Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 'Preview - First Play’

Author: Martyn Posted under:
Formats: DS
Format Played: DS
Import: N/A
I should have bought this game ages ago but the way I see it is now I can play 4 of them in a row because I can't stop playing this game.
Yes my DS is back out of the drawn and for damn good reason. I have just got Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney on the DS and I have not stopped playing it in two days.

The game is based around a court room where you defend your clients in court but then after the first mission the game opens up and you have to go around finding clues, witnesses and evidence. Once you have all the info you need you head back to court to present them but the witnesses and prosecution make it difficult for you so when cross examining whoever takes the stand you have to find contradictions in what they are saying at the right time. Some cases go on for up to 3 days and take a lot of digging up dirt. Sometimes you are standing in court with no evidence so you have to work out a case from what is said in the courtroom.

All in all this is one of the best games on the DS and I should have realised this earlier as we are talking about Capcom.

The characters are brilliant and the storylines are entertaining and will keep you very interested as well as adding humour in there too.
If you want a hand held game that will keep you playing right until the end then this is it.
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Mario Galaxy ‘Preview - First Play’

Author: Martyn Posted under:
Formats: Wii
Format Played: Wii
Import: N/A

I don’t know what it is about Mario games but they seem to be losing the wow factor. Either that or I am getting older and Nintendo has served its purpose. I remember 12 years ago when I was looking forward to playing Mario 64 and I was genuinely excited when I took it out the box and started playing for the first time despite the fact I used to work in future publishing and had completed the game 1 year before it’s UK release.
Anyway this is Mario Galaxy on the Wii with a whole new control system. As good as it seems I can see the control system being hard for people close to the TV as you need to use your pointer for certain things. Now my Wii is in my bedroom and my bed isn’t far from the TV. When I play Wii Sports I have to stand up on the other side of the bed which is no problem for that type of game but Mario I don’t want to be standing playing a platform game. Now that leaves me sitting on the very edge of the bed, hope I don’t fall!
My point is that my bedroom isn’t really small. So other people with smaller rooms will have problems using the Wii unless they use the TV downstairs but if you don’t have your own home then this could be hard.

The Gameplay is actually quite fun and really easy to pick up. Controller and nunchuck work well together and it isn’t long before you are moving Mario around like a pro. This is what I love about Nintendo, anything that looks complicated to use just isn’t one little bit. So simple, so easy thank you Nintendo we love you.
Anyway moving on, so far the only thing I use the remote pointer for is to collect gems I can’t be bothered to run towards to pick up and to grab points I can’t jump to. The sensor on the remote is used to move between planets and galaxy’s with a quick shake of the controller and also a spin attack use by spinning the remote. Everything is really easy to use.
The game itself seems to have a weak story, Princess Peach kidnapped again? No really????? You think she would move somewhere else by now but then again in Sunshine she got kidnapped on holiday. Damn women get a restraining order on that big bad koopa! I will let you know more on the full review, those who read these keep a close eye :)





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Lost Odyssey ‘Preview’

Author: Martyn Posted under:
Formats: Xbox360
Format Played: Xbox360
Import: Japanese

Only just imported this from Play-Asia but the UK version is in fact out this Friday. Having said that it was only £25 and comes in a better box with better box art and it is in full English.

This is old style RPG game play with random battles. Coming from the makers of Final Fantasy and welcoming Nobuo Uematsu who has done much work with Square-Enix on the Final Fantasy games this sounds like an amazing RPG before anyone has played it. So far all I have done is a couple of battles at the start and I have seen lots of cut scenes. While walking around you can steal anything and you unlock memories as you progress through the game or when you sleep at Inns. These memories can be long at times but the stories are deep and sometimes sad. LO feels like Final Fantasy, the graphics are outstanding and the voice acting is far better then FFX. Like FFVIII there is an extra thing you can do while in battle. In FFVIII you could use Squalls Gunblade at the right to inflict extra damage, In LO you can do the same but hitting the left trigger when the outer circle hits the inner circle as you approach your enemy, the closer the circles the more damage.
I will update a Review as soon as I am more into the game. For now I sit back with my new Elite and hope to spend a great amount of time with this one. Also worth mentioning that this game is 4 disks long.
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Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core ‘Review’

