Tag Archives: PlayStation 2

Features, MoeGamer Awards 2018

The MoeGamer Awards 2018: The Least “Retro” Retro Game

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The MoeGamer Awards are a series of “alternative” awards that I’ve devised in collaboration with the community as an excuse to celebrate the games, experiences and fanbases that have left a particular impression on me in 2018. Find out more and leave a suggestion here!

This award was suggested by The Night Owl from The Late Night Session.

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Retro gaming can be a bit of a minefield at times.

Sometimes you’ll return to a game you absolutely adored in your youth only to discover that it’s an unplayable garbage fire by modern standards, for all manner of reasons.

And sometimes you’ll pick up a game that you really enjoyed in years gone by, only to discover that age has been extremely kind to it — and it’s actually even better from a modern perspective than it was originally. I’ve come across a few games like that recently, but if I had to pick one, ooh, ooooooh….

And the winner is…

Continue reading The MoeGamer Awards 2018: The Least “Retro” Retro Game →

OutRun 2006, Sunday Driving, Videos

Sunday Driving: Coast 2 Ghost – OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast #3

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Let’s go for another drive, shall we? Get ready!

Today’s road trip adventure once again takes us beneath the Sega blue skies into the world of OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast by Sega and Sumo Digital. This is an arcade racer that more than holds its own against modern titles, and I sincerely wish we could see a modern rerelease. Unfortunately, the Ferrari licensing almost certainly means that will never happen, but at least you can still grab copies of the old versions!

Hit the jump to see the long and winding road we took on this leg of our tour…

Continue reading Sunday Driving: Coast 2 Ghost – OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast #3 →

OutRun 2006, Sunday Driving, Videos

Sunday Driving: Pipped to the Post… Twice – OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast #2

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Let’s continue our OutRun adventure beneath those glorious Sega blue skies!

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast is one of my favourite arcade racers, and playing through for this series is reminding me quite how much substance there is to it. This is no straight arcade port, by any means; there’s a wealth of different challenges to take on in both the “racing” and “Heart Attack” disciplines, represented by the portly Flagman and a trio of beautiful girlfriends respectively.

Of course, you can still also just play the arcade game if you want, too… but where there’s a “career” of sorts it’s worth getting stuck in, huh? Hit the jump to see how I got on today…

Continue reading Sunday Driving: Pipped to the Post… Twice – OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast #2 →

New Game Plus, Project Zero, Videos

New Game Plus: Return to Himuro Mansion – Project Zero #4

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A little late for New Game Plus this week, I know, but I had to prioritise finishing off Maiden of Black Water, which I’m delighted to say I have now done. Please read my piece on it!

In New Game Plus, it’s right back to the beginning of the Project Zero series for us as we kick off a full-on actual New Game Plus run of the main story mode — this time on Nightmare difficulty.

Everything you ended the game with — film, healing items, camera upgrades — carries across into a new game, so this should be easy, right…?

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Videos, Warriors Wednesday

Warriors Wednesday: Samurai Warriors vs Orochi 2 – Electric Lu Bu-Galoo – Warriors Orochi #15

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Did you think we were done with the adventures of the Samurai Warriors? Well, nope, we weren’t quite finished…

Today we tackle the final side mission of the Samurai campaign in Warriors Orochi, which culminates in another tough battle against King Snek himself.

Who will prevail? I mean, you know it’s me eventually, but hit the jump anyway and see how this final final battle actually went…

Continue reading Warriors Wednesday: Samurai Warriors vs Orochi 2 – Electric Lu Bu-Galoo – Warriors Orochi #15 →

OutRun 2006, Sunday Driving, Videos

Sunday Driving: Sega Blue Skies – OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast #1

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It’s time to start our engines and kick off a new series of Sunday Driving.

This time around, we’ll be exploring Sega and Sumo Digital’s wonderful OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, which you may recall is a game that I am a big fan of.

This is a classic racer that I’ve been meaning to revisit for quite some time now, so what better time than the present to jump back into an officially licensed Ferrari (from before Sega lost the license) and set course for the distant horizon?

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Essentials, PS2

PS2 Essentials: TimeSplitters 2

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Yes, yes, yes, I know it’s also on Xbox and Gamecube, but I’ve always thought of TimeSplitters as a PlayStation thing, so that’s where it’s getting categorised today.

Ahem. Anyway. TimeSplitters 2 is, unsurprisingly, the follow-up to the excellent TimeSplitters, a game developed by ex-Rare folks who previously worked on GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark on the Nintendo 64.

The original TimeSplitters has aged very well. Its sequel is even better. Let’s take a closer look.

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Auto Modellista, Sunday Driving, Videos

Sunday Driving: I’m At My Limit – Auto Modellista #5

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Well, it’s been a fun ride, but I think I’m going to call time on my Auto Modellista career… for now, anyway.

I’ve reached a point in the game where I just don’t seem to have the right combination of cars, parts and raw skills to be able to pass the challenges I’m presented with. And so after today’s attempts, in which I experiment with a few different cars to see what difference they might make to my performance, I think it’s time to move on.

Hit the jump to see exactly what led me to this conclusion… and if you know this game well and have any suggestions on how I might be able to progress, I’ll gratefully hear them!

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Essentials, PS2

PS2 Essentials: Ace Combat: Squadron Leader

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The Ace Combat series is a jewel in Namco’s crown that people sadly seem to forget about quite often — though hopefully the seventh installment due early in 2019 will rectify that to an extent.

The series mostly stretches across the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 eras, with a less well-received (but still enjoyable) spinoff installment in the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 era. For most, the series’ peak was with its PS2 installments; opinion varies as to which one of these is really “the best”, but they’re all very much worth your time.

At the time of writing, we’ve already talked about fourth installment Distant Thunder (aka Shattered Skies), so today let’s take a look at the fifth game, known as Squadron Leader in Europe, and The Unsung War elsewhere. It’s a good ‘un.

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Auto Modellista, Sunday Driving, Videos

Sunday Driving: More Faster Than I Was – Auto Modellista #3

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AUTOOOOO MODELIIIIISTAAAAA!

Yes, it’s that time when we strap in and go for a bit of a drive, once again in Capcom’s beautiful 2002 “Gran Turismo lite” affair, Auto Modellista.

Today we take on some tougher challenges, and either start to hit the limits of what my dear little Yaris has to offer… or perhaps my own skill ceiling. Hit the jump to see what happened.

Continue reading Sunday Driving: More Faster Than I Was – Auto Modellista #3 →