Star Ocean: The Last Hope Review

I just got my hands on Star Ocean: The Last Hope through my Gamefly video game rental account and have been playing for the past week. So far I am fairly pleased with the game. The gameplay is fairly fast and addictive, the graphics are gorgeous and the story is solid so far (though maybe a little trite). Here is a quick gameplay video to get you started, then I will go into a little more review of the game:

The Star Ocean Story

A.D 2064...Planet Earth was on the brink of destruction as clashes between the World Republic Federation and the various nations that opposed it sparked the outbreak of World War III. Weapons of mass destruction, deployed with complete impunity razed the land in the blink of an eye. The dire situation forced the two opposing factions to negotiate a cease-fire and an agreement was quickly reached, but although the war may have ended, its effects remained. With the deteriorating environment, Earth's population was drastically reduced and those who survived lived a confined existence trapped in underground cities. Eventually countries joined together to form the Greater United Nations and turned their eyes skyward, to space. With the establishment of the USTA, the Universal Science and Technology Administration, man began to seek new worlds beyond the stars.



AD 2087...The first year of the spacedate (SD) calendar. Thanks to the success of Professor Trillas Bachstein's warp drive experiments, mankind's dream of a spacebourne existence has inched closer to reality and the USTA secretly began to implement its SRF project, the Space Reconnaissance Force. Now it is SD 0010, and the first official SRF mission and your adventure has begun.

The Star Ocean Review

So how good is the game? When it comes down to the battles and basic gameplay, Star Ocean is a ton of fun. The fighting is all real time and the pace is very fast. You control one out of the four party members at a time while the others are controlled by basic AI. You can switch between the different members anytime during the battle so you can take better control over your battle strategy. Each character has a different set of skills and abilities, so you will find yourself using the other characters quite a bit as each of them are fun to use. Battles are made even more exciting with monster aggro and rush mode with its party combos and bonuses.

I have not finished the game by any means, but I have played enough to get a good feel of the story and characters. Unfortunately the characters are a little cliche and the voice acting is not that great. There are some long cut scenes as well and some of them can be tough to get through. You can skip them if you want and the game then provides you with the text of the cut scene so you can figure out what is going on. However the story is not too bad and I do not think it takes too much away from the game experience.

So far I have been very pleased with Star Ocean: The Last Hope. I would recommend it for RPG fans in general and definitely for fans of the series. If you are unsure, then what better way to try the game out then renting it at Gamefly!

Resident Evil 5 Release Date... Today!

I have been waiting for a LONG time for this. Resident Evil 5 ships today! Woo hoo! You can get Resident Evil 5 today with free shipping, or you can rent Resident Evil 5 today!

Killzone 2 Video Review

I actually played the original Killzone back in 2004 on my PS2. It was a decent first person shooter that had a great storyline and solid gameplay. It had its fair share of issues, though, and ended up just a so-so game. There were many good things about the game, but it just missed. There are a lot of games out there like that. They do so many things right, but screw up on a few vital areas of the game and it really affects the overall quality of the game.

So when I heard about Killzone 2 I was not quite sure what to think. If the makers of Killzone were able to take the good aspects of the original, fix the technical shortcomings and make the transition over to the PS3, then it could be one hell of a game! Killzone 2 started shipping on February 27th, so the reviews are starting to pour in. From everything I have read so far, it is a great game and one of the best first person shooters around. The guys over at Gamespot even gave it an Editor's Choice. Below is a video preview for Killzone 2 for PS3.



Ready to give Killzone 2 a try? Why not rent Killzone 2 for 10 days free at Gamefly?

Gamefly Video Game Rental Review

For many years I have purchased most of my video games either new or used at my local game store. I usually traded in games once I was done with them, and only kept the ones I planned on playing again. For the most part I thought I was getting a pretty good deal by buying used when possible and trading my games in. Yet a few months back I decided to go back and see how much I had spent on games. I just looked at the past year and went through all of my credit card charges and receipts. I was shocked to realize that I had spent almost $700 in video games in one year. That includes the trades!

