GadgetJax Reviews: Tadpole Treble for Wii U and Steam

Image from the games page on Steam

What defines a video game? Is it the thrill of action that you get from a complex (or in some cases, simplistic) battle system? Is it the invigorating narrative that gives a game an engaging story to tell? Or maybe it could be the excitement of competition, where several players go head-to-head for one to arise champion and proclaim him or her self the victor?

Now, how would you feel if I told you that it's entirely possible to design a great video game that features none of those traits? For some, this might not sound like a video game at all, as most games feed from the concept of challenge. Yet, today's game does just that.

Our review for today is Tadpole Treble.

But just what is Tadpole Treble? The name of the game is unlikely to ring any bells. So, I present a quick bit of backstory on the development of this uncanny title.
Tadpole Treble was primarily developed by Matthew Taranto. The name isn't immediately recognizable, though, because good ol' Matt isn't known for game development at all! Rather, Matthew is renowned for writing Brawl In The Family, a Webcomic series primarily about Super Smash Brothers and the games each Smash character comes from.
The original strip ran from 2008 to 2014, mostly focusing on Kirby from the Kirby Dream Land series. Perhaps one or two of you have heard the line 'I'm gonna get you, Kirby' online at once. Or, maybe you've noticed the immense popularity of Waluigi as an internet meme icon - yep, you have Brawl In The Family to partly thank for that.
Development for Tadpole Treble started with an online Kickstarter to raise funds for the game's overall development. Thanks to the loyalty of dear readers, Tadpole Treble was successfully Kickstarted, eventually releasing in 2016 for both the Wii U and Steam services.

Tadpole Treble has no major plot, so to speak; It's about as simple as any game you might have played from the 80's. You play as Baton, a young Tadpole who gets washed away from the rest of her family and must return home by swimming through excess lines of sheet music. Nothing special, but a thick story could have detracted from the rest of the game, so I won't complain.
Gameplay is simple as well: Just guide Baton through the musical score, dodging obstacles that represent the notes to each song. You press up or down to move Baton, and hit any button on the controller to slap your fin. This fin slap can hit bamboo chutes for extra points, whack cymbals for a quick jump, or knock away pesky mosquitoes. It couldn't get any more simple than that.
The music of Tadpole Treble is the driving soul of the game, but it isn't of the 'over-energetic' style you would expect in your usual game. Each land you swim through uses new instrument styles, like pianos and flutes. Not exactly something you would expect in the digital age, would you? A few of the lands you visit even feature songs with full vocals; there are only about three of them, but they're some of the most memorable parts of the experience. Thunder Creek is the best of the three.
I must compliment the art direction of this game as well. Matthew's track record as a web cartoonist really shines through here. It has vague similarities to a children's picture book, in both style of art and animation. A new dimension of experience is opened up by the picturesque style achieved here.

The most annoying thing about this title, though, is its length. Tadpole Treble is a very short game, totaling at just a bit over an hour. Short games aren't bad, but the $9.99 price tag may have you thinking twice before you invest in this title.
There are plenty of bonus challenges to take on, as well as a fun level designer mode that lets you compose your own music and swim through it, but the base game is still a bit on the light side. If you aren't a bit of a 'completionist', you'll find yourself putting down Tadpole Treble once the main quest is through.

Don't take the small story mode as a disincentive, though. Tadpole Treble satisfies not as a game, but as an experience. It has a unique gameplay premise, as well as flavorful music and graphics to match. Fans of Brawl In The Family will get an extra kick out of the game, as there are several continuity jokes peppered throughout the adventure.
If you're in the mood for something new, Tadpole Treble is right for you.

...drat, did I just unintentionally make a rhyme? Suddenly it's like a 'discount rhyme warehouse' in here.

