That place up to yesterday was the XBox 360 Demo area, with big screen.

Surprising isn’t?

especially because Today is the 1st day of Tokyo Game Show opened for public visitor, and most tourist (local and international) came to Akihabara after visiting TGS.

Seems like Yodobashi think the chogokin is more important…

ps: If you don’t know what Yodobashi is, go here.

I’ve been planning to do second post on game reviews since few months ago, but just got the chance now this should be the continuation of my first quick review that I did last year.

I give the score mostly based on my enjoyment of playing the game, so it should be rather biased

I changed my scoring system, it uses star ratings now from 1-5. with current definition:
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars: score 0-50
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars: score 50-59
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars: score 60-69
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars: score 70-79
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars: score 80-84
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars: score 85-89
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars: score 90-94
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars: score 95-99
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars: score 100

so games with rating of 2 stars is not equivalent with score 40, it’s actually somewhere between 60-69

Here goes the quick reviews, sorted by time played (chronological order)

Megazone 23 / メガゾーン23 青いガーランド

Bought this game because it was very cheap from Play-Asia, I think I paid around US$15 shipped. This game story is dry, the voice is kinda stiff too.. I’ll give this game lower score if I paid normal price.. I didnt actually finish this game, only played around 6-7 hours, cant stand it ><

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

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Soul Calibur 4

I love this game, the gameplay, characters, customisation, but a bit lacking on the story part, and the online is laggy even when I play someone from the same city. I would give this game full score if only the online is good… (but I’ve always been a fan of SC series, so it’s kinda biased lol)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Tears to Tiara / ティアーズ トゥ ティアラ 花冠の大地

I had high hope for this game before, was expecting this game to be good… The 2D CGs and voices are done beautifuly, but The 3D models for this game looks so stiff and ugly, and the battle system in this game is kinda boring I haven’t touched this game after playing it for around 16 hours.. (which explains my half done guide haha)

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

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Fallout 3

One thing to say: the 3rd person view mode in this game sucks. I hate playing in first person mode, so I changed it to third person view, but it made the combat barely playable.. Minus points for this game is crap 3D models (I have never been a fan of bethesda 3D models, all the characters look ugly), and has some slowdown issues.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm

Kinda fun game, but ugh jaggies everywhere… I don’t mind with no online for this game, but the jaggies in this game really distracts me (not that visible for smaller screen but I play in 40″) Plenty of characters in this game, the fighting is also simple and easy (way too simple I say..), You can also running around konoha village and grab missions. However, most of the missions are generic missions without voice acts.. Another good point is the amount of free DLC for this game for side characters (help you in battle)

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Little Big Planet

Nice platformer game, it’s fun to play this game online or offline with friends. the single player is kinda boring tho, but there are plenty of awesome user made contents Nothing bad I can say about this game, I dont give this game high score just because I’m not really into this kind of game

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Eternal Sonata

This game is pretty. One of the prettiest game visual I’ve seen so far, bright color, cute characters, and nice voice acts (Japanese voice). This game has mediocre story, cute characters, and the battle system for this game is different than the standard RPG, need some time to get used to it, but it makes the grinding more fun. Also this game is not easy My only complain is that this game is short, you can finish it under 40 hours (short for RPG). I still consider this game as the best JRPG for PS3. (well untill ToV is released, ToV should be a 5 stars RPG. well I only give the 360 version 4.5 since there’s no Japanese voice..)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Nice visuals, but for me this game is kinda boring =\ and the story is also mediocre.. I’m sure you’ll get less biased review out there hehe, since I don’t usually play this kind of game

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Street Fighter 4

I’m sure you’ve read many reviews for this game this game is perfect, offline play, trophy, online (not laggy!), everything! a very recommended game if you like fighting games I can sit like 4 hours just playing this game online need to use arcade stick btw, reduce the score by 1 if you play with the controller… Add my PSN (ronaldhw) if you want to fight me, my main is Chun Li I’m trying to learn Sakura now

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Resident Evil 5

Survival horror game.. not! this game is not scary at all haha, maybe because you always have your partner around with you and help you all the time. This game is kinda short tho, I finished this game around 13-14 hours. But there are so many things to unlock in this game. So you will want to replay the chapters and get every chapter rated SS. The online part is also decent. And also Sheva is cute

