Kratos -- pretty damn sweet, but thankfully not as big of a bastard as Yoda was.

Rating: 7.3

Folks, let me present to you the most asinine thing ever see in a video game (tongue-in-cheek, or not) -- the pen capping mini game.

Rating: 2.2

Being a goof that actually enjoys playing Guitar Hero III on a 360 controller as opposed to a guitar peripheral, the concept of Rock Band Unplugged seemed ingenious! Port over the gameplay of the Rock Band series, into a handheld system, utilizing the d-pad and two face buttons for notes. What could go wrong? For starters, its not as clear cut as shoe-horning in the RB gameplay and that’s it. You now command the whole band, which forces you to switch between instruments via the L and R buttons when notified, leading to some quirky, yet somewhat stimulating experiences. You’re definitely going to need a bit of practice in order to fully become accustomed to switching between instruments, playing notes, switching again, ad nauseum. Playing vocals with button presses feels unintuitive, and really makes the experience feel as if its missing a major component. The set-list covers quite a bit of musical tastes, though many of the songs are not only featured in numerous other rhythm based titles, but as with each rhythm based title, there’s a lot of duds in this package (mostly the early songs). Even some of the more enjoyable songs (ABC) don’t translate into a good time when actually played. The main mode lacks customization with your band, though again, who really has time to oogle at avatars when you’re trying to watch what note is coming up next? If you can get a hang of the gameplay, especially with the harder difficulties, Rock Band Unplugged is about as good as the genre gets on a portable system. Just be aware of the meager and all around sub par set-list.

It takes a bit of practice to masterfully weave between bass and vocals without missing a beat, especially on higher difficulties.

Rating: 7.3

This is the look of a man who denied phire a hat.

In order to get this review out in a fair amount of time I did NOT complete the entire game. I did clear about 20 or so floors in Tartarus, really tried to max out the social links and live the good Japanese school girl life.


With that said, let’s get to the review.

For those who have played Persona 3, please skip this section. For those who haven’t, read on. The story of Persona 3 puts you in control of the main character (I named mine Pro Tagonist) who is a transfer student at a new high school. The story of Persona 3 takes place in a modern Japanese city, built and funded by the Kirijo Corporation. Experiments carried out ten years ago created the Dark Hour, a period of time that exists between one day and the next. During this time, most people are transmogrified into coffins and are not aware of the Dark Hour; however, there is a select group of people who are. The Dark Hour bends reality; Gekkoukan High School(Go Gekko!!), where most of the characters attend school during the day, becomes a huge labyrinthine tower called Tartarus, and beasts known as Shadows roam the area, preying on the minds of those still conscious.  The Shadows leave their victims in near-catatonic states outside of the Dark Hour which is called Apathy Syndrome. To investigate and learn about the Dark Hour, Shadows, and Tartarus, the “Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad”, or SEES (not to be confuse with C’s or the C’s), was created. SEES is a group of high-schoolers capable of summoning Personas to combat Shadows. Great way to spend your time after school, no?

The controls of this game are very simple and I feel are the standard to all games in the genre. One of the things I do enjoy is that when you’re not in battle and you’re living your high school life, the navigation allows you to fast jump to places and navigate the world.Talking to and buying from the NPCs (non playable characters, think that guy on the subway that you see on the way to work or the hot dog stand guy) is handled the same way. When there’s something wrong or the character has something to say there’s a little “!” over their head (I totally wish some of my exes had that feature). In dungeons you control your actual character as they navigate. You can choose to initiate battle by hitting or getting hit by monsters, each with their own set of conditions. Inside of fights the battle system is menu and turn based. The game allows you to choose if you want to micromanage every little detail of the battle by controlling every single one of your character’s actions or you can set their AI and focus controlling the main character. If you’re feeling extremely lazy you can speed up the battles by hitting triangle and entering rush mode. In the dungeon you can use the shoulder buttons to control the camera. It helps but it doesn’t always catch that monster that’s hiding in the shadows. 9/10

The games music is done by Shoji Meguro. If that name sounds vaguely familiar (and I mean vaguely) it’s because he’s also done work on the Bleach anime and a few other titles. The music is catchy at some points and down right strange at the others. The rap music that plays reminds me of the stages that you played as Knuckles in Sonic Adventure 2. There is voice acting in the game. All the dialogue isn’t acted out but a good portion of it is. The voice acting for the most part is decent. I am still trying to figure out where I have heard some of the actors before. The sound effects aren’t going to win any awards because they are generic sound effects but that’s ok. 8/10

