Shadow Fire

Silver gave a wide smirk. It was exactly what he'd wanted to hear. "Snappy!" he called. "Jump back and use AncientPower!" The Croconaw jumped back from the wave he'd made, before closing his eyes and generating a dazzling ball of energy.

Snappy chomped his jaws in anticipation, Silver watching with a blank expression. Every time these two battle, Cynder always wins... I wonder if he will this time. His fire isn't there like usual. Snappy took a few steps back, glancing down at the ground, before staring back at his trainer. "Okay..." the red-haired boy mumbled. "Go ahead. Surf."

Maintenance CompleteThe community forums have been upgraded. All functionality within established parameters. Maintenance Performed *Forum software upgraded. *Tracker system upgraded. *Tracker Hook installed. *New administrative BBCode added. *Global forum message hook installed.

Zubat screeched with pain as the electricity shot through it, knocking it out of the air, bringing it down to the ground. "Zubat..." Silver grunted. "Return. Snappy... it's your turn. Get him... now. Shadow Claw." The Croconaw snapped its jaws, before launching a Shadow Claw at the Ampharos.

Gastly succumbed to the attack, his eyes swirling as he fell into the abyss of unconsciousness. Silver recalled his Pokemon and glanced down. I wonder... who to use now... Nodding inwardly, the red-haired trainer released his Zubat, the winged Pokemon flapping around. "Zubat..." he said. "Supersonic." The bat gave a supersonic screech.

Gastly's Curse failed, the ghost Pokemon unable to move while casting the attack. Not able to dodge, he cringed as the Thunderpunch hit home, causing paralysis. Maybe I'm not giving him enough credit. He seems eager to finish. I guess he really hates me. Can't say I blame him.

Heh, actually, I should confess... a lot of these reviews are simply copypasta from ages ago... back at N64Projects actually. I've got Drive Forms sorted, and have for ages.

Silver's eyes narrowed slightly. Why isn't he fired up like he usually is? This is unlike him. Possibly because he knows I'm not giving it my all? Well, I better step things up a bit. "Gastly!" he suddenly called. "Curse!" Gastly nodded, the sinister smirk on his face as he cut half his power to place a curse on the Ampharos.

I shall not worry. Once again, welcome back.

For those of you who remember, Vex is a member of the previous community, who I've decided to allow back because I'm such an awesome guy like that. That said, welcome back Vex. Be sure to behave, okay? I want to believe that you are deserving of this chance.

Silver raised an eyebrow. It evolved. I must admit... he is something else. It's such a pity that I'm not really into this battle anymore. The red-haired teen motioned with his hands for Ethan to make the first move.

Closing his eyes, Silver knew it was over. Magnemite was totally unprepared for the attack, the embers making its metallic frame super-hot. Only moments later, it had fainted, Silver holding out the Monster Ball to recall the magnet Pokemon. "Gastly..." he mumbled. "I choose you." The ghost Pokemon gave a smirk as he moved into view.

