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gameoverdude.com
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Thunder Force VI (Sega 2008 JAPAN) |
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Tuesday, 18 November 2008 03:28 |
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NOTE: To enable 480p mode, hold Triangle & X while booting up.
After an 11 year hiatus, Thunder Force finally returns. TechnoSoft may no longer be at the helm, but a team of developers at Sega has come together to take their shot at the franchise. TFVI is licensed by Twenty-One Corp. and Kazue Matsuoka, who bought out TechnoSoft's IP. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 November 2008 03:49 )
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Rambo (Sega, arcade 2008) DX version |
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Friday, 17 October 2008 05:55 |
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega (collaboration with Polygon Magic)
System: Arcade (using Lindbergh hardware & Ghost Squad infrared gun)
Released: September 2008
AMOA Sticker: LIFE-LIKE VIOLENCE STRONG
Sega has the Rambo license again, and they have used it for a new arcade gun game. Despite sharing its name with the 4th movie in the Rambo series, it is not based on that one. Rather, it draws mostly from Rambo III, with some of Rambo: First Blood Part II and the original First Blood used for flashback stages.
The deluxe cabinet uses the same gun as Ghost Squad, but the ammo select lever does nothing. You use the Action button to activate the Rage feature (more on that in a bit).
You don't select from different weapon types like GS. Rambo always uses a machine gun, but there's no smart bombs of any sort (his trademark exploding arrows should've been used for that). Countless enemy soldiers stand before you, ready to be mown down with your machine gun. Look out for the Aiming clock that appears above selected enemies- if you let one's Aiming clock run out before you kill him, he will shoot and hit you. Just holding down the trigger and spamming isn't recommended- good accuracy can help you win some bonus medals at the end of the chapter. The Super Shot System rewards various kinds of special hits. "Fast" is self explanatory- a quick kill. A "Crack" shot is similar to the Justice Shot in Virtua Cop and is instant death for your target, and a "Heroic" shot is both of the above. Super Shots will build your Rage meter. When you use Rage, the machine gun's rate of fire is faster and you can forget about reloading. If the Rage meter is maxed when you hit the action button, you're also invincible for a limited time and will see a "No Damage" message when hit instead of just "Damage". Objects outlined in blue (usually a crate or barrel) can be blown open for bonus lives or extra medals. If a Rambo headband appears- NAB IT. It'll instantly max the Rage meter. Maximum Rage will be very helpful.
Certain boss attacks have a cancel meter like that in later House of the Dead games. Damaging a certain weapon on the boss vehicle will render it inoperable and prevent the attack. There are a few cheap hits during boss battles, like the scene where you have to destroy a rock using the machine gun - which is ridiculous. If you can dodge a bridge by shooting at an action point, why not do likewise to GTFO of the way of a falling boulder?
Some special event scenes are included. When you're fighting Sgt. Yushin, hand-to-hand combat requires you to shoot at a certain point to maintain your advantage. In a stealth scene there will be three enemies in the background. You need to watch until the exclamation points over their heads are gone, and then tap the start button to send Rambo rushing past their guard. Failing this, you get spotted by the enemy- meaning their assault will be more intense. A couple scenes will require mashing your start button to run from a hazard, which is lame. Rambo's exploding arrows are used as a finishing attack against large enemy vehicles. Wait until you see the movie clip with the "Oh SHIT!" look on the helicopter pilot's face when he realizes his ass is fried, thanks to your well placed shot. BOOM. He and his bird are barbequed. Unfortunately, none of the filmclips contain any blood and guts, and there's no gore to be found at all. The profanity that Sylvester Stallone uses in the movies isn't there either (understandable for an arcade setting, I guess. I don't think some parent wants to hear Sly muttering his classic "Fuck 'em".). The blowtorch torture scene from Rambo III is partially shown, with Trautman cringing at the extreme heat.
Rambo's graphics look about decent for the Lindbergh system, featuring decent likenesses of Rambo, Trautman, and other characters. The infrared gun's aim is pretty much dead-on. Reloading is handled just like GS- just aiming outside the screen is enough. A couple of the ingame cutscenes do suffer from frame skipping, but this doesn't really happen much during the action. Dialogue from the Rambo movies and some hilarious trash talk are featured in the voice-overs.
Overall, this latest Rambo game isn't the greatest thanks to a few cheap hits which drag it down a notch, but it's still worth trying- even if Namco's upcoming Razing Storm (the long awaited 2-player sequel to Crisis Zone) looks poised to destroy it. Since Sega owns the Rambo rights again, they should consider making a complete collection of their existing Rambo titles on PS3- the two from the Master System, the Genesis Rambo III, and this. Sega should consider adding an R-rated mode with strong language and gore to the home version if they make one. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 October 2008 02:04 )
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The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match |
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Thursday, 04 September 2008 19:49 |
Publisher & Developer: SNK Playmore
System: PS2 (Japan)
Media: DVD-ROM
Released: 11/13/2007
Rating: CERO B (12+)
The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match is an upgrade to SNK's classic Neo-Geo "Dream Match" fighter. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 05 September 2008 19:54 )
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Wednesday, 03 September 2008 03:13 |
Publisher: Konami
Developer: WayForward
System: Nintendo DS
Media: 256 Megabit Cartridge
Released: 11/13/2007
Rating: ESRB T (violence)
Twenty years after the Contra series kicked off with a bang, Konami has released its latest installment on the Nintendo DS. Packed with 256 Megabits (32 times the cart size of Super Nintendo Contra III!), Contra 4 lights both screens of your Nintendo DS ablaze with even more alien-slaughtering mayhem. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 September 2008 20:47 )
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