I like lists. So let's list out the games we're looking forward to getting the most this year.
1. Fable - Once was at #1, then dropped down after I read some things about it, then back to #1 again now that I've read more recent impressions. And mostly because I've waited so damn long for the game and it's only a month away. I can barely contain my excitement over this game.
2. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - Would have been at #1 if MP didn't come out just two years ago. I really can't wait for it, but I'm looking forward to Fable more (even though it may not be a better game) because there's really nothing else like it.
3.Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The last two games were crazy-fun and I couldn't stop playing them, and this ones looks several times better than GTA 3 and VC combined. Three cities this time (each one the size of VC), and great big highways in between them. And best of all, San Francisco is one of the cities. My favorite city in the U.S.
4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - I loved the last two games and am really looking forward to this one for both the great (and finally revamped) gameplay and to see what the hell is going to happen in the story. I hope it explains some stuff from MGS2.
5. Halo 2 - I bought an X-Box for Halo and it was a huge disappointment for me. So why do I list this one so high? Because Halo 1 had huge potential but was obviously a rush job, and I'm hoping that Halo 2 will be the game that I wanted the first one to be. Plus, co-op online is going to be incredible no matter what.
6. Prince of Persia 2 - The first game was my second-favorite title of last year (after WW) so naturally I can't wait to play the sequel. The reasons why it isn't higher up on my list is because I'm worried about a few things. Firstly, I don't like the generic dark direction they've taken with this game (most likely to garner better sales this time around). I loved the ICO-like quality of the last game, and I hate it when developers decide to make sequels more dark and "extreme" at the expense of charm and uniqueness. Secondly, I'm worried that it will become more of a DMC-style action game and less of an acrobatic-puzzler like the first one. So those are my two major worries with the sequel.
7. Paper Mario 2 - The first game is one of my all-time favorite RPGs and I can't wait to play this one. I've stayed away from previews as I want to be surprised, so all I can say is that I know it's going to kick ass.
8. Pikmin 2 - I liked the first game but the damn timer ruined the exploration aspect of it. Thankfully the sequel removes that annoying feature and adds a cool-looking multiplayer mode. This is going to be great.
9. Half-life 2 - Liked the first one, and the sequel looks really nice.
10. Gran Turismo 4 - Best street racing series, now online and as an extra-cool aspect (for me), Hong Kong is among the many cities in the game.
It's that time of the year again, kids! Time for the insane rush of holiday titles, your happy little gaming heart exploding from too much fun, and your bank account being emptier than Tendo City in June. So what do you guys plan on getting? Lists are fun!
What I will definitely get at launch:
August
-Pikmin 2 (GC)
-Astro Boy (GBA)
September
-Fable (XB)
October
-Paper Mario 2 (GC)
-Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
November
-Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GC)
-Prince of Persia 2 (XB)
-Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
-Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake eater (PS2)
-Halo 2 (XB)
-Nintendo DS and whatever good games it ships with (3 max for me)
What I want to get but may not afford/have time for
August
-Star Ocean 3 (PS2)
October
-Metal Slug Advance (GBA)
-Mario Pinball (GBA)
-Worms 3D (XB)
-Outrun 2 (XB)
November
-Baten Kaitos (GC)
December
-Conker: Live and Reloaded (XB)
-Mech Assault 2 (XB)
What I want to get, but won't be sure until reviews come in
September
-Mega Mag X Command Mission (GC)
-Second Sight (XB)
-Donkey Konga (GC)
-Blood Will Tell (PS2)
-Star Wars Battlefront (XB)
October
-Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (GBA)
-Boktai 2 (GBA)
November
-Star Fox (GC)
-Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA)
-Ratchet and Clank 3 (PS2)
-Suikoden IV (PS2)
-Megaman X8 (PS2)
-Jak 3 (PS2)
December
-StarCraft: Ghost (XB)
-Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II (XB)
Quote:Yesterday's largest story was without a doubt the Nintendo DS software list but despite that fact, the list opened up more than its fair share of questions on the titles listed. Today however, it seems a few questions have been answered, as an update to developer Shin'en Multimedia's website, brings forth the first details on Majesco's upcoming Nintendo DS title Nanostray. While plot details are vague, the page states that Nanostray will puts players in the role of a ship pilot that comes back to life inside his craft. Below is a somewhat vague plot synopsis.
"You slowly come back to life in your spacecraft. It feels like you were unconscious only for seconds. Neverless you only have a vague idea of what has happenend. Frantic images loom in your mind without telling you anything you can decode by now. Slopped impressions of pain and humiliation cover your thoughts. Instinctively you look up to your console. Your board computer is still indicating a destination..."
