Tag - name-of-the-game

 
 

NAME OF THE GAME

Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 1, 2006
Nintendo scores with consumers and then almost squanders its edge
Xbox 360 vs. PlayStation 3, Microsoft vs. Sony, DVD vs. Blu-ray -- there's a glimpse into the world of the hardcore game community. Tech talk and brand loyalty create enough static to scare away normal people who just want to play some games in their free time.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Nov 23, 2005
For giant-slayers, getting there is half the battle
Let's talk about "Shadow of the Colossus" and "Punch-Out!!" -- two masterful games that are remarkably similar and yet have nothing in common.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Nov 2, 2005
Once-lovable prince goes medieval
Like any other entertainment medium, it isn't hard to point out certain qualities that suggest whether a game was developed in Japan or abroad. Japanese games tend to be very character driven, boast a more artistic visual style and are often a part of a long-standing series. ("Final Fantasy XII" rings a bell.)
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Sep 28, 2005
'NBA Street' ain't got game
Take the official NBA license, a few dozen nerdy game designers, douse it with store-bought hip-hop flavor, and what do you get? "NBA Street Showdown."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Sep 1, 2005
Three cheers for cheerleaders
Male cheerleaders jump out of closets, burst into ramen shops and join the daily Japanese rat race -- in a bid to save humanity.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Aug 18, 2005
The Force is strong with this one
Pairing Star Wars with the Lego toy brand is a bizarre concept to begin with, let alone making a video game based on this surprisingly fun (and lucrative) cocktail. Since the Danish toy maker's release several years back of Star Wars-related items, collectors have gone crazy over Lego versions of their favorite characters such as Darth Vader, Yoda and Obi Wan. They all share Lego's signature look, right down to their hooklike hands and stubby legs. Even the ominous Death Star can be constructed out of hundreds of plastic building blocks. Now a video game version of this crossover is available for the PlayStation 2, with pint-sized Darth Vader intact.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jul 28, 2005
A one-way trip down psycho alley
Feeling that virtual, killer instinct when playing violent games is a guilty pleasure of the PlayStation era. We kill zombies in "Biohazard," Chinese warlords in "Dynasty Warriors" and police officers in "Grand Theft Auto." For many of us, the aim-fire-reload mechanics of games have become second nature. But in "Killer 7," new for the PlayStation 2 andGameCube, players evoke that killer instinct only to discover a digital peep-hole into the mind of a killer littered with psychotic visions and extreme paranoia, all with a hint of humor. It's a fresh approach to an age-old genre that makes "Killer 7" one of the most important games of the year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jul 7, 2005
Sega online adventure hits the PC
Not to be confused with the original "Phantasy Star Online" that hit the stores back in 2000, Sega has added some new content to this PC version and a slick subtitle: "Blue Burst." The game play hasn't changed much since "PSO" debuted on the Sega Dreamcast console five years ago, but the developers have made the game even more accessible for the international community.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jun 16, 2005
Ancient China never looked so good
Buyers of "Jade Empire" are greeted with laughable cover art and silly character names like "Furious Ming." At first glance, the mythological theme appears to be a mockery of ancient Chinese culture. But beneath the regrettable packaging lies an honest and fun game that engulfs players in an awe-inspiring virtual world, and in doing so, becomes a milestone in Western game design.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jun 2, 2005
Racer for PSP is a real drag
The appeal of the "Shutoko Battle" series (known as "Tokyo Xtreme Racer" abroad) has always been the way it gives players a free pass to race through a digital representation of Tokyo. For car enthusiasts and armchair racers thirsting for the thrill of hitting Kasumigaseki at 150 kph, the lure of "Shutoko" is hard to resist. On Sega's Dreamcast and Sony's PlayStation consoles, the series has been a retail success.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
May 19, 2005
Puppies for the digital age
Let me introduce Funky. He's a young, short-haired Chihuahua with a happy temperament and distaste for learning new tricks. With a job and family duties, it's hard to give Funky the attention he deserves. But I've surprised myself. Even though I'm more of a cat-lover than a dog-lover, I'm showing a great degree of commitment to this new pup. He's a great companion, he's got a wiry sense of humor and -- don't tell him this -- he's not real.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
May 5, 2005
Techno racing on the edge
The original "Wipeout" racing game hit the PlayStation in the midst of a worldwide cultural movement -- electronica. Beatboxes and keyboards were ringing in the new millennium as dance clubs saw renewed interest along with the club drugs that fueled the all-night raves. With its spacey visuals and techno soundtrack, the original "Wipeout" racing game was a digital companion to young Americans and Europeans caught up in the electronica new wave. Its success was pivotal in helping Sony shed the game industry's juvenile image that Nintendo had so earnestly maintained for nearly two decades.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Apr 21, 2005
Fast, furious -- and frustrating
In "Meteos," a new puzzle game for the Nintendo DS handheld, the denizens of the universe greet you with a plea (in earnest, broken English): "We want you, save our planet!"
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Apr 7, 2005
Finding fun in moral dilemmas
Steven Kent is taking some time off to pursue other projects. Stepping into the breach is experienced game reviewer Ryan Payton.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 24, 2005
The spy who stayed in the dark
When mankind becomes an endangered species due to the actions of an Indonesian terrorist, super secret uber-spy Sam Fisher is called in to make things right. Fisher is not a spy after the suave James Bond manner, with pretty women and luxury cars at his beck and call; he's more of a ninja for the 21st century.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 10, 2005
A tip of the hat to a venerable series
The kingdom of Hyrule is in trouble. But then, the kingdom of Hyrule is always in trouble, and so is its legendary princess -- Zelda.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Feb 24, 2005
A game darn near too scary
If you are looking for the biggest jolt video gaming has to offer, and you don't mind having nightmares, take a deep breath and try "Biohazard 4."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Feb 10, 2005
A treasure for the Game Boy
"Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories," a new role-playing adventure from Square- Enix for the Game Boy Advance, is an astounding achievement by Game Boy standards.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jan 27, 2005
Wonderfully easy on the eyes
Sony launched its new PlayStation Portable in Japan in December. According to Sony, it is slated to launch in the United States by the end of March. Who knows about Europe.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jan 13, 2005
Adult fun and gore galore
Here's my dirty little secret: Despite my reputation as a hardcore moralist, truth be told I love the "Mortal Kombat" games. When it's late at night and the kids are in bed, I'll sometimes pull out whichever is the latest title in the series -- surely the bloodiest of the bloody fighting games -- and play until my fingers go numb.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?