Alex's Video Game Site

Website Council

2011-07-07T20:30:00.003-05:00

The ESRB Website Council (EWC) is a program established in October 2010 that commits gaming websites to "agree to several guidelines pertaining primarily to the display of ESRB rating information and use of age-gates on trailers for Mature-rated games." Basically, it's an agreement that websites use to to enforce the guidelines set forth from the ESRB that protects the appropriateness of content that visitors can view. For example, if a visitor has an account setup with their age as 16 or below, then they cannot access videos of M-rated content.

Here is a summary of the Code of Conduct as seen on the website.

Displaying accurate and current ESRB rating information on main product pages;
Employing age-gates on video content associated with games rated or anticipated to be rated M (Mature) that restrict access to visitors under the age of seventeen;
Ensuring that age-gates are both "age-neutral" (i.e., don't hint at the age threshold for access) and incorporate an FTC-recognized method for preventing circumvention (i.e., dropping a session cookie to prevent a user from going back and entering a different birth date); and
Training all appropriate site managers, producers and/or other employees so that they are aware of the general policies and procedures adopted in this Code.

For more information, visit the official Website Council webpage, or view the Code of Conduct PDF file.

Sly Cooper

2010-09-19T18:12:00.001-05:00

PLAYSTATION 2
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves

PLAYSTATION 3
The Sly Collection

2010-09-19T15:17:00.002-05:00

PLAYSTATION 2
Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet: Deadlocked
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Secret Agent Clank

PLAYSTATION 3
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (PSN)
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One

PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Secret Agent Clank

MOBILE
Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile
Ratchet & Clank: Clone Home (Cancelled)

Editorial: Mario or Luigi?

2009-07-21T21:49:00.002-05:00

Upon filling out a bulletin on MySpace, I got the question "Who's better: Luigi or Mario?" I decided to say, "Screw it!" to the survey and just post my response to this question. Let's get in to why Mario is the clear winner.

In Super Mario Bros., the original Mario that came out on the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) in the '80s, whenever you played as Luigi, there was no difference in playing him or Mario. Why? Because technology was very limited back then and no one really cared if there was a difference. Luigi was just a palette-swap, or color change, of Mario, with slight alterations in coloring to his clothes. That's all Luigi began as --- a green Mario. (And, for those who don't know, before this, Nintendo released Mario Bros. in the arcades. It also featured the palette-swap Mario.) Luigi was changed in the next game, Super Mario Bros. 2, but due to many technicalities I don't want to get into with this editorial, let's just say the changes made for Luigi never caught on until later games in the series.

Why is this such a big deal? It's not, really. I only liked playing as Luigi because I prefer green over red. Then later in the early '90s, Super Mario World was released on the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System --- It's suuuupperrr!!!!). Again, Luigi appeared in this game, but he still looked like Mario, except with green clothes. He played the same way as Mario; the only thing that was different was red to green.

This would change when Super Mario World was ported to the Game Boy Advance in the early 2000's. Notable differences between Mario and Luigi became evident. For one, Luigi was taller, but the changes weren't only cosmetic. Luigi now jumped higher than Mario and stayed in the air longer. However, for some reason, Luigi was made to be a very clumsy character, so it's hard to control him when he's falling back down to the ground. That makes getting that tough jump even harder. And who wants that? There were also some changes when he rode Yoshi, such as whenever an enemy is swallowed, Yoshi keeps it in his mouth and swallows it after a short time; when playing with Mario, Yoshi immediately swallows the enemy.

Luigi wasn't always overshadowed by his younger brother. In a few games, Luigi is the main character with the spotlight completely on him. A couple of examples would be Mario's Missing! for the NES and SNES, and more recently, Luigi's Mansion GameCube. The usual stipulations for Luigi don't apply to these games, however. For the former, these were before the physical changes were implemented, and for the latter, this game is explored in a 3D world.

Luigi has proven to be just a half-assed character, created because Nintendo needed another character for multiplayer modes in their games. He began as a palette-swap and only transformed into an annoying, cowardly, clumsy Italian plumber who needs work on his jumping skills. This is why Mario is better and why he will always live on, unlike his stupid older brother. Now, here's a REAL question that requires a REAL, thought-provoking answer: Mario or Donkey Kong?

P.S. It's Donkey Kong.

Reviews: Review System

2008-09-19T17:29:00.004-05:00

How It Works
My review system is very simple; I praise the game, and then I complain about it.

Praises
This is where I discuss the good aspects of the game. If there's something in the game that I like, then I'll tell you about it. I try not to be biased with my opinions, but if the game really is that great, then I'm going to worship it.

Complaints
Obviously, this is where I take note of the things that I don't really like in a game. Whether it's a graphical glitch, poor sound or design, or something that just really irritates me, I'll whine and whine and whine about it.

The rating scale is not an average. I rate each aspect of a game out of 10 (in intervals of .5), and the overall rating is also out of 10. And to be honest, I probably won't ever give any game a 10 because I can always find something wrong with it.

Most Recent Page

2008-01-18T23:52:00.000-06:00

Aeons

Game Info: Final Fantasy X: Aeons

2008-01-16T16:13:00.001-06:00

Valefor
Acquired: Besaid Temple
Unique Attack: Sonic Wings (Damages, delays next attack)
Overdrive: Energy Ray, Energy Blast (Return to Besaid, speak to the girl with a dog by her)
Special/Other: Attacks break 9999 once Nirvana is activated (Yuna's legendary weapon).

