August 07 Issue

[Kidd Rune3]

The writers of the Gaming Chronicle will add their video game impressions, reviews, previews, and general opinion columns below this post.

(If you are interested in writing for the Chronicle, then click on the groups link in the header. Then chose the Chronicle usergroup, and then click join.)

[Kidd Rune3]

Goldeneye Box

One of the first things you notice about Goldeneye is how Freakin cool it looks. The zooming cut scene at the start of level 1 looks like a render, and then you realise that they are real-time graphics. The graphical quality is kept up through the whole game, with later levels looking simply stunning for the N64.


But enough about the gfx. What's more important is the way 007Goldeneye plays. The levels are structured, with varied mission objectives to achieve that never seem out of context, and there are always plenty of goons to kill. Once your used to the joypad layout, controlling james Bond is a simple matter, and the sheer number of weapons makes for a varied blast. Just compare sneaking round with a silenced PP7 to bursting in with an PC-P90 hand-cannon blazing. It's hard to fault Goldeneye, probably the biggest criticism is that the easiest setting is just that. But stick it on 00 Agent and you certainly have your work cut out.


The bottom line here is that Goldeneye is simply one of the best first-person games i've ever seen. The mixture of strategy and action is spot on, and it looks better than rendered footage in some places. It was also one of the 1st good 1st person shooters.

I rate it:
9/10




Extra stuff:
Goldeneye ROM
Project 64 (emulator)
multiplayer gameplay video

[Kidd Rune3]

ok heres the Chapters: (press ctrl f to find)

1: Story
2: Characters
3: Rating
4: Cheats
5: Glitches
6: Similar games
7: Downloads and extras



http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/46/donkeykong64boxartdz2.jpg


1: Story

Donkey Kongs friends have been ape-napped by K.Rool (the evil villain) and its up to him to save them. K.rool has scattered all the golden bananas to halt anything DK tries to do to counterattack. It is up to DK and his Team to get the golden bananas and defeat K.rool.


2: Characters

DK and team: Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Tiny Kong, Lanky Kong, Chunky Kong.
Villains: King K. Rool, Gnawty, Kritter, Kasplat, Krash, Robo-Kremling, Zinger, Buzz, Klobber, Kaboom, shuri, klaptrap,Klump, Koshas
Other: Professor Cranky Kong, Funky Kong, Candy Kong, The Ghost of Wrinkly Kong, Snide, Troff n' Scoff, K. Lumsy, Banana Fairies, Squawks,
Bosses: Army Dillo, Dogadon, Mad Jack, Puftoss, Dogadon-Reborn, Army Dillo-Reborn, K-Rool



3: Rating

Gameplay: 9 It is such a fun game. they need to make more like this.
Graphics: 8 (for an N64 Game)
Sound: 7 some of the sounds are... wierd...
Game Challenge: 9.5 very challenging game. Hard to win w/o walkthru
Addicting: 9 its very addicting if your trying to beat this boss, and you keep losing right before you do.
Overall: 8.5 very good on my scale.


4: Cheats

there are no cheats for DK64


5: Glitches

Free Instrument Power
Once you get a Kong's instrument from Candy's Shop, she mentions that using the instrument will 'deafen' (kill) enemies, and even trigger special events for free when played on its own pad. However, if you're running low on instrument power, and you want to use it to kill the enemies in the vicinity but not trigger the event, simply stand on the rim of the pad and play your tune. This will trick the game into allowing you to perform the move for free, but not trigger the event. But the instrument pad must be for your character.

Take No Falling Damage
If you hold the Z button and slide off of a high ledge, you will fall safely to the bottom without taking any damage.


6: Similar games tell me others if u know any for n64

Some games for N64 Similar to this are:
Super Mario 64
Banjo-Kazooie
Rayman 2: The Great Escape


7: Downloads and extras Emulator to play ROM

Donkey Kong ROM

Gameplay Vids: http://youtube.com/watch?v=J2y-n88iZSc

DK Rap mp3 (opening song)

[Kidd Rune3]

GAMES BEING RELEASED AUGUST 2007 (in order):

