QuickBlog: Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

8.5 [Excellent]

Gameplay: 7

Visuals: 6

Music: 8

Sound: 7

Value: 8

Publisher: LucasArts

Developer: TT Games

Multiplayer: Online co-op, offline co-op

Console(s): Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, DS

Reviewed on: Xbox 360

ESRB rating: E10+ (Cartoon violence)

TGG rating: E (Cartoon violence)

Good Points:

Both Lego Star Wars I and II included - Charming humor - Faithful Lego style - Faithful Star Wars style - Great for multiplayer - More extras than you can shake a gaffi stick at (sorry, had to say it)

Not So Good Points:

Gameplay can be simplistic - So can the graphics - The camera can get a little dicey in multiplayer

Lego Star Wars was a great game; Lego Star Wars II was a great sequel; Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is greater than great. It puts both of the previous games into one package and throws in a load of new extras and modes, and if you have the 360 version like I do, shinier graphics and Achievment Points. That being said, it's still all the Lego Star Wars you remember: humorous adventures through a Lego-infused Star Wars parody that is great to play with a friend. Virtually all of the memorable scenes from the movies are here, from Episodes I-VI, giving you the entire Saga to play through from start to finish. From the Death Star attack, to Obi-Wan and Anakin's fateful duel, and even to the iconic "I am your father" moment from The Empire Strikes Back, you'll find yourself in many familiar situations. The entire game is portrayed in a Lego-style tongue in cheek brand of humor, which will cause Star Wars fans (I'm one of them, by the way) to chuckle consistantly throughout the colorful levels. All kinds of details and jokes from Star Wars are present, and the lovable Lego figures look hilariously alike their movie counterparts. It's hard not to crack up when you're playing as a Emperor Palpatine and listening to his famous cackle, or waddling about as C-3PO, only to have your leg sliced off by your companion, leaving you to hop up and down on one leg in a desperate attempt to escape.

Um... the Force is strong with this game! Dang it, now I'm resorting to lame taglines...

The game isn't challenging by any means, but that's just what Lego Star Wars is about. You're there to have some fun, and nothing more; the humor is half the experience. But that doesn't mean there's no challenge at all: in fact, there are tons of things to unlock (and I mean tons), and plenty of challenges to complete. The cast of characters is massive, and you won't find many Star Wars characters unavailable to play as. The numorous Lego figures are brought to life with wonderful animations that really capture their respective characters. The rest of the game looks good as well, though it's not exactly eye-popping considering its fellow 360 games. The sound design is classic Star Wars, from lightsabers to the opening crawl's incredible score, so you can't go wrong there. Overall, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga puts two excellent games together to create a really excellent game, and it shouldn't be missed by any Star Wars fan with a sense of humor out there.

QuickBlog: Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town

7.0 [Great]

Gameplay: 7

Graphics: 6

Music: 6

Sound: 5

Value: 8

Publisher: Natsume

Developer: TOSE

Multiplayer: N/A

Console(s): Game Boy Advance

Reviewed on: Game Boy Advance

ESRB rating: E (Use of Alchohol)

BMR rating: E (Use of Alchohol)

Good Points:

Lots and lots to do - Adorable livestock - The in-game clock keeps the flow at a brisk pace - Making your own routines and schedules is fun - A boring concept becomes fun

Not So Good Points:

Graphics are a bit washed out and bland - Sound design is extremely simple - Can be confusing, especially at first

The Harvest Moon series holds a special place in my heart. I've played A Wonderful Life, Save the Homeland, Magical Melody, the original Harvest Moon, and of course Friends of Mineral Town, and enjoyed every one of them. Friends of Mineral Town isn't exactly my favorite of the bunch, but it still holds the catchy gameplay and likable charm that Harvest Moon games (usually) have. You play as a farmer just starting his farm, ready to go plow those fields, water those crops, and feed those chickens. The game starts out slow, and I found it hard to get into the swing of things as I floundered my through the days wasting my time. However, after a while, I got the hang of it, and enjoyed myself a lot. While the concecpt of being a farmer isn't exactly an exciting idea for a video game, Friends of Mineral town manages to make it addicting and fun. As all Harvest Moon games work, you go about your daily chores, talk to the locals (and later marry one of the girls if you so desire), shop in town, and tons of other stuff as the accelerated time of day moves from sun up to sun down. There's always plenty to do, with all kinds of goals to work for and items to unlock for your house. You can watch different TV shows that air on different days of the week, stop by the local inn and have a drink, work on growing many types of crops, upgrade your home, cook lots of different varieties of food, and way more on top of that. The graphics aren't much to look at, as they can be rather bland, and the music isn't anything special, but the excellent replay value, gameplay, and depth are to be commended. Another successful Harvest Moon!