Ifrit
Acquired: Kilika Temple
Unique Attack: Meteor Strike (Penetrates protect, non-elemental damage, longer recovery time, best for long range)
Overdrive: Hellfire
Special/Other: Attacks break 9999 once World champion is activated (Wakka's legendary weapon).

Ixion
Acquired: Djose Temple
Unique Attack: Aerospark (Causes non-elemental damage and negates magical effects)
Overdrive: Thor's Hammer
Special/Other: Attacks break 9999 once Spirit Lance is activated (Kimahri's legendary weapon).

Shiva

Acquired: Macalania Temple
Unique Attack: Heavenly Strike (Non-elemental damage and slightly delays next turn of enemy)
Overdrive: Diamond Dust
Special/Other: Attacks break 9999 once The Onion Knight is activated (Lulu's legendary weapon).

Bahamut
Acquired: Palace of St. Bevelle
Unique Attack: Impulse (Damages multiple enemies)
Overdrive: Mega Flare
Special/Other: Attacks always break 9999 when strong enough, and will get stronger.

Yojimbo
Acquired: Cavern of the Stolen Fayth
Unique Attacks: Diagoro, Kozuka, Wakizashi, Zanmato
Overdrive: None
Special/Other: Attacks break 9999 once Masamune is activated (Auron's legendary weapon). Yojimbo can only attack if you pay him gil, for he is on the Rent-an-Aeon service.

Anima
Acquired: Baaj Temple
Unique Attack: Pain (Inflicts damage and Death on an enemy)
Overdrive: Oblivion
Special/Other: Attacks always break 9999 when strong enough, and will get stronger.

The Magus Sisters - Cindy, Sandy, and Mandy.
Acquired: Remiem Temple
Unique Attacks: Cindy - Camisade, Sandy - Razzia, Mindy - Passado
Overdrive: Delta Attack
Special/Other: The Magus Sisters act as three different aeons, but are summoned all at once. They don't attack normally, but have special commands.
Do what you will. Makes the choice.
Fight! Performs regular attacks.
Go! Go! Performs unique attacks/magic.
One More Time Repeats last action.
Defense! Cast protective/defensive magic.

Help Each Other! Healing magic on each other.

Dismiss. Leaves the battlefield.
Combine Powers! Sisters perform "Delta Attack." This option appears when ALL 3 sisters are in overdrive, and can not be performed alone.
Secret Aeon Guides
Yojimbo
Yojimbo is the simplest aeon to obtain. After you walk through the Calm Lands and defeat the Defender X, go down the gorge to the right of the screen. Once you're down there, go to the right again and search for the Rusty Sword (used to acquire Auron's legendary weapon, Masamune). Then, head back to the left and go into the cave. Continue to the back of the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth and you will meet up with an unsent summoner, along with a surprise about Lulu. You will have to defeat Yojimbo for him to join sides with you (kind of like in FFVIII, when you have to defeat Ifrit and others to get them on your side). After that, you must go into the Chamber of the Fayth and actually pay for the aeon! Don't worry, though, because it'll be worth it later on. When you talk to Yojimbo, choose the password "To defeat the most powerful of enemies" for his lowest initial asking price. For your first offer, half it and then add 1. (Say, if he's asking for 100, offer 51. This will not happen though.) After the next offer, raise your bid by 1 gil. When he proposes 205,000, he will accept generally anything under 200,000, but not too much lower. If you offer Yojimbo triple the amount of what he's asking, he will join your side, and additionally give you two Teleport Spheres. You can come back at anytime with the airship to get him.

Anima
Obtaining Anima is a long process, but not too difficult. The first step to getting her is actually at the beginning of the game. In each Cloister of Trials there is a special item, or gift. To get these gifts, you must use a Destruction Sphere in certain areas of the trial. You can go back to any temple, except for Bevelle, to get these if you somehow missed one, by using the airship. You get this much later into the game. When you get the chance to fly the airship, search for Baaj Temple at the locations : X coordinate 11-16 and Y coordinate 57-63. Just keep pressing X around those areas until it is found. Once there, jump into the water and search around until you meet up, again, with Geosgaeno. You can only fight this boss with Tidus, Rikku, and Wakka. After you defeat the fish, swim north until you enter the temple ruins. Search around for some chests, and then activate 5 of the 6 statues. Go back to the save sphere, board the airship, and return to Zanarkand. Go to the Cloister of Trials. Depending on your previous actions towards Dona, she may appear here. Inside, a new puzzle will be present. Step on the three white squares in the first room, and then go into the second room and activate the 4 white squares here. The panel in the first room will open and reveal a Destruction Sphere. Place this into the slot to the right of the monitor in the large chamber. The screen will then explode. Obtain the Magistral Rod, and return to the Baaj temple. Again, activate the statues. The Chamber of Fayth will now open. Watch the cutscene to find out more about who Anima really is, and then she is yours!

The Magus Sisters
Once you captured all of the required specimens on Mt. Gagazet, return to the Monster Arena and talk to the owner who will hand over a Blossom Crown as a reward. Go to the Remiem Temple and defeat all of the aeons, including Yojimbo and Anima. Belgemine will give you a Flower Scepter. Behind her is a chamber that, until now, was guarded. Use these two items on the door and you acquire the Sisters! Defeat them to get another item.