Now I am more than happy to spend money on video games. They are an entertainment form that I enjoy and I feel like you can get a lot of value out of video games when compared to other forms of entertainment. Heck, going to a movie will run you $10 and that is only for a couple hours of entertainment! Games provide many hours of enjoyment and I believe they are a good value even when buying new.

So having totaled up my annual costs for video games in a year, I decided to see if there were some other option out there to bring down the costs further. I looked at buying and selling on eBay, but there are risks involved and a lot of work as well. Scratch that. I then stumbled on the idea of renting video games. Looking at a couple of options, I realized that I may have found the best possible way to save money and play as many games as I wanted!

There are only a few options online for renting video games, so I asked around a bit to see if any of my friends were renting. I had a buddy who used Gamefly and he was very happy with them overall, so decided to give GameFly a try. I started with the free 10 day Gamefly trial.


After filling out my basic details, I started searching the Gamefly website for games I wanted to play. I had a list built up inside of my head already and was able to find about a dozen games I wanted to play right away. I added them to my game queue and sorted them in the order I wanted them.

The very next day I received an e-mail from Gamefly letting me know that the first two games I had in my queue were shipping. One day later I found two envelopes from Gamefly in my mailbox. 48 hours from signup and I was ready to play!

Both games arrived in good shape and were in good condition. There were no manuals with the games, but Gamefly has some basic control information on their site. You can also locate game manuals pretty easily online, so this was not much of a problem. One of the games I rented was a game I wanted to try for a while, but it was not rated well and I was not sure I would like it. Sure enough, the game sucked and I decided to send it back. Perfect opportunity to see how quickly the game would get turned around!

I put the game back in the prepaid envelope and dropped it in the mail. Two days later I received an e-mail stating that they had received the game and that same day I received an e-mail informing me that my next game rental in the queue was shipping. The next day I had the replacement game in my mailbox! Now I am in California and there is a hub close by, so not everyone will see the same speed of delivery. Yet from what I have heard, most people get games pretty quickly.

So what does it cost to rent video games from Gamefly? First of all they offer the free 10 day trial on the two disc plan, or you can get a 40% discount on your first month for either the one game or the two game rental plan. The one game plan starts at $8.95 for the first month and is $15.95 after that. The two game plan starts at $12.95 (if you do no take the free 10 day offer) for the first month and is $22.95 after that. So I am looking at $23 a month to be able to rent two video games at a time with unlimited game rentals.

What was I spending before per month when I was buying games? Almost $60 a month! So I am looking to save several hundred dollars a year by renting video games through Gamefly. Plus, I am playing more games now than before and I have the chance to try some games that I otherwise might not have tried. It is great to try a game you are not sure you will like, because if you hate it you just drop it back in the mail. No regrets!

I have been using Gamefly for the past three months and have received about a dozen games from them. I have had zero problems so far and have been very happy with the service. It is going to save me LOTS of money and will allow me to experience even more games than before. If I decide I want to keep a game, I can simply let Gamefly know I want it and they send me the case and manual and give me a great used price on the game. It is that easy!

So I would absolutely recommend that gamers out there take a look at renting video games from Gamefly. Go ahead, try the free 10 day Gamefly video game rental trial today!

Guitar Hero Metallica Interview

Less than one month until the Guitar Hero Metallica release date! The release date for Guitar Hero Metallica is
March 29th and I already have my preorder placed with the Red Octane Guitar Hero shop. So I plan on rocking out immediately after release.

I was cruising around the web and found a cool interview on the Gamespot website with Alan Flores, the producer at Neversoft for the Guitar Hero Metallica game. He talks about the basic gameplay and the ability to play career mode, or jump right in and play any of the songs immediately. With the career mode you can take your band from a starting garage band to world famous metal heroes while unlocking songs, characters, guitars and many more extras.

Another thing I found very interesting is the fact that they are providing the ability to play the drums with the double bass. Apparently there will be a splitter with a second pedal which will allow for the double bass to be used. The standard modes will only use the single bass, but the most difficult mode will allow the double bass to play just like Metallica! Pretty cool...