A long time ago, I wrote a fanfiction that depicted the events that occurred at the end of Sonic Adventure 2, but with a twist. Now, anyone who's ever played Sonic games after SA2 will already know that . For the sake of this story, I made it tragic. Also, Sonic and Shadow were never in love, but in this story, they are. Now, as I have a lot more experience with writing fanfiction, I decided to write this story from the ground up. So now, there's more words, and a little more emotion. Sentences in italics are inner thoughts, and there is a flashback sequence, indicated by lots of text that is in bold italics. So here is my newest work, a remake of my original fanfiction, Final Feelings. Rating: * * * Final Feelings "No way that's getting through!" Sonic the Hedgehog, in his super form, held his hands up in front of him, attempting to push the falling colony away from Earth's atmosphere. Beside him, also in super form, the hero's doppleganger did the same. Shadow's fangs were clenched together in determination, to right the wrongs he had committed. That's when he heard the voice. "Shadow..." the young, feminine voice echoed in his mind. "I beg of you..." His head turning slightly, eyes widened slightly, he knew exactly who it was. "Maria..." His fur could feel the heat from the atmosphere, but no pain was felt. He was too focused on his task, and the voice speaking in his head. "Give them a chance..." Maria's voice echoed. "...to be happy..." Shadow gritted his teeth together, not noticing the stolen glances from his nearby rival. Shadow... when this is over... I'll tell you... The space colony suddenly shuddered and groaned from its entry into the atmosphere of the planet, causing Sonic to snap back to reality. The naturally blue hedgehog called over to the Ultimate Lifeform. "Now, Shadow!" Snapping back to reality, Shadow glanced over at Sonic, giving him a nod as the other hedgehog did the same. Both began to release Chaos Energy. "Chaos Control!" There was a blinding flash of light, which surrounded the colony, as well as the two hedgehogs. Moments later, they all disappeared, the colony reappearing the next second in a stable orbit. Shadow glanced down at Earth, his power weakening. "Maria..." he mumbled. "This is what you wanted, right? This is my promise I made to you..." Sonic flew next to Shadow, an exhausted grin on his face. "We did it, Shadow..." he murmured. "C'mon... let's get back to the ARK." Shadow glanced at Sonic solemnly and shook his head. "It's too late..." he whispered. "I've got no power left. I'm not going to make it. You need to hurry, Sonic. You've got enough rings." Sonic began to tremble. He didn't want to leave Shadow behind. "No..." he whimpered. "I can't... I won't..." Eyes narrowing, the naturally dark hedgehog looked confused. "But why?" the Ultimate Lifeform asked. "I've fulfilled Maria's wishes and will now join her for eternity. I'm not needed here anymo--" Shadow stopped speaking, perplexed further by the heroic hedgehog's actions. Sonic was now crying. Closing his eyes as if to accept his fate, they shot open once more when he felt strong arms flung around him. Sonic was embracing him. "You are needed here!" Sonic sobbed. "We need you, Shadow... I need you!" The doppleganger realised what Sonic was trying to convey. His cheeks lightly reddened, and he closed his eyes, concentrating the last of his power. "I'm sorry, Sonic..." he murmured. "But I can't go back. There's only enough power for one of us. It should be you. You have many friends, a world that needs you. Goodbye." Sonic cried out in protest as he felt a familiar energy ensnare him. Before he could call out Shadow's name, he felt himself fading, as if in slow motion. Clinging desperately to Shadow, he intended to bring the Ultimate Lifeform with him, but in vain. As he vanished, he caught sight of something he never thought he'd see... Shadow's sincere smile. "Sonic..." the Ultimate Lifeform whispered as the last of his power drained. "Thank you..." Sonic reappeared inside the colony, just in time to see Shadow return to his natural black colour. The dark hedgehog's eyes closed as he succumbed to the gravitational force of the planet, sinking through the atmosphere. Sonic cried out in anguish, not even noticing his own power fading back to its original force, his fur returning to its blue shade. He couldn't tear his gaze away as Shadow was burned up in the atmosphere. A strange sparkling in Sonic's hand made him notice that one of Shadow's bracelets had appeared in it. Clutching it to his chest, Sonic turned and walked away. ----- In another room, the others waited for the triumphant return of Sonic and Shadow. They had expected things to have turned out smoothly, which is why, when the door opened, and Sonic walked in alone and crying, they were confused. Rouge broke the silence by asking where Shadow was, leading to a brief shake of the head from the blue hedgehog and more tears. Gone... he's gone... The words went unspoken, but everyone had already realised, Shadow wasn't coming back. Walking over to Rouge, he handed her Shadow's bracelet and said nothing. "Hey..." the bat said softly. "Do you really think that the professor created him... Shadow... to carry out revenge on all those who lived here on Earth?" Hands clenched into fists, Sonic stared out the window, a faraway gaze in his teary eyes. "He was what he was..." the blue hero mumbled. "A brave and heroic hedgehog, who gave his life to save this planet... Shadow the Hedgehog..." I loved you... but you left me... so you could die... Rouge stared out the same window, mumbling that Sonic was right. The blue hedgehog walked away, leaving Rouge to go and 'pester' Knuckles, although for once, their conversation was civil. Sonic ignored it though, feeling as if he had lost himself. Remembering Shadow's words to him during the battle, Sonic felt his heart skip beats. "Am I really..." he mumbled aloud. "...the Ultimate Lifeform?" An annoying voice broke through his thoughts. Amy had asked Sonic what was wrong. Clenching his fists tighter, he had to will himself not to lose it at the pink hedgehog. It's not her fault... After all, she's just a naive little girl... Forcing a smile to his face, the hedgehog shook his head. "Oh, it's nothing..." he lied. "Come on! Let's go home, to the planet as cool and blue as me." The others left, allowing Sonic a moment alone to say his final goodbyes to the hedgehog who'd come into his life unexpectedly, causing much adventure and mayhem in his wake. "Sayonara..." he mumbled. "Shadow... the Hedgehog..." As he was about to leave, his inner demon spoke to him. You can see him again. There is a way... for you to be together for eternity... if you're strong enough to do it... Just go left here... and not right. Eyes narrowing, Sonic gave in to the suggestions of his inner darkness, and headed left. "Shadow..." the blue hedgehog whimpered softly. "Please wait for me..." The emerald eyed hero continued to walk, past a sign which read the ominous words, Airlock β. ----- Approaching the door that stood between him and the airlock, he placed his hand on the handle, unlocking it and stepping inside the small room. Now, there was only a few inches between him and the cold vacuum of space. His eyes closing and releasing more tears, he remembered back to when he had met Shadow. **FLASHBACK** "It all starts with this..." the black hedgehog muttered, holding a Chaos Emerald in front of him. "A jewel containing the ultimate power." Sonic stared at Shadow in surprise, his eyes drawn to the green jewel in his hands. "That's the... Chaos Emerald!" the hero called out, before realising something. "Now I know what's going on! The military has mistaken me for the likes of you. So, where do you think you're going with that emerald? Say something, you fake hedgehog!" As Sonic rushed towards Shadow, the black hedgehog held the Chaos Emerald in front of him. "Chaos Control!" A bright green light surrounded him, the dark hedgehog suddenly appearing next to Sonic, before disappearing and reappearing on the roof of a tall building. Sonic stopped in shock. "Woah... he's fast..." he murmued, before shaking his head. "Hey, it's not his speed. He must be using the Chaos Emerald to warp!" Shadow smirked down at him, his eyes gleaming. "My name is Shadow..." he purred. "I'm the world's Ultimate Lifeform. There's no time for games; farewell!" Using the Chaos Emerald once more, the self-proclaimed Ultimate Lifeform vanished again, leaving Sonic to be captured by the military. **END FLASHBACK** The blue hedgehog sniffled, wiping the fresh tears from his eyes. "Shadow..." he choked out. "Why? Why did you leave?" Another surge of sobs assaulted him, causing the hero to drop to his knees. His fists clenched so tightly that he began to seep blood from the palms of his hands. It just isn't fair! We only had a few days... it wasn't enough! "Shadow..." he whimpered again. "SHAAAAAADOOOOOOOOOW!" His voice echoed throughout the empty section of the ARK, his sobs the only answer to his cries. Shakily standing up, he glanced around in search for the switch to activate the airlock's override. I'll join you soon. ----- Tails was following everyone else, his ears drooped to indicate his sadness at Sonic's despair. "Sonic..." he mumbled to himself. "This isn't like you..." Glancing back to check up on Sonic, his heart freezing when he saw an empty hall. Stopping in his tracks, the vulpine attracted the attention of the group. "Where is he?" the fox whimpered. "Why hasn't he caught up yet?" Eggman stared down the hallway, seeming rather solemn. "He's suffered a crippling blow..." the scientist muttered. "Through our rivalry, I've never known him to get so emotional, but then again, nobody dear to him has been affected. It's always been he against I. Come. Let's all wait for Sonic at the airlock..." The others began to continue on, but Tails remained, the kitsune in deep thought. "Airlock α..." he mumbled aloud. "Airlock α? There's two airl-- Sonic! NO!" The kitsune turned around and began running the other way, causing the others to gasp out in confusion and follow. Tails ran as fast as he could, following signs around the empty colony, until he noticed the sign reading Airlock β. He sniffed, managing to pick up a scent. Sonic's definitely been past here recently... but he can't really mean to...? As Tails and the rest of the group rounded a corner, they stopped in shock, staring ahead in complete horror. "Sonic!" they all yelled in unison. "SONIC!" The blue hedgehog turned his head so he was looking over his shoulder. The tears flowing from his eyes, he gave a sad smile. Whimpering, Tails ran over to the airlock entrance portal, and attempted to open it. "Please, Sonic..." he begged, tears beginning to pool in his eyes. "Don't do this... don't throw your life away!" Sonic shook his head. The hatch was sealed tight. His sad smile widening, he pressed a hand onto the glass, an act which Tails mirrored. "I'm sorry, little buddy..." the hedgehog said softly. "I can't live in a world without him. I... love him... and I'll do anything... to be with him..." Giving a loud wail, the kitsune shook his head, pounding his hands on the glass in a futile attempt to break it. Sonic smiled his sad smile, before turning away, his eyes closed. "Take care, guys..." he murmured, his hand reaching for the override button. "Goodbye..." As everyone screamed out in desperation, the hedgehog pressed the button, sending the airlock open, his body flying out into the freezing vacuum that was space. His eyes opening, he stared down at the beauty that was Earth, staring even though he began to feel the effects of vacuum exposure. As inertia pushed him towards the planet, he could feel the gravitational pull drag him towards the atmosphere. Eyes closing a final time, he pushed away the pain as he felt himself drifting away from this reality. Shadow... I can join you at last... Those were Sonic's last thoughts as he stopped breathing. As his body burned up in the atmosphere, tears sparkled from his eyes, shooting back a final message to those aboard the ARK as he died. We will meet again... someday. The End