Info/Other: Roman Numerals

2008-01-16T15:43:00.001-06:00

Some games (including the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series, both Square Enix) use Roman Numerals in either the titles of the games or in the game itself. Here is a quick resource guide if you are ever confused!

I's indicate single numbers. Just add them up. Example:

I is one

II is two

III is three

However, if an I appears BEFORE a letter, (V=5) you minus one. Example:
IV is four

If an I appears AFTER a letter, you add one. Example:
VI is six

It should also be noted that X=10.

III

VII

VIII

XII

XIII

XIV

XVI

XVII

XVIII

XIX

Hopefully, this mini-guide has helped you. I only went up to 20 because most games do not feature numbers that are much higher than 20. The same rules apply as you keep counting, except other letters get thrown into the mix during higher numbers, though this should be sufficient.

AVGS Updates

2008-01-15T21:20:00.001-06:00

New Pages Added:
About
Disclaimer
Linkage
ESRB
My Game Wish list

Info/Other: Linkage

2008-01-15T21:06:00.000-06:00

Link to AVGS
Animated Buttons (88x31)

Stationary Buttons (88x31)

Thanks
Blogger - For being a wonderful hosting tool.

Official Sites
Sony PlayStation
Nintendo
Microsoft Xbox

Info/Other: About

2008-01-15T20:34:00.002-06:00

Purpose:
1. Video games are my life and I would like to be a game designer some day.
2. Video. Games.
3. I like to share with others, so why not share with other gamers like myself? We all share a certain interest in these games, so we should all come together and share our ideas and opinions. Plus, this site gives a more personal and intimate take on video games, as its run by a single person and not a large company such as GameSpot or IGN.

Goal:
I want to get casual gamers and turn them into more interested and aware gamers, for one. I also just want people to come together and learn about what interests me and other people. This site is also a means of communicating with those that really don't know much about video games and would like to get interested or informed (example: parents buying for their kids that aren't really plugged in to video games).

Webmaster:
My name is alexxx. and I am here to help others.

Gaming Preferences:
Favorite game: Final Fantasy X
Favorite console: Super Nintendo, PlayStation 2
Favorite handheld: PlayStation Portable, iPhone

Contact:
If you would like to suggest, comment, or ask something, then feel free to e-mail me at:
alexwohoojbnpibu@yahoo.com

Info/Other: Disclaimer

2008-01-15T19:51:00.002-06:00

Respective Owners
All content on this site (which includes but is not limited to: images, plots, characters, scenarios) are copyright to their respective owners. There is NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. Whether it's a major company (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) or a gaming studio (Square Enix, EA, etc.) each image, plot, character, device, etc. is copyrighted to them and I do not take any possession of the rights in either video game console or game.

Written Content
Everything written on this site (unless otherwise stated) was written by the owner of this site. As said above, I do not take any possession of the content being mine, however, I take time out of my own life to type up this information and post it for other gamers, so we can all enjoy and share ideas, favorites, ideas and opinions. I gather and type this information myself, and I don't want anyone else taking it. If you would like to use content from this site, you must link to the web page.

Info/Other: My Game Wishlist

2008-01-15T17:04:00.002-06:00

NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Contra
Donkey Kong Classics
Metal Gear
Metroid
Snake's Revenge
Super Mario Bros. 2

SUPER NINTENDO
Chrono Trigger
Contra 3: The Alien Wars
Final Fantasy III
Mario Paint
MegaMan X
Secret of Mana
Star Fox
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

NINTENDO 64
Banjo-Tooie
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Mario Party
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 3
Mickey's Speedway USA
Paper Mario
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Yoshi's Story

GAME BOY ADVANCE
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario vs. Donkey Kong

NINTENDO GAMECUBE
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
F-Zero GX
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Super Mario Sunshine

NINTENDO DS
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Super Mario 64 DS

NINTENDO WII
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers
Metroid Prime Compilation
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

PLAYSTATION 1
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Final Fantasy Chronicles
Final Fantasy Tactics
Metal Gear Solid
The Legend of Dragoon
Spyro the Dragon
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage

PLAYSTATION 2
Beyond Good and Evil
Crash of the Titans
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
Drakengard
EyeToy: AntiGrav
Family Guy
Futurama
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Psychonauts
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning
The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
The Simpsons Game
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
Tomb Raider: Legend
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse

PLAYSTATION 3
Assassin's Creed
Devil May Cry 4
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
Soul Calibur IV
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Last Remnant
The Orange Box
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
Prince of Persia Rival Swords

XBOX 360 [+System]
Dead or Alive 4
Dead Rising
Dead Rising: Case Zero
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Halo 3
Halo: Reach
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2

Info/Other: ESRB

2008-01-15T16:46:00.001-06:00

Much like movies and television, video games have a rating system that lets the consumer know what kind of content is in the video game that they are buying. In America, this rating system is called the ESRB. The ESRB uses Rating Symbols and Content Descriptors.

There has been much talk if the ESRB is doing a good job on rating games or not. What consumers must note is that the ESRB merely provides a guideline and a warning of what is in the game. If you are weary of purchasing a video game, take this warning lightly. You might want to do some research on the game before buying it to be sure that the content is acceptable for whoever you are getting the game for.

If you need more information on the ESRB, including ratings and content descriptors, visit their official site.

In Europe, this system is called PEGI (Pan European Game Information).
In Japan, this system is called CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization).

