A new episode of the Star Ocean saga, with the usual recipes and quests…

Graphics
Waaaaooow Well, more seriously, with a HD tv, the images of Earth and of the planet created for the game, you would think those are photos. Still with a manga/drawing side rather present (and some fanservice, too).

Grade: 9 / 10

Music
Despite using the Star Ocean themes in its own way, the sound track is nothing special. But still nice.
Grade: 7.5 / 10

Gameplay
The manipulation outside combat is really easy, in combat it is a bit more difficult, especially since the AI of some characters is… (casting fire on a fire elemental ? Yeaaaah -_-). The recipes system is still simple as always. Only problem, you cannot pause the videos, only pass them and get a summary.

Grade: 8 / 10

Length / Sidequests
No problem on this side, with all the “quests” and the recipes and the things to do in combat and all. The main plot is not very long, but you have to take in account that this game is (from the start) supposed to be played several times.
Grade: 8 / 10

Story / characters
Nothing terribly original, the earth was tremendously hurt, so you have to go in space. Some ideas taken backwards or differently inside the game, but I will not say what so as not to spoil it. The characters seem to me largely more elaborate than in a majority of rpg in their personal story / background.

Grade: 8 / 10

In the end…
A good rpg in the line of the Star Ocean (yes, the bunny is present). Do not hesitate…
Final grade: 8.1 / 10

Images source:
Official site http://na.square-enix.com/starocean/

Started during my pregnancy, this Final Fantasy spin-off deserves a look.

Graphics
Yes, the graphics are “childish”, yes, it is sweet, yes, it is not highly detailed graphics for hard RPG and such. It is a choice, and I find it cute, and not at odds with the story.

Grade: 8 / 10

Music
It is a Final Fantasy spin off, so the music keeps known themes, or at least a style (is there a Final Fantasy “style” for the music? You could almost say so).
Grade: 8 / 10

Gameplay
Turn based combat with six “movements” available at most and a small reserve of action points coming back sooner or later, and the other interactions are classical. Only the hat system with the crystals is a bit different from other FF (despite a light similarity with FF VII). The quantity of items is limited but you can stock them in towns and cities.

Grade: 8 / 10

Length / Sidequests
I thought I was far along the story when I had my “hospital break”, but thinking about it, I realised I had only seen 5 towns/cities, and that I did not even have one third of the hats, so I think there is still a lot to play. There are side quests (find all hidden items in the cities, …) and I think the game may even have a replay value.
Grade: 8 / 10

Story / characters
The characters are a bit archetypal, and the fact that names can be changed does not help, but the story, rather classical at first sight, is a bit different: when the hero Brandt comes back after having defeated the monster, it is a disaster that he finds home. And it continues so, each time you think you went forward on the plot, a treacherous hit makes you look for a new way.
Grade: 8 / 10

In the end…
A good surprise for FF fans who do not stop at graphics. Funny little thing: I named the fourth character Emilie one week before the birth of our daughter, while I did not know if it would be a boy or a girl.
Final grade: 8 / 10

Images source:
Official site http://www.ff4heroes.com/

Second hand buy, this game is a good investment, except for the ambisenestrous that I am.

Graphics
Graphically beautiful, even perhaps a bit too heavily ornate, Eternal Sonata also uses archival images. But both for animations and places to visit, it is very nice to the eye.


Grade: 8 / 10

Music
A beautiful music, one of those games where you will not turn off sound from the beginning to the end. With Chopin inside, naturally.
Grade: 9 / 10

Gameplay
There is the rub. The principle of a different attack if the character is in the light or not is excellent. The combat system is basically very well. But as soon as you level up, so does the combat system. And with no possibility to go back or to choose “semi-active”. After a very short gaming time, I began getting killed repeatedly by weak monsters simply because I was not precise / coordinated enough.

Grade: 5 / 10

Length / Sidequests
I did not get very far, but the game seems long enough and valid for that matter.
Grade: 7 / 10

Story / characters
It is a game working on the opposition dream/reality and light/dark, while retracing Frederic Chopin’s life (the game begins when he is on his deathbed). The character ideas are good, and well created, and the story seems coherent so far.
Grade: 8 / 10

In the end…
A game for people who like classical music, history, … and have gifted hands.
Final grade: 7.4 / 10

Images source:
Official XBoxLive Site http://marketplace.xbox.com/fr-CH/Product/Eternal-Sonata/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024e4d07e2

As my favourite seller said “we did not expect it, but it is a good surprise”.

