Gaming on the Go: March 2007

Friday, March 30, 2007

PSP 3.30 firmware & some hackers

Right. The Sony PSP firmware reached version 3.30, allowing for higher-res video to be played and featuring a variety of thumbnail options. What about homebrew, then, I hear you ask, did they get around to allowing people some freeware experience on the handheld? Of course not. You still have to google for Dark Alex. Oh, and perhaps read an interview with the icons of PSP hacking.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

NDS Spectrobes video review

Spectrobes, Disney's answer to Pokemon, just hit the Nintendo DS and consequently got a lovely Gametrailers video review. Watch it and decide whether you're interested in another collecting heavy RPG.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

PSP camera and GPS

The Sony PSP hasn't been he quirkiest or most innovative of consoles both in terms of available software and hardware add-ons. Things are apparently about to change though, as the PSP Camera already released in Japan will soon hit the US and then most probably the world. Same thing with the GPS unit, only difference being this one will support a lovely Metal Gear Solid game. Further info should be available here and here.

Related posts: PSP mixing music thingy, 300: March to Glory, God of War PSP, Mario PSP

Related Tags: Sony PSP, PSP, GPS, Video games, Games, Game, Handheld, Sony, PSP GPS, PSP Camera

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Master System Monday: Castle of Illusion - Speed Run

I've seen a few of these on Youtube. Basically its some clever dick steaming his way through a game. On this occasion it's the wonderful Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse for the Master System/Game Gear. I've been a bit indulgent on the old video posting over the past couple of days, but it shows the game beautifully. If I were you, I'd turn the volume down on your PC and play your favourite banging tune loud on your stereo instead, whilst tripping out on the visuals!

I spent a good while playing this poorly this weekend. I was crap! The game is great! 'Nuff said! Enjoy!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Resident Evil Deadly Silence Trailer

This is what the game looks like! I've no idea how they got the tiny camera to film this off the DS screen, but it's a good little visual sample of the graphical beauty of this particular title. The first person view of the zombie being slashed is achieved by swiping the DS stylus across the bottom screen. It's a great game, but for a shitty and arrogant review of this hallowed title , check the 'funny' assessment below! Whilst i know some people might have a problem with the remake of an old title (in terms of stifling originality), these two blurts need to jump off their superiority podium and pucker up whilst I spread my glutus maximus! The DS version brings the Saturn/PS1 roots of the franchise to a new generation. It utilises the innovation of the DS and presents a classic game 'reborn'! The stylus controls your zombie slashing... Great! Blow onto the touch screen to give the 'kiss of life' to your injured S.T.A.R.S colleague GREAT!

So it samples the mid-nineties video from the original Saturn game?

GREAT! It was good then and it's good now! I bet that the mentality portrayed by our colonial cousins in this review, is the same mentality that said sampling in music was showing a lack of originality. Well I suggest that they are wrong people! The 'rebirth' of the title on DS is as exciting as hearing James Brown riffs in Public Enemy songs! Buy it, play it, love it!

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence DS Review

So here it is! A very American video review of the best game I've played on the DS so far. Playing 'RE DS' made me feel that the DS was a console that went beyond the confines of the description of "handheld". For me, to a certain extent, the tag "handheld" implied something of an inferior status to the consoles that sit under our TVs. Smaller right? So less technology could be crammed into its tiny casing? Not so! I always thought that Gameboy (or Lynx, or Gamegear or whatever...) provided a 'quick fix' for gamers on the go. It was a 'snack' compared to a 'meal'... Providing a taste of gaming without the full hit. I now know I was wrong.

Now, having at last clocked up some quality time on handhelds (DS, PSP, GBA and Gamegear) I've realised my assumptions were incorrect. Handhelds are as valid a gaming medium as their larger counterparts. In the past I would literally pack my Dreamcast, controllers, games, Light Guns etc, into a bag and lug them with me to any place I had to visit. I needed to know that I could hook them up and play wherever I was!

With the DS (and Gamegear) I now know that I have consoles that can sustain my gaming needs whilst on the move !

(If I'm honest, I still lug that bagged up Dreamcast around from place to place, but since 'RE DS', it sometimes stays in the bag...)

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Resident Evil: Inappropriate Touching

Posting videos is a lazy way of fattening up the content of a blog, but sometimes the good folks at YouTube present us with a video treat that just screams to be posted. I love this video, and the fact that the game creators put this highly amusing feature into the game!

Both Gnome and I have been playing RE DS. neither of us has reviewed it fully, and I kind of think we should somehow do a dual/joint post where we debate it's merits. However, I've absolutely no idea how we would do that, so in the meantime enjoy Jill's reaction to having her lady lumps interfered with via the DS stylus! LOL! :)

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Touch of the Dead NDS

After having spent quite a few hours playing the universaly ridiculed Master of Knifing minigame in Resident Evil DS, I'm pretty sure I'll absolutely love the forthcoming Touch the Dead on-rails shooter for the Nintendo DS by Eidos. I mean, it will be lovely; in the way people loved Mr. Jackson's Bad Taste.