Game Info: Kingdom Hearts: Postcards

2007-11-23T12:34:00.001-06:00

This is a Traverse Town mini-side-quest. You can find 6 of these postcards on your first visit, and all are obtainable by the time Geppetto's House appears in the First District.

Item Shop: Attack the fan.

Accessory Shop: On the roof.

Second District: On the "Boots and Shoes" display.

Item Shop: Use the blue trinity in front.

First District: Open blue safe behind the
Accessory Shop after meeting Leon.

6 & 7

Third District: Cast Thunder on the exposed wires.
Gizmo Shop: Step on the 3 buttons scattered on top.

Examine the clock near the middle.

Second District: After defeating the Guard Armor,

climb the ladder outside of the Gizmo Shop.

While jumping rooftops, look for an

entrance to the Third District. Examine the postcard

in the corner.

Accessory Shop: Use the Green Trinity Mark, then

check the piece of paper on the wall inside the

Item Workshop.

Geppetto's House: Examine the small pot on the left wall.

Game Info: Kingdom Hearts: 99 Dalmations

2007-11-23T11:55:00.000-06:00

Traverse Town
1, 2, 3 - On the island across from the Mystical House.
Requires: Mermaid Kick and Glide abilities
4, 5, 6 - Alleyway.
Requires: Red Trinity Mark
7, 8, 9 - Item Workshop.
Requires: Green Trinity Mark
10, 11, 12 - Secret Waterway.
Requires: Red Trinity Mark

Wonderland
13, 14, 15 - Queen's Castle.
16, 17, 18 - Lotus Forest.

19, 20, 21 - Tea Party Garden.
Requires: High Jump and Glide abilities

58, 59. 60 - Queen's Castle.

Olympus Coliseum
22, 23, 24 - Near the right statue in the Gates area.
Requires: Blue Trinity Mark

Deep Jungle
25, 26, 27 - Hippos' Lagoon.
28, 29, 30 - Vines 2.
31, 32, 33 - Climbing Trees.
Requires: Blue Trinity Mark
34, 35, 36 - Camp.
Requires: Blue Trinity Mark

Agrabah
37, 38, 39 - Aladdin's House.
46, 47, 48 - Palace Gates.
49, 50, 51 - Cave of Wonders: Entrance.
Requires: High Jump and Glide abilities
52, 53, 54 - Treasure Room.

Monstro
55, 56, 57 - Chamber 3.
73, 74, 75 - Mouth.
Requires: Draining the water
76, 77, 78 - Chamber 3.
79, 80, 81 - Chamber 5.

Halloween Town
40, 41, 42 - Bridge.
64, 65, 66 - Cemetery.
Requires: The defeat of Oogie Boogie
67, 68, 69 - Guillotine Square, below Jack's house.
Requires: Ring the doorbell 3 times
70, 71, 72 - Guillotine Square, in the gray pumpkin.
Requires: Glide ability.

Neverland
43, 44, 45 - Clock Tower.
82, 83, 84 - Ship's Hold.
Requires: After the defeat of Captian Hook, fly to the beam
85, 86, 87 - Ship's Hold.
Requires: Yellow Trinity Mark
88, 89, 90 - Captain's Cabin.
Requires: Green Trinity Mark

Hollow Bastion
61, 62, 63 - Grand Hall.
Requires: Second Visit
91, 92, 93 - Rising Falls.
94, 95, 96 - Castle Gates.
Requires: Gravity (Use on floating chests)
97, 98, 99 - High Tower.
Requires: Gravity (Use on floating chests)

Info/Other: Mortal Kombat Series List

2007-09-30T20:14:00.001-05:00

<---Back to Series Lists

ARCADE
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III
Ultimate Mortal Kombat III
Mortal Kombat 4

SEGA GENESIS
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III
Ultimate Mortal Kombat III

SEGA CD
Mortal Kombat

SEGA GAME GEAR
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III

SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III

SEGA SATURN
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III
Ultimate Mortal Kombat III
Mortal Kombat Trilogy

SEGA 32X
Mortal Kombat II

SEGA DREAMCAST
Mortal Kombat Gold

AMIGA
Mortal Kombat II

SUPER NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III
Ultimate Mortal Kombat III

GAME BOY
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III

GAME BOY COLOR
Mortal Kombat 4

GAME BOY ADVANCE
Mortal Kombat Advance
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition

NINTENDO DS
Ultimate Mortal Kombat

NINTENDO 64
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat 4
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero

NINTENDO GAMECUBE
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deception

NINTENDO WII
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

PC
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat 4

SONY PLAYSTATION
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat 4
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero
Mortal Kombat: Special Forces

SONY PLAYSTATION 2
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

SONY PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
Mortal Kombat: Unchained

MICROSOFT XBOX
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

VIDEO
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins (VHS)
Mortal Kombat (VHS)
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (VHS)
Mortal Kombat 3: Devastation (VHS)
Mortal Kombat: Conquest (TV Series)

Info/Other: Kingdom Hearts Series

2007-09-30T19:26:00.003-05:00

<---Back to Series Lists

PLAYSTATION 2
Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (J)
Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ (J)
Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories

PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

GAME BOY ADVANCE
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

NINTENDO DS
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Kingdom Hearts: Re: coded

MOBILE
Kingdom Hearts Mobile (VCAST)
Kingdom Hearts coded
Kingdom Hearts mobile

Info/Other: Series Lists

2007-09-30T19:21:00.004-05:00

Final Fantasy Series
God of War Series
Kingdom Hearts Series
Mortal Kombat Series

