Articulate as always, I discuss thoroughly what you’re going to get from this game.

Sound: With this being primarily a rythm action game, the soundtrack must be done perfectly – integrating into the gameplay and on screen visuals simultaneously, and i can say with great glee that it does this perfectly. The songs performed in the game each have a unique sound and style and none ever feel bland or boring. The songs in this game are in the JPOP genre, so if you aren’t into that sort of thing then this game is not meant for you at all.

Gameplay: This is a rythm action game so expect something along the lines of Rock Band Unplugged or Gitaroo Man in terms of actual gameplay. The Game is split into 3 main modes; “free play” this allows you to play each song and unlock more as you finish each song, “Miku’s Room” this mode lets you customize Miku’s bedroom with room style and furniture and finally “song edit” lets you edit not only the songs on the UMD to make them easier/harder, but also the player’s own songs can be edited if they are in the music folder on the memory stick.

Playability: As this is an import game this is an important subject, because the game is menu driven and there is no real story to the game the fact that it is entirely in Japanese does not really matter once you have learnt the menu layout.

Overall: This is a very import friendly game and also provides hours of fun. The only real downside is that there is no real story mode or any other characters for that matter. To finish, this game is highly recommended to all who enjoy listening to JPOP.

2.1/10

Whats this? This cover is innefective against robots?

The story revolves around the discovery of a new element named ‘E99′, yes (that’s ‘egg’ to you and me) and whilst it is a fairly imaginative twist on the usual “lets go kill Russians” adventure one can’t help but feel it doesn’t meet its full potential. It seems like as little risks as possible were made and where the throttle is opened up we see the best sections of the game; exploring a boat which is aging rapidly, creating a dynamic environment of bursting pipes and walls, or fighting a huge monster whilst in a train which is balancing precariously on a broken bridge. Similarly story telling isn’t groundbreaking, in fact the “Half-Life 2″ approach is taken, cutscenes are at a minimum and instead are replaced by brief sections of dialogue with non-playable characters. Whilst this is not necessarily a bad decision the dramatic sequences are let down by ropey facial animations and almost corny Russian accents.

For the real imaginative gameplay we look to E99. It delivers. Renko gets some awesome weapons and gadgets, namely the TMD (Time Manipulation Device) which allows the player to: age enemy soldiers to dust; renew objects; blast enemies and throw bubbles that slow down time. This is probably the most original asset in Singularity and whilst the amount of objects the TMD can influence is rather limited it does allow for some unique, albeit rather simple, puzzles and unique ways for dispatching the local mutants. Enemy types vary greatly throughout the game: you’ll fight 1950s Soviets; 2010 Soviets and victims of E99 radiation who have been transformed into hideous, life-like, creatures that will (occasionally) have you reaching for your light switch. A quick change of underwear later and you’ll be back to crushing your enemies with the “pick up and play” controls which help make the first person shooter element feel not dissimilar to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Besides the Time Manipulation Device and the story itself perhaps the most enjoyable feature of Singularity is the ability to explore the many detailed environments you will pass through. In this aspect a lot is borrowed from Bioshock in that you are looking for notes, audio logs, evidence of the past inhabitants and items which can be used to upgrade your weapons and abilities. This element is a perfect match for linearity and gives off an open-world vibe to the otherwise “corridor” game, helping to make Katorga 12 come to life. Sadly the chance to explore slowly dies away towards the end of the game as the focus is more on the plot this helps to speed up gameplay and add a sense of urgency but it is still a shame to see it go.

Upon completion there are two multiplayer modes to check out both give you the opportunity to play as either a creature or a human. Every human class has its own perk, none of which are anything special but the creatures have some very inventive special attacks which will see you: taking control of humans by entering their mouths; blasting enemy with a flesh cannon and puking on enemies. Whilst the multiplayer doesn’t feel as tacked on as one would assume it is let down by lack of game modes and lack of people playing.

Final Word
Singularity is a solid game and what it does not do in innovation it makes up for in story and pacing. It’s hard to take one point in particular that is done amazingly but when you look at the game as a whole it is extremely polished and well rounded. If you’re looking for a game with a good story that is fun to play then look no further.

8.4/10

I'm a mutant.

