Review of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

NOTE: This Review first showed up on my old blog, Nintendo News, on My Opera. I have modified the review and the score to add a little depth.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love Pokemon games. In fact, you could call me a Pokemon fanatic. Ever since playing Pokemon Blue on my GBA 6 years ago (I didn’t buy the game when it originally came out), I played every game ever since. If you’re familiar with Pokemon games, you’ll be able to adapt to the new controls via the touch screen. I love how easy it is to navigate with the touch screen with your Poke’tch (Pocket Watch), and how easy it is to battle. There are a lot of improvements, but there are always faults in Pokemon games. First up is the graphics. They are better, but the same style. They could’ve changed the graphics and made a truly beautiful game. However, they came and used the old formula. Nothing’s changed, much, and some of the Pokemon resemble past Pokemon, as if they were running out of ideas and recycling old creatures with an updated look. I also wished they had used the touch screen more. However, it is still a good game. If you’ve never played a Pokemon game, get it. If you have played Pokemon, didn’t like it, and you’re hoping that this game is much better, don’t count on it. Hardcore fans of the Pocket Monsters probobly already have the game.

B; It’s a good Pokemon game, but has not evolved much since the original. If the series doesn’t bring a new experience, in the next 2 generations, I may abandon my quest to “Catch’ em All”.

GameCube, PS2, and Xbox might be last-gen, but they’re still worth trying.

    

GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox are old consoles, but they still have a massive library of games, and they’re definitely worth picking up if you’re on a very tight budget. Just like my first post, where I compared the current consoles, I will compare the last-gen consoles, and at the end, I’ll show you why you want or don’t want this console.

First up is the Nintendo GameCube.  Wii has compatibility with all GameCube games, but if you need a REALLY cheap console, like $50 cheap for a used one at EB Games/GameStop, then pick it up. It doesn’t have online play, but it has great Nintendo franchises like Mario, Zelda, Metroid Prime, and Pikmin

GameCube: B-, The GameCube has a good library of games if you like Nintendo franchises. It’s a good console if you’re still saving up on a Wii. This way, you can sell your GameCube when you get a Wii, but keep the games and controllers fo your built-in GameCube in your Wii. 

Second is the Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2). The PS2, unlike the PS3, is a console worth buying. Look at it’s vast library, it’s sleek style, and everything the PS3 isn’t. It’s still $130 in all my local game stores, but you should be able to find a cheap one online. It has a built-in DVD player, but if you want to play with 4 players, you’re going to have to buy an adapter, because the PS2 only has 2 controller ports.

PlayStation 2: A-, A very good console for the casual gamer. A good buy if you can get one at a low price.

Last up is the Xbox. This was Microsoft’s first console, and they did fairly well. They got some Sega franchises, as well as other solid games. It looks a little ugly, as it’s a big black box with a green circle on it. You can find one for maybe $80 or so, probably cheaper in other places.

Xbox: B-, A good solid console for those who are looking for a great online experience with Xbox Live. NOTE: You’re going to have to pay for the Xbox Live service monthly.

PS: I will start doing video game reviews for Wii and DS, since they’re the only consoles I have. I may have some PS3 and Xbox 360 game impressions once in a while. 

 

Is Game Boy dead? It just might, I think it already is.

Game Boy is a legacy, the starter of portable gaming. The machine that you could drag Super Mario Bros. with you at your train ride, to survive boredom. Game Boy Pocket and Light added a little to the device, and Game Boy Color added wonderful rainbow glory, but Game Boy Advance, Advance SP, and micro added nice graphics, lush colors, a back-lit screen, a holy library of games, a small compact package, and a rechargeable battery. This paved the way for the Nintendo DS and DS Lite, once a crazy Miyamoto experiment gone wrong, to one of the most successful gaming devices of all time, reaching Game Boy status. When Nintendo released the DS, it was dubbed the third pillar, a separate to the Game Boy line. However, as Nintendo focused all development on the DS, the Game Boy was forgotten. You’ll see a third party game on the Game Boy once in a while, and the Game Boy micro and SP are still selling, but there aren’t any Nintendo games anymore. The Nintendo DS can play Game Boy games, which kind of ruins the Game Boy Advance (although only the Advance can play Game Boy and Color games, and the DS can’t), but we’re not seeing any Game Boy at all. If Nintendo brings back the Game Boy, I won’t complain. But as far as I know, the Game Boy is dead.

My list of Wii games that don’t exist: Why aren’t these on Wii?

Some games seem like they were made for the Wii, but they aren’t here. Here’s my list of the top Wii games that don’t exist (yet).

