MOTHER 3 fan translation out now

MOTHER 3 is easily the most anticipated RPG game not to have been localised by Nintendo, whose primary motivation of making money is through targeting the soccer mums and pensioners demographic. Released in Japan on the venerable GBA platform some 2 1/2 years ago, fans of the MOTHER series has waited patiently as fans worked hard to translate the game. Well the moment has arrived, and the unofficial translation has finally been released.

To get it you will need a ROM copy of MOTHER 3 and a flash cart. Download the patcher and patch the original ROM file, before uploading the patched ROM onto a flash cart. Insert flash cart into your Game Boy Advance, SP, micro, DS or DS Lite and enjoy the game. You can also probably play it on a PC based GBA emulator. I've played the Japanese version with a FAQ (didn't last long) and from the short amount I can say the game is something special.

Thanks to HAL, Brownie Brown, Nintendo SPD and the translators for working hard to bring us the game. But no thanks to S. Iwata, Reggie and whoever runs NOE, for attempting to deprive us of a great video game title.

Thanks to Zorocaster for the heads-up

Some gaming news

Variety has details up regarding a new Ghostbusters video game to be published by Vivendi. Just look at the screenshot of Marshmallow Man (well, a target renfder, but whatever) above and tell me it isn't brilliant. The four principal cast from the films - Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson and Harold Ramis will be lending their voice and image likeness for the game as will other supporting casts like Annie Potts and William Atherton. Aykroyd and Ramis will also be writing parts of the scripts. Game of the decade surely.

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BioWare's next major game Mass Effect, will be banned in grumpy ol' Singapore due to "homosexuals" scenes within the game. Surprise? Well you shouldn't. Apparently their PM's logic was that "the city-state should keep its conservative values and not allow special rights for homosexuals". You mean does not allow any equal rights for homosexuals right while maintaining special rights for cronies? You can watch a video here to see what the fuss is all about. Frankly I have seen much worse when I last visited Singapore so I really have no idea why the country is back peddling.

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Early estimates for last week's Japanese hardware sales has put the PS3 ahead of the Nintendo Wii for the first time since like forever. This includes one week of normal (60GB) PS3 sales and one day of the new cheaper (especially with the crazy exchange rate) 40GB PS3. Sales are encouraging and any Nintendo fanboys who thinks this is a bad thing are idiots. Competition is good. Nintendo has been arrogant for far too long taking the easy route of appealing to non-gamers. I think many gamers are getting irritated, including yours truly. I have never felt more regret in getting a Wii than anything else.

Continuing with the Wii, the BBC's lead technology article on the supposed low supplies of the console this Christmas has been consistently in the top 5 most e-mail and read articles on BBC News yesterday according to their little widget. This can only be a good thing as Nintendo's marketing ploy would mean high demand/low supply = high profitability for used Wii.

KEER-CHIIING!

I normally frown on such practices, but hei when there are no games worth playing then it is better to let go for now and re buy it after Christmas when the price drops back down to below £160. Maybe after renting Super Mario Galaxy.

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Not understanding the logic by Nintendo in not bringing over an official translated version of MOTHER 3, but then again they started hating video games when they saw the amount of non-games money they can make (see above). For the non-Japanese speaking gaming fans waiting patiently to play the game, the MOTHER 3 fan translation team has released a video marking the first anniversary when the unofficial translation began at Starman.net:



Great trailer. I tried to play the game in Japanese once and it gave me a headache so I will be waiting for the time when the wonderful team finally release the full patch.

HMV Game Boy Advance bargains

HMV has some excellent offers on a couple Game Boy Advance games. And not just pansy film tie-in ports. These are actual good quality and critically well received games at a criminally insane price of £10 each, delivered to your UK address.

For your tenner you can get one of these games:

Final Fantasy IV Advance (Square- Enix)
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (AlphaDream/Nintendo)
Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Square-Enix)
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (Jupiter/Square-Enix)
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Brothers 3 (Nintendo)
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (Square-Enix)
Metroid Zero Mission (Nintendo)
Mario Vs Donkey Kong (NST/Nintendo)
Golden Sun (Camelot/Nintendo)

Last I checked most of these still retail for full price. In fact just last week I saw Final Fantasy IV Advance selling for £35 at their brick store. Seven of those games listed are RPG titles, so if you are a RPG nut like I am and haven't played any of those you should probably check them out before the titles are sold out.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories has a high production value but it is merely a retelling of the storyline presented in the PS2 game. Plus the battle system suck. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is the prequel to the excellent DS follow-up Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones and Final Fantasy Tactics are both strategy RPG. If you haven't played a Fire Emblem game, the gameplay is similar to the excellent Disgaea series on the PS2 and Advance Wars (developed by the same people).