Read the Brawl In The Family comic strip at this link: http://brawlinthefamily.keenspot.com/

Here is the trailer for game: 

GadgetJax Reviews: Cave Story (PC, Wii, 3DS)

   After two months of doing shortened reviews, I think I would like to go back to a more explorative review. This time, we won't be covering a book OR a movie. Rather, we're going back into the wonderful world of video games, and the game of today is Cave Story.

What is Cave Story? Well, of course it's a story, and it's probably about a cave, right? Or, maybe it's a story about Cave Johnson from Portal 2. Nah, I take that back: It's probably just about a cave.
      Before getting to the actual game, though, I would like to cover a bit of Cave Story's history: This game was independently created by just one man, Daisuke 'Pixel' Amaya, and released completely free of charge in 2004 (In Japan, the game is subtitled as 'Dokutsu Monogatari'). The game slowly garnered attention from the western gaming community when it was given an English translation. Within the following years, Cave Story amassed a huge fanbase, as did 'Pixel'. This fad continued to grow as 'Pixel' teamed up with Nicalis Inc to develop updated versions of the game for WiiWare, DSi, 3DS, and Steam. In some respects, Cave Story could be considered one of the first and most influential Indie games ever created!
      To avoid spoiling any of the game's story (haha, get it?), I'll just be covering the first bits of monologue during the game. You wake up in a large cavern with no idea who you are (you won't learn your name until later) and where you came from: after searching around, you meet a village full of rabbit-like denizens known as 'The Mimiga'. These creatures tell you that an evil Doctor has been kidnapping their kind, and you head out to rescue them. Of course there's much more story than that to find in the game, but I recommend living that story yourself: This is NOT the game you would want to spoil. Really, don't spoil it for yourself or anyone else.
     
      Now, onto gameplay: Cave Story is known by many as a 'Metroidvania' title. Unlike traditional platformers, a Metroidvania platformer does not have segmented levels. Rather, the entire game is linked together as a singular world that can be independently explored at any time - as long as you can access that area in the story, anyway. Your main character can run, jump, and shoot in any horizontal or vertical direction.
      Upon booting up, you'll start with just a single weapon, the Polar Star, but you'll slowly collect more and more. Your arsenal expands to include a missile launcher, a fireball blaster, and more. What makes Cave Story's weapons different is the unique Experience System: Every time you bust an enemy, they drop EXP for you to collect. If you pick up enough EXP, your weapon will eventually level up. Each weapon maxes out its power when it reaches Level 3. The catch? If you receive any damage, your weapon will lose some of the EXP you collected for it. You'll want to play carefully to get through the caves with your weapons still at max power. Here's a diagram to see how the EXP system works for your first weapon:

      Cave Story's weapon system is more dynamic than just its experience system, though: some weapons can only be unlocked by trading certain weapons away, and some needed to be crafted by fusing together one or more weapons. There are a total of 10 weapons to be found: 5 of them are found naturally, and the other 5 are optional through trades or combinations. The extra weapons are fun to find because they add lots of replay value to each Cave Story experience.
     
      Advice to new players: this game is incredibly challenging. There are no difficulty options in the freeware version; only the versions of the game on Steam and Nintendo include Easy Mode. Cave Story will infuriate you to no end if you aren't up for a fight. Cave Story also features a secondary ending, but accessing it without knowing where it is in advance is nearly impossible. Even if you do manage to find it, you'll have to fight your way through an extra dungeon. Oh, that last dungeon is a heartache and a half.

Final Thoughts:

Cave Story is awesome. Why use words to describe this great game when you can just play it right now? You can download the original freeware version at this link: http://www.cavestory.org/download/cave-story.php - The updated versions of this game on Nintendo and Steam will cost a bit more, but are worth it for players who want the definitive Cave Story experience.

Recommendation Level: Maximum (Worth every penny - or, try the original version: you won't regret it either way.)

GadgetJax's Top 10 Sega Genesis Games!

Everybody is waiting for something at one point or another. For some, they want to get their hands on the DVD version of Star Wars VII when that comes out. For others, they're waiting for Summer Vacation already. And then, there is probably at least one person on earth who's thinking the following thing:

"Where is Jax?"