Time Manipulation Device

]]> http://playstationchat.co.uk/2010/07/singularity-review/feed/ 0 http://playstationchat.co.uk/2010/07/game-of-the-year-so-far/ http://playstationchat.co.uk/2010/07/game-of-the-year-so-far/#comments Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:35:50 +0000 PSC Staff http://playstationchat.co.uk/?p=1908 2010 has already been an excellent year for gamers, with blockbuster titles rolling out week after week. Bayonetta was a surprise hit in January, with the highly anticipated Bioshock 2 and Heavy Rain following in February. Two massive franchise sequels were unleashed in a busy March in the form of Final Fantasy XIII and God of War 3, alongside a long-awaited western release of Yakuza 3. Fan-favourite Super Street Fighter IV stole the spotlight in April, and May saw big releases on rival consoles, namely Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Alan Wake, but the PS3 continued its strong year with the likes of ModNation Racers and Red Dead Redemption. There are still many eagerly anticipated titles set to grace Sony’s console later in the year, but the question is, what do the Playstation Chat staff consider their 2010 First Half Game(s) of the Year? Some take a bit longer than others to put their point across!

John Weingartner (Plankfan) – Writer, Podcast Guest

With so many games coming out in just the first half of the year, where’s a gamer to begin? I’ve already played a good 75% of the games from this year, so making my list proved to be a bit difficult. With BioShock 2,  the single-player experience provided is second to none. You will be immersed in the game’s world and atmosphere from the second you start it up.  The abundance of Trophies will have you playing through the game more than twice. I loved every minute of it. The multiplayer component doesn’t hurt as well.

3D Dot Game Heroes – Pure nostalgia. This game is just pure fun, with no gimmicks. Building upon The Legend of Zelda with more to do, more to see, and updated graphics, this game is a excellent and fun way to relive your childhood. Another title i loved was Bayonetta – I’ve never played anything quite like it. The game perfectly combines a mix of mindless action and strategizing. Coupled with stunning visuals and outlandish bosses, Bayonetta will most definitely have you coming back for another lick. I also enjoyed Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – Whether playing by yourself or with a group of friends, this game’s multiplayer component is one for the ages. Everything in the multiplayer is balanced perfectly, the maps are large and expansive, and the weapon unlocks just add to the many addictive qualities of this game.

However, my Game of the Year so far would be Heavy Rain – This game is simply a spectacular feat in terms combining storytelling and moral decisions in gaming, I’ve spent a good deal of time playing and replaying this game over and over again to see the plethora of possible outcomes. It’s going to take something big to dethrone this game from my top position.

Alex Hedges (Hedges1001)- Writer, Animé Nut

My game of the year so far is probably Yakuza 3.  Not only did it introduce me to the series, but it was kind enough to give me a choice on whether or not I wanted to see the backstory. Also, it’s a very pretty game with awesome music and brilliant controls. Finally, i’m a sucker for anything that portrays Japanese culture!

Liam Kelly (LeeKelly) – Writer

In the (highly constricted) time I’ve had to play video games this year, I’d say only three have really hooked me into spending extended periods of time away from the textbooks and in front on the television. First off, Bayonetta is just and enthralling game that completely blew me away. Totally different to games like God of War that, while entertaining, never had me fully pumped to play it, or that when I wasn’t playing it I was thinking about it. Secondly, Red Dead Redemption; oh my GOD what a fun game. Clichéd as it is, saying it’s GTA meets Wild West is the absolute perfect description for a game that is as fun as all hell, with a decent story to boot. The third game that I’ve loved this year has been Mass Effect 2, but seeing as it’s a 360 game I won’t go into too much detail here, apart from it’s awesome.

Peace and keep gaming.

Patrick McClellan (zippypatrick) – Writer, Podcast Host

We’ve seen some great titles come out already this year, and I’m actually surprised with what I’m gonna name as my number 1. A few months back we did a “most anticipated titles of 2010″ top 5 on the Podcast. My number 1 ended up being Heavy Rain, with God of War and Bad Company just behind. Whilst i purchased, and played a great deal of all of these titles, i don’t think they do it for me quite as much as two other titles, one of which hadn’t featured on said Top 5 list at all. Red Dead Redemption came in at number 5 for me initially, and it blew me away. We had a news story about how development on the title was troubled, and i was quite worried about it. That was up until it started getting high 9′s across the board. I finished the title in around 20hrs total, and found it far more compelling with regards to story, and gameplay than Rockstar’s previous efforts in the Grand Theft Auto series. Despite this, it’s not my game of the year thus far. That accolade would go to Yakuza 3, which really hit the spot for me. Having previously only played Yakuza 1, I was well aware that the formula and methods of story progression would be similar, but I still found the characters and dialogue very interesting and satisfying. Gameplay was consistently fun throughout, and I would have to heartily disagree with a number of reviewers who have criticised it for being “repetitive”. Considering it was released in Japan in early 2009, I still find the colourful visuals to be beyond satisfactory, even when compared with the newer games. There are tonnes of extra missions to complete post-main story, which in itself racked up at over 20hrs for me. It’s gonna take a huge release to beat this one out for my overall Game of the Year, and man, i really can’t wait for a western release of Yakuza 4!

