On this episode we take a break from the consoles to highlight some great games on portable systems.
Usually, the portable systems only get cheaply made spinoffs of mainstream console games and dumbed-down RPGs, but these 2 games break that handheld mold and provide a great adventure in and of themselves.
Cody's Pick: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin:
The Three Castlevania games for the DS are easily the best Castlevania games in the series and are considered the last great side-scrollers. Portrait of Ruin combines the best of the other two games, despite being the second to be released. All of them are great games, but Portrait of Ruin happens to be my favorite. Here's why I love this game:
1. The Combat:
Castlevania plays like any side-scrolling-platformer, imagine Mario with swords and whips. You'll spend a lot of time climbing things using a double jump and sliding under lowered ceilings. What Castlevania games great is that that is combined with sword play with enemies that progress in strenght and bosses. There is a huge variety of enemies and every zone of the game all new models. The haunted circus stage brings in clowns and acrobats.
Combat with these enemies involves using a variety of weapons (axes, swords, and of course, whips) for Jonathan; the story's male protagonist, and books and spells for Charlotte, his female companion. The combat isn't anything revolutionary for the series. It's a lot of pressing A for regular attacks over and over again with the occaisonal special attack, but with each new enemy variety comes a new challenge, in learning how to dodge their attacks or exploit weak points. Bosses also add a unique challenge. It is simple but elegant in a way and certainly addictive.
2. The RPG Elements:
For being a side-scrolling-platformer this game actually incorporates some RPG elements nicely. In order to beat the game, you will have to choose weapons that suit your play style, pick special moves that do well against specific enemies, and do a lot of grinding. I felt at the end of my game that Jonathan and Charlotte were characters unique to my play style. I made Charlotte a magic specialist and brought her in to deal heavy elemental damage while Jonathan I used as a principal fighter, dodging and attacking the enemy to deal huge damage in most cases. Players level up and can gain specific skills, putting emphasis on attack or resistance or health upgrades.
3. The loyalty to the Castlevania series:
Portrait of Ruin is, in my opinion, the epidomy of the Castlevania series. Despite being a newer title, you will see familiar monsters to the series and ***Spoiler Alert*** you fight one of the original protagonists at one point. The final Boss was also a surprise and very consistant with the series. POR is the most recent, Chronologically, taking place in the 1940's but feels like it belongs with the medieval games in the series early history. A good number of enemies, weapons, and items are from other Castlevania games but seem alot smoother in their animations. Plus, I was super excited when I got to use the "Vampire Killer" whip from the original game, that was originally weilded by Simon Belmont.
Spencer's Pick: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
One of the greatest films in history is the Godfather. Even if you have never seen it, I'll bet know quotes from it. Especially the Don uttering that foreboding statement, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." References and tributes to it show up all the time in pop culture, and the Grand Theft Auto games are no different. I love the Godfather, I think everyone should see that movie, and that's also how I feel about this game.
1. Rockstar didn't take out the good stuff.
Liberty City Stories to most might seem like it would be a diet GTA game; less missions to complete, less to explore and find, and a smaller map, but that is not the case. It is every bit as big as Grand Theft Auto 3, because they even take place in the same city and use the same map. So if you have played GTA 3, then you will know your way around immediately. I love this aspect of it because the city is already so immense enough that it's still a fresh landscape for a second time around.
2. The Missions
Just like other GTA games, the missions are diverse. There are plenty of good old fashion mob hit missions, but there are a lot of other fun, random stuff to do too. One example of this is you do some missions for an up and coming politician named Donald Love, who has loyalties with Don Leone, your boss. (The Godfather's name is Don Corleone). Something you do for him is drive a van with speakers on the top through different voting battlegrounds to spread slander about the opposing candidate. Meanwhile, the competition's van comes out to campaign as well, and you fight for voters, but after a few minutes, you just blow up the other van. I love just how varied and unpredictable the missions can be.
3. There's much more to it than just the story
I spent hours and hours and hours just exploring the map. There are 100 hidden packages, that allow more guns to appear at your safe houses. There are 2 dozen different types of vehicles, ranging from box trucks, to Ferrari look a likes, to pizza delivery scooters, to speedboats. There are three sections of Liberty City, and each one is enormous and takes a lot of time to navigate. You can spend time just racking up wanted stars until you can steal a tank, you can find big jumps to hit, and even work as a car salesman. My point is is that I don't have to do what people normally think you do in a GTA game, pick up hookers and run people over with cars, to have a good time with this game. Trust me, if you take my advice with this game, you may not have time to play any other games before the world ends.
The reason this GTA game goes on my list though is because it is on the PSP and how I can take this game anywhere I want. To have such a complex and large game go anywhere with me and fit in my pocket is an offer I certainly can't refuse.
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