PPR's Zom-Blowout Contest!

So with our new episode on the Horizon for our ZOMBIECast this weekend, we're feeling really generous, it might be looming Halloween holiday that makes us feel great or for the fact that we were really stoked on this upcoming episode! we're giving away to ONE lucky winner a Zombie game bundle including the following games Resident Evil: Dead Aim, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, Zombie's Revenge, Onechanbara Bikini Zombie Slayers, Onechanbara Bikini Samurai Squad, Stubbs The Zombie, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, Dead Rising, Dead Rising 2, Dead Rising:Chop Till You Drop & the Zombie Survival Guide written by Max Brooks! so fifteen awesome games & an incredible book, how do you get in on this offer you ask? well here's how!

All you have to do is listen to the show & give us some reviews on iTunes or Zune! we'll check our reviews & at the end of the show we'll announce the winner based on how awesome or creative their review was! click on the links or go do so! we'll be running the contest for a while & we'll keep you all updated at the site & on the show! check the Twitter feed on the show as well & again, just submit a written review on iTunes or Zune & you're considered entered into the show!

P.S. for all of those awesome listeners who have already written a review, we'll be nice & automatically enter you guys! enjoy the contest yo!

SEGA through the ages by Sean B.

In the past few weeks, the gaming community has honored the 25th anniversary of the NES, Nintendo's first console to hit the home gaming market. This system also helped us out of a depressing video game market crash, where multiple developers and publishing companies went belly up. We know, Mario is awesome, the NES was a fabulous gem in the library of gaming history, but what's become of their biggest rival during that same era? Whatever happened to certain things doing, dare I say - what "Nintendon't"?

Well, aside from the unfortunate resignation from the standalone console market, SEGA has made quite the comeback as of late. For starters, Dreamcast classics are being digitally restored on XBLA and PSN, including last months re-release of Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi coming this November. Hell, we even have Sonic the Hedgehog 4, the sequel we've waited over a decade to see after a series of not-so-successful releases during the 3D graphics craze. It's safe to say the SEGA we knew and loved is finally returning, ready to impress after a prolonged period of darkness involving three-dimensional regurgitation and "werehogs".

Before this retro Sonic Dreamcast revival (or whatever the hell you want to call it), the best SEGA product to hit the shelves since Sonic Adventure was probably Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection in 2008. Over 40 Genesis titles including the Sonic trilogy, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage and Altered Beast, remastered and available for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. How on Earth could you go wrong with a compilation like this, with a price tag of $19.99? Yeah, twenty bucks to experience some childhood or teen gaming memories all over again, without having to track down every single cartridge (which I think is fun either way, but whatever).

We even saw some decent SEGA releases on the Wii, including MadWorld, Conduit and my personal favorite, House of the Dead: Overkill, regardless of its overusing the "fuck-bomb" (yes, it's possible to overuse this word). Sure, none of these games can be compared to the unstoppable classics we saw on the Genesis, but it was still an improvement, a sign that SEGA had some of that amazing spunk left to be shared with the fans.

Let's hope we see much more from SEGA in the many years of gaming to come. Who knows, maybe we'll see the rebirth of the great SEGA console. There's definitely room for them, especially in an industry where we'd see new and different consoles practically every year. It'd be nice to see another home console contender in a world that seems so currently obsessed with portable "use-as-you-go" electronics. We still love you SEGA, and even though it's technically Nintendo's time to shine in their continuing glory (which we've also celebrated), we salute you for getting back to your glorious roots in order to do what you do best - straight forward, classic gaming.

Panasonic is coming back to games with a new portable console by Sean B.

Panasonic recently announced the advent of yet another game console entering the already heated portable arena. The system has been dubbed the Jungle, coining such phrases as "we ARE online gaming". So what type of online games will dominate the system?  Primarily MMO's, including the already teased Battlestar Galactica as a launch title. That's right, this device will allow you to grind as you go -- if you decide to anyways.

So how's it looking? According to engadget, the Jungle will operate under a custom Linux system, which is hopefully good news to those seeking a user friendly experience. The actual device will also feature a high-resolution display and full QWERTY keyboard paired with a d-pad and button arrangement. Mini HDMI and micro USB ports can also be found on the end, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Facts aside, let's just get to that damned elephant in the room. Do we really need another one of these things on the market? Sure, it has a fresh new approach, claiming to have a mastery of online portable gaming, but so did Nokia's N-Gage and Tiger's easily forgotten Game.Com (pronounced "Game Com") from the late 90s. We already have a market saturated with portable phones and other devices excluding the obvious contenders like the Nintendo DS, PSP and Apple iPhone. This all seems like another obvious ploy to cash in on the whole "hardcore" or "true" gamer mentality we've witnessed this past decade. Many companies have slapped key terms and phrases (like their description of Online Underground being a "Kick-a$$ new show") on to multiple game related projects in order to make themselves seem more appealing to gamers. I know, marketing is marketing, but either way, enough is enough.

