Catan On DS

The German based boardgame, Settlers of Catan, always been a favourite for me since the first time I played it. Ever since I played it, I'll find an excuse to get away from work just to be with my buds having coffee and enjoying few games of Catan.

Good news for DS owners though, rumoured said there will be Catan for our dual screen portable. Sources said it will be a port from the mobile version of Catan for, obviously, mobile phones that was launched earlier this year called Catan: The First Island. Check out the video of it.



Yes, I found that crappy IF it will be a direct port from the mobile game itself. Please don't be. The DS can handle better. Still, it's a good thing that boardgames will be finding it's way to the DS. Let's hope for Betrayal at House on the Hill, Arkham Horror and few other boardgame favourites end up to the DS.


Source wired.

Ragnarok Online DS for Japan, Winter 2008.

Thanks to one of my friend who told me about this.




During my MMORPG days, Ragnarok Online was one of the online games I played with my pals. Good to know that GungHo brings this thing to the Nintendo DS! I missed this game so much.

As we all know, RODS was never meant to be ONLINE but it supports multiplayer up to 3 people to conquer dungeons.

Here's a summary from what my friend told me.

- Gameplay closely related to the online game on PC.
- Main focus on the offline story.
- Protagonist will be Ares, mild-mannered kid who wants to start his own guild and be an adventurer like his father.
- Takes place in the realm of Rune Midgard.

What you do is:-
- Recruit party members.
- Build up characters to gain new jobs and skills.
- Build up characters to gain new jobs, skills.
- Two brand-new jobs (Dark Knight can do special moves that drain HP, Shaman has various magic skills).

Gameplay will be:-
- Mostly stylus based control.
- Tap to pick up items, attack enemies.
- Draw circles and more for spells.
- Online play: three people team up to take on the Tower of Mirages, a 50 floor random dungeon.

Release:-
- December 18th 2008 in Japan.
- No US plans yet.

Laid My Hands on Guitar Hero: On Tour.

I finally laid my hands on Guitar Hero: On Tour (GHOT) 2 nights ago thanks to a friend of mine who works in a gaming shop. It was actually just for display but then they manager was kind enough to let me try it out.


picture courtesy of Philip of Mars Games & Toys Station @ City Mall, Kota Kinabalu

I played a few tunes and I liked it.

The only problem is the Guitar Grip itself. Vicarious Visions did great on it but its a problem to those who has medium hands and medium length fingers or bigger. I had a hard time putting it in place. I think the best way to put it on is Guitar Grip first, get comfortable with the placing, strap on then attach your DS afterwards.

I might get this for myself soon after my priorities are done.

Going Under The Knife for the Second Time.

I gave this game a spin a while earlier and I must say, I'm impressed. Since I'm at work currently, I need to leave this alone for awhile. I'm sure you guys seen the screenshot posted a while back.

The first operation you'll be facing will be a guy with multiple fractures. On that stage too, you'll be introduced to a doctor called Adel. The girl looking character is actually a guy with a deep voice! DAMN!

I'll wait till after I get back home to continue the story.


Now I'm hoping it's not as hard as the prequel.

Windy x Windham - Original 2D Fighting Game for the DS

Well, that's what's stated when I translated Famitsu.com from Japanese to English. I can't understand anything from what's been translated. Being a typical 2D fighting game, the storyline runs the usual storyline of "fighting tournament-participants join for personal reasons" thing.



For those who has been playing DS games should know Izuna from Izuna, Legend of the Unemployed Ninja. She's featured as well.



I have doubts on these but I'll give it a try when it's out.



Source Famitsu

Amped on ported MMPOG on DS.

The news of Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMPOG) ported for the DS really excites me. It doesn't have to be ONLINE per se, the essence of it and the enjoyment of playing with DS users wirelessly will be just as great.

After Ragnarok Online announce their port to DS despite the fact that it wont be online. CyberStep tags along by "porting-to-DS" one of their online games GetAmped.

Hey, since Super Smash Brothers not even announced yet for the DS, I think this is a good alternative to look into.



Source GAME Watch.

Japan announced Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel.

I'm sure the previous Layton series caught the attention of lots of puzzle fans out there. The success of the Layton series comes from the stunning animation, great storyline and challenging puzzles to solve. Level 5 has announce the next installment of the Layton series in Japan around Fall. Which is around September to November.

To be honest, I've yet to finish Curious Village yet.


Source Go Nintendo.

The World Ends With You - My Verdict

After weeks of hiatus, I'm back. The reason. I was busy with my own things and trying to finish the new Square Enix game, The World Ends With You (TWEWY). The game is AWESOME! I felt rewarded finishing the game.

Why do I like TWEWY?

First of all, the gameplay. They made full use of both screens, kudos for this. Utilizing the touch screen and the D-pad was innovative. Both screens are used for battling, the HP are shared. It's different from other games I've played. Making it difficult for a person to keep track of both screens. That is part of the challenge. You don't need to button mash the whole thing as it only need either 1 direction of the D-pad.

Next, is the placing of the game. Instead of making another new world, they take an existing place and made it an alternate world. And to make the as close to reality in terms of this and that. The story, you have to play it yourself.

