First 5! Magician's Quest Mysterious Time

This is too much like animal crossing to me. In fact, it's a complete rip off. The voice over, the graphic style, the gameplay style even the buttons! It screams ANIMAL CROSSING!

It's not a bad thing though :D, here before you scream plagiarism and what not. Let me explain. Animal Crossing as we know it is a game of life. You go to a town, you live a life there with a bunch of animals with weird accent and never question why are you in a town full of animals.
Magician's Quest Mysterious Time or known as Enchanted Folk and the School of Wizardy in euro

Magician's Quest Mysterious Time or known as Enchanted Folk and the School of Wizardy in euro does not question you with that, you are enrolled into a magic school to study and become a wizard. You get to choose how your face looks like, what kind of hair and various other  things. Funny enough, the premise of going into a school with weird character works better here than in Animal Crossing.

Anyway, lets head into gameplay

Gameplay

 The game have you living a life of a magic student. Something akin to Harry Potter, you are given a dorm, instruction to go to class and then instruction to go to work with some auntie over at a shop. Very Tom Nookish but minus the debts. From then on, you carry on your life in this new world. You date people, you talk to nonsensical animals, you collect mushrooms, shake trees, fish, dig and everything that you can do in Animal Crossing. Except for magic.


The crux of this game is doing magic in the world. Well, what do you expect! Its a magic world! Granted I have yet to reach the magical hocus pocus part, but from I gathered, it does not affect the game much.

There are a number of shops available ingame instead of the monarchy businessman style by Tom Nook. There is the fashion shop, the hairstylist, the magical item shop, banks and various others.

Graphic

Its colourfully cute, the graphic covers both screen, top and bottom with wonderfully coloured structure and buildings comprising of contrast colours. The characters are made out of animals, robots, fruits and various other stuff with super deformed body.

Sound

The characters speaks in annoying voices which is high pitched and sounds suspiciously like japan. When I played the game, its already at 11.30 hence there is a lack of music. Again, this is something like Animal Crossing.

 

Conclusion 

This is a game for those that loved animal crossing and wanted something more, wanted something that has been plaguing them since the last time they visited another town, plucked the apple and various other things. Konami answered the cry with Magician's Quest Mysterious Time which can actually turns out to be a good game.

The only thing that Animal Crossing has it going against this game is time hence only time will tell how good Magician's Quest Mysterious Time will be. But for now, I wouldn't mind plunging into this new world of its own.


Magician's Quest Mysterious Time can be purchased HERE


-Because I Can-

First 5! Rhythm Heaven

Do Re Mi Fa Soooouuuullll!!

Ehem, excuse me. I am just trying to get intune with Rythmn Heaven. It's been some time since I found an enjoyable music related game. The last music game that I took notice of in DS is Elite Beat Agent and Ouendan & Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 or better known as Ouendan 2. And these three games has the same formula. Tap tap tap, do a bit of para para while your at it, clean the screen with your stylus left to right and then pray like crap you can whack the next 20 over succession of buttons without losing a beat.

Flick stylus when the music hits the note "So"

Rythmn Heaven is.... well.. erm.... (hold on, let me think of a term first)

Rythmn Heaven is a game of music. Thats the best term I can give it. The formula that Rythmn Heaven employ on its game is to mash lots of mish mashed mini games which employs the usage of Rythmn into one large set of twisted salad of Rythmn based Games.

Gameplay

This is how it works,

The game works by leading you to tap, flick, hold and various other small movement to control your various onscreen avatar ranging from oil filler, a fellow that cannot keep his mouth shut, apes & many others to the required beat.

Tap screen to shut your yapping!

Some would require you to fuel up robots in tune with mechanical cadense, others will require you to close the mouth of the yapping kiddo in a Choral singing. Whatever the method is, it gets you tapping to the tune set and finding the correct rythmn yourself to actually score well in game.

