Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z - Teaser Trailer and Reaction

Earlier today a brand new trailer for the upcoming "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z" was released. As you may or may not know, Yaiba is the newest game by Keiji Inafune (who most know as "the father of Mega Man"), and unlike his other new/original titles; this one actually takes place in the Ninja Gaiden universe and is co developed by Team Ninja.

The story of the game is that this ninja named Yaiba is killed by the hero from Ninja Gaiden, Ryu Hayabusa, and he is then brought back to life to fight the undead. It is basically Ninja Gaiden meets Dead Rising (which was another game Inafune was deeply involved with). From what we saw in earlier trailers, the game is more of a hack and slash (where you simply rip through hoards of monsters and zombies), compared to the skill based Ninja Gaiden main series, and many fans were actually upset by this. The crazy challenging series they once knew, had now been turned into something even a kid could play; that is if you wanted your kids to see this. Now sure, Team Ninja did go on to say that the game would have challenging modes for them die hard Ninja Gaiden fans, but a lot of people just aren't seeing it... And this new trailer doesn't help at all...

Before you watch this trailer, I have to warn you. It contains graphic violence, and strong language which may not be suitable for all viewers. Although the ESRB still has the game listed as RP, the trailer alone shows that it will be rated M (17 +). If you are under the age of 17, do not watch this trailer. (Also special thanks to GameSpot for uploading the trailer!)




So, how do you feel about this? Do you like this new direction Ninja Gaiden is going? Or do you have some major issues with it? Personally, I'm the latter.

When I first posted the announcement of Inafune's new "Ninja Zombie" project; I was excited. I couldn't wait to see where this game would go, and I was even more excited when I learned it would be a Ninja Gaiden game. Really, I just love the series in general. I love challenging games, I like ninjas, I like the character of Ryu Hayabusa, I like the Dead or Alive series, and I love how the game gives you almost complete control over what is going on; something most games lack now days. When you are going up against ten plus enemies in Ninja Gaiden, and when you know you can get killed in a single hit; nothing feels more rewarding in a game when you actually take them all down and survive. Dashing into the fight, parrying attacks, running off of walls, diving from the air, and pulling off crazy combos just feels right. The game is all about skill, and you never really feel cheated; not even when you get grabbed and get killed by an explosion. Overall, it is just a game series I enjoy, and I couldn't have been happier when I learned Inafune was a part of it. Then, I saw the Pre E3 trailer for E3 2013.

The Pre E3 trailer (which first aired on GT TV on Spike) sort of really put me, and apparently a lot of others, off. Yaiba was swinging a sword around trying to act "cool," and he started cursing for basically no reason. It seemed like they were using the words just because they could, and it really seemed to serve no point; it was a lot like one of them late night adult cartoons where they say whatever they want just to be crude. No other reason. None of what was being said felt natural, and it just seemed like they were trying too hard with the trailer. Even so, I decided to look past it, and wait for more news to be released. Now after seeing quite a bit of gameplay, we finally get to see the next trailer which shows off even more of the story, and now more people may be jumping aboard the "hate train."

Overall the game doesn't look bad at all. It has a really nice cell shaded art style (as opposed to the realistic style the main series tends to go for), there appears to be a lot of different weapons and tools for Yaiba to make use of, and if Team Ninja was telling the truth about it having challenging modes for the die hard Ninja Gaiden fans, then it might actually be an amazing game; a must have for some. Still, like I said, this trailer may actually turn a lot of people away.

This time around, it is even cruder. Apparently Yaiba curses every chance he gets, he is constantly making crude sexual remarks, and he has an extreme thirst for blood. This trailer makes it more clear than ever that Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z really is going to be just like them late night cartoons. Chances are, mature players may find themselves too "mature" for this game. Cursing and crude jokes do not make a game mature, and they really don't need to fall back on these themes. There's a difference between using such things as jokes from time to time, and using them just for the sake of using them. The former can really bring out the comedy in a game, or help set the mood of a specific scene, while the latter just feels flat out overdone. (Heck not even Suda takes it this far, and his games are known for being pretty messed up...)

Even so, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z may actually turn out to be an amazing game. As of right now it is still far too early to tell just how it will turn out, but hopefully we'll learn a bit more as we get closer to the release date. Now if you like this sort of "humor," then by all means, be excited! This game may be just what you are looking for! However, for the rest of us, we might just end up passing.

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GameStop Selling Killzone: Shadow Fall!

Although this isn't a big news story or anything, I figured quite a few of you would like to know. Apparently a lot of PlayStation 4 games, and accessories, do not have a street date. Basically what this means is, if a game store gets them in, they are allowed to sell them to the public.

Earlier today when I went into GameStop to pick up a copy of Sonic Lost World for the Wii U, I got to talking with some of the workers inside. As we were talking about the PlayStation 4, and the upcoming games for it, one of them pointed out that Killzone was now on the shelves. Yep, that's right. The PlayStation 4 exclusive "Killzone: Shadow Fall" is in fact for sale at most GameStops country wide; legally. You can walk into stores today, buy the game before it becomes scarce around the holiday season, and have it ready to play next month when the PlayStation 4 finally comes out.

So, if you're looking forward to the PS4; then this offer is one you might want to jump on. Heck while you're at it, you might as well pick up a Dualshock 4!

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Kickstarter reminder: World 1-1

Hello there readers! Today I want to remind you of the World 1-1 kickstarter; it only has 8 days left of its kickstarter, and is only a third from their funding goal (which is 15'000 dollars). I still hope that this gets funded because there doesn't really exist a high quality documentary about video games.


Support the kickstarter here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1128229743/world-1-1

If you didn't see my post before about this kickstarter then here is a link to it:
http://www.nettosgameroom.com/2013/10/kickstarter-world-1-1-game-history.html

And that's all from me readers! Have a awesome day.

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Buy now, or wait until Next Gen?

Tomorrow is the day. After almost a year long wait, Assassin's Creed IV will be finally hitting the shelves; however, this time around things are a little bit different. Throughout all of the seventh generation of gaming, the Assassin's Creed series has been one of them "heavy hitters." Although the series began with a semi-rocky start, it quickly grew into a phenomenon that fans just couldn't get enough of. So, why should things be any different for Assassin's Creed IV? Well... Because of the 8th generation; that's why.

Assassin's Creed IV is the first game to truly make the jump to the 8th generation of gaming. Sure Assassin's Creed III was in fact released on the Wii U, but it was also the very same game which we saw on the Xbox 360, and PlayStaiton 3. It wasn't a true jump in quality, and was nothing more than a flat out port. AC IV on the other hand, it is a true change in the game.

The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Assassin's Creed IV feature quite a few differences from the version which will be released tomorrow. They are built with the new console's power in mind, and they make use of every bit they can. The PS4 and XBO versions of the game not only feature a lot more detailed textures and character models, they also have improved physics, they make use of particle effects, the game will have a much steadier frame rate, and there are a few extra features as well. Although Ubisoft has yet to confirm all of the differences between the versions, they did go on to show how the game could be streamed from the PlayStation 4 to the PlayStation Vita, and they stated it would run in native 1080p as well (as opposed to the PS3, 360, and XBO which run games at 720p).

So, with that being said, is there really a reason to pick it up tomorrow? The answer to that is completely up to you. If you are a die hard Assassin's Creed fan, and you cannot wait another moment to play this one; then you might as well pick it up. When it comes down to it, you really have no way of knowing when you might get an Xbox One or PlayStation 4. With the Xbox One legal issues in the EU region, EU players will have no other choice but to pick up the game for either the Xbox 360, PS3, or PS4 (assuming they are willing to switch to a Sony console). On top of that, the consoles are expensive, and they will be hard to come by. At this moment, most game stores (both online and off) are no longer allowed to accept preorders for either console. Unless you have already had the console on preorder; they may actually be hard to find. You have to ask yourself, "will I be able to find that console and play Assassin's Creed? Or will I spend months, or even a year looking for it?" Like I said, it is up to you to decide what to do.