Simon Thornton – Writer, Podcast Host

Unfortunately I feel that the first half of this year is the weaker half,  so my choice will undoubtedly change come Winter. That said, we have had some strong releases so far, none of which have had as much as my time poured into them as Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Yeah: the campaign is less than compelling; the humour of the prequel has gone and the vast battlefields of Bad Company 1 have been shrunk drastically but all of this is irrelevant when you look at the multiplayer. There’s something for everybody: quadbikes, helicopters, Wookies (well… ghillie suits) and big ass guns. If you haven’t heard the amazing dynamic audio the game outputs or heard people’s reactions when you fly a helicopter into a tank then you really are missing out.

Ben Potter (Confused_Dude) – Writer, Podcast Host

My GOTY so far has to be… Final Fantasy XIII. A controversial choice I know, especially when compared to the AAA rated games mentioned above, but there’s something about this game that compels me to enjoy it. For starters, I’ve long been a huge fan of the series, and when the PS3 iteration rolled round, I was beside myself with excitement.

The rich and detailed world and lore that the FF creative wizards manage to create time after time, continues to both amaze and deeply impress me. The new and fresh invention of the combat system, at face value, seems daft, and when trying to explain it, one is often left babbling incoherently about chains and combos, and how you only control one character; “One character!” haters proclaim, “How could that possibly be engaging and involving in the realms of the party based FF series!?” Although I did find myself asking this upon starting the game, you’re very slowly and deliberately walked through it, and soon you’ll be juggling techniques and abilities like a pro! I can liken it only to whistling, you struggle to explain how, but once you get the hang of it, you’re like some sort of super whistling ninja thing (maybe).

FFXIII also boasts some of the most gorgeous graphics around, only slightly outdone by the CGI cut scenes that span the game. The soundtrack is another gem, beautifully haunting wind chime-y music that provides the perfect backdrop for your adventures through cocoon. The characters appear as the same stereotypes; angsty kid, quiet lead with a ‘troubled’ past, comic relief, goofball, and of course, ‘Mr Cool’ *Gunshot*. Although easily hateable, they all contribute massively to what I consider to be a fantastic and compelling story.

Maybe it’s the graphics, the story or beautiful soundtrack, the ginger woman-child with the brain of a startled sparrow, or how I can’t wait for the inevitable ‘accident’ that leaves hope mirroring his namesake, face down in the tire tracks from snows motorbike, this is truly a wonderful game that must be experienced to honestly pass judgement. Yes the first few dozen hours are linear, but they’re not dull, with considerable story input and regular ‘CGI breaks’. This game is not aimed at the FPS generation, so stick at it, and in the words of GLaDOS, “There will be cake”.

Bionic Commando Rearmed was a massive hit for Sweden-based developer GRIN, and much was expected of their future projects. They would go on to release two poorly-made, shoddy movie tie-ins, in the form of Wanted: Weapons of Fate and Terminator Salvation. Another title was released by the studio however, contrasting the previous titles as it featured clever mechanics, good visuals, and a solid experience overall, and one that I feel is underrated by many.

This game was Bionic Commando, not a downloadable game, but a title that would see a full disk retail release on for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. One thing these titles did have in common however, was their poor sales figures. Bionic Commando sold 27,000 units in the US in its first month at retail, truly terrible numbers from publisher Capcom’s perspective. Despite being a far less polished game, Terminator Salvation sold 43,000 units – still very disappointing figures admittedly. More misery was to come, as GRIN filed for bankruptcy in 2009. Despite the poor sales, many fans (including myself!) continue to hope for a sequel to Nathan Spencer’s 2009 outing, but have to accept that it is unlikely Capcom would gamble on it, given the limited success of Bionic Commando.

The game serves as a direct sequel to the aforementioned Bionic Commando Rearmed, and features a redesigned version of ginger hero Nathan Spencer. Vocals for the character are provided by Faith No More singer Mike Patton, who generally does a good job of screaming and dishing out the cheesy insults when appropriate. Spencer, now sporting dreadlocks, so as to be ‘down with the kids’, has been betrayed by the government, and “Great Bionic Purge” is taking place, whereby all soldiers with Bionic technology are imprisoned having been stripped of all their Bionic kit. Without spoiling anything, Spencer then becomes free, and is free to seek his own special brand of vengeance. I felt the story is a whole is enjoyable and fairly well written, but a couple of the later plot twists don’t work quite so well.