TotD will even feature a shoddy 3d engine and zombies throwing the heads at the player, even though it would have been lovelier, were it a Sega product named The Tapping of the Dead. Anyway. Find out everything you need to know in this excellent Game Set Watch post.

Related posts: Panzer Tactics DS, DS GPS, Jet Impulse, the easy road to NDS homebrew

Related Tags: FPS, Nintendo DS, Zombies, NDS, DS, Eidos, DS news, Games, Game, Touch of the Dead

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Chronos Twin Screenshots

And you'd believe the Nintendo DS was absolutely stuffed with quirky, innovative and fresh puzzle games... Tsk, tsk. Apparently another one is about to join the DS puzzler library and its friends call it Chronos Twin. GWN has more info and found those screenshots too.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

PSP: plays games, mixes music, does porn.

Unfortunately this post will only focus on the musical side of things, which quite obviously means games and porn will have to be found elsewhere. Traxxpad, on the other hand, will keep aspiring DJs on the streets, being the only choice (I know of) for people interested in highly portable music mixing equipment. Traxxpad will be available for the Sony PSP this spring by eidos and more info should be available over at the excellent PSPBlender blog. Oh, and this bit of musical software will allegedly be handy for professionals too.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Master System Monday #2: Land Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

For the second weekend running, my lovely DS has been redundant. For both the purposes of this very blog, and also for my own entertainment, I have been playing my Master System games on my Sega Game Gear. This has been so entertaining that my progress through Resident Evil DS has been put on hold, whilst I get to grips with retro titles from 15 years ago!

This week's game was the sublime "Land Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse". Like many Game Gear/ Master System games this is a 2D side scrolling platformer.

The premise of the game is that whilst nodding off reading a fairy tale book, our minuscule hero finds himself in a magical land where a crystal has been kidnapped. In order to complete the game Mickey has to work his way through a variety of lands overcoming a plethora of foes and rescue it... (Bloody original scenario I know...)

As you control Mickey you have to run, jump, duck, swim , throw rocks and collect apples. As well as enemies such as birds, snakes and spiders, Mickey has to hang on as tornadoes blow past. As he swims he has to come up for oxygen periodically and battle against rip tides!

The game plays beautifully and quickly becomes addictive! Although I didn't complete it, it provided the perfect game for late Saturday night, whilst I drank beer and watched Laurel and Hardy (another retro pleasure of mine), one eye on the game and one on the TV set!

Hey! You can grab this little treat for your Master System from eBay or for your Game Gear over at Play Asia. I thoroughly recommend this title for all you retro lovers out there! And if I ever take enough time to get through it, I'll let you know straight away!

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Panzer Tactics DS

A short trailer of Panzer Tactics DS by WWII strategy gaming specialists CDV. Imagine defending Moscow in the bus... The joy, the heroism, ahh, the days!

Related posts: NDS GPS, ScummVM DS, Hotel Dusk: Room 215

Related Tags: Panzer Tactics DS, Video, NDS, Games, Game, Trailer, Nintendo DS, DS, Nintendo

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Ahoy, Game Boy Advance sails t' pirate land! Aye, me parrot concurs. Uhm... yes, indeed!

Spencer, the esteemed editor of Siliconera, found an old but most impressive piratey treasure in San Francisco: tons of GBA multicarts! Wanna have a look matey? Feel the tension of a sole cartridge being home to Super Mario Advance, Soccer Kid (eurk!), Ghosts and Goblins , Ninja Gaiden and 102 other mystery games at the same time? Care to meet the amazing 75-in-1 cartridge? Well, click here then.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

300 PSPs (not Lemmings) march to glory

Ancient Sparta had no Lemmings. On the other hand, ancient Spartans did have a sort of immediate democracy, lots of slaves, high-level (50+ in WoW speak) fighters and some damn fine pottery. Then the Macedonians descended and the party was over. As for the videos above, well, they are all about the forthcoming 300: March to Glory game for the Sony PSP. Looks pretty good for a movie tie-in methinks. Then again, I've been wrong before. Oh, and that's a funny pic.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Sky Force: the Pocket PC shmup

Sky Force is a traditional but brilliant looking shmup for the Pocket PC, that offers classic 2D shooter action in a 2D/3D environment, 4 boss fights, 7 levels and 3 unsurprising difficulty levels. Quirkier offerings include a dynamic weather system, destructible objects, upgradable weapons and a ranking system. Find out more and try a demo here.

