Netto's Game Room: August 2013

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Road Not Taken - Trailer (Vita/PS4)

"Road Not Taken" is yet another exclusive coming to Sony platforms. According to the official trailer's description, Road Not Taken is a roguelike puzzle game where death awaits around every corner. Do to its style of gameplay, no two playthroughs will ever go the same as the last; which makes this one you may want to revisit time and time again. For more information, check out the official trailer below.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII - Episode I: Inside the Square

Square-Enix has begun a mini documentary web series for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, with the first episode going live today on PlayStation's official YouTube channel. Although I normally don't share "the making of" videos here on the blog, I found this one to be pretty interesting, and I thought it was nice to see a bit more of an inside look of the Final Fantasy XIII series as a whole. Check it out!

Xbox Live Markestplace now known as "Xbox Game Store"

The Xbox Live Marketplace is a well known feature on the Xbox 360. It is where you can buy arcade games, download TV shows, and even get music for your 360. Well, things are now changing. Although the Xbox Live Marketplace is here to stay, it is now going under a completely new name. As seen on the Official Xbox.com website; the marketplace will now be known as the "Xbox Game Store."

At the Xbox Game Store you will be able to buy and download games for your Xbox 360 (as well as Xbox One in the future), mobile games, and games for your PC. Really the change doesn't make that big of an impact on the marketplace as a whole, but it is interesting to see it change after all these years.

The Second NGR Community Event is Now Live!

We here at Netto's Game Room are happy to announce that the second NGR Community Event is now live! This time around anyone who has a Nintendo 3DS can participate, and those who take part in it will be rewarded in more way than one. For more details, please check out the following URL:

http://forums.nettosgameroom.com/topic/9103881/1/

Good luck everyone!

Wii U Price Drop

The announcement of the Nintendo 2DS wasn't the only major announcement Nintendo had in store today; they have also announced that starting in September the Deluxe edition of the Wii U will be sold at a reduced price. Originally you could buy the Deluxe model for $349.99, and it included a 32 GB hard drive, a charging dock for the game pad, a stand for the Wii U, as well as a copy of Nintendo Land. Now the very same bundle can be bought for $299.99 instead.

On top of that, the Legend of Zelda Wind Waker HD bundle will also be on sale for $299.99. This version of the Wii U includes the HD remake of Wind Waker as a digital copy, as well as a digital copy of the Zelda Hyrule Historia book.

If you've been thinking about picking up a Wii U, but you were put off by the high price tag; well, that's going to be a thing of the past very soon. $299.99 for a console and a $60 game, as well as a $20 book (including a few $20 Wii U accessories as well) is actually a great deal.

Nintendo 2DS Has Been Announced!

Today Nintendo has announced a new version of the Nintendo 3DS, which will be hitting store shelves 10/12/2013. The new model is called the "Nintendo 2DS," it will be sold for $130 instead of $180, and it includes NO 3D mode. Yes, that is right; the Nintendo 2DS is a 3DS without the 3D, and with a completely new look.

So, what do you guys think? Is it a good idea to release a 2D model to attract new customers? Possibly. After all, the 3D effect wasn't what made the 3DS, the games are. Hopefully with this new 2D model people out of the loop will slowly begin to realize that the 3DS is in fact a new console, and not just a rehashed DS.

Killzone: Mercenary - Public Beta Now Live!

Today the Public Beta for the upcoming PlayStation Vita game "Killzone: Mercenary" went live. Anyone who owns a PSV can now download the 900 MB beta from PSN. I personally spent quite some time checking out the beta, and I have to say that I am impressed.

The past few shooters to land on the Vita really haven't been anything great. Resistance, for example, was a game that I was able to 100% within five hours (yes I got the platinum trophy), and when I went online I learned that it was nothing but a shotgun blast. The game really didn't stand out, and its limited online play really felt dated; I felt like I would have been better off playing Metroid Prime Hunters on the DS instead. The second shooter to come out was Call of Duty, but once again it failed to meet fan's expectations. So, with that being said, I really wasn't expecting too much when I went into this beta; however I am happy to say that the game does seem much more promising.

Although the beta only features a single map with a single mode, I found it to be quite fun. The mode that is included is one where you actually play through 5 different "phases," each with their own goals. For example, in one phase you must capture or defend points, but in another the game turns into a flat out death match. This helps mix things up, and it helps give you the feel of what other gameplay modes may be like. On top of that, you can level up/rank up in the game to unlock more guns and content, and you can also spend in game cash on new pieces of equipment and armor as well. Even though matches are limited to 4 v 4, the limitations really aren't as apparent in Killzone as they were in Resistance and Call of Duty, and the unlockables really give you a reason to keep on playing.

The final aspect of the beta that really stood out to me was how great the game looked. Textures are extremely detailed, and there's a lot of extra touches that were made to the map a well. At one part I was walking through a cave like area when a snake just sort of jumped out at the camera. I personally wasn't expecting to see anything in the form of wildlife, and I just thought that it was a really nice touch. Even so, due to this being a Vita game, there were some limitations that did stand out from time to time.

While the map was extremely detailed, and the game looked nice overall, these detailed textures cannot always be seen. Although everything around you has their full textures loaded, objects at a distance seem to use a lower quality texture to prevent slowdown. As you get closer to objects the detailed textures load, but the moment you back away, the lower textures soon replace them. Really the effect is a lot like that seen in the Spyro games on the PlayStation One which actually had objects morph into lower polygon versions of themselves so that the game could have a much larger draw distance. Overall, despite the pop in being a bit strange when zooming in with your guns, it really isn't an issue, and because they used lower quality textures it actually allowed the developers to bring us a much nicer looking game.

Even though this is still in fact just a beta version of the game, I think it is safe to say that the game shows a lot of promise. I cannot comment on how the single player will be, but I'm sure the multiplayer will be something that will keep bringing me back. If you haven't played it yet, you should really check it out as soon as possible.

Lost Planet 3 - Out Now!

The newest entry in the Lost Planet series finally hits store shelves today! Lost Planet 3 is a prequel to previous Lost Planet games, and takes place on a frozen world where you must do anything it takes to survive. Aided with a giant mech, you get to explore this world, complete missions, and fight giant aliens along the way. For more information, check out the launch trailer!

Killer Instinct not quite "Free to Play"

Microsoft has finally explained how the upcoming Xbox One exclusive game "Killer Instinct" will be free to play. As you may or may not know, Killer Instinct is the newest entry in the fighting game series created by Rare. Back in the day it was popular in arcades as well on the SNES, but not too long after an N64 version was released, it fell off the map. Now with the Xbox One coming out, Microsoft plans to revive the series again, but as a sort of "free to play" title.

The way the newest Killer Instinct will work is that you actually get to download the game for free, and play as a few characters for free; however other aspects of the game will be locked. Players will be able to spend $5 to unlock more characters, but they can also unlock more by buying character packs as well.

This set up is very similar to how Team Ninja released Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate in Japan. In DoA5U's case, you download the game for free with all of the main arcade and versus modes unlocked, but you can pay extra for the characters that you want, or you can even buy the story mode as well.

Although both of these games are "free to play" games, they don't quite follow the free to play tradition. Instead of having a game that you can play for free with a bunch of micro transactions, they are games you can either buy in full, or simply buy what you care about.

Tales of Xillia - Review

In the year 2011 the video game company "Namco Bandai" celebrated the 15th anniversary of their well known series "Tales of." The Tales of series is a group of Japanese Role Playing games that basically took the genre into the "next level." Unlike most games for its time, Tales of featured a real time battle system, a deep character development system, and each game took place in its own unique world as well. Although the series really took off in Japan, it only formed a core fan base in the US, and before we knew it, Tales of soon flat out vanished from the west in general.