Graphics
While in the Golden Sun GBA, the graphism was seriously reworked. The animations are very nice and make use of both screens (but with possibility to skip them or accelerate them). One can see the differences between djinn despite their small size.


Grade: 8.5 / 10

Music
I like the music of this game. It is clean, nice, new (though I think I heard some accents of the first Golden Sun of the GBA). But there is a big problem. Each psynergy has a sound. Each interaction has a sound. And I could not find where to turn that off without removing the music. So I did almost not listen to the music
Grade: 7 / 10

Gameplay
The fact that it is possible to play either with the stylus or with the buttons is very nice. Choices are done with a menu, two psynergies can be attributed to shortcuts (usually the one to move items from the start, and the “divination” one as soon as you get it.). Combat is turn based, very accessible. It really is a game for everyone.

Grade: 9 / 10

Length / Sidequests
It is not necessary to get all djinn, items and summons, only a part is compulsory, but it is amusing to try to dissect all “enigmas”. There is already enough if you follow the main line, but you add many hours if you want everything.

Grade: 8 / 10

Story / characters
Hm, previous stories heroes’ kids is not extremely original, but all right. The story that “repeats” itself, creating the new problems, not a bad find, but nothing innovative. Nor the big baddie who directs the heroes against their will. Nothing surpisingly new for my taste, but it holds water.
Grade: 8 / 10

In the end…
Despite there being no lack in RPGs nowadays, I think Golden Sun still deserves a try.
Final grade: 8.1 / 10

Images source:
Official site http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/nds/golden_sun_dark_dawn_13787.html

Third part of the adventures of the professors with the top hat, still on DS

Graphics
For a DS game, that is a console limited by its portable capacity, it is beautiful. Still that “ligne clair” style for the game, and cartoon for the cinematographic scenes.


Grade: 9 / 10

Music
I am not really fond of it. They wrote music in the right style, but… tiring. And the break for each enigma, and the sounds at each find, it is horrible.
Grade: 6 / 10

Gameplay
Simple and fluid. The manipulation that were one of the strength of the two first Layton were kept, there is still a possilibity to make a “draft” for enigmas. The moves should be done a bit more easily (like done either with the icon or with a button), but for the rest, everything is very well.
Grade: 9 / 10

Length / Sidequests
With 168 enigmas and minigames and coins to discover, no length problem, even if the plot is fluid enough to go forward quickly. Oh, and the mini games are side quests, and 100 solved enigmas (I think) are enough to finish the game.
Grade: 8.5 / 10

Story / characters
I must admit a weakness for Gentlemen, steampunk, time travel and detectives, so this game is right in my style. Add some paradoxes and humour, and it is really perfect.
Grade: 9 / 10

In the end…
Again, a must buy. And if you have to choose one of the three, take this one.
Final grade: 8.3 / 10

Images source:
Official site http://www.professorlaytonds.com/

The famous game by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede was adapted on several media, amongst which the XBox.

Graphics
Nothing transcendent, it is conform to the original boardgame. I would have liked a bit of improvement on the roads (make it more easy to see if they cut or not an area is difficult without HD tv), and the building phase animations are nice. The writing used is not very legible.


Grade: 7 / 10

Music
Big weakness of this game. After 5 minutes, I did deactivate the music and started my playlist… I understand they would not want to invest too much money or time into the music, but there are limits.
Grade: 6 / 10

Gameplay
The use of the gamepad is all right (buttons for setting/cancelling/validating, triggers for turning/zooming), and the game technically playable. The problem is the AI. Already at the easy level, one wonders if its aim is not to gift you points, but whatever the level, the AI makes stupid mistakes, like puting a follower on a road that brings in two points when it just placed an abbay cart in the middle of 8 others, and that putting the follower on the abbay would win 9 points and bring the follower back at once. It is annoying, and often, the AI does not try to win points but to stop others (AI and humans alike) to win points…
Grade: 7 / 10