Anyways, here is the Guitar Hero Metallica interview video:

Mass Effect 2 Teaser Trailer

I thought that Mass Effect was one of the best games on the market last year. It was not perfect by any means, but it was a game you could find yourself immersed in for hours at a time. It had great RPG components, excellent shooter gameplay and a huge universe to explore. Yet when it ended I found myself wanting more... much more! Enter Mass Effect 2! Admittedly this trailer is just a teaser and gives us very little... but it certainly whets the appetite for more of the Mass Effect universe. Without further ado, here it is...

Halo Wars Preview

Halo Wars should need no introduction. However, here are a few details about the game just to remind you of why Halo Wars will be a must have game for 2009. Halo Wars is a new strategy game based on the incredible Halo universe. In the campaign mode, you will command the armies of the UNSC warship "Spirit of Fire" against the Covenant. The game takes place in an early period of the Halo universe and players will experience events leading up to the original Halo title. Guided a spirited artificial intelligence persona Serina, gamers will direct legions of UNSC soldiers, Scorpions, Warthogs and other units. Gamers can also utilize ancient Forerunner technology, which can be found hidden throughout the battlefield.

In Halo Wars multiplayer mode, gamers can also take control of the Covenant forces via the New Xbox Experience. The new XBOX Experience will support up to 6 players in multiplayer mode. The Covenant uses an arsenal of new and familiar units such as Grunts, Ghosts, Elites and even Scarabs to defeat foes on the battlefield. Strategic-minded players who react well under pressure will emerge victorious.

Most strategy games are originally designed for the PC and then transferred over to consoles at a later date. This transfer does not always succeed due to difficulties in transitioning from keyboard controls to a console controller. This will not be a problem with Halo Wars! Created from the ground up for the Xbox 360 console and controller, Halo Wars is being developed by the real-time strategy developer Ensemble Studios. By designing the game exclusively for the XBOX 360, the designers have created a game where players can easily command and manage powerful armies and engage in epic battles intuitively and effortlessly.

Halo Wars is going to be available in a both a standard version and a Halo Wars limited collectors edition. The collectors edition will include a few extras, such as three Halo Wars maps, the Halo Wars: Genesis graphic novel, access to the Honor Guard Wraith, six leader cards and a Halo Wars patch. Plus, if you place a pre-order with Amazon for either the standard or collectors edition, you will receive a free exclusive Warthog vehicle with flame decals. Pretty kick ass!

Halo Wars will release on March 3rd, so place a pre-order now and be one of the first to experience a new way of interacting with the Halo universe. Want to know more, check out this cool Halo Wars trailer.

Street Fighter 4 Ships Tomorrow!

Street Fighter IV will officially begin shipping tomorrow, February 17th! The game will be available for both the XBOX 360 and the PlayStation 3. There is a standard version and also a collectors edition of Street Fighter IV which includes a figurine, an animated movie, a strategy guide and more.

Round 1... Fight!

Street Fighter 4 Coming February 17th

There is absolutely no question in my mind that I put more quarters into Street Fighter 2 arcade games than any other game in my entire life. Street Fighter 2 was a major part of my social scene for a few years from about 12 to 14 years old. My buddies and I would go to the local arcade any chance we got and pumped quarters into Street Fighter 2 machines, fighting each other, the computer, or anyone who stepped into the arcade. I even played in a few local tournaments and did pretty well. No major wins or anything, but I held my own.

So when I heard that Street Fighter IV was coming out soon, I started paying attention to some of the articles, previews and trailers out there. What I have seen so far leads me to believe that Street Fighter 4 will be a great update to the best fighting game of all time. The graphics look sharp and will combine 2d and 3d graphical elements, there will be a greater degree of customization than before with the characters and costumes, and there will be the greatest new feature of all: online tournament play.

