The Brog's Best Downloadable Game Of 2010: Pac Man CE: DX

I'd write a formal review, but I can't stop playing this game.

Long ago on a Sega Genesis far, far away, my mom routinely mopped the floor with me whenever we played Tengen's Ms. Pac Man. An unflinchingly brutal game that my mom was incredibly stellar at. I would have been better off holding the controller upside-down. Finally I have something I can show her up on. In the final weeks of 2010, Namco Generations re-reinvented their Xbox 360 downloadible hit. Not since Critter Crunch have I let such a small and polished game occupy so much of my time. [As of the typing of this, I am ranked 248th out of 48,000 PSN users on the highly competitive Championship II level].

What is most vexing about Pac Man Championship Edition: DX is that its a modern game. There are tense bullet-time moments when the player is close to death. Possibly an unintentional wink to this age of kill streaks and instant killification [its a word I just made it up], an added layer of creating a 'mambo-like' line is included amongst maneuvering past speedy ghosts before the glorious satisfaction one feels when they get to devour said techno-colored ghost queue. Not since Peggle Nights has there been a game that has shown me that, its okay for videogames to be videogames.

Honorable Mention: Joe Danger, Plants vs. Zombies: GOTY Edition, Alien Swarm, Catan

Then And Now: Feelings On The Fighting Game Genre

Fighting games are back! Or are they? Moreover, should I be nervous that less-than-stellar clones are not to far behind?

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Tekken 6 Review -- What Happened To Tekken?

Here lies Tekken 6. A fantastic fighting game that never wants you to play it online. EVER.
No matter how many times you adjust your collectible head gear and change outfits on your favorite polygonal fighter, it won’t bring back the one you love. For the past three iterations of the once illustrious 3D fighting Tekken franchise, the series has been balancing the art of evolving and correcting previous miscues. Where this current Street Fighter community had the ability to grow two-fold thanks to this new age of online play and console connectivity, Tekken fans will still yearn for an online system more sophisticated than the one found in this game. The biggest issue with Tekken 6 currently, isn’t so much the robust fighting system and the well-realized graphics engine, but how it presents these features to a varied audience of hardcore enthusiast and newcomers.

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Video: The Only Two Games I'm Looking Forward To

Thanks to Gamefly and a little luck with friends of this site, I've been able to play a handful of games I've been looking forward too this year. Go ahead, click the games tab on the left of the site and peruse my let downs and my surprises. 

However, I typically like to keep games I want to be surprised by, out of my internet gaze until their release. The game above, Castlevania: Lord Of Shadows and the game after the jump, Enslaved are two games I've been interested in for two very different reasons.

Castlevania: LofS I've been interested in simply because I'm not a Castlevania fan [the only Castlevania game I liked was Symphony of the Night and I own most of the console released games]. The game looks powerfully Japanese [and how could it not? Its a Kojima joint] with the haircuts and gothic clothing, not to mention the overly expository 'talky' scenes, but it all works and looks appealing. Weird, considering, usually these are all things that turn me off and a contributing reason why I don't watch game trailers.

Enslaved is a game I've been keeping an eye on since Edge's interview of Ninja Theory earlier this year. That and I've recently caught myself up on the book the game is based on [Journey to the West]. Plus, I'm a fan of underdog games. Castlevania and Enslaved games aint gonna get the push a Gran Turismo 5 or Halo: Reach is going to get in the holiday season so, I figured a little post like this may bend the ear of a reader or two.

I'm going into these games knowing that they didn't have the money that a God of War or Devil May Cry may fetch. So seeing a couple reviews on 1up has me thinking that barring some minor annoyances, my want of these games could be justified.

After the jump, the Enslaved trailer

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Season's Beatings: Redemption, Oct. 15th - 18th

Its that time of year again. I’m sure anyone reading this is well prepared for the Midwest’s premiere fighting game tournament, but in case you are a new comer I would suggest venturing over to the Shoryuken boards and introducing yourself to some of the best and brightest minds when it comes to this amazing tournament. Now because of last year’s incredible turnout there I would suggest getting your money and skills in order. There will be a $30 dollar flat rate to enter the venue, so why not save up a couple extra shillings and enter a tournament or two.

As per the usual, I will be there with my camera documenting the event -- heck, I may even try my hand at a tourney or two. Rest assured, this is a tournament you do not want to miss. Daigo, Gamerbee, Choco and Momochi have already confirmed to be in attendance and if that doesn’t get you hype, then you may want to reconsider calling yourself a fighting game fan.

Stay tuned for further updates on SBV: Redemption.

After the jump are the details and official press release about the event thus far.

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Seasons Beatings 4: Schedule and Possible Streaming

Just in case you have not seen the fighting game forums, Seasons Beatings IV will be the stage where Umehara Daigo plays in a best of 10 match against long-time fighting game rival Justin Wong.  The event takes place October 16th through October 18th and after the jump will be schedule and streaming information.

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