Quick Review - Monster Rancher Explorer

Monster Rancher Explorer
for the Game Boy Color

A nice change of pace after RPG Monster Rancher of one kind on the PS2 to the other kind on the Game Boy Color, plunking down a little time on classic old school puzzling was a nice change of pace and while it has its flaws overall it is still a pretty fun batch of retro.

A rare game based on the game mechanics of Solomon`s Key, a pretty fun old school NES slash Famicom era game, your tasked with climbing a 100 floor tower. Each floor is a puzzle room you solve by using your character with this magical ability to create and break blocks. Using this skill you can traverse levels using that skill figuring out how to open the exit and move on to the next floor, facing a sub boss every 10 levels. Simple enough, right? Yes, and yet it is also a pretty decent bite of micro puzzling that challenges you a bit, and gives you a bit of a workout... but then we roll into the big flaw in this game, a nd that is this game has absolutely nothing to do with Monster Rancher!

For its good point this game has about as much in common with Monster Rancher as broccoli does with cheesecake... absolutely nothing. It is Monster Rancher in name only, and while it has visual and maybe story elements in common, this game is completely alien in comparison to other Monster Rancher games. Also without a randomizer to shake things up the game is a bit of a one trick pony. Worst, the big gimmick, the level creator, would be a better gimmick if this was a downloadable game off the 3DS or Wii slash Wii U Store, and utilized the online capacity of each system in full.

Still, for an old school puzzler it is pretty nifty and worth a play through if you ever get a hold of some old school Monster Rancher in handheld form. A 3 out of 5.

Summer 2013 Day 1 : Getting caught up

First thing to do once that laptop comes in and I start grinding new podcasts out is reviving 3DS Life (as 3DS Addict) and that means getting back on track. Lots has happened since my last 3DS Life episode.

- Finally the 3DS is becoming commonplace in my hometown. Nowadays I can meet 1-3 3DS owners on a daily basis without fail. Very nice.

- Though demos have been few of late I have lots to go over with you.

- Quite a few good games are on the eshop. Once I secure a steady reviewing format (New online home, budget, etc) I am definitely going to be picking up VISA Gift Cards to review... things just are not the same gaming wise since Blockbusters closed down.

- Apps have been poor, but this summer at last the 3DS version of as certain DSi app that was used in a certain Zelda anniversary competition is coming out. Pity that is the one and only app coming out to speak of.

Stay tuned for podcast updates as things resolve themselves.

First Impressions Dragon Quest IX and Heroes

What do I think of these so far? Let's see...

DQIX Sentinels of the Starry Skies
The story is OK I guess, being an angelic entity, but once you are thrown from your heavenly home (which I swear was ripped off in Goseiger) it becomes a standard Dragon Quest game and you lose all your new angelic abilities, making the game s bit of a tease dangling New abilities before you then taking them away. Worse, you will plays for hours on end and most likely not run into a second character to team up with. That is sad, especially since I remember finding allies far quicker when I played DQVII sometime ago.

I like the game and all, but I have at this point been grinding away at this game for hours without finding a single New character to team up with... it will reflect in my final score to be certain.

Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime is a little innovative, with a freeroaming environment (same with Dragon Quest IX) and a bit more of a freestyle combat system over turn based combat. Where the game suffers is from repetitive gaming and a kinda lackluster story that does not hook you as well as past Dragon Quests I have played before.

Full reviews coming soon.

Waiting to Recharge 5/12

Let's see, we have a bit to go over...

Ever take the time to buy a multitap charger for Nintendo's handhelds? I got one from Gamestop and it charges a GBA SP, DS Lite and 3DS all at once... I need to buy another one. Apparently the main plug attaches to the multitap via a USB plug, which means you can attach your handhelds to a PC to charge... or you can attach any device with a USB plug for charging, like my MP3 player, or this Kindle Fire HD. Definitely need a second one of these.

Game wise I got a mix of stuff to talk about coming up.

Game Boy (Color) - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets GBC
Game Boy Advance - Same as GBC, GBA version
DS - Dragon Quest IX Sentinels of the Starry Skies
3DS - Monster Hunter Ultimate 3 Demo

Reviews, and one demo preview, coming soon. Stay tuned.

I would worry about talking about Nintendo at E3 this year,and their conference opening press conference... except they cancelled that this year and only have stuff for investors and high class media media planned. Joy. Nothing like getting the cold shoulder from Nintendo to start the summer right. Oh well, hopefully the demos out of E3 are worth it at least.

