Gamertell

LucasArts recently announced two Star Wars: The Clone Wars titles that will be exclusively available for the Nintendo Wii and DS this holiday season just in time for the upcoming CG-animated feature, brand-new movie and weekly television series.

LucasArts and Krome Studios plans to immerse players into the world of Clone Wars with familiar characters from the animated series mixed with 3D CGI technology to create a whole new interactive world.

The first game to be released…

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Click through for a look at some of the sites that have written about videogame and moms…

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A free Ninja Gaiden 2 magazine written by the journalists who put out the monthly 360Zine magazine, is now available at GamerZines.com. The special edition issue contains a guide to Ninja Gaiden 2, a detailed history of the Ninja Gaiden games and a contest to win an Xbox 360.

The online magazine can either be viewed online, or downloaded as a .pdf file. You also do not need to register for the site to view or download the file. You do need to have Adobe Reader v.6 or higher and be using a Mac or Windows computer. Since there is a complete game guide included, I’d suggest downloading it. Besides, it’s only 6.65MB.

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With Mother’s Day only a few days away (May 11, 2008), Gamestop has announced a mom-friendly list of Wii and DS games.

For gamers trying to find a game their mother could get into, Gamestop recommends the following for the Wii console…

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With Valentine’s Day drawing near, you may have started looking for a unique gift for your videogame-loving mate. Anyone can buy a gift card or item from their local GameStop, so perhaps something from overseas would be a bit more impressive. Besides, finding a great gift from overseas means there’s less of a chance your special someone already has it

Even though we’re going to look overseas for a gift, it’s still a good idea to stick with the classics, although with a bit of a twist: candy, toys and jewelry that have gamer connotations to them. Your loved one will thank you…

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Did you get a lot of gifts family members “shouldn’t have” given, or you’d really like to have a game to enjoy on New Years Eve? GameStop has just posted its after Christmas Special which starts today, December 26, 2007. A few games and items will only be available today and others will be offered until December 30, 2007:

One day Only specials include:

• $30 off the XBox360 version of Timeshift
• $20 off the PS3 version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• $15 off a 1.0GB Memory Pro Duo for the PSP and PS3
• $10 off the XBox360 and PS3 version of Assassin’s Creed

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While shopping around on the internet for upcoming PlayStation 3 games I came across this list by Roger Altizer on About.com. He listed his top ten PS3 picks for the Holiday Gift guide. Although he largely plays it safe with highly anticipated games of the year, some were righteously deserving to be on this list. Here are Altizer’s picks and a few of my own. And, if any of my friends are reading this article ... if you plan to get me a game, read the list or may a lump of coal find your stocking on Christmas Eve.

1. The Eye of Judgment. Altizer describes it as “an incredible game, but is one of the most original, and represents one of the best values you can find in PS3 gamine. Not only do you get a game the likes of which has never existed before, but you also get the new PlayStation Eye (PlayStation USB camera) included with it, as well as a deck of cards and a play mat.” This is on my “to buy” list, the commercials seem very appealing and it does combine my two favorite forms of gaming—trading card games and my PS3. This game is rated T for Teen.
2. Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction “is not only the prettiest game on the PS3, it may be one of the best looking on any system, ever. There is a reason that so many reviewers game this game a perfect score, it is a nearly perfect game,” Altizer said. The first Ratchet and Clank game was fun but I’m not certain I would put this on my own list just yet ... maybe if I find a copy in the bargain bin. This game was rated E10+ for everyone over 10 and older.

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Sections: Features, Gift Guide, Lists, Consoles, PS3


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A patronizing new article from Lou Keston does a fantastic job of recommending stereotypical, subpar games for young girls. He begins by discussing that girls want to create and nurture while boys want to demolish and destroy, then recommends three games which are supposedly appropriate for girls. His choices for young girls are Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey for the Wii and PS2, Imagine Babyz for the DS, and Hannah Montana Music Jam for the DS. As much as it pains me to say it, the Hannah Montana game is the lesser of the combined evils.

It breaks my heart to see recommendation lists like this for girls. The games are always tripe that seem designed to placate rather than stimulate young minds. All three games Keston recommends perpetuate female stereotypes, like the princess, the mother/babysitter and the pop star. Give girls the chance to experience the same intelligent adventures found in the games which are supposedly geared towards boys, and think differently when picking a video game for her.