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/PDXBLA.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Martin Hollis<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Rare, 4J Studios<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> David Clynick, Grant Kirkhope, Graeme Norgate<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Eveline Fischer, Tony Daniels, Louise Tilston<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Plot</u></b><br /><br />Many millions of years ago, a sentient space vessel crashed into Earth's Pacific Ocean. Called a Cetan, it contained a weapon that could, in theory, cause the failure of fundamental bonds between molecules. So as to feign its destruction, the Cetan sent an emergency pod, while destroying several key elements that could link it to its final resting place. Unfortunately, millions of years later, an alien race known as the Skedar, would find the pod and begin searching for the Cetan, their search leading them to Earth. <br /><br /> The Skedar were not the only alien race that had an interest in Earth. The Maians, the alien race often represented in Earth lore, have had interest in the human race for several millennia, believing them to have great potential, but remaining hidden, so as to let the development of the primitive species to proceed naturally. In 1985 AD, Daniel Carrington managed to contact a Maian vessel, thereby establishing a link between the two peoples, in secret. The Maians agreed to let him "develop" their technology, and the Carrington Institute was founded.<br /><br /> The Maians had fought the Skedar for several centuries, earning an uneasy cease-fire, but Skedar fanatics would always test this truce. The fanatics intended to wipe out the Maian race, but they needed help to recover the weapon from the Cetan. So they began searching for human companies that could help them. The dataDyne Corporation, famous for high-grade military technology, was at the top of the list. Cassandra deVries, dataDyne's C.E.O. was approached with an offer that was too good to be true. With help from corrupt N.S.A. head agent Trent Easton, the Skedar were closer to achieving their goal. All they needed was a ship that would take them to the bottom of the ocean, and an artificial intelligence that would help regain control.<br /><br /> The Carrington Institute was suddenly sent an urgent request for asylum by one of dataDyne's scientists, Dr Caroll. It seemed that he had voiced objections about dataDyne's plans, and the company was planning to perform mental restructuring as opposed to simply firing him. Due to the urgency of the request, as well as the possibility of getting an inside view to dataDyne, the Carrington Institute sent its best agent to retrieve Dr Caroll. Enter newly trained agent Joanna Dark. It is up to this femme fatale to ensure that the fate of the world, and of the galaxy, is not a grim one.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Review</u></b><br /><br />I first played Perfect Dark on the N64 in 2001. As someone who conquered GoldenEye 007, I felt a similar game with a female protagonist would be even better. At first, I was overwhelmed, and unimpressed. Until I realised that I'd had the brightness set a little too low. Upon adjusting it, and playing again, I found it was a great, compelling game that drew away several hours of my days. The XBLA version expands on the original, improving graphics, while maintaining the feel of the original.<br /><br /> The graphics of the original were great for its time, and the XBLA improves the already awesome graphics of this N64 classic. Character models are improved, textures are replaced, and the resolution is upgraded to 1080p. One thing I do have a little gripe with is the new look of the Maians. On the N64, they were rather cute. On the XBLA, they look rather freaky, but we can't win 'em all. =P<br /><br /> The music is one of Perfect Dark's best features. All of the music suits its level perfectly, and makes you feel as if you are in the game. Many of the tracks include a secondary tune, which the game changes to when certain circumstances are met. Some tracks are even closely related to Banjo-Tooie, another game made by Rare around the same time. Sounds are also in abundance, and sampled vocals are included, allowing for voices to be heard. Another gripe I have is with many of these voices, specifically Joanna's. She's a bad-ass secret agent, and yet she sounds more like a counselor, or something.<br /><br /> The Missions are plentiful, allowing three main difficulty levels; Agent, Special Agent, and Perfect Agent. Each difficulty expands on the last. Agent is naturally the easiest, giving the least amount of objectives, more powerups, and a less intelligent AI system. Special Agent is an intermediate system which provides a little more challenge, while Perfect Agent challenges players with the most objectives, a super-smart AI, and less powerups. The higher a difficulty, the more damage Joanna takes from weapons fire. If the game is completed in Perfect Agent, a new mode is unlocked, Perfect Dark, which allows players to set the health and accuracy of the enemies, as well as how much damage you take from enemy weapons. Aside from these customisations, Perfect Dark setting plays exactly like Perfect Agent, in that the number of objectives, and general difficulty is much higher.<br /><br /> Like other FPS games, Perfect Dark has its own multiplayer mode, complete with different scenarios. There are also challenges you can compete in to increase your game ranking. Another bonus to this game is the ability to add computer players (bots) to the game. When in Combat Simulator mode, these bots can work on your team, or against you. Bots have a range of difficulty settings, as well as custom rules. There are also two other multiplayer modes that are based on the single player campaign mode; Co Operative and Counter Operative. Co Operative allows another player to play alongside Joanna, helping her complete missions. Counter Operative allows a second player to control an enemy in an attempt to eliminate Joanna. Whenever a player controlled guard is killed, the second player respawns as another guard elsewhere. This can be advantageous to Joanna's player, in that the counter operative can still kill "comrades", allowing Joanna to complete the mission easier, acting as sort of a double agent.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Overall</u></b><br /><br />I loved the game on the N64, and I love it even more on the XBLA. Most of the bugs on the N64 version (namely framerate issues) have been sorted, allowing for a much nicer play. In short, if you have 800 Microsoft Points, and love FPS games, I recommend you get this. You won't be disappointed.

<br /><br />Director: Casey Hudson<br /><br />Producers: Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk<br /><br />Music: Jack Wall, Sam Hulick, David Kates, Jummy Hinson<br /><br />Starring: Mark Meer, Jennifer Hale, Kieth David, Seth Green, Martin Sheen, Yvonne Strahovsky, Adam Lazarre-White<br /><br />Rating: <br /><br /><br />Plot<br />The threat from Saren's ambitions are over and the galaxy seems to be returning to normal. However, even after your victory, strange activity seems to be happening in the Omega Nebula. The Normandy is sent to investigate possible geth activity in the region. However, after four days of scouring the area, no geth appear to be around. Suddenly, an unidentified vessel intercepts the Normandy and fires on it, causing massive damage. The resulting explosion kills Executive Officer Pressly. An order is given to evacuate, with heavy casualties as the crew rush for the escape pods. Shepard remains on board to help Joker escape. Just as Shepard manages to get Joker inside the escape pod, the unidentified ship fires again, sending Shepard into space. Joker's escape pod launches just in time. The ship is fired upon again, obliterating it, the debris tumbling down towards the nearby planet. Shepard's suit is damaged, and decompresses. Out of oxygen, the commander's lifeless body falls through the planet's atmosphere.<br /><br />Time passes, and the commander's body is recovered, a woman's voice explaining that "The Lazarus Project will proceed". Although not much is left of the commander's body, cybernetics are used to bring the Spectre back to life. Awakening prematurely, Shepard is able to hear the voices of a man and woman, both concerned over the commander's condition. The woman gives the order to sedate the commander, to restore lifesigns to normal. However, sometime later, the commander is awoken once more, to find the facility under attack. Shepard manages to secure a pistol and fights past hostile mechs, meeting two operatives, one of whom Shepard recognises as being with the woman in the med-bay. The other admits he works for Cerberus, an organisation the commander is well-aware of. As the three make their way through the facility to evacuate, they nearly manage to make it to the evac area, when a woman, the same from earlier, appears behind the doors and kills Wilson, revealing him to be the cause of the attack. Shepard and the Cerberus operatives leave the station.<br /><br />After being taken to a Cerberus base, Shepard is introduced to the Illusive Man, leader of Cerberus. He explains that human colonies have gone missing, and he is the one who spent countless resources on restoring Shepard to life, and that two years have passed since Shepard's death. Shepard and the two Cerberus operatives, Miranda and Jacob, are sent to the human colony of Freedom's Progress, where they quickly come under attack from reprogrammed mech units. Shepard is reunited with Tali'Zorah nar Rayya (now known as Tali'Zorah vas Neema), who explains that a quarian called Veetor is on his Pilgrimage, but is unstable. Shepard finds the quarian, and learns some unsettling information. The Collectors, a strange race, are behind the abductions. Armed with this information, the commander returns to the base, relaying the findings to the Illusive Man, who instructs Shepard to investigate, and build a new crew. He also has another surprise for the commander. Joker walks in and shows the commander Cerberus' new innovation... a brand new Normandy. The ship has been recreated by Cerberus, with some special upgrades, including an artificial intelligence known as EDI. Shepard is then instructed to recruit the new squad. The mission to save the galaxy continues...<br /><br /><br />Review<br />Mass Effect 2 is a huge step up from the first game. It brings back the amazing gameplay of the previous title, but it also adds a whole bunch of new, unique features. More worlds to explore, additional assignments and new pathways to choose.<br /><br />First of all, if you've played Mass Effect, you can import your character from the first game (only if you've finished it). The game will remember certain aspects from the first game, such as your appearance, background history, class, and mission information. If Urdnot Wrex wasn't killed on Virmire in Mass Effect, he will be alive in Mass Effect 2. Also, whichever character you sacrifice on Mass Effect will not be seen in Mass Effect 2. Additionally, any romance that you engaged in will be remembered. This won't stop you from pursuing a romance in Mass Effect 2, but remember, all your choices in Mass Effect will have an affect on how the Mass Effect 2 story proceeds, and likewise, your Mass Effect 2 choices will effect Mass Effect 3, when the game is released, should your character survive the final mission of this game.<br /><br />A big plus for me is the removal of the Mako. Understandable, since the original Normandy is gone, and technology is a little more updated. Secondly, the battle system has had a total overhaul. In Mass Effect, you essentially had an infinite supply of "ammo", although your weapon overheated after extended use, upon which you had to wait for it to cool down before you could continue using it. Mass Effect 2 extends upon that, introducing an ammunition-based system. Your weapons have thermal clips, which are needed. When your gun fires a specified amount of rounds, your gun can no longer fire until you replace your thermal clip. This is done automatically after you've exhausted your rounds and still have enough "ammo". Otherwise, simply press the X button, and you'll reload. Be wary though, for if you have no extra "ammo", you can't use the weapon. Luckily, many enemies drop thermal clips nearby upon being killed. Another addition to the battle system is the really cool veins that appear onscreen which indicate how close you are to death. The denser the veins, the closer you are to being killed. Take cover to restore health.<br /><br />The visuals in this game are stunning. Although Mass Effect had an awesome graphical detail, this game extends on it. The many environments on different locales do well to compliment the feel of the location. You can actually feel as if you're right there. The music also adds to the mood, some of the melodies allowing you to feel different things at the appropriate times. For example, some provide an ominous feel, which to me, made my skin crawl. I was cautious in my movements, whereas others felt sad. The story was well thought up, and is a much darker change from Mass Effect's. Replayability is also an option, so if you finish Mass Effect 2, surviving the final mission, you can save, and continue to finish incomplete assignments, and start a new game, choosing to import your completed ME2 save, allowing you to keep your level, skill points, and money.<br /><br /><br />Overall<br />I totally recommend this game for those who enjoy the sci-fi/adventure genre of games. If you've played Mass Effect, by all means, this game is a must-have. Hours upon hours can be spent experiencing total enjoyment. With a great replay factor, it's easy to see why this game is a diamond in the rough. Bring on Mass Effect 3!