After the release of "Tales of Vesperia" in 2008, Namco Bandai entered a major slump. Tales of Vesperia didn't meet their sales expectations, the company slowly began to lose money, and the risk of releasing another Tales of game in the west was just too high; because of that, the series soon became Japanese exclusive. That is, until 2011.

Around the same time Namco Bandai was celebrating the 15th anniversary of Tales of, an event was held on Twitter. This event allowed fans to vote for one game to be brought over to the west, and in the end, the game chosen was none other than "Tales of Graces f." (Which originally came out in 2009 on the Wii, and 2010 on the PS3 in Japan.) Despite Tales of Graces f being an older game, it was the next "big" entry in the Tales of series that most western fans wanted to play, and Namco complied with the request.

In 2012 Tales of Graces f finally made its way to the west, and it was overall well received. Thanks to the release of Graces f (along with the "secret" Tales of the Abyss reprint on the PS2, as well the release of Tales of the Abyss 3D for the Nintendo 3DS), the Tales of series once again picked up in the west, and for the first time in many years, it finally proved to be profitable. So, what do you do with a series that is actually making a profit? Well, you release more games of course!

Not too long after Tales of Graces f (as well as Abyss and Abyss 3D were released/re-released) Namco Bandai announced that they would in fact be bringing their newest title to the western market. Tales of Xillia was a game that was originally created back in 2011 for the anniversary, but due to the event, it was not the Tales of game to get localized back then. Finally, after a two year wait, that has now changed.

In August of 2013, Tales of Xillia hit store shelves in the west. Not only is it the first Tales of game to be completely built from the ground up for the PlayStaiton 3, but it is also the first to feature a split storyline, a fully 3D world, as well as a new partner based battle system. The game builds off of past experiences making improvements along the way, but does that really mean the game is better than past entries in the series? Well, how about we continue on with the review and find out?

Welcome to Rieze Maxia:

Just like with most games in the Tales of series, Tales of Xillia features a few "story arcs" which separate the game into parts. While the first "arc" typically introduces the characters, world, and includes some sort of story to tie it all together, the second and third arcs of the game normally change it up. These sections of the game are when the "true" plot begins to show, and they are normally accompanied by massive plot twists. To avoid major spoilers about the game's overall plot, keep in mind that I will only be discussing the first arc as well as minor aspects of the second.

As the game opens up, you are given the option to either start the game as Jude, or Milla. Jude is a young medical student who hopes to graduate from school and become a doctor one day, while Milla is a 20 year old woman who claims to be "Maxwell," lord of spirits. Even though the game allows you to pick from one of these two from the start, there are really only a few differences between them.

Throughout most of the game, Jude and Milla will in fact be together. This means they will be going to the same places, they will see a lot of the same cutscenes, and you can play as either one whenever you want, but there are a few differences here and there. While Jude's side of the story focuses a bit more on character development (it also helps clear up any confusion you might have from the overall story), Milla's story is a bit more one sided. While she will go off on her own from time to time and keep some pretty big secrets to herself, in the end she really doesn't find out much that isn't explained to Jude at one point or another. Although it is really your choice on who you choose to start the game with, I personally recommend playing through as Jude, and coming back to Milla's story during the second playthrough. You'll end up understanding things a lot better, and you'll know quite a bit more about the characters when you finally do go to Milla's side. Either way, most of the game is in fact the same, and that includes the intro.

Tales of Xillia begins with an explanation of the game's world and setting. Rieze Maxia is a large land mass floating in the middle of the ocean, and it is the main setting of the game. In the world of Rieze Maxia, people live in harmony with an invisible force known as "spirits." Spirits are creatures that bond with the humans on the planet, and form a sort of symbiotic relationship with them. While humans are born with what is known as a "Mana Lobe," which is a part part of the brain that produces "mana," Spirits require mana in order to survive. By using their mana to feed spirits, humans are able to in return use the spirit's power for their own gain; this "gain" comes in the form of what can be considered "magic" in Tales of Xillia. In this semi-technology advanced world, magic still plays a key role when it comes to human's survival, and because of that they use it for almost everything. From lighting street lamps, to creating elevators; the people of Rieze Maxia are able to use both a mix of technology and magic to carry out their everyday tasks. (With magic serving as a type of power source.)

When the game finally opens up, we find our two main heroes meeting by chance. As the young medial student Jude goes to search for his missing professor, who entered a government lab only to never return, he comes across a strange young woman by the name of Milla. Milla, who had plans of her own to sneak into the very same lab, ends up teaming up with Jude simply due to this chance encounter. As she blows open an entrance to the lower levels of the lab, Jude quickly follows behind, and they both find themselves in trouble. Jude comes across a strange room filled with people in tubes that have had the life sucked out of them (with his professor along the many being held inside), and Milla finds herself coming to his rescue when he gets attacked by a strange young girl. With no other option but to stick together, the two slowly make their way into the lab's depths; where "it" was waiting for them.

It turns out that Milla had come to this lab for one reason, and one reason alone; to destroy an object she calls a "Spyrix." The Spyrix is an object that kills spirits to power weapons of mass destruction, and one of these weapons just so happens to be hidden within the lab; a massive cannon. In order to destroy this massive weapon, Milla (who claims to be "Maxwell, Lord of Spirits") calls upon the power of the "Four Great Spirits;" however, her plans are soon cut short. Despite "The Four" being what you might call "the kings of the spirits," they are no match the weapon, and they are soon sucked into the weapon itself. Due to the loss of the great spirits, Milla soon finds herself to be as weak as a "normal human," and she has no choice but to run; with Jude by her side.

Upon returning to the town, Jude and Milla learn that they have been classified as criminals by the military, and they have no choice but to run. Jude must now leave behind his school, and Milla must now continue her "mission" to destroy the Spyrixes of the world, without the help of the four great spirits. After both are saved by a mysterious mercenary by the name of "Alvin," they are forced to set sail, and begin a new adventure. As time goes on, Jude, Milla, and co slowly learn the truth behind the world, and before they know it, they get caught up in a series of events that lead them down a path they could have never seen coming.

The Characters of Xillia:

One thing that really stands out about Tales of Xillia is its characters, and the skit system. Tales of Xillia features a cast of 7 unique characters that are filled with personality. While Jude is the 15 year old mature medical student who wants to help everyone he comes across, Milla is the strong willed female lead who, despite not knowing much about the world, is always focused on the task at hand. Both character's have polar opposite personalities, but surprisingly they work well together.

On top of the two leads, there's also Alvin who is a traveling mercenary who acts laid back, and will say something perverted the moment he gets it, but he's also a character that you can't completely trust. From the very moment you see him, you can't help but question his motives, and suspicions will continue to rise only as time goes on.

The third main party member you come across is a little girl by the name of Elize, but she isn't alone. Everywhere she goes, Elize carries a strange floating purple talking doll by the name of Teepo. While Elize is a shy girl, Teepo is a loud, thing, who is willing to say anything, to anyone, at anytime. He often mocks Alvin and the others, and is sure to bring you a laugh or two. Teepo and Elize truly make a perfect pair, and they are also one of the few rare "non-annoying" little kid characters you will find in an RPG.

A few hours into the game the fourth main character is introduced; a butler in his 60s named Rowen. Rowen is wise, he always talks to others with respect, he's an amazing tactician, and he serves as the "mature adult" of the group. Although Rowen isn't the only adult in the group (Milla, and Alvin are in their twenties), he serves as a voice of reason, he is skilled with using spirits (which helps the group get past many roadblocks along the way), he isn't quite as reckless as some of the others, and he truly does care about the people around him. Overall he's yet another great character, and he is one that even you yourself may come to respect; at least from a story standpoint.