QuickBlog: Pokemon Snap

6.5 [Good]

Gameplay: 7

Graphics: 7

Music: 6

Sound: 7

Value: 5

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Hal

Multiplayer: N/A

Console(s): Nintendo 64, Wii

Reviewed on: Nintendo 64

ESRB rating: E

BMR rating: E (Mild Cartoon Violence)

Good Points:

Relaxing and unique gameplay - Feels like the Pokemon universe - Grades give you incintive to snap great pictures - You can bonk Meowth on the head with an apple

Not So Good Points:

Short with little replay value - Not much to do but the main attraction - Only 63 Pokemon and a handful of maps

Pokemon Snap is a simple game with an interesting game mechanic. The entire point is to snap pictures of Pokemon (hence the title, "Pokemon Snap"). You play as this photographer guy, employed by Professor Oak, who goes around in this cool yellow buggy-type thing called the Zero-One that travels along a number of locales via a fixed track. You never have direct control over the vehicle; instead, you control your camera in a first-person view. So, in a way, you could call Pokemon Snap a first-person shooter, only you're shooting pictures of the Pokemon instead of actually shooting the Pokemon... which probably wouldn't be very Nintendo-like. But anyway, attempting to locate a Pokemon to snap is just the beginning. Professor Oak judges your picture on how centered the Pokemon was in the frame, what kind of pose the Pokemon was doing (finding hidded ones gives you bonus points), and other various categories. There are also a handful of courses to ride out on, each differing vastly from one another, ranging from a cave filled with electrical devices, a sunny beach, and a firey lava land. Each stage has its own unique route, secrets, and cast of Pokemon. Unfortunately, the number of locations, secrets, and Pokemon is not as high as one would like, especially considering that there's not much left to do once you beat the game. Pokemon Snap is a pretty small game, and doesn't even feature all 151 original Pokemon (a measly 63, in fact), which is a little disappointing. However, despite its shortcomings, Pokemon Snap can be a great deal of fun, especially for Pokemon fans who will appreciate the faithful style of the game, complete with classic Pokemon sounds and catchy music. Considering the fact that it's so cheap these days, it's well worth picking up.

Bonanza Bros.

7.5 [Great]

Gameplay: 7

Visuals: 6

Music: 6

Sound: 5

Value: 7

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Sega

Multiplayer: Local co-op

Console(s): Genesis, Wii (Xbox 360 and PS3 in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, PlayStation 2 and PSP in Sega Genesis Collection)

Reviewed on: Xbox 360

ESRB rating: ???
BMR rating: E (Mild Cartoon Violence)

The Good Points:

Hilarious misadventures - Great co-op - Fast-paced action required quick thinking - Challenging level progression

The Not So Good Points:

Pretty lame in single-player

Introduction:

I won't blame you if you've never heard of Bonanza Bros., let alone played it. It appears to be just another old Genesis game forgotten by time, hardly worth paying attention to. However, you would be quite wrong on all accounts to think in such a way, as Bonanza Bros. is actually an overlooked gem that I have only recently had the pleasure of playing. You play as a master thief with a mission. Your goal? Sneak into various buildings and steal lots of stuff without getting caught! The game's unique gameplay, co-op multiplayer, and oddly hilarious style set it apart from other side-scrollers, and makes for a very good time.

Gameplay: 7

Bonanza Bros., as I mentioned before, is a side-scrolling action game for the Genesis. You control your little thief guy around various buildings and attempt to make your way past the guards and other such obstacles while collecting all the treasures in the area, and then escape via a blimp on the roof. There are multiple planes in the level structure, allowing you to duck behind walls and have semi-3D fights with the enemies. You can fire bullets at the guards, which will stun them for a time, but they'll hop right back up again when they regain their senses. You can also dispose of them in more humorous ways, such as swinging open a door into an unsuspecting guard on the other side, smashing him against the wall Looney Tunes-style. This plays into one of the game's best aspects: crazy chases filled with funny moments.

This becomes far, far better when another player joins the fray, since you can both go out on insane missions together. Expect to get into many a cops and robbers chase scene as you hop over couches, cover each other's backs, and desperately try to avoid getting caught in the act of the crime. It's all surprisingly advanced for a Genesis game, and I certainly found myself laughing at the various scenarios I would regularly land myself in.

Graphics: 6

Bonanza Bros. clearly isn't pushing the Genesis to its limit, but at the same time, it's quite enjoyable to look at. All the characters have a kind of rounded toy-like look to them, without much detail but a lot of charm. The scenery itself sports a similar design, with amusing little touches throughout.

Music/Sound: 6/5

Bonanza Bros.' soundtrack won't go down in history, and its sound effects aren't particularly memorable either. However, the sound design sets a fitting stage for crazy break-ins, so what more can you really ask for? The music is often high-paced and the sound effects do the job.

Value: 7

I haven't completed Bonanza Bros. yet, but the first time I played it, I was at least doing it for an hour or two (granted, I was a perfectionist and tried to conserve as many lives as humanely possible). There are quite a number of levels to work you way through, and since they're large and open-ended, they are very replayable, which is a very good thing indeed.