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/ME1.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Casey Hudson<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Richard Jacques<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Mark Meer, Jennifer Hale, Kieth David, Marina Sirtis, Fred Tatasciore<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/4-5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Plot</u></b><br />The year is 2183 A.D., and humanity is still taking its first steps in the galactic stage, in which contact with aliens is an everyday occurrence. Interstellar travel is made very easy thanks to the wonderous Mass Relays. A young Commander of the Earth Alliance, Shepard is sent to the distant world of Eden Prime to oversee the recovery of an ancient artifact, belonging to the Protheans, an alien species 50,000 years extinct. Shepard's mission is overseen by a Turian known as Nihlus. Nihlus is a Spectre, a law-enforcement officer who is given power to exceed the law. Shepard's performance on this mission will determine whether a human will be given the honour of becoming a Spectre.<br /><br />Unfortunately, all does not go well. Eden Prime has been attacked by cybernetic creatures called Geth. These fully sentient cyborgs are breaking through the colony in an attempt to find something. When Nihlus goes ahead to investigate, he runs into another Turian Spectre called Saren. As the two talk, Nihlus is quickly killed by Saren, who before long, finds what he was after. The newly discovered Prothean Beacon, a mystical device which lifts him into the air with a magical force, and sending images through his head. The geth he is controlling are ordered to set up charges and destroy any evidence of their presence.<br /><br />Their schemes are foiled by Shepard, a human male named Kaidan Alenko, and a female soldier known as Ashley Williams. Shepard is unable to stop Saren from escaping, and is also subjected to the Beacon's power. The Beacon is then rendered useless. Returning to the majestic stealth-fighter Normandy, Shepard reports the findings. Nihlus is dead and Saren has gone rogue. Captain Anderson orders the Normandy back to the Citadel inside the Serpent's Head Nebula, to discuss the findings with the Citadel Council.<br /><br />The Council disavow their belief that Saren has gone rogue, but it soon is discovered that evidence exists to Saren's betrayal. Shepard manages to secure this evidence, obtained by a Quarian woman known as Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. Thanks to her evidence, Saren is exposed, and Shepard is made the first human Spectre, immediately sent on a mission to apprehend the rogue Turian. Quickly promoted to Captain, Shepard is given command of the Normandy and immediately sets out to find Saren. Many worlds are in the vast galaxy, all with dangers unlike any other. Can Saren be stopped in time before his evil ambitions, whatever they are, become reality?<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Review</u></b><br />Created by Bioware, Mass Effect brings many genres together. RPG, Third-person shooter, action/adventure, strategy... I could continue. The game is handled wonderfully, and I find it to be a stunning and very enjoyable game. You are given the chance to select your own character, including their gender, appearance and background story. You can also choose what his/her first name is.<br /><br />Graphics are pure awesomeness. Thanks to an advanced system, the environments are able to quickly be displayed as a realistic setting, while often minimising load times and lag. The game uses the same style of cutscening all the way through, although this is one of the game's many strengths. Characters show moods on their faces, and have many postures to complement their feelings. Music is limited in respect to the amount of tunes that play in the game. However, it doesn't suffer as one would expect, because they are all a great way to immerse yourself into the universe.<br /><br />The combat system on this game matches that of a third-person shooter, mixed with a role-playing game. Shoot enemies with your arsenal of weapons, or attack them with your biotic powers. Your armour and shields will help you manage damage you take, however the further into the game, the increasingly more difficult it becomes, especially on a higher level setting. When you land on planets, you are in control of a makeshift automotive known as the Mako. This is where the game loses a point, because it is extremely difficult to perfect the vehicles weapon-aiming system. However, the Mako can more often than not drive up extremely steep slopes. When you gain enough experience, your squad levels up, allowing you to select which attribute can be upgraded.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Overall</u></b><br />Mass Effect is a game that all sci-fi lovers should give a chance. Aliens, spaceships, saving the galaxy from total annihilation? What's not to love? While the storyline isn't too vast, and can be completed in a matter of hours, there is a multitude of alternate assignments that can be unlocked, making for days of fun to be had. Play this game now. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Director: Joe Asanuma, Naoko Kusumi Producers: Yoshinori Yamagishi, Hidekazu Terakawa Music: Motoi Sakuraba, Asunaro Starring: Yuri Lowenthal, Katie Leigh, Dick Smallberries Jr., Sam Gold, Julie Maddalena Rating: Plot Spacedate 346... an intergalactic war rages on, while on the underdeveloped planet known as Roak, its inhabitants are blissfully unaware of the troubles occuring beyond their world. On the continent of Muah, in the town of Kratus, a young girl known as Millie, heads into the town's defence agency. Her friends, Roddick and Dorne are waiting, bored due to the lack of excitement. However, they soon face adventure as bandits attack the town. They are swiftly defeated, and the three friends are branded heroes of the town. All is not well, however, as a strange disease begins to spread around. A disease which turns the hapless victim into stone, preserving them for eternity. When the outbreak is found to be more serious than previously expected, Roddick, Milly and Dorne head for nearby Mount Metorx, where it is said that magical herbs grow which can treat anything. Before they arrive however, it is discovered that Dorne has contracted the disease, which is spread by touching an infected person or animal. When the three friends arrive, strange light appears before them, and two strangers appear. They identify themselves as Ronyx J Kenny and Ilia Sylvestri, humans from a planet called Earth. Ronyx and Ilia transport the three Roakian friends to their orbiting spaceship, where they attempt to treat Dorne's condition. Unfortunately, the disease is parasitic, and currently untreatable. The only way to treat it is to create a vaccine from the blood of the first host of the virus. His condition worsening, Dorne asks to be sent home to his bed, so he can "die" in familiar surroundings. He is sent back with his friends and Ilia, who watch sadly as he turns to stone. Returning to the ship, a strange vessel appears as if from nowhere. It is a Lesonian vessel, and the negotiators aboard admit solemnly that they are responsible for the recent events. However, they were coerced into the acts against their will. Unfortunately, finding the host of the virus they unleashed would be impossible, as the host was killed 300 years prior. Ronyx and Ilia soon realise that the Pangalactic Federation they are part of has abandoned Roak's rescue mission. Risking court-martial, they tell Roddick and Millie of a way to travel through time, and steal the spaceship from the spacedock. They make haste for a planet called Styx, which has a sentient Time Gate. Upon their arrival, Ronyx appeals his case to the gate, which accepts their motives as goodwill and allows them to travel to Roak, 300 years past. As they all enter the vortex, Ilia stumbles, causing her and Roddick delay. When they enter the vortex, they end up separated from Ronyx and Millie. Their journey begins to reunite with their friends, as well as finding the source to the mysterious disease that plagues Roak in 300 years time. Review Square Enix have managed to kick some serious butt with this game! Originally released as Star Ocean for the SNES in 1996, it didn't see release outside of Japan. The only English adaptation was thanks to emulation, and a fan-made translation patch. However, thanks to a massive fanbase, it was recreated on the PSP as Star Ocean: First Departure, and given a proper English version. The visuals are wonderful, a realistic background showing in various locations. Various cutscenes are played in anime-style, and all character dialogue is voiced with the text. The world map is a 3D wonderland, in which exploration can take some time. The music fits the game perfectly. Some tunes are upbeat and cheerful, others more gloomy. The battle system is Real Time, and as such, positions and choices can make or break the battle. When walking through an area where enemies are, whether the overworld or a dungeon, a random battle may be initiated. In this case, you'll enter battle mode, where you must defeat all enemies in order to win. Escaping is also another alternative, should you be too weak to face a particular enemy. The only character you control during the battle is the team's leader. All other characters are controlled by computer, using the tactics you specify via the main menu. Naturally, bosses are tougher than conventional enemies, so ensure that you save as often as you can. Overall Star Ocean: First Departure is a game that I'd recommend for anyone who owns a PSP. Hours of entertainment can be had, the storyline is wonderful, music perfectly fits the mark, and the overall game is just too good to refuse.