Like the previous games in the series, Bionic Commando has a heavy emphasis on action and adventure, but it also strays from the familiar 2D side-scrolling presentation of earlier games, instead opting for a full 3D world. Locations in the game vary, with the player visiting ruined cities and vibrant forests. These both give you the impression that it’s going to be a fairly open game, and that you can achieve your goals through non-linear means. Whilst this is true to an extent at certain parts, the often frustrating radiation mechanic often restricts you to a certain path, eliminating any hope of forming a creative route. Whilst I understand why the developers chose this, I can’t help but think about the potential awesomeness that could come in the form of a more open world game containing a swinging mechanic.

Speaking of this, I think it’s important to discuss the impact of the Bionic arm in the game. Some have described the swinging as “erratic”, but I would completely disagree. You can latch on to the majority of objects, and you simply have to jump, and roll the joystick back and forth to begin swinging, quickly building up speed. The difficulty comes in the timing – Let go a little too early, and you’ll fly flat, not getting enough height, and if you release too late, you’ll float helplessly in the air, not gaining the distance needed. Once I nailed the timing, I found it to be one of the most satisfying mechanics in a game I’ve experienced in recent years. The thrill of stringing together 7-8 giant swings at full speed is really something else.

The other main mechanic in the game is shooting. I had been a little worried about the gunplay before its release, as it looked a little lacklustre. I was pleasantly surprised however, as it proved to be very satisfying, with a range of guns each packing a punch. Controls while shooting are surprisingly solid, and enemies never feel like bullet sponges, more often that not succumbing to their fate after just a few shots. Melee attacks with your Bionic arm are also deadly against the majority of enemies, and are a good way of disposing of nervous stragglers without wasting bullets. If you do run out of bullets, never fret! Your Bionic Arm also has the ability to pick up numerous objects, from cars to boulders, which can in turn be chucked via lock-on at enemies, often dealing massive damage. Gameplay is definitely a strong point for the title, and is very refined. The level design and structure is often massive in scale, and is cleverly put together, but the radiation mechanic does leave a little to be desired.

The graphics within the game are for the most part, very impressive. This is displayed during the numerous frantic boss fights, but also as you travel from location to location, swinging at full speed. Draw distance is also very impressive throughout, and you never have to worry about not knowing where your goal is. One of the shortcomings comes in the form of enemy types. You will encounter the same looking soldiers multiple times, seemingly void of personality, and certain other enemies will be seen multiple times during the sub-10hr story mode. The soundtrack borrows certain tracks from Bionic Commando Rearmed, but does at times opt for a more sombre mood, as a lone pianist plays the main theme in a way we’re not used to. The soundtrack fits the mood of the game, and is really well put together.

The game does feature online multiplayer, but I feel it is a little underwhelming. At the point of writing this review, it is very rare to find anyone still playing the game, and when you do, it tends to be the generic deathmatch mode. Introducing the swinging mechanic into multiplayer does add another element, but it really is quite standard fare as far as online titles go. More could have been done with the multiplayer for sure, but it could give you some fun one you’re done with the Story Mode.

Bionic Commando is a severely underrated title, and it pains me to think that it will probably never get a sequel, despite the ending of the game implying that the guys at GRIN had more they wanted to do for the franchise. The swinging mechanic really steals the show, and is immensely satisfying once you get your mind around it. The story mode will take up a fair chunk of your time, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll enjoy it for the most part. The fact that you can pick it up literally dirt cheap has seen an inevitable surge in sales, but it’s sadly too little too late for GRIN, who shut its doors just a few months after the game’s release. I’d definitely recommend this title for fans of the original title, and 2008’s Rearmed, and it should provide a great bang for the buck of any action/adventure aficionado.

By Patrick McClellan

Disclaimer: this review was done at the 15 hour mark.

Graphics: This is a 2d sprite based game with static backgrounds. I gotta say that the environments do not look top par especially for a PS2 game. I can say however that the event scene graphics are very well presented with individual character art, the anime style of the characters is very pretty and can be appreciated by many.

Sound: this game’s soundtrack is just awesome it balances the cheery tunes with the J-pop and then with the opera metal battle scenes, it is clearly obvious that a lot of work went into creating the music for this game.