Personally I recommend getting Final Fantasy IV Advance, Golden Sun, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones.

Final Fantasy VI Advance review

Ah, my special Valentine's Day post is complete and it is a review of Final Fantasy VI Advance, the perfect gaming companion for any gender. Warning: contains massive amount of spoilers as it is written with the assumption that the reader has played a Final Fantasy VI game.

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Final Fantasy VI, in my opinion, is without doubt the best Final Fantasy game ever created (bar Final Fantasy XII which will be released here in less than two weeks), and it has finally gone portable. So this review will have bias written all over it. Thankfully I have restrained myself from dissing other more popular Final Fantasy titles.

Booting up Final Fantasy VI Advance even gave me goose bumps. I am so goddamn busy I have hardly the time to play games, which is why being portable sweetens the deal. Watching Kefka clowns around, while standing uncomfortably in the Underground is way better than watching commuters fidgeting with their latest iPods trying to show them off. Then there is Celes' performance at the Opera and Cyan's Ghost train scenario...

When it comes to Final Fantasy VI, gameplay takes a back seat for an epic story (which in my opinion is the best since Final Fantasy IV). The plot revolves around a resistant group known as the Returners and their battle against the Empire. It takes place a thousand years after the War of the Magi. Since the war ended, magic has ceased to exist in the world, which now resembles Europe during the industrial revolution, until Emperor Gestahl decided to harvest magic from Espers for use in a hybrid weapon known as Magitek.

Though there are plenty of playable characters (most of which has large amount of fascinating history and character development), each of which is unique in their own right, none of them are in any way lead characters. You are free to select your own parties, though at times you are required to have certain characters in the party in order to proceed. Even though the game is still fairly linear, back-story narrative are added based on which characters are in your party, thus increasing the replay value of the game. One example is during the return trip to Figaro Castle, if you have both Sabin and Edgar in the party you will be able to witness a flashback concerning Sabin's abdication from the throne.

Final Fantasy veterans will note that there isn't any job system to play around, which is a shame, but not a total lost as there are still tons of customisation to be had. Job levels, as in Final Fantasy IV, are tied to each individual characters. As with every traditional Japanese RPGs, combat will yield experience points and character statistics increases with every leveling.

Apart from a few instances, enemies are randomly encountered on the field map. The familiar Active Time Battle turn based and menu driven combat system, introduced in Final Fantasy IV, returns. However unlike Final Fantasy III and V, getting through is dead easy and requires no prior strategising, as long as you continue taking time off to grind, and not ignore critical healing moments.

The port/remake isn't without its problems though. Battles can occasionally slowdown if sprites crowd the screen, and if certain offensive magic is used. It is a minor concern and for most part the game is speedy enough to enjoy. The 16-bit re-mixed soundtrack isn't as sharp as it was on the SNES/Super Famicom (it contains a very unique Ken Kutaragi designed Sony sound-chip), but this is hardly a surprise.

Then there is the usage of the tilted Mode 7. Walking on the overworld is bearable as the map is only slightly tilted but navigating on the chocobo or airship is almost nigh impossible, especially if compared to the 2D fieldmap. Navigating the overworld with Mode 7 may seem revolutionary 12 years ago, but it looks awful now. Fake 3D is also used in an escape scene from the Magitek Research Facility in Vector, and the result was a truly horrifying showcase of terrible visuals.

Whilst it is clear that the GBA is no match for the SNES superior hardware, for most part they did an excellent job porting the game for the GBA platform. Despite the lower resolution of the platform, this port features excellent visuals and detailed sprite animations, similar to the Super Nintendo games. Memorable animations such as Kefka's comical laugh remains visually appealing.