The other notable thing is the instruction of the game. Each instruction are explained in a matter of fact tone which will gets you laughing and wondering what will they pull out of the hat next. One of the memorable quote is, " This is a Factory. Of course it's for building robots!. That's what a factor is for!" or something to that effect >.<

Graphic

The graphic is simple down to earth graphic which you can find in games such as Wario Ware Touched & Ouendan and it fits right in! You will not be playing this game for its graphic, but the graphic does such a fine job at it and is so intune with the game's formula, you will be left wanting to see whats next!

Monkey see, Monkey Do

Sound

Being a rhythm based game as it is, the music itself is lively, happy and clear. Its a music game for crying out loud! That's to be expected no?!

Conclusion

I have not had so much fun playing a music game for a really long time. Notable game such as Ouendan is nice and all that but this one cleans the clock with them. The games are easy to get into, the graphic are quirky and sweet. The music are upbeat and happy and makes you look at the world in a different perspective through the way the game is portrayed. Simply put, the game gives rhythm to everything you will be hearing soon after.

This is a must get game for those that love mini-games & music games.Check out Rhythm Heaven's website at http://rhythmheaven.com/ for more pictures and what mini-games you get in game.



Get the game over at Play-Asia through HERE


-Because I Can-

First 5! Tokyo Beat Down

This game made no illusion of what it is in the first place. A cheesy 3rd grade beat em up and surprisingly, it works damn well.

If you are expecting a superb beat em up game, you might be disappointed. After 15 minutes of this game, I almost threw up from motion sickness. Maybe I am just allergic to it but then I still wants to go back and get more of this game due to among the unlikely things, the cheesiness of it.

Gameplay

Lets start off with the crux of all games. The gameplay. The games respond is slow. Press block and you got to wait a good 2 second before it happen. By then, the baddies would have kick your proverbial ass across the screen twice. Pull out your gun and shoot? sure, by the time you pull the gun out, the baddies would be in front of you and you would again get your ass handed to you fast and furious style.

So what does that leave you? That leaves you with hand to hand combat smashing. Don't bother with flying kick or left-right-up-down-punch-punch-kick-up combination. This is an honest to god beat down. Just mash that kick button and do a bit of punching here and there and you are good to go

Graphic

The graphic is the normal polygonal 3d that tries too hard to be PSPish yet still do good enough to look good without making you go wtf. Storyline are told with screenshot drawing of each scene followed by dialog box. Think of it as a comic and you are good to go.

Story

Oh yes, I love this part. Its funny, its cute and its cheesy like hell. Even for the first 5 minutes, you will get a dose of cheesiness straight from the game.It even pulls gag from other japanese comic such as Initial D where the AE86 car is part of the scene with Takumi inside. (see if you can recongnize any more other comic) there are also character name that again fits right into the game.
One of the character name is, "Plot Progression Officer". LOL?

Conclusion

Its a decent game with great storyline but the control time, response time and everything that makes a game better need to be improved. I would not be getting this game for the gameplay but I might be getting it just for the cheesiness of it.

Tokyo Beat Down can be ordered directly from Play-Asia right over HERE




-Because I Can-

First 5! Avalon Code DS

Avalon Code is seriously one of the most unique action role-playing game I have played. Now, the game starts off with the familiar story of chosen hero, sword of truth hero guardian thingy. Now the mechanics is also the familiar hack & slash thingy until an interesting NEW mechanic is introduced. The Book of Prophecy.

Now, the idea of The Book of Prophecy is that the world is dying. And you the lucky one get to record all the good stuff in this old world which can be copied over into the new and improved version. What's cool about this book is that you get to do what your teacher has been doing when you doze off. Smack yah with the book. Well, with the Book of Prophecy you get to smack everything from friends, gears, plants, enemies & weapons and then their data will be stored into the book. Once in the book you get to reorder it's "code" to make it better, weaker, flameable and what not. Which opens a new possibility of gaming! e.g.: A tough monster is giving your trouble, Smack the fellow, add an ILL "code" which will reduce its health and you get yourself a weaker version of the same monster. Cool eh?