Author: Martyn Posted under:
Formats: PSP
Format Played: PSP
Import: Japanese

I have just watched one of the best ending of any game I have played. Being a huge Final Fantasy Fan and especially VII this game is why I bought a PSP and it does not disappoint. Those who have played VII will already know what happens in Crisis Core so there really is not many spoilers to see and hear about. You would already know what happens at the end of this game but let me tell you, it still I quite moving.

This story is pre VII and tells how Zack is promoted to Soldier 1st Class and works along side Sephiroth. Some familiar faces like Cloud, Yuffie and Hojo will show there selves along the way as well as two new characters Angeal and Genesis.

Below is a cut scene which is not far into the game and is one of the best FMV I have ever seen

This game will be perfect for any FFVII fan and you do not really need to know the story of VII so it’s also ideal for anyone else who loves a good story. I am really looking forward to the English version.

Not much more to tell you about the battle system that I have already explained, you get more accessories and material as you progress through the game and also more characters on the DMW wheel some which prove to be very valuable.
The numbers on the DMW wheel will do different things, they could up your material level, give you HP, MP or AP and if they hit 777 your character will level up. This makes levelling up completely random but fun none the less.

This game has made it into my top 5 FF games, it is short at approx 15-20 hours without any of the extra missions you can complete but it really is a top game.

9.5/10
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Final Fantasy XII 'Review'

Author: Martyn Posted under:
Formats: PS2
Format Played: PS2
Import: N/A

Started last year and 25 hours in for some reason I stopped playing it. Now 77 Hours in loads of side quests still to do and at the end I feel this could be one of the best games I have ever played.
Those who know me know that I love Square-Enix, it’s the reason I will one day buy a PS3. I already have the Japanise version of Crisis Core and have Lost Odyssey on pre order (makers of Final Fantasy).
Final Fantasy 12! I was not so keen on it being set what seems to be the past. Castles, bow and arrows and weapons like hammers! I like the new future look like FFX, this is one reason I think I stopped playing it. Also I think I had other things on the go too. FFXII plays like FFXI, there are no random battles and the enemies you see on screen are the enemies you will be fighting. You can also flee from these enemies but 9/10 times they will give chase for a while until the give up or you leave the area. Just be warned they will be waiting for you if you go back in.

The battle system is straight forward and there is a new system introduced called gambits. With Gambit slots you can tell your characters what to do without your doing.
For example you could have a character set so s/he will automatically target the nearest enemy then if anyone’s health falls under 50% (eg) they will heal them or if they are blinded then they will automatically use the correct magic to counter it. This goes on and you can have loads of different Gambits set. You can not buy spells or better weapons until you have achieved them on the licence grid. Like the Grid in FFX you gain LP (Licence Points) with ever enemy you defeat. Once you have enough you can but licences for example “Cure” then once you have bought the spell from the magic shop your character can now use it. Same goes for armour, getting extra gambit slots etc etc
The maps are huge and I mean huge, you can tell that just by going through the main game it has taken me 70+ hours to get to the end. There are loads and loads of side quests to do, chatting to local people could set off new challenges and once completed you are rewarded with Gill, weapons, magic etc! There are also Hunts which can be obtained through a notice board in the local bar (later in the game you can join a 2 hunt clubs which also give you Hunts to do). These mini quests will give you ca creature to go after for certain someone and will also provide a side story as to why you are killing this creature. Again once defeated you will be rewarded as well as the satisfaction of completing these hunts.