I have already blogged about my impression on the new translation. Whether purist will like it or not, I still think the new 'modern' script is wonderful. Sure there are already complaints about the 'dialogue being toned down' as well as some the more graphical violent scene being ‘censored’. While some purist might basked in their SNES superiority, the rest of us should be grateful that Square Enix even bothered with a new translation, one that apparently follows the original Super Famicom version more closely.

Update: I just tried summoning Siren and she is still all 'dressed-up'. As I mentioned before, this isn't a huge concern, but damnit Nintendo of America/Square-Enix USA, you are just so prude! I wonder if Square-Enix Europe will re-instate the esper's exposed arse, if they even bother releasing it over here. Still plenty of sexual content here. Bushido in the Bedroom!

Also included in the game is the bestiary, where you can check out the stats of enemies that you have defeated. This is ideal for completist and may prove useful for treasure hunters as well. There is also a music player that is available once the game is completed. As I mentioned above the sound quality does not match up to the original game – but regardless it is still a nice touch, as I am sure many of you would agree that Final Fantasy VI was one of Nobou Uematsu’s finest project.

The Game Boy Advance hardware has been abandoned by many but for the rest of us this port is the perfect end to the GBA's lifespan. The GBA shares many similarities with the SNES's (including housing many old school RPG titles), so it just seems fitting that one of the greatest games of all time to grace the SNES should give the GBA a proper farewell. Apart from the hit in the sound quality department, this is the definitive version to own. Do not give this a miss.

9/10

Buy now from Play-Asia or Amazon UK

Video Game Impressions: Final Fantasy VI Advance translation

Been playing Final Fantasy VI Advance for roughly a day now. I will risk getting flamed by Final Fantasy VI fanboys and purists by stating this, so far I am loving the new translation. I never thought that there was anything wrong with the SNES translation (Final Fantasy III SNES), but I feel that the new translation is better. Sure it may not follow the original Japanese Super Famicom version (though rumour is that it does), but neither did the SNES version. I love that the characters has better personalities, rather than the previous more gung-ho attitudes, but I wouldn't complain either if they stuck in the SNES translation.

Some, like Siliconera, has accused Square-Enix of self-censoring the game. But to me is about reimagining the game. It is after all called Final Fantasy VI Advance, not Final Fantasy VI (SNES literal version). There is nothing wrong in calling out rudeness rather than threatening to rip out lungs, which would come out as someone who is concerned over this ego than anything else. At any rate, I personally like the new translation, but hei, if you don't then go learn Japanese and play the Super Famicom game.

Update: It appears that the Final Fantasy VI Advance English translation follows the original Super Famicom version much closer to the original than the Ted Woolsey Final Fantasy III SNES translation. I can't confirm since I do not read kanji, but if true then the accusation of self-censorship on Square-Enix part seems quite harsh and rather ironic. One example is the scene where Celes was being beaten up by Imperial Guards weren't in the original Super Famicom game, but were added to the SNES version. As I have played through the Locke scenario I can confirm that the the GBA remake has removed the added scene. For better or worse it appears that non-Japanese speaking gamers can finally experience Final Fantasy VI closer to what the developers has intended.

Final Fantasy month

With Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA) just gettin a release in North America and the PAL version of Final Fantasy XII (PS2) being released soon over here, I thought I would change the header a little bit. The above header is a combat scene from the Final Fantasy VI remake. Nice huh? Until I can find a better one (probably with a comical Kefka in it) it would stay there for quite some time. I am just too busy to boot up an emulator with a copy of the original SNES ROM just to get a direct-feed screengrab.


Square-Enix is lying when they say that this is only for the GBA. Expect a remake on future platforms.

Since GBA games and systems are region free it makes sense to import the game as Square-Enix Europe has yet to announce a date for a European release. It will be much cheaper too. Anyone thinking of getting Final Fantasy XII should get it from Shopto.net. At £26, you get to save 35% off the retail price, which isn't too bad.

Final Fantasy IV Advance review

There is a reason why Final Fantasy IV is on my Top 100 games of all time as of November 2006. It is the story. This arguably was the first 'proper' Final Fantasy game that mixes epic storyline laced with (the then) excellent gameplay. So it is all good and proper for us when Square-Enix decided to port the game over to the GBA, putting an end to the excuse to playing an illegal ROM on a dodgy SNES emulator.