The final character to join the crew is Jude's childhood friend Leia. Leia is a bright cheerful young woman who likes to have fun. She does act like an idiot from time to time (although the same can be said for all of the characters), but she has a good heart, and helps keep the mood bright and cheery. Despite her being what you might call a "typical teenage anime girl," she really brings a lot of character to the party, and is a great asset to the team as a whole. Even if you find teen anime girls annoying, Leia is one that you just can't help but to like.

With all of these characters put together, Tales of Xillia is able to bring out one of the best casts of characters you will ever see in a JRPG. While it may not the the "best," cast, it is an amazing one, and they make the game worth playing. Sure Jude may be a put off from time to time (mainly if you're playing Milla's side of the story), but that doesn't change the fact that he is an overall great character. On top of all of that, each of the characters in Tales of Xillia undergo a lot of character development, and because of that you can't help but want to see what happens next. They add a lot to the game's story, and make the game enjoyable.

The World Map and Basic Gameplay:

Tales of Xillia is in fact a JRPG, and because of that it features a lot of the very same basic systems. The main part of the game actually takes place in what is called the "over world." The over world is basically a massive open world filled with towns for you to explore, fields to travel across, and dungeons to solve. While towns have people to talk to, inns to rest at, and shops to buy from, fields and dungeons are where you'll come across monsters and enemies to fight. This set up is common in most RPGs, and it is also how the game's plot progresses; however, this time around things are a bit different.

In past Tales of games, towns and dungeons have always been seen from a top view with a fixed camera, and the "field" areas were normally shown by a world map where you simply walked across a generic land mass where you could then enter towns/key areas by running into them. Well, both of these systems have been changed.

Instead of having key areas be seen from fixed camera positions, for the first time in a Tales of game you actually have FULL control over the camera! You can rotate the camera in a full 360 degrees, you can look straight down at the ground, and you can even look up at the sky (which is rarely seen in Tales of in general). This makes the world feel much larger than what was seen in past games, and this feeling continues into the "world map" aspect of the game as well. As I said above, most Tales of games featured a generic world map; however in Tales of Xillia these areas have actually been replaced with full open field maps which connect key areas. Although this system has been seen before in a few of the other newer Tales of games (including Graces f), the fields are actually much larger this time. While walking to towns in Graces f normally required you to walk through some small "field" areas which never really felt that open, Xillia has large open areas filled with secrets to discover. This helps improve the scope of the game in general, and it also gives you a reason to explore. Well that and the fact that you won't be stopped by invisible walls non stop, which was a minor issue in Graces f.

Besides talking to towns folk, and buying items from the shop, you can also pick up items from search points around the maps as well. There are four different types of "search" points you'll come across in your adventure, and all four truly are key. The first type of search point is, well, a standard search point. These are glowing areas on walls, plants, trees, or any other object, and they normally net you items related to the object that they are found on (for example, you may find specific plants from checking a search point on a plant). The second top of search point is the "bag" search point, which are simply what the name sounds like. These bags are bags that show up on maps, and you can open them from time to time to get different rewards. Like the search points they do respawn, so they give you a reason to return to old maps. The third type of "search point," is actually just a standard chest. Chests give you one time rewards which can be anything from new equipment, to special items, to simply more cash. This is a standard found in most JRPGs, so most people should be familiar with them; as for the final type of search point, they aren't common among JRPGs. The last type is a special type of "chest" which appears in specific locations, and is normally hidden very well. These chests are special chests hidden by a legendary pirate, and they contain special accessories for your characters to wear. They aren't key to the game's story, but they are fun to look for, and give you even more of a reason to search every nook and cranny of the game's world.

The Skits and Side Quests:

The final aspect of the game's "over world" and basic gameplay is the Skit system, and the Side Quest system. Although side quests are quite common in RPGs (or even adventure games), the Skit system is something that is completely unique to the Tales of series, and is what really helps give the game its character.

Just like in other RPGs, Tales of Xillia features a side quest system. This is where extra events pop up around the world as you play through the story, and you have the option of doing them. Sometimes these events are mini cutscenes which will play when you enter a specific room during a specific part of the story, but other times they may come in the form of towns folk asking for help. Doing side quests will normally net you rewards, but they may also provide extra detail about the game's plot and world as well. Although past Tales of games have used side quests as well, Tales of Xillia does actually make quite a few improvements to it. For the first time in a Tales of game, all side quests and side events are actually listed in a log accessible from the menu. This allows you to keep track of which side quests you are currently working on, as well as which ones you have finished. This is a very nice touch, and something I personally wish Namco would have included years ago.

As you play through Tales of Xillia, or one of the older Tales of games, you'll also trigger what is known as "skits." Skits are mini scenes where we get to see the party discuss different topics among themselves. While in games like Tales of Graces f these "skits" could only be triggered by standing in a specific spot, in Tales of Xillia that is not the case. When you walk around the over world, at the bottom left of the screen will be a skit notice from time to time, and by pressing the select button you can watch it. Skits only really show the character's faces as they talk with one another, but that's all that is needed in this case. These skits can last anywhere from 20-30 seconds, to a few minutes, and they often provide insight or other interesting pieces of information.

Although some skits are simply triggered by going through the story, others are actually triggered by your actions in battle or your actions in general. If you cook some food a specific character likes they may start commenting on it, or if you find a rare item, they may talk about it as well. This is a really nice change of pace, and it really isn't something you see in many RPGs. Still, what stands out the most about the whole skit system isn't the little details, but rather the comedy.

Most of the time skits are FILLED with humor, and they are almost certain to make you laugh from time to time. For example, one early skit has Alvin commenting on how Milla must be into bondage due to her "bound" skill. The chat soon makes a turn, when Milla actually joins in on the adult rated discussion and adds two just about everything Alvin and Jude brought up. While this sort of topic showing up out of nowhere is shocking on its own, Milla joining in to turn the chat around was even more unexpected, and you might not be able to help but to laugh. Moments such as these make skits worth watching, and you may just find yourself waiting for that next one to pop up in excitement. Also, just like with the side quests, skits are actually listed in the menu this time around as well, so you can always go back and rewatch them at anytime. A very nice touch which past games normally had locked until the end.

Besides the standard skits and side quests, a new type of skit has been introduced in the game as well. Instead of having to actually watch every skit, some skits will now play as you walk around. For example, if you step in a bush one of the characters might comment on how they got poked by a thorn, or if you haven't eaten anything for awhile, a character may complain that they are hungry. These chats aren't as long as a standard skit, but it helps remind you that the other characters are in fact there, and it helps the game feel a bit more lively.

The Battle System:

Despite most of Tales of Xillia taking place in the over world, what really stands out about its gameplay is its story. As enemies walk around the over world map, you can run into them to initiate a battle, or flat out avoid them; the choice is yours. Even so, chances are that Xillia will be a game that'll make you want to fight.

Tales of Xillia uses what is called the "Dual Raid Linear Motion Battle System" which is an improved version of the "Linear Motion Battle System" found in past entries of the series. Just as the name implies, the battle system takes place in a 3D arena, but on a linear 2D plain. In battle you will lock onto a single target, and that in return will form a 2D plain that you can move across (however you can run around in 3D by simply holding the L2 button). During this state, the game actually plays a lot like a 2D fighting game, where you can move left and right, you can jump up into the air, and you can also preform back steps/forward dash steps. Although these movements are simple and easy to understand, the combat itself is a different story.

The actual fighting mechanics in Tales of Xillia also mimic that of a 2D fighter, but with some minor and major differences. Just like in a fighter, when you press the attack button you can actually press different directions on the analog stick to preform different moves and combos. For example, if you're playing as Jude and hit the attack button while standing still he'll use a normal punch, if you press it while pressing down he'll do a knock down attack, if you press it while pressing up he'll do an uppercut, and if you press it while holding forward he'll sort of lunge at the enemy you are targeting. By pressing different directions on the analog stick as you tap the attack button, you can mix and match Jude's attacks to create your own combos, but there is a limit to how far you can go.