Each part of the main mission areas will hold 1-3 boss characters you will have to defeat on the way through, but that’s not all! There are also other random boss characters roaming around which you can choose to fight and also once you are a member of one of the later hunt clubs you will have harder enemies walking around among the regular ones which could prove to be a bit tricky.
As the locations from one to another travel is made easier by the use of chocobos, Airships from one port to another and gate crystals. Like save crystals you can save at these points and also use them to be teleported from one gate crystal to another provided that A) you have touched the crystal already and B) you have a teleport stone. Later in the game you will acquire your own ship but this will not be for a while.

As well as you basic attacks you can also acquire quickenings which will use your mp to unleash a strong attack to one enemy. These can be chained together so you can build up the power of the attack, providing your other characters on screen have acquired them too. Also like summons you can defeat Esper bosses who will join your team and can be summoned to aid your fight.

Each enemy you fight will drop items which you can sell. The more of the same enemies you chain together the better the items.

The main story isn’t as strong as earlier Final Fantasy’s but the size of the game and amount to do is what makes this game one of the most enjoyable Final Fantasy’s I have played. You do get your moneys worth with this one and more.

9.5/10
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Jeanne d' Arc 'Preview'

Author: Martyn Posted under:
Formats: PSP
Format Played: PSP
Import: USA
Another tactics game and it’s not Final Fantasy or Square-Enix. I heard about this game through a forum and as it’s not on a UK release I had to buy it from the states.
I have only just found out that the game was made by the same people who did Dark Cloud so I am expecting a lot from this.
I have had it for a while but have only just gotten around to playing it. I guess it’s not out in the UK because you have to fight the English and that might not go down to well ha-ha.
Jeanne d' Arc takes place in a fictitious world inspired by Jeanne d' Arc (known more commonly in English as Joan of Arc.) The game's background story begins far in the past, during a long war where dark gods attempted to use their demon armies to enter the human world but were stopped by five heroes. The story jumps forward to the 15th century AD as France and England battle during the 100 Years' War. You play as Jeanne as a 17 year old girl.
Jeanne is attached and then the game throws you straight into your first battle but do not worry, it’s simple and everything is explained as you go ahead.
Before entering each battle you get a chance to shop and equip new items. Once the battle begins you can not save but you can use quicksave which you will lose once you load the game back up.
The help menu’s I found a bit compact and confusing but as I have played other tactic games I knew what to do as this really isn’t anything ground breaking and follows suit of ever other tactic game out there.

The only real thing that separates these games is their strong story and so far so good with Jeanne d’Arc.
The world map is easy to travel around and it’s just a case of the towns and woods etc and a joining line with your character able to move between them.
Fighting is the same as any other tactic game and the PSP shows good graphics but I will come back to this once I have played more.
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Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core ‘Preview’

Author: Martyn Posted under:
Formats: PSP
Format Played: PSP
Import: Japanese

Ok so I was a little impatient and went ahead and bought a new copy from Hong Kong no less. Despite waiting 3 weeks for postage at £15 it wasn’t to be sniffed at for a brand new copy.

This is only a quick preview as the game only arrived yesterday and I have only done two missions but spent a while on it trying to work out what everything means and how to heal!

The game starts with a breathtaking cut scene which I will not go into but post below





See I told ya!
Now the game itself starts you off in a programme session where you will face some shinra solders. You will automatically target the nearest person and basically press x to attack. Triangle blocks and the L1 and L2 buttons move your icon in the bottom left to select material/attack and items. The game is free roaming like kingdom hearts and final fantasy 11 and 12 but the battle system is far simplified.
You can pretty much make it through the first mission just hitting x which is a shame and I hope things get more in depth as I progress through the game.
As you walk around you will enter random battles but there will be a long pause until you start fighting while you will hear “Activating combat mode” when you start and “conflict resolved” when you finish.
As you fight there will be a spinning fruit machine style cogs at the top left of the screen which will constantly spin until a pattern comes up. From what I can make out certain numbers and characters, increase speed, level up and provide HP.

So far I have met a young Yuffie from FFVII and a hologram version of Sephiroth.
I have seen two CGI cut scenes which match Advent Children.
I can not tell you anything about the story as I have no idea what is going on. I will keep you updated as I progress through.
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