The voice acting in this game is inconsistent in where it is used, but where it is used it really brings the characters to life. From the cheery cat girl with an awesome singing voice to the wannabe hero with a booming voice. I have to say the voice acting in this game is the very best i have heard short of persona 4.

Gameplay: This game takes a novel approach to levelling up, this is handled by using alchemy to create specific items and then register them in a book that is specific to each character, each item unlocks a slot in the book that holds a set number of upgrades or a skill. Then you use points earned from battles to purchase new skills and stat upgrades that were unlocked by alchemy. The battle system of the game is very similar to Final Fantasy 10 in the sense that there is a timeline of planned actions on the screen and the player can plot their moves and see how they affect the turn structure in real time. The battles are turn based and fairly easy to get your head around. The game is split up into a series of assignments to keep up with the school setting of the game this also makes it easy to pick up and play the game if you just have a small amount of game time a day.

Story: Finally a game that pulls away from the generic “save the princess/world” story line and is about a socially recluse boy who attends school at Al Revis academy to learn alchemy just as his father did. The main point of the game and its story is for the boy to get through the school year in one piece and to learn more about his father and himself.

Conclusion: Overall despite the lower visual presentation this game pulls through and ultimately entertains constantly. This is a highly recommended title.

From start to finish playing is carefree experience and can be completed in no more than 4 hours. The real challenge, however, arises from completing the many challenges each level has to offer. These can vary from beating a time, collecting stars, finding hidden items and more; all combining to create an experience with more emphasis on platforming than racing. The sheer volume of tasks to complete per level is liberating and grants freedom to the player allowing you to approach the game however you please; you aren’t simply trying to get to the finish line as fast as possible. In fact, at one stage you will even find yourself using Joe as a bowling ball as you try to knock down pins.

Singleplayer is just the start. You will find yourself trying to beat your friends’ (online and offline) scores by pulling off amazing, yet fairly effortless (thanks to the responsive controls), stunts. Unfortunately you cannot play with your friends online but you can play split screen with a friend on the supplied multiplayer levels. Or you can make your own levels! “Joe Danger” features a fairly simplistic level editor that allows you to send your levels to friends and create levels to race with a friend on.

“Joe Danger” is a joy to play, there is plenty to do and the cartoon visuals never get old. It is sealed with a level of polish you would only expect from a company with years of experience however it was developed by a team of just four guys. The sheen and joy which exudes from this game is a testament to their dedication. Joe Danger is a must-buy for all PlayStation 3 fans.

9/10

Graphics: This game is a standard 2D sprite based RPG. This means that the chracter sprites are low quality, but this also means that memory is saved for the environments and story. Speaking of environments, this game is fairly beautiful, it is set ona floating continent that is falling apart and has pieces of weird machinery sticking out of the ground. The battle animations are just stunning, each magic spell in the game has a unique look and feel from a cute little sprite weilding dual SMGs to a slash happy demon. Event graphics are amazing along with the anime cutscenes – I have yet to see a game do better than this in the anime department, save Valkyria Chronicles and Persona 4.

Music: The soundtrack to this game is phenominal, each piece has a unique feel and suits the situation. I quickly found the music in this game was in general rotation in my mp3 player. This is a battle theme from the game.

05 – Agni

Gameplay: Battles are a unique affair – you have a team of 4 members (2 vanguard and 2 mages). The mages select a single speel to cast between them, and the vanguard must protect the mages whilst they charge the spell. The charging can be stopped at any time during the player’s turn. The vanguard can also attack using a directional button and either square or x (square for one vanguard character and x for the other), each different attack has a different effect on the mage characters, from giving the charge gauge a massive boost to restoring the mage’s MP. Character chemistry is also a big part of the game, if characters do not get along then it will have a detrimental effect on their battle performance. Chemistry can be improved by triggering set events or levelling up the mages together. The vanguard levels up the usual way (they gain XP from battles and level up) whilst the mages level up by bathing together and using different bath salts (that’s right, bathing). To learn new spells the main character must heal the mental scars of each mage by diving into her sub-conscious, these events can be rather entertaining.

Story: The story for this game is definitely unique. You play as Croix – A young knight who is protecting the two holy maidens who are charged with creating a new land by singing the song “Metafalica”. They do this because the world that they inhabit, “metafalss”, is dying and falling from its place in the sky, however a goddess tries to stop you and it is not revealed why until later on in the game.

Overall: I would say this game is worth a buy, it takes the 2d art style and runs with it never looking back, and for a 2009 ps2 game it certainly feels fresh.