Tales of Xillia uses an "AC" system which actually limits how many moves you can chain together in a combo. Each time you use an attack (of any kind) 1 AC is used, and if your AC hits 0, then your combo ends. Now this system is a lot like the CC system used in Tales of Graces f, but there is one major difference between them. In Tales of Graces f when your CC hit 0 you had to actually back off from the enemy and recharge it, but in Xillia that is not the case. The moment your AC hits 0 in Xillia, it recharges to max almost instantly. Although your current combo ends once it hits 0, your overall combo can actually keep going. Since you can start attacking again almost instantly, the AC system really doesn't slow down the battle system, and you never feel chained down by it. All it is is a counter to show you how long your chain combo (or "red" combo) can keep going before you have to stop (something past Tales of games didn't show you).

While pressing the attack button is your main form of attacking, it isn't your own option. Just like in other games in the series, you can use "Artes" in battle as well. Artes are basically special moves, as well as magical attacks to put it simply, and each character can use their own specific artes. For example, while Jude can use "Demon Fist" to send a shock wave across the field, Alvin can charge up his sword and slam it into the ground to cause massive damage. There's really a wide range of artes that can be used, and it is up to you to figure out how to use them as part of your combos. The only down side to using artes is that using one does in fact require "TP" (Xillia's version of MP), so there is a limit to how many you can use at once.

Although the basic arte system hasn't changed much, Xillia does offer one new feature which GREATLY expands on what artes can be used. Just like in past games, artes are used by pressing the circle button, and you can freely customize how to use each arte. You can set an arte to standing still + circle, you can set an arte to pressing up, set one to pressing down, set one to pressing left and right, or you can also set shortcuts to artes on the right analog stick (which can be used to command your party members into using specific artes as well). This is the basic arte system found in most Tales of games, and it allows you to set 8 artes; however, that has now been greatly expanded upon.

Now by pressing and holding the L1 button you can activate a second set of artes, which once again can be chained to the circle button or the right analog stick. The addition of this simple feature allows you to now equip a grand total of 16 artes, rather than 8. This greatly expands your combo possibilities, and it also allows your characters to use a much wider range of attacks in general.

It Must Be The Power of Linking:

Although a lot of the battle system in Xillia is simply adapted from past entries in the series, there are aspects of it that are completely new. As the name implies, a new "Dual Raid" system has been included as well, and that makes ALL the difference.

While in the older games characters would fight alone in parties of three or four, in Xillia you actually fight in parties of four with the ability to partner up with any of the other characters on the field. By "linking" with another character, you take control of a mini unit rather than a single character. In this state your computer controlled partner will watch your back, pull off combos based off of the combos you yourself are using, and they will also allow you to pull off special moves and artes as well.

As you attack the enemies, or get attacked yourself, a bar on the left side of the screen will build up. This bar is an energy meter which allows you to pull off "Linked Artes" at different milestones. Once the bar fills up enough, it will begin to glow, and you will then be able to pull off different Linked Artes, which are all based around who you are linked with. If Jude is linked with Milla and pulls off an arte that is a series of punches and kicks, you can then press the R2 button to follow up the arte with one of Milla's Linked Artes. This allows you to deal extra damage, and it also allows the bar on the left to fill up even more. If your meter does in fact reach the top, you can then go into an "over limit" and chain Linked Artes with even more Linked Artes to pull off some massive damage.

Even though your partner in battle is computer controlled, you can actually take control of them yourself to pull off your own combos as well. With a simple tap of the D-Pad, you can easily switch between which character you are controlling on the field, and that in return also allows you to take turns unleashing combos on enemies. While you may start a combo as Jude, you can actually quickly switch over to Milla during Jude's attack to then continue the combo on her side, only to then switch back to Jude to either finish it off or keep it going. If you are able to get the pattern down, you will be able to unleash massive combos on your own, and really speed up the battle system while doing so.

Unique Fighting Styles:

What really makes Tales of Xillia's combat and characters stand out over the past games, is the fact that every single character is completely unique, and the fact that they actually have TWO styles. While in past games characters generally stuck to a single role or class (such as being a swordsman), that isn't the case in Xillia. Every single character has two classes built into them, and because of that they can be used in different ways. While Jude is the close range melee fighter, he is also one of the game's medics, Milla is the standard swordsman as well as a magic user, Alvin is a swordsman and long range gunner, Elize has a mix of healing and offensive magic with Teepo acting as a melee weapon, Rowan is the knife using long range and short range magic user, and Leia is the air based spear user who can also act as a medic.

Since every character has their own unique fighting style with their own unique classes, the game really does have a lot of replay value. Although you may get tired of fighting hundreds of enemies with the same character, you can always switch out at anytime, and get a fresh new experience.

Leveling Up and Skills:

As expected, Tales of Xillia has a stat and skill system, just like most RPGs. Every single time you fight an enemy and kill it, you gain experience points, and once you gain enough experience, your characters will then level up. This is a staple for RPGs everywhere, and it is really no surprise that Xillia would do the same; however, that doesn't mean there aren't some differences.

Unlike in past Tales of games where your stats increase as you level, in Xillia all you gain from leveling up are points to spend in what is called the "Lilium Orb." The Lilium Orb is a magical object that allows the character's to increase their skills, and become stronger; which is also how they explain their strength in the game. The Orb itself opens up a menu that brings you to a stat page which is in the shape of a spider web. Where each strand of "web" connects with the others, a ball is formed, and each ball contains a specific stat boost. By spending Growth Points on these nodes, you'll unlock the power they contain, and become stronger. (For example if you buy a +32 STR orb, your character will gain 32 strength.) Although you can only spend points on the nodes that connect the strands of web together, there are nodes in between the spaces in the web as well. In order to unlock these nodes, you must buy all stat increases around it to "complete" the web, and enclose the center. Upon doing so, a new skill or ability will be unlocked, and you will then be able to use it in battle.

Unlike the level up system, the skill system in Xillia is only slightly different. As you unlock new skills, you can then equip then to customize your characters at the expense of SP. While some skills unlock new abilities to use in battle, others simply increase your stats, or simply give you some extra boosts. Either way, they are extremely helpful, and they also allow you to build your character to suit your needs. This time however; characters can actually now share skills.

Some skills (mostly stat increasing skills) are now shared between the character who has it equip, as well as the character they are linked with in battle. Because of this, linked characters are actually stronger than characters that fight alone, and just about become key when playing on harder difficulties. While solo characters may get a 5% attack bonus, they'd gain an extra 5% attack bonus just by pairing up with another character who has the very same skill unlocked. Overall the shared skills are actually much more useful than the non shared skills, and because of this they are the skills you mostly want to focus on using.

The Graphics and Soundtrack:

Tales of Xillia is a very nice looking game, but it may not be up to the standards everyone expects. The game was in fact released in 2011, and it uses a mix between cell shaded and realistic style graphics which create a unique blend. While the character's themselves, as well as many objects, look as if they are ripped right out of an anime, the world itself can seem a little bland at times. Sure there are some really nice looking areas (such the first town the game starts in which is always suspended in night fall), but some of them are a bit dull. If you were expecting bright and fully cell shaded Tales of Vesperia again, you're out of luck, but if you're expecting a duller looking Tales of the Abyss, then you'll be pleasantly surprised. Xillia may not look the best, but its anime art style is spot on, and the world is incredibly detailed overall.

One thing that really does stand out about Tales of Xillia though, is its music. The game features an amazing soundtrack which seems to capture the mood of each area perfectly. As you walk through peaceful city streets, or open fields filled with wildlife, the soundtrack that plays for each area will really pull you in. Everything about the game's soundtrack is spot on, and to top it all off, Namco Bandai even left in the original Japanese opening theme. The moment you turn the game on and here that dramatic up beat theme song, you can't help but get exited.