The graphics of this game look great for the PSP. The artwork is well done , the only thing the bothers me is that when you pick the female main character she looks as if she has a weird lazy eye thing going on. The animations in battle are very fluid with an almost cartoon feel to them, the Personas summoned are very detailed (since they are pretty much the stars of the game). The only downside of this game graphically is exploring Taturus. For the most part it’s the same repeating textures for a couple of floors and then you get another group of same repeating textures till you get up to the floor with new stuff on it. It’s repetitive but you tend to zone out while you run around the dungeons looking for monsters anyway. 8/10

As with most RPGs there is a good deal of play replay value. So far I can already see a few things that I would like to do differently and different relationships that I should have worked on and I could have done things a lot differently (studied more, fell asleep during class). The game follows the store of Persona 3 with some story changes, so playing as the female changes things. If you’ve never played Persona 3 then play as the guy and see the story from his perspective. You have a few options that for later play throughs. 8/10

This game overall is pretty fun. Not too many games on the market where you have to struggle to keep up your study habits, manage your social life, work part time, and train to stop the apocalypse. It’s overwhelming at times but that’s half the fun. Also I may just be getting old and forgetting facts but I never had to Google so many questions before in a video game. Some of the stuff I knew off the top of my head but some questions jeez. The game sometimes looks bland in dungeons and the music is very Japanese so there are some ‘more rhymes than Micheal Jordan-beast powered rap‘ type moments but it grows on you. I would recommend this for people who play Jrpgs or people who want to be a Japanese school girl that saves the world from monsters. 8/10

Hi I'm the Persona hat! What do I and Megan Fox have in common? We'll never be on phire!

This game is an action title featuring single-player and up to 4-person multiplayer.  The game also features a character and weapons creator.  No release window has yet been announced.

Find more information on this title at the official site, http://na.lordofarcana.com/

With my preview blitz over the last week coming to a close and a small break before I finish my last three months of the 365//365 project, I figured  it’s time to reflect on the games and companies that stole the show at E3, or  just shouldn’t have even bothered to appear. Nothing will be in-depth here, only a quick glance over what was hot and what shouldn’t have ever made an appearance. Keep in mind that I was not able to visit every single booth, tr out every single game and fall in love with, deplore everything offered at E3. So this is the best, and the worst, of what I had a chance to play:

The Three Worst Showings At E3

3. Two Worlds II (360)

Let me quickly say that Two World 2 looks gorgeous. The lighting is rather impressive, with some physics powering the various items you encounter in the game world. But the gameplay was so disjointed, the camera controls felt floaty and combat in general was just really piss poor. Southpeak still has time to tweak the flaccid combat engine to augment their stellar graphics, but what they had at E3 seemed more like a “graphics over gameplay” argument starter.

2. Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring (PS3/360)

I didn’t play many titles that I was flat out dissatisfied with, but the few I did, really underwhelmed me, or just flat out turned me off. After watching the highly entertaining tag team match live in the South Hall of E3 on day one of the convention, I decided to give the console game a go. Based within the six sided ring, the gameplay was a bit lethargic, with very slow punches, kicks and other non grapple based combat. The grappling and number of available moves felt limited as well, more so than THQ’s Smackdown vs Raw series. Probably the only highlight I had with AAA was a running punch that sent my opponent, who was standing a couple of steps away from the ring ropes, flying over the top in the most implausible manner. I’m sure there will be a few kinks worked out, some aspects altered and whatnot, but what was playable at E3 was just dull.

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (Wii, 360, PS3)

I’m convinced that Sega has finally killed the Sonic franchise. The demo stage I played on the Nintendo Wii felt like a re-imagining of the first stage in the first Sonic game, with gimmicks thrown in to further drive the broken down mechanics in Sonic 4. You can’t just jump on top of an item box to destroy it and claim its contents; for the Wii’s case, you have to shake the Wiimote to dash into it while in the air. This waggle mechanic is the means to “success” with Sonic 4, where it becomes your means to attack enemies, as well as latch onto context sensitive places. Why you can’t just JUMP ONTO THINGS, or JUMP AT THINGS like previous Sonic titles, I don’t know. All I know is that Sega’s showing of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 was by far the least impressive playable demo that I tried on the floor, and if the full game is this bad, we won’t see an Episode 2 for sure.

The Three Best Non-Playable Showings At E3

3. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (360, PS3)

Although it was playable, only the dev was at the helm. The new video trailer that preceded the gameplay segment was one of the most entertaining trailers on the floor this year, further proving that a Star Wars movie based off the exploits of Starkiller would be a tremendous success in the box office. Starkiller comes off as a more badass individual, with powers that seem to be fully realized. The dev playable portion highlighted a better camera system, auto-targeting system and a taste of what to expect come mid October of this year.

