"The brand new yet highly collectible GBA Christmas Double Pack!" Review(ish)

Firstly, may I just say that in a highly more sober state, I've actually already done this review before. Secondly, may I also state, that Blogger was being an arse, so I lost the whole thing, despite Blogger's whole "Ooohh! I update and autosave automatically now, my blogging chums, apparently untrue bullshit!"

So, as it goes, I've already written this review! And how much better the original was!

OK! Down to business! The first game is a 'tad whack!' As Santa, flying across the mid-winter skies, you drop presents down chimneys, which decrease in stature every time you have a successful hit! The same game is a repeat of others, I'm too tired to post a link, but I'm sure it was one of the mini-games on the Japanese Saturn release of Segata Sanshiro (The Game!).

The second, however, is a classic! Holding the DS in book style, (as in Brain Training) you have to navigate Santa's 21st Century Skidoo (Snow-mobile type thing) as he delivers his pressies around the world!

This is a great game! It's fun and challenging... And as the whole package comes from those lovely peeps at Paradise Games, I suggest you do your duty and support it. I bought mine for a mere fiver (£5). Admittedly, I secured mine by registered post, which meant that the grumpy, 'by the book postman' wouldn't let my ten year old son sign for it, which in turn, meant me have to stand in line at the post office (massively hung over) for 3/4 of an hour to secure it on a Saturday morning, but that did not detract from it's gorgeous gameplay!

A definite 'keeper' flagged up by the gorgeous Gnome, this little homebrew treasure comes as a GBA cartridge (sumptuously compatible with your DS)... No downloading nonsense needed...

A festive treat for anyone... For more info click on the Paradise Games link above or -simply- here...

This is FK, a tad worse for wear, signing off for GGOTG...

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Create a NES ringtone for your poor ol' phone

Never really understood why people care about ringtones or why they think they get to express themselves via the noises produced by their phones, but quite obviously I digress. Anyway. If you are a NES loving retro gamer with a bit of time in your hands and care for ringtones, well, have a look and see how to easily make your for yourself.

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Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)

FINALLY! I've engaged with a Zelda title that I like! For those of you in the know, I've just completed the level on Ember Island, the volcano has been extinguished, I've got the power of the wind (actually, I've ALWAYS had powerful wind, ask anyone in the Krishna household...) and Astrid The Fortune Teller has bestowed on me the secret of the Temple Of The Ocean King...

But if all that sounds like gobbledy-gook to you, I sympathise! I've never been able to get down with Link (and it's not for want of trying...) I've got 'A Link To The Past' for GBA, 'Ocarina Of Time' downloaded on my Wii, I've borrowed 'Twilight Princess' and I've recently purchased 'Link's Crossbow Training' bundled with the Wii Zapper- which is admittedly ace, but not a true Zelda title...

Phantom Hourglass is the follow up to the 'child Link' cell shaded nautical odyssey 'The Wind Waker' which first appeared on the Gamecube a few years back. It's movement and combat systems are all controlled with the stylus, the D-Pad being relegated to selecting the map and items (which can be purchased with those funky little rupees that are accumulated by 'hack and slash' gardening of the liberally scattered vegetation in Link's immediate environment).

A forgiving save system and the sort of gameplay that allows you to put in half an hour here or there, make this a perfect handheld gaming experience for me. Good storyline, likeable and engaging characters and an excellent musical score, coupled with endearing visuals, make this one a winner, and something I'd recommend for purchase.

Enjoy the screenshots and video, and check out the 'Links' below... (That's about the third time I've used that pun and it's wearing thin.... Even on me! LOL! ;)

Phantom Hourglass At Wikipedia

Phantom Hourglass At IGN

Phantom Hourglass At Gamespot

Phantom Hourglass Official Site

Phantom Hourglass IGN Walkthrough (Yes I'm cheating as usual...)

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(Net) Radio Ga Ga PSP

Not much I can tell you really besides pointing out the fact that you lucky PSP owners will be able to enjoy some classic web radio fun on your handhelds. Click here to find out more.