Ratchet & Clank
Sly Cooper

Info/Other: God of War List

2007-09-30T19:05:00.004-05:00

<---Back to Series Lists

PLAYSTATION 2
God of War
God of War II

PLAYSTATION 3
God of War Collection
God of War III

PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
God of War: Chains of Olympus
God of War: Ghost of Sparta

MOBILE
God of War: Betrayal

Info/Other: Final Fantasy List

2007-09-30T18:44:00.000-05:00

<---Back to Series Lists

NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Final Fantasy I & II (J)
Final Fantasy

SUPER NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Final Fantasy II (IV in J)
Final Fantasy III (VI in J)
Final Fantasy V (J)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest

NINTENDO GAMECUBE
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

NINTENDO WII
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
[ENGLISH NAME NOT ANNOUNCED] --- Chocobo's Dungeon: Toki Wasure no Meikyuu (J)

GAME BOY
Final Fantasy Adventure
Final Fantasy Legend
Final Fantasy Legend II
Final Fantasy Legend III

GAME BOY ADVANCE
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls
Final Fantasy IV Advance
Final Fantasy V Advance
Final Fantasy VI Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

DS
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 --- Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Fuuketsu no (J)
[ENGLISH NAME NOT ANNOUNCED] --- Chocobo's Dungeon: Toki-Wasure no Meikyuu (J)

PC
Final Fantasy V [Canceled]
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy XI Online
---Rise of the Zilart
---Chains of Promathia
---Treasures of Aht Urhgan
---Wings of the Goddess
Final Fantasy XI Online: The Vana'diel Collection
Final Fantasy XI Online: Vana'diel Collection 2007
Final Fantasy XI Online Starter Pack Game Disc
Final Fantasy Unlimited on PC

PLAYSTATION 1
Chocobo Racing
Chocobo's Dungeon
Chocobo's Dungeon 2
Final Fantasy Origins --- Contains I and II
Final Fantasy Chronicles --- Cotains IV and Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy Anthology
Final Fantasy Collection (J)
Final Fantasy V (J)
Final Fantasy VI (J)
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII International (J)
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics

PLAYSTATION 2
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X: International (J)
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy X-2: International + Last Mission (J)
Final Fantasy XI Online
---Rise of the Zilart
---Chains of Promathia
---Treasures of Aht Urhgan
---Wings of the Goddess
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System (J)

PLAYSTATION 3
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy Versus XIII

PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy I Anniversary Edition
Final Fantasy II Anniversary Edition
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (UMD Movie)
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions --- Final Fantasy Tactics Shishi Sensou (J)
Dissidia: Final Fantasy

XBOX 360
Final Fantasy XI Online
---Rise of the Zilart
---Chains of Promathia
---Treasures of Aht Urhgan
---Wings of the Goddess

MOBILE
Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII: Lost Episode
Final Fantasy VII Snowboarding
Final Fantasy I (J)
Final Fantasy II (J)
Final Fantasy XIII Agito

VIDEO
Final Fantasy Unlimited (VHS, DVD)
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals (VHS, Laserdisc)
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (VHS, DVD, DVD Special Edition)Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (UMD, DVD, DVD Special Edition)

Info/Other: Abbreviations

2007-09-30T18:16:00.003-05:00

Genres
FPS
First-Person Shooter

RPG
Role-Playing Game

RTS
Real-Time Strategy

MMORPG
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

MMOG
Massively Multiplayer Online Game

Game Systems
NES
Nintendo Entertainment System

SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System

GB
Game Boy

GBP
Game Boy Pocket

GBC
Game Boy Color

GBA
Game Boy Advance

GBA SP
Game Boy Advance SP

GBM
Game Boy Micro

DS
Nintendo Dual-Screen

N64
Nintendo 64

GCN
Nintendo GameCube

PS
Sony PlayStation Computer Entertainment System

PS2
Sony PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System

PS3
Sony PlayStation 3 Computer Entertainment System

PSP
Sony PlayStation Portable

X360/360
Microsoft Xbox 360

Companies
SCE
Sony Computer Entertainment
---A: America
---E: Europe

SE
Square Enix [Can also be referred to as "Squenix" or "Square"]

Regions
NA
North America

J
Japan

E
Europe

Other
PSN
PlayStation Network

UMD
Universal Media Disc

XBLA
X Box Live Arcade

Info/Other: My Game Collection

2007-09-30T18:05:00.002-05:00

Game Systems
-Game Boy Pocket
-Game Boy Color
-Game Boy Advance
-Super Nintendo Entertainment System
-Nintendo 64
-PSone
-PlayStation 2
-PlayStation Portable
-PC

Bold titles indicate that I have completed the game.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System
-Disney's Aladdin
-Disney's The Lion King
-Donkey Kong Country
-Dragon's Lair
-F-Zero
-Goof Troop
-Mortal Kombat
-Spider-Man and X-Men: Arcade's Revenge
-Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
-Super Mario World
-Top Gear

Game Boy
-Donkey Kong Land II
-Rugrats: Time Travelers

Game Boy Color
-Donkey Kong Country
-Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
-Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

Game Boy Advance
-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
-Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
-Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World

Nintendo 64
-Banjo Kazooie
-Donkey Kong 64
-F-Zero X
-Mario Kart 64
-Super Mario 64
-Super Smash Bros.

