The summer is almost over, and a slew of Sony Playstation games have made their way to my front door throughout the season. I looked at several from Sony for this review: Bloody Roar, Blasto, Final Fantasy Tactics, Jersey Devil, Gran Turismo and Einhänder. Overall, I'm finding the Playstation titles to be of excellent quality: a mature platform showing off its abilities. As these games are from Sony, they make the Playstation shine.
Being a huge fan of fighting games, I tore into Bloody Roar. I had played this one at the arcade, but can't remember the name ( beastalizer? ). The premise is always the same, so here's what separates it from the rest: the ability to morph into animals during combat. Eight characters are available to choose from, ranging from a fluffy white bunny to a wild boar. What sets this game apart is the fast pace and speed. You've got to be quick to stay alive. Morphing from fighter to animal is an excellent feature, with lots of cool effects to keeping you watching. A personal favourite is the lion attack where he tears out a piece of the opponents throat. On that note, I should say there is quite a bit of blood and gore on screen. Keep in mind that it definitely adds to the game.
Blasto is a third person romp through various space levels, with the main character maintaining his wise-cracking comments throughout. It definitely has it's moments, and is worth a rental for Blasto's razor remarks.
Final Fantasy Tactics is just what is sounds like: take the turn based combat out of Final Fantasy VII and make a game. If you enjoyed the combat, and like an RPG feel to your games, then give this title a spin. The graphics and animation are top notch, truly a feast for the senses.
Jersey Devil follows the same vein as Crash and Blasto: third person adventure, but with a horror twist. Again, if this is your bag then take a look.
Gran Turismo has received a lot of press, and for good reason. If you want the best driving game for the Playstation, check this one out. Arcade mode let's you dive into the action, while a sim mode takes you through every detail of the car and your driving career.
Einhänder is a side scrolling space shooter. Fast paced and furious, this game tests your reflexes. Excellent for all fans of side scrollers. Players choose a style of aircraft and then go at it. The usual floating bonuses abound: healing, power ups, additional weapons.
Luckily you don't have to take my word for it: go down to your local rental store and try out these games. Of course once a game sinks its teeth, you'll want to own a copy. Keep in mind the benefit of game rentals when considering purchasing a gaming console: while new games may cost up to $90, a three dollar rental will keep everyone's attention for the weekend.
by Scott VanderPloeg
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