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Metal Gear Solid 4

Heh This game is more like and interactive movie. The story is good tho, and the gameplay is also fun. But kinda short for a Japanese game.. I finished the game in 19 hours, but I’m sure it will be halved if I skipped all the events/CGs haha. Minus point for some ocassional slow downs.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Tomb Raider: Underworld

Can’t say much about this game, since I haven’t put much time on this game. So far I played around 4 hours, and seems okay tho. the starting story is kinda week IMO.., and also there’s a few frame rate dips in the game as well…

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

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Cross Edge / クロスエッジ

Bought this game (Japanese ver) around October last year but didn’t touch it till early of this month lol… This game menus and interface are similar with agarest senki, including shops, upgrades, synthesis and converting items. The best part for this game is the battle system (oh and also Etna haha), eventho it’s kinda frustating at first.. the story for this game is very mediocre, and the soul searching system is very annoying.. it’s bearable if you have guide with you, so you don’t have to do soul search every few steps.. I’m still playing this game, on my 2nd playthru now, got the bad end at first play since I didn’t use guide.. I’m on 5-1 now with all the true-end requirements met

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Top 5 (All time)

1. Minna no Golf 5 / みんなのGOLF5

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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2. Street Fighter 4

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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3. Soul Calibur 4

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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4. Agarest Senki / アガレストと戦記

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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5. Disgaea 3 / 魔界戦記ディスガイア３

This game score got slight bump because of the Raspberyl DLC

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Honorable Mentions:
Valkyria Chronicles / 戦場のヴぁルキュリア
Eternal Sonata

Upcoming games that I’m currently waiting are: Agarest Senki Zero, Atelier Rorona, Blaz Blue, White Knight Chronicle, and Tekken 6.

my PSN ID is ronaldhw, feel free to add me

Woah been a while since I did my last post, was very busy and hectic recently anyway I just read this from my RSS reader that Atelier Rorona is selling out like hot cake at Akihabara.

This game just got released yesterday (25th) in Japan together with Blaz Blue and Agarest Senki Zero. Never imagined that this game will be sold out :O

I want to see how many units sold for Agarest Senki Zero and Rorona, can’t wait for next week sales number

I haven’t bought this game yet, going to finish Agarest Zero first hehe.

More information can be read from here

Yep that’s Etna in 3D cell shaded model! A JRPG game for PS3, called Trinity Universe, another collaboration JRPG (similar like Cross Edge).

Read more to see the full page scans.

This RPG is scheduled for August 2009 for 7329yen. This game uses 3D model and 2D for the CGs (similar to Atelier Rorona) , developed by Idea Factory, Gust, and Nippon Ichi. The game seems to have the angel characters from Gust series and demon characters from Nippon Ichi series. Will post more when there are more news around.

Etna and Flonne in HD 3D model? must buy

Below are the Famitsu magazine scans (click to see bigger image)

picture source: 4chan

Took me 4 hours total to mod everything, changing all the buttons to Seimitsu Buttons, Installing the octogonal gate, and applying the artwork. My noob arcade stick is now a good arcade level stick!

Original:

Parts used:
- 1 x Sanwa GT-Y Octogonal Gate
- 1 x Seimitsu LB-39 Ball Top
- 8 x Seimitsu PS-14-KN Pushbutton
- 2m red and black cables (total 4m)
- 16 x 2.8mm quick disconnects

Tools used:
- Dremel
- Solder, Solder sucker and soldering iron
- Screwdrivers, Cutter, pliers

I haven’t put pictures in the buttons, I’m going to put it in when I replace the current artwork with new one

[Update]

Changed the artwork, and put pictures in the buttons. Took me 2 hours since I have to measure everything for the button pictures, next time I may just skip the buttons :p

[Update]

I received some questions about what paper for the artwork and did I laminate the paper or not, so to answer the question: I printed the artwork on a normal glossy photo paper with my printer, and I didn’t laminate the artwork, I used a Adhesive Arclyric clear book cover (which is a lot cheaper than laminating the artwork). Also I used a glue stick to attach the artwork.