The Good and the Bad:

Tales of Xillia is a solid JRPG with a great story, an amazing cast of characters, a lot of humor, and an amazing battle system which is advance enough to satisfy the hard core players, but easy enough for anyone to pick up. The game is also quite large, and it is filled with replay value to keep you coming back for more. Overall, Tales of Xillia is an amazing JRPG, and it is one that fans of the genre should not miss out on; however, it isn't perfect.

Despite being a great game overall, there are a few minor flaws that hold Xillia back. The character's movements are still locked to "snap points" which prevent fluid 360 degree movements (as seen in older entries of the series such as Tales of Vesperia), the game can look dull from time to time, and there is an apparent lack of mini games and other extras; the game doesn't even include an extra "fun" area like the others. Although this doesn't harm the game's story, fans looking for something a little extra to do after completing the game will be disappointed.

Even so, Tales of Xillia is a must have for long time fans and new comers alike, and it is a perfect way to help send off the PlayStation 3 before the PS4 finally comes around. Sure, Tales of Xillia won't be the last great PS3 exclusive, but it is a great way to kick off the console's final year or so. In the end, I give Tales of Xillia for the PlayStation 3 a 9/10. Play it.

Sonic Lost World - GamesCom Trailer

Check out the newest trailer of Sonic Lost World from GamesCom 2013; featuring a sneak peak at new stages, as well as the game's multiplayer elements!

Lightning Returns - The Savior's Choice Trailer

Lightning Returns is getting closer and closer, and as time goes on we have slowly learned more and more about the game. While the past trailers of the game showcased the game's basic exploration, story, and combat system, the newest one gives us a bit more of an inside look at the game.

"The Savior's Choice" is the newest trailer for Lightning Returns, and this time not only do we get a bit more of an inside look at the game's story, we also get to see some returning characters as well! This latest trailer confirms that Fang will be returning, as well as Sazh, and possibly Mog. The trailer shows off both a moogle village, as well as a chocobo that Lightning wants to save. Although it isn't clear how the moogles or this chocobo will play into the game's story, there is a pretty good chance that they will have some sort of major role; possibly a conclusion of Mog's story arc, and transportation respectively?

On another note, a few new fighting styles for Lightning are shown off as well. One costume seems to be a dragoon outfit which uses a spear, while another seems to be a monk or some type of melee fighter outfit. It's really nice to see the different fighting styles this time around, and it is sure to help change up the game's gameplay. For more information, check out the game's trailer below!

DRIVECLUB - GamesCom Trailer

Once again we are jumping back into the GamesCom news. First off is the new trailer for the upcoming next gen title "DRIVECLUB!"

Thief - GamesCom Trailer

Check out the latest trailer for the upcoming game "Thief" for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC!

Dead Rising 3 - GamesCom Trailer

Sony isn't the only one with news to share; check out the latest trailer of Dead Rising 3 exclusively for the Xbox One.

Mature Content Warning: The following video contains graphic violence, as well as strong language. To view videos with such content, you must be at least 18 years or older, and be signed into either a Google or YouTube account. If such graphic material disturbs you; please avoid watching this trailer. You have been warned.

Infamous: Second Son - Trailer (PS4)

Check out the latest trailer for Infamous: Second Son exclusively for the PlayStation 4.

Tearaway - Gamescom Trailer

Check out the latest trailer for Tearaway; exclusively for the PlayStation Vita!

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Vita Remote Play

Assassin's Creed IV was announced quite some time ago for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One; however, Ubisoft failed to mention that this isn't the only way to play the game. Sony has announced today that Assassin's Creed IV will in fact be making use of the PlayStation Vita's remote play feature, and will be able to connect to the PS4 to play the game off screen.

Besides the addition of remote play, the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game also feature an exclusive "level." While this isn't the first time an Assassin's Creed game got exclusive content on a Sony console, it is the first time "this" type of exclusive content has been used. While most AC games include some sort of extra mission for the main story, this time around the exclusive level actually follows a different character; a girl by the name of "Aveline." Aveline is the first female protagonist in the Assassin's Creed series, and she was also the star of Assassin's Creed III: Liberation on the PlayStation Vita. Although Ubisoft didn't stay how her story will fit into Black Flag (especially since it takes place many years later), it is interesting to see her make her return.

Big Fest - PlayStation Vita (Free to Play)

Big Fest is the next in line for PlayStation Vita free to play games, but this time around things are a bit different. Big Fest does in fact continue the trend of free to play social/online/learderboard based games, but it is a little bit more "real" than that.

In Big Fest you customize and manage your own music festival. You build the park, get people to visit, and hire bands to play, but there's a catch. While most games would use specific artists or come up with their own, Big Fest actually uses REAL unsigned bands. Theses bands will show up in your game, and you can then pick which songs they play, or when they go on. As you promote your own music festival, you support and promote these rising stars as well. It's a really unique way to help get these unknown artists known, and you might just become a fan of them yourself.

Murasaki Baby is a brand new indie title coming to the PlayStation Vita. In Murasaki Baby you guide a strange little creature through a nightmareish world. By using the touch screen, you can help her solve puzzles, and come up with the courage to advance forward. As you play the game she will come across enemies, as well as other road blocks which will require a bit of strategy to get past. One moment she may be walking along, and then the next she may be looking into a mass of darkness. At this point the player can then drag a lantern over the darkness, and help clear the path.

The game makes full use of the Vita's touch controls, as well as the Vita's motion controls; both of which are used to solve the puzzles, and overall protect the strange little girl. The title is a unique, and strange one, but it seems to be one that would be worth the time to check out.

PlayStation Vita Price Drop and New Games Announced!

Just minutes ago at Gamescom 2013 Sony announced some exciting news for the PlayStation Vita. First of all, the Vita will be having a price drop! The once $250-$300 console will now be on sale for $199, with price drops of the expensive memory cards as well. The expensive memory cards, and console cost have been an issue for quite a few people for quite some time, but now both will be much more affordable; however, that isn't the big news of Sony's announcement.

To go along with the Vita's price drop, Sony has a large library of new games coming to the Vita as well, including both new IPs, and new entries in existing sequels. To top it all off, Borderlands 2 has also been announced for the Vita!

For more information, stay tuned. Updates will be made over the next hour so please stay tuned to the blog.

Childhood Gaming Memories - The Community Speaks

About two weeks ago we held a contest where members of the Netto's Game Room Community could speak out and share some of their childhood gaming memories, and get a chance for them to be posted here on the blog. Well, the results are now in, and here are the memories we have chosen to share.

MegamanZ -

My gaming life started off awfully slow; my parents refused to buy me any full-blown consoles until I was 10. That being said, however, I would still play games at my friends' houses all the time. I remember one time I let my friends go outside and play in one of the few snow days around here, and I just stayed inside my friend's house playing games. Oh, the time we spent playing Pokemon Stadium, Star Fox 64, Super Smash Bros, etc... Good times.

My first personal gaming experiences came when I got my first Gameboy Color (which I still own, I'm letting a friend borrow it actually), but I don't remember too much from those times other than playing the Pokemon TCG game, a bit if Pokemon GS, and Super Mario Bros. My fondest memories come from when I got my Gameboy Advance. I was probably around 8 at the time, me and my friends would all get together with the old link cables (as long as it wasn't too dark~) to play some Lego games, as well as Pokemon when it came out when I was (I thinK?) 9. Not gonna lie, I was the king of Pokemon until my friends discovered hacking!

The next big turn in my gaming life came on my 10th birthday, when my parents got me a Gamecube. The very first game they got me was Sonic Adventure DX, which was a favorite among all my friends, right behind Sonic Adventure 2 Battle of course. Those last 2 weeks of summer before school started, I don't think I left the TV. My life was changed. Since my parents were so strict with ratings, it was a while before I got to play any games like Super Smash Bros. at home, but I still really enjoyed it.

