Soul Calibur 'Broken Destiny': PSP

Video Games | Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny | Review

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Hello Peeps! It's been an age since I last posted here, and for that I apologise. And it's not even as if I'm returning on a high. I'm returning here with something of a moan, so here goes. I rushed out to buy SC:BD, as I have every other Soul Calibur release since SC2 on the PS2.

I absolutely LOVE Soul Calibur. I have every incarnation of the game including it's 'prequel' Soul Blade on PS1. It's my favourite fighting game of all time, and I love fighting games. So when I heard there was a handheld version coming out for the PSP, and that the frankly wonderful Kratos, star of PSP classic GOW: Chains Of Olympus was going to be a playable character, I was nearly wetting my pants.

I'd loved Tekken: Dark Resurrection for PSP, with it's single UMD versus mode and resplendent graphics. SC:BD promised to surpass it. So off I skipped to Game and picked up a copy.
Disappointment #1. was the fact that I bought a faulty copy which kept 'freezing' in my PSP. Not a great start...

Onto the second copy. New characters? Check! But the first one was the foppish Dampierre, a top-hatted dandy with a penchant for stabbing himself in the arm. WTF??? Count me unimpressed... Next, Kratos... Brilliant surely? Well, erm, no actually... Would it be the most controversial thing in the world to say I preferred playing as Yoda in SC IV? 'Cos I did!

The games modes are uninspiring to say the least. I've no idea how to play random players online, in fact I've not managed to play versus anyone... The Gauntlet Mode, requiring the player to pull off specific moves, against a variety of opponents, is one of the most frustrating game modes I have ever encountered. I got to a certain point and could just not get past it.

I ended up wanting to throw my PSP against the wall in rage, then I remembered that would be a rubbish idea, LOL! In the end I just took the UMD out and I've not put it back in since. I can't remember a time I was more disappointed by a game.

With GTA: Chinatown Wars, I got one of the best and most satisfying game experiences I can remember, which was coincidentally on a handheld. With SC:BD I got one of the most annoying game experiences I can remember, which just so happened to look amazing and feature one of the most iconic gaming characters of all time. Go figure!

Now very often, when I don't take to a game, it's me and not the game. I wonder of anyone else could confirm or deny which one if at fault? In the interest of fairness, I'll post a video review. Then you can make up your mind!

Golden Sun DS

Thought this place was dead? Well, think again! :D Let's delve back into the hand-helds, shall we?

The near future of the big portable systems (DS and PSP) was unveiled last week at E3, and Nintendo's conference was easily the week of the big three. There were a couple of interesting announcements, but between a new Super Mario Galaxy, a...meh...port of the DS's New Super Mario Bros., and a new "vitality sensor" for the Wii, that let's you feel like you're in the hospital on life-support while you play, the DS's future didn't seem that bright (unless you're into the tween games, in that case prepare to be overwhelmed...). That is...until this beauty was announced!



Golden Sun DS, bitches!!!

Oh, am I excited! The original Golden Sun is only one of my favourite jRPG's of all time! Unfortunately I never played the sequel, The Lost Age, but I guess now's a good time to correct that. Can't wait! :D

BTW, there was another big announcement, but I'll save that to another post ;)

MobileZX: an ultra portable Speccy

Chances are you, dear reader, already have a phone, a PDA or some other sort of portable device that sports a colour screen and happily supports Java. If that is indeed the case, then chances are MobileZX is the app for you. It is, you see, a freeware emulator for the masively popular 8-bit (mostly) gaming computer that was the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and thus an emulator that will let you enjoy Manic Miner, Jet Set Willy, Arcadia and even the abomination that was Super Gran on the road.

Amazon Kindle 2

Say hi to the latest portable reading device that isn't a book: Kindle 2 by Amazon. A wireless, small, shiny and particularly good looking little gadget with an impressive paper like screen, that can hold up over 1500 books, allows you to actually read in the dark (or while camping in the wilderness, I guess) and will even read for you via its Text to Speech feature. Over 230,000 books have already been made available for the thing and the new Kindle 2 can be pre-ordered here. It will ship later this month, mind.

From the Abyss to the DS

If hacking and slashing your way though randomly generated levels while waiting for the bus is your idea of fun, well, I'm pretty sure that From the Abyss is the RPG for you and your dear DS. Have a look. The thing even sports a co-op mode you know.

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce - PSP screens

Shiny and filled with lovely PS One era effects, wouldn't you say? Oh, and they are quite obviously from the Japanese version of the game, mind.

Pocket Physics DS

Having just mentioned Crayon Physics on another blog, a wise man from the gutter pointed me towards the seemingly impressive homebrew offering that is Pocket Physics. It's an attempt to recreate Crayon Physics for the DS and for free, it is. Have a look.

Giana Sisters DS. Could it be?

Possibly the most interesting DS video, well, possible. The Great Giana Sisters might just be back, and this time its all about jumping around the double small screens, without having blood sucking lawyers harass them. Mario, eat your heart out.

Frontier 1337: Elite for the PSP

If you've never played Elite, you just can't imagine what you're missing. The rest of you will be more than happy to learn about this seemingly great and definitely freeware port/remake for the PSP: Frontier 1337. It's not exactly Elite (more than Elite II really), but definitely worth a download and try.

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (DS)

Happy 2009 everyone, and let us all quickly overcome that dreadful 2008. Oh, and for the RPG loving crowds that own a Nintendo DS, here are a couple of the latest screenshots of Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (by Atlus):