The plot is classic FF. Bad guy plots to take over the world by stealing crystals and the hero saves the day. However FF IV also introduced more than just a great plot (with twists). It introduced developed characters. Looking back, the development between the characters, particularly Cecil Harvey, the dark knight of Baron, and Dragoon Kain Highwind, his childhood friend, was what made me love this game so much.

Then there is the relationship between Cecil and Rosa. The two twin sages Parom and Porom provides slight comic relief, during when the plot may seem to be heating up. Yes, so many interesting characters to write about. There is also Edward, the cowardly prince who hides himself every couple of turns, and Tellah, the 60 year old Sage, hell bent on exacting revenge.

Another great thing about FF IV is the ability for the player to take control a vast number of playable characters, as in by having them in your party. It does make levelling-up a chore, where players need to turn to serious grinding whenever a new character replaces a dismissed one.

The graphics are based on the WonderSwan port. It looks nice - marginally better than the original SNES version, though still seriously outdated (God knows that they should make a FF III DS style remake, or at least something on par with The Minish Cap or Golden Sun). But man am I glad to see those deformed sprites. Lags do happen during battle sequences where 4 or 5 party fights a larger group of enemies. It isn't really a problem, but can get annoying when navigating the 'Active Battle System' menu. I also didn't like the typefaces used. It is annoying having to wear glasses to play this, but there you go.

Best Final Fantasy? Not really (that would go to VI, and maybe XII if the reviews are indicating), but a close one. Definitely better than VII though. If you haven't yet experience the depth which was IV now is your chance.

8/10

Buy now from Play-Asia or Amazon UK

Top 100 games of all time

Another utterly worthless post to keep this blog from heading down the gutter. This time a top 100 games of all time, that I have ever bothered to play.

I didn't put much thought into the list. Who would? It isn't a serious list, just a list of games I love(d), as of November 2006. It doesn't include pretentious games that many people pretend to like though. Also, not all that made the list, I would even consider twice of playing again. For example F-Zero was great and I had fond memories of it, but will I ever play it again? Hell no. It has aged rather badly me thinks (faux 3D games tends to do that).

I did think hard (for like 10 minutes) of ranking the top 10 games though and why I love them. Commentary on the top 5 (because I am lazy enough not to justify the latter five).

List updated as of May 2008

1. Total Annihilation (PC, Cavedog Entertainment, 1997)
- This is the ultimate game as far as I am concerned. When I first played this many many years ago, I had no idea that it would ever lodge Red Alert from my top RTS game list, but it did. Incredible graphics (even in this day), soundtrack and huge maps. Enemy A.I. was a bit patchy, but so what? The cool thing about this game was building up a massive army (hundreds) of cyber robots and watching the mayhem as they destroy the pitiful enemies. This game rocks, and still rock hard today. I pity the fools who prefers StarCraft over this.

2. Chrono Trigger (SNES, Square Co., 1995)
- Still the greatest RPG ever made, Chrono Trigger, while short, featured multiple ending due to the non-linear gameplay offered through time traveling.

3. Final Fantasy VI (SNES, Square Co. 1994)
- While not too dissimilar with fanboy favourite Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VI was without doubt a much better game. Nothing more nothing less. That is of course my opinion.

4. Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2, Square Enix/tri-Ace, 2006)
- Without a doubt one of the best RPG game in recent history. The sequel to the fantastic PS1 game eschews jRPG cliché for a more modern uptake on the stale genre.

5. Final Fantasy XII (PS2, Square Enix, 2006)
- The developers of Final Fantasy XII with much flair, revamped the series for the PS2's final Fantasy swansong. Purist may hate it, but this is destined to be a classic.

6. Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC, Westwood Studios, 1996)
- Who could ever forget playing Red Alert on those creaky Windows 95 Pentium machines, cranking up the speakers to full blast whenever 'Hell March' plays, annoying the neighbours at the same time? The sequel to another masterpiece, gameplay hasn't really aged well, but the graphics (made up of 2D sprites over 3D isometric plane) still hold up well.

7. Rollercoaster Tycoon (PC, Chris Sawyer, 1999)
- It is quite shocking that such a behemoth of a game was developed by a single man who was obssessed with rollercoaster, which in turn turned many of us into obsessed Rollercoaster Tycoon gamers - with so many sleepless night wasted trying to create the most insane rollercoaster there is.