Panasonic has already created a simplistic marketing site for their seemingly clunky toy, featuring teaser videos for the Jungle's mission, BSG Online and a web show titled "Online Underground". The first video doesn't really say (or show) much besides everything I've already mentioned. It's portable and it specializes in online gaming. As for BSG Online, the first thing that comes to my mind is yet another obvious tie-in product to keep an already satisfying but aging product line interesting, which could be dangerous. And finally, we have Online Underground. Yeah, a profit funded web show sponsored by a company to be shown exclusively on their new device, how underground is that? Best reason to probably avoid these terms.

Overall, We're looking at a system that doesn't really offer anything new. Hopefully we see some impressive ideas emerge from the Jungle, but the track record of other portable systems, promising or not, has remained one-sided for years. The Game.Com introduced the idea of online portability, but nobody cared. The Game Gear and Lynx gave players an opportunity to play games in stunning full-color presentation, but folks weren't impressed; we can probably blame that on short battery life. Panasonic, I personally salute you for your confidence and determination, but I'm honestly a little pessimistic about this whole concept. We'll all just have to keep posted and see what happens.

Metroid becomes Japanese again...that's good right? By Iodine

Other M marks the return of the console based Metroid games to Japanese developers. Instead of building upon the groundwork laid out by US developer Retro Studios, Team Ninja under the guidance of Yoshio Sakamoto (one half of the original creators) decided to take their baby in a different direction.


Back in the early 2D games Story was handled with a quick introductory paragraph. In the modern portable games, static cut-scenes filled with text attempted to birth a character for Samus. With the first person perspective Metroids story was treated as an aside with logs and data mining. Other M takes its overblown plot and stands it center stage.


Right from the title Metroid: Other M – or MOM for short – the game hits you over the head with its paternal theme. There’s a daddy issue with Samus and her former team leader, Adam Malkovich. Then there’s the android modeled after Mother Brain , MB. She feels like the daughter of her creator, Madeline Bergman. Notice the running gag with the initials. And finally the Galactic Federations brilliant plan on controlling the Metroids with MB via “the first thing a baby sees equals mother” method. We can all thank Samus for teaching us that one at the end of Metroid II.

All of this is contrasted by long time villain, Ridley. Spoilers ahead! When you complete the game we learn how - a Ridley - grows. He starts off as a white fur ball that molts into a geeky salamander and ultimately transforms into the winged, fire breathing demon he is. I assume he’s either cloned himself or has asexual reproduction. Either way Ridley is a parentless monster unlike his cohorts.


By the way, the Galactic Federation ship with onboard zoo and nasty science experiments was already done in Metroid Fusion. Why are we retreading plot here?

Samus has always been the silent, but strong type. She also happens to have tits that aren’t perched up in front of the camera lens. That’s a rare sight in any medium. In Other M, Samus sort of retains those aspects, but she has this inane internal dialog. She glosses over her past and repeats key plot points through a voice actress that’s terribly dull. Worst yet she freezes up in the face of an adversary she’s conquered numerous times. It makes you wonder how she’s survived so long. I understand Sakamoto’s intention of making Samus more human, but this wasn’t the way to do it. This kind of past meddling is a cheap way of building an imperfect version of a character without affecting her modern day status. Why not follow thru with the suit mutation gimmick and the Galactic Federation manhunt at the end of Metroid Fusion?

The franchise staples such as suit upgrades, missile/energy tank hording, and map plotting are all present. Except it all unfolds in a polygonal world from a third person perspective. The sideways controller works surprisingly well for this setup. Even though the directional pad lacks the technical finesse of an analog stick, the game compensates with auto aiming and simple floor layouts. The dodge tactic and enemy finishers spice things up considerably. The player can enter a first person mode by pointing the controller at the screen. The transition is pretty smooth thanks to a slight slowdown that allows you to orient and aim.

For as refreshing as the changes are, the game feels shallow. In previous Metroids there were hundreds of missiles to collect. With Other M there’s eighty total. On top of that the player can regenerate their payload at any moment. That just defeats the whole purpose of hording them for combat. Through a convenient plot device, suit upgrades are authorized by the team leader. There’s one moment in particular where Samus enters a flesh melting hot zone without her protective Gravity Suit. Adam chimes in with an okay to wear it about half way through the level. What the fuck game? The map layout is also very linear with most items being tucked behind background elements thanks to tricky camera angles.