Although Street Fighter 4 is designed to draw heavily from past game features in its franchise history, it does offer some stunning new gameplay options. The first of these are Focus Attacks. These moves allow players to absorb the energy from an attack and quickly counter with their own. Used properly, Focus Attacks allow for tremendous flexibility during combat and are the end result of efforts by the game's development team to evolve combat away from the rigid memorization of set combination patterns, giving players the freedom to be creative against opponents. The other new combat feature are new powered up moves called Ultra Combos. Like standard combos their purpose is to unleash maximum damage on an opponent, but unlike the combos of old, when performed correctly these long strings of punches, kicks and moves result in changes to the in-game camera angle and quick cinematics which illustrate the strength of your skills like never before.

We are only a couple of weeks away from launch, so now is the time to get an order placed for what is sure to be one of the hottest titles of 2009. You can get Street Fighter IV with free shipping at Amazon.

Also, check out the trailer from E3:

Resident Evil 5

I believe that Resident Evil 4 was one of the best games of all time. Without a doubt top 25 and maybe even top 10. I would have to break out a pretty serious list to say for sure, but until then let's just say that Resident Evil 4 kicked major gaming ass and is among the elite games. Now we have the latest in the Resident Evil franchise: Resident Evil 5. Will it take the greatness of 4 and take it to the next level? Or will it disappoint based on the incredible experience of 4? I am willing to put my money on the fact that Resident Evil 5 will take the next step in gaming evolution and will be one of the best games of 2009. Let's take a look at what we can expect out of the latest by Capcom.

First a brief description of Resident Evil 5: The biohazard threat has not ended: Just when it seemed that the menace of Resident Evil had been destroyed, along comes a new terror to send shivers down player's spines. Chris Redfield, returning Resident Evil hero, has followed the path of the evil literally around the globe. After joining a new organization, Chris heads to Africa where the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures. He is joined by a new partner, Sheva Alomar, who lends her strength, intelligence and sharp-shooting skills to the mission. In order to survive, Chris and Sheva must work together to take on the challenges of discovering the truth behind this evil plot. Utilizing a revolutionary new co-op mode of gameplay, players will be able to assume control of either Chris or Sheva and experience Resident Evil in new ways. In Resident Evil 5, Capcom will have players fearing the daylight as much as they have feared shadow in previous games. Promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control, Resident Evil 5 is certain to bring new fans to the series. New technology developed specifically for the game, as well as incredible changes to both the gameplay and world of Resident Evil will make this a must-have game for gamers across the globe.

Also, check out the Resident Evil 5 trailer:



Resident Evil 5 is scheduled to ship March 13th and orders are being taken now. This should be a must play game for 2009.

Guitar Hero - Metallica Coming Soon!

Before I start about Guitar Hero Metallica, there are a few things that I have to admit to. First, back in junior high school and the first couple of years of high school, I had long hair. No, not a mullet. Real, serious, long hair. At the longest, it went more than half way down my back. I am blond, so let's say I stood out a bit. I also listened to all sorts of heavy metal bands and my favorite for a long time was Metallica. I saw them live twice and headbanging until my neck muscles were jelly, owned all of their albums on cassette tape and even played One for a lip sync competition in high school. I guess you could say I was a bit of a Metallica fan...

Okay, the admissions are not quite done yet. I also have to admit that I own Guitar Hero and rock out on occasion. One of my favorite moments was when I got to play Metallica's One on Guitar Hero. I was grinning from ear to ear the first time I ripped through it and probably would have been headbanging if I could have watched the screen and played at the same time!

So when I heard about Guitar Hero: Metallica I was pretty excited. Being able to play through career mode starting as a garage band and working your way to stardom in Metallica's shoes is just what the Guitar Hero franchise needed. Not only will you have Metallica songs old and new to play through, but also bands and songs connected to Metallica in one way or another. Not only can you rip up the game on Guitar, you can also play the whole band just like in World Tour.

Guitar Hero Metallica is set to release on March 29th, 2009 and orders are being accepted now. I am already lined up for the game's release and will be prepping on prior Guitar Hero games so I am ready when Metallica arrives at my door.