The Sega Genesis (Mega Drive in Europe) was a console packed to the brim with new and exciting action games. Vectorman, Comix Zone and particularly Streets of Rage 1 and 2 are just a few of the quality 16bit titles which gamers had to chose from in the early to mid-90s, which helped the console become Sega’s most successful system ever, with one source claiming that the Genesis sold nearly 30 million systems worldwide across it’s lifespan. Another action-packed title released at this time was Gunstar Heroes, created by Tokyo-based developer Treasure. The side-scrolling shooter forced fast and furious run and gun style gameplay on the player, as they took control over one of two twin brothers, Gunstars Red or Blue, with the objective in the title being to protect the planet Gunstar 9.

The title was awarded Best Action Game in 1993 by Electronic Gaming Monthly, and could also be found in the Gunstar Heroes: Treasure Box Collection for the PlayStation 2. More recently, the game has become available as a downloadable title through the Nintendo Wii’s Virtual Console, as well as the Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network. The game was however, oddly absent from 2009’s Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection. While the game failed to sell as many units as the Streets of Rage games, for example, it gained a cult following who still to this day – as seen in a recent feature at GameTrailers.com, wish for a proper sequel.

The frantic title, comparable to Contra, allows players to choose one of four weapons initially, but players have the ability to pickup weapons throughout the game, leading to various possible weapon combinations, fourteen in total. Upon starting the game, the player is given several decisions to make. The first of which is to choose one of two abilities, either Free Shot, which allows the character to move when firing, or Fixed Shot, allowing the player to shoot in eight different directions. This initial element of choice seems insignificant, but over the course of the game, making the wrong choice can be potentially frustrating.  The aforementioned four basic weapon types are Force, so the player can fire rapidly, Lightning, so the player can fire through enemies, Chaser, which as the name suggests allows shots to home in on the enemies, and finally Fire, the most effective weapon at short range. This design choice of allowing the player to pick a weapon encourages multiple playthoughs of the game, and the game itself warns you to “choose carefully”. This is a wise warning, as going all out with the powerful Fire weapon is all well and good for a time, but as the game continues, being picked off by long-range enemies is anything but fun. The game also allowed a non-linear traversal of the story mode, as you are allowed to choose from one of four stages, each with unique objectives, each with a crazy boss at the end, and each sounding more exciting and perilous than the last with regards to the names, such as “The Flying Battleship”. Your elderly mentor, known as Professor Brown then encourages Gunstar Red and/or Blue to retrieve four “Mystical Gems” that have been stolen by the game’s villain Smash Daisaku. While the story is interesting to a point, this game is all about the gameplay, which remains frantic and exciting to this day.

Other gameplay elements in the colourful title include the close quarters fisticuffs, whereby enemies can be grabbed or thrown, and your character can expertly execute athletic skids, slides and air-based attacks. The destruction of your enemies looks and feels incredibly satisfying throughout, partly because everything explodes in a fiery blaze of glory, from robots to inanimate wooden boxes. The gameplay is also satisfying, because for the most part, everything you pull off is intentional, and there is very little luck involved. However, whilst there is an element of skill needed for gameplay, flailing around wildly and shooting constantly will be enough to get you through large parts of the game. On this note, it has to be said that this game is fairly easy, especially when compared with one of Nintendo’s combating action titles, Megaman.

Changes from the Genesis version to the next-gen releases are a little scarce, with the graphics seeing few updates. Whilst the games’ graphics were impressive at its initial release, it is a little disappointing to see the game not receive an HD remake, similar to that seen with Bionic Commando Rearmed. Considering that game’s success, and the very recent announcement of  a sequel, it is a little surprising to see that Gunstar Heroes was re-released almost visually identical to the original version. The music also remains untouched, and is just as awesome as you remember it! There are two particularly nice additions however, with online co-op play being one of them, which from my experiences worked well, with little to no latency in your actions. The second is worldwide leaderboard functionality, whereby you can compare your scores with the world, or with those on your friends list. The ability to save your game at any time to return to it later is also a welcome addition, but the game is fairly short, and can certainly be completed in one sitting.

It is great to see Gunstar Heroes become available on next-gen consoles, especially at such an affordable price, considering the original Genesis version can fetch in excess of $100 online, and it’s even better to see that the gameplay still holds up incredibly well. Full of fun and intense action throughout, Gunstar Heroes is definitely a recommended purchase, and don’t be surprised if you have an urge to go back for seconds, as it were.

Patrick McClellan