Related posts: Death Drive, 5 excellent emulators for Pocket PC, Pocket UFO

Related Tags: Pocket PC, Sky Force, PPC gaming, Shmup, Games, PPC, PocketPC, PPC games

Monday, March 12, 2007

Master System Monday #1: Out Run Europa

There is a great deal of correlation between the Sega Game Gear and The Sega Master System. In fact the Game Gear was just a mini Master System with a built in screen. Most Game Gear games were just ports of Master System or Megadrive/Genesis games.

So it is suitably fitting and, with The Good Gnome's approval, that I review my Master System game collection here on Gnome's Gaming On The Go. As long as I play it them on my Game Gear. On the go...With the adaptor I mentioned last time... Hope that sets up the scenario for future posts... *Cough!*

Out Run Europa is a peach of a game. Coming out of Yu Suzuki's AM2 stable, one wouldn't really expect anything other than excellence!

The game is a follow on from Outrun, the early eighties driving arcade game that really defined the genre. However, Outrun Europa is not just a racing game, it's a story driven racer, pitting you against a band of thieves. As well as chasing these thieves and barging them off the road, the player has to refuel his stomach by driving over burgers and other food stuff. In Out Run Europa you start off on a motorbike, as opposed to a car. Other vehicles include a jet ski!

Drive too slowly and the Police will arrest you... (fascists!)

The game has elements of Super Hang On and is a lovely retro blast!

Playing the game this weekend, actually caused me to put down my beloved DS, in favour of it's 15 year old Game Gear counterpart, the gameplay is that good! To find out more about this lovely game look here and here. Keep scanning Retro Treasures and you too could be the proud owner of both a Master System and a Game Gear and enjoy the beautiful symbiotic/interactive relationship between the two!

The Nintendo DS GPS

DgpS, a project to turn the Nintendo DS into a proper GPS unit, seems to be coming to a happy and quite successful end. Nice. Find out more both at the DSEmulation site and the DgpS official blog.

Related posts: Jet Impulse, Project GB, the freeware Zelda DS, Simpsons Road Rage

Related Tags: Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS GPS, NDS GPS, DS, Nintendo, GPS

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Death Drive PPC brutality

Death Drive, a driving game developed by Gaijin Entertainment, is an excellent and more importantly freeware Carmageddon clone for the Pocket PC. Simple as that. Download the game here or read a review by PocketPCMag just to make sure.

Friday, March 09, 2007

Jet Impulse DS review & walkthrough

Having just finished playing the arcade flight-sim/shmup that is Jet Impulse for the Nintendo DS, it only seemed right I let you know if it's any good. Well, despite being all in Japanese, it is very good. Really, but do read my Jet Impulse review over at Siliconera just to make sure. Oh, and this walkthrough will probable come in handy, especially if your Japanese language skills are lacking.

Buy Jet Impulse from Play-Asia.com

Thursday, March 08, 2007

The DS ludologic game we might never see

DS Fanboy reported that Square Enix presented (at the GDC Serious Games Summit no less) a game-designing game currently dubbed Project GB aiming to teach game-designers to ...err... design games. As game-designers. On a Nintendo DS of course. The game -currently for SE internal use only- might also get a proper commercial release. Oh, and Famitsu has a few pictures. Gamasutra a nice write-up.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Nintendo DS homebrew for the masses

DS Emulation, a brilliant source for Nintendo DS news and the site that discovered the Nitro Hax Action Replay clone for the DS, found the way to introduce the revolutionary masses to the NDS homebrew scene: Games n' Music. It's a cheap and easy to use device, happily bundled with quite a few games too, that will finally help people enjoy the tons of DS freebies floating around the Internet.

Here's all the info you'll ever need:

Home brew games and music on the move with your DS!

With Games ‘n’ Music, you can put your Nintendo DS or DS Lite at the centre of your digital lifestyle. You can use it to launch home brew games written for the DS and readily available on the Internet, listen to your happening sounds with the device’s integrated MP3 player or even watch videos. And you don’t need to modify your console to use it…

Games ‘n’ Music comes with a 128MB Micro SD card for you to store your games and data, and if that’s not enough, just slip in a new card and expand its capacity to up to 2GB. It’s really easy to use too. Just fit the Micro SD card into the USB adapter (supplied), plug it into your computer and drag and drop your files onto the card. It’s that easy!

Games ‘n’ Music contains everything you need straight out of the box. It even comes bundled with a 25-game CD, offering some of the best games the DS home brew scene has to offer, as well as a video conversion program for your PC (Windows XP or later required) to convert your movies and video clips to a format you can play back with Games ‘n’ Music. It’s the ultimate in digital entertainment!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

God of War PSP

Seems the rumors were right. Sony PSP will be getting its fair share of God of War brilliance, properly served with dollops of violence, glimpses of Greek mythology and a touch of threesomes. Satyrs will most probably not be included.