Nanostray will feature 10 levels, WLAN 2-player modes, and Internet scoreboards, and will ship during Q1 2005 for the Nintendo DS. A few screenshots of Nanostray can be found on this page.
Nice, huh? Certainly blows away all of the previous DS games shown, at least in terms of textures. It's from the guys that made Iridion for the GBA, so they're great at pushing the capabilities of a system as soon as they get dev kits. And none of that is pre-rendered.
These are usually fun for a few days. All you have to do is kill, maim, injure, or otherwise inflict discomfort on another member. We all remember this!
It's that time again. When we exchange long hours spent sleeping in because you can and tons of free time for 7 hours of sleep because you have to get up early and tons of free work. School. That dreaded six letter word that causes [almost] grown men to weep openly, but you still have to go because if you don't you become a cancer to society who has no money for fun stuff.
Anyway, this year I'm still technically a Senior in high school but since my the school's schedule of classes is sucks majorly I've decided to start my college run a year early. I'm taking a total of four classes these two semesters and, combined with the AP History class I passes last year, a total of 15 credit hours or about one semester. Another upside is that I get to trade three high school classes for only two college course and, since they're only being taught on M-W-F, on Tuesday and Thursday I can stay at home until 11 pm.
So now I'm well on my way to the fabled Triple Major [Business Information Management, Economics, and Finance]. I can see it now! Great Rumbler: Multi-millionaire businessman! Oh yeah!!
Quote:"Publishers worldwide have taken the unique creative tools of our dual-screened Nintendo DS and used them to invent completely new ways to play," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. "Just imagine the possibilities that a touch screen, voice recognition and wireless multiplayer action bring to video games."
"EA's studio teams are working on a lot of great titles for the Nintendo DS," says Steve Chiang, General Manager of EA's Tiburon Studio. "With the wireless feature, Madden players will be able to battle one another head-to-head like never before on a portable system."
"THQ will be a big supporter of the hand-held Nintendo DS," says Brian Farrell, THQ's president and CEO. "The untapped capabilities demonstrate an exciting leap in hand-held video game technology."
And a list of games in development:
Quote:Atari, Inc.
Atari Classics
Atlus USA
Caduceus
Snowboard Kids DS Plus three additional titles in development
Bandai Entertainment Inc.
Meteos
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Plus one additional title in development
Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
Mega Man Battle Network
Viewtiful Joe
Plus one additional title in development
Electronic Arts
GoldenEye
Madden NFL
Need For Speed Underground
Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf
The URBZ: Sims in the City
Hudson Soft Co., Ltd.
Bomberman
Koei Co., Ltd.
Dynasty Warriors (working title)
Plus two additional titles in development
Konami Digital Entertainment
Boktai (working title)
Castlevania (working title)
Dragon Booster (working title)
Frogger 2005 (working title)
Survival Kids (working title)
World Soccer Winning Eleven series (working title)
Vandal Hearts (working titles)
WINX (working title)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour
Majesco
Moonlight Fables
Nanostray
Plus at least three additional titles in development
Namco Hometek Inc.
New Mr. Driller (working title)
Pac 'n Roll (working title)
Pac-Pix (working title)
Orbital Media
Four titles in development, including the genres of action platformer, strategy role-playing, combat racing and family.
SEGA of America, Inc.
Project Rub (working title)
Sonic DS (working title)
Square Enix Co., Ltd.
A new story of Secret of Mana
A new story of Slime Morimori Dragon Quest
Dragon Quest Monsters series
Egg Monster Heroes
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series
Summitsoft Corporation
Air Assault 2
Organizer Plus
Tecmo, Inc.
Monster Rancher
Plus one additional title in development
Telegames, Inc.
Ultimate Brain Games
Ultimate Card Games
Ultimate Pocket Games
THQ
SpongeBob SquarePants
Plus five additional titles in development
Ubisoft Entertainment
Asphalt GT
Rayman
Plus additional titles in development, including a major movie license for early 2005
Vivendi Universal Games
Robots
It looks like the DS is going to have even better third party support than the GBA.
I had my wisdom teeth removed today. (all four). Not fun. Now my mouth hurts, I feel funny, and I have to take painkillers... I hate taking drugs, especially pills...
![[Image: nanostray-1.jpg]](http://www.shinen.com/games/images/nanostray-1.jpg)