Yeah, I'm back! Or, is this counted as a comeback or not since I technically never left? Besides, I wrote that 'Gaming Comic' article only a month ago, so I guess it hasn't been THAT long. Whatever.
Today, we're back to video games, and what better game console to discuss than the Sega Genesis? Not only does this console stand as one of the best from the 8 and 16 bit eras, but it's also one of the most affordable, since you can get the console nowadays for about $30 bucks or so. This article is all about my personal favorite games on the console. Unlike my previous list, there are no rules. Why put rules on a Top 10 list in the first place, anyway? It's not like it's a competition!

#1: Sonic 3 & Knuckles (1994)

Why is the top of the list my first mention, you ask? C'mon, let's be realistic; Sonic 3K topped my favorite games list back when I did that last year, so it's not like putting it at the end would surprise anybody. Besides, we all know that Sonic 3K is already everybody's favorite Gensis game. How could you hate such a quick-paced and exciting platformer, especially one with so many options for how to play? You get 3 different characters to complete the main story with, there are over 10 different Zones within the game, and the lock-on technology from the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge gives you a bunch of cool additional features, like the option to play Sonic 2 as Knuckles himself. Sweet, right?

#10: Pulseman (1994)

Would you believe me if I said that this title was made by Game Freak, the same dudes that run the ever-popular Pokemon franchise? What a twist indeed.
      Pulseman doesn't stand as much different than most platformer games in terms of gameplay, but the aesthetic appeal of it seals the deal. Just like the Mega Man titles, Pulseman and the levels he travels through have a seemless connection with each other. It's rather odd to explain, but I'll give a few examples of this: Running in a straight line will charge up Pulseman's Special Attack, while water will prevent him from doing so. Little touches like this change the way you look at each level in the game, since the character and enviroment now feel intertwined together.
      Unlike most Genesis games, Pulseman was Japanese-exclusive upon release. Thankfully, you can download a Japanese Import of it on a Wii Virtual Console service for about nine dollars. It's well worth it for such a hard-to-find experience.

#9: Puyo Puyo / Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (1993)

Is this a Robotnik game or not? Easy: This competition-based puzzle game was called Puyo Puyo by Compile. It was very popular in Japan when it first released, but since the game was very clearly Anime-esque, Compile didn't feel it would sell well an American market (this was still the 1990's, y'know. Far before the Otaku culture of today). To combat that, the American released was over-hauled to feature the villains from the Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog, and it worked great!
      Gameplay is simple: Match 4 beans of the same color in any 4 directions, and hitting up combos will send blocks to your opponent's side. The last player standing is the winner. This game is crazy fun with friends, especially for those who are fans of other stacking puzzle games like Tetris. Be careful, though: Mean Bean Machine will thoroughly beat you over the head with its insane difficulty if you aren't good at preparing stack combos. Think you can beat all 13 opponents in the campaign mode? Even I struggle with this insane feat!

#8: Mega Man: The Wily Wars (1995)

 Wily Wars isn't technically a standalone title for Genesis: It's a compilation of the first 3 Mega Man titles with re-mastered visuals and soundtrack. This collection also contains 2 great features you can't find in any of the original Mega Man NES games! First off, all 3 titles feature save features instead of those wretched password modes, and you also get a bonus challenge to complete after finishing all 3 titles. If you are somehow able to find the original cartridge of this game, it's well worth your time.

#7: Monster World 4 (1994, 2012)

Much like Pulseman, Monster World 4 was originally released as a Japanese-exclusive title. A couple years back, though, it was given an official translation and re-release on modern consoles. Personally, number 4 plays out as the best title in the Monster World series!
      The Monster World games play out quite different than most platformers. In most titles, you complete each level in a set order while collecting powerups along the way. In the Monster World series, however, all levels are connected within 1 single hub, with several towns between quests where you can gain new items and the like. In the end, it's a lot like mixing RPG elements in with your typical platformer.
      My favorite thing about Monster World 4 is probably how unique your main character, Asha, is in comparison to the other Monster World characters. She's not only faster, but she also gets a fun partner to work with called a Pepelagoo. The Pepelagoo functions as a hovering device, a support for doing double jumps, a shield against flames, and much more. Asha and her Pepelagoo are very fun to work with, and make up at least 80% of what makes the game so good.

