Quick thoughts on this week's new Japanese games.

[bork]

Picked up three games today. I'm tired as hell, so here's a little about them in brief:

Ridge Racers 2 (PSP)- This game should be called "Ridge Racers 1.5," as it feels like an upgrade (and a lazy one at that) to the original game. Nothing seems to have changed; play mechanics, car selection, BGMs, graphics, menu screens, the announcer, and the race tracks are all the same as the original. Even the Rally-X game that you play is exactly the same. Hmm...maybe it should be "Ridge Racers 1.2." :/

All Namco has done is thrown in a quick new intro, plus a few play mode variations, and then added some more tracks (from older RR games, most of them this time from Rage Racer and R4 it seems) and more old BGMs from the previous games. It's still good, but quite frankly it's a let down after the amazing Tekken Dark Resurrection, and since there's not too much new, it also feels like a bit of a rip-off. Still Ridge Racer, so it's still fun, but it's just disappointing that after almost two years since the original's release, Namco gives us a sequel that feels quickly thrown together.

Godhand (PS2)- It's weird; the character models look pretty good (and really nice in cut scenes), but the backgrounds are bland and lack detail; the game looks like an early PS2 title (or something even earlier than that) at times because of it. It's also amazingly FUCKING HARD. You basically go around kicking ass and then move onto the next area. You can build up a super meter and unleash different devestating attacks, counter enemy grapples, and dodge using the right analog stick (which if you don't do, you're dead). I keep getting to the end of the first stage, kill everyone, and then a demon pops out and kills me ultra fast.

Metal Slug 6 (PS2)- This week's MVP. Excellent arcade port, fun as hell, and even has new features and characters not found in previous Metal Slug games. Love it. You can now choose Ralf and Clark, the Ikari Warriors from the KOF games, and even use one of their special attacks. All the characters now have some different attributes, you can store two different weapons at the same time, and combat school has returned. The enemies are new, too. After stage two, a new threat rears its ugly head, and you'll find yourself fighting alongside the soldiers and Mars people instead of against them!

[MrAngryFace]

Is the Ace Combat for PSP out in Japan? How did that fare? Was the first Ridge Racer for PSP a port, or were the console versions a port? Cause from what ive heard they're all pretty similar.

Godhand is Capcom right? Im not surprised its hard if that is the case. Ill probably pass on it tho, just got ZoE2 again

MS6 sounds awesome, I need to get the collection at some point, maybe this weekend. Do you kow if KoF 11 is going to make it stateside and on which console? I want it so bad and the upcoming KoF 2006 is that 3D stuff. While it makes me seem shallow, I won't buy the game because I think its ugly compared to the 2D offerings

[bork]

Is the Ace Combat for PSP out in Japan? How did that fare? Was the first Ridge Racer for PSP a port, or were the console versions a port? Cause from what ive heard they're all pretty similar.

Ace Combat isn't out yet.  The first Ridge Racer game was not a port, but it also didn't have new tracks.  It's basically like a compilation RR game with tracks from all the previous games.  Namco added new cars, music, and a new nitro system to the game.   I played the hell out of it and it's probably my favorite in the series, replacing R4.  The sequel is going to easily replace that, but it's just hard to get really excited over it when so much of it is from the original game.

Godhand is Capcom right? Im not surprised its hard if that is the case. Ill probably pass on it tho, just got ZoE2 again

Yeah, it's Capcom, and it's got "MAF" written all over it.     I think you'd enjoy this game, and I hear it's coming out in the States for thirty bucks.  It seems pretty simple, yet fun so far, just fucking HARD HARD HARD.

MS6 sounds awesome, I need to get the collection at some point, maybe this weekend.

I don't think that collection is out yet.  IMO All you need is Metal Slug 1-3 and 6.  MS4 and MS5 just weren't the same.  I beat MS4, despite it being the worst in the series, and even though I liked MS5 more than that, it just felt so recycled that I never played much of it.

Do you kow if KoF 11 is going to make it stateside and on which console? I want it so bad

No announcements that I know of.  Get your system modded or get a fliptop, dude!  It's worth it for the awesomeness known as KOF XI.  Plus there's SS Tenka, which rox rocks roxcs too!

and the upcoming KoF 2006 is that 3D stuff. While it makes me seem shallow, I won't buy the game because I think its ugly compared to the 2D offerings

You should give it a chance, it's a LOT better than the original.  A LOT.  Pretty fun game.  I see it's getting an arcade release as "KOF Alternative," too.  It feels very different than the 2D KOFs now, and has its own huge roster with some unique fighters...it's awesome having two great new KOF games to play.

[MrAngryFace]

flip top? I have the pstwo if thats what you mean, rite? lolz

[The Fake Shemp]

MAF doesn't know the cool gaming lingo lol what an old fogey

[bork]

Wait...WHAT TEH FOOK?!?!1  I refuse to believe this is the original MAF.   :'(

The fliptop is a top plastic shell you replace on your PS2, then use a boot disc to play import games.  Eliminates the need to get a mod chip installed, and is very easy to do yourself without screwing up your PS2.  IIRC there is also a fliptop for the slimline PS2 now.  I ended up just buying a modded slimline PS2 in early 2005 to take care of all my gaming needs.

[Hollywood]

You play any recent DS games? FF3 or anything?

[bork]

You play any recent DS games? FF3 or anything?

