes to the safety of his only son." There was something unusually cold about Sagara-san's voice when he said this.

"But Keiji was one of my friends, father! At least consider that! He wasn't just anybody!" Inafune nearly shouted.

Sagara-san turned his head around for the first time. Inafune's eyes widened: was it a trick of the morning light or was his father's face flushed with embarrassment?

Inafune's father turned his back to him again, took a small, barely noticeable breath and then faced his son completely. His face was inscrutable again. Sagara-san gave his son a look that a feudal lord would have balked under. Sternly he said, "Inafune. We are trying the best we can. Rest assured your friend will be returned safely and unharmed. You will wait and do nothing. If you dare disobey me, there will be dire consequences."

"But..." Inafune started.

"Leave my room. That will be all." That was the tone that no one in the whole village could argue with.
Inafune slowly exited.



Kuzokawa Village, Afternoon

"Does your father know anything at all about this?" said Inafune impatiently to a dapper teen with brown hair. Chouji's father was also one of the ten police personnel belonging to the minuscule station. His father was in charge of gathering intelligence. They were walking back from their favourite ramen shop.

"Sorry, even if he does he's not supposed to tell anyone but your father, the Chief, that is. Right?" Chouji replied. He held back a belch. Today's ramen was extra spicy.

"I guess so. Hmmm, I wonder where those kidnappers hide… they'd have to be somewhere near if they knew about Keiji and all." drawled Inafune absent-mindedly.

"Wait! Don't tell me you're thinking of trying something idiotic…" Chouji looked at him sharply.

Inafune put his hands behind his head and laughed. "Heck no! Even if it is my friend, I'm not the dumb, heroic type you read about in those paper novels. We live at the base of a mountain. There are thousands of caves, chasms and hiding places. There's a bigger chance of me falling into one and getting lost than finding Keiji. I guess we have no choice but to leave it to the police." Inafune finished bitterly.

Chouji suddenly pointed ahead and said excitedly, "Hey… isn't that, you know, that sign?"

Inafune looked up. Normally the door of his house was always open. This time it was slid shut and on the face was some Hiragana text painted in red. It said, "Birds". This was the sign that meant an important meeting was going on inside and no one in the whole village, except the officers, was allowed to come near the house.

"Chouji, you go back now, okay. There's something I need to see."

"If you're thinking of going to your h…" began Chouji.
"Just leave." Inafune gave Chouji the very glare he inherited from his father. Chouji shrugged, waved his hand and started going towards the east side of the village.

Inafune considered the situation. Since it was afternoon, there were almost no people on the village streets. Since this was a rather stupid time for spying, his father wouldn't have anyone guarding the house. Even then he'd have to be careful. Inafune therefore decided to go in through the kitchen. His mother would be out at his aunt's house.

Inafune slowly slid open one of the paper doors and softly entered. He closed the door immediately. Inafune walked cautiously around the side of the kitchen he knew only too tell how the central area creaked. The second he heard voices, Inafune stopped, knelt down and strained his ears. It was his father and Chouji's father talking in soft voices. Not exactly whispers but still hard to hear.

"…you're quite sure you don't want some saké?"

Inafune started.

"No, no… I don't think this is the time. We shouldn't be celebrating yet." That was Chouji's father.

"It's not that. You're nervous. I can see it in your mannerisms and your expressions. You need to calm down."

"It's okay, Sagara-sama. Let's just get over with it."

"Right. Okay, as you told me, Okuwara-sama has finally acceded. He will pay the sum of money tomorrow at dawn at the location specified. I want the men to be ready in the proper garb, okay?"

Inafune was excited. This meant that the police were going to try to capture the kidnappers! He'd try his best to tail them so he could see the action.

Chouji's father coughed. "But how is Keiji? You know…"

Sagara-san gave a small laugh and said, "He's perfectly fine. He seems to be enjoying himself. He's been talking to all the people there and he seems to have learned a lot about life. If only my son were as mature and open-minded. Keiji will be a great person when he grows, unlike his father. Infact, it was Keiji who gave us quite a lot of suggestions to make this plan work perfectly. I'm glad we didn't have to kidnap him by force."

