Japan Review Check: Peace Walker, Super Street Fighter IV

This week's issue of Famitsu magazine, the biggest and most well-known game rag in Japan, is noteworthy for featuring a perfect 40/40 review score, the 13th time that's happened in the 24-year history of the publication. The lucky recipient? Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, of course, which comes out for the PSP April 29 over in Japan.

The reward, as always with Famitsu, is not without controversy. The magazine has often been accused of inflating scores on big-name console releases in recent years -- nine out of the 13 games to get perfect 40's in the mag came out 2005 or later. That trend isn't particularly news any longer -- in fact, it was considered a big surprise when Final Fantasy XIII didn't score a 40 last year. However, gamers worldwide have pointed out that Konami's rather massive merchandising effort for Peace Walker is toeing the line of media ethics in new ways -- from including mags like Famitsu and its rivals as items in the game to featuring Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain and the magazine's former editor-in-chief, prominently in its Japanese advertising campaign. For those who believe that Japan's game media is a corrupt lapdog owned by the nation's game publishers, this score will do nothing but provide further ammo for their convictions.

Hamamura wasn't in the review crew for Peace Walker, but he might as well have been, considering how overexcited the review text was from the rest of Famitsu's staff. "Single-player is constantly thrilling -- nothing is more addictive," said one. "Co-op, meanwhile, is a whole new experience. Having partners nearby reduces some of the intensity of the experience, but creates a very strong sense of kinship between players. The story and visuals that run between both modes is very endearing as well. It's definitely a new evolution for MGS." The closest anyone came to saying something negative about Hideo Kojima's latest: "Some of your action repertoire has been removed, which can be jarring at first, but it's just a matter of getting used to it."

Other highlights from the games reviewed this week:

- Super Street Fighter IV (9/9/9/8, 35 points): While aware that most gamers have already made a buying decision one way or another about this update, Famitsu's editors still pushed hard for the fighter. "They didn't just expand the roster here -- the rebalancing and new Ultra Combos make this an even more complete competitive-play package," said one. "It's not easy for beginners to get into, but online play has a lot of neat ideas built into it, and the game takes advantage of the sort of gameplay a console's capable of."

That "not for beginners" rap was echoed by a few other reviewers. "It's a tough game to learn and I admit there isn't much guidance for beginners, but if you like fighting games then you definitely have to play this," another concluded.

- Splinter Cell: Conviction (8/9/8/8, 33 points): In addition to giving out 40/40 scores like so much Valentine candy, Famitsu has also been noted for being far kinder to Western games than they were just a few years ago. Again, Conviction is part of that trend. "The core is built around stealth action as before," one reviewer said, "but a lot of new gameplay has been added, such as being able to mark several targets at once. The way messages and other visuals are displayed on walls is very original and very cool."

In a way, Sam Fisher's new repertoire was too much for some editors: "Last Known Position and Mark & Execute are almost too useful as weapons; they rob the game of a bit of its intensity during infiltration and fighting scenes."

Iwata said:

I don't. I use the Opera Turbo which has a proxy in the U.S., thus giving the illusion that I'm in the U.S. when in fact, I am not.

Mario Galaxy

Hold onto your seat and get ready for orbit, as the long awaited Super Mario Galaxy 2 will touch down in Europe on 11 June 2010. Bursting with new features and gameplay elements, there’s something for everyone in Mario’s latest adventure.

The Star Festival is in full flow as falling stars shower down on the Mushroom Kingdom once again. Princess Peach invites Mario to watch the festival at her castle, but en route he comes across a Luma who takes a shine to him and dives into his hat to hide, giving him the Spin move powers. Before he reaches the castle, Mario is concerned to see that a gigantic Bowser, super-sized from harnessing the power from the stars, is attacking and capturing Peach. As Bowser escapes, Mario launches into outer space in pursuit. Cue an incredible mission in outer space – to save the Princess and bring peace back to the Mushroom Kingdom!

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is jam-packed with new features, including new ways to travel around the galaxies, brand new Mario suits, an enhanced co-operative mode, a Cosmic Guide – and a hungrier-than-ever Yoshi.

Steer your way around Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Starship Mario. After completing the first level in the game Mario unlocks a spaceship, which is in fact a planet, transformed by a Luma to look just like Mario. Using this planetary ship, you can navigate the World Map on tracks between galaxies, harking back to the logical paths the classic Mario games took. Play and explore on this planet throughout the game and as galaxies are completed the Starship Mario gradually becomes populated with characters and features to enjoy.

