More FFXII: Revenant Wings action, coming up!

The fine folks at Square-Enix have kindly released another trailer for their eagerly anticipated DS game, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. It's hard to top previous trailers for this drool-inducing game, but somehow this one does just that. I'm not sure I'm going to love how this one controls, but I know it's going to look and sound wonderful. Hopefully that's enough.

Playing catch-up

I wish I could say the reason I haven't posted as much lately is due to the fact that I've been at GDC this week, but unfortunately that's not the case. I've been doing something far less fun and glamorous: moving. We're about done now (my husband, cat and I moved from Madison, Wis. to Seattle) and next week should return to normal.

Speaking of GDC, Nintendo released some great videos of upcoming Wii games the other day following Miyamoto's keynote. Super Paper Mario is my current fave, possibly because it's coming out so soon, though Super Mario Galaxy grabbed my attention, too. I'm still not sure how this game is going to work (Mario in space seems a bit random), but I'm willing to give Ninty the benefit of the doubt.

On the DS side of things, new videos of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass made their way on to the web. It looks amazing, but I'm no so sure about the control scheme. Personally, I prefer controlling game like this with a d-pad. Hopefully Nintendo either will clean it up (some people have complained that it feels sloppy) or allow players to use either the touch screen or the d-pad to control Link.

In other news, I read a great article about Sony's LittleBigPlanet the other day that really got me thinking about the PS3 and the Wii. Obviously I love Nintendo's latest system, and little is going to change that, but I'm starting to see the light when it comes to the PS3 and Xbox 360, too. Whomever mentioned the Wii doesn't have any "artistic" games like the 360 or Ps2/3 was right--though I'm not sure that's Nintendo's fault. That said, I think the games put out for Sony's and Microsoft's current systems may eclipse Nintendo's in terms of creative artistry, and that's important to me.

Time will tell what this means for me. Will I get a 360, PS3 or even a PSP? I'll get at least one of them, eventually. For now, though, I'm looking forward to the release of Super Paper Mario and a few more great retro games on the VC.

The game that could get me to buy a PS3

Don't get me wrong: Despite the fact that 80 percent of the posts on this blog are related to Nintendo systems, I like the other guys' systems, too. Heck, I've bought both of Sony's previous non-portable consoles, and I've seriously considering getting their portable offering as well.

So far, though, the PS3 just hasn't interested me. Partially because it's so darn expensive and partially because I just haven't seen any games that made me sit up and say, "Wow!"

That changed this morning when I saw video of the upcoming "community-based" game, LittleBigPlanet.

Created by Media Molecule, a studio made up of ex-Lionhead staffers and makers of the cultish Rag Doll Kung Fu, LittleBigPlanet is best described as an open-ended, gravity-based, multiplayer platformer. That sure clears things up, doesn't it? :)

IGN.com has done the best job (in my opinion) of both summing up the version made available at GDC this morning and giving those of us who couldn't make the trip to San Francisco a glimpse of it through videos. Here's the site's write-up and here's a nice little video of it in all its Pixar-like glory.

Survey says: Super Paper Mario's super!

I've read quite a few hands-on impressions of Nintendo's Super Paper Mario (coming to the Wii in early April) from GDC 2007 today, and without fail they are "thumbs up" positive.

I've been looking forward to this game ever since it was announced for the Game Cube and I'm looking forward to it even more now that it's coming out for Nintendo's newest system.

IGN.com ran a great preview today, found here. Wired.com also ran a neat-o write-up on the game. Check them out if you want a bit more information on the game.

Here are some great video captures of the game (from the floor of GDC) as well. Looks great to me!

Now in the running for gayest game of the year...

The fact that I find this game to be cute and somewhat alluring proves just how gay I am (if ever there was a question).

Oh, I know, I shouldn't say something like that--someone might read this and think that old stereotype about gays being swishy little things who wear pink scarves and only buy games starring Barbie or My Little Pony. Well, stereotypes be damned, I think it's cute.

I have no idea what the game--titled Sweets Pet, I believe--is about, although I'm guessing it's some sort of pet simulator. I'd never buy it--just doesn't seem interesting enough to waste my hard-earned dollars on--but it's cute to look at all the same.

Become a better housewife (again, using your DS!)

Well, speak of the devil--here's another odd "training" game coming soon to the DS! Not sure how many women in Japan not only own a DS but what their precious little game system to tell them how to become better housewives, but I'm sure a market exists (otherwise, why would the game be in development? Of course, using that logic games like the awful-beyond-words Sonic the Hedgehog for the 360).

For more on this strange little ditty, check out GoNintendo, a wonderful site for Nintendorks like myself.

Learn your business manners on the DS

I know a few people who could use a bit of training in business etiquette (and, no, I'm not naming names). Unfortunately, I don't think said people own a DS. Oh, well.

This is definitely one of the thousands of "training" games taking over Japan these days. What's up with that anyway? I guess Japanese people really like to learn about things. What an interesting contrast with the U.S. Here we'd rather blow things up (especially people). "Learning? Yuck! What are you, a fag?"

Grim Grimoire gameplay footage surfaces

It's not as shocking as footage of the Loch Ness monster or Big Foot, but gameplay footage of Nippon Ichi's upcoming PS2 RTS game, Grim Grimoire, certainly has been hard to come by as of late.

Well, some sleuthlike writer at Siliconera discovered just that today and kindly posted a link to the site for all interested parties to enjoy. I have to say I enjoyed it quite a bit, though I'm not sure if it will be all that import-friendly (drat!).

Here's to hoping the U.S. arm of the company translates it for us poor schmucks who don't have the time to learn Japanese (even though we desperately want to!).

In a perfect world...

... here are the PSP games (in alpha order) that would somehow find their way into my open and ready arms:

Crush
Disgaea Portable
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War
Gitarooman Lives!
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
Parodius/Twin Bee Collections
Virtua Tennis 3

(And, yes, I know some of these haven't yet been announced for U.S. release--and some, like Parodius/Twin Bee, likely never will be.)

PSP leads two sets one

Damn. My husband's going to kill me. He already scoffs at me because I bought the Wii late last year (thanks to eBay) and just recently got my grubby little hands on a pearl white DS--if I come home with PSP I may just find myself face to face with a crisp set of divorce papers.

What has piqued my interest in Sony's portable PS2? Namco's Smash Court Tennis 3 (coming out in the U.S. late this year). I'm not sure why--I've never really been impressed with this series, especially the early versions that appeared on PS1. That said, the shots recently displayed at TheMagicBox.com look mighty impressive.

If the word on the street ends up being that SMC3 chokes more than Anna Kournikova, I can always spend my well-earned dough on Sega's PSP tennis offering, Virtua Tennis 3. Past iterations of the series have been as solid as Serena Williams' bum, so I'd know without a doubt my money was being well spent.