Dungeons & Dragons Tactics (PSP)
High School Musical: Makin' the Cut (DS)
Heroes of Mana (DS)
Luminous Arc (DS)
Madden NFL 08 (Wii, DS, 360, cell, ps2, xbox, PC, PSP, PS3, GCN)
Metropolismania 2 (PS2)
Operation: Vietnam (DS)
Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (DS)
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (PS2)
Ecco the Dolphin (360)
Hexic 2 (360)
Battleship / Trouble / Perfection Collection (PC)
Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day (DS)
Rider's World: Competition (PC)
Avencast: Rise of the Mage (PC)
BioShock (PC, 360)
BioShock: Limited Edition (PC, 360)
Brunswick Pro Bowling (PS2, Wii, PSP)
Destination: Treasure Island (PC)
Dragoneer's Aria (PSP)
Harpoon Commanders Edition (PC)
I SPY Fun House (DS)
Jeanne d'Arc (PSP)
LifeSigns: Surgical Unit (DS)
Panzer Killer (PC)
Pet Luv Spa & Resort Tycoon (PC)
Sam & Max: Season 1 (PC)
The Settlers (DS)
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (PS3, PSP)
Turn It Around! (DS)
Two Worlds (360, PC)
Two Worlds: Collector's Edition (360, PC)
Carnival Games (Wii)
Hearts of Iron Anthology (PC)
John Woo Presents Stranglehold (360, PC)
John Woo Presents Stranglehold: Collector's Edition (360)
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii), so wanna get that!
MotoGP '07 (360)
NHRA: Countdown to the Championship (PSP)
Rush Hour 3 (cell)
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (PC)
Blue Dragon (360)
Crazy Frog Arcade Racer (PS2)
Dead Head Fred (PSP)
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam (PS3, 360)
Europa Universalis III: Napoleon's Ambition (PC)
Garfield's Nightmare (DS)
Honda Motorcycle Racing (PS2)
Left Behind: Eternal Forces Expansion Pack (PC)
Legends of Norrath: Oathbound (PC)
Master Jin Jin's I.Q. Challenge (DS)
Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms (PC)
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP)
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes (PSP)
Professional Fisherman's Tour: Northern Hemisphere (DS)
Stuntman: Ignition (PS2, 360)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (PC, PS2, Wii, PSP, PS3, 360, DS)
Ultimate Duck Hunting (Wii)
Warhawk (PS3)
Wild ARMs 5 (PS2)
Wild West , The (DS)
High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition (PS3)

[danny12]

US, August 13, 2007 - Leading video games developer and publisher NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that development has been completed on Digimon World Data Squad for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and Digimon World Dawn and Digimon World Dusk for the Nintendo DS. Featuring engrossing role-playing gameplay with hundreds of unique Digimon for players to collect, trade and evolve, these three games will be available in stores nationwide on September 18. For dedicated Digimon fans, the first printing of all three games will include a sheet of exclusive stickers, letting players enjoy their favorite digital monsters wherever they go.

In Digimon World Data Squad for the PlayStation 2 system, players can use and upgrade over 140 different Digimon in order to defeat the Seven Demon Kings and rescue a group of kidnapped children. With the all-new "Galactic Evolution System," digivolving Digimon is easier and more intuitive than ever before. Featuring colorful cel-shaded graphics, a distinctive emotion command system that allows players to track their Digimon's mood and full voice acting by the original cast of the upcoming Digimon Data Squad television series, Digimon World Data Squad is sure to provide fans and newcomers alike with hours of digital monster-battling entertainment.

Digimon World Dawn and Digimon World Dusk for the Nintendo DS are parallel games with different selections of Digimon for players to collect and use. Featuring an interweaving narrative, the storyline of the games is seen from the perspective of two rival groups as they seek to uncover the culprit behind a disaster that is causing Digimon around the world to devolve into digi-eggs. Gameplay in Dawn and Dusk is highlighted by a turn-based battle system in which players strategically position the game's 400 Digimon for maximum combat efficiency. Through a local wireless connection or online via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service, players can battle against others and make trades to obtain rare Digimon that can only be found in certain versions of the game.

For more information about these upcoming Digimon games and the Digimon franchise, please visit www.namcobandaigames.com.

[danny12]

(Might not be as good as other reviews, i ain't wrote any in a while my apologies)

PSP Review: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)



My review is split into these sections.

Story
Gameplay
Graphics
Replayability
Faults
Final Score

Story: This game is set before the original Metal Gear on the NES but after Snake Eater. Portable Ops is set at the beginning of November 1970, a full six years after the events of Operation Snake Eater. Naked Snake, who's received the title of Big Boss, has walked away fromFOX, an elite special forces unit. At the start of the game, Snake has been kidnapped, drugged and thrown into a South American jail cell. After a torture session by a former CIA agent and FOX member, Snake is left alone to try to recall the location of a vital secret that's gone missing: The Philosopher's Legacy from Snake Eater is now highly sought after, and Snake is the last known person to have any information about it. However as the story begins to develop, we learn of things such as a new Metal Gear threat, secrets from past Metal Gear characters and even hinting at whats to come in Hideo Kojimas upcoming "Metal Gear Solid 4".