Personally, I plan on waiting. Although I'm a huge Assassin's Creed fan, I just don't see a reason to buy this one twice. Even if I end up loving the game, and despite being able to move data between the versions; I just don't see a reason to buy the updated version when I have already completed it. Sure, it would be nice to see the newer graphics, and extra content, but I know it would end up just sitting on my shelf before too long. This is why I plan on waiting.

Overall, I'd rather experience AC IV the way it was meant to be; as a launch title for the 8th gen. The series has come a long way over the past few years, and I personally cannot wait to see where they take it from here on out. I will hold off on getting it for the Xbox 360 and PS3, and I will be sure to pick it up the moment the PS4 hits the shelves.

So, what about you? What do you plan on doing; not just for Assassin's Creed, but for the cross generation games coming out over the next few months. Will you buy them now, or hold off until later?

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Beyond: Two Souls - Review

Every once in awhile, a video game company decides to take a step in an unexpected direction. Despite being in a sea filled with the same old thing, they take a risk by traveling uncharted waters, and they hope for the best. This is something the French company "Quantic Dream" has always done with their games. While a lot of game companies stick with the basic genres the world has come to know and love (such as adventure games, action games, shooters, etc), Quantic Dream's games that fall into a category of their own. They are games that walk the fine line between gaming and film, and because of that, they have always been unique.

Beyond: Two Souls is the latest game to be released by Quantic Dream, and it is the second one to be released as a PlayStation 3 exclusive. While the previous games released by Quantic Dream normally revolved around murder (including the PS3 exclusive "Heavy Rain"), Beyond: Two Souls actually takes a step in a different direction. Instead of having kids get kidnapped, or having people waking up only to ponder if they committed a murder or not, Beyond focuses on the life of a young girl... One who is anything, but normal.

The Story of Two Souls:

Beyond: Two Souls is a game that drives itself on its story. The game is in fact made to be a sort of "interactive film," and that becomes quite clear early on. Sure, quite a few games released in the 2000s have had large stories, but Beyond really takes it to a whole new level. The game wasn't at the Tribeca Film Festival for nothing after all.

When players first turn on Beyond, they are greeted by the main character's face. She goes on to introduce herself as Jodie, and she begins to tell the players a story of her life; however, she isn't quite sure where to start. It quickly becomes clear that a lot has happened to Jodie, and she herself is having a hard time piecing it all together. So, she does what anyone would do in this case, and starts from a major event in her life.

The very next scene shows Jodie in a police station being questioned by a cop. No matter what he asks her, Jodie refuses to say a single word. She wont tell him her name, why she is there, where she came from, or even what happened to her. At this point a scar can be seen on the back of Jodie's head, and an image of a man's face flashes before her as she is asked about her family and friends. Overall the scene is very confusing, but soon things really start to get heated up.

"I know, they're coming." After the cop left the room, Jodie finally speaks. At first it appears she is addressing the player and breaking the fourth wall, but soon it becomes clear that this is not the case. The person Jodie is talking to has had a strong connection to her entire life, and it is also someone she truly doesn't understand. He is an invisible entity named "Aiden," and he and Jodie have been joined since her birth. As the FBI break into the police station where Jodie is being held, the screen changes, and before too long, nothing remains in the building other than a pile of bodies; the cop the only one left alive, and Jodie nowhere to be seen.

After this point, the game begins to jump around. Throughout all of Beyond players get to see different key moments in Jodie's life. At one moment a scene will be playing where she is in training for the CIA, but in another she will be a little girl sitting at the window of her not so friendly house. Although the story telling may seem a bit random at times, it truly isn't, and everything does work out in the end. The game is set up so that you'll go into it with many questions, but you'll leave with all of them answered, and a steady timeline put into place. Just why does Jodie join the CIA? Why is she on the run? How did she end up where she is today? The only way to find out is to keep playing.

A Beautiful Drama:

Although you may not realize it at first, Beyond: Two Souls is in fact a drama. This game tells the story of Jodie's hard life, and it doesn't pull any punches. You will see her being sent away crying and screaming, you will see the tough choices she has to make, and you will even see her when she is at the lowest point in her life. While having drama in a video game isn't anything new, the way Beyond presents itself will make you forget all about the others. The game pays great attention to the little details, and just like in real life, these little things are what normally matter the most. As you play through the game, you may forget about the building Jodie was standing in for a scene, but you'll never forget the tears in her eyes as she hugs her stuffed bear. Moments like these will really resonate with you, and they will help pull you into the world.

Another thing that really makes Beyond: Two Souls stand out are the characters, and the actors and actresses who play them. The main character, Jodie, is portrayed by actress Ellen Page, while the lead supporting character, Nathan, is played by Willem Dafoe. Both actress and actor really help bring the game alive, and help you forget that you are even playing a game. Just like with Heavy Rain, all of Beyond was in fact filmed in a motion capture studio, and a great amount of work went into converting these scenes into the game. At times it becomes near impossible to even tell that you are playing a game. Beyond really pushes the PlayStation 3's graphics to its limits, and the game also uses a lot of special effect tricks that you would normally see in films that use CGI. It really is quite amazing to see a PlayStation 3 game look this good, and it really helps add to the experience.

When it comes to the acting, it too is dead on. You can really feel the emotions running through each scene, and even the "minor" characters come to life. The interaction between characters feels natural, and it is very clear that scenes were filmed rather than simply motion captured, and then recorded in a sound booth. Sadly many games on the market today still record cutscenes and the voices to them separately, but at least Beyond wasn't one of them. Having the actors acting out the scenes themselves, voice included, really helped the game feel realistic, and it brought it even closer to being a film. Considering Beyond: Two Souls is based on its story, the acting itself really was key, and everyone really did nail their roles.

The Gameplay:

Despite being an "interactive movie" of sorts, Beyond still does in fact contain gameplay. Throughout each of the scenes you are able to take control of either Jodie or Aiden, and each one of them has their own verity of actions they can preform. Although a lot of the gameplay will be Jodie walking around, there are a lot of objects in the environment that can be interacted with. As you walk by objects, a little white dot will appear over them. This tells you, the player, that by pressing the right analog stick in direction the object is located in, Jodie will be able to interact with it somehow. Sometimes these interactions will be something as simple as picking up a TV remote and turning on the TV, and other times they will be key to the cutscenes; such as one early one where Jodie must climb up a wall at boot camp. At times these interactions will also require you to press a button quickly, or press and hold buttons in a specific order, but these moments mainly come during key story scenes rather than from objects just laying around.

As the story progresses, a few other types of gameplay elements come into effect as well. Sometimes Jodie will be running away in an escape scene, in which you have to use the right analog stick to have Jodie duck under objects, and other times Jodie will actually be in a vehicle you will have control over. Although these scenes are straight forward; they do provide you a little bit more interaction in the world.

When it comes to Aiden, things are a bit different. By tapping the triangle button at anytime (with the exception of a few scenes), the game will switch over to Aiden's control. As Aiden you will enter a first person view, and you will be able to fly around the world interacting with different objects, or people, in different ways. Aiden can be used to break objects, he can be used to move objects, he can be used to take control of people (which then will play the same as Jodie), and he can also trigger switches to help Jodie advance. Often Aiden is used for puzzle solving, but there are quite a few key moments in the story where he will be the only one you can control. Overall, Aiden is just as important to the game's gameplay as Jodie, but he also provides one other twist past games by Quantic Dream lacked. He allows you to play through the game in a co-op mode.