Inafune's head spun. What was going on? The police kidnapped Keiji? Keiji was helping them out? Inafune jumped up and ran out, unable to take in what he heard.

Sagara-san heard the noise and smiled. Chouji's father was startled.
"Sir, there was someone inside the house! Sir, I should…"
"Stop worrying. I know. Inafune was listening to the conversation all this time."

"I see your skills from being a samurai have not waned at all. Your katana is always at the ready I assume?" Sagara-san nodded his answer. Chouji's father continued, "If the Shinsen-gumi ever knew that you had betr…"

Sagara-san stood up. "You know, there was no such betrayal. I do not expect such words from you, Shikamichi. You know what we stand for! Never forget the symbol on my door. Now, if you will excuse I must find Inafune. It's time he saw the truth behind the façade. He has to learn that there is no such thing as black or white."



Kuzokawa Lake, Evening

Inafune was hidden in the clump of bushes he had claimed as his personal hiding spot five years back. He was repeating the words the words he had just heard. He couldn't believe his father would kidnap anyone for the sake of money. And Keiji was helping them? Had they drugged him or something? He remembered his mother's stories about his father's fights as a samurai. He snorted. He couldn't believe he had actually looked up to someone like that. He was thinking of going back to the village and telling Okuwara-sama everything when someone softly grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.

It was his father. Sagara-san was smiling. Inafune wore an expression of pure contempt.


"Well, I see you're quite the angry one." Sagara-san was still smiling.

Inafune exploded inside. How could anyone still be smiling after all that!

"Well Inafune. Come with me. I've got something to show you. Keiji is waiting." With that Sagara-san firmly lead Inafune away.



Asamika Mountain Cave, Twilight

The climb was rather harsh and Inafune was completely out of breath but he had no time to steady himself. His mind was completely numbed as his brain tried to register the sight in front of him. An entire village was inside the hidden mountain cave. There were people walking about as if nothing had happened. It was just like Kuzokawa village! An entire group of people was living in a cave! Inafune felt his knees weakening. A few of the men waved at his father who returned them cheerily.

Someone punched Inafune in the jaw. It was Keiji.

"Baka! What took you?" Keiji was smiling from ear to ear.

Inafune couldn't find his voice. He spluttered out a faint "What…the hell…is going on here?"

Sagara-san smiled and began. "Inafune, you know how the authorities have been trying to root out and destroy any and all remnants of the Samurai. We can't let that happen. Samurai are humans too, not mindless warriors. But the Meiji Govt. doesn't see it that way. They fear that the Samurai are still loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate and will attempt rebellion. However, the Samurai have no such plans. A few may, but most just want to live on with their lives. All the people here are Samurai and their families. They've gone into hiding in fear of being eradicated. The head of their group was a great friend of mine. He had foreseen this coming and had asked me to help should such a time arrive. That's why I'm here."
Inafune nodded.

His father continued. "I and Keiji's father were the only samurai of this village. For my plans to succeed I had no choice but to agree to the Meiji's protocol. Thus as per instructions, I set up a police station and pledged fealty to the Meiji. Many saw that as an act of dishonour and betrayal. Now you know why I'm not that popular in the village. On the other hand, Okuwara-sama chose to save his own skin. He used his money and influence to erase all his records and took advantage of the chaos. Thus, he is now an oil merchant with his pockets overflowing with money. Not once did he think about his fellow Samurai. By attaining my position, I was able to assure the Meiji that my village was safe and free from samurai. My officers were like-minded. In that way, our place has become a haven for those who have no identity in this period."

"But what about the kidnapping and…" asked Inafune.

Keiji cut in. "Let me explain. See, it's almost impossible for our village to help and sustain this hidden one. We and they can only do so much. We can't ask my father for any funding because he'd betray the village as soon as he found out what was going on. So it was decided that I would be kidnapped and the ransom money a rather huge sum I have to say would be used to help the people here. You know, we could buy them food, clothes, and stuff. Only me, you, your father and his subordinates know about this."

