Little known fact for all you World of Warcraft players: before it was the massively multiplayer online hit that it is now, Warcraft was a real time strategy series that, while it may not have been the cultural icon that its online cousin is, it was just as critically acclaimed. In fact, Warcraft 2 (along with Command and Conquer) are credited for establishing many of the 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) concepts prevalent in most RTS games, and many of the events in WOW are based on Warcraft 3, which is collected in this box. Like the Starcraft Battle Chest, the Warcraft Battle Chest contains Warcraft 3, its expansion, strategy guides and manuals for both games, and a 2 week trial for WOW. If you played Starcraft, then you should feel right at home, as many game mechanics here are similar.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

Ever wanted to play as a badass in a suit of armor? Sega’s Ranger X gives players that chance. Taking control of Ranger X, players battle against alien invaders. You have several weapons at your disposal, and many of them can recharge in brightly lit areas. Also your power suit allows you to hover for a limited time.

Oh, and there is a motorcycle as well! It moves and fires independently of Ranger X, but he can board it at any time to take advantage of its separate shielding. The game’s graphics do a good job of pushing the system’s hardware to its limits, and the game provides a good challenge. Ranger X is one of those games which does something different with the standard shooter genre, and should be enjoyed by Genesis owners. Hopefully it won’t be much longer before this shows up on the Virtual Console.

Every once in a while, a game comes along that challenges gamers to think. Not just in a problem solving way, but a way to really think about the message that the game is trying to convey. Braid is one of those games. On the surface, the game resembles other platformers, specifically Super Mario Brothers. Even the plot seems like something you’ve seen before: the princess has been kidnapped by a monster, and you make your way through different worlds, only to be told again and again that the princess is in another castle. However, the game’s method of story telling, art style, and mechanics turn the whole thing over on its head.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

This game is kinda old by now, but I felt I should weight in on why is fun to shoot the same guy over and over with 50 slightly different guns.

I sure do appreciate your pressin’ play on the above video and sharing the link on your facebooks and tweeters.

Playstation Moves, Mac gets Steamed, Superman flies again, and Activision does what Atari used to do.

Direct Link: Powetcast Episode 29: Infinity Wardfare

Audio Netcast Details
Subscribe to the Powetcast on iTunes

(What do you think about the current Activision dustup? Is anyone in the right? Leave a comment below!)

Show notes after the jump!

[Read the rest of this entry…]

Out of all the Playstation 1 Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy IX is perhaps my least favorite, although for old school fans, it’s perhaps the most memorable. While VII and VIII took the series in new directions with more futuristic settings and new gameplay mechanics, FF IX put an old school spin to the series modern look. While the game’s plotline seems more slapstick and cartoonish than the previous FF titles (and this is the main gripe I had with it), it’s still a good dedication to FF fans who may have felt alienated by the more recent entries in the series. With FF XIII hitting stores this past week, what better time to flashback to this blast from the past.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

Half Minute Hero is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the classic titles of the 8-bit era while at the same time providing a new and frantic style of gameplay. Half Minute Hero depicts the story of the Time Goddess’s battle against an ancient evil that spans several centuries. You’ll take control of 4 heroes, each with their own style of play. Hero 30 is a role playing game in which you have 30 seconds to clear each level. You’ll have to discover hidden treasures, level up, and even perform sidequests, all within a 30 second time limit. You’ll have to visit the goddess statue to refill your time. Evil Lord 30 is a real time strategy game that places you in the role of a former villain who is out to lift the curse placed on his lover. You’ll have 30 seconds to complete each stage, and you’ll battle enemies by summoning monsters. Princess 30 is a shooter in which players take control of a princess who is out to find medicine for her sick father. You’ll have 30 seconds to make it to the other side of the screen, grab the item, then run back. In Knight and Wizard 30, players control a knight who has to guard a wizard as he casts his spell, which takes him 30 seconds. There is also a hidden 5th mode, and a multiplayer mode.

Half Minute Hero gives players something new and different, and the frantic 30 second action (along with the Time Goddess’s one liners) while have you grinning from ear to ear. It’s also an awesome parody of the 8-bit era, and it’s a must have for PSP owners. It’s too bad that it didn’t do the numbers they should have, but now that it’s at the $20 price range, it shouldn’t have much trouble finding it’s way into a few more PSP units.

Show Notes after the cut.
[Read the rest of this entry…]