By either using a second controller on the PlayStation 3, or by downloading the Beyond Touch App (on iOS or Google Play), Beyond can be played in co-op. In this mode, one player will take control of Jodie, while the other will take control of Aiden. This allows for much more seamless gameplay, and it allows you to interact with more objects in the world at once. Instead of talking to someone as Jodie, and then using Aiden to move something or break something afterwords; using co-op one player can do the talking, while the other does whatever Aiden needs to do. It really speeds up the gameplay, and it also allows you to understand Jodie even more. In reality Jodie and Aiden are two separate "people," so it is only natural that you control Jodie, while your friend or family member controls Aiden. It is a game about two, for two.

The Choices You Make:

Depending on how you play Beyond, different things will actually happen. Each time you talk to someone, you are given the choice to react in different ways. Although most of the time these choices will lead you down the very same path, it is always nice to try out different things. For example, if you want to be a good little girl and do as you are told, you can; however you also have the option to try and fight back. Even though both routes will lead to Jodie complying with the order, how the result comes about is slightly different. Minor differences like these really help with the game's replay value, but they aren't the only options you have here.

Some scenes can actually be skipped depending on your actions in the game, and by skipping these scenes later ones may become unlocked. For example, in one scene Jodie wants to go somewhere. Now if you do what Jodie wants, and actually go to this place, a scene will play out there, and the game will continue to advance. Now, what if you don't do what Jodie wants, and stay home instead? Well, that in return unlocks a scene much later on in the game which makes up for the "shortened" gameplay experience. Although moments like these are pretty limited (especially compared to Quantic Dream's previous game, "Heavy Rain"), they are still a very welcomed feature. They give you even more of a reason to play through the game for a second time, and it is always nice when you find out your actions managed to change Jodie's life.

The Good and the Bad:

Beyond: Two Souls is not a game for everyone. Considering the fact that it borders on being a film rather than a game, some people may actually be turned off by it. It is a game filled with action you watch rather than truly play, and even the moments you are in full control, are in fact very limited. Sure you can ride a horse around an open desert, but you really aren't going to get anywhere. Yeah, you can drive that bike down them winding roads, but you are always moving forward. If you are the type of person who rather play a game rather than watch cutscens, then Beyond may not be for you; however, that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least give it a try, or watch someone else play it.

If you are really into movies, TV shows, books, or stories in general; Beyond: Two Souls will not disappoint. Sure there are a few awkward moments once in awhile, but you'll see worse in actual movie theaters, or even in the popular TV shows of today. Either way you look at it, the writing is never perfect in anything, and it is very easy to overlook these smaller issues. They really aren't a problem, they do not hold back the game, and chances are you'll forget all about them seconds after the scenes occur. Other than that, the acting, writing, as well as the overall experience, are all rock solid.

Beyond really pushes the PlayStation 3 to its limits, and the amount of work that went into this game is very obvious from the get go. The graphics look great, there are a lot of smaller details which really help the game shine, there is a lot to interact with in the world, there are a lot of extra scenes to be found, there are hidden bonuses to find in the world as Aiden, the co-op mode works amazingly well, the Touch App is a unique new way to play this sort of game, and above all, the story really pulls you in. The game gets extremely emotional, and chances are you will never want it to end. By the time you reach them credits, you will be replaying older scenes, and you will want to see the other possible endings.

Overall, if you are looking for a unique interesting story, Beyond: Two Souls is a must play. It is a story both gamers and non gamers alike can enjoy, and it is another game that makes your PlayStation 3 worth owning. Sure the game isn't perfect, but it is pretty great. This is why I am giving Beyond: Two Souls for the PlayStation 3, a solid 9/10.

If you like story based games, you should check it out.

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Netto's Game Room Update

Well, we did it. After a few short months, Netto's Game Room has finally hit the 500 post milestone. A lot has happened over the past half a year, and it seems like as time goes on, the busier we get. If you take a look back to where we once were, it is very clear just how far we have come. What once was just a simple blog being ran by a single person, has evolved into something much larger. We now have our own domain, a few new writers have joined the team, we have expanded to Tumblr, we opened forums, and our audience has really started to grow. This is why we have decided to take yet another step forward.

Today we are happy to announce that Netto's Game Room has expanded to social media. We can now be found on Google +, we have a Google + Community, and we can be followed on Twitter (@NettosGameRoom) as well! Just like with Tumblr, these communities will be updated every day as new contented is posted here on NGR, and they are an easy way for you to keep up to date with all of our latest news updates, and reviews.

A few other minor changes have been made to NGR as well. We have updated the forums and reintroduced the original forum skin, for anyone who would like to use it, and we fixed a few minor glitches as well. Meanwhile, the main page was also updated. We have made a few minor changes to our RSS feed, we updated the blog's description, and we fixed a few minor issues we came across as well.

All of these changes were made to help bring a better experience to you, the reader, and we really hope you enjoy them! After all, we are all about making things easier.

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Two Game Fixes

Well, this post comes as a sequel to two earlier posts: The Deus Ex one and the Pokemon X and Y one, and really won't be long.

Well, the download for Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut is working now! I've been wanting to play this version for quite some time, and I'm happy that it's finally working.

The other one is a Pokemon X and Y patch, which should fix the saving problems in Lumiose City, which can be downloaded from the 3DS eShop. Nintendo are working on a way to restore the lost saves, but as of yet, there is no known way to restore them.

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut is Officially Released!

This post is not going to be long, but in case you're intending to buy this game right now, please read it.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut is out! The version which was supposed to add a new area, alter the boss fights, impove the graphics, include commentary, and more, is not out worldwide, and Steam is one of the sources.

The game costs $19.99, with 50% off for those of you who had the original, and another 25% off for those of you who had The Missing Link DLC, as well!

Right now, though, in case you buy it on Steam, it is impossible to download it. If and after you get it, the box where it should have had the Install button is not-present. This problem has been going on from the time the game came out on Steam, which was about seven hours ago.

As of yet, I have not seen an official word from Steam on the matter, but mods are going over and deleting threads in the forums regarding this matter.

In case you are interested in getting it, please make a quick Google search to see if the problem has been resolved. I will also try and make a quick post as soon as I can, if I notice it happening.

Until next time!

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A League of legends research project.

Hello there my dear readers! One of our readers called Tom, (thanks for sharing this with us by the way) found a interesting post about Lol (League of legends), where one very dedicated lol fan team put hours into researching lol. Basically they have now shared their results with the rest of the world, here take a look for yourself:
[Via: Twurdy Elite LoL Community]
View Larger Image and Get the Embed Code to Add This Infographic to Your Site!

Yes Lol is THE number one most played online game of all time and if it keeps on growing, it may very well make it to the actual Olympic games in 2020. That is the theory at least, but hey major thumbs up for the Twurdy Elite lol community for putting hours into researching this and sharing it with the world.

And that's all from me readers! Have a awesome day.

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Pathika - Review

If you have an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or anything else that has access to the iOS App store; then you would know how confusing it can become. Each day you log in, it seems like there is always a massive amount of new apps to download, and because of that a lot of great apps get lost. Sometimes it can even be a chore just to find one single app, even if it is one released by a major company! Do you want to play that brand new "must have" game everyone is talking about? Well, you better know the name, or else you may just have a hard time finding it. Now this isn't always the case, but the point is that a LOT of great apps go completely unnoticed. This is what has happened to a little game called Pathika.

Last weekend I was contacted by Sercan from the game developers "Devada." Earlier in the week Devada released their very first mobile game, and they were wondering if I could give it a try for myself, and see how I liked it. Well, here is what you might call my "mini review!"