Since this IS a community related to video gaming, I have resurrected the "Reviews" section, where you can submit your own personal reviews to video games. There is also an Official Review section, which is where you'll find reviews given by the administration team of The GCN. Want to submit a review of your own? Great! However, before you do, be sure to check out the announcement that provides the template which is to be used. Review Template Happy reviewing!

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/KH2.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Tetsuya Nomura<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Shinji Hashimoto, Yoshinori Kitase<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Yoko Shimomura, Hikaru Utada<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Haley Joel Osment, David Gallagher, Hayden Panettiere, Tony Anselmo, Bill Farmer<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Plot</u></b><br /><br />A scattered dream that's like a far-off memory... a far-off memory that's like a scattered dream... I wanna line the pieces up... yours and mine.<br /><br /> It has been one year since Sora defeated Ansem and sealed the door the Kingdom Hearts, but what has become of our hero? A young boy named Roxas, who lives in Twilight Town is having these strange dreams about a boy he has never met, along with battles he never fought. Trying to put them aside, he sets his sights on the trophy which can be won by being victorious in the Struggle tournament. However, when Vivi suddenly gains great power, a strange hooded figure appears to guide Roxas. Suddenly, he's attacked by strange figures, and his Struggle weapon is useless. Without warning a Keyblade appears in Roxas' hand and he fights off the figures. As events unfold over the course of a few days, Roxas finds Sora, and is told by a strange man that he represents half of Sora, his dark side to be precise. Accepting his destiny, Roxas closes his eyes and returns to Sora, making the two halves whole again.<br /><br /> As Sora wakes from his extended dream, it is discovered that he is still searching for Riku, believing him to have found a way out of Kingdom Hearts. With Donald and Goofy by his side once again, he sets off. Suddenly, the friends are attacked by the same creatures that Roxas was, but while he does valiantly, the enemies keep coming. Just as it looks like our heroes are too weak to fight, King Mickey appears, dressed in the same black clothes as the mysterious man that Roxas saw. He explains about the creatures, known as Nobodies, who are created when a strong-hearted person becomes a Heartless. Now Sora must fight against two enemies, as well as stopping both the Heartless and the Nobodies from getting control of the worlds. Will he succeed?<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Review</u></b><br /><br />As Kingdom Hearts was awesome, I felt Kingdom Hearts 2 should also be just as awesome, if not more. I wasn't disappointed. This game is as much graphically appeasing as it is with music. With the introduction of new characters, as well as the return of many from the first game, it's got a vast gameplay to it.<br /><br /> One thing I was hesitant about was the Gummi Ship system, as it sucked balls in the first game, and not in the good way. However, the programmers made an excellent comeback with the new system, which is more accurate, as well as a lot more fun. It also has an overworld, so instead of simply choosing your next destination as you did on Kingdom Hearts, you actually get to fly a spaceship around, and be completely random with it. Sweet as!<br /><br /> Now for the battle system. As with all the newer Square Enix games, the battle system is set in Real Time, so there's absolutely no margin for error, as you can be killed without knowing what hit you. Luckily, it's similar to the original KH system, meaning if you do die, you are revived nearby. However, unlike the first game, in KH2, you can actually save while in battle. By stepping on a Save Point, you can press the triangle button to open the save menu and you can save. No more dawdling, or having to wait for the battle to end. The same thing goes for opening treasure. As Triangle is now the action button (don't worry, X is still the Fight button), you can open treasure in mid battle. Oh, and another nifty feature is the Trigger Command. If you see Triangle flashing above the menu while battling, you can use specific movements that can be used to your advantage. Some of these moves come at a price, which is most often, if not always, all of Sora's MP. However, when Sora's MP runs out, a guage starts filling up, and once full, all his MP returns. There's also a Drive system, but I haven't figured out how to use it yet. =P<br /><br /> I must say one thing though... Square Enix decided to finally make a game where the final boss is actually the hardest boss in the game. Damn them. =P<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Overall</u></b><br /><br />If you've played Kingdom Hearts, but haven't played Kingdom Hearts 2, you fail at life. Either that, or you just don't have the money for it. In that case, I recommend you save up and get it, because you should play it. Right now.