"I see" said Inafune, his voice dry.

"You should be proud of your father. There are people who make him into a villain for what he's doing. And there are people, as in those here, who think of him as a hero. At the same time what he did is both right and wrong. So you see, Inafune, there is no such thing as good or evil. Your father is doing what he firmly believes in, and that's what matters!"

Inafune turned around and looked at his father. His earlier thoughts completely vanished and awe and admiration filled his eyes. "Doing what you believe in…" he half-said to himself. His father smiled again.

"Come on Inafune, let's go visit the village. Let's talk to everyone!"

Keiji and Inafune set off.

Sagara-san stood watching them. "You'll be a fine man like your friend, Inafune. You've learned a lot about life today. I only hope that you too are willing to fight for what you believe in, like Keiji. Now you know what the symbol on my door really stands for: the freedom to do what you, and not others, think is right. As long as there are people like you, no matter what happens to this country, the future will be bright indeed." He smiled again and followed them down.

Footnotes:
1 'san' is used in order to be respectful towards elders or someone that one does not know personally
2 'sama' is used for people who are at a higher position than the speaker or as a term of respect for those who have power; also denotes 'lord'
3 'Hiragana' is a Japanese calligraphic text
4 Birds are symbolic in Japanese culture (and in other cultures) in how they represent 'freedom of the mind and soul', 'freedom to choose one's own path', et al
5 'Saké' is rice wine
6 Katanas are the curved swords used by Samurai
7 'Gumi' loosely translates to 'group'
8 'Baka' means idiot, moron, etc.

By Le Chupacabra

PS2 Game Review - Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

ZONE OF THE ENDERS

THE 2ND RUNNER

A PS2 Game Review By
Le Chupacabra

Loved mecha anime but was saddened by the fact that god-knows-how-many-feet-tall-robots-of-mass-destruction don't exist? Don't worry. Help is only a phone call and a strait-jacket away. However, if you insist on wanting to control a mech armed with all manner of energy swords, searing laser beams and giant phallic missiles, then say hello to Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner.

A sequel to the technically brilliant yet flawed Z.O.E. (let's just call it that for short, eh…typing out the full thing is a pain), The 2nd Runner is everything the first game should have been…and more!

You play as Dingo Egret, an ice miner on the moon of Callisto. A routine cleaning operation goes awry as the militaristic BAHRAM faction attack the peaceful community of Callisto and in a twist of fate, you find yourself in control of Jehuty an Orbital Frame of great power. Soon, Earth and all its space colonies are under threat of annihilation as the BAHRAM leader, Nohman, puts aside any and all political pretense and declares open war. So it's up to you stop him (isn't it always?).

The wonderfully paced story is greatly complemented by a mixture of hand-drawn anime cutscenes and in-game cinematics. This isn't your average hero-saves-the-world-and-beds-damsel story either! It's full of unexpected twists and surprising revelations and awesome characters that will have you completely engrossed. As anime, Z.O.E. 2 is simply brilliant in its own right! The voice acting is so good that this is one of the few times you won't miss the Japanese dubs at all! The banter between Dingo and the female runner Ken Marinaris presents some equally funny and serious moments and are some of the many highlights of this game.

The music is just purely and simply incredible. The main theme song 'Beyond the Bounds' is such a great track that's it worth downloading and making it a mainstay in your mp3 playlist. From the majestic intro theme of Nohman's Orbital Frame, Anubis to the techno beats of the airship battle; the soundtrack perfectly integrates itself into the whole playing experience and really makes the game superbly enjoyable.