Pathika is an iOS puzzle game released by the Turkish developer Devada. The game follows two brothers by the names of Yin and Yang as they try to uncover an evil plot which is threatening their peaceful land made out of shapes. The game begins with Yin searching for his brother Yang, but as the game progresses, more of the "true" story is uncovered. Overall it is a simple little plot, and enough to push you forward, but it really isn't as important as the game's gameplay.

As you play through the game, the main character(s) will have to go through dungeons, climb towers, and explore other areas of their world; however doing so isn't quite that simple. Each area, or level, of the game takes place on a shape filled screen where you must navigate your character to the exit. By tapping on the different squares and shapes on the screen, you can move your character to the next space; however, each space is not quite the same.

While basic white squares make up the pathway for you to walk across, there are also color coded squares, diamonds shaped objects, gray colored squares, and a few other types to get in your way. Upon stepping on a basic white square, the square will vanish, and your path will then be sealed off. Although the very same thing happens when you step on other shapes; the white squares are only there to vanish, and the other shapes are to solve puzzles.

In order to exit a level, your character must be the same color as the exit. To change colors all you have to do is step on a colored square, but it really isn't as simple as it may sound. For example, you may have to step on a red square to become red, but that red square may be across the area with winding paths and walls blocking you off at different ends. Not only will you have to be able to step on every white square on the way, you will also have to step on them so that you can return from that red square, and make it toward the exit. To top that off, sometimes the exits are an odd color, so you will have to mix and match different colors if you want to become the right color to beat the stage. This becomes even more complicated when squares start to show up that actually change colors each time you step on them. One moment the square may be blue, but the next time you step on it; it may become red. Either way you look at it, you will have to keep stepping on this square to go through all of the colors and get rid of it, but you may come to find that you actually had to be a solid "standard" color rather than a mixed color. If this is the case, not only will you have to keep changing your color, but you will also have to make your way across the level to a black square to remove your color properties

As you make your way through the game, more and more shapes will start to get in your way. What starts out as a simple game with white path way squares, soon becomes one filled with walls, diamonds that warp you across the map, gray squares which take more than one step to destroy, and other obstacles as well. With each passing level, the game gets harder and harder, and the story goes deeper and deeper into the game's world. Although tutorials do pop up to help introduce new features; the game does not hold your hand when it comes to actually solving the puzzle for yourself. Although you can use "chi" to give you hints and help guide you to the exit, it is a limited resource, and it really can take the fun out of the game.

If you are a fan of puzzle games, or puzzle games of this nature, then this is a game I would recommend checking out. The game is broken up into 5 episodes, each with 50 levels to play (for a grand total of 250 stages). While the first episode is completely free to play, the other 4 must be bought via an in game purchase. Each one is sold for a grand total of $1.99, but a 4 episode pack can be downloaded for $5.99 as well.

With all things considered, Pathika really is a nice little game. It is a good time killer, it puts a new twist on an old puzzle solving standard, and it provides a good challenge! The game is also only around 20 MB, and it does in fact have achievements to unlock in the game center. Overall I give Pathika for iOS, a solid 8/10 (4/5 on the App Store)!

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Kingdom Hearts III - D23 Trailer

If you are a Kingdom Hearts fan, then chances are you've been waiting for Kingdom Hearts III since 2006. Sure there have been quite a few releases since then, but they weren't quite the same. While Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days followed Roxas, Birth by Sleep followed Aqua, Terra, and Ven, and Coded followed Data Sora, the only sequel to actually step back into Sora's story was Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance. Although KH:DDD followed Sora's story and served as an intro to Kingdom Hearts III, it was still "just" a handheld game and not the next major entry in the series.

When Kingdom Hearts III was finally announced at E3 2013, a lot of fans went crazy. The game they had been waiting 7 years for had finally been announced, but the information given was very limiting. Square-Enix decided to show off a few clips, but no "true" gameplay was actually shown. That is until now!

At the D23 Expo in Japan, Square-Enix finally gave us another look at the upcoming game for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and this time around we get to see nothing but gameplay! Check it out!

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Nintendo Fixing Pokemon X and Y Bug

Yesterday I posted an article about the major bug found in the newest entries in the Pokemon series (X and Y). The bug occurs when saving the game in the capital city, and it prevents you from reloading the save when you go to turn the game back on. Well, Nintendo finally admits that there is an issue, and they are already working on a fix.

Until the fix can be released, Nintendo recommends not saving in the city. Below is a map released by Nintendo of Japan showing the areas which will cause the glitch when saving. Just avoid saving in the blue areas shown, and you will be fine!

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Pokemon X and Y - Save Corrupting Bug!

If you have Pokemon X or Pokemon Y (any version of the game), then this is a blog post you MUST read. It turns out that the latest entry in the Pokemon series has a massive save corrupting bug, and Nintendo has yet to even acknowledge it.

After you get to the game's capital city "Lumiose City," be careful! Players who are saving their game in the city are turning on their Pokemon games only to find that the game no longer works. Basically the game flat out refuses to load the save data, and the only way to fix this problem is to delete it and start over from the very start.

So, how do you avoid this glitch? Easy. All you have to do is avoid saving in the city, and your game will be fine. Its just that if you don't know about this glitch, chances are you'll want to save in the main city at some point. It is the largest city in the game, there is a lot to do there, and there is even a gym located there; why wouldn't you quit playing for the day and save while standing in it? It really isn't something you would think would ever happen for a game like this, but it does, and it is always the uninformed who come across the problem.

Really this isn't the first time something like this has happened in a Nintendo game. Take Legend of Zelda for example. In the 2006 release "Twilight Princess" on the Nintendo GameCube and Wii, there was a glitch that could cause you to lose 30-60 hours of gameplay depending on when you triggered it. At one point in the game a bridge vanishes, and you cannot return to the earlier half of the game until you fix it. Well, the issue occurred when players saved their game on the map the bridge vanished on. Upon reloading their save file, players were finding themselves standing on the other side of the bridge; the side where they should have been blocked off from. This meant that they were not able to cross where the bridge used to be, and they were then unable to advance through the story. It was one of them bad glitches you wouldn't know about until it happened to you, and what was worse was the fact that there were two sections of the game just like this.

So, what do you do if you have this Pokemon glitch? Well, personally, I would just wait it out. Nintendo 3DS games can be patched, and because of that this glitch can be fixed. If push comes to shove, Nintendo could release an application that fixes your save data (which is what they had to do with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which also suffered from a major glitch). At this time we really don't know if Nintendo will act on this, but considering Pokemon is one of their major game series (and one of their biggest game releases this year), it is safe to assume that they'll do whatever they can. Although, they never did fix the random save corruption glitch found in Animal Crossing: New Leaf...

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It's time to play the PlayStation 4!

Although the PlayStation 4 will be coming out in less than a month; today Sony announced that they will be shipping PS4 kiosks all across the United States. These kiosks will first appear in select few Sony stores, but will then begin to make their way to GameStops, as well as other electronic stores across the country. These kiosks will feature an HD TV, one controller (possibly two depending on the store), and it will have five demos to play. These demos include: the PlayStation 4 exclusive "Knack," FIFA 14, Super Motherload, Octodad (remember, no giant crabs), and Pinball Arcade.

If you are interested in trying out the PlayStation 4 early, you can use the store finder below to look for a location close to you. Simply type in your zip code, pick a maximum distance to search, and then drive to wherever the map sends you!

http://experienceplaystation.com/

Keep in mind that stores will be added to the list as they receive the PS4 Kiosk, so make sure you check back from time to time to see if any of your local stores have been added.