Two new Mario suits take center stage: Cloud Mario and Rock Mario. For the first time, as Cloud Mario, create up to three cloud platforms which enable him to reach high into the sky. When wearing his other suit, he can also transform himself into Rock Mario, rocking and rolling into enemies and elements in galaxies to reveal new things.

The Super Mario Galaxy co-operative mode has been enhanced for Super Mario Galaxy 2. In the Co-Star mode, your friend will support you as a Luma who can not only hold enemies, but perform the famous Mario Spin move to immobilise and knock enemies out and can also interact with parts of galaxies. You will also be able to collect coins on Mario’s behalf as on top of the Star Bits as in Super Mario Galaxy!

Your faithful friend Yoshi plays an increasingly important role in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and he has a special new feature. When he eats a light bulb-shaped berry, he emits a brilliant light to reveal hidden areas, but watch out as the ability only lasts a short while so Mario and Yoshi need to grab more berries to keep the platform they’re standing on secure!

Super Mario Galaxy 2 features something for everyone, with levels difficult enough to challenge the most confident of players but also offers areas for casual players to enjoy. Super Mario Galaxy 2 will also feature the Cosmic Guide; a helper mode which can help players who may find some areas difficult. So what are you waiting for? Make sure you snap up your copy when Mario flies back to Europe from outer space on 11 June 2010.

Oh NIS. 

ASK_Story said:

This place is a ghost town.

Is everyone ignoring the site whenever I'm logged on?

I'll stop posting here if you guys want me to leave.

I'm feeling sorry for myself today.

Whew. He finally left!  

More Monster Hunter impressions!

Vader, I wish you were playing this. It definitely has the whole PSO feeling to it!

I've still only tinkered a bit, but I love what I've seen so far!

You can take Quests, after a while, yes --BUT-- you can also just go out into the Field and Hunt and/or Gather too.

You can collect many types of resources: Monster Parts, Bugs, Ore, Plants, Mushrooms, etc, etc.

You can Combine items to make new ones: Potion + Honey = Mega Potion, for example.

Different Equipment Sets will give you different Skills: All Leather Equipment = Better Hunter and Gatherer. All Hunter Equipment = Ability to Bar-B-Que more efficiently and Track Large Monsters. There is a Quick Change option where you can store whole sets of armors and change them to adapt to differing situations.

Weapons and Armor are Upgradeable. I LOVE how you can simply purchase New Armor and Weapons, or Gather the resources and have them Forged for less gold too!

You've got a nice set of varying Weapons to start out with as well: Swords, Knives and Shields, Bowguns, Lances and Axes. I tried the Sword at first; It was immensely powerful but rather slow. I favor the Knife and Shield A LOT more; I like the speed and mobility. I can't wait to try other weapons out!

There's a lot of nice little details going on in the environment. Shooting Stars streak across the Sky. Sunrise will bring the occasional Lens Flare. Your Torch will give a realistic glow off of walls and Monsters in the Cave.

You get that trademark Capcom quirkiness interspersed in there too. I chuckled when I Bar-B-Que'd some Raw Meat into a Well Cook Steak and it played a little Jingle and Exclaimed: "Tasty!" You've got a race of Sentient Cat People that speak to you in Mews and Nyas!

I want to stress one thing: THE CONTROLS ARE NOT BAD AT ALL! You get used to them VERY, VERY quickly. Yes, there are animations that need to finish once they are started. Yes, you have to sheath your weapon to use items and potions. This does not detract from the game what-so-ever once you get used to it. It becomes a natural part of gameplay and second thought after a while. The game even goes as far as using it against you strategically. The Jaggia's (?) for example will swarm you until your weapon dulls, then will wait to attack you when you go to sharpen your weapon. This may sound like an annoyance, but it's totally NOT that. It's just a Beast, waiting for you to drop your defenses before striking. I think it's a realistic show of the intelligence of the game, NOT a hindrance.

I have NOT tried anything Online yet. I am waiting for one of YOU to go online with! SOMEONE ELSE GET THE DAMN GAME ALREADY ! ! !

I can't wait to try the Switch Axe, but am kinda nervous about whatever ^THAT thing is!