Outro:

So there you have it: Bonanza Bros.: an underrated Genesis game with hectic and spectacular co-op, and one I highly recommend. You could get it off the Wii Shop channel, or get the original one of the Genesis. However, I recommend purchasing Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, since it not only comes with Bonanza Bros., but a TON of other Sega classics. Be warned that your time would be better spent on other games if you don't have a partner in crime to play with you, but if you're fortunate enough to utilize the co-op mode, definitely take a look at Bonanza Bros.

QuickBlog: Marvel Ultimate Alliance

7.5 [Great]

Gameplay: 7

Graphics: 6

Music: 7

Sound: 7

Value: 8

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Raven Software

Multiplayer: Co-op (any mix of online/local players)

Console(s): Xbox, 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, GBA, DS, Wii, PC, and heck, probably even the Saturn if you look hard enough

Reviewed on: 360

ESRB rating: T (Mild Language, Violence)

BMR rating: E10+ (Mild Language, Violence)

The Good Points:

Huge cast of unique characters - Lots of good stuff for Marvel fans to enjoy - Great voice acting - Consistently fun gameplay - Satisfying combat - Really cool special moves

The Not So Good Points:

Glitches can mess things up - Some annoying sequences

I've never been a big Marvel fan. Yeah, I've seen some super hero movies and played some super hero games, but that's really it. Yet, for some reason, Marvel Ultimate Alliance (known as MUA for now on) looked pretty darn fun to me, even with my lack of comic book knowledge. After playing it, I found I was more than a little right. MUA is an action RPG played from an overhead perspective, with excellent co-op multiplayer and nice graphics. It lets you choose from a huge roster of Marvel super heroes, from Spider-Man, to Elektra, to Mr. Fantastic, you'll probably never run out of characters to choose from. Although I didn't understand half the stuff they were talking about (Fin Fang Foom? Super Soldier Serum? What in the name of Dr. Strange is going on...?), I was able to appreciate the exciting combat, fun controls, and fresh gameplay. Upgrading your characters is a very welcome addition, and you never know what might happen next as the game launches you into scene after scene of new situations. However, not everything works out perfectly. I ran into multiple glitches, some that caused me to load old save files, losing progress in order to continue. These issues combined with the fact that a sequence here and there falls flat and good-but-not-great visuals won't blow you holds the game back slightly, but it's overall a total blast, and doesn't get boring easily. Try and make sure your 360 doesn't overheat as you try to defeat the evil Dr. Doom for good!

QuickBlog: Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

7.0 [Great]

Gameplay: 7

Graphics: 7

Music: 4

Sound: 6

Value: 7

Publisher: SCEA

Developer: Naughty Dog

Multiplayer: None

Console(s): PS2

Reviewed on: PS2

ESRB rating: E (Violence)

BMR rating: E (Fantasy Violence)

The Good Points:

Tight platforming - Good voice acting - Pleasant art design - Solid level design - Does what it does very well

The Not So Good Points:

Dull music - Does what it does very well, but not much else

The 3D platformer is, unfortunately, a dying breed. Gone are the days of Sonic Adventure, Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Spyro. Well, technically they're still around, but they sure aren't as good (or as numerous) as they used to be. But luckily, we can still go back and play those games, and Jak & Daxter happens to be one of them. You play as a human-ish character named Jak, accompanied by your little and excitable sidekick, Daxter the ottsel (half-weasel-half-otter, I am told). The game boasts a large, expansive overworld with no loading times and plenty of fun and cliched levels to run through. The controls are responsive and tight, with more platform-hopping than you could hope for. While the music isn't anything to write home about (unless it's a dull letter about how bored you are from listening to it), the voice acting is quite entertaining. Jack & Daxter is ultimately an enjoyable and well-made platformer, and while it doesn't venture out into unknown territory too much, it does what it does well.

QuickBlog: Final Fantasy

8.5 [Excellent]

Gameplay: 8

Graphics: 6

Music: 8

Sound: 5

Value: 9

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Square Soft

Multiplayer: None

Console(s): NES (various remakes on other consoles)

Reviwed on: NES

ESRB rating: ???
BMR rating: E (Mild Fantasy Violence)

Good Points:

Great tunes - Addicting grinding-focused gameplay - Open-ended structure - For an NES, lots of value - Customizable party

Not So Good Points:

Slow combat system - Bunches of grinding if that's not your thing - Occasionally confusing to find out where to go next

"Enter a whole new realm of challenge and adventure," proclaims the dramatic text on the front of Final Fantasy's box. And, considering that this game was made in 1990, such a statement wasn't untrue. The Final Fantasy series is, as everybody knows, a huge franchise of RPGs and various spinoffs. When I decided to give the games try, I thought I'd start at the very beginning: the original Final Fantasy for the NES. Final Fantasy is a colorful, addictive game with good old fasioned random encounters, turn-based combat, towns, shops, loot, and all the other classic Japanese RPG additions. While some may find it slow-paced and uninteresting compared to the RPGs of today, I found it to have some great gameplay, contain amazingly catchy music, and to be a very fun experience. The option to choose your party members at the start gives you a number of ways to change around the challenge, which gives the game even more replay value. Sure, it's old, but fun never goes out of style. I had trouble putting my blocky, rectangular NES controller down for long.