Length / Add ons
The game is sold with 4 difficulty levels, and the River I extension, like the base box in gaming shops. It already gives a lot of possibilities, but I found the other add ons too “expensive” for what they are. Unless you are the absolute fan or have too much money… I will satisfy myself with the base game. On the other hand, it “limits” the game, because the AIs are a bit repetitive.
Grade: 8 / 10

Story / characters
Evidently, in such a game, no story, no characters. But you can notice three things: the medieval atmosphere (with birds, sound of soldiers, walls, …) well done, despite the annoying music, the successes (how to play to reach them implies to think about the number of AI players and their level), and the opportunities for multiplayer games.
Grade: 7/ 10

In the end…
A good game well rendered in console version, do not hesitate if you have gamer friends around the world
Final grade: 7 / 10

Images source:
Official site

Again, the Xbox Live (and PS3 Network) offer great small games! This one costs 1200 points (around 18 CHF*)
*Use a credit card, you will get more points for the same price.

Graphics
The comic style is rather nice, there are cute achievement in the visual ambiance (the “Egyptian” exposition, for example) and the cinematic cuts in ancient movies style are original.


Grade: 8 / 10

Music
Amusing, during the cut scenes it is like silent movie piano accompaniment, but the lounge classical in a loop with the crowd’s noises on it is all right for a while, but tends to get annoying.
Grade: 7 / 10

Gameplay
It is not very difficult to master (I just have a tendency to talk instead of using the ability). One a to talk, one to stack (in any doll one size bigger), one to unstack, and one for the “ability”. You get the smallest one, without special ability, and can stack into any (or almost) doll one size bigger, and then use its ability (or other things, like the fact it is a girl, or an adult, or…). It is more a question of thinking about who to stack and in which order.
Grade: 9 / 10

Length / Sidequests
The game itself is not very long, but it was made so that you can look for all the different solutions to each stage, the unique dolls, and mini side quests (“jokes”), which in the end makes a game of a reasonable length.
Grade: 8 / 10

Story / characters
The story can seem simple (“oh my god, someone kidnapped all my siblings, I need to find them”), but with the style of the game, the context (industrialisation/child labour) and the dolls, it is a perfect fit.
Grade: 9 / 10

In the end…
For that price, it is a gift, do not miss a good game because it hides under a discreet appearance…
Final grade: 8.2 / 10

Images source:
XBox Live
Editor

So, I had the opportunity to buy this game as second hand, thanks to Dril

Graphics
As I did expect, it is very nice graphically (and it must be even better in HD), with light effects, textures effects, movements, and so on. Chocobos are cute, heros dashing, and enemies looking like bad guys. So overall, a success.

Grade: 8 / 10

Music
Music in the Final Fantasy tradition. Nice, a bit more repetitive than I thought or expected (due to the fact it is my… more than tenth FF, or because the music is more repetitive itself? I do not know).
Grade: 7 / 10

Gameplay
There is the rub. The gameplay, if you understand it in its broadest sense implies both that the game has to be “playable” (not to hard) and “interesting to play”. The first point is here, but for the second, it is almost only pushing repeatedly A. Which brings me to give what will probably stay as the lowest grade for gameplay for a game I liked.


Grade: 5 / 10

Length / Sidequests
The length of the “directed” part seems all right to me, but as soon as it is free play, it gets a bit light. And the side quests… err.. I do not even know if one dares to talk about side quests, since it is only on the 3rd disc that you can do something outside the direct storyline.
Grade: 7 / 10

Story / characters
Rather classical… oppressed people against the government who supposedly takes care of the “normal” people… errm. Nothing extraordinary, even if the parallel development of the stories is nice. The characters do not have a transcendent charisma, but it is nice. I like the different “styles”.
Grade: 7 / 10

In the end…
One of the weakest grade for a rpg, you get the feeling that they wanted to put many ideas in it and arrived at the end of the 3rd disc saying “darn, no more space / time”. But if you can fin it in second hand…
Final grade: 6.8 / 10

Images source
Official Site http://www.finalfantasy13game.com/

The second part of the saga, with new riddles, new sidequests and more. Message for Alis: game for the teaolics!