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/KH1.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Tetsuya Nomura<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Shinji Hashimoto, Yoshinori Kitase<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Yoko Shimomura, Hikaru Utada<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Haley Joel Osment, David Gallagher, Hayden Panettiere, Tony Anselmo, Bill Farmer<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Plot</u></b><br /><br />Sora is an average 14-year old boy, living with his best friends Riku and Kairi on peaceful Destiny Islands. Curious as all teenagers are, the three believe that there are other worlds, and plan to set out on a journey to explore these other worlds. However, the night before they're set to leave, their lives are turned upside down when a strange storm occurs, and the Destiny Islands are attacked by strange creatures known only as Heartless. Sora is then pulled away from his friends, and everything goes dark.<br /><br />Meanwhile, far away in Disney Castle, Donald Duck, a dedicated magician, discovers that the king, Mickey Mouse, is missing. Only a note is left behind, left with Pluto, King Mickey's loving dog. Donald instantly seeks out Goofy, a clumsy but loyal knight, and informs him of the king's disappearance. Queen Minnie and Princess Daisy also are briefed on the king's disappearance. After reading the note aloud, Donald and Goofy follow the king's request, and head for a world known as Traverse Town, in search of the boy who wields the keyblade.<br /><br />Arriving in Traverse Town some time later, Donald and Goofy begin their search, but it seems Pluto has found something, or rather, someone. That someone is Sora. Unknowing of Pluto's find, Donald and Goofy continue searching. Sora wakes up, believing himself to be dreaming at first, but quickly, he realises his dilemma, and sets out to find Riku and Kairi. Instead, he finds himself attacked by Heartless. Noticing a strange sword that looks like a key, the same blade he'd dreamt about, Sora fights and defeats the Heartless, but it then confronted by a strange man with a sword shaped like a gun. Swiftly, Sora's defeated, but as he comes to, he is told of his destiny. Eventually, he meets Donald and Goofy, who inform him of their mission, and explain their dilemma. It appears stars have been blinking out one by one, and worlds vanishing. It's up to Sora, Donald and Goofy to travel from world to world, and seal the mystical keyholes, restoring peace to each world.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Review</u></b><br /><br />As a Final Fantasy fan, I'd heard several stories about Kingdom Hearts, but had first heard about this game by my liking of Sonic X. Many people had expressed a distaste to the character Chris Thorndyke, as he seems to be an identical twin of Sora's... so to speak. Anyway, I had eventually decided to watch the opening movie on Youtube, and I must say, I instantly said to myself, "I am so getting that game when I get the money!" Unfortunately, the only PS2 I had access to belonged to my brother. However, as he also has a Gamecube, and I have no working games with MY Gamecube, I was allowed to borrow his PS2. I had seen a copy of Kingdom Hearts in the local EB Games store, and decided to trade some of my brother's 'rarely-played due to dislike' games.<br /><br /> However, EB Games are ripoffs, and for 5 games, two of which were brand new Platinum games, they were going to give me only $21. So I took my business elsewhere, and after lots of walking around, I found the local Revolution CD store, a place which sells DVDs, CDs and games. So, in there, I traded the five games for $31, which was kinda cheap, but still better than EB Games' offer. I decided to do some looking around, and sure enough, on the shelf, was a copy of Kingdom Hearts for $29.95. I quickly grabbed it, and bought it. As soon as I got home, I put it in and tried it... and man, I was instantly hooked!<br /><br /> The graphics are wonderful, the music is magnificent, and the voices are a force to be reckoned with. Now, while there are several voices that aren't the original Disney voices (many for obvious reasons, considering a lot of Disney movies were made in the 40s and 50s), they're all perfectly suited for the parts. However, let's move onto the battle system.<br /><br /> The battle system uses a Real Time scheme, meaning that while you're making selections on the menus, you can still be hurt. At first, I was apprehensive, as I was never really fond of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles' Real Time Battle system... but I quickly came to like Kingdom Hearts' battle system, but at the same time, I feel there are cons to it as well. Sometimes, I have been unexpectedly killed by an otherwise weak enemy, simply because it managed to get a critical strike on me. I loathe that, but unlike Final Fantasy games, in which you're forced to resume from a recent save, in Kingdom Hearts, if you are killed, you can continue from the area near where you were killed. This makes things a tad more bearable.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Overall</u></b><br /><br />Kingdom Hearts is a game I would DEFINITELY recommend, especially for those who love RPGs. Now yes, it may be a little childish, but remember, this is a Squaresoft (Square Enix) and Disney collaboration, so some childishness is to be expected. A great game, one that will surely entertain for a very long time.

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/FFXIII.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Motomu Toriyama<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Yoshinori Kitase, Joe Moeller<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Masashi Hamauzu<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Ali Hillis, Troy Baker, Georgia van Cuylenburg, Reno Wilson, Vincent Martella, Rachel Robinson<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/platinum.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Plot</u></b><br /><br />Cocoon, a paradise that floats over the beautiful, but deadly land of Pulse. It is home to millions of denizens, and powered by majestic beings known as fal'Cie. A train leaving from Cocoon is preparing to "purge" its occupants, until a mysterious pink-haired woman attacks from within. She frees the occupants, and with the help of a dark-skinned man with an afro, who introduces himself as Sazh Katzroy, the woman faces off against Cocoon's special military forces.<br /><br /> Meanwhile, a blond-haired man is assisting the woman in her liberation. With his freedom fighter group, codenamed NORA, the enigmatic man also helps take on the military forces. It would seem that this man, named Snow, and the pink-haired woman have a mutual agenda. Fighting to protect the people who were to be "purged", they have no idea that their lives are soon to change. The military attacks, bringing about several casualties, including the mother of a young boy, who asks Snow to protect her son, but dies before she can reveal his name. When Snow and the pink-haired woman, known only as Lightning, head off to their destination, the boy follows, fueled by a desire for revenge against Snow. A young girl aids the boy, giving him the words he needs to find the courage to do so.<br /><br /> Arriving at their destination, Snow meets up with the boy and girl, known as Hope and Vanille. Battling their way through a strange shrine, they manage to rendezvous with Lightning and Sazh, and manage to find Lightning's sister, Serah, who is also Snow's fiancee. She is a l'Cie, a person who is branded by a fal'Cie and given a Focus to complete. l'Cie must complete their Focus within a certain time, or they face becoming a Cei'th, a monster who slaughters indiscriminately. This is seen as a fate worse than death. The reward for completing one's Focus isn't much better. Eternal life, trapped inside a crystal. Serah begs for everyone to save Cocoon, before turning to crystal, indicating her Focus was completed. She leaves behind a crystal tear, entrusted to Snow.<br /><br />Making their way to Anima, a fal'Cie from the lowerworld of Pulse, Lightning and Snow attack it, before the shrine rumbles. On the outside, the military are using all their might to destroy it. In desperation, Anima reaches out with its energy, wrapping around the group. It shows them strange visions, before rendering them unconscious, and as the ruined shrine falls, Anima uses the last of its power to turn the landing area into crystal. Waking up, everyone realises that Anima has branded them as Pulse l'Cie. Their world turned upside down, the group now faces a difficult decision. Complete their Focus and be snared in crystal for eternity, or fail and roam the land as monstrous Cei'th? Either way, their adventure begins.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Review</u></b><br /><br />Like many RPGs, Final Fantasy XIII has a complex storyline, and focuses a lot on battling various enemies. Also, like many other RPGs, there are lots of cinematic sequences. Music for this game is not composed by Nobuo Uematsu, a first for one of the main numbered series. However, Masashi Hamauzu does an excellent job in his place. The music fits the game perfectly, adding the necessary mood to whatever event is occurring in-game.<br /><br /> The visuals are stunning. The FMV movies rival that of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, providing a lifelike image. Environments are dazzling, and took my breath away. The corridors of Anima's shrine, to the beautiful forest of the Sunleth Waterscape. From the breathtaking plains that are the Archylte Steppe, to the ruined village of Oerba. Much detail was placed into the graphics to make this game feel as if you were actually looking at a real location. The enemies also have a great look to them. Some look cute and harmless (although those are usually the deadliest), while others are fearsome.<br /><br /> Combat has returned to a style similar to that of Final Fantasy X-2, in which the ATB Gauge returns, and allows characters to react all at once, providing their attacks are synchronised. However, in place of MP, Cost Points are introduced, meaning that certain abilities use a certain amount of ATB sections. As such, party members' health is restored to full after each battle. Also included is a new feature known as the Stagger State. When dealing a certain amount of percentage of chain attacks to enemies, an enemy will enter the Stagger State, in which they glow orange for a short time, and damage dealt can be almost triple of their pre-staggered state. Battles are also rated, based on time taken to beat the enemy, as well as the amount of points per second awarded.<br /><br /> Paradigms are used in battle, and can be the key to your victory, or the cause of your demise. There are six kinds of class available: Commando, Ravager, Sentinel, Medic, Saboteur, and Synergist. Each role has its own style of play. For example, Commandos specialise in physical attacks, while Ravagers are trained specially to use magic. Paradigms can be shifted in battle, and is a seamless transition. In order to help in battles, you can also upgrade weapons and accessories. There are many effects that can be gained from upgrading. As for the levelling system, it is reminiscent of the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy X. However, each character has their own specific pathway. This system, the Crystarium, requires Crystal Points (CP) in order to advance a character's stats for a certain class. CP is rewarded after battles.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Overall</u></b><br /><br />Final Fantasy XIII has taken its place as my favourite of all Final Fantasy games I've played. I recommend that anyone who loves RPGs to play this, as they will be entertained for hours on end. Truly a game worth owning, whether on the PS3, or Xbox 360.