Now, this may not be chronological necessarily, but around that time I also (somehow, multitasking I guess) got really into the shows they played on Saturday mornings, I think on Kids WB and some other channels. At the time I was particularly invested in Medabots. So one morning I was watching it and discovered there was a GBA game for it, so I immediately started begging my parents to take me to get it.

PLOT TWIST: The store didn't have it. However, what they did have that caught my eye was probably even better. Like I said, I had been watching those Saturday morning cartoons all the time, so I immediately recognized the characters on the cover of Megaman Battle Network 2. I don't know what exactly drew me towards it, whether I actually wanted it, maybe I just wanted a new game, or maybe I just wanted to spend my money for some reason. Whatever the reason was, I got it, and immediately fell in love.

Suddenly I found myself playing through Battle Network 2 for the next couple months or so (I got stuck on Raoul's part for a while, unfortunately) and once I managed to finish that I got Battle Network 3, then 4 when it came out, and so on. I got a good number of my friends into it too (although some of them thought I was crazy, lol), it was certainly quite the investment. Next thing I knew I was playing a ton of other Megaman games, one of my favorites being Megaman X Command Mission, which I feel was kinda forgotten. ANYWAYS I can't think of a good way to conclude the story (maybe I'll read over and edit it tomorrow) so yep that's my story.

LULUevil -

Before I started playing video-games when I was 7, I used to watch my dad playing PS1 games such as Resident Evil 3, Dino Crysis 2, Ace Combat Electrosphere, & other games as well. It was funny that when I used to watch him playing RE3, I got scared from Jill herself not the moaning zombies. But my first game was Crash Team Racing, this game is a really sweet memory for me, all my family would join to play this racing game at Thursdays' evenings when we gathered at my grandma's house & making funny bets to the one who loses, they'd all win alternatively except me, I was always behind them, so my uncle thought of an idea, once the race starts, he'd wait until I drive a pretty long distance & then he'd start the race after that. Even though that was pretty helpful, I'd lose again, but it was funny eventually, & practice does make perfect, after a while I was a pro driver too.

In a while I started playing the games my dad used to play, & they were all awesome games, which I still get back & play them again sometimes, & that's when I became a big fan of RE series. I also used to share my experience with my classmates, but they weren't fans of video-games cause it wasn't that popular in our country by then, maybe Atari games but not Playstaion.

Thank you everyone for entering the contest, and also congrats to the winners! Also as an added bonus, here's what two of our other writers had to say about their memories as well.

GlacialLeaf -

The earliest thing I recall to playing a video game, is somewhere in my mall, where there were a few arcade machines. I remember loving to play that motorbike one. XD But I never really could try everything there or stay for long.

Then, when I was about three or four, my dad brought home some kind of a fake console, with gaming guns and had you shooting demons. Being the scardy-cat I was at the time - and still am, to some extent - I was too terrified to even be there while my neighbors played it. I ended up staying at their house while they played it at ours, and my dad took it back the day later.

I also remember watching my cousin, at his house, playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic R. That's pretty much how I got familierized with Sonic, but I didn't actually GET to play it at their house. I needed to wait a few years before playing a sonic game. T_T

Then, when I was at the second year of Kintergarden, my parents finally bought me and my brother a PC. ^_^

It was a Windows 98, with about the only thing I remember is it having around 9 GB of HDD memory. We put some games we got along with the PC, of which the only one I actually remember being Claw, and bought another few later on, such as Rayman, which actually freaked me out quite a bit. O.o

I remember once participating in some weird game at my mall while my mom was shopping. I recieved a prize for participation - a game called 'Lemmings.' Me and my brother never figured out how to play that game. We couldn't understand a thing that went on! x.x

When we finally had internet, we downloaded a few games which one of the TV networking sites had for free, such as Dangerous Dave, DX-Ball, and a few games I'm still trying to find their names to this day, such as a 3D colorful interpetation to Alien Infaders. ><"

I remember playing these games with my cousin where he came to visit. One time, I remember him coming to visit when I was really sick, and had a hard time getting out of bed, but I still got up and played with him. XD

Moving on. When I was at the first grade, my mom went to the US to visit a friend of hers. I remember the day she got back. They let me out of school about half a day early, and my dad took me and my brother to meet my mom. ^_^

As much as I was happy to see her again, it has nothing to do with the story. Me and my brother each recieved a GBC - mine was torquoise, and my brother purple-clear, and about thirty games along with that.

I don't remember many of those, but I do remember Pokemon Silver, which was the first one I played out of these, Battle Arena Toushinden, PAPER BOY, a Wario game, Duck Tales, and Power Rangers: Time Force.

Pokemon Silver... now, that is one of my favorite video games of all times. I remember nights of playing it to the point of my battery running out, my saves erasing because of that, and starting all over again, never figuring out how to get past Sudowoodo, and getting stuck there. XD I remember my cousin borrowing my cart and giving it back to me a week or two later, with more than a few Pokemon at level 100, and Red easily beaten. XD

As time moved on, I had a neighbor who borrowed me Jazz Jackrabbit 2 once, and only later on we found out that it was still working without the disc. XD The cheats went around here, to the point where everyone knew about the flight, shield, and infinite armor cheats, but with the Hebrew keyboard keys. XD JJFLY became חחכךט, and that's how we all beat the game quite easily. XD

I also remember games coming with cereal and ketchup - there was a time when ketchup Heintz made a partnership with LEGO, and they distributed LEGO games, or demos of LEGO games, along with their ketchup, such as LEGO Island, LEGO Racers 2, etc.

With cereal, I remember getting sports games. The two I remember most vividly are a motorcycle racing one, which me and my brother really liked, and a soccer game, which we never did figure out how to play. Both teams just did whatever they wanted. In fact, I remember seeing my dad trying to play that game, giving up, taking a newspaper, and reading the newspaper in front of the PC while the game... just kept as it is.

And then came the third grade. I found two Sonic figurines - one of Sonic, one of Tails, and somehow remembered Sonic's name, after not being able to remember it when at my cousin's. That was one of the turning points of my life, because as I looked Sonic up online, I found two crappy sites in Hebrew about Sonic. Deciding to try and contact these site owners for more information and talk about Sonic, I downloaded an ICQ, which is an instant messaging software which was VERY popular in Israel at the time. Now no-one use it.

Cheerfuljochan -

Well lets see my first time playing anything as far I can remember was when I tried my big brothers Commodore 64, and played the old settlers going around trying to take over other villages with my vikings. . . . . . I pretty much got beaten up.

I also had a old European casset game console (google it), which was a extra accessory for the Commodore 64 , I got to play the old NES Teenage mutant ninja turtles 1. . . . . Yeah THAT GAME.

But the real first gaming console that I ever got was the Game boy colour with Pokemon Yellow. I spent hours playing Pokemon yellow and the first time I caught a Pokemon I think I said "Mom! Look! I caught a bird in a ball!!!", ah the good old days.

When I actually got my real first home console was when my big brother's friend was selling his Nintendo 64 away with A LOT of classic good games like: The legend of Zelda Ocarina of time, Super mario 64, Super smash bros, Mario kart, 007 Goldeneye. I spent hours to hours playing Super smash bros with friends and my big brother, it just had everything: Link my favorite sword guy, Mario and freaking Pikachu! I was having so much fun with it that I could easily lose track of time. I also spent hours on Goldeneye on that one tank stage with cheats on so that I could blow up all the soldiers around me and drive over them with my tank and hear their bones break!!! (I was kinda weird like that when I was a kid).