2. Portal 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

While I’m sure what was shown will not be actual in-game graphics, the explanation of all the new aspects, as well as storyline teasers was quite captivating. Speaking as someone that was “one and done” with the previous Portal (phenomenal, highly original title, but didn’t have any incentives to soldier on after the first clearing) I was already hooked in, wanting to test out off of the new tricks and maneuvers that awaited me. While a lot of complexity has been added, Valve wants to keep the difficulty from going higher than it should. Whether or not they succeed in those respects, Portal 2 has my attention, and will most certainly have my money come 2011.

1. Homefront (360, PS3, PC)

A somewhat surprise for me, Homefront came out of no where pre-E3, and put some publicity muscle throughout the show, which culminated into a closed door video and dev piloted gameplay trailer that simply wowed me. The opening piece that explains the games back-story was well put together, and further drove the impressions received throughout. Kaos Studios wanted to infuse more emotion and a deeper sense of urgency from your experience with Homefront, and what was shown really drove that home. While these early segments gave me a feeling that I was watching a mix of Half-Life 2 and Modern Warfare 2’s in terms of narrative and emotional tugs, they left a very solid impression on me, and has me legitimately hyped up and eagerly anticipating its release in 2011. Keep an eye out on this one, folks. There’s potential for Homefront to be the next big thing when it comes to a single player story driven experience.

The Three Best Playable Showings At E3

3. Marvel vs Capcom 3 (PS3, 360)

Having no real expectations for MVC3, I was blown away with how addicting the nature of this demo was, as well as how well built it was at this early phase. My biggest concern remains the roster size. If the E3 demo’s character select screen is any indication, we may have a limited number of fighters, compared to MVC2, as well as even Super Street Fighter IV. Thankfully, the gameplay is still amazing, the graphics are drop dead gorgeous all around and it looks like the hook will sink deep into your soul. Marvel vs Capcom 3 went from a title that I really didn’t have any confidence for, to one that I’ll go to every convention I can to get another playable fix.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

I had an equal amount of time between the number two and number one selections, and have see-sawed on this for days. I’d rather no cop out and say “it’s a tie” so I decided to put one over the other. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’s mechanics are already leading Nintendo to their next gem in the gaming world. The command over Link’s sword is impressive, making combat seem more intuitive and less intrusive. The visual style isn’t cutesy, nor a detriment to what is going on with the game its self. For the first time in the Zelda franchise, it really does feel like you’re playing as Link, between the sub weapon controls and sword wielding. As brief a glimpse into Miyamoto’s next best-seller as it was, the lasting impression it had on me is apparent. Just as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 could be considered system sellers, Skyward Sword looks to be the game that will revive the stagnant Wii sales going on currently.

1. Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)

What else can I add about Bioware’s behemoth? After a two part preview, followed by a picture and video preview days later, it seems as if everything has been elaborated. Again, even with a brief period of playtime, the cohesive feeling, the fully voice narratives, the combat that doesn’t feel boring so far and the Star Wars universe in its self all meshed together to give such a hype and anticipation for it. When Bioware first announced The Old Republic, I was determined to pick this up on day one, no matter how development turned out. After playing an early build, not only am I confidant about the final result, but I’m fiendishly looking for any ways of getting more playtime with The Old Republic, and have signed on with their site in hopes of being one of the gifted few to play-test various elements. After the plethora of MMORPG’s that I’ve played, from the nearly ten years of off and on play with Sony’s Everquest, or the six month romp through the World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic stirs a feeling within me that feels that we may finally see someone overthrow the vastly overrated WoW off the top of the mountain.

Now that I’m done with my previews and best/worst selections, I have to say that E3 was definitely one of the most memorable events in my life. Growing up with dozens of Game Players, EGM and Nintendo Power magazines littering the floor of my room, I’ve always wanted to experience first hand the madness, scenery and environment that E3 provided. It may have taken me ten years to finally have the opportunity to attend this convention, the hard work and long wait was well worth it. I am more than grateful for the opportunity to attend this event, and would like to thank the Chocolate Lemon staff, as well as our readers, for helping me finally realize a near life long dream, one that I will only wake from next year, for E3 2011.

Did you enjoy something that wasn’t listed here? Whether or not you attended E3, did you find any game that has you swooning for it? Leave a comment below with what game(s) you picked, as well as why. We always love to hear from you!

