In the realm of 2-D fighting games, SNK is second only to Capcom in terms of sheer longevity and quality. Even though Sammy’s Guilty Gear is the current reigning champion, the series owes its existence to SNK, Capcom, and the gameplay mechanics that they established. Throughout the years, SNK has produced a number of hit franchises, both fighting and otherwise. Any gamer worth their salt has been exposed to at least one SNK game, weather it’s Metal Slug, King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Athena, or Samurai Showdown. This new fighting game is a celebration of SNK’s 20 plus year history. Even though many gamers will find this game a bit lacking (especially graphics wise), this game is a dream come true for hardcore SNK and fighting game fans.
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As promised, I’m back with part 2 of our special wrestling edition of the $20 Game of the week. In this edition, we’ll take a look at WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008, as well as three other wrestling games that you can find on the cheap. So say your prayers and take your vitamins, because it’s time to walk down the aisle and go one on one with the great one. Remember, to be the man, you gotta beat the man! WOOOOOOO!
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Hope everyone’s had a merry Christmas. Hopefully you digested all that Christmas dinner, because it’s time to hit the squared circle. That’s right, Powet is gonna take you ringside for a look at wrestling gaming. In the first part of our special, we’ll take a look back at some of the best (and worst) that wrestling gaming had to offer up to and including the Playstation and Nintendo 64 years. Part 2, coming this weekend, will feature a look at some of the more recent wrestling games, including WWE Raw vs Smackdown 2008 and Fire Pro Wrestling Returns. So grab a folded-up chair (or whatever other weapon that strikes your fancy), a 6-pack of your favorite alcoholic beverage, a luchador mask, and a homemade cardboard sign, and (in the voice of Michael Buffer) LETS GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEE!

Oh, and watch out for thumbtacks, florescent lights, and exploding barbwire.
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Weather you wish to admit it or not, the Playstation installments of the Final Fantasy series, particularly VII and VIII, marked a major turning point in console role playing games. Up until then, role playing games were only enjoyed by a niche but dedicated audience. What they lacked in graphics, their epic stories made up for a thousandfold. Final Fantasy VII introduced 3-d polygon models, fully rendered cinematics, and graphics that were as epic in scale as the game’s storyline itself. Squaresoft had clearly outdone itself, and in 1999, it was tasked with having to following it up. Released in America on the same day as the Sega Dreamcast, Final Fantasy VIII managed to not only surpass the scale of FFVII, but it managed to set a new standard for role playing games. Despite its critical acclaim amongst gaming media outlets and fans alike, many purists don’t think too highly of this entry in the series. For the life of me I don’t see why, because next to Final Fantasy Tactics, this is arguably the best PS1 Final Fantasy game. In fact, it stands alongside Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 2 as one of the greatest PS1 games of all time, and it’s also one of the finest console role playing games ever.

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The Neo Geo’s flagship fighting series returns for another year, and it delivers the same SNK 2-D fighting action fans have grown to love for well over a decade. After Ash Crimson stole the Yata Mirror and Mukai broke the Orochi Seal in The King of Fighters 2003, a new organization known as “Those From the Past” sponsor a new tournament. It’s up to you and your chosen team to find out the truth behind the organization and its mysterious leaders. There are 11 teams to choose from, and a number of hidden features and surprises to discover.
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During the mid-90s, Michael Crichton’s novel about the perils of genetic manipulation and dinosaurs was rising in popularity. A movie had just been released, and the obligatory marketing blitz soon followed. There were action figures, comic books, lunch boxes, and of course video games. Games based on the original movie have been released on various Nintendo and Sega platforms, including Sega’s Genesis side-scroller (in which players can choose to play as either Dr. Alan Grant or a raptor) and Ocean’s SNES top-down/FPS hybrid. With the success of these video games and the popularity of the source material, there were bound to be sequels. However, with no movie sequel at the time, developers took liberties with the franchise when creating new projects.
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Take Geometry Wars, pour in a cup of music rhythm game, and add in a dash of puzzle. Stir it all together and bake it for 45 minutes, and you get this downloadable surprise hit. Created by Jonathan Mak, Everyday shooter takes the familiar dual analog control scheme (left stick for movement, right stick for shooting) and integrates music into the gameplay. You play through several levels, each with their own graphical style, music, and play mechanics. The trick is to create explosions, and chain them together to add on more points. Each level has a different method of creating chains, and only by practice will you discover them all. Besides competing for high scores, the points you earn can be used to unlock features in the game’s shop. The play mechanics of Everyday Shooter are as simple as they get, yet it’s addictive and hard to master. For only $10, you can download this title from the Playstation Network’s online store.

This past week was Thanksgiving, and we have a lot to be thankful for. Friends and family for being in your corner, Butterball and a bunch of dead turkeys for supplying dinner, and the staff at Powet for giving you the latest news, insights, and info. Castlevania fans have Konami to thank for finally releasing Dracula X over here, and they also have Sindra to thank for letting us know how awesome it was as seen below. Gamers on a budget have me to thank for giving them the lowdown on cheap games. Most importantly, the citizens of Metro City have Mike Haggar and his friends to thank for keeping the peace, and beat-em-up fans have Capcom to thank for allowing them to witness his adventures first hand, by way of the Final Fight series.
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