And the last memory is that I got my big brother's old PS1 since he bought a cracked version of it (so that he could play pirated games). When it was my birthday I got Crash bandicoot 3 Warped, and that was another game I easily spent A LOT of hours on. . . . . . . Lol not much else to say xD

A brand new Pokemon TV SPECIAL coming soon!

Hello there readers! Today I have some super exciting news to share with you, i'll let the video speak for itself:

Indeed you are wondering what is this? Well it is a Pokemon TV special featuring Red and his eternal rival Green! Which will air October 2nd on TV Tokyo at 7 pm.

No one knows if this will actually become a full fledged anime (which I dearly hope right now) but it will be a nice tribute to the first gen 1 and the older fans that started from there (Like me!).

Red Faction Armageddon - New for 5.99 at GameStop!

Earlier today I was at the mall just looking around, when I decided to go into GameStop. Now really I didn't plan on buying anything, and I really didn't have any extra money to spend; however one amazing deal soon caught my eye. Sitting there on the shelf was a brand new copy of "Red Faction: Armageddon" for the PlayStation 3. Now this game came out back in 2011, but normally by this point a new copy would still run you around 30 bucks, but this time that wasn't the case. The game was on sale for only $5.99! So, why is it so cheap? Well the answer is simple. Red Faction Armageddon was created by THQ, which as most of you may know, is no more. Just not too long ago THQ went under, and all of their game series were sold to other companies (including Red Faction), so now it seems that they are just trying to get rid of whatever is left.

If you've never played a Red Faction game before, or if you were planning on playing one, now is the best chance you will ever see. It turns out all GameStops country wide are now selling the game for $5.99, and it seems to be in stock at most as well. By going to GameStop's RFA page you can easily check for it in a store near you. (http://www.gamestop.com/ps3/games/red-faction-armageddon/78038)

For anyone who does not know what Red Faction is, well, let me explain. Red Faction is a 3rd person shooter with a twist. The game uses a crazy physics engine which simulates realistic destruction. Taking different types of materials into account (such as steel, iron, concrete, etc), the structures in the game are extremely detailed, and are created to act just as they would in real life. So, for example, if you shoot a rocket right at a key structural point, it will be enough to bring the whole building down; however if you hit an area of lesser importance, the structure will still stand. So, what if there's a wall standing in your way? Well... You could look for a door and go around, or you could just hack your way through the plaster and whatever else might be standing in your way. In short, just about every single aspect of the world can be destroyed, and that's what the core gameplay is based around as well.

The destruction is more than just some gimmick to get you to go around and blow things up; it can also be used to your advantage as well. See a bridge in front of you with some guards on it? Well, go plant some charges near the ground, and set them off! The bridge will buckle, collapse, and everyone on the bridge will go down with it. Its a unique feature for a game to have, and because of the destruction you always have to be aware of what is around you. Sure, you can play the game as a flat out shooter (destroying everything in your way), but this tactical aspect of the game is where it really shines, and what makes Red Faction fun.

Now, I'm only speaking from experience of past games here. I have yet to play Armageddon enough to form a true opinion over the title, but that really doesn't matter. The simple fact is, its a game that a lot of you may enjoy, and it is extremely cheap. If you have 5 bucks to blow, you might as well check it out; you've really got nothing to lose. Just keep in mind that if you've played past entries in the series, then don't be disappointed when you find out this one is different. While the previous entry was open world, this one takes place underground.

What is YOUR favorite genre?

In just about any form of media, there is a wide range of genres, and there are different groups of people who enjoy each genre as well. When some turn on the TV they may seek out a comedy, while others may look for one of them dark crime dramas. Everyone has their own reasons for liking specific genres, but about you? In the world of video games, what is your favorite type of game to play, and why? Once again I have opened up a discussion topic on the forums for everyone to discuss just that. By going to (http://forums.nettosgameroom.com/topic/9068029/1/) you can share your feelings about different video game genres, and why you like the ones that you play. Just remember that to join in on the conversation you must be a member of the forums. The sign up process is quick and easy though, so it really shouldn't be an issue. As for me, well... My favorite genre would have to be RPGs, or rather JRPGs.

When I was younger, I really didn't know what a JRPG was. I would pick up and play games hoping for some grand adventure, but I never really came across many games that were. Sure there was Pokemon, and I had also heard about Earthbound, but at the time I never really knew about the JRPG genre. I got games, I played them, and most of the time they ended up being platformers, or some type of arcade game. Not many of them really focused on the story, and that always made me sad. "Why can't more games be like Paper Mario? I want to play more games like Pokemon..." If only I had realized that these games fell into the JRPG genre.

Really it wasn't too long after the N64 came out that I started getting into JRPGs. By this time I knew the genre was out there, and it seems like a lot more JRPGs started to be released as well. Now days, the JRPG genre is basically my favorite, and I tend to buy just about every major (or not so major) release. I love the fact that the games focus on their anime styled story (for anyone who does not know, JRPGs were created to bring Visual Novels into "true" video game form, while Visual Novels were created to bring anime into novel form), I love the unique worlds filled with exploration, and a lot of the time I love the battle system as well. (Although I don't mind playing turn based games if the story is great, or the strategy is dead on, most of the time I'd rather play action RPGs.) On top of all of that, I love how JRPGs, or RPGs in general, reward you for just about everything. While in most games enemies are in your way just to slow you down or possibly kill you, in RPGs you actually have a reason to fight. Each time you kill an enemy you gain EXP, and every time you gain EXP, you are closer to leveling up. As you level you get stronger, and you also gain access to new features in game as well. The system is overall rewarding, and it makes you feel like you are always progressing.

Although I do in fact play just about every genre out there, JRPGs will always be my favorite. Sure from time to time there are other games in other genres that offer the same open world experiences with deep storylines, but it is still pretty rare. Then again in today's world more games do feature more and more RPG elements, but personally I am fine with that.

Mega Man X Fail

For the past few days I've been working my way through the Mega Man X series and reviewing them along the way. Well to go along with them Mega Man X reviews, I wanted to share something that I just so happened to come across. This is what I would like to call a "Mega Man X Fail." Now, take a look at the picture below.

Now, tell me... What is wrong with this picture? (Other than X's cartoon design.) As many times as I've seen this, I cannot believe it has taken me so long to pick up on this. So if you know the answer to my question, please feel free to comment and let the rest of the world know.

At the end of the SNES' life cycle, Capcom released one final Mega Man game to help send it off with a bang, and bring the series into the next generation. The game was called Mega Man X3, and it really didn't do what it set out to accomplish. While the game was a great send off for the SNES, it wasn't so great of a start for the 5th generation of consoles. Just about everything about the game felt dated on the new hardware, and the gameplay wasn't different enough to really stand out above the other two. Despite it being an overall fun game, Mega Man X3 fell short, and it became clear that Capcom needed to move on with the series.

Finally, after an almost two year wait, Mega Man X4 hit the store shelves. Although gamers had already gotten a taste of what next gen Mega Man would be like with the release of Mega Man 8, Mega Man X4 was different. For the first time in the X series, Capcom decided to change a lot of what we had come to know (and possibly love), and the result was... Well, how about we read the review and find out?

The Story:

Just as in X2, and X3, Mega Man X4 picks up right after the previous game, and because of that the game heavily relies on knowledge of the past games in the series. The game takes place in a future world where robots known as reploids have been build. These reploids have the ability to think for themselves, and they also have emotions just as humans; however unlike humans there is one small issue. After a virus got released onto the world, reploids began to go "maverick" and cause havoc for the people of the world. To help fight against this "maveirck" threat, a group called the "Maverick Hunters" was formed, but after the maverick virus infected the group's leader Sigma, the world fell into chaos and the maverick wars began.