8. Gyakuten Saiban 3 (DS, Capcom Production Studio 4, 2007)
- An utterly bonkers of a game, yet a fine example that text adventure role playing genre can still do well.

9. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (GCN, Nintendo EAD, 2003)
- If I was a well known guy and this was a well known list, Zelda fanboys would be sending threats due to my ranking of Wind Waker higher than Ocarina of Time. Fortunately this is the internet and such a simpleton like me isn't important enough to warrant an assault. Put it simply, in my opinion, OoT has aged rather badly, whereas Wind Waker, like an old Disney classic, still looks stunning (granted it is newer after all).

10. Soul Calibur (DC, Namco, 1999)
- When I got the Dreamcast for the low price of 20 quid, I bought three games with it, all original, and all at a fiver a piece. This was one of it. Beautifully executed moves were a joy to create. Maybe I should start looking for my old Dreamcast again.

11. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, Team-Ico)
12. Dragon Quest VIII (PS2, Level-5/Square-Enix)
13. ICO (PS2, SCEI)
14. Metal Gear Solid (PSX, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan)
15. God of War (PS2, SCEA)

The rest (in alphabetical order):

Advance Wars (GBA, Intelligent Systems)
Age of Empires (PC, Ensemble Studios)
American McGee's Alice (PC, Rogue Entertainment)
Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS, Nintendo)
Astro Boy: Omega Factor (GBA, Treasure)
Battle City (NES, Namco)
Beach Life (PC, Deep Red)
Bubble Bobble (NES, Taito)
Caesar III (PC, Impressions Games)
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1, Konami)
Command & Conquer (PC, Westwood)
Commandos 2: Men of Courage (PC, Pyro Studios)
Contact (DS, Grasshopper Manufacture)
Contra (NES, Konami)
Crazy Taxi (DC, Hitmaker)
Dead or Alive 2 (DC, Team Ninja)
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive (PC, Spellbound)
Dino Crisis (DC, Capcom Production Studio 4)
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (PS2, Nippon Ichi)
Doom (PC, id Software)
Double Dragon II (NES, Technos Japan)
Dragon Quest III (SNES, Enix)
Empire Earth (PC, Stainless Steel Studios)
Final Fantasy IV (SNES, Square)
F-Zero (SNES, Nintendo)
God of War II (PS2, SCEA Santa Monica)
Golden Sun (GBA, Camelot)
Gradius (NES, Konami)
Gunstar Heroes (SMD, Treasure)
Half-Life (PC, Valve)
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (GBA, Marvelous)
Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2 (PC, Ritual Entertainment)
Hexen (PC, Raven Software)
Hitman: Codename 47 (PC, IO Interactive)
Ice Climber (NES, Nintendo)
killer7 (GCN, Capcom Production Studio 4/Grasshopper Manufacture)
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA, HAL)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, Nintendo)
The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap (GBA, Flagship)
Lode Runner (NES, Hudson)
Max Payne (PC, Remedy Entertainment)
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (PC, 2015, Inc.)
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (PC, Lucas Arts)
Mortal Kombat II (SNES, Sculptured Software)
Mother 2/Earthbound (SNES, HAL)
No One Lives Forever (PC, Monolith)
Okami (PS2, Clover)
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (DS, iNiS)
Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast (PS2, Sumo Digital)
Paperboy (NES, Mindscape)
Parasite Eve (PS1, SquareSoft)
Populous: The Beginning (PC, Bullfrog)
Prince of Persia (PC, Broderbund)
Quake (PC, id Software)
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii, Capcom Production Studio 4)
Resident Evil Code: Veronica (DC, Capcom Production Studio 4)
Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC, Gray Matter Interactive)
Sam & Max Episodes Season One (PC, Telltale Games)
The Secret of Monkey Island (PC, Lucasfilm Games)
Seiken Densetsu: Secret of Mana (SNES, Square)
Sensible Soccer (PC, Sensible Software)
Shenmue (DC, Sega AM2)
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (PS2, Atlus)
Shogo Mobile Armor Division (PC, Monolith)
Shogun: Total War (PC, Creative Assembly)
SimCity 2000 (PC, Maxis)
SiN (PC, Ritual Entertainment)
Snails (PDA, PDAMill)
Sonic the Hedgehog (SMD, Sonic Team)
Suikoden III (PS2, Konami)
Super Bomberman (SNES, Hudson)
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii, Nintendo)
Super Metroid (SNES, Nintendo)
Street Fighter II (Arcade, Capcom)
Tales of Phantasia (GBA, Namco)
Tetris (GB, Nintendo)
Trauma Center: Under the Knife (DS, Atlus)
Unreal Tournament (PC, Epic)
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2, tri-Ace)
Viewtiful Joe (GCN, Capcom Production Studio 4)
WipEout Pulse (PSP, Sony Studio Liverpool)
The World Ends With You (DS, Square Enix)
Xenogears (PS1, SquareSoft)
Yakuza (PS2, SEGA)