Granted you can only set aside 4" code"s at one shot and each "code" can vary in shape and sizes which create a heck of a puzzle itself. Granted, the amount you can hold will be increased over time. Now, the book also act as the save file, load file, map, glossary, history book and all that - which is a pretty good way excuse of chunking everything into one area at the lower screen. Good use of space! Control of character is with D-pad and certain things require the use of touchscreen but generally the battle is done using the control pad and anything book related is touchscreened.

Summary

This game is a new an revolutionary way of changing the ARPG mechanics that have been around for sometime breathing a fresh breath into the otherwise simple hack and slash. I have yet to explore deep into the game but this is one of the more promising must get game available.
It is quite an injustice when you realise that this game is not that well known due to its lack of advertising. But don't let that deter you, so get this game at Play-Asia HERE.


-Because I Can-

First 5! Bleach: Soul Carnival

I have never had so much fun since I discovered Nintendo DS and playing all the games that has escaped me since I started working 3 years ago. Today. Today I relish back all the fun that I first had. The thrill of playing a simple hack and slash game.

Bleach: Soul Carnival is your standard platform hack and slash. Normally, any game that started off from anime/manga first then to game will only bank on their character and the availability of the easiest console it can get into. Making most if not all those game. Medicore.

With Soul Carnival though, its a totally different ball game. The game is rendered on 2D with a side scrolling action. The actions are fast paced, intense and superbly beautiful but what endears the game to me is the character. In Super Deformed body. Cute and deadly, all the characters wreak carnage across the screen with an efficency that shocks you. The game gives you a few spaces to breath in between when you started off, for the sake of newbies, but mocing slightly deeper into the game, the enemy you face will start to become a challenge. Providing an immense sense of satisfaction for newbie and hardcore player alike

There are a number of character that can be unlocked for play, unlocked character will also provide support with the use of easy to remember combo command. Considering that the game is in japanese, there might be some difficulty for most gamer to get into. but do not let that turn you off as what you essentially need to know is explained in the tutorial which has graphical instruction. Couple that with your own iniative on understanding what the game tries to stay. You will still have one hell of a time playing the game.

I would say this is a really MUST GET and IMPORT FRIENDLY game. I for one is having one ball of a time with this game.

For more purchase information and pictures, click HERE


-Because I Can-

First 5! Star Wars - The Force Unleashed (PSP)

Star Wars The Force Unleashed for PSP is an interesting game which hurls you straight into action while slowly showing you what you need to do. Provided you can remember the moves that were shown to you while you are slashing away at storm troopers and enemy alike.

The first 5 minute impression of Star Wars to me provide enough headaches. No, its not the gameplay, its the camera. The camera pans around and follows you automatically. The only problem is, its either too fast or its too slow. It takes a while to get used to the camera angel and when you finally did, the game flows in smoothly together.

The amount of customization for Star Wars The Force Unleashed (SWTFU) at first glance is staggering. Starting from the light saber and moving towards the costume which you need to unlock first. Then you have the amount of moves you can make, force choke, aerial shock, choke, sith strike and a lot more. Each moves can be bought, upgraded and then practised on your various enemies.

What about the storyline then? Well, I ahve only pop the first 5 minute hence I don't know how the storyline will fare but at the rate that this game is progressing, this might just prove interesting. What about the graphic? Well, it tries just too hard to look nice. But ignoring that problem of trying to look too good. I would say this is a promising looking game!

To end this article I am going to provide the lord of all cheat code for Star Wars - The Force Unleased (PSP)

Unlock All Costumes - GRANDMOFF

Star Wars - The Force Unleashed can be purchased HERE

-Because I Can-

First 5! - Lock's Quest

The first 5 minute impression that I get from Lock's Quest is a game of brain and brawn. This is no game where you are required to have a combination of button pressing attack or a lightning fast reflex. No, this game is a game of strategy, construction and ARPG.

A short tutorial of how you are supposed to build walls and fight are first given, but the games turn interactive and interesting when you are required to create a new turret. The tutorial will allow you to create your first turret and normally at this juncture you will click what you want with the parts you have. But with Lock's Quest, you are supposed to pick the parts that you have and create the turret based on the picture given. Meaning, you actually have to first build the turret before being able to use it. Brilliant!