The arts in the game are awesome. The characters are awesome. What can I say? Square Enix really made a benchmark for other games to beat.

I recommend to get this game. The story is awesome. The game is fun. The music is great.

LOL. Seriously it's LOL.

Now this is a game that you might just say "You're paying for Pictochat?!" or some case just "LOL".

Why do I say this? Well, first of all this game is a MULTIPLAYER GAME only game. Which means you need to bring your DS buddies to have some fun with this thing. Heh, I can see instant fail unless they do last minute changes.



You can read more in GameSpot.

Guitar Hero : On Tour Making Deal

Should I grab it? Maybe I just leave this? The Guitar Hero franchise reached the DS and making a deal to their fans. Especially those who already owned a DS. I'm sure some of you want this thing on your hands on the day of the release, then this is your chance to get one!


Click Here To Get from Play-Asia

More on the Trauma Center Sequel for the DS

Looks like the game looks totally different from the first. Characters looks more mature and serious. We know from the first Trauma Center that patient comes in and "surgery happens", perform surgery because they need to be.

Now it has a proper storyline. At least it say so.



This time Dr. Derek Stiles and Angie Thompson now stuck in an African country called Costiga. Basically its where civil war and disease outbreak leads to more patients and less doctors. You know how that goes.

Here some screenshots taken from famitsu.com

Dokapon - Dungeon Crawlers + Pokemon-style Combat.

Dokapon Journey! Nakayoku Kenkashite (Make Friends and Fight!) is a weird game but a cool concept.



You earn money by defeating monsters around town but thats not all! Players has to compete against each other to earn more money. What's crazy about this game is that they can also fight each other to steal their loot. It's hilariously labeled as the "friendship-destroying game" and I can't wait how destructive this game be.

Addition on the DS will have extra minigames to earn money.

Summon Night to the DS!

Summon Night was a Sony Playstation (PS) title is next in line to be in the DS. I've played some games that was from the PS ported to the DS like Front Mission which it make use the power of the touchscreen.



Looking at the trailer, it looks like a game worth to grab. The game mostly rely on the DS touchscreen to do most of the task.



Summon Night stands out as those nice-looking ARPG despite being just in 2D. Looking at the screenshot, it's nicely done. Total eye candy! Hey, you don't need great graphics, you just need a good looking game!





I can't wait for it to release and try it out.

Dr. Stiles will be back for the DS! Trauma Center: Under The Knife 2.

There's a rumour that Trauma Center will have a sequel for the DS. It's good news for the fans of this game. Judging from my experience with the game, I hope it won't be as annoying to finish.

Dr. Derek Stiles will be back together with Nurse Angie Thompson to tackle new sickness and more answers for the GUILT virus. Atlus announce that they will improve the instruments and tackle the difficulty as most complained.

I'm pissed on the Triti as well. Too HARD!

Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword Uber Stylus Action

The Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (NGDS) just released their English version of the game on the 26th March 2008 for the DS. NGDS, like other Ninja Gaiden games, features Ryu Hayabusa. The protagonist of the game.

Released by Tecmo, who holds the Ninja Gaiden franchise since the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) gave Team Ninja a challenge to release Ninja Gaiden for the DS. And the result was this:-



Who are Team Ninja? They are the one who are responsible for one of the best vixen fighting game for the Dreamcast and Xbox. The Dead or Alive series.


I know some of you like them too.


"WRONG GAME, RYU!"
Ryu Hayabusa featured in the Dead or Alive series



How does the game work?

Make use of the awesome power of the touch screen! Somewhat how you play Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.


This is how you play NGDS. Pure screen wrecker! Make sure to stock up lots of them screen protectors.

The story continues 6 months from the plot of the last Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox.

Screenshot off the game.

In this game, Ryu's quest is to save Momiji, a shrine maiden and also a kunoichi, that was kidnapped.

I'm currently playing the game so I'll give a review later.




This is what you get bundled with the game. A strap and a Dark Dragon Sword stylus.

At this point of time, I'm nearly close to finish the game. It's less challenging at the moment and I hope the Hard mode gives better arm exercise.

Nintendo brings more Super Dodgeball madness.

Being a retro gamer like me, you might stumbled upon the Super Dodgeball game in your early Nintendo years. The game developed by Technos really made hit. Especially when they introduced the Kunio-kun series.


I love this game!!

Finally, the dodgeball series gets resurrected. Not by Technos but by the former CEO of Technos (as I've heard) and the producer of the Kunio-kun series under the company called Million, developed by Arc System Works, the guys behind the Guilty Gear series.

Finally, the Super Dodgeball is back AND its for the DS! Something to look forward to for people like me. I loved the Kunio-kun series even though I didn't get to play most of them.


超熱血高校くにおくん ドッジボール部
Chō Nekketsu Kōkō Kunio-kun Dodgeball Bu


Sneak peek of the US version cover.

According to the box art, it looks like they will bring more Kunio-kun series to the DS. Let's hope they do.

Here's the Japan trailer of Chō Nekketsu Kōkō Kunio-kun Dodgeball Bu



Source dsfanboy.com