You can find good tutorial on how to mod the stick here

Finally official information about Agarest Senki Zero (アガレスト戦記ZERO or Record of Agarest War Zero) has finally come out, and the official website for this game is also up. The game scheduled release date is the 25th June 2009 in Japan, There will be normal edition (7,140円) and limited edition (9,240円). So far only announced for Playstation 3 console.

Hit the jump to see more information, screen shots and character CGs.

This game is set 1000 years before the 1st series of Agarest Senki, and will feature Soul Breeding like the previous game, with added new systems called Free Intention and Feel Link.

With the Free Intention (accessible from the city menu), you can develop your relationship with your chosen heroine which may unlock some CGs and items / costumes.

The other one is Feel Link System; The dialog, the selection and the costume of the heroines will be related with the relationship level with them.

Apart from that, the developer also mentioned that this game will be “sexier” than the previous game.

I can see what they meant by “sexier”..

Combat screens

Characters

Jiku Haito ジークハイト *not sure how to pronounce..

CV: Tachibana Shinosuke 立花慎之介

1st Generation Hero

Mimeru ミーメル

CV: Mizuhara Kaori 水原薫

Dishana look alike?

Alice アリス

CV: Fujita Saki 藤田咲

I’m 100% sure she’s related to Agarest Senki’s Elise… maybe her mom? :O

Furiderinde フリーデリンデ *not sure how to pronounce..

CV: Koshimizu Ami 小清水亜美

1st Generation soul breed heroine

Lutie ルーティエ

CV: Gotou Yuuko 後藤邑子

1st Generation soul breed heroine

Sayane 紗弥音

CV: Sakuma Kumi 佐久間紅美

1st Generation soul breed heroine

I really hope this game will be as good as the first one, which I played for more than 200 hours

Links

Game Official Site: http://www.compileheart.com/agarest_zero/
News and Images source: Game Watch Impress and Official Site

Game Info

Title

Agarest Senki ZERO / アガレスト戦記ZERO

Maker

Compile Heart and Idea Factory

Platform

Playstation 3

Language

Japanese

Release date

25 June 2009

RRP

US$68.90 @ Play-Asia / Limited edition: Pre-order soon @ Play-Asia

PS3 version is announced in the recent weekly Shounen Magazine, to be released this 2009　(no date mentioned). This one will be the “Complete” version of Tales of Vesperia with added story and added character: Patty Fleur, The Pretty Pirate, voiced by Saitou Chiwa (She’s one of my favorite seiyuu, voiced Raspberyl in Disgaea 3).

I’ve played the 360 version, and so far this game is my favorite RPG in 360. If they add Japanese voice in this version, the PS3 version will be 100% buy for me… (WTS Tales of Vesperia for 360… English, Asia Ver.. no you can’t play it in PAL console..)

Lesson learned for me, if Namco Bandai release 360 exclusive RPG, I’ll wait 1 year to see whether they will release the complete version for PS3 before buying one.. (just like Eternal Sonata…)

Source

[07 April 2009 Update]

The PS3 version will have all the main story and event voiced, and also more screen shots are available from here

Also a trailer will be available in Japan PSN this month April.

source

Last night Patch (v5.00) gives Disgaea 3 Japanese version Trophies and Home integration.

Updated my Guide to list all the trophies. Time to play my Disgaea 3 again

Agarest Senki ZERO (アガレスト戦記ZERO) announced in this week Famitsu magazine. This game will be the prequel of 2007 PS3 JRPG Agarest Senki (Record of Agarest War), set thousand years before the story of the first game. This game also support Soul Breeding System

This game will be released sometime in June 2009.

Now I hope they increase the sprite quality, and make this game as good as the previous one

More scans:

Been more than one month since my last post, been very very busy Today my PS3 is 2 years old, and also exactly 2 years ago PS3 was released in Australia. Happy 2nd Birthday to my Playstation 3!

It’s been a very good 2nd year for PS3, plenty of games compared to the 1st year.

My Top 5 Favorite game so far:

1. Minna no Golf 5 (US name: Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bound, EU name: Everybody Golf: World Tour)
2. Soul Calibur 4
3. Disgaea 3 (with Rasperyl Mode DLC)
4. Street Fighter 4
5. Agarest Senki

Honorary mention: Senjou no Valkyria (English name: Valkyria Chronicles)

I hope the 3rd year will be better!

I’m going to post some quick reviews part 2 later when I have more free time, continuation from this review.