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Kickstarter: World 1-1 A game history documentary

Hello there readers! Yes we have yet another kickstarter we would like to share with you all readers (they are very popular these days aren't they). Lets start from the beginning, Netto got contacted by Daryl Rodriguez and Jeanette Garcia, and they asked us if we in NGR could share their project. They are working on a documentary about the history of video games. We are not talking about a small budget retelling of the history now; it will be a full length movie, with interviews with the pioneers, engineers, etc(think of one of those very well done Discovery channel documentaries, except gaming only).

This documentary will go deeply into the roots of the creation of Gaming as we know it today; the business, deals that started it, and A LOT behind the scenes. Daryl and Jeanette basically have the whole team assembled to make this, they even have Nolan Bushnell ready in their team! (For you younger readers, he was the one who founded Atari inc. Which was the company that made gaming popular the very first time in the 70s). The pledge for the kickstarter getting funded is 15,000 dollars. There are no stretch goals but if you pledge at least $20 you get the digital download of the documentary, (35 for a physical DVD copy) and some extras. The money will go to equipment, and travel costs to different locations.

The reason they are doing this project is because a lot of gamer's today (especially very young gamer's), have no clue how gaming actually started, and why its so popular today. In my own personal opinion, I like this idea! I have always liked documentaries that actually go into detail of how certain things started, and how they almost could have had a different outcome. Actually, when I was still in College I made a essay about Game history myself (as you guessed it, it wasn't really that great).

By all means readers, if you have ever wanted a REAL documentary about gaming history, (and not quick summary by a certain "famous" youtuber), then support Daryl and Jeanette in their first episode of gaming history where they will focus as mentioned on the start of it all.

Here is their Kickstarter link and video: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1128229743/world-1-1


And that's all from me readers! Support this awesome idea and have a great day!

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Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD - Trailer

Awhile back Square-Enix announced that Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, and Kingdom Heats Re: Chain of Memories would be released on the PlayStation 3 in HD. This mini collection of games became known as "Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix," and it also ended up including a "movie" version of the Nintendo DS game "Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days" as well. This collection was not only the first time fans of the series got to play Kingdom Hearts in HD with updated controls, it was also the first time that Kingdom Hearts FM ever hit western shores. It was a major release for long time fans, but truthfully it was only just the beginning.

Not too long after Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD was announced, Square-Enix also went on to announce a Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix. Although at the time not much information was known, most fans expected it to include Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix +, as well as Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix HD. Well, today Square finally made it very clear on what we will be getting in the next collection, and they even released a trailer to go along with it!

Just as fans had speculated, the 2.5 HD collection will in fact feature Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix +, it will include Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Final Mix (which just like KHII FM+, it was never released in the west), and it will also include a cutscene/movie version of the DS game "Kingdom Hearts Re: Coded." For the first time in Kingdom Hearts history, fans in the west will finally be able to experience what they missed out on by not being able to play the Final Mix versions of both KHII and BBS, and PlayStation gamers will finally get to experience the story of Re: Coded as well. On top of that, the bundle may have a connection to Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix as well. Originally Re: Chain of Memories was included as a second disc in the Kingdom Hearts II FM+ package, and it also linked up with FM+ to provide extra boss battles. Rather or not if this feature will make it over to the HD collection is yet to be seen, but the chances are high. Especially since Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories HD does in fact save to its own file.

For more information, check out the trailer below!

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Pokemon X and Y - Out Now!

Today is the day. After a long wait, Pokemon X and Y is finally out! Not only is this the first Pokemon game to be released world wide on the same day, it is also the first Pokemon game to really take that next big step forward.

Over the years Pokemon games have always improved slightly on the last entry, but it has always stuck to the same core concepts. When the first two games were released, everything was simple. Although the games did feature deep gameplay, with a complex Pokemon stat and battle system, they were still black and white Game Boy games, they only used basic sprites, some of the menus were clunky to navigate, and the multiplayer element could only be used with a Game Boy Link Cable. By today's standards, Pokemon may have not been able to hold its ground; however, in reality, it has.

Every game release over the years has built upon what was started all them years ago. When Gold and Silver came out for the Game Boy Color, the only real difference was the inclusion of some light color effects, and the real time day and night cycle. Sure they added new Pokemon in as well, and fixed up the menus, but that didn't change the fact that it was still very much like what came before. The simple fact is, if you were to pick up a copy of Pokemon Red, and Pokemon Silver and stood in the very same place on both, the only true way to tell the difference between them would be by looking at the trainer.

When the Game Boy Advance came out, Pokemon did take  a larger step forward. The controls were streamlined (actions such as surf could now be used by pressing A by water), the game had higher detailed sprites, and the ability to run was included as well. Still, despite the game looking nicer, it was still very clear that it was Pokemon. Sure there were new Pokemon running around, and players got to explore a new region, but the thing is; it was still the same game. No major changes were made to the core gameplay, and even some aspects were removed from previous versions. Unknown to the players at the time, this would soon become the pattern Pokemon would follow.

With every release, Pokemon has basically been the same game over and over again with a few minor changes. When Pokemon made the jump to the DS the sprites gained even more detail, and a 3D effect was added in, but the games still remained the same. Sure, you could now battle online with friends, and you could trade Pokemon across the world, but other than that; the games were in fact the same. This remained to be the  for all of the Nintendo DS Pokemon games. Each release would make some minor changes to the sprites, or speed up the menus, or add in some extra little touches, but the games still remained the same at heart. That is, until now.

Pokemon X and Y aren't just the first main Pokemon games to be on the 3DS, they are also the first games to really take the series forward. They are the first main series games to be fully in 3D (with both a 3D overworld and 3D battles), they are the first main Pokemon titles to allow you to customize your trainer, they are the first titles to introduce "hoard" pokemon battles (in which mobs of pokemon attack you at once), they are the first to feature sky pokemon battles, and for the first time in Pokemon History, pokemon can actually evolve past their third forms! Although the games still have the same core aspect, this time around a lot has actually changed. Besides the new features, a new pokemon type has been added in called "Fairy Type" (which actually changes up the core gameplay), the pokemon EV system has been reworked to allow players better control over their pokemon's stats, and the game even will make use of a cloud storage app to save your pokemon and pass them down through the generations!

Overall, Pokemon X and Y truly are the first games to take a major jump forward in the series. While every game up until this point has held tightly onto its roots; with X and Y Nintendo decided to branch out. Even though the game has made many major changes to the Pokemon formula, it still is the Pokemon we have come to know and love. After all, despite going in different directions, the X and Y axis always meet at the center.

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Valve Demos New Controller

Within the last month Valve decided to drop quite a few bomb shells on us. They officially announced their brand new OS, their Steam Machines, and a new controller as well. Although most of the news Valve had to share was accepted with open arms by most fans, the newly announced controller did cause a few people to express their concerns.The controller had two trackpads in place of analog sticks, the buttons were placed in awkward positions, and it was hard to tell what some of the buttons would be used for. Well, them worries have now been put to rest!

Valve has finally shown off the new Steam Controller in action, and it looks stunning! All of the questions you may have had have now been answered, and the controller is looking even better than anyone could have imagined. Awhile back Valve stated that their controller would be one that worked with all Steam games, and it looks like they were able to meet their goal. Not only does it work well with multiplatform released "console" games, but it works for fully mouse controlled games as well.

For more information, check out the video below!

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Xbox One will technically "spy" on you?

Hello there readers! Yes this may come a little late but its still some very big news, Yes the Xbox One will indeed be collecting your personal "voice" and data through the Kinect. They will Sell the data to Advertisement companies, so that they can send you more ads (now doesn't that sound fun). One of Microsoft's spoke persons named Yusuf Mehdi held a talk on Saturday at the Association of National Advertisers' annual convention that was titled "Winning the Game: Xbox Marketing." 