DC: Dreamcast
DS: Nintendo DS
GB: Game Boy
GBA: Game Boy Advance
GCN: GameCube
SMD: Sega Megadrive/Genesis
N64: Nintendo 64
NES: Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom
PC: Windows PC/DOS
PDA: Pocket PC/PalmOS
PS2: PlayStation 2
PSX: PlayStation
SNES: Super Nintendo/Super Famicom

Technorati tags: Video Games Total Annihilation

The most offensive game ever created

While the UK has yet to receive copies of Wario Ware Twisted! for GBA (and some), Nintendo of Europe has seen fit that 'action' game The Holy Bible would get a timely release this November, just in time for the seasonal Christmas shopping.

Hey, if you, as a parent has to decide whether to get Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories or The Holy Bible for your kids, you will be in for some tough decision making. Both contains extreme acts of violence but I can honestly say that The Holy Bible beats GTA, in terms of vile materials, hands down. Where is Jack Thompson when you really need him?

I can already imagine the Wii version of the game. Use the WiiMote as a whip. Hear that Ubi? We are waiting!

Gunstar Super Heroes / Gunstar Future Heroes review

In the age of 3D game - where 'photorealism' is a highly sought after 'art', games often fall down on where it matters - the gameplay and pure unadulterated fun. This remake of the Treasure's 1993 classic Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in the US) 2D side scrooling shooter, Gunstar Heroes aims to rectify that.

Thanks to Treasure, many of you kids who has missed out on the glory years of 2D shooters, can now experience such wonderful gameplay that has always been lacking on 3D shooters. This isn't a simple port. It is a remake that bettered the original in almost every other way. Sprites has never looked more wonderful on the Gameboy Advance and the only other game I can think of that has better 2D graphics is Castlevania: The Dawn of Sorrow on the NDS platform.

The original game has stood well against time and with time like wine; the game has aged rather gracefully. However not many people has access to a Sega Mega Drive so the closest you can ever enjoy such a game is getting this. It does not matter because like I said, this version is much better. Forget Metal Slug Advance, this is the most ferocious action pack shooter on the GBA since Astro Boy: Omega Factor (also developed by Treasure). The graphic really does push the GBA to its limit with rotations, scaling and zooming all combined with explosive actions that grace just about every single animated pixel.

The sound is wonderful for a GBA game. But play on the surround equipped NDS and you will notice that it could have been better. That doesn't matter it is still awesome. The game itself is pretty short. You can look at about 1 hour of game time to complete the whole mission with a single character but that isn't the point. I remember replaying Contra and Prince of Persia countless of times and both never bore me. This won't too. Trust me.

You have access to two characters, Gunstar Blue and Gunstar Red. Both are very similar, the only differences are mainly cosmetic as well as some weapons. As well as charged weapons, both can dragon punch and slide kick.


Gunstar Green sprite sheet (more here)

Niggles aside (of which there aren't that many) this is a wonderful handheld game that aims to evoke memories of a time where we do not have to use our left brain. There are no yellow keys to find, no pseudo and cheesy voice over to allow our ears to suffer upon. Put it this way, Gunstar Future Heroes (UK title) is 500% more enjoyable than the last two 3D fps I played on the PC (Quake IV and F.E.A.R.) put together.


The original Gunstar Heroes on Mega Drive. (image source)

The only problem with the game is the rarity. You only have to blame the lack of publicity and the consignment of GBA games at the back of GAME and Gamestation stores (while the PSP section - mostly riddled with UMD films are on the front) for the rarity (in the UK). Even I had to search the local indie store up and down only to find a used cart to boot.