Atmosphere has been completely abandoned. The soundtrack in the Prime games really put an eerie edge on the discs. The music in Other M lacks memorable hooks and is far too minimal. Quite often there was nothing but silence. For instance there’s an “investigation” scene where the camera pans behind her shoulder.  You creep along completely expecting a good jump scare, but nothing happens. No spooky ambiance, sudden noise, or action otherwise. I don’t know if the section was cut, incomplete, or just badly executed. But it does serve as a reminder of how important sound design is to creating tension.


Other M is a rough start for this new type of Metroid. The plot sequences are long winded and the disc is light on content. However the groundwork holds some promise if the developers shift focus back onto creating enticing game play. All I ask for is a perilous new world full goodies to excavate. Leave the space drama for film and animation please. 

Nintendo 3DS impressions By Sean B.

We've all been eager to hear updates regarding Nintendo's newest piece of hot, sexy awesomeness - the 3DS. Yeah we know, you're still depressed about that whopping $300 price tag, an amount you might as well use on an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 if you haven't picked one up already. Let's just set this injustice aside for a minute and discuss something more juicy (and we aren't talking about a retro Starbusts commercial).

Remember Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, the exclusive mobile prequel in Japan? Though not officially announced, there's a chance we may experience it on the 3DS. According to claims on Andriasang, Square Enix Producer Hajime Tabata recently stated (via Twitter) "If I were to make something for the 3DS, I suppose it would be a remake of Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII. I'd redo the scenario structure and game design for the 3DS. I think I'd like to make an action RPG BCFF7 where a large number of Turks players play simultaneously."

Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase have also expressed interest in working on a remake, making it more of a potential reality to come. Tabata also claims that outside of his current endeavors, including The 3rd Birthday (PSP) and Final Fantasy Agito XIII (PS3), his next project will probably be a High Definition title, meaning a 3DS Before Crisis would still be pretty far off. Regardless of how many months or years we'd have to wait, it's still pretty nice to imagine a legion of ShinRa Turks charging into an epic battle on a portable Nintendo console - in 3D.

PPR 29

We are a week early on this episode of Press Pause Radio and for very good reason. Episode 29 is a star-studded event that is so huge, it could barely be contained in our bi weekly schedule. We welcome special guests Drew Zimmerman of the now defunct Pixel Dreams podcast, Steve Black Jr. of The Pokémon Podcast and Ray Barnholt of 1up.com, as well as the Retronauts and Sound Test podcast.  We at Press Pause Radio are truly humbled to have such great guests, and it was truly a pleasure to record with them all.

On this week's episode we will discuss more news from the Tokyo Game show and current events, Serraxor has a review of SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu- Goddess of Destiny for the Nintendo DS and we hear from the listeners in a segment we like to call Select Feedback. The featured topic is all about the resurgence of retro or old-school games. It's safe to say that classic games from our past are not only popular once again, but have ignited a new trend in gaming. Our guests weigh in on the "neo-retro" craze and discuss why it has become such a success. As always feedback via our iTunes page or through our voicemail is greatly appreciated. Thanks once again to our guests for making this show a great success.

PPR Episode 29

PPR 28

On this weeks episode of Press Pause Radio we welcome our newest contributing writer Sean to the microphone to discuss recent news from PAX and the Tokyo Game Show. PPR fan and Halo aficionado Corey Kidd also guest stars to talk about Halo Reach, and the entire Halo series. Discussion includes Bungie's history and future after Halo, and how Halo has impacted an entire generation of first person shooters. Feedback for the show is greatly appreciated, as well as ratings on our iTunes page. Enjoy!

PPR Episode 28

New Wiimote with Motion-plus integrated coming soon by Sean B.

Word has been spreading of a new Wii controller that will have the Motion Plus add-on built in to the bottom of the remote. I think I speak for a lot of gamers (including PPR of course) when I say we're not that surprised.

The zany folks at Kotaku were among the first to discover a game titled FlingSmash listed on Gamestop's website as part of a "Wii Remote Plus" bundle. This is apparently a move (no pun intended, honestly) Nintendo has been looking to make for some time, as they also submitted a modified remote to the FCC back in 2008 - possibly a prototype? Kind of strange that Nintendo didn't just stick with this the first time around, or was this simply another blind quest for general profit? Think about it, the only consumers who really benefit from this are procrastinators like me who only have two Wii remotes, or those who are entirely new to the console. As for the family who actually invested in four remotes and four individual add-ons for each remote, screwed again. I personally love Nintendo, but I seriously believe they need to stop finding ways to reinvent devices we're already happy with and start focusing on other competitive edges.
 
As for FlingSmash, there isn't much more we can say at this time. It's a Wii game where you'll fling the remote in order to smash objects, an unfortunate experience some younger children and elderly gamers have already taken part in. The biggest difference is not screaming or crying after realizing you'll have to replace an $800 television, followed by a (hopefully) friendly reminder for grandma to tighten the strap next time.