Archive for Tag: Matt Gardner

  • … of the Month: .hack//SIGN Vol. 1 Limited Edition Boxed

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    This boxed set of .hack merchandise was released by Bandai in an attempt to make lots of money off of crazed fans like myself... and it worked. The box is hexagonal and has various .hack//SIGN characters on it. Inside the box are all the evils of the world, along with some hope and a bunch of .hack items to please any fan of the series.

  • Chocobo Racing (PS1)

    Reviews Reviews by Matt Gardner on

    Chocobo Racing is much like Mario Kart, only using characters from Square games instead of Mario characters.  The main characters of the game are the various creatures of Square games, as opposed to

  • … of the Month: A Link to the Past

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    Some say that A Link to the Past was the best Zelda game made to this date, and I would have to agree with them.

  • .hack//INFECTION: Part 1 (PS2)

    Reviews Reviews by Matt Gardner on

    A tale the likes of which has never been told before...

  • … of the Month: Breath of Fire II

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    Breath of Fire II is every bit as good as the first one, if not better. If you've played the first you'll be familiar with soe of the towns (i.e. Windia) and characters (i.e. Nina) in this one. The battle system is also pretty much the same as the first, with random encounters and turn based fighting. The main difference is that your character formations is a diamond instead of a line. The story is quite interesting, and you'll be into it from the very beginning of the game. There are many new and interesting characters that join you on your quest, such as a big armadillo type man, a fierce cat girl, a dog with a crossbow, and a monkey with a knife (and come now, what could be more fun than a monkey with a knife? Nothing.) There are fun side things to do while you wander around the world (hunting, fishing, visiting a traveling circus, etc.), any many interesting items and spells to discover. If you are a fan of RPGs or dragons or fire.. or monkeys with knives.. or grass and water and shiny things and mountains with caves and fish and breathing or... anything, get yourself a Game Boy Advance or a Super Nintendo and pick up Breath of Fire II.

  • … of the Month: Star Ocean: The Second Story

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    Don't let the name fool you, this game stands on its own, meaning you won't have to have played the first one to understand what is going on (which is convenient, since the first one wasn't released outside of Japan, as far as I know). Star Ocean has a customizable battle mode where you can choose if you want to fight in more of a classic RPG style, or a style which involved a lot more free movement and decision making. You can create various items such as armors, weapons, accessories, and items from raw materials you find using skills you gain on your journey. The story itself develops in different ways depending on the decisions you make (the most important of which being what which main character you will choose to control, Claude or Rena), and what mini-events you choose to participate in.

  • … of the Month: Final Fantasy Adventure

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    Game Boy Original Action RPG of the Month: Final Fantasy Adventure Final Fantasy Adventure is more like The Legend of Zelda that it is Final Fantasy, but it is a good game nonetheless. You play as a

  • … of the Month: The 11-Minute Mario 3 Completion Video

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    Now, in case any of you haven't heard the news about this pseudo-miraculous video, it is basically of a person playing through the game of Super Mario Bros 3. in 11 minutes. The conspiracy comes in with whether or not he did this legitimately, or whether he/she cheated in some way/shape/form. One theory is that the person who did it used an emulator, playing the game in a slowed down mode, and then sped it up in the movie to make it seem like his feat had been performed at regular speed. This stems from the fact that some people have seen "jumping" and flashing and whatnot during the video, hinting at such editing.

  • … of the Month: Kingdom Hearts

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    Kingdom Hearts is a collaboration between Square and Disney, and it lives up to the names of both companies. It has the great gameplay, characters, and storyline of a Final Fantasy game combined with the heart-warming stories and loveable characters from your favorite Disney movies. While you play you will run into familiar characters from Disney and Squaresoft, such as Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Aladdin, Hercules, Tarzan, Ariel, Peter Pan, Squall, Cloud, Yuffie, etc. These characters and others will team up with the hero of this story, Sora, to fight a seemingly endless battle against the shadowy, evil creatures known as the Heartless. The gameplay is easy to pick up, and even if you rarely play video games you will quickly be able to master it. If you are a Disney fan, a Squaresoft fan, or even if you aren't into either of them, go out and pick up Kingdom Hearts. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you may even soil yourself from sheer joy.

  • … of the Month: Chrono Cross Original Soundtrack

    Columns Columns by Matt Gardner on

    Chrono Cross. Normally in one of these "... of the month" sections I would write about the game, why I liked it, and other such things. This time, however, things are a little different. I am not writing about the game itself, but the soundtrack that goes along with it. The music composed, arranged, and produced by Yasunori Mitsuda is among my favorite of all time of any genre. Each track perfectly represents the atmosphere of the area.. and even if you haven't played the game, when you hear the soundtrack you will feel as if you are traveling through small and large towns, through mysterious forests, over the ocean in ships and into volcanoes, and even through the depths of the ocean. Tracks such as "Time's Scar" and "Star-stealing Girl" are among the greatest of the collection, and stand far beyond the musics of other, similar games. Even if you haven't heard of Chrono Cross (which is impossible if you've read this entire issue) you should pick up this soundtrack, or at the very least (or if your mommy won't give you her credit card to spend 30-40 dollars on imported Japanese music), download a few tracks. It's worth it. Trust me.