Sony PlayStation
-Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
-Final Fantasy Origins
-Final Fantasy VIII
-Final Fantasy IX
-Parasite Eve 2
-Resident Evil 2
-Saga Frontier
-Spyro: Year of the Dragon
-Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

Sony PlayStation 2
-DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution
-Final Fantasy X
-Final Fantasy X-2
-Final Fantasy XII
-God of War
-God of War II
-Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
-Jak 3
-Kingdom Hearts
-Kingdom Hearts II
-Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary
-Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
-Ratchet & Clank
-Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
-Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
-Ratchet: Deadlocked
-Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
-Resident Evil 4
-Sega Superstars
-Soul Calibur III
-Tekken 5
-The Simpsons: Hit and Run
-The Sims
-Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
Demo Discs:
--------Eyetoy Demo Disc
--------PlayStation Underground: Issue 88 Demo Disc
--------Holiday 2005 Demo Disc
--------Dragon Quest VIII Demo

PlayStation Portable
-Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
-Daxter
-God of War: Chains of Olympus
-Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel
Movie UMDs:
-Family Guy: Freakin' Sweet Collection
-Spider-Man 3
Demo UMDs:
-God of War: Chains of Olympus -- Special Edition: Battle of Attica

PC
-American McGee's Alice
-Black and White
-Black and White: Creature Isle Expansion Pack
-Civilization II
-Jeff Gordon XS Racing
-Age of Empires

Info/Other: Gamer's Dictionary

2007-09-30T00:12:00.004-05:00

Battle system

Terminology mostly used for RPGs.
How you defeat enemies in a game.

"Computer Graphics". The high-resolution, pre-rendered
graphics of a game.

Gameplay

How a game plays in terms of
control, response, and creativity.

High-polygon model

A higher count of polygons that has
a smoother look to the model.

Low-polygon model

A lower count of polygons that has
a rougher look to the model.

Polygons

What the graphics of a game are made up of.

Storyline

The plot; how the story evolves.

Walkthrough

A guide for a game that helps
you accomplish a task.

Genres
Action

A game solely based on elements of action.
Example: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Sub-genres: Beat-'Em-Up, Hack 'n' Slash

Adventure

A game solely based on elements of exploring, and/or
collecting items and so forth.
Example: Sam & Max series

Action Adventure

A game that combines elements of platforming,
exploring, and intense fighting.
Example: God of War series

Card Battle

A game that features cards as a way to fight/play.
Example: Yu-Gi-Oh! series

Fighting

A game that features elements of one-on-one combat,
multiplayer, and/or online and more.
Example: Mortal Kombat series

FPS

"First-person shooter". A game that features
shooting guns in a first-person perspective.
Example: Halo series

Party

A game that features mini-games/peripherals and various
multiplayer options.
Example: Mario Party series

Platformer

A game that features
running, jumping, climbing, and more.
Example: Super Mario series

Puzzle

A game that requires thinking to accomplish
a pattern of building or destroying objects.
Example: Tetris

Racing

A game that features the racing of cars, people, etc.
Example: Need for Speed series

RPG

"Role-playing game". A game that features battling,
shopping, exploring, a leveling-up system, and more.
Heavily based on the story-line and
the developing of characters.
Example: Final Fantasy series

Rhythm

A game that requires the player to keep in rhythm
with a song in order to complete a level or a task.
Usually consists of timed button sequences.
Example: Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution series

Simulation

A game that simulates real-life amusements.
Example: The Sims series

Sports

Games that feature arcade-like or simulation-like
versions of sports.
Example: Madden series

Strategy

A game that requires tactical thinking, and is usually
presented in a turn-based or top-down perspective,
most commonly seen with a group of characters to control.
Example: Age of Empires series
Sub-genres: Real-Time Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy

MMORPG

"Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game".
An RPG with online capabilities, allowing players
to play and interact with other players around the world.
(Requires an internet connection to play)
Example: World of Warcraft

Game Info: Final Fantasy X: Yuna's Speech

2007-09-29T22:42:00.001-05:00

Warning: If you have not finished Final Fantasy X, then please do not continue reading.

After the defeat of Sin in Final Fantasy X, Yuna gives a speech to Spira.

Everyone…everyone has lost something precious. Everyone here has lost homes, dreams, and friends. Everybody…now Sin is finally dead. Now, Spira is ours again. Working together…now we can make new homes for ourselves, and new dreams. Although I know the journey will be hard, we have lots of time. Together, we will rebuild Spira. The road is ahead of us, so let’s start out today. [Crowd cheers] Just…one more thing. The people and the friends that we have lost…[more to herself] or the dreams that have faded… Never forget them.

Game Info: Final Fantasy X: Characters

2007-09-29T19:27:00.000-05:00

Tidus
Age: 17
Birthplace: Zanarkand
Height: 5'9"
Joins Party: Zanarkand
Weapon: Swords
Starting Weapon: Longsword
Legendary Weapon: Caladbolg
Starting Overdrive: Spiral Cut
English Voice: James Arnold Taylor
Japanese Voice: Seiichi Morita
A cheerful blitzball player for the Zanarkand Abes, Tidus hates his father, who recently died before his time. Tidus attacks quickly, allowing the demise of fast enemies.