If you’re going to buy a game for a young girl, try one of these three instead. She’ll thank you for it. Kingdom Hearts for the PS2 is a classic action RPG with heart, humor and a great story. Players take the role of Sora, a young boy who stumbles from his home into a strange new land when trying to save his friend Kairi. He teams up with Donald and Goofy and ventures through Disney-themed worlds. It is rated Everyone and costs $19.99. Touch Detective 2 and 1/2 for the DS is detective simulation game starring Touch Detective Mackenzie and her mushroom assistant Funghi. As an amateur detective, she goes around her town solving cases brought to her by friends or the community. It is intelligent, funny and fresh. It is rated Everyone and costs $19.99. Gurumin: A Monsterous Adventure for the PSP is a platformer/RPG starring Parin, a young girl who moves to an isolated town to live with her grandpa and discovers that friendly monsters live nearby. When trouble comes, she takes up a legendary drill and sets out to save her new friends. This game is easy to play, colorful and has an interesting story. It is rated Everyone 10+ and costs $29.82.

Read [Deseret News]

For hardcore gamers a rare, imported game could make their holiday extra special. The only problems are that there are tons of games out there and they can be pretty pricey. Also the key is to find a game which is easy to play even if the only Japanese you know is “Domo arigato Mr. Roboto.”

So, for this installment of Important Importables, I’ve put together a small compilation of Nintendo DS, PSP, Playstation 2, and Xbox 360 import games which are sure to delight any gamer. You’re probably wondering why there aren’t any Wii or PS3 games listed here though. The fact is that there really aren’t that many games for those two systems in Japan that aren’t already available here. If there is a game that isn’t available here yet, it will be in a few months. Its pointless to import something when waiting two or three months will yield the same game, only in English and probably $20 cheaper.

In an attempt to keep things fairly simple, I’ve picked three games for each system and are either really easy to get into or have walkthroughs available online. Each game is from a different genre, so you should be able to find at least one game on this list which will appeal to either you or a friend.

Remember, the Xbox 360 and PS2 are region-specific. If you want to play the games I’ve recommended for those systems, you need to have a Japanese system or risk modding your US model. DS and PSP games are region free though, so import away. That being said, on with the gift guide.

Nintendo DS

We’re going to start with the DS, not because its my favorite, but because I’m most familiar with these games. Jump Ultimate Stars, Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 and Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It’s a Wonderful World are three great games to import as gifts.

Jump Ultimate Stars is a fantastic fighting game along the lines of Smash Brothers, only its portable and features 300 characters from 40 different Japanese mangas. It also features battles online over Nintendo’s WiFi Connection. You can typically find it online for about $49, but sometimes a site will have a sale and reduce the price to $39. A guide is necessary for determining what to unlock in the story mode, but Gamefaqs has a great one.

Ouendan 2 is the sequel to Ouendan, the game which Elite Beat Agents was based on. It features more of the music puzzle goodness that was found in both of the previous games. Like Jump Ultimate Stars, expect to pay around $49. No knowledge of Japanese is necessary to play.

Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It’s a Wonderful World is a fairly new RPG from Square-Enix which features a story set in Shibuya, Japan, and battles that cover both screens. It is a strange hybrid of rhythm game and RPG, but it works. Rumors are swirling involving a US release, but I’m recommending it anyways. It is text heavy, but there’s a guide at Gamefaqs so never fear. Due to the size of the game, it costs $59.

PSP

Our second import-friendly handheld also has quite a few importable games that are delightful, but I managed to narrow the list down a bit. The three best import game gifts for this system are DJ Max Portable 2, Bleach: Heat the Soul 3 and Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street.

DJ Max Portable 2 is the best known of the three. It is a music game where you press various combinations of buttons to play over 70 songs. The best part is that there’s an English language option, so everyone can enjoy it. Many of the songs are in English as well. There’s no reason not to get this game for a PSP owner. It can be found online for $49.

Bleach: Heat the Soul 3 is probably one of the best fighters for the PSP. It features 70 different characters and a variety of game modes. The best part is that it is a PSP the Best title, which means a huge price drop. You can pick this one up online for about $29, the same as a domestic game. Since its a fighting game, the language barrier isn’t really an issue.

Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street is my final PSP choice and is a great party game for Monopoly and Mario Party fiends. The game is all about buying properties and building shops on them to get a certain amount of money. You get to choose your favorite Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy character as your avatar as well. This game is kind of old, so it may take a week for the store to find it for you. Like DJ Max Portable, it’ll be around $49.

Playstation 2

The Playstation 2 is an importer’s dream, as it has tons of games which were only available in Japan. Of course you have to own a Japanese system, or void the warranty on your American one by modding it, to play the games. Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+, Bleach: Blade Battles 2nd and beatmania IIDX 13 DistorteD are my picks for the PS2 stocking stuffers this year.

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ is one of those games where you wish they’d translate it and bring it overseas. Yes, it is essentially Kingdom Hearts II, but really, its better! This one has extra scenes, an English voice option and a PS2 version of the DS game Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Sadly it will never be released outside of Japan, but you can pick up a Japanese copy for $69. Yes, it can be text heavy, but there are guides so it isn’t an issue.

