Contra 4 Review

Story
The plot is set in 2638, two years after the events of Contra III and three years before the events of Contra: Hard Corps. With the Red Falcon lost to foreign threats and Alien War is completed, the earth is peaceful once again. However, the same alien entity who calls himself the Black Viper began launching attacks against humanity, causing mass destruction on the planet. After the strange readings were detected in the archipelago Galuga (setting the original Contra), the Federation of Earth send their strongest four Contra Force Command at the end of the strike mission to destroy the Black Viper and his army of aliens, robots, and mutants.

Contra 4 is based on the continuity of the Japanese canon, adapted to the English localization series with the release of Contra: Shattered Soldier. However, game producers took some liberties with the canon established by integrating the elements of the American localization of the older games, so combining the two versions together. Alien Black Viper was originally only mentioned in the manual of North American Operations C, while the original plot of the game (released only as the "Contras" in Japan) is about an unnamed superpower create new weapons using foreign cells. In the timeline presented in the manual and the official sites, events are interpreted as C Operating previous mission "Mad Dog" and "Scorpion" - two new characters created specifically for Contra 4, against Black Viper. In fact, "Mad Dog" and "Scorpion" is the name used for the Bill and Lance to the North American NES game (see section playable characters for details). In addition, Operation C was originally a solo mission Bill Rizer (because the game is the only player).


Gameplay
Contra 4 is based on the same 2D gameplay system featured in the series through Contra III: Alien Wars, ignoring the many game mechanics introduced in the next game as a weapon configuration remained in the Contra: Shattered Soldier and Neo Contra, back to the old method of taking power-up icons to get a new weapon. Control plays similar to Contra III, including the ability to hold two guns in stock. This action covers both screens of the Nintendo DS system and the hook can be used by the player character to latch onto the fence, which allows the player character to move from one screen to another. Similarly to the arcade version of Super Contra, players can take the same power-up twice, giving them an improved version of the same weapon. Players can also throw power-ups, allowing them to try new weapons without losing previously.

In addition to the standard view of the stage, there is also a tunnel similar to the two-stage phase "3D view" of the original Contra, where the perspective shifts back behind the character. Actions in this stage is shown only on the top screen, while the bottom screen used to display the map stage and location of power-ups. In addition to using both screens, Contra 4 does not make use of DS specific features' such as a touch screen (in addition to navigating the main menu), microphone, or multiplayer mode.


Music

Music and sound effects are handled by well-known videogame music remixer Jake Kaufman, who also arranged for Shantae and established gaming music remixed VGMix site. The soundtrack consists of several musical settings of the previous Contra games as well as many new materials. When the Arcade Mode is played on hard settings, set the version of the Jungle theme of the original Contra music is played instead of the standard stage. Jungle theme standard is actually an enhanced version of the song "Contra style" chiptune Kaufman previously posted on the website, called "Vile Red Falcon". 

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Review

Story
Before the start of the game, two sisters, Stella and Loretta trip to Dracula's castle to find their father, Eric Lecarde. After crossing through the castle, the two arrived at the nest Brauner where they found their fathers conquered. Seeing the two sisters, Brauner reach them and turn them into vampires At the start of the game, Jonathan and Charlotte find Vincent at the gates of the palace, which serves as a trader .. After entering the castle, Jonathan and Charlotte finds a mysterious blue that they first identify as hostile. Once the image is turned into a male humanoid, the figure explains that he was killed some time ago and had cast a magical barrier to keep him conscious while still within the confines of the castle. He introduced himself as "Wind".
Shortly after the meeting Wind, Jonathan and Charlotte find one magical portrait Brauner energy use to control the castle to his will. Unable to destroy it from the outside, the second journey into the world in time. Soon, they find it channeler Brauner, A dullahan. Shortly after his defeat, one of the vampire sisters appear and belittle their efforts, saying that their control was reduced only in small degree. Then, when entering the second portrait, they found Brauner and the two twins; Brauner laugh at the idea of ​​reviving Dracula, because he has failed too many times to control the human race, but admitted his power is too great to ignore. Both brothers want to kill two men, but Brauner saw Death as a greater threat, because he could wrest control from him much more easily than they. In the hallway that connects several areas of Castlevania, Charlotte and Jonathan's death are facing, which acts as if Dracula is back. When told Dracula is still dead, and that the other vampires controlling the palace, he scoffed at the idea of ​​the hand in addition to rule Castlevania Dracula. However, he was seriously disturbed when he saw the statement is true, and immediately leaves to find a way to destroy Brauner and revive Dracula.

Gameplay
Portrait of Ruin features 2D side-scrolling style of gameplay [1] One of the main features for gameplay is that players can switch freely between two characters, Jonathan and Charlotte, similar to "Julius mode" from Castlevania:. Dawn of sorrow. Jonathan and Charlotte can combine their strength to perform powerful attacks together known as "Double Down", [6] and their combined abilities are needed in certain parts of the castle for them to solve puzzles and progress through the story. For example, a player must have both the character of the board of two "motorcycle" and alternate between them to avoid the obstacles to have a second bike to crash through the walls intact.


Music
Portrait of Ruin features English voice-overs for the part of the game. The original Japanese dialogue is also included as an easter egg. Michiru Yamane back to writing music, with additional songs by Yuzo Koshiro. IGN notes that the style of music tracks ranging from "hauntingly melancholy almost cheerful up-tempo". The audio tracks can also be accessed through the "Sound Mode" is unlocked by defeating Dracula. Players can also collect a certain track record that can be used to replace the standard background music game. The song "Sandfall" and "In Search of Secret Spell" playing in the Forgotten City is from Konami Kings Valley 2 was released on his own MSX2 computer. 

Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow Review

 


Story
This game came two years after the events of the original Blue Dragon and a year after Blue Dragon Plus. You design a character and play like him / her. Beginning has you playing as two Long known as Jyum and Ganda. They reached the room and entered soon after that there was a flash of light and you start to play as your main character, who wakes up in the capsule with no memory of his / her past.

You control your character to the north side of the room where he / she will step on the warp pad of some sort. He / She was then taken to an underground cave where they found the elevator. They took the elevator, which leads into Castle Town Jibral Neo. This suggests that only the main character can use a shadow like the others who lost them to a 'bright light. "From there, the player immediately to meet Shu, Jiro, and Kluke. After the exchange of dialogue about the Shadows and the Light of the Soul, leaving three and your character will immediately engage in battle (with Shu) of the monster attacking a little girl. When the battle ended, Shu brings Neo Jibral you to the Castle, where you meet again and King Jibral Jiro and Zola. Shu explain how you arrived at the Neo Jibral and Jibral King orders you to investigate where the elevator comes. He has Zola help both you and Shu in your first search .


Gameplay
The game has a battle system different from its predecessors that involve Console role-playing games and Real Time Strategy. Blue Dragon: Ikai no Kyojū is an RPG with action-oriented real-time combat. Players can explore the 3D field, the enemy attacked directly and called on the shadow.
This game allows players to customize the look of their character, such as their gender, hair style, eyebrows, eyes, voice, among other properties. Players can use their customized characters in multiplayer with 2 other friends, locally or online.


Character
For the first time in the series, players will not play as Shu and his friends. Instead players will play as the unnamed protagonist adjusted. Shu and his friends are not playable characters, but the AI-controlled party members

      * Customizable Unnamed Protagonist
      * Shu and Blue Dragon (beginning only)
      * Jiro and Minotaur (beginning only)
      * Kluke and Phoenix (beginning only)
      * Marumaro and Saber Tiger (beginning only)
      * Zola and Killer Bat (beginning only)
      * King Jibral and Qilin (beginning only)
      * Nene
      * Himiko
      * Toripo and Tarantula (beginning only)
      * Sahlia and Cat Genie (beginning only)
      * Yasato and Pegasus (the beginning)
      * Szabo and Jack-O-Lantern (beginning only)
      * Fushira and Rafflesia (beginning only)
      * Jyum
      * Double

Ni no Kuni Review

Story
The player assumes the role of a young 13 year-old named Oliver, a resident of the City Hotroit, whose mother, Pat, died suddenly. A puppet, who had previously given to Oliver by his mother, reveals himself to be a fairy boy named Shizuku, who gave Oliver a book of magic that allows him to go into the world "Ninokuni," parallel reality itself, in which a fairy child's country it may be able to revive his mother There., he met an alternate version of the people who know.

Gameplay
Like Oliver, players take part in the battle using magic book given to him by Shizuku. The book contains a variety of magic spells that are activated using the images with the stylus. During battle, players will be able to set their characters anywhere on the screen below to apply various tactics. For example, a character that can block certain attacks can be placed in front of others to protect them The game will also include a book that is supposed to represent a magic book of games and needed to play the game. in which players can find, a short story that offers clues Bestiary games and other info that the game will see .

Contact Review

Story
The story begins with a scientist known as the Professor flying through space, escape from a mysterious enemy known only as "CosmoNOTs" (Cosmic nihilist Terror Organization). He ended up landing on a strange planet, loss of "cell" power boat. Without power, he was stranded. He enlists the help of Terry, a young man. Terry agrees to help the Professor to explore the planet and the location of the cell. Assisting Professor is the only way that Terry will be able to get home, but the Army that track their horns, the cells hidden in some dangerous areas and, as the game progresses, the intention of Professor slowly thrown deeper and deeper questions.

Players included in the storyline as a separate character from Terry, and game characters recognize the player as "controllers" use the DS Terry, breaking the fourth wall. Throughout the game, the Professor will speak directly to the player to give instructions on how to use the controls and voiced concern about Terry. Professor wants to maintain existing players and their role in Terry's life a secret from the child.


Gameplay
In Contacts, Professor talks directly to the player, giving instructions to help Terry. The game also differs from ordinary RPGs in obtaining a spontaneous experience, which means that leveling up in the middle of a battle is required, complete system of real-time combat. Instead of the tradition in RPGs where the characters up, improve the stats at the same time, the system experiences Contact Terry improve individual stats when he was doing different actions [5] For example, when Terry took the damage, improve defense;. When he destroyed an enemy, its strength increases.

There are systems in which the costumes of new skills can be learned. Up to eight costume can be obtained, Terry transform into forms such as fisherman, cook, thief, an "aqua shot" (like the name of the costume), chauffeur cars, diggers and pilots. [6] with use of a larger, costumes will add additional strength to the relevant skills and statistics, including elements of magic and magical properties. Terry also has a skill-based weapons. These weapons can be collected as players progress. The weapons are divided into three different categories; punching (gloves), striking (clubs), and cutting (sword). Each skill can be improved by using any type of weapons throughout the game. Every enemy has its own drawbacks, so some strategies involve switching to contact the appropriate weapon to exploit weakpoint enemy. The game also use decals or stickers. Players can double the sticker attached to Terry, so that power is added. Decals can also be used to attack enemies, heal the wounds of the characters, and other functions