Z.O.E. 2 manages to look even better than it sounds and man, does it look awesome! It's worth buying this for the graphics alone! At any given instant your screen will be filled with a plethora of special effects ranging from searing hot lasers to plumes of black smoke to hundreds of flashing lights to awe-inspiring explosions and more! Jehuty seamlessly switches from energy-sword combos to its multi-laser attacks in a way that can only be described as pure poetry in motion. The mechs are luxuriously detailed and there's a certain sleekness to them that sets the style of Z.O.E apart from other games and anime. Some of the levels look so amazing that you may get caught up in just staring at the awesome design and munificent details. The Orbital Frames have these energy lines that flow throughout the body and those really give them a remarkably distinct look. The colour of these energy lines even indicates the health level of the Frame! There are a lot of little touches like this that really make the world of Z.O.E. come alive.

Z.O.E. 2 is one of the few games that manage full 3D freedom with aplomb. You can dash about in any direction with Jehuty as you deliver death by laser to your foes. Your energy sword combos can be mixed with dash attacks, downward slams, rising slashes and burst attacks. When dashing, you can aim for multiple enemies and then let loose with a barrage of homing lasers. The combination of these moves and Jehuty's super fast motion results in your screen exploding with adrenaline-pumped scenes of utter destruction. Each battle gives you this genuine rush that'll have you yearning for more. You can even use Sub-Weapons that have various effects and really spice up your fighting style. The Grab move is extremely useful as you will soon find out! Geyser lets you immobilize an enemy while the insanely powerful Vector Cannon can eradicate anything. The fourteen sub-weapons you get throughout the game also allow the judicious use of strategy, and trust me, you'll need to at times! The boss fights are pretty darn incredible. Each one is completely unique and really presents challenges that you'll thoroughly relish. The game kept throwing these bosses in my direction with relentless regularity and I loved that.

Z.O.E 2: The 2nd Runner is one of the most superbly thrilling action titles to come along in quite a while. If you like anime and videogames, then this game is truly a gift from Heaven! Even if you don't, it's still bloody enjoyable!

Gaming Cliches That Refuse To Die

Gaming Clichés That Refuse To Die

By Le Chupacabra

Games have been around for ages. Well okay 20 years-ish to be exact. Though games are known for the creativity they bolster, some things just never change. And thus was born… the “gaming cliché”! *cue thunder and lightening*

Bullet-Time

Ever since The Matrix, Max Payne used it. Prince of Persia used it. Enter the Matrix obviously used it. It made sense. But when you start using bullet-time in games like NHL 2004 or Tony Hawk’s Underground or racing games, I think someone’s overdoing it! I mean, bullet-time is fine and dandy, but does it really have to be in every damn game? I don’t believe that WWII soldiers could slow down time itself whenever their “adrenaline” was peaked.

Female characters

It’s not that female characters are themselves clichéd; it’s just how developers portray them. It seems that developers think that the average gamer’s idea of the opposite sex is a ridiculously-proportioned, dollar-figured bombshell who has to wear hot-pants and an incredibly tight top or any other super-skimpy clothes for that matter. Developers, women have breasts. Just accept it.

Collectibles

Stars, eggs, coins, monkeys - so many items, so little time! Platforming games are the prime offenders here. It’s not enough that you have to jump and grab ledges with Zen-like precision but you also have to collect what-not just to proceed. Nothing ruins immersion like finally defeating the main boss and finding out that you can’t watch the “real” ending unless you go back and pick up the slimy blue blobs you gave up collecting after the 1094325th one.

Sneaking Around

Fine: Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell and Thief were games that are centered on the concept of playing stealthily. But what do you say to a game that hands you a huge arsenal of weapons, gives you a playing (read: slaying) ground full of gloriously stupid goons and even lets you call in carpet bombing attacks… but… it asks you to go around undetected or else it’s game over? Mercenaries I’m looking at you…

The GTA-clone

The Japanese believe that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but there’s a limit to copying. Ever since GTA 3 came out, every bloody game has to have “open-ended gameplay”. I mean from Jak II to Tony Hawk’s to the blatant-but-still-not-quite rip-offs like True Crime… every game has seems to have jack-able vehicles and wide open areas. Why can’t games just do their own thing?