Gameplay: With the game bearing the name of its successful brothers on a Current and Next Gen console, MPO had a lot to live up to and it did not dissapoint. Quite possible this game pushes the PSP to it's very limits, with the game world being so varied and different that your left wondering how it can handle such pressure. The gameplay remains true to Snake Eater and most of the moves from Snake Eater and past Metal Gears has made it to the final cut. New moves and weapons have been added from the original games but all the original weapons return, including the favoured MK22. The game takes a more tactical approach than the previous games, with Hideo Kojima taking a more linear approach with the game, preferring to have the game work in seperate areas and missions rather than one world. Whilst some people will miss the large gaming experience of past titles, this does help gamers achieve the "pick up and play" status which so many PSP games have yet to implement successfully. Snake is without support from his superiors or friends, his only help is a man from the jail, Campell. Once you escape from jail. Snake and Campell reclaim a truck,and with this truck Snake can start to "recurit" soliders. This means that once Snake has successful knocked out a solider, technician, doctor, or other people, Snake can either drag them back to the truck, or call a member of his team by codec to collect them for him. Once the member is captured, Snake can continute with his mission. After the mission is complete, you are taken back to a mission select screen. This screen allows for selecting your mission area, weaponry, tools and saving options. However the new and more interesting option is the Squad Selction. For the first time in the series history, Snake isn't the only character you can control. The soliders recuited, after heavy persusasion, join your cause to fight against their former leader, Gene. More will be explained about him as you progress in the game. There are many different squads which comprise of 4 soliders each. Each solider will have areas which they excel in, in which they are lacking and even special abilites such as Ironman, which gives them higher Stamina and so on. There is also a Tech Unit, which is comprised of 10 soliders and technicans whose job it is to make new equipment and provide ammo for the cew. The medical unit works the same to make new medical equipment. And the Spy unit, is used for spying on locations which Snake has visited. This is vital for progression in the story, as the reports tell the player where to go next, to get important equipment and so on. With certain areas requiring specific skills, different soliders are needed, one solider for example may be able to walk freely past soliders and not be detected whilst others may be able to access areas that Snake cannot. However you must take care of your group as unlike the previous games, once a solider dies, they are gone for good. Only Snake and unique characters are protected from this. This adds a level of detail to the game that wasn't seen in previous games in the series. This level of detail in a PSP game is amazing and easily the most impressive feature of the Kojima PSP effort.

Graphics: The engine from the Metal Gear Subsistence game is used in this game and it looks excellent. Each character and object looks as detailed as its PS2 counterpart. Now, while the translation of the Subsistence engine to the PSP is an impressive feat, there are still some visual issues that crop up every now and then. For one, you'll notice a lot of textural tearing that will pop up during some pans of the camera or transitional elements, which are extremely noticeable on the PSP's small screen. For another, you'll pick up on slowdown that will crop up here and there during furious battle sequences or massive explosions. It's not enough to cripple the game, but it's a tangible drop in game speed. Fortunately, the game has the visually striking cutscenes by Ashley Wood, who helped create the Digital Graphic Novel, to balance out any flaws from the Subsistence engine. Even all the orginal voice actors from the games are here with David Hayer leading Snake as usual, which is impressive considering the technical limiatatiions of the UMD disc.

Replayability: Even the replayability is impressive, with two new game modes, new characters and new solider abilites unlocked after one playthrough. It will take the average player at least 3 playthroughs to unlock all the soliders the game has to offer, This dosn't include the online mode which is unlocked from the start. It handles just like Subsitence Online. The mode pits you against a set number of other people from around the world in different modes such as Deathmatchm Team Deathmatch and so on.

Faults: With the lack of a second analogue stick, the camera is now mapped onto the L button, which is frustrating at times. The AI in the game isn't particularly smart, and nothing is more annoying than picking a solider which looks exactly the same as every other solider in the area but yet, if you tip toe, roll or even crouch, alarm bells start ringing.


Final Score: It's been a long time coming, but this is what Metal Gear Solid fans, and indeed PSP fans have been waiting for: a title that demonstrates what the technology of the PSP can actually do, with a solid action title to boot, the online and single player modes are deep, and there are plenty of things to do by tracking down and recruiting new soldiers from various places. This is one of the games to add to your collection if you have the PSP.


FINAL SCORE: 9.0/10