PSP Game Reviews (if anyone cares)
PostPosted:Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:14 pm
I havent been able to call myself a gamer for MONTHS. I admit, my PS2 has been collecting dust for a long long while. Due to work, family time, CPA classes, and just general lack of time i havent been playing, let alone buying, video games this year. With too much other stuff going on at home, i was a prime candidate for a portable gaming system and have finally found one that i am happy to plunk my money into. With the PSP i bought Lumines and recently on my way home from the subway station to home i stopped at a Circuit City and bought Untold Legends.
Lumines:
What a kickass little puzzle game. Lumines is not overly complicated (it only uses 6 blocks), but it is very strategic at the same time, but what puzzle game isnt? Made by the same guy who made Rez, it incorporates music and visuals into every level. If you liked Rez, you will love Lumines. Each level has its own music, skin, and sound effects that blend with the music. You pass to the next level when the song is over, but if you are playing too slow the song will loop a 10 second section until you make enough blocks (not lines like tetris) to progress the song. This makes every level basically orchastrated to the music. The backgrounds move and dance to the music as well, and will change depending on the part of the song that is being played. You would think it would be distracting, but instead it just all fits very well. I rate Lumines A-
Untold Legends:
Baby Diablo anyone? Made by the same people who made Baldurs Gate, UL is a pretty decent hack and slash. I never played BG, but the game reeks of a simplified Diablo I or II to me. Simplified in the fact that there are only 4 classes to choose from (Alchemist, Knight, Druid, Beserker) and only 4 attributes (Strength, Magic, Life, Dexterity), AND whatever class you choose really only needs to worry about 2 of the attributes. Example, i chose an Alchemist and she only needs to pump Life and Magic since there are no Strenth and Dex requirements for weapons and armor (simple, see?). This makes it nice that i can melee the early part of the game without having to pump strength, but also kind of unrealistic that my Alchy is carrying a huge axe that really only a knight should be using. I like this game so far, but i think it is too simplified. The skill tree only goes up to lvl 18 and only has maybe 10 abilities so i guess the game is not very long. Armor and weapons do not have to be repaired, you can carry as many potions as you find, etc etc. They could have had a real great game on their hands if they decided to make it a little more complicated. I like doing character planning and besides level requirements on weapons and armor, there isnt much to plan. I rate Untold Legends a C+
Both games are doing their duty and making my commute seem like there was no commute, so i have to be happy about that.
Lumines:
What a kickass little puzzle game. Lumines is not overly complicated (it only uses 6 blocks), but it is very strategic at the same time, but what puzzle game isnt? Made by the same guy who made Rez, it incorporates music and visuals into every level. If you liked Rez, you will love Lumines. Each level has its own music, skin, and sound effects that blend with the music. You pass to the next level when the song is over, but if you are playing too slow the song will loop a 10 second section until you make enough blocks (not lines like tetris) to progress the song. This makes every level basically orchastrated to the music. The backgrounds move and dance to the music as well, and will change depending on the part of the song that is being played. You would think it would be distracting, but instead it just all fits very well. I rate Lumines A-
Untold Legends:
Baby Diablo anyone? Made by the same people who made Baldurs Gate, UL is a pretty decent hack and slash. I never played BG, but the game reeks of a simplified Diablo I or II to me. Simplified in the fact that there are only 4 classes to choose from (Alchemist, Knight, Druid, Beserker) and only 4 attributes (Strength, Magic, Life, Dexterity), AND whatever class you choose really only needs to worry about 2 of the attributes. Example, i chose an Alchemist and she only needs to pump Life and Magic since there are no Strenth and Dex requirements for weapons and armor (simple, see?). This makes it nice that i can melee the early part of the game without having to pump strength, but also kind of unrealistic that my Alchy is carrying a huge axe that really only a knight should be using. I like this game so far, but i think it is too simplified. The skill tree only goes up to lvl 18 and only has maybe 10 abilities so i guess the game is not very long. Armor and weapons do not have to be repaired, you can carry as many potions as you find, etc etc. They could have had a real great game on their hands if they decided to make it a little more complicated. I like doing character planning and besides level requirements on weapons and armor, there isnt much to plan. I rate Untold Legends a C+
Both games are doing their duty and making my commute seem like there was no commute, so i have to be happy about that.