Graphics
As for the first one, the graphics level is very high, to be used in the puzzles. The animations are beautiful too.
Grade: 9 / 10

Music
Unfortunately, I had to mute the music rather soon. It is not that bad, but… it changes when you open the menu, when you receive a puzzle, … so it is only in very short excerpt, and what is worse, they tried a thriller ambiance when they should have been stricking to the “film noir” style.
Grade: 7 / 10

Gameplay
The first one was easy to use (not easy in the puzzles), this one is even better. There is a notepad mode where you can write / draw directly on the puzzles, and character recognition works fine even with my bad writing, and even special puzzles are all right.
Grade: 9.5 / 10

Length / Sidequests
Though the games has more than 150 puzzles as a base, there are other things to do (from hamster race to tea [yes, Alis, you are doing quests for tea!], pictures taking, …) everything within the main plot of the game. Without external help for the puzzles, that means lots of gaming hours. It is not compulsory to do everything to finish the game, but I suppose that amongst the readers of this article, there are other “100% maniacs” like me.
Grade: 9 / 10

Story / characters
We find naturally Professor Layton, archaeologist, and his assistant Luke, as well as Granny Riddleton, inspector Chelmey, and so on. Some points of the main plot are clear a bit to early for my taste, but it is not so bad.
Grade: 8 / 10

In the end…
Do not hesitate if you like games that require a bit of thinking, it is a game that is worth it.
Final grade: 8.5 / 10

Links
http://www.nintendo.fr/NOE/fr_FR/games/nds/professeur_layton_et_la_bote_de_pandore_13573.html [FR]
http://www.professeurlayton.net/ [FR]

Images source: Official site

A game for my love, bought with the rest of xbox live points (only 800)

Graphics
It is an XBox Live game, taking few space on the disk, so I was not expecting much. But graphics is nice, and I laugh when I see the support troops suddenly moving to throw grenades at your enemy.
Grade: 8 / 10

Music
If you are not a Sousa / American Band Marches, try a good CD instead, because though it is nice, after a while it gets annoying.
Grade: 7 / 10

Gameplay
For those who played Memoire 44 / Battlelore / Command and Conquer, the system might appear familiar (though officially it is not linked in any way), anyhow, globally, it is rather simple. Each unit has an attack, defence and HP level, and can move one square each round (some units are limited, no tank in a marsh, for example). If a unit is on one of the four squares touching an enemy, it can attack. The attack is in three parts, with defence shoot resolved exactly in the same way (a unit that reinforced its position shoots first but cannot attack): determine att / def (support included), play one or more cards (costs points), sacrifice one card for its special value. Depending of the final scores of att/def, there are damages or not. Once the player has done everything he wanted / could do, turn is for the console. The map, objectives and base units are determined by the chosen scenario.
Grade: 8.5 / 10

Length / Sidequests
The quantity of scenarios is reasonable and each one can be won on two levels (normal or exceptional victory, in fact), and there is a scenario editor (apparently the only way to play the Axis). I wonder if M$ will offer additional scenarios for a fee ?
Grade: 7.5 / 10

Story / characters
Olivier who is knowledgeable on tanks and on the Second World War, thinks that characteristics and scenarios respects rather well historical veracity, within the limits imposed by such a game.
Grade: 8 / 10

In the end…
It is at a cheap price. If you like board games and/or wargames, go on!
Final grade: 7.8 / 10

Link
http://panzergeneralalliedassault.us.ubi.com/ [EN]
http://www.xbox.com/fr-CH/games/p/panzergeneralaaxbla/ [FR]

Images source: Official website

I think it is Anubis who first told me about Braid, “download the demo game, I think you will like it…”, but I was also told by other people “you will see, it is finally a platform game in which you might succeed” (sic). Thanks for the trust! Anyway, I tried the demo, and bought the whole game at the end of it.

