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Retro-Review: Parasite Eve [PlayStation]

Parasite Eve
Sony PlayStation

Developer: Squaresoft
Publisher: Square Electronic Arts
Release Date: 9 September 1998
Rated: M

 

If you ask me, Parasite Eve is Square's best game on the original PlayStation.  I know all the Final Fantasy fanboys are crying "Blasphemy!" right now, but hear me out.  Parasite Eve was a step in a much more mature direction than the usual fantasy claptrap Square had been churning out with regularity since the days of the NES. 

I'm not trying to take anything away from the Final Fantasy series or FFVII, widely heralded as one of the best games of all-time.  I'm simply saying that Parasite Eve is the more entertaining of the two to me.  Featuring the unique (for the time) active time battle system, a creepy sci-fi storyline, the usual stunning pre-rendered cinematics that Square is famous for, and one of the best, most atmospheric soundtracks to ever grace a video game, Parasite Eve is a perfect picture of the PlayStation's effect on the gaming universe.

Review: Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain [PlayStation]

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
Sony PlayStation

Developer: Silicon Knights
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
Release Date: 31 October 1996
Rated: M

 

It has been nearly a decade since the first game in the Legacy of Kain series was released.  Since that time, 4 more games have been released, spanning various platforms to complete one of the largest, deepest stories in gaming history.  The Legacy of Kain has been a fascinating one indeed and has proven that great storytelling stands the test of time.

Though not without its problems, Blood Omen is still one of the PlayStation's best titles.  Its vast world and genre-melding gameplay elements offer up plenty of hours of entertainment and the superb story will enthrall you, making you want to complete it.

Review: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
GameCube

Developer: Silicon Knights
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: 9 March 2004
Rated: M

When Metal Gear Solid was released on the PlayStation in 1998 it was a revolution in gaming.  Hideo Kojima's vision of a cinematic stealth action game was fully realized and quickly became one of the largest, most beloved franchises in modern gaming.  It took a long-standing, cult-favorite series and brought it into the new generation by maintaining all that made it great to begin with and using the power of the hardware to deliver a more immersive experience.  Though it looks dated, MGS on the PlayStation is still one of the greatest, most influential video games ever released on any console.

So when Silicon Knights, best known for their work on the original Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and the standout GameCube action-horror title Eternal Darkness, was charged with the task of recreating the game for the Cube, fans had a reason to be excited.  After all, Silicon Knights are a team that knows the GameCube hardware and with series creator Kojima still producing the project they couldn't fail.

Review: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night [PlayStation]

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Sony PlayStation

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: 30 September 1997
Rated: T

 

Every once in a while a game comes along that reminds you why you got into gaming in the first place.  The finest iteration in the long-running Castlevania series, Symphony of the Night, is just such a game.  Combining all the elements that made the previous games a success with light RPG sensibilities, brilliant graphics and special effects, and one of the most memorable soundtracks in a series renowned for its music, SotN is a 32-bit masterpiece.

The story is classic Castlevania: Dracula has been resurrected and you've got to stop him, etcetera.  There's nothing particularly new about it, except this time you play as Dracula's son, Alucard, whose last appearance was in the NES classic Castlevania III, albeit in a supporting role.  This time Alucard has been thrust into the lead and, seeing the harm his father's resurrection can cause, sets out to stop him.

Review: Unreal Tournament III

Unreal Tournament III
PlayStation 3

Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Midway
Release Date: 11 December 2007
Rated: M

After a rough start and an almost endless stream of bad ports, it's good the see the PlayStation 3 get some quality titles.  Ratchet & Clank Future, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and now Unreal Tournament III, courtesy Epic Games.

Already a hit franchise amongst PC gamers, the Unreal franchise has never really made a smooth transition to consoles.  The frenetic, high speed gameplay just doesn't translate well to a controller and up until now sacrifices have always been made in order to get many of the games' intricately designed levels to fit into the limitations of a console.  All that has finally changed with the PS3 version of UTIII.