Read more here and/or here.

Related posts: Getting PSP freebies, Atari Lynx PSP, Sega's Crush for the PSP (video)

Related Tags: God of War, PSP, God of War PSP, Sony PSP, Sony, GoW, Games, Game

Game Gear Gadgets Growing Gradually...

Well here I am back after a lovely micro-break that saw me take my Game Gear for a bit of a test drive. The first (and only) game I tried though, (Spiderman vs. The Sinister Six), proved to be a bit of a disaster. We can forgive the grainy graphics and poor contrast... It's from 1992 ...It was great for it's time.

But the game itself is as furiously frustrating as it gets...

Buying Game Gear games is a bit hit and miss. There is usually no manual, no box, no instructions. In this game, a lovely side scrolling beat'em up, one plays as Spidey. You can walk, jump, climb walls, move along them horizontally and vertically, and sling webs. But you can't sling them at the criminals! They seem to serve no purpose! And while you're busy slinging away, the criminals come up and punch you!
Until you die... Not great!!!

All of this frustration made me regret taking the Game Gear away, and I quickly sloped off to the wonderful DS. In fact the Game Gear only proved worth bringing when I used it as a tiny portable TV, so that my kids could watch a TV show that their younger cousin was forbidden from looking at on the main TV.

So I wasn't feeling too enamoured with the system until this evening when an extremely bountiful haul was sold to me by Mr. Kahn of the wonderful Rusholme Consoles.

For £23 I got all this... the wonderful Plasma Sword for the Dreamcast as well as Wild Metal, Deep Fighter and Championship Surfer for said console. I also got a third party Fission Dreamcast Fishing Rod and Fission Dreamcast Light Gun boxed up... As well as this Mr. Kahn threw in a plug in chargeable power pack for my Game Gear AND one of these...

A converter that allows me to play all of my Master System games on my Game Gear!!!
So now I can review my Master System games for Master System Mondays (if I ever get started on it) on my Game Gear!! Cosmic huh?

Oh and Resident Evil for DS is one of the most sublime video game experiences I have ever had on any console...

But I'll tell you about that another time...

Monday, March 05, 2007

Legend of Zelda TI-83 and friends

You (just) saw the video, now play the game. Click here, scroll down and download Zelda for your TI-83 calculator (for free, as usual). Don't forget to have a look at all the other brilliant games too. Suggested titles include: Alien Breed IV, Pong, Arkanoid, Pac-Man, Duck Hunt and Wolfenstein (remeber?).

Sunday, March 04, 2007

The Milton Bradley Microvision

Imagine an immensely underpowered but bulky Nintendo Game Boy sporting some (roughly a dozen, actually) really basic games and you just imagined the amazing Milton Bradley Microvision. Amazing? But of course, as Microvision was the first ever handheld console to feature cartridge-based gaming all the way back in 1979. According to the Handheld Museum:

This system is a cool little cartridge based handheld game designed by Jay Smith (of Vectrex fame), it's kind of a VERY low-quality Gameboy (with a 16 x 16 LCD screen). There are two variations of the machine with regards to the batteries: The first version allowed for two batteries (although I believe it would still work with one), than later it noticed that the machine would work well with one battery, so the place where the second battery would go was labelled 'spare battery storage,' and the electrical contacts where removed. Interesting trivia: the console itself is nothing more than controls, LCD panel and a controller chip for the LCD panel. Each cartridge contains the microprocessor, which happens to have a small amount of ROM space on it that MB loaded the game code onto.

Web resources on the MB Microvision:

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Loco Roco migrating to phones

According to Siliconera the PSP's unsmokable roll 'em up LocoRoco is coming to mobile phones worldwide. Apparently Sony are working on the port themselves, the game will obviously be both shorter and cheaper, and if you're really interested in finding out more keep reading here. Alternatively visit a library.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Panzer Dragoon Mini Game Gear

Apparently SEGA's 8-bit portable wonder was the only 8-bit console ever to get a Panzer Dragoon game. Then again, it looked just like it does in the video above and -unfortunately- was a rather shite game too. Still, Panzer Dragoon...

The PSP freebie source

Pocket Gamer, being a nice and proper pocket gaming place, has gone to great pains to provide us all with 23 places to legally get free PSP content from. The links provided range from the official Sony Pictures UMD downloads, to the FeedYourPSP magazine, to the brilliant YAHP Homebrew Pack.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

The freeware Zelda DS

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass it's not, but it's out now, it's free and it's a Zelda game you can enjoy on your Nintendo DS. It's Lupi's brilliant homebrew Zelda DS demo. Swiftly download it here before Nintendo notices.

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