Graphics
Though special, in an impressionist painting style, the graphics are absolutely beautifull. Changing with the movements, and with the rewind (see gameplay), the game manages to be both fine and cute.
Grade: 9.5 / 10

Music
As for the settings, the music is beautiful, and what is more, IS PLAYED BACKWARDS DURING REWINDS! This is totally hallucinating.
Grade: 9 / 10

Gameplay
I was worried that for such a game, the commands would cause problems. In the end, it did not, it is 95% of reflection and less than 5% of skill. Jump is A, rewind is X, some other possible things later in the game with Y, and the movement with the left stick. You can speed up or down the rewind with LB and RB. Placing the pièces in the painting is done with the stick and LB/RB. The idea is simple: you play as in a platform game, each level has one or more puzzle pieces to collect, but to do that, you have to use the “monsters”, levers, mobile platforms, … and ESPECIALLY the rewind of the game: as soon as and as long as you use X, the game rewinds, and everything goes backwards. So when you fall in a bad place or get killed, you just use it to go back to a safe moment ! On the images below, you see the rewind (yes, it is a bit more eloquent in the video presentations than in a screenshot) and the atemporal platforms / items (greenish sparkling light, not concerned by the rewind).
Grade: 8.5 / 10

Length / Sidequests
The game (which I have not finish yet) has at least 5 puzzles / levels to solve, and there seems to be “victories” for going through a whole level, for solving a whole puzzle, and for doing it in a record time (and maybe more).
Grade: 8 / 10

Story / characters
It is amusing, the story is rather original and abundant. And there are veiled references… “The princess is in another castle”, savagely attacking rabbits and a main character called… Tim?
Grade: 9 / 10

In the end…
The only things that could have stopped me were the price (use a credit cards for the points, it is more advantageous) and the fact that it is on xbox Live, so on the hard disk, and not on a CD-rom, I would rather have bought a copy in a box. Apart from that, it is must have.
Final grade: 8.8 / 10

Links
http://www.xbox.com/games/b/braidxboxlivearcade/

(Image source: Official Site)

Again, a low cost game for iPhone, still 1.10 CHF.

Graphics
The graphics are partly dependent of the chosen scenario, but in the base one, it seriously reminds me of the firsts Final Fantasy. It is couloured but that is not a problem, what bothers me is more the copying.
Grade: 7 / 10

Music
For a device like the iPhone, I am disappointed by the music. Yes, it is medieval fantastic, but more like “midi”, which I find poor for this game.
Grade: 4 / 10

Gameplay
I am only speaking of the system of the base game. Very simple. A menu for items, one for characteristics, one for options/saves. The fights are turn based, or automatic if you prefer and know what you are doing.
Grade: 9 / 10

Length / Sidequests
Evidently, with so many stories in one game, the length is already more than enough. And the base scenario offers a “game+” to do the story again with the accumulated experience, and also to collect one of each monster, and so on.
Grade: 9.5 / 10

Story / characters
Let us say that the base story and character are nothing to write home about. But it is all right. I hope for better in some other scenarios.
Grade: 7 / 10

In the end…
Let us be honest, for 1.10 CHF, a game “engine” and a good handful of scenarios, it is more than honourable. And they announce additional scenarios with the updates, so…
Final grade: 7.3 / 10

Official website:
http://www.kylepoole.com/

Images source:
My iPhone

The only game I bought for my iPhone, it did not cost me much: 1.10 CHF

Graphics
Very cute, and knowing it is not photography but coloured traditional rpg graphics, it is not bad at all.
Grade: 8 / 10

Music
I must be used to too high “standards” because honestly, the music is bad. I prefer to mute the game or use my own music.
Grade: 4 / 10

Gameplay
Very simple and thought for the tactile screen. To move, you touch the place you want to reach. If it is possible, the character will go there. For combat, you touch the opponent to attack and / or the special attack (icons in the bottom left corner), for the healing potions, the icon in the bottom right corner. The top line indicates life points (and experience in white), and gives access to the menus. Touching once an item gives its description and selects it (to sell it to a merchant for example), twice uses it or equips it (unequips). Even me, clumsiness personified, can play and fight easily.
Grade: 9.5 / 10

Length / Sidequests
Not very long, but it is necessary to level up / gather money to reach the end. Some quests are compulsory, other not, and there is a permanent list of the quests in progress in one of the menus.
Grade: 7 / 10

Story / characters
We know very few of the character, except that he wants to kill a presice ogre… the quest is a bit “follow the ennemie’s big boss”…
Grade: 6 / 10

In the end…
I know it is an iPhone game, and I was not expecting much for the price, but it is still a bit lame… oh well, it kept me a bit busy while I was staying near Matt until he would be sleeping again during his teething period.
Final grade: 6.9 / 10

Images source:
My iPhone
Official Site http://www.com2us.com/

On the iTunes Store

A fidelity card at the *beeeep* having left me with gift vouchers, I took advantage of those to buy the two DS games, being a fan of RPGs and of Dragon Quest. This episode is the remake of the game for NES.