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For the First Time Control Towering Bakugan, Completely Customizable With Devastating Attacks SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and Corus Entertainment Inc.’s Nelvana Enterprises announced today the fall release of Bakugan Battle Brawlers™: Defenders of the Core for Nintendo DS™, Wii™, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. This sequel to the 2009 hit Bakugan Battle Brawlers™, once again based on the top-rated television series and Spin Master’s best-selling toy, blends fast and fluid fighting tactics with real time strategy elements to bring the monsters to life on a breathtaking scale. “The ever-growing number of Bakugan fans told us they wanted more action and direct control over their brawlers,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “So we built Bakugan Battle Brawlers™: Defenders of the Core around real time 3D action featuring customizable Bakugan that are over six stories in height, in wide open destructible environments. Never before have Bakugan brawls been this massive!” In Bakugan Battle Brawlers™: Defenders of the Core, players will create a new hero and lead the brawlers on an epic adventure to save Earth’s cities from Spectra and his Vexos minions. Players will discover a whole new aspect of Bakugan by being given complete control over their creatures when taking on their opponents as Bakugan transform from small balls into towering creatures. In the midst of intense battles, players will find themselves bravely exploring dangerous and dark areas to stop the evil spirits that are sucking the life force from the world. Players will unlock all-new levels and characters as they unearth hidden clues and defeat opponents in the quest to save the world from ultimate destruction. Bakugan Battle Brawlers™: Defenders of the Core also features split-screen multiplayer action in three different game modes in the console versions, and linked multiplayer on Nintendo DS™ and PSP system. Coupled with real-time battle gameplay, this will be the first time that players can duke it out with their Bakugan in head-to-head duels, free for all, and strategic destruction battles. For more information on Bakugan Battle Brawlers™: Defenders of the Core, visit http://www.bakugan-videogame.com. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB.

And thus, simultaneously, the meaning of the mysterious Spartans Stand Tall website and the future of the God of War franchise is revealed simultaneously! In a press release today, (and via ramblings from the Playstation Blog, Sony announced God of War: Ghost of Sparta for the PSP today! Serving as a sort of narrative bridge between God of War and God of War II, the game details exactly how Kratos gained the throne of Ares after murdering him in the first chapter. Players will also along the way, get further glimpses into Kratos’ past, including the origins of the scar above his eye, his tattoo and his family.

Story details are of course, vague after this (though I suspect we’ll learn more as we inch closer to E3), but a wealth of improvements over the last GoW title on the PSP were boasted, including improved visuals, improved weaponry and enemy AI, and over 25 percent more gameplay. Ready at Dawn returns as developer, and judging by these screenshots, they haven’t lost their touch with the PSP one bit!

This announcement is at the same time shocking and unshocking to me. On one hand, we’re getting a new God of War game on the PSP (in 2010 no less!) and I’m pumped, but at the same time, it makes me wonder…Didn’t Ready At Dawn say two years ago that they were basically done with PSP development?

Heh…I guess when Kratos calls, you listen.

Mega Man, Mega Man, Mega Man! A constant topic here during the 365//365 project, all for good reason. He’s an ageless wonder! With Mega Man: Powered Up on the Sony PSP, were are given two different games. First, we are given the original Mega Man title, visually remade with full polygonal world and some tweaks to the gameplay (namely the removal of the annoying little skid to a stop featured in the first two Mega Man titles). Not only that, but there’s a remixed version of Mega Man, with two new bosses added (Time Man, and the somewhat offensive looking Oil Man) and each stage mixed up some, into a much more difficult trek than before. The remixed music isn’t bad, though nothing particularly special. It’s pretty cool to defeat a master robot such as Time Man, and be able to play as them through the remixed game, with their powers and whatnot. It adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. You can even create your own stages, although it’s not necessarily the most thrilling experience out there. While the package looks amazing and controls with a bit of a tighter feeling to it, I can’t help but to feel that the difficulty of the remixed game is more of the artificial filler that a lot of these extremely difficult games have. More spike floors and small platforms that lead to instant deaths is not really a fair way to tweak the difficulty. But regardless, if you want to avoid the remixed game, you can play the original with the new candy coated visuals and same stage layouts. It’s an excellent repackaging of one of the gaming worlds most classic titles.

Mega Man: Powered Up has a marvelous visual update, with some smooth animations and excellent updates to the look of each stage.

Rating: 8.7

Over ten years after Square’s disastrous first foray into the fighting genre, Dissidia: Final Fantasy tries to erase those horrid thoughts and memories from gamers everywhere. Unlike their previous attempt in the form of Ehrgeiz, Dissidia is a complex, yet extremely addicting fighting game. There’s tons of unlockables throughout the game, from characters, to music, and so on. With some of the best audio and video on the PlayStation Portable, as well as some solid controls, Dissidia was a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, the stories each characters have all come off as a bit amateur, while seemingly a bit convoluted towards the end. The item and armor system is quite a throw away addition, with no kind of physical changes to your avatars. The battle system takes a bit to get used to, but once you understand how to actually land hits that chip off an opponents hit points, things become just a bit easier on you, and turns into quite an addiction. Even still, the amount of bonuses to be unlocked, as well as the skills unlocked and solid, well built gameplay structure, will keep you addicted to Dissidia: Final Fantasy for the foreseeable future. Definitely worth  the price of admission.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy is definitely one of the best looking PSP games to date, with a surprising amount of depth under the hood.

Rating: 8.3