He brought up how Xbox one could "revolutionize" advertising as we know it, (yeah because we really do wanna buy a GAMING console just to see more ads. . . .).  This is what the man himself said: 

"We are trying to bridge some of the world between online and offline," Mehdi said. "We have a pretty unique position at Microsoft because of what we do with digital, as well as more and more with television because of Xbox. It's early days, but we're starting to put that together in more of a unifying way, and hopefully at some point we can start to offer that to advertisers broadly," 

Of course all of this shouldn't come as a surprise since Microsoft has been doing A LOT of very sketchy business decisions lately, but this will really shoot themselves in the foot, more ways then one. I mean think about it the Xbox one is going to take away your privacy, that is not a problem in US because there are no specific rules against it, but in EU it is. Microsoft will not be able to sell the console in EU regions at all, if they don't find a hole in the EU laws. They will lose millions of customers and Xbox fans because they want to "revolutionize" ads. . . . . . .

I'm just gonna say that I really feel sorry for all of you Xbox fans out there, I really do, I freaking loved the 360, loved the Halo franchise but now I can't enjoy Halo 5 or 6 because both of them will be in the ONE. 

Lets just hope that MS sees all the problems this "collecting data" with the Kinect will cause to their already damaged reputation, and their profits, lets hope that they will change their minds.

Last funny thing: Xbox one did get its first ad recently, and you guessed it, it had absolutely no games seen or mentioned in there, here take a look for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmD0vPOd5Rk

Thats all from me readers! Lets hope that MS has a change of heart VERY SOON, have a nice day!

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Beyond and Rune Factory 4 Reviews - Coming Soon

If you are a gamer, then chances are the past few weeks have been crazy for you. Many big name titles have hit the shelves, and some of you may be having a hard time deciding what to buy. We've had Grand Theft Auto V, Etrian Odyssey Untold, Rune Factory 4, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Disgaea D2, Armored Core: Verdict Day, as well as a few other games, get released, and very soon we'll be able to buy games such as Pokemon X and Y, Sonic Lost World, and Assassin's Creed IV as well! The end of November was crazy, and October will be just the same! So, which ones should you get? Well, I'll leave that up to you; however I would like to take the time to announce two new reviews that have now gone into the works!

Although I cannot cover every game that has been released, there are two reviews I would like to get out as soon as possible. The first review is what I would consider this month's "big" NGR review. If you are a long time reader, you would know that every month I pick one major release, and write a full detailed review over it. This review is published both on and off site, and it is also the review that gets entered in some review contests (which we have won quite a few times over the past year). Last month it was Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD, the month before it was Tales of Xillia, and before that it was The Last of Us. So, what will the next one be? Well, it is none other than Beyond: Two Souls of course!

Beyond: Two Souls is one of the PlayStation 3's last major titles, and it is one that a lot of fans of Heavy Rain have had their eyes on. It walks the line between film and gaming, and it is also one of the few games to push the PlayStation 3 to its limits. Due to its nature, not everyone may find this game enjoyable, but that is exactly why it was chosen for our next review. As for the second game, it too is what some might call a "major release."

Rune Factory 4 is the long awaited follow up to 2011's Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny. It is a game that builds upon just about everything that was set in its past, and it is one of the few Harvest Moon games to really try to push the series to the next level. It is a game that is loaded with content, and it has been refined in almost every way. While Harvest Moon and Rune Factory series staples still remain in tact, the game's new additions help make it stand out above the rest. It is a game I personally have been waiting quite some time for (just as a few other of our writers continue to wait), and I hope everyone looks forward to reading the review!

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BlazBlue: Alter Memory

If you are a fan of fighting games, then chances are you have at least heard of the BlazBlue series by now. It is one of the few fighting games out there that not only provides players with deep engaging gameplay, but a deep storyline as well. The game has a cast of very loveable characters, and over the past few years it has really gained quite the cult following. While the game originally was released as sort of a take off from the Guilty Gear series (same gameplay style, but with a new world, set of characters, and story); it soon grew into something larger than anyone could have imagined.

The BlazBlue of today has really evolved past its initial release. There have been three main entries in the series, a few spin off titles, a few improved versions and ports, it has had many arcade releases, it has quite a few novels as well as short stories to add to the game's overall story, there are mangas, and even radio shows for it. On top of that, BlazBlue merchandise can be found throughout Japan, memes started by the game are seen allover online ("LOL Ice Car" being just one of many), and the game's soundtrack has really caught on as well. Although at first glance BlazBlue might seem like just another overlooked anime styled fighter, but in reality; it is anything but. So, what is the next step for this series? Well...

Introducing BlazBlue: Alter Memory! As you may recall, a few months ago we here at NGR reported on a BlazBlue anime in the works. At the time all we were able to state was that it would follow the storyline of the original game (Calamity Trigger), and that it would be coming out sometime within the next year. Well, guess what? Today is the day!

Today (yesterday for Japan) the very first episode of Alter Memory aired, and the good news is; you can now watch it! By going to Funimation's official website, you can watch the newest episodes of BlazBlue: Alter Memory as they air in Japan. Now these episodes are only in sub formation as of right now, but that doesn't mean things wont change in the near future. As with most animes, chances are BlazBlue will be dubbed once the show finishes its initial (first season) run in Japan. If you want to wait until the English version is released, go ahead, but if you would like to watch it now, please click the following link!

http://www.funimation.com/shows/blazblue/anime

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Beyond: Two Souls - Out Tomorrow

Tomorrow the latest game from Quantic Dream, Beyond, will be released. Beyond: Two Souls is a video game that walks the fine line between games and film, and it is sure to take gamers and non gamers alike down an emotional rollercoaster. The game follows a girl named Jody from childhood to adult hood, and it allows the players to see all of the trials and hardships she had to face.

On the surface this may seem like a drama story that just revolves around a normal girl who was unlucky enough to cast the wrong die, but in reality; she is anything but normal. Since birth Jody has been linked to an invisible "entity" of sorts. This thing has always been with her, and it has allowed her to do strange things. From moving objects, to taking control of people, to preforming super human actions; Jody has been able to do what no man or woman should have the power to do, and that has made her special. Due to that "gift," or rather "cruse," she has been forced to live a life of hardship.

If you are looking for a movie or TV show to watch, or a good book to read; why not consider Beyond instead?

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Pokemon XY anime gets a promotional trailer.

Hello there readers! A few days ago the Pokemon company released a trailer for their upcoming continuation of Ash grand adventure, in the world of Pokemon! Here take a look for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZrIbwovv48

According to the trailer, the main heroine will have some kind of crush on Ash, which is kinda surprising since most heroines that Ash has had in his party for the past 10+ years have never really been interested in him in that way, or it have never lead to anything bigger, (I still remember what you did with Misty Pokemon company!).

Will this season of Ash adventure finally be something more then him getting one of the three starters, getting all the badge's, and finally loosing the league AGAIN. Only time will tell.

That's all from me readers! Have a nice day.

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PlayStation Network App - Explained at last!

Earlier today on the Official EU PlayStation Blog, Sony finally went into more detail about the upcoming PlayStation Network App for iOS and Android. Up until now all we have really known is that the app would be free for download, it would feature some basic PSN features (such as the ability to access your friends list), and that it would be released on the same day as the PlayStation 4. It turns out that the PlayStation Network App will have a wide verity of features, and it will in fact be closely connected with your PlayStation 4. This isn't just some application that allows you to check your friends list, or compare trophies; it actually goes deeper than that.