Graphics
Well, it is clear that on a small screen it is not easy, but the idea of using the upper screen for the surroundings, additional information or peripherical vision is well developped. The Akira Toriyama design is easy to recognize, even in this miniature rendition, and turn out well.
Grade: 8.5 / 10

Music
I like the pseudo-symphonic themes of DQ, and am positively surprised of the good result for what is ultimately an adaptation (partly remade, yes, but still an adaptation). Some themes are used several times in different variations, and style adapted to each situation.
Grade: 8.5 / 10

Gameplay
Pure old school RPG, with menus, shops to buy arms, armours and items, and so on. The only thing not so clear is the action order in combat, which is sometimes annoying. And the fact that there is no possibility to use the stylus to validate or choose. Saving and resurecting is done in villages’ churches, and you travel with a coffin until then.
Grade: 8.5 / 10

Length / Sidequests
No problem for the length, for what I played, it seems more than reasonable. Not having reached the end, I can say there are at least three “types” of quest I know of: Casino, mini medals and special doors. If it is a typical DQ, there is a “Monsters book” to complete somewhere, and perhaps other things.
Grade: 8 / 10

Story / characters
Not extremely original, though at the time it first came out, it was. But the numerous RPGs published since disminished the innovation. But there are funny details, like the slime doctor who helps you if you go fetch him… or discussions with some NPCs.
Grade: 8 / 10

In the end…
A good rpg for cheap on an handheld console. Practical and good. But if “old School” repels you, do not buy it, it is a bit of an archetype…
Final grade: 8.3 / 10

Images Source:
Official Site http://na.square-enix.com/dq4/

Got it for a low price supposedly in German, the only thing in German is the summary on the back of the case… It is an enhanced remake of the GBA version

Graphics
It is nice and even cute, the (combat) animations and “portraits” are of a very high quality. On one side it is more a kind of graphics I expected on the DS, but at the same time, it is very “clean”, so it goes well here.
Grade: 8.5 / 10

Music
I must admit the musics are not captivating enough to get me to put the sound on my PSP. It is not “dreadful”, just not extraordinary.
Grade: 7 / 10

Gameplay
Not complicated at all. Simple combat, with the possibility to choose 4 items before combat, including weapons. The base weapons are unlimited, the other and items have a limited number of use. At the character’s turn, you choose an item / weapon / … and he uses it. You win items,… and exploration points, and the quicker you fight the more you win. On the map, you can use exploration points to look in detail some things, or decide to explore simply by choosing between the authorised directions. For the rest, it is old school rpg (talking to everyone, searching everywhere, …)
Grade: 9 / 10

Length / Sidequests
I barely began secondary quests. You have to collect (sounds, combat “phrases”, portraits, …) many things. in principle, you could get everything in one game, but I am not sure about that, it is not always easy not to miss one. For the length… when I finished the introduction, my first thought was “Oh ??? Is it only now the end of the introduction ?? And I did not even begin the real game itself ????”. It is rather long for an rpg like that.
Grade: 9 / 10

Story / characters
Somehow, I almost expected a “Xeno-*” like story, because when you are presented with Grim angels, one of them called Ledah, a weapon named Einherjar, ideas / places like Yggdrasil, … well, it does include several mythologies, but has its own nice storyline, even if it is slightly predictable. Also, the characters each have a defined personnality, and in game you can play an almost dating sim subgame… which is sometimes funny as hell!
Grade: 8.5 / 10

In the end…
A sympathic little game that did not cost much, this is a good recomendation for an RPG more seriously, it should be liked by people who like stories with a plot as well as people who like simple RPGs.
Final grade: 8.4 / 10

Image sources
Official site http://505games.co.uk/Games.aspx?ID=31
Gamespot http://www.gamespot.com