Button mashing mini-games

Ever get to those parts in a game where you’re taken out of the normal gameplay just to play some obscure mini-game? So you’re going along, minding your own business, when a cutscene suddenly plays: it must be time for some big boss fight! Ominous music plays and you get yourself prepared and arm all your weapons - this is it! You’re about to face the boss head-on when all of a sudden: “Rapidly Tap [button] to proceed”… no wonder so many people have broken controllers.

The Anti-hero…hero

Why does every single main character have to have the following attributes: (1) an overdone gruff, gravely voice (2) an angst-y, I-hate-the-world attitude (3) and a five-o’-clock shadow? Oh and they also have to have complete body-builder muscles. They always have to be out for some random, non-specific revenge and the use of cheesy one-liners is a must. I mean, is it too much to ask for a good guy who actually is a, you know, good friendly person?

God-mode

It all started with a game named Doom. When players couldn’t take the horror of facing three small bunnies even when armed with a tactical nuke, they turned to their one solace: god-mode. Yes, in god-mode you can become completely invulnerable: insusceptible to anything and everything they throw at you… like a god. One thing however, even gods die whenever they fall into the small hidden holes in the ground…

Boxes/Crates

Game developers are often too lazy to think of ways to fill their levels so they fall upon the oldest gaming cliché of all time: boxes. Small boxes, pink boxes, weird boxes, wooden boxes, steel boxes, heck boxed boxes… there is no dearth of them. Some games add them just to show off their “physics engine” while others just make smashing boxes an integral part of gameplay. As you all know, breakable boxes all contain coins / valuables / bombs / everything-you-need-to-get-past-something. Seriously, just let this one die!

Sequel-itis

Final Fantasy XI, Tekken 5, FIFA 200-god-knows-which-year-we’re-on… no movie or book could ever beat games for the barrage of sequels they can churn out. While movies can go into the 2s and 3s, for games, prepare to see numbers that head into the double digits. Worst of all, most of the time, it’s more or less the same game with marginally improved graphics and sound. I mean should I really buy NBA Live 2005 because it boasts a “dynamic new animation system” but it actually looks more or less like the 2001 version, except shinier? It’s high time we saw some new names! Heck, give us the same game if you have to devs, but just stop numbering them!

Xbox 360: The Other Side

Xbox 360: The Other Side

By Le Chupacabra

While good old Niloy will be writing to keep you guys informed and anticipating MicroSoft's new console, I'm not going to do any such thing. Instead I'll be taking various, below-the-belt and unnecessary pot-shots at the X360. Why? Well, umm… because I was bored!...

So, what to pick on first, hmm? How…about… the name! No, seriously. The Xbox 2 was acceptable. Xbox Next was kind of catchy and maybe, people could have somehow called it Xenon (the codename) as well. But, nooo. Micro$oft (M$) had to think of something 'fresh' and 'original'. Isn't 360o a full rotation? Doesn't that mean that the new Xbox will go full circle and end up second to Sony again?

Now comes the console itself. I'm not going to bother with technical specs since both PS3 and X360 are scarily powerful. However… the aesthetic design of the Xbox 2 leaves a lot to be desired. Okay, what I really meant was: how the heck did M$ get away with that! Fine, the PS2 and Xbox weren't exactly stylish pieces of hardware (though PS2 Slim sure is), but they could have done something more original this generation, right? Right? Wrong. While the PS3 has opted for a sleek, printer-like look, M$ pulled an Apple and ended up with something that looks like a prototype for a new iPod. Infact, if the 'X'-logo wasn't there, I could've sworn it was an iPod. Shame on you, Gates. Even with all that money you can't afford to get someone more creative to design your new console. Maybe all that success is getting to you, right Bill? It's pitiful indeed.

