This past weekend saw the news that the Neo Geo X would cease production. With that note, it brings to mind another handheld which had an all-too-brief existence, Gamepark Holdings’ GP2X Caanoo. What’s that you say? Never heard of it? Well, that’s part of the reason it didn’t last long. Normally, Maximum Letdown takes potshots at bad games or/hardware. However, this Maximum Letdown is a letdown of a different variety, because the product had some potential, it just succumbed to poor timing and poor marketing.
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Developed by Toronto based Cellar Door Games who describe it as a Rogue-Lite, Rogue Legacy is a perfect example of why the indie movement remains fresh with new concepts and ideas. A combination of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Dark Souls, and The Binding of Issac, Rogue Legacy is a challenging game that pushes players forward by challenging them. You make your way through four areas as you battle monsters, gather items, and fight bosses. You will die, and die often. However, when you die, you take control of one of three possible descendants, each with their own abilities and traits, and your stats and equipment carry over to them. The real fun of the game comes when choosing the descendant. There are several traits a character can have. While some are cosmetic, others affect gameplay. For instance, characters with ADHD move faster, characters with vertigo play the game upside down, and characters with the nostalgic trait see everything with a golden hue. In between attempts, you can upgrade your family’s manor to upgrade your abilities, hire personnel such as blacksmiths and architects, and unlock new items and equipment. Oh yeah, the game’s layout resets each time you play, unless you pay the architect to lock down it’s design. Thankfully if you defeat a boss one time, it remains defeated. While Rogue Legacy will be very difficult at first, it gets easier with every attempt. Players who stick with it will be rewarded. When you complete the game, you’ll unlock a new game+ where you can play with your upgraded stats in a much harder quest. Players who love old-school exploration style games will love Rogue Legacy, as long as they are prepared to accept the challenge.

Bastion was developed over the course of two years by a 7-man team of Independent developers. It debuted last year as part of Microsoft’s annual Summer of Arcade promotion, and was recently included in the last humble indie bundle. Playing as a character known as “The Kid”, you explore the broken landscape to find out the secret of “The Calamity”, an event that ruined the world long ago. You wield several upgradable weapons as you travel through a landscape that puts itself together as you travel on it. There is a narrator in the game that provides commentary on everything you do. With its unique art style, Bastion stands out among independent titles, and its gameplay is reminiscent of 16-bit action RPGs like Secret of Mana. If you’re a fan of old school level grinding, you’ll love Bastion.