Until release, we do have a Guitar Hero: Metallica Trailer to tide us over:

Video Games and Physical Activity

As more and more Americans continue to become overweight and obese, many cultural trends have been looked at as reasons for the increases in the waistlines of Americans. One cultural phenomenon that has been examined under the microscope was the emergence of video games as a major form of popular entertainment. Video games have been blamed by many sources as a major contributing factor to obesity, especially in America's children. As Americans spent more and more time sitting in front of the television, connected to their video game console, they spent less and less time outdoors participating in physical activity. While there are many contributing factors to the increases in average weight for Americans, I must agree that overuse of video games has contributed to this problem.

For decades, video games and physical activity rarely shared the same sentence, unless the sentence was talking about how people who played video games often did not get enough physical activity. Yes, there have been a handful of games over the past 20 years where physical activity was integrated into the game. Just look at the old track and field games on the old NES systems, where running and jumping on the floor pad caused your athlete to make its way through the Olympic games. Yet most of the early games based on physical activity never really hit the main stream and were short lived. It seemed like most gamers preferred to sit and play with their fingers than get up and work up a sweat!


Yet in very recent times, with the emergence of the Nintendo Wii console in particular, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number and popularity of fitness and physical activity based games. Suddenly, games such as Wii Fitness and My Fitness Coach are becoming top selling games for the Nintendo Wii.

What is it that has caused fitness games to take center stage in the world of video games? One of the most compelling reasons is the popularity of the Nintendo Wii console. When the console was originally announced, many thought that Nintendo had lost their minds. Dramatically less technologically advanced and powerful compared to the XBOX 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3, critics thought that Nintendo was building a console sure to follow the Dodo bird to extinction. However the opposite became true. The Nintendo Wii is one of the best selling video game consoles of all time. It is a system that appeals to the masses and not just to the hard core gamer. It is extremely interactive and encourages multiple people to get up and play together. In addition, more than any other video game system in the past, it gets people off of the couch and moving! Whether minor activity such as bowling, or a full on fitness workout with Wii Fit, physical activity and games have come together successfully for the first time in gaming history.

It is my hope that this marriage of video games and physical fitness is not another short term anomaly in the video game universe. The alarming rise in overweight and obese Americans has to stop and reverse its trend. While I by no means expect that Wii Fitness and other physical activity based games will cure America of its weight problem, I do feel as though it is a step in the right direction.

-BeeHawk-

Star Ocean: The Last Hope

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is the latest in the Star Ocean Saga. Star Ocean: The Last Hope is the fourth entry in the long-awaited continuation of the celebrated science fiction and fantasy RPG series. This prequel is set during the aftermath of World War III combines sci-fi and fantasy elements spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the Star Ocean Universe. Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise's famous real-time battle system, introducing amazing graphics and next-generation visual effects. Star Ocean: The Last Hope is sure to be a great addition to the series and will be at the top of the list for RPG and Square Enix fans.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope has had its US shipping date moved up! So you can order Star Ocean: The Last Hope now for delivery starting February 24th!

Check out the latest Star Ocean trailer:

Final Fantasy XIII Trailer

Back in 1987 I played my very first role playing game, Final Fantasy. I was amazed at the ability to become completely immersed in the world of Final Fantasy and spent countless hours on my quest. Over the following 20-plus years, I played every Final Fantasy game and spent hundreds... no, thousands... of hours in the incredible worlds of Final Fantasy. I do not regret a single hour spent and plan on spending many more hours in the future.

So it may come as in surprise that, along with millions of fans around the world, I have been eagerly anticipating news on the release of Final Fantasy XIII. The latest news from Square Enix is that the release in Japan will occur in 2009, likely late in the year. However Europe, the US and the rest of the world will have to wait until sometime around the middle of 2010 to get their hands on the game. So we have a long time yet to wait to get our hands on this highly anticipated game.

In the meantime, Square Enix has given us one exciting teaser for Final Fantasy 13, a new trailer! Here is the new Final Fantasy 13 trailer:

I know it is a long time to wait and I do not know if this trailer helps or hurts worse. 2010 cannot come soon enough! If you have not already done so, you can preorder Final Fantasy XIII now to get in the front of the line.

-BeeHawk-