At the end of this year's tech upgrade things went to enhance my work, and add content. So that means no love for Nintendo... for now. Once again if I am renewed for another year of work I will put an investment into the Fall... though, spoiler, it might be the the Sony PSVita. Stay tuned.

Well that's updates for the coming week. Time to get to work.

Podcast Updates December 30th 2012

Retro Gamer Episode 1 is now available, first new retool on gaming reviews (retro gaming here with reviews from the SEGA Genesis as well as the Nintendo consoles like the SNES, Nintendo 64 and Game Cube). SNES reviews specific coming in Episode 2 featuring reviews of Demolition Man, Star Trek The Next Generation and the Super Star Wars games.

Meanwhile working on Nintendo Life Episode 1 right now (featuring stuff on the Wii and 3DS for review). Stay tuned for updates.

Podcast Update August 30th

Wii Life Episode 2 is finally out and available for download. New demo pre reviews and review of Harvest Moon Tree of Tranquility (part 1 of a 2 part Harvest Moon Wii review).

Presently planning out 3DS Life Ep 21 and Game Boy Show Ep 4. Stay tuned for updates.

3DS Life Ep 19 now available

3DS Life Episode 19 (E3 2012 Part 1) is now available for download.

Upcoming Nintendo casts and progress
3DS Life Episode 20 - 0%
E3 2012 Part 2

Game Boy Show Mini 3 - Review
Movie themed reviews. Star Wars, Harry Potter, Aliens and Predator... oh my.

N4GR Ep 1 - Review
Golf Mario, PGA and Hawaiian

Wii Life Ep 1 - 0%
Premiere

Stay tuned for updates.

Podcast Updates June 7th

3DS Life Episode 18 now available. Already moving ahead on new casts covering E3 2012.

3DS Ep 19
E3 on 3DS including coverage of Super Mario Bros 2, Luigi's Mansion : Dark Moon, Paper Mario Star Stickers and the pre-review of LEGO Batman 2 Demo for starters.

Wii Life 2012 Ep 1
All new Wii series!

Wii U Life Ep Minus Eight
E3 trailers to get you hyped including how the Wii U Mote works with Batman Arkham City Armored Edition.

Updates coming soon

Podcast Update April 18th

Before I continue I noticed that I still have to put in links for 3DS Life Episodes 9 to 11 so I will get to that today ASAP.

As for updates? New cast is up.

3DS Life Ep 17
Today 3DS Life is absorbing DS Life into its cast, and adding DS reviews to the cast.

Celebrating the first anniversary of 3DS Life, we talk apps (present and wanted) on the 3DS, as well as review Animal Crossing Wild World DS and Pokemon HeartGold DS (so much is happening in these new DS games I may have to post updates in 3DS Life... or spin off a cast just to cover Pokemon talk... we'll see.

Next week's casts?
Wii U Life Ep Minus Eight (April 23rd)
First Generation gaming pre-reviews

Versus! Ep 1 (April 25th)
Premiere! Introduction, and first versus (Bill Walsh's College Football) (SEGA Genesis vs Super Nintendo)

Nintendo Five Generation Retro Ep 1 (April 27th)
Review of Sam and Max Season One (Wii), and preview of Versus May Super Nintendo games

Stay tuned for updates

April 1st and no donations for me because of... legal issues?!?

The new Nintendo Hawaiiana stuff is out right now... but my request for old school game donations got axed from one of the two pieces... because of legal issues!

How things have changed from some years back when people donated to the likes of the Angry Video Game Nerd... sigh. But what can you do about it? Laws these days, honestly, but that's life. Anyway realistically? Maybe its not the best of times to ask... sigh. Well so much for that, sigh.

April's big news is the restructuring of SEGA so my May article is going to talk about that and how it may affect Nintendo releases (one release, Aliens : Colonial Marines for the Wii U is beyond safe, especially since the developer of the game jyst came out praising the Wii U).

That's in May, stay tuned.

Summer Schedule 2012

The problem with summer is usually maintaining reviewing stock. The schedule for Thursdays I have planned though will hopefully cover it just fine.

3DS Life
Switched to monthly for the summer.

DS Life
Switched to a 30 minute special... or 2... during the summer.

Forest Crossing Home Companion
Maintaining its BiMonthly release schedule.

Game Boy Show
Same as DS Life, 1 or 2 specials.

Nintendo Summer Slam
Summer only series (May to August) covering the SNES, N64 and GameCube.

