Author: Alex Lucard

  • Retrograding 05.20.04

    Shining Force 2 Developed by: Camelot Published by: Sega Release Date: 10/19/94 Systems Released on: Sega Genesis And here it is the highest ranked Cart on the list. To spoil things a little bit more both #2 and #1 are PSX games. Of course if you really want things spoiled, a long time ago I…

  • Retrograding 05.19.04

    #4. Sakura Taisen Developed by: Red Company Published by: Sega Release Date: 09/27/96 Systems Released on: Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo Game Boy, Sony Playstation 2 Well, this should surprise some people. I mean, the main game from the franchise I consider to be the best overall RPG series ever. And it’s only in at…

  • Review: Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (Game Boy Advance)

    Developer: Amusement Vision (Original version by Camelot) Publisher: THQ (Europe), Atlus (USA) Genre: Tactical RPG Release: 04/30/04 (Europe), 06/07/04 (USA) Looks like my “History of Shining Force” needs an update now, eh? The original version of this game is in my Top Ten RPG’s of all time. Although some people will quibble and say Fire…

  • Retrograding 05.13.04

    #5. Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal Developed by: Game Freak Published by: Nintendo Release Date 10/14/00 (Gold/Silver) 07/29/01 (Crystal) Systems Released on: Game Boy, Game Boy Colour Man, I knew it was going to be hard for Game Freak to top the original Pokemon, but they did it. G/C/’S is by far the greatest Pokemon game ever made…

  • Retrograding 05.10.04

    #6 SHADOWRUN Developer: Blue Sky Software Publisher: Vertigo 2099 Release Date: 1994 System Released on: Sega Genesis Two things before we begin. 1. Someone unobservant schmuck over at Gamefaqs shows the release date of the game as February 1996. This is the reality. I owned the game as a sophomore in high school. On launch…

  • Review: Shining Soul 2 (Game Boy Advance)

    Man, has it really been a little over a year since I played the very first Shining Soul? Back then, the game got a 6.0 and introduced the concept of 6.5 = better than average not “Pile of shit because we’ve been paid to inflate our ratings to the point where a game getting a…

  • Retrograding MAILBAG 05.01.04

    Sorry gang. It’s been one hectic week for me, probably the most hectic in this year since I’ve returned to the States. Everything from moving from Marketing Analyst in my company to being the main force behind our College programs and becoming *THE* consultant for every University in North America that uses FISH! Oh, and…

  • RETROGRADING 04.24.04

    9. Koudelka Developer: Sacnoth Publisher: SNK/Atari (then under the infogrames name) Release Date: 11/30/1999 Systems Released on: Sony Playstation I know, I know. This game is a guilty pleasure of mine and I am probably the only person that would list this game in the top ten RPG’s of all time. But hear me out.…

  • Retrograding MAILBAG 04.20.04

    Right. More countdown emails. I stopped with Bard’s Tale right? Right. Let’s get to it. And YES I know I’m two months behind on mailbags. Deal with it! Disgaea At least it beat f*cking Bard’s Tale -Chuck Platt Heh. Chuck sure loves his Disgaea. Little known fact. I gave Chuck the copy Atlus sent me.…

  • RETROGRADING 04.17.04

    #12 LUNAR: THE SILVER STAR STORY COMPLETE Release Date: 10/25/96 (Saturn version), 05/28/98 (PSX) Developer: Game Arts Publisher: Working Designs (Sega CD, PSX) Systems Released on: Sega Saturn, Sony PlayStation Before I begin I do want to say I know that there is the Sega CD version, along with the recent Lunar Legends remake on…

  • Retrograding 04.10.04

    Before we begin, you can always check the archives for the earlier parts of the countdown and the preamble. I know it’s been a month so you might have forgotten a few things! #15. Legend of Mana Release Date: 06/07/00 Developer: Square Enix Publisher: Square Enix Systems Released On: Sony Playstation SURPRISE! I bet no…

  • Retrograding MAILBAG 04.02.04

    Yes, It’s been a few weeks since you’ve heard from me outside of doing reviews. Three weeks ago I took off after writing 50+ pages about video games in 5 weeks. Two weeks ago was my grandmother’s 90th B-Day and I had to be in North Dakota for that. Last week net was down at…

  • Review: The Suffering (Microsoft Xbox)

    Developer: Surreal Software Publisher: Midway Genre: Survival Horror Systems Released on: PS2, Xbox There are good survival horror games. And there are bad ones. Sadly the bad games get the attention; games like Dino Crisis, Resident Evil, and The Ring: Terror’s Realm. The great ones, like the original Clock Tower, Koudelka, Fatal Frame and Hell…

  • Review: Pokemon Colosseum (Nintendo Gamecube)

    Pokemon Colosseum Developer: Genius Sonority Publisher: NOA Released On: 03/24/04 Right. Well I’ve had the US copy of this game for quite some time now, and have beaten it to the point where I could probably tell people how to beat the game while wearing a blindfold. I’ve been running around watching people say, “Look!…

  • Review: Dead Man’s Hand (XB)

    Dead Man’s Hand (Xbox) Teaser: Did you know in North Dakota it’s still legal to shoot Native Americans if you do so from within the confines of a Stagecoach? Dead Man’s Hand Developer: Human Head Studios Publisher: Atari Release Date: 03/02/04 Genre: FPS You know, it’s funny. I generally have disdain for First Person Shooters.…

  • Review: Ninja Gaiden (XB)

    Ninja Gaiden Developer: Team Ninja Publisher: Tecmo Release Date: 03/02/04 Genre: Action Adventure It’s hard to believe it has been nine years since a new Ninja Gaiden game. And even then, the last game in the series before this one was merely a compilation on the Super Nintendo. In truth, it has been 12 years…

  • Henry Rollins – Nights Above The Tree Line Review

    Right. Time for my first official review in the music section. Although this disc doesn’t come out until April, I was lucky enough to get this from Mr. Rollins as the spoken word event I went to (go see the concert section!) and am going to review this for the Music Crew. Note that when…

  • RETROGRADING 03.06.04

    # 18. Sakura Wars 3 Release Date: 03/22/01 Developer: Red Company Publisher: SEGA Systems Released On: Sega Dreamcast Before you ask, yes 50% of this is recycled ranting from our Dreamcast Feature. By the time this article is done I will have written 45 pages/4 articles of writing for 411mania this week ALONE. So shut…

  • Review: R-Type Final (PS2)

    R-Type Final Release Date: 02/03/04 Developer: Irem Publisher: Eidos Genre: SHOOTER Sorry this review is a bit late. With my recent forays into the music section and everyone’s favorite countdown, I’ve just not had the time to do a review. Hell, we’ve all been slacking in the review area, but that changes now. R-Type Final.…

  • RETROGRADING MAILBAG 03.02.04

    Before we get to the mail I’m gonna say three things. The first is that the Countdown this week is going to be a bit unusual. I had a personal tragedy occur this weekend with the one thing I loved more than Pikachu and Poontang COMBINED passed on and so I’m a bit out of…