<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '>Final Fantasy 9 (2 hours in) is what Final Fantasy 7 should have been. To me, this is the true sequel to FF6. Like Chrono Cross, it's everything a next-gen (at that time) RPG should be. It builds on what made its predecessor good using the technology currently available. Mind you, I'm not far enough to discuss the complete merits of the storyline, but as of right now, I'm loving the game. I like the characters, gameplay (ATE is a GREAT way to expand the story), the music rules, and, above all, it just feels like a FF game. I just hope it turns out like CC in the end...
Conta: Shattered Soldiers, like FF9, is what a next-gen sequel should be. This IS Contra, in every way you remember it. The action is super intense, the graphics are great, the bosses are awesome, and the gameplay is as tight as can be. This is a direct sequel to Alien Wars and it sure feels like it in every way. The decision to make it 2 1/2D was briliant. It plays much like those great shooter games of late (Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun, Einhander), as it should. Again, like FF9, the changes they made (no gun switching, locking your gun/body position) enhance the gameplay we all came to know and love without sacrificing it in ANY way. Not to mention, this game is FUCKING HARD. If you loved Alien Wars and want another, get this one....now.
Rygar, on the other hand, is simply OK. It's neat in the sense that it takes the ancient Greek theme and does a great job with atmosphere, but in the end, the gameplay is fairly shallow (2 hours in) and it turns out to be just a plain-Jane average 3D action adventure game. The music, graphics, and gameplay are all just average. If you're gonna pick it up, pick it up used or when it drops to $20, it's really not worth much more than that.
*Forrest Gump* And that's all I have to say about that.</div>
Conta: Shattered Soldiers, like FF9, is what a next-gen sequel should be. This IS Contra, in every way you remember it. The action is super intense, the graphics are great, the bosses are awesome, and the gameplay is as tight as can be. This is a direct sequel to Alien Wars and it sure feels like it in every way. The decision to make it 2 1/2D was briliant. It plays much like those great shooter games of late (Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun, Einhander), as it should. Again, like FF9, the changes they made (no gun switching, locking your gun/body position) enhance the gameplay we all came to know and love without sacrificing it in ANY way. Not to mention, this game is FUCKING HARD. If you loved Alien Wars and want another, get this one....now.
Rygar, on the other hand, is simply OK. It's neat in the sense that it takes the ancient Greek theme and does a great job with atmosphere, but in the end, the gameplay is fairly shallow (2 hours in) and it turns out to be just a plain-Jane average 3D action adventure game. The music, graphics, and gameplay are all just average. If you're gonna pick it up, pick it up used or when it drops to $20, it's really not worth much more than that.
*Forrest Gump* And that's all I have to say about that.</div>
I was there on that fateful day, were you?