Next up, we have the games. While M$ plans to release about "40-50 games on launch", only a handful have been announced and a fewer have been shown. The ones shown have been "Meh!" at best. If the X360 was coming out next year, it would make sense. But for a console that's being released in a few months, the games are looking mighty pathetic. Graphics are good indeed (nothing "next-gen" though), but why-oh-why is the animation stuck in a limbo of bone-shattering spasms? There are also games that claim to be able to output thousands of characters on-screen. That's a great thing… if the characters weren't all just copy-pasted a zillion times! No variety, no nothing. Every single enemy is just like the next. Seeing a game like that in action or even in a screen shot makes one dizzy. At least the Clone Troopers in Star Wars have rank colours so you could make out Clone#45 from #569. Nothing doing on X360, guv'nor. Coupled with the stop-motion animation, it looks like you're wading through a bog made entirely of the same goon. Not nice.

So what if Halo 3 is coming out. It's still far off. While 'Gears of War' and 'Perfect Dark: Zero' have people drooling online, note this: Gears of War is really nothing special and Rare haven't really been able to do anything brilliant since the N64, despite their pedigree (007: Golden Eye, Perfect Dark and Conker's Bad Fur Day). If you think X360's cutting it with sports games you'd be wrong again. Since EA is the monopoly there, expect all the FIFAs and NHLs to be out on all the consoles. Even the old ones. Also, while Japan has 'pledged' [read: been heavily and not-so-secretly paid to give] support for the X360, the games in development have been lacklustre at best. Tecmo main-man, Itagaki-san (Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive series, Fatal Frame series), always keen on working with M$ only had scathing remarks about his contemporaries. Not a good sign, indeed. I know the Xbox had only 1 good game to like 20 of the same on PS2, but isn't it embarrassing for M$ to be repeating the same mistake twice?

Lastly come M$'s announcements of the X360. So what are we expecting from the next generation? Ultrahyperuberlicious (is that even a word?) graphics, superb gameplay and extreme multiplayer action are some. Besides that we definitely want our fair share of media options, connectivity, backward-compatibility (basically being able to play last gen's games on the new one… a good way to finish that RPG you've been putting off for years) and wireless controllers. After all, all three (Ninty, Sony and M$) have been putting a lot of emphasis on controllers in this, the next generation. However, some of M$'s "strategic announcements" kind of change a lot. First off the bat were some mumblings about "selective backward-compatibility". Ears were pricked and eye-brows were raised. Hehe, we all knew what was coming. Due to "technical difficulties" M$ would only allow select Xbox titles to be played on the new console. Well, it's not too bad, considering that most people play only Halo 2 anyway. But they were still shafting a few million others. That wasn't the end. Recently they announced something else. The Xbox 360 is coming in two versions. Remember all M$'s assurances of how the Xbox 360 would be affordable and cheap? Well here's the real picture. There's a "Value" edition at 299$ (typical console launch price). Of course, the "value" version of anything usually has to "sacrifice some 'minor' components for the sake of cost-effectiveness". In this case, the "value" edition comes with a wired controller (in the next generation? For shame…) and NO backwards compatibility!

That's right, so if Johnny Knotagamer, the quintessential casual gamer, wants to play his still-shiny copy of Halo 2 on the Value pack… well, tough luck kid. However, he can still have the option of selling his kidney to earn a hefty $400 (And people say the PS3 is going to be expensive!) so he too can enjoy the benefits of playing old games with a new wireless controller! And a face-plate! Another one of M$'s announcements was to be able to customize your Xbox 360 by purchasing (at "affordable" prices) face-plates that change the front palette of your console. So yeah, if you happen to like pink flowers or something you can shell out 15$ for a face-plate with such. A "perfect" distraction on those long Xbox 360 game loads, eh? If you don't like it, well too bad, buy another one. The word "superficial" can be accompanied by a resounding slap on the forehead for this one. Let's not mention how M$ will let you buy game skins, models, etc. at "cheap" prices on Xbox Live! Marketplace… with real money. Oh boy, a Rusty Dagger +2 for only 2.99$? What a deal! Meh.

While, I'm not saying the Xbox 360 is going to fail, it does have some glaring flaws, as do the PS3 (what is it's real performance?) and Ninty Revolution (does it really exist?). Let this article not anger you who are of Xbox fanboy blood. It's all in good fun.

I think...