With the new app, PSN members will be able to gain access to all of the features available on PSN. You will be able to access your friends list, send them messages (both vocal and text based), you'll be able to compare trophies with them, and you will be able to see their latest activity. On top of that, the app will also allow you to actually stream what your friends are playing to your mobile device, you will be able to accept game invites, and some games will also connect to the app for extra features/for a mobile gameplay experience. Basically, the PSN App will allow you to do just about everything you can on your PlayStation 4, without actually being on your PlayStation 4. It will even allow you to access the PSN Store, buy games, and download them while you are away from home.

If you are planning on picking up a PlayStation 4, and if you own a mobile device that runs on iOS or Android, the PlayStation Network App is sure to be a must have. It will keep you connected with your games no matter where you go, as well a with your friends.

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CJ's Random corner: A very bizarre 1930's cartoon

Hello there my dear readers, and welcome to another edition of my random corner! :D I haven't done one of these in a while, so for you newcomers, this is basically a post where I talk about whatever I want, (as long as its okay for Netto that is).

When I was just bored and had nothing productive to do, I found this very "interesting" old cartoon from 1931 called "The little pest", which was a Scrappy cartoon, (no not Scrappy doo), here take a look for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxyWM8Mcf3Q

(Warning: I do not own this cartoon or this youtube video, give credit to the real creators, and uploaders)

. . . . . . . . . . The cartoons moral of the story basically is "Don't kill your brother because otherwise you get THE CHAIR!!!". I can't even start trying to understand what they were thinking when they created a big brother character that wanted to see his little brother drown. . . .

You just gotta love the logic animators had back in the day :D And that's all from my random corner this time. Have a awesome day readers!

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Deus Ex Universe

Well, this is news I'm actually very excited to share with you guys. Just yesterday, Eidos Montreal posted a new post in their official site, talking about the future of the Deus Ex franchise. And from the post and my hopes combined, it really looks quite amazing.

They discussed about how Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut is going to come out on the main four consoles out right now - PC, Wii U, PS3 and the Xbox 360 - by the end of the month, talking about how people will be able to experience the game in a whole new way, combining the PSVita and Wii U GamePad.

Moreover, they introduced another thing they're working on - Deus Ex Universe.

According to their post, 'the concept behind Deus Ex: Universe is to create an ongoing, expanding and connected game world built across a generation of core games.' Also said is that Deus Ex Universe will include games on PC, home consoles, smartphones, and tablets, but will also include books, graphic novels, and more.

They also noted that they've already put the project on motion, and are currently working on the first game for Deus Ex Universe, which will be on the PC and all next gen consoles. They've also added a picture, stating that it represents a ''ghetto-city' voluntarily built in order to separate the classes.' Inside said city, the environment was reshaped to the ideal of a 'Cyber Renaissance,' and it will be the vision of the next Deus Ex game.

The picture in its full size can be found on this link.

In the meantime, a movie of Deus Ex: Human Revolution is said to come out next year, and the game Deus Ex: The Fall was supposed to come out on Android last month, but was postponed, since it took longer than they expected. Since I own an Android phone and tablet, there are already quite a few things I'm waiting for with the Deus Ex franchise. And this one takes the cake.

[Source]

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Last day for Shantae: Half genie hero Kickstarter!

Hello there readers! Yes its also the last day for Shantae's kickstarter today! Half genie hero is approximately at 630,000 $ (as I am posting this), and has many stretch goals left, but every stretch goal is just 100,000 $ apart from each other and the last is at 1,3 million. Come on people! Lets get this game up to 1,3 million! I really wanna see those cool animated cutscenes!


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1236620800/shantae-half-genie-hero

Alright that is all from me for now, have a nice day readers! :D

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Zenonia - Review

Back in 2009, the world of gaming was a little bit different. HD "Next Gen" consoles ruled the market, motion control for games became common, and even the handheld games on the market were more along the lines of console styled games on the go. Everything was all about the new technology, and pushing past the limits games of the past once had. Although a lot of gamers loved the seventh generation of gaming, and couldn't wait to see where it would go, not everyone jumped aboard the bandwagon with open arms. Some people still longed for the old school styled games they grew up playing, but at the time it seemed that them days were long gone. That is, until games such as Zenonia hit the market.

In 2009 a game titled "Zenonia" was released on Apple's App store. It was an old school styled action RPG featuring 2D graphics, as well as other retro elements that many thought were long gone. It had the charm of an SNES game, it was advertised to have deep engaging gameplay that would last around 40 hours, and above all, it was dirt cheap! Although many may have simply overlooked the game due to its low price tag or "outdated" looking graphics, but for old school gamers, the game easily stood out above the rest. So, just how was Zenonia? Was it really a game that would quench the thirst for those longing for the past? Or was it just another budget title that didn't even deserve its cheap price? Well, lets find out!

The Story of Zenonia:

Zenonia opens up with what appears to be some sort of battle. The game simply throws its players into this world without any real explanation on what is going on, but you soon come to realize that it really doesn't matter. As the forces of good and evil wage on, a baby boy soon turned up in the middle of it. Although no one really knew where the child came from, he soon caught the eye of a man by the name of "Dupre." Despite being the commander of the Holy Knights, Dupre soon found himself leaving his position to go back home and raise the child as his own. As the years went on, both Dupre (who renamed himself to "Pardon" to hide his identity) and the young boy lived in peace. The young boy was given the name "Regret," and everyone in the town seemed to live him; however, that all soon changed.

When Regret was only 17 years old, disaster struck. His father was killed by the appearance of a "demon," and afterwords the towns folk soon started to show their true colors to Regret. It turns out that everyone has always hated him. No one wants him in the town, they refused to talk to him, and what little they did say to him after the death of his father was nothing but rude remarks. The only reason they treated Regret nicely in the first place was due to his father.

After being tricked into cutting down a tree in town that was apparently very important to the town, Regret found himself with no other option but to leave. As he stood in front of his father's grave, he couldn't help but wonder just how things turned out the way they did. Who really killed his father? According to the Holy Knights a demon had never appeared in the village, but that statement alone contradicted everything Regret had been told. As he continued to ponder just what may have really happened to his father, Regret soon found himself being forced out on an adventure. While he stood in front of his father's grave, Regret was approached by a man named Billy who held a letter. Billy told Regret that he should move to a town called "Adonis" and deliver the letter to a man named "Ronake" in the process. Despite not knowing why he was asked to do so, Regret decided to follow Billy's request. He left the town, moved to Adonis, and handed the letter to Ronaka. Unknown to Regret, that was the moment his life would change forever.

Despite having a full fledged story mode, Zenonia's story really doesn't stand out. The story as a whole is very predictable, and from the start you can easily tell how things are going to go. From the get go the game throws you into this world, and nothing is really explained. You as a player will have no idea why the war in the intro is going on, you will have no idea who these characters are, you will have no idea why Regret is asked to do the things he must do, and you may not even remember all of the game's key events. The story really is nothing more than a basic plot that serves as a way to move the game forward. Overall it does do its job, but if you are expecting an "epic" storyline, Zenonia will not offer it.

On the flip side, Zenonia also doesn't take its self too seriously. It knows it is a game, and it doesn't try to hide it. The game often breaks the fourth wall, and it even cracks quite a few jokes about it not being real. Throughout the adventure you will constantly be reminded that Zenonia is just a game, and that alone really helps give the game its charm. Even if you don't remember every little detail about its generic story, you will remember the (as the game puts it) "LOL" moments.

Choosing Your Style:

Before Zenonia really gets started, players are given the option to pick what type of character Regret will actually be. The game has three very different classes to pick from, and each one offers you a very different type of gameplay experience. If you decide to play as a Paladin, Regret will have access to magical attacks, if you decide to play as a Warrior, Regret will carry around a huge sword, and be power based, and if you choose the Assassin class, Regret will be a fast moving killer who uses two blades. Each class has their own strengths and weaknesses, but which one you pick really is up to you.