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/FFX-2.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Motomu Toriyama<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Yoshinori Kitase, Hideki Imaizumi<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Noriko Matsueda, Takahito Eguchi<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Hedy Burress, Tara Strong, Gwendoline Yeo<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/4-5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><u><b>Plot</b></u><br /><br />The Eternal Calm... eternity without Sin. It seemed like only yesterday that Yuna and her guardians vanquished Sin, putting an end to his destruction forever. However, there was a price to be paid. <i>He</i> disappeared. Tidus, Yuna's first love, merely a dream of the fayth, disappeared, having fulfilled his promise to the fayth. Two years pass, and Yuna is still hoping to find him. However, one day, Rikku visits Besaid Island with a sphere that Kimahri found on Mount Gagazet. Upon watching the sphere, Yuna's eyes widen in surprise. It appears to be Tidus. Curious, Yuna joins Rikku and sets off to search for more spheres. Joining a group of sphere hunters known as the Gullwings, Yuna sets off to add more chapters to her story.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Review</b></u><br /><br />I first played this game when my brother got it for Christmas a couple of years ago. It seemed like a rather interesting game. The very first Final Fantasy sequel saw Yuna's struggle to keep the Eternal Calm free of conflict, while saving it once more from an apparition of a dead guy from 1000 years ago, as well as wishing for her love to come back to her.<br /><br /> The battle system has changed back to Active Time Battle, but with a twist. Instead of the battle system used in Final Fantasy IX and earlier, Final Fantasy X-2 utilises a Real Time ATB system. For example, say a fiend appears. The characters' ATB gauges fill. Characters input their commands, but all can attack together, creating chain attacks, instead of one character attacking at a time. It confused the hell out of me at first, but I quickly adapted to it, and it's my favourite style of ATB. The character advancement system has reverted to basic levelling, and integration of the Job System attempts to make it easier to use for the beginner player. Battle transitions are similar to Final Fantasy X, but instead of a shattering effect, the screen looks like it had been slashed several times at once, before the pieces are ripped away, falling forward, before the battle field is shown.<br /><br /> Graphics aren't that much different from Final Fantasy X, making this game lose a mark. However, a plus is that YRP (Yuna, Rikku and Paine) can jump, something that couldn't be done in Final Fantasy X (without being automated). Another negative though, is that Yuna can't swim, unless playing blitzball, another system which has been butchered since Final Fantasy X. One big difference between this game and its predecessor is the ability to skip cutscenes (non-CGI) by pausing and then pressing the Square button on the controller. However, by doing this, you may lose your chance at attaining 100% completion.<br /><br /> Music is a touchy subject with many people, this game being one of the first that didn't have Nobuo Uematsu's legendary music. Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi tried their best to follow in Uematsu's footsteps, meeting mixed results. Some of their tracks are awesome, while others leave much to be desired. It took me a while, but I warmed to their music. After all, I feel that a couple of the tracks in this game are better than the Final Fantasy X alternative. The integration of Yuna singing in this game was quite intriguing as well. Jade from Sweetbox has an amazing voice, and 1000 Words almost brought tears to my eyes. I say almost, because my brother ruined the moment. =P<br /><br /> Another feature which I adore is New Game Plus. One thing that infuriated me about Final Fantasy X, was that once you finished the game, that was it, there was no saving. However, in Final Fantasy X-2, after you beat the game, you get the option to start New Game Plus, which allows you to play the game from the very beginning, while retaining all the equipment, dresspheres, Garment Grids, perishable items, gil, and Al Bhed Primers from your previous save. In fact, my save file was about the fourth or fifth playthrough before attaining 100%.<br /><br /> Final Fantasy X-2 has multiple endings, depending on what requirements have been fulfilled. The normal ending will always be viewed. The sad ending can be attained by not fulfilling certain tasks, the good ending can be attained by fulfilling the required tasks, and the perfect ending can be attained by having 100%, AND fulfilling the tasks to get the good ending. However, I feel that the perfect ending is rather disappointing, as it isn't CGI, only a normal cutscene that lasts for almost 2 minutes. Wooooow. Another point loss.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Overall</b></u><br /><br />Final Fantasy X-2 is a good game, and I would recommend playing it only if you're not overly concerned about the girlishness that emanates from it... but then again, Final Fantasy games can still be girly, and still be great.

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/FFX.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Tetsuya Nomura<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Yoshinori Kitase, Hironobu Sakaguchi<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Nobuo Uematsu, Junya Nakano, Rikki<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> James Arnold Taylor, Hedy Burress, Matt McKenzie, Tara Strong, John Dimaggio, Paula Tiso<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><u><b>Plot</b></u><br /><br />In Zanarkand Ruins, a group of travellers on a pilgrimage sit around a campfire, relaxing for a brief while. A young boy with wild blond hair stands up and walks off, stopping momentarily to place a hand gently on a young girl's shoulder. The girl closes her eyes and gives a sad smile, before the boy moves away and walks up a little hill to look out over the ruins. Gazing around in wonder, he reminisces of the past, with the cryptic words: "Listen to my story. This might be our last chance.".<br /><br /> It seems that the mystical world known as Spira is under threat from a thousand year old malevolence known to all as Sin. The bringer of death and destruction, it is believed that Sin is a punishment for humanity's crimes in the past. Forbidden by sacred teachings to use a great deal of machines, known as machina, the people of Spira are in constant fear of Sin, and turn to summoners, people who can summon majestic creatures known as aeons, to defeat Sin and bring about the Calm, a 10 year period without Sin. For one thousand years, summoners have travelled to the mysterious city of Zanarkand in order to attain the Final Aeon, the only method of defeating Sin. Now, a young girl called Yuna is stepping up to offer her services as a summoner. With the help of her guardians, one of them a young boy named Tidus, who claims to be from Zanarkand, she travels to lands far and wide, on a pilgrimage to defeat Sin and bring the Calm for the people of Spira.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Review</b></u><br /><br />To be honest, when I was first told about Final Fantasy X, I had my reservations about it, as the very first Final Fantasy game I had played, Final Fantasy VIII had given me a negative feeling about the entire Final Fantasy series. However, when a friend of mine brought it over, and my brother began playing it, I began feeling like I should give the game a chance. I was instantly drawn to the beautiful music and stunning graphics. It was also the first game I'd seen which had advanced CGI, making cinema sequences look very realistic. Also, there were voices... the very first Final Fantasy game to bring voice-acting to the franchise. That settled it, I wanted to play it.<br /><br />I wouldn't get my chance to play the game until my brother had gotten very far, and was stuck on a boss. One day while he was at school, I tried it out, and after losing to the boss three times, I managed to wipe him out the fourth time. I couldn't believe it. I still wanted to play, so I copied his file (heheh) and continued, beating my way past enemies (known as fiends), and building the characters' strengths. Pretty soon, it became evident. I was hooked.<br /><br /> Final Fantasy X is unique to most of the other Final Fantasy games, as in place of the Active Time Battle System, this game instead uses a Conditional Turn Battle System, meaning that characters take turns battling, and while animation always happens during battle, the enemy will not make its move until it's their turn, indicated by the CTB gauge on the top right of the battle screen. This allows beginners to think about their moves, instead of needing to hurry and make their choice of move, lest they be slaughtered by the enemy. The battle transition is in my opinion, one of the best. When you get into a random battle, the screen shatters, the broken pieces flying off the screen to reveal the battle field. While it can get annoying in areas where you just want to pass through as quickly as possible, it's an all time favourite.<br /><br />Character levelling takes on a new approach, as instead of levelling up the usual way, Squaresoft implemented a Sphere Grid system of building up the character's stats. It can take some time to get used to the sphere grid system, but once you have perfected how to use it, you'll find it a lot easier to cope with than say, the Materia system from Final Fantasy VII. Battling works in the same way as some previous Final Fantasy games. While there are 7 characters to use, only three of them battle at a time. If all three characters are knocked out, or unable to battle due to petrification, the game is over, and you must reload from a previous save. If there's one bit of advice I can offer, it's this:<br /><br /><b>SAVE AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN!</b><br /><br /> Moving onto the graphics, I can honestly say that Final Fantasy X has some of the best video game graphics I've seen, especially in an RPG. The scenery is awe-inspiring, and characters mouths move with the words they speak. The mouth-flap may not match, as it's programmed to follow the Japanese script, but still, the fact that it's more realistic than any other Final Fantasy game that came before it bypasses this. Fiends are another amazing graphical feat. Their rendering is awesome, as are attacks used in battle. Squaresoft had come a long way since Final Fantasy VII and even Final Fantasy IX. Without a doubt, graphics make up a great deal of this game's positive reviews.<br /><br /> Music is once again composed primarily by legendary Nobuo Uematsu. All the music in this game fits perfectly, and is always played at the appropriate situation. Also, there are two songs which are used in this game, one which is used twice, as an original and then an orchestral version. The opening cinema features the song Otherworld, sung by Bill Muir. What better song to play for a city that's about to be destroyed than a heavy rockish sounding song? And in Macalania Spring, when a certain heartwarming scene plays, the song Suteki Da Ne? (Isn't It Wonderful?) by Japanese singer Rikki is played. The orchestral version of this song is played during the credits. Needless to say, the music is great. So great, in fact, that I have the OST on my computer. =P<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Overall</b></u><br /><br />If you're a fan of Final Fantasy, I COMMAND you to play this game! Final Fantasy X offers superb gameplay, and its realism may even make you feel like you're actually living in Spira, journeying to save it from Sin. Sure, you're forced to follow the storyline for quite some time, but that's another good thing about the game... being guided rather than left to fend for yourself from word go. With Final Fantasy X, you can bring the fantasy to life within you.

