Quarter Circle Forward REVIEW: Ys I & II Chronicles

RPGs, more and more, are shifting away from the Japanese paradigms that have been the mainstay of the genre for decades. And, more and more the western school of RPG design and presentation has been progressively implemented as time inevitably lurches forward.

As such, I've noticed that, as opposed to the typical JRPG formula involving random battles and menus galore, modern RPGs are sticking to a strictly action-based approach. This said, for being a game that is actually 24 years old, Ys Chronicles: Book I & II for the Playstation Portable is both ancient and modern all at once, offering a hard core action RPG experience that is as streamlined as it is old-school.

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Nintendo Handhelds Revisited: Game Boy

Defeating portable powerhouses like the Lynx and the Game Gear, Nintendo's Game Boy was the king of handheld devices in the 1990s.

With a massive library of games to compliment its rugged dependability, the Game Boy always came out on top. Nintendo engineered an excellent system, which continues to influence the way we play portable games today. Had it also not been for Gunpei Yokoi and his original Game & Watch idea, we would have missed out on many of these innovations. The concept of multiple gaming options on the go, the use of more compact batteries, and even handheld multiplayer were all originally conceived during the Game & Watch era.

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Quarter Circle Forward Review: Dead Space 2

The following review was written by a special contributor to the site, David Porter. You can find David via his Facebook page. Thanks Dave!

WARNING: The following review may contains spoilers.

 

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Examining Nintendo 3DS Launch Titles

Nintendo had recently announced the games (and prices) to be released during the initial launch of the revolutionary 3DS. Three of them are Nintendo-published titles, with the remaining 13 being offered by third party developers. So how does this launch seem to stack up, especially when compared to previous handheld launches?

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NFSD: Introduction & Auction Houses

 

Hey Everyone, sorry for the ricochet-affect that's been going on with us, with us getting ready for Penny-Arcade Expo East & preparing its been a bit of a chore to get a handle onto everything. I did want to take the time to introduce a brand new feature to PPR though that will be explored more thoroughly as it's something that is always mentioned but has never been completely fleshed out. Final Fantasy XI is a game that as we have gone into detail, is more than a game & more of an experience. Hence from this point forward, I will be venturing back into Vana'diel this month & will continue my quest as the  Elvaan GeorgieBoysAXE & I will actually take the opportunity to grow into a legendary adventurer & this feature will chronicle my time in the land of Vana'diel.

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PPR 37

Press Pause Radio returns to the digital airwaves with a very special episode. This week we will take a step back from our normal format to discuss the recent anniversaries of the Nintendo Entertainment System as well as the Sony Playstation 2. Our first segment features GeorgieBoysAXE and Toast sitting down with Pokemon Podcast's own @Catiemari to reflect on all the whimsy and warm childhood memories of the NES. 

The second segment switches up the lineup as the crew welcomes back @MrMattJay from Dualshockers as they converse about the big brick that could, the Playstation 2. The system that even after being on the market for over a decade still has games being published and played on a regular basis. We hope that you will enjoy our trip down memory lane, and if you have any memories or stories you would like to share feel free to share them through our forums or various social pages. Don't forget to rate and review us on iTunes and Zune, so we can reach more and more listeners. Enjoy the show!

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The Best Ever... Crazy Awesome Character

Hello folks and welcome to a brand new shiny segment that I shall call “The Best Ever...”. Every two weeks or so, I will concoct a fancy offbeat topic and share my choice for the best ever...something or other. And then I will call upon you, fabulous readers and listeners of Press Pause Radio to dig through your brain cavities and whip out your favorites. First category, let's go!

During our voyages through virtual worlds, we encounter a lot of bizarre, quirky, oddball characters. Some are straight up crazy and some are just plain awesome. It takes a special kind of individual to build the bridge between crazy and awesome, and attain the title of “crazy awesome”.

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Looking Back - Revisiting Nintendo Handhelds

Nintendo has dominated the world of portable gaming for decades, innovating and revolutionizing how we play on the go. Through it all, the company's vision for a handheld console has transformed from a device used only in cars, waiting rooms and airplanes, to something gamers can compare to other major home consoles on the market. Since the days of opening our first Game & Watch favorites and playing them on the go, Nintendo continues to deliver some of the most unforgettable moments of portable joy.

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