Mega Man X4 picks up after the end of X3 where the Maverick Hunters named "X" and "Zero" teamed up to take down Sigma for the third time. In X3 Sigma had used a robot scientist by the name of "Dr. Doppler" to spread a fake anti virus, as well as build himself a new body. Although this event once again sparked the maverick wars (which had calmed down after the defeat of the remaining resistance in X2), Sigma's plan fell short, and he was once again defeated. It has been some time since then, and once again a new revolution is now underway.

After a second reploid military group forms called the "Repliforce," the world begins to change. While on the surface the Repliforce is a group to help protect the world, the cold hard truth was that they only cared about themselves. They soon plan a coup against the rest of the world, and begin building what they see as a "haven" for reploids. In their mind, reploids are all that matter, and humans are the weaker species. Due to these actions, they are soon branded mavericks by the Maverick Hunters, and because of that the hunters have no choice but to step in. That is when X and Zero enter the picture.

Unlike the games before it, Mega Man X4 actually has a split storyline. At the very start of the game you can choose to play as either X or Zero, and depending on who you pick, the story will play out a bit differently. While the overall plot will be the same, X will team up with a new reploid by the name of Double, and Zero will team up with Iris (who just so happens to be the sister of the Repliforce's second in command). By playing through both stories you get to see the entire plot, and get to peak inside at the Repliforce's true motives.

On top of the split storyline, Mega Man X4 also features anime cutscenes and a lot more dialogue in general. Although these scenes aren't the longest cutscenes out there, they do help provide a much more detailed story, and it even helps give us a look into Zero's past. For the first time we actually get to watch Zero's memories from before he joined the Maverick Hunters, and we also get to see events that turned Sigma into the Sigma of today.

These inside looks help clear up some of the confusion of the X series, and help develop the story in general. Besides the anime cutscenes, there is dialogue during the levels as well, and for the first time, ALL of the bosses actually speak to you (unlike in the past games where only special bosses would). Instead of simply showing up to kill X (or in this case X and Zero), they actually have a mini discussion with you before the fight begins. This gives the bosses more personality, and it helps develop their side of the story as well. This a very much welcomed addition. (Although, I personally still find it strange that the game was K-A/E rated despite having cursing, as well as blood.)

Overall, the story in Mega Man X4 is a lot more developed than in the past, and that makes it even more enjoyable. Although, the voice acting is a bit off...

Mega Man X's Gameplay:

X's gameplay in Mega Man X4 is once again basically the same gameplay we have come to expect from the X series. The game is still a standard platforming game where you can move left and right, you can jump, you can dash on the ground, and you can also wall kick off of walls and climb them in the process. Really nothing has actually changed here, but that's okay. As I've said in the other reviews, this is solid gameplay, and it works; there really is no need to fix what isn't broken. Stages have a wide range of obstacles for you to overcome, and to do so you'll have to master X's dash, his wall kick, as well as his dash jumps. The gameplay ends up being semi-high speed action, and it really does take skill. Due to X's wide range of moves, the players do in fact have full control over his body, and that is one reason the X series stands out over the classics. You aren't as limited when it comes to what you can actually do in game, and the controls feel tight and responsive. Like I said, this is the same gameplay they've been using since X1, and it still works. However; there are a LOT more differences this time.

While playing as X or Zero the basic gameplay is still the same, but the overall gameplay is different. Unlike Zero, X has what is called an X-Buster on his arm, and that makes him a long range attacker. By pressing the shoot button you can fire standard shots, but by holding it down you can pull off a charge shot. This is X's primary way to attack, but as you play through the game, more moves are unlocked.

Just as before, Mega Man X4 starts out with an intro stage that you must beat, but after that the game opens up. There are 8 stages for you to select from, and each stage features a different boss with a different special weapon. Once you defeat a boss and gain a special weapon from them, you can then use that very same special weapon to help kill other bosses. Just like in other Mega Man games, every boss is weak against a specific element, and it is up to you to figure out which weapon works best against who. Although, there is one downside to this special weapon system. Unlike the main X-Buster, special weapons actually have limited energy/ammo, so you really do have to use them wisely.

Besides unlocking new special weapons to use, X can also unlock upgrades and even a new armor set which provides him with new abilities (such as the ability to hover for a short amount of time). These upgrades and power ups can be found hidden throughout the stages, and that alone gives you a reason to search every corner of the game, as well as replay levels you have already completed. This helps add to the game's repay value, but not as much as Zero in general.

Zero's Gameplay:

If there is any one reason to get Mega Man X4, it would be because of Zero. For the first time in Mega Man X history, Zero actually has his own story, and he is completely unique. While Zero did have limited gameplay in X3 (he could be summoned in set sections of the game), he really wasn't anything more than an X clone there to back X up if he ever got low on health. He wasn't very useful overall, and he really didn't add anything to the gameplay (other than his charge shot upgrade). Well, that is not the case this time around.

Unlike X, Zero is a melee fighter who uses his Z-Saber rather than a gun. His gameplay consists of getting in close, combo slashing the heck out of everything in your way, and taking many risks in general. Zero cannot stand back from a safe distance, and because of that you have to have fast reflexes. When an enemy attacks you, you MUST be ready, and you must be able to quickly dodge out of the way before it is too late. This style of gameplay adds a whole new level of difficulty to the X series, and it is unlike anything seen in a Mega Man game up to this point. Although, that isn't the only thing that is different about Zero.

Also unlike X, Zero does not get new weapons from the bosses he fights, but rather he gets completely new moves and combos. From the ability to double jump, to the ability to preform an upper cut slash, Zero unlocks a wide range of abilities that help him advance through the stages, and have no limits (minus unique screen clearing moves). This makes Zero more agile than X (which makes up for his lack of range), and also speeds up the gameplay in general. While X is more of a "stand back, shoot, and run" type of guy, Zero is the type to constantly be on the move as he slashes through everything that gets in his way. Overall his gameplay is fast, fluid, and very solid; even more so than X's. On the down side, Zero does not get armor upgrades.

Although Zero can still find heart tanks to increase his health, and sub tanks (which store energy so he can heal himself), he does not get any true armor upgrades. While there is a secret armor that can be found later on in the game (or unlocked by the use of a code), all it does is actually change his armor's color to that of the "Black Zero" seen in Mega Man X2. It doesn't add to the gameplay, but it is at least something fun to unlock.

The Good and the Bad:

Mega Man X4 is one of them games that nails just about everything. It took the overused style of Mega Man X1-3 and improved on it, it added in Zero who COMPLETELY changes the gameplay, they gave the game a deeper story, gave the game new detailed sprites (which look pretty amazing), they added in true anime cutscenes, and the stages were pretty well designed as well (minus a few issues later on). There's really nothing wrong with Mega Man X4, it is a great game, and Zero makes up for X's same old style of play. All of the improvements that were made were very much needed by this point, and because of them, Mega Man X is finally back where it should have been in X3. Still, it does have a few problems.

The main issue with the game is actually the voice acting. Although it doesn't show up all that much, you can hear "HAH" sounds when X and Zero jump, and that can get a little bit strange. Their voices just don't seem to match their characters. X basically sounds like a girl, and Zero sounds a lot younger as well. If you've ever heard the Japanese voices, or even if you haven't, I'm sure just about every player out there pictured X and Zero with deeper voices. It's just what you would expect from "adults," even if they are robots. It really isn't that big of an issue, but it does sound off, and the voice acting alone somewhat ruins a sad scene later on into the game.

Other than the voice acting, the game is one of the better X games. While it still falls a little bit short with a few issues, it is a major improvement over X3, and it is a game worth your time. If you liked the other entries in the series, this is one you MUST pick up. If you're a new comer to the series, well, I'd still recommend checking it out, and there is a pretty good chance that you will love it (possibly even more than the older entries).

Overall, despite how great the game is, there are a few flaws, and because of that I'm going to give Mega Man X4 an 8/10.

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