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/CCFFVII.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Hajime Tabata<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Hideki Imaizumi, Yoshinori Kitase, Shinji Hashimoto<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Ayaka, Takeharu Ishimoto<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Rick Gomez, George Newbern, Josh Gilman, Oliver Quinn, Steve Burton, Andrea Bowen<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/4-5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><u><b>Plot</b></u><br /><br />As the Shinra Electric Power Company continues with its war against Wutai, it receives intel that one of its 1st Class SOLDIER operatives has gone AWOL, taking a bunch of 2nd and 3rd Class SOLDIER operatives with him. It's up to Zack Fair, an upbeat 2nd Class with aspiration to be 1st Class, and a hero, just like the famed Sephiroth, to find out what happened, and to bring Genesis back. Set seven years before the events of Final Fantasy VII, this game puts the pieces together as to the history of the events in Final Fantasy VII. Find out the truth behind Cloud and Zack's relationship. What was the true motivation for Sephiroth's destructive mutiny? Play the game and you'll discover all this and more.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Review</b></u><br /><br />Okay, this has got to be one of my favourite Final Fantasy games ever. In fact, I would have to say it now IS my new favourite. The storyline is so deep, and while it doesn't necessarily take too long to complete the storyline part of the game, you have several sidequests to keep you amused, many of which can be a great help to your battle experience.<br /><br /> Crisis Core, like most of Square Enix's newer games, utilises the Real Time Battle system. Basically, this means that your random encounters will not effect gameplay too much. Once you step into a zone where a random encounter will occur, a voice will announce "Activating Combat Mode", and Zack will draw his weapon. Within seconds, you have control of the battle, and must think quickly, utilising several techniques in order to defeat your enemy. The Limit Break system has been replaced with the DMW (Digital Mind Wave), a slot machine system using character's faces and numbers between 1 and 7. However, it's not just used for Limit Breaks. The DMW can also give many positive effects to Zack... and can even help level him up. It's tricky to explain, but as you play the game, you get used to how it works. As is the case with Final Fantasy games, if you are killed, you must reload from the most recent save point.<br /><br /> In order to level up, the DMW must initiate a Modulating Phase. This freezes the battle and enlarges the slot system. This occurs when the DMW shows the same character on the left and right slot. The middle slot will spin during the Modulating Phase, and if it stops on the same character, you will use that character's Limit Break. However, even if you don't get the same character, if you get two matching numbers on the DMW, you will level up the materia in the slot of the number you have paired up. If you get three 7's, Zack will go up one level.<br /><br /> Graphics are awesome, and some cutscenes use the same CGI utilised in Advent Children, and the more recent Final Fantasy games. Otherwise, graphics are quite similar to Final Fantasy X when not in a pre-rendered cutscene, which in itself is a fantastic feat, considering the size of the PSP's screen. Everything has great detail, and is awe inspiring.<br /><br /> Many of the musical compositions are remakes of the original Final Fantasy VII tunes, while others are completely original. However, instead of losing points for this, it gets more, as the remade tunes sound much better than the originals, due to the limited hardware capabilities of the original PlayStation system. As is the case with Final Fantasy, the common bleep sound is present, therefore retaining the nostalgia that is Final Fantasy. The game's theme song, known as Why, is a beautiful song sung by the wonderful Ayaka. It plays at the end of the game, when... well... if you've played Final Fantasy VII, you'll know. I'm not gonna spoil it for you. =P<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Overall</b></u><br /><br />If you've played the other Final Fantasy games, you should definitely give this a try. If you don't have the game, I suggest you buy it, and if you don't even have a PSP, I suggest you purchase one, as well as the game. It is well worth the money. I'm glad I bought my copy. It easily surpasses most, if not all of the Final Fantasy games. Square Enix have truly earned my respect.

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/FFV-Advance.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Ryuma Nuno<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Hiroyuki Miura, Masashi Taniguchi, Shinji Hashimoto<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Nobuo Uematsu<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/3-5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><u><b>Plot</b></u><br /><br />Princess Lenna watches as her father, King Tycoon rides away on his wind drake, a Hiryuu. Something is wrong with the wind, and the king must check the Wind Shrine. However, the king doesn't return, and suddenly, the wind comes to a complete stop. Meanwhile, on a ship some distance away from the castle, a young pirate remarks on the wind having stopped. In another location, a young man is sitting by a campfire with his Chocobo. This man is Bartz, a traveller of the world, and noticing that the wind has stopped, he mounts his chocobo and begins to search around for clues. It doesn't take long for him to find Princess Lenna in distress, and quickly, he vanquishes the monsters that are attacking her. The two then meet an old man who is lying unconscious next to a strange meteorite. He can't remember much, although he remembers his name... Galuf. After discussing the importance of events, the three part ways, only to find themselves banding together again, embarking on a quest to save the world from destruction.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Review</b></u><br /><br />Final Fantasy V Advance is certainly a lot better than the original Final Fantasy V, released on the Super Famicom (SNES). It features a better translation and a few added extras, but apart from that, it doesn't differ too much from the original in gameplay.<br /><br /> To be honest, this game is very confusing, as you're instantly left to fend for yourself in a gigantic world. Sure, your path is limited for a small while, but it's very easy to get lost the further you proceed through the game.<br /><br /> Final Fantasy V uses the Active Time Battle system. Basically, a gauge fills up for each character and when it's completely filled, that character can make a move. As usual, if your characters are all knocked out, or petrified, the game is over. However, a major difference is that this game utilises FOUR battle characters instead of the standard three.<br /><br /> Character levelling uses the standard level-up system combined with the job system. A character can learn different abilities depending on the job they have. For example, a Blue Mage can learn enemies attacks, while a White Mage can heal the party's status abnormalities and restore health. It's quite confusing at first, but eventually, you'll get the hang of it.<br /><br /> Graphics are kinda sub-par, considering how old the game originally was, but disappointingly enough, the graphics for the GBA version weren't greatly improved. This lost a few points.<br /><br /> Music is composed by Nobuo Uematsu, unsurprisingly. Most of it does great justice, though the GameBoy Advance's music driver caused the music to be less desirable than that of the original SNES version. All in all though, it's still pretty good music.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Overall</b></u><br /><br />Final Fantasy V Advance is a good game to play if you're feeling a modern-retro feeling. It's a good game, but I found that once I completed it, I cast it aside for something less confusing.