Likes:
Wonderful 2D graphics. The best looking sprites you will ever see
Great gameplay
Lacks depth

Gripes:
Lacks the two-player mode of the original
Lacks depth (but who cares)

8/10

Buy now from Play-Asia or Amazon UK

Video Games

PlayStation 3

Final Fantasy XIII first impressions
Final Fantasy XIII extended impressions
Heavy Rain review
Heavy Rain Chronicles: Chapter 1: The Taxidermist review
Killzone 3 review
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots impressions
Soulcalibur IV impressions
Uncharted 2 (my GOTY)
Valkyria Chronicles: Selvaria's Mission DLC review

PlayStation Portable

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
echochrome
echochrome impressions
Everybody's Golf impressions
flOw
Gitaroo Man Lives!
God of War: Chains of Olympus
God of War: Chains of Olympus: Battle of Attica
Gran Turismo (PSP)
Jeanne d'Arc
Killzone: Liberation
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker demo impressions
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
MotorStorm: Arcitc Edge
N+ (N Plus)
Patapon
Patapon impressions
Patapon 2
Resistance: Retribution demo
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (PSP)
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
WipEout Pulse

Nintendo DS

Advance Wars: Dual Strike
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Bleach DS Souten ni Kakeru Unmei
Brain Age Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day
Contact
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
Toshio Iwai's Electroplankton
Final Fantasy III DS
Final Fantasy IV DS
Final Fantasy IV Japanese impressions
Final Fantasy IV impressions
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Geometry Wars: Galaxies
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Lego Star Wars II
LifeSigns: Surgical Unit
Mario Hoops 3-on-3
Meteos: Disney Magic
Metroid Prime Hunters
Metroid Prime Pinball
More Brain Traning from Dr. Kawashima: How Old is Your Brain?
New Super Mario Bros.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
The Rub Rabbits
Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll
Super Princess Peach
Touch Detective 2 1/2
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble
The World Ends With You

Wii

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
No More Heroes
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
Resident Evil 4: Wii edition
Super Mario Galaxy

PlayStation 2

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII battle system impressions
God Hand
God of War
Grim Grimoire
ICO
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Odin Sphere
Ōkami
OutRun 2006: Coast2Coast
Rogue Galaxy
Shadow of the Colossus
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Suikoden V
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria

PlayStation

Parasite Eve

GameCube

Killer 7 impressions
Resident Evil 4 impressions

Game Boy Advance

Final Fantasy IV Advance
Final Fantasy VI Advance
Gunstar Future Heroes

PC

Colin McRae 2.0
F.E.A.R.
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
Need for Speed V: Porsche Unleashed
Quake 4
The Sims 2
Tomb Raider: Legend impressions

Others

DoDonPachi Maximum (Windows Phone 7)
Flux Challenge (WinMob)
Halo: Spartan Assault (Windows Phone 8)
The King of Fighters '94 (Neo Geo)
Quake Mobile (WinMob)
Real Racing 3 (iPhone / Android)
Snails (PalmOS)

Hardwares

Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth headset
Nintendo DS Lite first impression
Nintendo DS Lite Enamel Navy mega review
Sony PSP Slim & Lite (PSP-2000) review
Wii Remote Jacket

Guides

Final Fantasy XII: PAL Zodiac Spear guide
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops plots
Newbie's guide to installing 3.73, 3.80, & 3.90 M33 CFW on PSP and PSP Slim & Lite
Playing classic PlayStation games on PSP consoles
Playing multi-disc PlayStation games on PSP consoles
PS1/PSX on PSP game manuals/FAQs

Features

2007: The Rise of Video Games
2007: Video Games "Yet Another GOTY List"
Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy Celebration: 25th Anniversary Concert London 2012
DOA: Dead or Alive film review
Exclusive PlayStation 2 games guide
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children film review
God of War: Chains of Olympus photo session
Golden Joystick Awards 2008
Hellgate London tube tours
I am a cross dressing gamer
Metal Gear Solid replay
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, why the Raiden hate?
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops: EVA, model spy extraordinary
Nintendo DS Lite nasty super crack on left hinge
Nintendo DS games guide
Six fictional female RPG characters
Top 5 racing games I've played
Top 100 games of all time
Video games rating explained
WipEout Pulse photo session