While visiting with XSEED and Marvelous at E3 2008, we found a handful of titles worth talking about, so here are some quick previews of Retro Game Challenge, Populous DS, KORG DS-10 Synthesizer and Valhalla Knights 2.
Retro Game Challenge (DS)
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Retro Game Challenge is basically a hommage to 80’s gaming culture. The game contains eight games based on old 8-bit classics, such as Ninja Gaiden 3, Galaga and Dragon Warrior.
You will also find a library containing several game magazines dating up to 1984. Fictional publications though, not real ones, but containing cheat codes for the games included in this mini-compilation, strategy guides, articles and even developer interviews. There are goals for each of the games, such as beat a particular stage or get a certain number of points. From ninja action to space shooters, classic RPG or racing gameplay, Retro Game Challenge offers something for everyone, and a lot more to those in the 20’s and 30’s age range. Look it up for your DS sometime this winter. |
Populous DS (DS)
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A slightly different remake of the original PC classic, Populous on the DS lets you pick one from five available gods each related to a particular element and “armed” with specific miracles.
Gameplay takes place on the touch screen, where performing miracles, altering terrain and accessing menus is done with simple taps and drags of the stylus. The result of your actions on the touch screen is shown on the top screen, where you can see your worshippers working and your gods watching. Populous is all about gathering worshippers. The more worshippers you have, the more energy you will gather to perform miracles and attack your adversaries. There are roughly 50 single-player games, offering 50-60 hours of gameplay in classic maps and some new ones, and a versus multiplayer mode for up to four players, via Wi-Fi. Expect it in October 2008. |
KORG DS-10 Synthesizer (DS)
Not really a game but an actual tool for creating music, KORG DS-10 really impressed me. Based on an actual KORG MS-10 synthesizer, this little piece of software turns your DS into a very powerful music creator.
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Although sound sources are already provided, you can input your notes either by touching the screen, tapping them on a piano keyboard or placing them on a matrix grid. From there, you can alter the sound quality in any way you like: pitch, length, volume, create a wave, delay, and more. All it takes is some creativity and either tapping and dragging with the stylus, turning a series of knobs, playing with an equalizer or connecting certain plugs together in the mixing board. A similar process is used for creating beats with drums, with the touch screen turning into four drum pads.
The synthesizers can play two independent melodies at once, and you can have up to 18 save files, each with a maximum of 16 patterns. Unfortunately, there is no way to copy your tunes to any other form of media (CD, mp3 player, PC). Still, Japanese gamers will probably going crazy over it this August, while North America will be seeing its release in the Fall. |
Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
Valhalla Knights wasn’t an easy game for the PSP. I did enjoy it, but leveling up new classes became a difficult and tedious process, because of the level difference from those low levels to your more powerful characters in the group, so the experience gain was really painful.
One of the first improvements seen in Valhalla Knights 2 (a prequel to the original) is exactly that, less experience penalty for lower level characters grouped with a much higher level one.
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This installment sees some new features and modifications on many levels. The dwarf character model has been redesigned. You can now sneak by monsters, to gain advantage over them upon attacking (from behind or the sides).
The story is more compelling and there are plenty of side-quests that may seem very trivial and extremely unimportant, but may actually reward you with great items. There are quests for money and armor, triggered scenes and plot twists throughout the story, which was created by the same person who worked on that of FFXII. It is a linear storyline (one ending only), but the gameplay isn’t. |
The main story is aiming at 16-18 hours of gameplay, but if you’re the completist type of gamer you will be glad to know that there are over 100 hours of adventuring and doing side-quests waiting for you.
The enemy AI has also been improved. Characters have more skills and special attack, and the combat has been given more depth, with characters being able to dodge behind an enemy and taunt them. Behavior parameters are easier to undestand now. There are extra job classes (11 in total) and two new races.
Environmental puzzles don’t just require you to push things or pull a bunch of levers to open a door. Some doors have passwords or codes while others require you to find the keys or complete certain quests. Some switches and levers will now activate traps. Completing quests and progressing through the main story will unlock more doors so you can access other places.
Valhalla Knights 2 will be released for the PSP this Fall, and it does seem like the creators have been listening to those who have played and found a number of things to complain about in the first title. And that’s a great thing.