Once you pick a class to play as, the next step is to actually build your class. Zenonia features a "skill tree" system like many of the massively multiplayer online role playing games on the web. As you play through the game, killing enemies, completing side quests, and completing story quests, you will earn experience points. Once your experience points reach a set "max" level, Regret will "level up" and earn some skill points which can then be spent to learn skills and abilities. Each character class has their very own unique set of skills to unlock, but you personally get to decide what Regret learns and what he doesn't learn.

By spending points, Regret can unlock either brand new moves (such as different attacks or special abilities), or he can learn passive skills. While "active skills" must be used with the press of a button, passive skills are always active and they provide Regret with different boosts. Some passive skills may increase his attack power, others may increase his defense, and some may just allow him to use some sort of new ability. There is a wide range of both passive and active skills, but because of that you cannot learn them all. Since skills are grouped together in a "tree" like format, you sometimes have to learn a specific skill before you can learn another. This means that you may have to focus on learning a skill that you do not want just to learn a skill or ability that is farther down the line that you do want or need. There are only so many skill points in the game, so you really have to plan out what you want to use on them before hand. Messing up here can also sometimes mean the difference between having an easy time with Zenonia, or having to play through a nightmarish challenge.

Besides having to make your way through the skill trees to teach Regret what you want him to know how to do, there is another aspect to the customization system as well, and that comes in the form of stat growth. While in many role playing games stats auto increase when you level up, that is not the case in Zenonia. Just like a MMORPG, you actually have full control over which stats increase when Regret levels up. This means that, with some planning, you can actually build Regret to become whatever type of character you want him to be. You can make full use of the class you chose and increase his stats and learn skills based on the class' strengths, you can learn skills and level up stats to make up for the class' weaknesses, or you could just go crazy with it and try to come up with something of your own. Once again it is possible to completely mess up Regret making the game a challenge, but it is also possible to build an overpowered Regret and make the game a complete pushover as well. Once again, it is up to you to decide.

The Gameplay:

Although customizing Regret is a major part of Zenonia, it is actually only a small part of the gameplay. The game itself is a top down 2D styled action RPG which was created in the style of classic games from the 8 bit and 16 bit eras of gaming. In game you move Regret around with the virtual analog stick (or d-pad depending on what type of device you are playing the game on), and you press the main button to attack, talk to people, and pick up items. That is all there really is too the game. It uses a very simple control set up, and the skills and items that Regret can use show up on the screen as shortcut icons (another feature often seen in MMORPGs); which you can actually arrange in any way you want. If you want to put all of your items on the right side of the screen, and all of your special attacks on the left side of the screen; you can. Overall you don't actually need to use items or special attacks to beat the game, but you would be missing out on a lot of the core gameplay if you don't.

The customization, and controls are not the only similarities Zenonia has with MMORPGs. Like in most MMOs, the game features a few towns that you can visit with field areas connecting them. In towns NPCs will walk around, and they will often send you out on what is known as a "side quest." Most of the time these side quests revolve around going out into one of the field areas to kill some monsters, or kill a monster and pick up an item it may or may not drop, but other times they will send you around the town to fetch items for them. These quests don't really add too much to the story, but they do often reward you with prizes as well as some EXP. As for the story quests themselves, they too play out in a very similar fashion. Regret will be given a goal to complete, and once you complete it a cutscene will play. At times Regret will be sent off to dungeons (which are linear "levels" with puzzles to solve and a boss to fight), but there are only a handful of them in the entire game.

While out on the field, the gameplay is a bit different. Here is where monsters roam around, and it is also where some of Regret's limitations start to show. Not only does Regret have a health bar, he also has an energy bar which slowly depletes over time, and he also has a weight limit. As you play the game Regret will get tired, and he will start to get hungry; if Regret's energy is to ever run too low, he will be limited on what actions he can preform, and what attacks he can use. To increase Regret's energy all you have to do is get him some food, but sometimes that may not be an option.

Although Regret's inventory is pretty much unlimited, there is a set amount of weight that he can carry before it starts to impact the gameplay. If Regret is carrying too many items, he will then be slowed down to a crawl, more open to being attack, and he will be a pain to control. Moving with too much weight on Regret's back becomes a major pain, and it is something you will want to avoid. If you have to drop some food or that brand new piece of equipment to move fast again, then so be it. You will be picking up quite a lot of items on your adventure, so item management will be key.

Even though there is in fact a shop in most towns where you can buy items for Regret, most of the "better" pieces of equipment will actually come from rare drops. Every time you kill an enemy (which can be done by simply mashing your attack button, or using a skill if you wish to do so) there is actually a chance that it will drop an item. Sometimes this item will be food or an item that you can use to heal yourself, but other times it will be a piece of equipment. This is actually the main way you will power up Regret in the game, but at the same time that weight limit will always be holding you back. Sometimes you may come across a stronger piece of equipment that you need to be a higher level to use, but that very same piece of equipment may be what is pushing Regret past his limits. You really have to decide if it is worth holding onto or not, and if it isn't, then you will either have to sell it or throw it away.

The final "main" aspect to the game is actually one that is rarely seen in RPGs. Zenonia features a day and night cycle, as well as a simple weather system, which really helps change the game up. Depending on the time of day and weather, different events may take place, and different areas may be open to you. Sometimes specific people only show up at night, and other times some areas may only be open during the day. It really is a nice feature which adds a bit more depth to the game, and it is something that would be nice to see in other games of the same genre.

What is Wrong and Right:

As if fully customizing Regret and the controls wasn't enough, Gamevil decided to add in one other "customization" feature to the game. Throughout the adventure you can actually choose what you think is the right thing to do. At different points the game will ask you if you want to side with one character or another, or if you want to do something or not. Although the game's story will play out generally the same way, these decisions will determine if Regret is "good" or "evil," and that will result in some major differences. Along with the other classes, the good and evil system is just another reason you may find yourself replaying it even after you finish. There is quite a lot to see in this "small" mobile game, and that fact becomes even more apparent as you progress through the story.

The Good and the Bad:

If you are a fan of old school RPGs, MMORPGs, or if you are just looking for something to kill some time while you ride the bus, go on lunch break, or go on a long drive; Zenonia is the perfect game for you. The game captures just about everything that made old school RPGs great, and it is well worth the low price of 99 cents. The 2D sprites are nicely done, the humor is nice, the customization is extremely deep, and the story quests and side quests can easily last you over 30 hours. If you truly wanted to complete this game by playing as every class and seeing every different option, you are looking at a game that will easily last you over 100 hours. No matter how you look at it, even if you're not a fan of the genre, everyone can see how good of a deal Zenonia is.

The only real downsides to Zenonia is the fact that you can mess up. It is very possible to build a character that will struggle through the entire game. If you truly want to play through the game correctly, you will have to look at one of the official or fan created builds that have been posted on Zenonia's official forums. On top of that, the game does look a little bit dated as well. Although it looked pretty good for its time, since its initial release Zenonia has become a full fledged series. While the later releases in the series have sharper graphics, Zenonia itself tends to look a bit blurry depending on the device it is being played on. It doesn't take away from the game, but it is pretty easy to notice if you are playing the game on a device with an HD screen. The final issue with the game is actually with its alternate versions. While the standard mobile release is cheap, other versions are not. The game was released as a "full" title on the Nintendo DSi and eShop which may feel overpriced considering it is only 99 cents elsewhere.

Overall, Zenonia is a great game. It does everything right, and its "issues" don't actually hold it back. Sure the gameplay may get a bit repetitive, but for anyone who likes this style, Zenonia is in fact a must have. In the end I give Zenonia a solid 9/10.

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