Games Played 10/09/2008

Aegis Wing - X-Box 360
Assault Heroes 2 - X-Box 360
Galaga Legions - X-Box 360
Ikaruga - X-Box 360
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - X-Box 360
Side Meier's Civilization Revolution - X-Box 360
Raiden III - PlayStation 2

Review: Linger in Shadows

Linger in Shadows (2008)
Developer: Plastic
Platform: PlayStation 3
Induction Date: 10/10/2008

Beautiful and surreal.

Linger in Shadows is the first fully satisfying "interactive art" to be found on the PlayStation Network Store. Derivative of the "demoscene" subculture, something that is thoroughly explained in the game, LIS is part hardware demo, part mini game, and a form of high art as a whole. It's quite a sight to behold and it is evident that a lot of love was put in behind its creation.

Villain?

Just like the other "interactive art" on the PlayStation 3, there is little gameplay involved here. You mostly watch a strange scenario involving a desolate cityscape, animals, and mystical creatures in real time 3D and during certain parts of it, you can enter command inputs using the Sixaxis controller to alter what is happening on screen. This actually made the product more of a "puzzle game" where you have to find things within the scenario that you can interact with. Because of the grandiose nature of the graphical presentation, the level of interaction given to the player is involving and pleasing enough without being intrusive. The ability to take screenshots saved to the HDD is a blessing and it should be a common feature for all of PSN's future "interactive art".

Dog versus the world.

Most surprising is the fact that LIS contains trophies to unlock! These are not mere afterthoughts either and they all come with their own unique trophy icons. This feature provides LIS with quite a bit of replay value. For $2.99, there is no reason why anyone would skip this title, especially the fact that there are secrets to unlock and truly artistic vision to enjoy from it.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Games Played 10/08/2008

Aegis Wing - X-Box 360
Bionic Commando: Rearmed - X-Box 360
Crazy Taxi - Dreamcast
Ikaruga - X-Box 360
Pac-Man Championship Edition - X-Box 360
Samurai Shodown II - X-Box 360
Tales of Vesperia - X-Box 360
Undertow - X-Box 360

RANDOM GAME OF THE DAY:


Raiden III (2007)
Developer: Moss, Ltd.
Platform: PlayStation 3
Purchase Date: 05/19/2007


Big bosses, big explosions.

The Raiden games have always been simple in terms of their gameplay and number III is no exception. Except for the score multiplier system based on how fast the enemies are destroyed, the game is gimmick free thus it retains a purely classic appeal. The game is now presented in 3D but the gameplay stays 2D - delicious! This U.S. version is a real shocker the fact that it was released in 2007 for the PlayStation 2. Hopefully UFO Interactive will be releasing Raiden IV for the X-Box 360 that was just out in Japan earlier this month.

LIBRARY STATUS: 5 out of 5

Review: The Life Before Her Eyes

The Life Before Her Eyes (2008)
Genre: Drama
Format: DVD
Director: Vadim Perelman

The best of friends, until the end.

If The House of Sand and Fog was any indication, it is then natural for director Vadim Perelman to make another extremely depressing movie. Based on the novel by Laura Kasischke, The Life Before Her Eyes follows the story of Diana during two separate times in her life: the first as a rebellious seventeen year old teenager and another as an adult fifteen years later. In her teenage years, we learn about her close relationship with her best friend Maureen and the horrible school shooting that they both endured. As for the later part of her life, we get to see a less confident Diana who is still struggling with the memories of the tragedy.

The mind mostly remembers the happiest and the saddest times in our lives.

Perelman uses flashbacks/flash-forwards constantly throughout the movie between the two timeline but the events in each do often follow a chronological progression. Outside of the intense and disturbing school shooting scenes, there is a dreamy, serene feel throughout the movie and things will not make much sense until the audience realizes what is really happening. When that eureka moment happens - sooner or later - the film transcends into a highly intelligent yet remarkably sad investigation into the power of the human experience that can forever change the way one lives in the moment.

Does it really matter when you know in your heart
that you have lived your life to the fullest?

Evan Rachel Wood, who plays the teenage Diana, is definitely the star of the show, eclipsing the equally wonderful Uma Thurman who plays her adult counterpart. Wood's final scenes are powerfully haunting, displaying the ultimate strength and fragility of the human spirit. Once again, Perelman has crafted a movie that will hurt you to the very core of your soul but at the end of the process, you will appreciate life even more than you have ever done so before.

RATING: 5 out of 5

Games Played 10/07/2008

Galaga Legions - X-Box 360
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - X-Box 360
Samurai Shodown Tenkaichi Kenkakuden - PlayStation 2
Zuma - X-Box 360

RANDOM GAME OF THE DAY:


Crazy Taxi (2000)
Developer: Sega-AM3
Platform: Sega Dreamcast
Purchase Date: 02/16/2000


You have 5 crrrrazyy minutes!

Perhaps the most manic driving game ever created where the player races from one destination to another frantically to get the picked-up customers to their desired destinations. The gameplay is simple but addictive and this home version has its own exclusive game modes not available at the arcades. Crazy Taxi is hilarious, with passengers who cheer the player on during dangerous maneuvers but then jump off the cab if the player couldn't get to the target destination on time. Includes stellar soundtracks from Bad Religion and The Offspring.

LIBRARY STATUS: 4 out of 5