Nah, I don't care for most RPGs.  Too boring to me.  Last games I got on DS were Mario Basketball and Starfox Command.  Last REALLY GOOD game I got was Rockman ZX.  I find that I don't play my DS all that much; I am much more of a PSP gamer.

[Van Cruncheon]

The ONLY gamer is a PSP gamer.

[Hollywood]

Really? I have a PSP and it fucking sucks. Buy it off of me then, you love it so much you need two.

[Mondain]

Metal Slug 6 is yet another very good Metal Slug game, however its music is pretty bad (gimme the Neo-Geo synthesizer!), and honestly I didn't like the new alien ennemies very much. Everything else is very sweet and solid though. The new button to switch weapons is nice.

It's still in full 2D, and it's pretty how sometimes the game can scale the picture out to let you shoot ennemies on a wider scale. Metal Slug doesn't need to look better than that... can't believe all the people denigrating the game because its sprites aren't in high-rez.

[MrAngryFace]

MAF was never a big imporat gamer.

[bork]

Metal Slug 6 is awesome.  The music at least sounds a little different this time, but whatever...who pays attention to it when you're blasting all the enemies on screen anyway?

Fuck the idiots talking about the sprites.  Yeah, I want to see high res sprites too, but it's not happening, and the game still looks great.  Metal Slug has always looked good.

MAF was never a big imporat gamer.

You're missing out on some good shit.   :'(

[MrAngryFace]

MAF has enough good domestic shit to play lolz. Gaming is just my hobby, and thats almost too much haha

[bork]

God DAMN is Godhand GODDAMNED AWESOME.    

[bork]

So yup, Godhand is the best Capcom action game since Resident Evil 4, hands-down. I brought it over to a friend's place over the weekend, and we were both loving the hell out of it. My friend liked it so much that he actually went out and bought the game immediately, something that he rarely ever does.

What's so great about Godhand is the way you can customize and create your own unique combo strings, by buying and finding new attacks to use. The game isn't frustratingly hard, but is instead reliant on you mixing up your attacks, using sweeps and guard breaks, and most of all, DODGING to win against your opponents. This isn't a typical beat-em-up game where you can just walk up to enemies and mash one button, defeating them in seconds, but rather, one involving strategy and timing, particularly when facing multiple enemies at the same time.

The game's storyline and dialogue are also (purposely) cheesy and quite humorous. Characters also drop dirty words often; it's good stuff.   

[MrAngryFace]

I dunno, Capcom has to beat its own Devil May Cry 3, which is pretty excellent on a technical level.

[bork]

This game is very different than Devil May Cry 3.  It's not that kind of action game.  It's purely fighting action, but is just so much deeper than your typical beat-em-up.  It's a nice change of pace, but I do think because of the challenge, it's going to turn off a lot of the so-called "casual" players.  There's a ton of different attacks you can get to change up your fighting style, and also with the way the fighting works (it's always up close) and the dodging, it kind of reminds me of Fist Of The Northstar mixed with Punch-Out!!.  Attacks are over the top, and there are some hilarious special moves, which you also earn or buy.  In addition to this, you can charge up your Godhand and unleash super-fast punches on enemies for a limited time.  It plays so well, and this is all done using TANK CONTROLS!  (Movement is just like RE4)  It boggles my mind!

You can get attacks like hooks, uppercuts, sweeps, guard crushes, knee, elbow, charge-up fists, and even some drunken style attacks.  I beat the first stage so far (divided into around 6-7 levels), and have been pleasantly surprised to see that there are different enemies on stage two.  You can go to a shop area inbetween levels, and they have a fighting arena to earn extra money against enemies you've already fought; there's 50 enemy slots total and the first stage is maybe only around 7 characters or so, so it looks like there's a pretty good variety.  Some enemies, upon dying, also release a demon, which is faster and can dodge like you can.  I used to rely on Godhand attacks to beat them, but now I can take them out pretty easily.  Although the demons on stage two have these huge blades on their arms now!   

Stages are sparse and detail is only average, but the character models look very nice.  And although the stages are kind of bland, you CAN interact with backgrounds, smashing enemies through tables/chairs, breaking windows, sending enemies into store fronts, causing the front roofs to cave in, pick up barrels and crates and toss them, etc.

Also in the shop area is a casino with various kinds of video poker and slots that can be used to earn more money.  Haven't really messed around in there yet.  The casino is big, and you can walk around it, so I wouldn't be surprised if there's a level taking place there too.

I play a lot of games, and it's pretty rare when something comes along and makes want to me sit down and play it all the way through without stopping until I finish it.  Godhand is one of those games.   

[morphix]

anyone try the Kenshin game for the PS2?

[bork]

I also ended up grabbing Minna No Tennis Saturday; got it for 3000 yen (with my point card) so I couldn't resist.  Fun game, and it's just as easy to get into as the golf games.

Another game I'm probably going to pick up sooner or later is called "Kamiwaza."  This game slipped under everyone's radar.  It's by Acquire, the team that made Tenchu 1 and 2, Way of The Samurai, and Shinobido.  This time you're a thief, and you go around plundering from various households.  It's the Tenchu style formula, but different since you aren't a ninja, so you can't do stealth kills (you can't kill, period), and the way you sneak around is a bit different.  Seems like an interesting game.

anyone try the Kenshin game for the PS2?

Nah, don't have any interest.

[MrAngryFace]

When is the game out here?