Yuna
Age: 17
Birthplace: Bevelle
Height: 5'3"
Joins Party: Besaid
Weapon: Staffs
Starting Weapon: Staff
Legendary Weapon: Nirvana
Starting Overdrive: Grand Summon
English Voice: Hedy Burress
Japanese Voice: Mayuko Aoki
Yuna is the daugher of High Summoner Braska, the last summoner to defeat Sin. Yuna must undergo a pilgrimage in order to defeat the monstrosity that is Sin. The only way to defeat such a monster is obtaining the Final Aeon. In order to survive this journey, she must summon the help of aeons, which are powerful spirits. Yuna is considered by Wakka and Lulu as a little sister.

Wakka
Age: 23
Birthplace: Besaid
Height: 6'2"
Joins Party: Besaid
Weapon: Blitzballs
Starting Weapon: Official Blitzball
Legendary Weapon: World Champion
Starting Overdrive: Elemental Reels
English Voice: John Di Maggio
Japanese Voice: Kazuya Nakai
Wakka, the coach and captain of the Besaid Aurochs, uses deadly blitzballs to defeat foes. His specialty is defeating aerial-bound enemies. Wakka is one of Yuna's guardians.

Lulu
Age: 22
Birthplace: Besaid
Height: 5'6"
Joins Party: Besaid
Weapon: Dolls
Starting Weapon: Moogle
Legendary Weapon: Onion Knight
Starting Overdrive: Fury
English Voice: Paula Tiso
Japanese Voice: Rio Natsuki
The Black Magic-casting guardian of Yuna's. Her cold shoulder may make her seem careless, though she shows a lot of sympathy and courage towards Yuna and the other guardians.

Kimahri Ronso
Age: 25
Birthplace: Mt. Gagazet
Height: 6'9"
Joins Party: Besaid
Weapon: Spears and Lances
Starting Weapon: Hunter's Spear
Legendary Weapon: Spirit Lance
Starting Overdrive: Jump
English Voice: John Di Maggio
Japanese Voice: Katsumi Chou
With the Lancet ability, Kimahri (a determined warrior part of the Ronso tribe) is able to learn fiend skills. Kimahri is a loyal guardian who has watched over Yuna since she was young.

Auron
Age: 35
Birthplace: Unknown
Height: 6'0"
Joins Party: Luca
Weapon: Swords
Starting Weapon: Katana
Legendary Weapon: Masamune
Starting Overdrive: Dragon Fang
English Voice: Matt McKenzie
Japanese Voice: Hideo Ishikawa
Auron helped defeat Sin 10 years ago with High Summoner Braska (Yuna's father). A legend, Auron speaks his mind and helps guide the other guardians. His strong attacks and piercing blade help protect the others.

Rikku
Age: 15
Birthplace: Unknown
Height: 5'2"
Joins Party: Moonflow
Weapon: Claws
Starting Weapon: Claw
Legendary Weapon: Godhand
Starting Overdrive: Mix
English Voice: Tara Strong
Japanese Voice: Marika Matsumoto
An upbeat and perky Al Bhed girl, Rikku can steal from enemies and take apart machina with ease.

Review: Final Fantasy X (PS2)

2007-09-29T18:10:00.002-05:00

Graphics - 9/10
Praises:
One word for the graphics: WOW. The graphics in Final Fantasy X are absolutely amazing! Colorful, rich in detail, beautiful CG scenes—the best graphics to ever grace the PS2 at its time. If you look in the background, you can see little blades of grass moving, trees swaying, people moving around, and water moving—little things that aren't usually paid attention too. The character models are unbelievable in detail. There are three types of character models: high-polygon count, low-polygon count, and CG. Low-polygon count models are used in some of the less important cutscenes, while on the field map, and in battle. The higher-polygon count models are used in the more important cutscenes. In these models, the character's expressions are realistic and believable, and the clothes and hair move realistically as well.
Complaints:
The noses on the characters seem a little flat at times, especially in front angles, and the hair on the characters have (mostly) little movement. You won’t be seeing real-time shadows. There are certain areas of the game where the environments and even some of the characters have rough, black-outlined edges around them, and most of the lip-syncing is off time.

Sound - 9/10
Praies:
The music is amazing; you will literally get lost in it. Composer Nobuo Uematsu has an amazing talent. Every piece of music is played beautifully, and it really fits into the game. The in-game sounds are a work of art, also. You can hear birds chirping, water brushing banks, and footsteps of other people around you. The footsteps aren't the same, meaning you can hear the different pit-pats. This is the first Final Fantasy to have voice-overs...and it's great. The voice-overs are actually pretty well, even the minor characters. Most voices/people you will recognize, so you know you are going to get good acting.
Complaints:
Sometimes, the steps sound like they don’t fit in. It should sound like your stepping on stone when you are on stone, but in certain spots, it still sounds like the soft ground. This are hardly noticeable, though, so it won't bother you too much. Most of the acting is convincing although I do have to admit, some sound a little silly.

Story - 9/10
Praises:
The story, like any other Final Fantasy, is incredible. The story pulls you in, and it is so in-depth. There's over 5 hours worth of voiced-dialogue (revealed in the official walkthrough book), so you know there are plenty of cutscenes, meaning a lot of story. You get to know your characters, understand them, and sometimes you can predict what they'll say, once you learn their personality. There are plenty of plot twists, enough for 5 soap operas.
Complaints:
There really isn't anything to complain about, but sometimes you just wish there was more to it.