The fighting is a simple point and stab, your character will auto-attack and you can monitor the situation from a top down slanted view, moving around the map to view other part of the battle. The hero will also have direct contact against the enemy, moving around to attack the oncoming onslaught.

 

Graphic wise, the pictures are bright and colorful. Something akin to your normal Final Fantasy game but with colour combination closer to Drawn to Life. All in all, an interesting and appealing colour combination.

I would say the First 5! of my impression for this games is solid and makes me feel like diving in for more action with Lock's Quest. Check you this new experience if you are interested.

Lock's Quest can be purchase HERE

 

  

  

-Because I Can-

New Section! First 5!

I believe that in the first 5 minutes of gaming, if the game can gets you, then it can get you to be hooked to it. Some does this splendidly, some does it badly by piling up the slow and ugly tutorial in the first 5 minutes with no interactions for the gamers.

This new section is for my first 5 minute impression of the game before I plow on further in. Look forward to this section here!


-Because I Can-

First 5! - Hellgate: London

UPDATE Jan 2 2008: A continued Review of Hellgate: London can be found HERE

I am smitten. It has been sometime since I found an FPS game that runs well on my Acer Ferrari 4000, looks good and are interesting to boot. I downloaded the DEMO for it and boy, even the download speed impresses me. Granted, for others its a normal speed. But the speed I get is 100kb per sec. Very fast for me. Anyway, besides the praises of how it is nice and all that.Lets move on to the game play shall we?

The graphic is nice. On my laptop it looks amazing actually. The detail is there, the shadow is scary and the light flicker is terrorizing me. Granted, it does hell to my laptop when I crank everything up, so I tune it down a notch and it run beautifully. Then there is the game play. This is the part where certain aspect mess up. Demo Single player only allows me to play with Blademaster and Gunmen. Blademaster is basically a warrior with high defense and good attack. Gunmen are high attack with low defense. (Think archer)


I played both class briefly and found my calling in being a gunmen. The aiming is not bad, but the whole thing feel glitch. At times you can shoot between two very huge object and take out the demon on the other hand, but at times, you cant even shoot between a tin can! The aiming is hell too, I aimed at a box and the bullet hit 2 feet to the side. This is the where the saying " You can't hit a barn with a shot gun even if its right in front of you" comes in. Then there is the grenade, throwing a grenade means you throw it and hope it lands on whatever you are aiming for because most throw that I made at the same location at the same altitude ends up at a different place. Cool eh? Took me at least 3 try before I can land it where I want it. Granted, the grenade is powerful. I can take out a cluster of demons in one shot with one grenade.

And the AI, goodness, at times the AI are smart. They can come at you with a vengence but at times, the glitches are amazing. There is one particular demon that jumps at you when it sees you. So the correct thing to do for me would be to hide behind a huge wall or inside a building. But guess what, the demon "phase" through (or as some would say it, glitch through ) the wall and attack you!


But what makes this game interesting to me is the Skill tree ala Diablo/ WoW style. You learn certain skill via a pre-set of skills that link to each other, you get to add stats every time you level up. This gives you a choice to customize your character to whichever you see fit and I like that features. It allows us a certain flexibility and individuality. The weapon looks cool, different "availability" of different item are classified via color. Common items are in grey, uncommon item in green, rare item in blue, and I would assume very rare item in red while legendary item in orange ala WoW style.

Conclusion:

The game is not without its fault. Glitches here and there, the graphic are superb for an old pc but will look normal on most high end pc.The gameplay is an interesting concept which can still be refined.

Granted, the first look does not look good for it, I will be buying this game when it comes out. The game is not perfect but its still very good.The concept of it is interesting and the availability to play it online with your buddy makes it nicer.If you are planning to either get battlefield 2142 or this, I would go for this.I had 2142 and I prefer Hellgate over BF 2142.