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Arkanoid DS preview video

I've been waiting for this highly portable, oddly accurate and paddle-sporting version of Arkanoid ever since I first blogged the thing and now that Play Asia have tons of Arkanoid DS bundles ready to ship, I thought I'd look a bit more into the game. That's what the video above (courtesy of TheGameRoomBlitz) is all about. Promising...

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The brand new yet highly collectible GBA Christmas Double Pack

Everyone is sick of Christmas and the bloody thing hasn't even started yet. Anyway, just to help ease the pain of the unavoidable Xmas kitsch attack, here's a little something for your aging Game Boy Advance (and of course your DS): The RGCD/Paradise Christmas Double Pack. It's a brand new indie GBA cartridge sporting two seasonally themed mostly high-score based games, a hidden mini game, tons of smart gameplay and nice (at times impressive) 16-bit styled graphics.

Only 50 cartridges have been released and each one costs a puny £5.50, so I guess you'd better hurry. Grab them here or here and help support them retro loving homebrew developers and/or the pretty excellent yet very freeware retro gaming RGCD mag.

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Loco Roco doing the Santa Balls demo thing

Just a short post really, only to let you know that the pretty seasonal, innuendo-laden demo of the Christmas Edition of Loco Roco will be available for free download on 12/13/07 over at the game's Japanese official site. For the PSP only of course. Oh, and do check my ultra secret source.

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Guitar Hero Mobile: The Trailer

Admittedly, it does look nice and shiny, promising even, but what's the point of playing Guitar Hero when you don't actually wield a plastic toy guitar? Then again, I guess it could be worse. It could be raining, or you could have the option to plug a guitar into your phone. Well, anyway. Find out more on Guitar Hero Mobile over at its official site.

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DOOM (not the RPG) for free on your phone

Pretty straightforward really, as all you need to do is follow this link, download the 2MB archive and enjoy some truly classic FPS action on the go. To fully appreciate this impressive port of the original DOOM game though, a powerful phone with a QWERTY keyboard and landscape screen orientation would definitely come in handy.

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Contra 4 DS Review (of the meta sort)

It's been ages since Contra 3 and more importantly aeons since a new properly 2D Contra side-scrolling shooter graced the gaming world, but apparently the wait is now over. Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS is here and ...err... here's its official site. Hurray! Heh.

Anyway, the game seems rather gorgeous in its pixel art way, fun, solid and tough enough to remind you of your Contra/Probotector youth and even features them previous classic Contra -yes, including Super Contra- games as unlockables, along with tons of well presented Contra info. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Well, so seem to think the guys and gals over at Gametrailers. Watch their video review and keep in mind just how rare such retro friendly offerings are:

Not convinced yet? Looking for more reasons to follow your instincts and go rob an old lady of her Contra 4? Well, here are lots of reasons, as there is where the metacritic page of the game lies and it already has managed (the game, not page, that is) a rather impressive 84/100. As for the reviews themselves, well, here are some major ones:

Gamepro.com (90): After a decade-plus of 3D missteps, Konami finally delivers a Contra title worthy of succeeding the SNES classic, The Alien Wars. One part homage and one part evolution, Contra 4 is two screens of delicious torture.

1up.com (7.5): While Contra 4 doesn't necessarily improve on the respected series template, it's unquestionably a return to form, likely to sate rabid fans while simultaneously terrorizing unprepared newbies.

IGN (8.0): A cool historical throwback to the days of skill over style. Lots of fun extras including the first two NES games unlockable. [...] Absolutely, positively one of the hardest games you'll play on the DS...the difficulty curve starts at 10 and never dips.

Game Informer (9.25): The fact that this game is called Contra 4 accurately indicates WayForward’s intention to ignore every Contra title that’s come out since 1992 and focus solely on perfecting the NES and SNES era cocktail.

NintnendoWorldReport (9.0): Konami has decided to celebrate Contra's twentieth anniversary by making the best Contra yet.

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