Bleach: Blade Battles 2nd, like the PSP game, is a fighting game featuring characters from the Bleach anime/manga. Like the PSP game (and the DS games) it is totally worth the money and is loads of fun. You don’t even need to know what the series is about to enjoy it. It’ll cost you about $64 . Don’t worry, language won’t be an issue.

My final PS2 choice is beatmania IIDX 13 DistorteD. Its a music/rhythm game similar to the PSP game DJ Max Portable, only without the English option. There are tons of songs and its pretty entertaining as well. Another plus is the only reading necessary is to sort through the menus. You can probably expect to pay around $64.

Xbox 360

I’m going to start off by admitting that I don’t own an Xbox 360, and I have no desire to. Nonetheless, a few of my friends do, and through them I’ve been educated about a selection of games. Hopefully The Idolm@ster, Operation Darkness or Oneechanbara vorteX will appeal to the import Xbox gamer on your list.

The Idolm@ster is both a music game and a simulation, and is probably the most well known Japanese Xbox 360 game. In it you create an idol and manage her, trying to make her famous for her singing and dancing in just a year. You can also chart your progress and compete with others over Xbox Live. Since this game is part of the Platinum Collection, you can find it online for $34. Yes, there is a lot of Japanese text here, but there are also guides online so it shouldn’t be too difficult to play.

Operation Darkness is an RPG for the Xbox 360, but don’t let that scare you away. There is an option to change all of the text to English, and there are even English subtitles for all of the cutscenes. The game is a fantasy, strategy game with a storyline thats a tad cliched, but still enjoyable and cute graphics. You can find it online for $64. Oneechanbara vorteX is a button-mashing hack and slash action game where you guide the heroines through oodles of zombies. I suppose a good way to describe it is an unholy mashup of Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and Soul Caliber. Since the whole point is to kill zombies, and kill them good, language isn’t really a problem. Its gruesome in a way, but in a good way. Like The Idolm@ster, this game is part of the Platinum collection and will set you back $34.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Next week I really will discuss the Must Import game for the Nintendo DS.

Also in case you missed it, last week’s column covered reliable websites that sell import games. If you’re looking for a place to pick up any of these titles, try checking there for a store that suits your needs.

Even though the list of original games for Sony this year was rather on the short side, there are some good games out there and especially for the little brother in the PlayStation family. There is a good mix of genres for the PSP here, including a couple of bargains at the end, so everyone will be able to find one they enjoy.

These will come very handy for people who are planning on travelling for the holidays, so be sure to grab some of these before that trip to grandma’s house.

Jeanne D’Arc: (Strategy RPG, Level-5, $29.99) This game comes as an answer to the former lack of RPGs on the system. It features an entertaining story loosely based on the historical events involving Joan of Arc but with a fantasy twist. The game offers a deep customization system, fast paced action and a solid battle and class system. This one is a must have for any Strategy RPG fan.

*Runner up: Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (Strategy RPG, Square Enix, $39.99)

Silent Hill: 0rigins (Action/Horror, Konami, $29.99) Any fan of this genre will recognize all the aspects that made the original Silent Hill such a great and scary game. Fortunately, all of those elements are present on the franchise’s first installment on the PSP. You return to the town of Silent Hill to uncover its mysteries as well as your own as you encounter abominations through the fog infested streets. With improved visuals and a new battle system, this is a great addition to the franchise and to any fan’s game collection

*Runner up: Manhunt 2 (Action, Rockstar, $29.99)

Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow (Action, Sony, $39.99) Following on the footsteps of Dark Mirror, this title again offers an interesting and immersive story, great visuals and gameplay mechanics seldom found on PSP titles. You take the role of Gabe Logan as he fights his way to save the day once more against a plot against his country. This title features new and improved weapons, a deeper online match system and a refined control system. This is without doubt one of the best action titles on the PSP.

*Runner up: SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike (Action, Rockstar, $39.99)

Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters (Action/Platformer, Sony, $39.99) Another must have for the PSP, this game features all that made the original such a fun game. You take on the role of Ratchet and his robot friend Clank as they battle their way through the galaxy using all kind of wacky weapons. With a great visual presentation, one that rivals previous incarnations on the PS2, entertaining mini-games and solid gameplay mechanics, this game sure has something to attract everybody.

*Runner up: Sid Meier’s Pirates (Action/Adventure, Take Two Interactive, $19.99)

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops + (Action, Konami, $19.99) This game utilizes the engine of last year’s hit Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops so if you missed on that one, this is your chance to experience it for only 20 bucks. While you don’t get the whole story, you get the chance to face off against the bosses and experience the intensity along with new characters and new multiplayer features. The original was a great addition to the Metal Gear franchise and although this version does not expand on the story, it does offer new challenges and options

*Runner up: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Puzzle/RPG, D3, $19.99)

Site [PSP]