1. Time Crisis/Arcade Shooter: Time Crisis is coming to PS3 instead, that is crazy. Sony must’ve paid them, because no company is this dumb.
2. Star Wars Light-Saber game: LEGO Star Wars is coming to Wii with motion sensing, but it’s not an actual Star Wars game, like a Battlefront game.
3. Phoenix Wright: This is probably coming soon, but if it’s not, I’m going to die. Phoenix Wright could move to a console, maybe with 3D Cel-Shaded graphics. Think about it, pointing at the screen with your Wii Remote and yelling Objection!
4. Custom Robo Wii: There’s no real reason, I just like Custom Robo.
5. Duck Hunt Wii: Wii Play kind of had a Duck Hunt, but that wasn’t a real Duck Hunt. Nintendo could release a Duck Hunt Wii on WiiWare (they’re new online service coming in 2008), and charge $5 for it.
6. Elite Beat Agents Wii: A possibility. It could use a DDR Dance Pad.
7. Samba de Amigo: Sega gave us Sonic and soon NiGHTS, so they better give us Samba de Amigo!

The Wiire is down, please come again.

Apparently, The Wiire, one of my favorite sites (alex66 on the boards), is moving. Their podcasts are hilarious and one of a kind, so check them out here: The Wiire Podcasts at Digg

Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Which one and Why? (UPDATE)

Almost every generation of gaming consoles has had 3 different consoles. In the past few years, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have been those 3, and they’ve made they’re 3 consoles. The Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Let’s see what each one has to offer, starting with the Wii.

Nintendo is the only current company that has a real history in making video games, and has many lovable franchises, like Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, and many more. Of the last 2 generations of the Nintendo 64 and the GameCube, Nintendo has had some bad luck. However, by changing it’s focus from pumping up graphics every generation to creating a new way to play, Wii has accomplished that. I’m sure you’ve seen and heard about it’s motion-sensing remote, so I’ll just skip to the point. Wii is one of the greatest consoles of all time. It comes with Wii Sports for free, which has Tennis, Baseball, Bowling, Golf, and Boxing. It’s combination of Miis, a great experience, GameCube game support, and a sleek, stylish look just cries out “buy me!”, and it works, since I have one. Unfortunately Wii doesn’t offer High Definition graphics or a DVD player like the other 2, and Nintendo’s biggest games, like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl don’t come out until the Holiday Season. However, it’s definitely worth a buy, with the cheapest price of this generation, $250, it’s a must-have if you’re an old-school gamer, a new gamer, a current hardcore gamer, an older gamer, a younger gamer, or not a gamer at all.

Wii: A, a pretty good console. NOTE: Due to the high demand, Wiis are very hard to find. If you don’t want to camp out, then your best bet is to check fliers with the Sunday newspaper. Skip to the Games section. If there’s a Wii picture, they have a few in stock. Go quick, and hope you can get a Wii. Target, Wal-Mart, EB Games/GameStop, Best Buy, etc. are good places to look.

 

Next is the PlayStation 3. Sony started in the gaming business with the original PlayStation a few years ago, and dominated the gaming industry. However, the PS3 is currently in last place. There are a few Pros to the supermachine, but it is improving. It has a built-in Blu-Ray player, and a new network that is yet-to-be released called Home. Home let’s you make a “The Sim’s like” avatar, or a digital replica of yourself. You can walk around and communicate with your friends who also have PS3. This isn’t worth too much, since the Xbox 360 can communicate to a PC or Mac with Windows Live (MSN) Messenger installed. However, the PS3 does have the prettiest graphics, at 1080p. However, if you don’t a HDTV with 1080p (you may only have 720p, or no HD at all), this will mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO YOU.

PS3: C, Better now. Even you’re a hardcore gamer who needs the best graphics with the built-in Blu-Ray player, it’s the most expensive console at $400 for 40GB and $500 for 8GB memory capacity. However, games are starting to come out for the PS3, and it makes a great Blu-Ray and media player.

 

Last is Xbox 360. Microsoft is the newest company to the gaming world. It has a built-in DVD player, a GREAT online system, and a good console overall. It has the largest library of games, due to releasing late 2005, a year before the newer consoles. It has HD graphics, at 720p, which is good enough for most people. It can also stream your music, videos, and media from you’re PC wirelessly through Windows Media Center (included only in Windows XP: Media Center edition and Windows Vista Home Premium).

Xbox 360: A , a pretty good console overall. If you’re a hardcore gamer, and the Wii doesn’t look so good to you, buy a 360. $270 for Xbox 360 Arcade package, that includes five classic games and does support HD, and also has a memory card insluded with one wireless controller, $350 for the Premium package, which has a 20GB hard drive and a wireless controller with HD graphics (720p), and $480 for the Elite package, all the features of the Premium with a 120GB hard drive.