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May 11, 2024
 

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Steven L. Kent
For Steven L. Kent's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Sep 9, 2004
Return of the plant people
"Pikmin 2" may be old news around Japan, but it's fresh out in English.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Aug 26, 2004
Shedding light on Doom 3
There's a slight glitch in the instantaneous transport system that Union Aerospace Corp. (UAC) is developing in its Mars labs -- it opens the portals of Hell.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Aug 12, 2004
Managing to make droids dull
"Front Mission 4" for PlayStation 2 is a turn-based combat-strategy game in which players pilot robots. All of these elements, except maybe the giant robots, are central to understanding the latest offering from Square Enix.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jul 29, 2004
Old-school fun and honor
OK, I'll admit it again, I am a sucker for well-made old-style games. The "Metal Slug" series is not especially old, but I love the way it has refused to adapt to the brave new world of 3-D gaming.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jul 15, 2004
A hero's work is never done
In "Spider-Man 2" the movie, Peter Parker is constantly late for work, science class and get-togethers. In "Spider-Man 2" the game, we find out why.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jun 30, 2004
Into you like a diesel truck
Richard B. Riddick, a savage killer with see-in-the-dark eyes and ice water running through his veins, wants out of the futuristic penitentiary known as Butcher Bay -- the setting of "The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay," a new offering for the Xbox from Vivendi Universal.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jun 17, 2004
Puzzle-solving grudge match
Feeling rather bored with life, Donkey Kong, Nintendo's 900-pound gorilla, breaks into a toy factory and steals a shipment of mechanical Mario dolls. To return the dolls, players must help Mario chase the big ape through 40 single-screen levels of chutes and ladders.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jun 3, 2004
Sims creator: always unique
Will Wright, the creator of "The Sims," may be most accurately described as a cross between Stephen Hawking and Willy Wonka. He has a quirky and ironic sense of humor and a large and loyal following in the gaming world.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
May 20, 2004
Bigger isn't always better
When I visited the Pokemon Center near Tokyo Station recently, the line into the store wrapped all the way around the block. There was a one-hour wait to get in. When I asked if the store was always this packed, a clerk said, "It's usually much more crowded."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Apr 22, 2004
Drive-in kitsch delivers big
What do American's know about monsters and monster movies?
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Apr 8, 2004
Namco has a hit on its hands
It's not often that I review games that I can't pronounce; but on a recent visit to Namco's corporate offices in Tokyo, I could not get my lips around the name "Katamari Damashii."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 25, 2004
A legend returns better than ever
Ryu Hayabusa, last hope of the Hayabusa Clan, is one of the video game world's most famous ninja. Last seen in 1995, in Tecmo's "Ninja Gaiden Trilogy" for Super Famicom, Hayabusa is one of the few old-school game characters who remains vivid in many gamers minds despite a long hiatus.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 11, 2004
This Cat falls flat on the mat
Don't look for traces of Dr. Seuss in "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" coming out from Vivendi Universal Games for Xbox on March 25. He's not there.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Feb 26, 2004
Spacecraft takes us back to future
Between the early niche years of "Pong" and the release of "Pac-Man," video gaming became where people went to play science fiction.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Feb 12, 2004
Classic game builds on game classic
Nintendo's Metroid has always been more popular in the United States and Europe than in Japan, but I'm really not sure why. The series follows the adventures of Samus, a female microbe-massacring bounty-hunter/astronaut, in some truly incredible space armor.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jan 29, 2004
Zip and zap -- Sonic's back
"Sonic Heroes," a very entertaining new arcade adventure from Sega for GameCube, Xbox and PlayStation 2, has four background stories -- and not one of them make sense.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jan 15, 2004
Green man hulks his weight about
"Hulk," a game based on the new Universal Studios movie, has an element that is missing from most games based on superheroes -- fun.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Dec 25, 2003
Egypt game brought to life
Sphinx is an ancient but not unathletic Egyptian hero with gangly arms and a lion's tail. Tut, short for Tutankhamen, is a goofy prince turned into a mummy before his time by an evil brother -- but being a mummy has certain advantages.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Dec 11, 2003
Mortality vs. morality
James Cash is the death row inmate and protagonist of "Manhunt" -- an ultra-violent new game for PlayStation2 from Rockstar Games -- and is given a new lease of life when his lethal injection turns out to be a sedative.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Nov 27, 2003
Hobbit's-eye view of world
You cannot put yourself in Frodo's shoes as Hobbits walk barefoot. You can, however, walk in Frodo's virtual footsteps.
How the discovery of a giant sword in Nara offers clues into ancient Japan
Archaeologists say a 1,600-year-old wooden coffin at the Tomio Maruyama tumulus in the city of Nara was kept in good condition probably because it was protected by a layer of clay and copper ions that had seeped out of the mirrors that were buried together.
Japan bread recalled after rat parts found inside packs
Pasco Shikishima has recalled 104,000 packs of its white Chojuku bread after parts of a rat's body were discovered in two of them.
What we know so far about the case of the burned couple in Tochigi
Flowers are laid on the bank of a river in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, where the charred bodies of a Tokyo couple were found last month.
Japanese students' English proficiency is improving
An education ministry survey has shown that the English proficiency of public junior and senior high school students in Japan is continuing to improve.
Is Modi’s party heading for a stunning election loss?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign tactics have escalated, including anti-Muslim rhetoric and fearmongering, reflecting his ruling party's desperation.
Japan's logistics firms seek partnerships to cope with driver shortage
Japan Post CEO Tetsuya Senda (right) and his Seino Transportation counterpart Satoshi Takahashi announce their companies' agreement on joint long-haul truck operations, in Tokyo on Thursday.
How the discovery of a giant sword in Nara offers clues into ancient Japan
Archaeologists say a 1,600-year-old wooden coffin at the Tomio Maruyama tumulus in the city of Nara was kept in good condition probably because it was protected by a layer of clay and copper ions that had seeped out of the mirrors that were buried together.
Unlike 10 years ago, Japan's new security bill sparks little debate
The Lower House starts discussing a security clearance bill on April 19 in Tokyo.
Japan’s tween skateboarders get head start on preparations for 2028 Olympics
Ibuki Matsumoto competes at an event in Osaka on April 21.
Will Australia’s next frigates come from Japan?
The Mogami-class frigate, which features stealth capabilities and is operated by Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force, falls within the very broad guidelines of what is being sought by Canberra.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi
Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi

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