Battle System- 9/10
Praises:
Final Fantasy X boasts the best battle system out of any previous Final Fantasy. [This review was written before the release of XII. I believe that XII has a better battle system now.] It is still turn-based, but it’s not active-time battles like Final Fantasy X’s PlayStation counterparts. You can’t actually pause during battles; there is no need. You can sit for hours deciding on your next action. Now you can actually browse through all of your special commands, items, magic, and even change your equipment and weapons in the midst of battle. Another cool addition is that you know when you can attack, or whenever the enemy is going to attack. On the right side of the screen, there is a list of your characters and the enemies, and you can browse through it with R1 and R2. Another new feature, which is really helpful, is the ability to recruit members of your party—right in the middle of the battle! By pressing L1, a list of your available party members will show up, along with their Overdrive Gauge, hitpoints, and manapoints. Overdrives are X's version of previous "Limit Breaks". You can change how this gauge fills up. For example, you can change it so it will fill up when: you attack, you are attacked, a party member gets hurt, and plenty of other options. When the gauge is full, you have the option to unleash your overdrive, which is a powerful attack.
Complaints:
X uses random battles, meaning you walk on the field map without seeing any enemies. With a breaking glass transition, you are thrown into a battle against fiends. Besides the minor annoyance of the random battles from time to time, there should more of a variety in the fiends that you fight.

Gameplay - 9/10
Praises:
This game features many side-quests, mini-games and a unique leveling system, called the Sphere Grid. You gain AP as you battle, and if you collect enough, the AP will turn into Sphere Points, which allow you to move along on the Sphere Grid. Another cool thing about the grid is that any character can have any job. Take Yuna for example: she deals with white magic, but you can move her along too Lulu’s Sphere Grid where she can learn black magic. Along with exploring, talking to the citizens of Spira, buying/selling items, and solving the puzzles called "The Cloister of Trails", there is plenty of playtime to be found in this game (your first try might take you up to 50 hours to complete it). Riding chocobos is fun, too. First, you must train a chocobo to "tame" it, then you have free access to ride your chocobo.
Complaints:
The Sphere Grid can be a little confusing at first, but it is a lot easier to understand than Final Fantasy VIII’s Junction system. Blitzball is completely unfair, and is just not interesting to play, but awesome to watch.

Overall - 9/10
Final Fantasy X is an excellent first Final Fantasy for the PlayStation 2. Hardcore fans and newcomers can both appreciate this game for it's easy learning-curve, yet challenging moments. Whether you like RPGs or not, X is an incredible addition to your game library. Final Fantasy X is now a Greatest Hits title, meaning you can buy it new for only 20 bucks, so go buy it!

Editorial: Sex in Video Games

2007-09-29T15:38:00.001-05:00

Heaving breasts, sex mini-games, a 17-year-old wearing thongs...is this really necessary? Why, yes, it's been proven that "sex sells" but I don't buy a video game for the scantily-clad women. For example, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, High Voltage Software, (not to mention the eight or so games before it) is all about, you guessed it, sex! Wow, a video game that has nothing to do except find a hot girl. Of course, I've never played this game, or any of its kind, so I can't say if the game is fun or not, but that doesn't excuse the overly-presented sex in it. And I mean, is it really necessary to have The Guy Game, Top Heavy Studios? Well, I'm not saying it's bad to have this in video games, but it's not necessarily a good thing, either. Hey, I'm a teenage guy; I'm going to like hot girls showin' it off. You may complain, or call me a perv for ogling of polygons, but hey, I cannot deny my male instincts.

Final Fantasy X-2, Square-Enix, the sequel to my favorite game of all time, Final Fantasy X, originally Squaresoft, features three young women sword-wielding, gun-dueling, and even magic-casting (both White and Black Magic). Not only are these teenagers tough, young, and beautiful, they also dress in a way that their mamas probably wouldn't agree with. The youngest of the three, Rikku, is only 17 years of age. In this RPG for the PlayStation 2, players can change their character's job in the heat of battle, calling for a costume change. In every single one of Rikku's outfits, you can see her thong, not to mention that she's usually wearing a bikini top with a scarf (WTF?!), and a micro-skirt. While I do agree that while I'm playing a video game I would prefer to see pretty girls on screen, so I don't have to stare at the usual male characters the whole game, but that doesn't mean they have to dress like sluts to be pretty, though I may enjoy the view from time to time.

Why yes, I own Final Fantasy X-2, God of War, and God of War II (both SCE Studios Santa Monica [SCE stands for Sony Computer Entertainment]), I do not own these games because of the suggestive themes or nudity; I simply enjoy these games for the gameplay and the storylines. In my opinion, what most game-makers are doing these days are just using women in video games so the male-intended audience will be even more obligated to buy a game. Some people may complain that most girls aren't into gaming, so if we can lose the stripper costumes, this might help boost the female interest in video games.

You can stay away from these games at all cost if you must, or you could skip the occasional, sometimes optional sex mini-game. All I am trying to say is, there are things in this world that aren't necessary (sex in games, violence, etc.), but we still find these enjoyable. I enjoy violence in video games, but I just think that the sex is really uncalled for at times, and a game can be great without it. Not to say that violence makes a game great (Pacman anyone?), I am just against the heaving breasts (Ninja Gaiden, Team Ninja) [doesn't your back hurt?] and the over-the-top sex mini-games (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rockstar Games, among others) present in video games. Looks like the hot-coffee mod got you an AO rating, San Andreas. Ha.

In case you're missing the point, here's my stance: Sex DOES sell. It's not bad to have it in games. I just don't think it should take away from the game by over-presenting it, or the female characters having overly large boobies, I mean, breasts.