Angry Web

With “The Dark Knight” making a killing in the box office this summer and Batman merchandise flooding the market, it was only natural that the gaming industry would strike while the iron was hot. As a longtime fan of all things Batman, I always get worried when I hear that the Caped Crusader will be making his way onto a gaming console. Fortunately, “LEGO Batman” hit store shelves last week and squashed some of those fears for me.

Within the first minute of the game, Batman enthusiasts will be hit with a sense of nostalgia. Revealing familiar environments recreated in LEGO pieces set to Danny Elfman’s score from Tim Burton’s 1989 version of Batman, fans will feel right at home.

For those who have had the chance to get their hands on “LEGO Star Wars” or “LEGO Indiana Jones”, you will find a very similar style of gameplay. There is not much of a learning curve to the controls and anyone can pretty much join in on the fun without fretting the technicalities of a complex game.

The changes “LEGO Batman” made from prior LEGO titles are what make this game stand out above the rest. Since “LEGO Star Wars” and “LEGO Indiana Jones” were direct translations of the movies that bare their name, it left for predictability. “LEGO Batman” has no direct ties to any existing storyline so it feels like a new adventure all together.

Another major change that can be found in “LEGO Batman” is the utilization of vehicles. Like its predecessors, the game consists of 3 major acts. Each act in “LEGO Batman” has a level devoted to vehicle gameplay that will allow you to take your fight to land, air and sea. It creates a diversity that prevents the gameplay from become redundant and keeps the game interesting from beginning to end.

The only real problem with this game is that it’s not for everybody…wait, yes it is! Anyone from children to adults, hardcore gamers to casual gamers, and Batman fans will enjoy this title. There is a vast cast of characters that Batman fans will be familiar with including almost every popular villain that Batman has ever faced. The game sports an adaptive difficulty that will adjust to the skill level of the gamer so it won’t be too challenging for anyone.

The graphics are good for what the game is trying to accomplish meaning that it is comprised of mostly geometric shapes and nothing too risky. The game looks especially good on the high definition consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 but again, you won’t see anything as intricate as rendered facial expressions.

The bottom line is this game is extremely fun. Whether you want to hop on and play tandem with your AI partner or Co-Op with a friend, you are bound to enjoy your time on “LEGO Batman”. It has a ton of unlockables that add replay value to the game and it is priced right at $49.99 USD on the PS3 and Xbox 360, which is $10.00 cheaper than most new releases. I recommend “LEGO Batman” to anyone who is looking to purchase a game for the sole purpose of having fun with one of the most timeless super heroes of our era.

The minimalistic and monochromatic puzzle game “Echochrome” released today on the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PSP. “Echochrome” allows the user to alter perspective in order to get their character to certain spots of the map. There are 56 unique levels for the PS3 and another 56 unique levels for the PSP totaling 112. The plain black and white line art may look boring at first but once you get started the game can actually be quite addicting. The demo is available for both the PS3 and the PSP and the full version is priced at $9.99. You can read PlayStation’s full post about it HERE.

It’s a fun and addictive puzzle game with really elegant and simple graphics. The concept is inspired by the famous MC Escher artwork, which explores infinity, architecture and impossible constructions. In echochrome, you control the camera and perspective on an infinite canvas, guiding a mannequin figure by carefully tilting and turning the level to create a continual pathway, allowing your character to walk safely through the design. Also, there is a Canvas mode, where you will be able to create your own puzzles from scratch and share them with your friends, or even the world! You can still download the demo for free and sharpen your skills before taking on the full version when it is released on Thursday.

After many “innovative” games coming from publishers, Square Enix, another Final Fantasy spin off had me a tad on the nervous side. Don’t get me wrong, I still reserved the special edition copy from Best Buy and brought it home the day it came out but I had no idea what to expect upon popping it into my PSP and starting it up.

To my pleasant surprise, the game opens with a beautiful cinematic which is backed up by the original intro music from “Final Fantasy VII” from the PlayStation 1. For those who played the original, you are bound to get that warm nostalgic feeling as the memories of yesteryear swell in your stomach.

The story is set prior to “Final Fantasy VII” where you play as Zack. Zack is currently a member of Soldier and you are destined to defend the company that you work for, Shinra. You will encounter many familiar characters and environments from the previous “Final Fantasy VII” releases and “Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core” works surprisingly well as a prequel.

One of the features that separate “Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core” from previous games in the “Final Fantasy” series is the battle system. Rather than the common turn-based system that most Japanese RPGs tote, “Crisis Core” uses a strange combination of timed turn-based attacks with real-time battle. Though it may seem odd at first, after a bit of play it actually becomes rather fun. Random battles are not quite the chore that they used to be.

Another feature of the game that adds to the intrigue is the DMW system. The DMW works like a slot machine that will dictate your status. For instance the result of a DMW can lead to an ability that lets you cast magic without losing MP or if you match a 3 of a kind, you will use a limit break. But the DMW doesn’t just effect your battle status. It is also how you level up. This is something I really think adds to the fun of this game. Rather than having to seek out random battles and grind to get your level up to par, your levels are based on chance. It makes it much more enjoyable for a portable game.

This game is amazing whether you are a die hard “Final Fantasy” fan or a casual gamer. The game can be completed in roughly 15 hours (depending on if you do the side missions or not) and is not too difficult for gamers of all ages. The cutscenes are beautiful and the voice acting is performed well. It’s been a while since I played my PSP and after putting so much time into this one, I ended up buying a new PSP altogether. I highly recommend this game to anyone who owns the Sony handheld and can easily say if you were to purchase one portable game this year, this is it. Now back to my PSP…I got withdrawals just from taking a break to write this.