Wii Life
If I can get ahold of a used Wii before or by May? Bringing the series back.

Wii U Life
Monthly continuing to count down to Holiday 2012.

And that's the summer schedule, stay tuned for updates as summer draws near.

Podcast Updates March 9th

The Game Boy Show Mini 2 is now available for download.

Spring break is here, and it caughr me off guard. So what am I working on this coming week?

3DS Life Ep 16
Starting off by reviewing Box Pusher and Plants vs Zombies. Hope to have 40% of the cast done by weekend's end.

DS Life Mini 4

Wii U Life Ep -3
Hope to put the first 40% to bed this weekend.

Stay tuned for updates.

3DS Life Episode 15 now available

This cast we're reviewing Dillon's Rolling Western, iSpot Japan and Pushmo while previewing the Nintendo Network and Crush3D.

Next up is The Game Boy Show Mini 2, coming tomorrow knock on wood. Stay tuned for updates.

Post Office delivered LEGO Star Wars III one day late... so it'll be reviewed in 3DS Life Episode 16 along with Plants vs Zombies, Box Pusher and more.

Podcast Reviews March 7th

Got a couple of Nintendo casts coming out this week or starting up development wise...

3DS Life Episode 15
80% Completed
Almost done, just wrapping up with a review of iSpot Japan.

DS Life Mini 4
Development
Starting to work on this shortly. April hope to have a Pokemon cast coming up... once I finish this trade...

The Game Boy Show Mini 2
60% Completed
New opening, and wrapping up by reviewing Tonka Raceway (Game Boy Color).

Hope to have a classic Pokemon cast in April (just need to write it up).

Wii U Life Episode -3
Assembling this week, but not official yet... waiting to see how much content I got so far, and planning a new opening.

Stay tuned for updates.

Podcast/AroundHawaii.com Updates February 28th

DS Life Mini 3 is now available. Mini 4 will start with Castlevania Portrait of Ruin and go from there. Stay tuned for updates.

3DS Life Episode 15 is on the schedule for reviewing, featuring reviews of Dillon's Rolling Western, iSpot Japan, Sakura Samurai Art of the Sword and more.

Scripting Wii U Life Episode Minus 2 continues, should be out in March.

Finally new Nintendo Hawaiiana out on www.aroundhawaii.com. Please vote for me if possible, the better my star rating hopefully the more likely Nintendo will start sending review materials.

Stay tuned for updates.

Podcast Updates February 23rd

The Game Boy Show Mini 1 now out and available.

Other updates

Dillon's Rolling Western (3DS)
Reviewing it for Nintendo Hawaiiana (March 2012) and 3DS Life Episode 15.

Wii U Life Episode Minus Three
Finished the opening intro, working now on the first gen game list commentary.

Stay tuned for updates.

Podcast Updates February 20th

The first week of minis is about to be wrapped up. Tuesday is Retro Gaming Life Mini 1 (putting it up here since Nintendo reviews appear in the series, starting with Robocop NES in Mini 1 and Total Recall NES in Mini 2) and Thursday is The Game Boy Show Mini 1.

Next up is work on Wii U Life Episode Minus Three, now in the scripting process.

Stay tuned for updates.

Turned in my Nintendo Hawaiiana content

I actually got my stuff in early this month, in 5 days early. Not bad.

Next month I'm working on the following for AroundHawaii.com.

Article - Dissecting the 3DS Circle Pro attachment (3DS)
Review - Content TBD. Presently looking at several possibilties depending on how my inquiry with Nintendo's PR dept turns out. Stay tuned.

Already beginning to script 3DS Life Episode 14 right now as I lay out and assemble Episode 13.

3DS Life Episode 14 Update

Even as I work on Episode 13 already I am looking forward to Episode 14, which is rich in content thanks to both Nintendo Club and the new demos.

Nintendo Club
January 2012 featuring Dr. Mario Express and Kirby's Dreamland (Game Boy)
February 2012 (games TBA)

Demos
Mario and Sonic at the 2012 London Olympics
Resident Evil Revelations

Updates coming next week once 3DS Life Episode 13 comes out next week. Stay tuned for updates.

Contacting Nintendo's Media Relations

Since the only thing that can happen is they tell me no I am gathering up all my info to present their media relations people concerning...

- Press releases
- Review material requests
- Interview requests (Media Relations)

The info I'm gathering is with my 3DS Life podcast and work with Around Hawaii. Updates as things roll along. Stay tuned.