Cadaps

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon marks the third time Square Enix has paired dungeon-crawling with the world’s most adorable yellow bird, capitalizing on the public’s seemingly insatiable appetite for anything with a cutesy Final Fantasy theme. The game is an aesthetically pleasing continuation of its PlayStation predecessors, boasting charming visuals and soft melodies. It also introduces a job-changing system as popularized by Final Fantasy Tactics. But don’t let its endearing, child-friendly exterior fool you: Chocobo’s Dungeon is an intense, often grueling challenge for even experienced dungeon crawlers.

Chocobo’s Dungeon opens with treasure hunter Cid and his feathery sidekick, Chocobo, searching for an ancient trinket known as Timeless Power. A familiar foe beats them to it, however, and then uses the bobble to send our heroes to the town of Lostime in an alternate world. The citizens of Lostime harbor (more…)

Like Street Fighter II, Bionic Commando, or almost every other Capcom game on Xbox Live Arcade, 1942: Joint Strike is a new take on an old game. This remake sports high-definition visuals and a couple of new mechanics that help make this 25-year-old game feel fresh again without sacrificing what made it fun in the first place. Those with fond memories of the arcade classic will be pleased with the look and feel of 1942, but the short length and high price make it a hard sell.

1942 is a top-down shooter set in an alternate reality where the outcome of World War II is dependent on two fighter planes. Rather than a pixel perfect re-creation, Joint Strike is more like a reimagining of the classic arcade game. It feels like the old 1942, but (more…)

Do you follow the work of the Church of Ferrarism? Do you put your faith in the prancing horse, give thanks to the healing power of sleek red bodywork, offer silent prayer in the direction of Fiorano?

If the answer is no, then Ferrari Challenge has little to offer you. This is a game that opens with a sensual car close-up soundtracked by soaring choral music. Created and designed to indulge System 3 boss Mark Cale’s hot burning for all things Ferrari, the game itself ultimately does little to explain where this passion comes from. If you’re not already besotted with the brand, and don’t get off on deeply technical racing games, then it doesn’t want to know. As far as the Church of Ferrarism is concerned, we’re preaching to the converted rather than knocking on your door and trying to change your life with a fistful of evangelical leaflets.

The approach is hardcore simulation rather than arcade thrills which already places this in a niche within a niche. The handling model is robust and convincing, but also ferociously tough and unforgiving. Brake hard and brake early, or every corner becomes a trap, draining precious (more…)

For a game franchise in transition, Out of the Park Baseball 9 is incredibly well polished. The baseball management simulation series from one-man development team Markus Heinsohn may have just gone through a couple of tumultuous years due to being acquired and then dropped by the U.K. soccer-game masterminds at Sports Interactive, but you would never know it by the latest addition to the family. This edition of the game might just be the best yet, thanks to quicker sim times, the addition of major league players, and some small refinements that improve the interface. It remains a little too hardcore and stat-heavy for anyone who doesn’t have aspirations to be the next Bill James, although the game is nearly perfect for bleacher creatures who have noggins for numbers.

Statisticphobes shouldn′t be scared off, though. While you need an affinity for baseball stats to really appreciate the game, the core of the game is (more…)