#6: Pac-Attack (1993)

Much like Sonic 3K, Pac-Attack was one of my favorite games back when I originally made that Top 10 list. This game excels in almost every aspect you can when dealing with stack-based Puzzle games to the point of perfection. Pac-Attack also features a fantastic single player campaign filled with 100 different pre-determined puzzles to complete. Nowadays, 100 may not be much in our current day where Candy Crush has like a quadrillion and a half levels, but for a time where most games had only 8 or 9 levels each, this was fairly impressive stuff!

#5: Ristar (1995)

Like many platformers on the Genesis, Ristar's fantastic gameplay is connected to the hero itself. Your hero, Ristar, has very stretchy arms that can pull off all kinds of stunts. A simple principle applies in this game: If Ristar grabs anything, he'll slam the rest of his body into it. This can be used for simple things like attacking, but smart players will eventually be able to use this function to wall climb.
      Ristar's other great aspect is the special bonus code function. As you progress through the game, you can collect bonus treasures. Once you finish the game, you'll unlock special passwords for each treasure you obtained. These passwords give you lots of fun ways to replay the game. Want to try a boss rush? How about Hyper Difficulty mode?

#4: Aladdin (1993)

How in the world did a LICENSED game make it as a contender for the best Genesis games? Well, Aladdin is special. We all love the original Aladdin film, right? Well, the Genesis release of that great movie is a near-perfect representation of the movie, from the soundtrack to the animation itself - which was redrawn by Disney employees specifically for the game!
      Unlike most games on this list, it isn't very easy to find this game on other consoles. This game and Wily Wars are the only 2 on this list that can't be played on any current generation consoles, for one reason or another. In other words, if you want to experience this gem of Disney nostalgia, you'll have to go and get a Genesis. Sorry!

#3: Gunstar Heroes (1993)

This darn game is the most intense thing you'll play all day on your Genesis. Gunstar Heroes excels in almost every aspect you can expect from a run-and-gun game: It has fantastic visuals (even for today's standards), a rocking soundtrack, several weapons you can combine for unique effects, a multiplayer mode, and crazy gameplay to match. The entire Gunstar Heroes experience will keep you and your buddy on your toes, and when the game is finally over, you'll be begging for more.
      Just like every other Genesis game in existence, this game can still be purchased for modern consoles. You can get the original version on Wiiware, or you can get an HD-rescaled version on PS3. There's also a sequel to Gunstar Heroes for Game Boy Advance, though that game has yet to be re-released for modern platforms.

And the number 2 slot goes to...

#2: Shining Force (1993)

Yes, my second favorite Genesis game is an RPG of all things, but can you really blame me? Shining Force cuts out filler story elements found in most RPG's and gives you an epic battle system to work with. Unlike most RPG's that give you just 4 characters to bring with you on your journey, Shining Force gives you nearly 30 different units to swap between for each fight! Shining Force is also unique because it's a Tactical RPG, meaning that battles are treated like constant wars as oppossed to single fights. If you've ever played Fire Emblem or Tactics Ogre, you already know what I mean.
      Seriously, I can't recommend this game enough. The mechanics of Shining Force are so easy to learn in comparison to games like Dragon Quest, and since the gameplay works a lot like a board game, you don't even have to be a gamer to know how to play it! Shining Force really is a must-play for everybody, and I do mean everybody when I say it! You can find the game on Steam for just 3 dollars, and the game will give you dozens of hours before you finally complete the game.

That's the list! Do any of these games look interesting to any of you, and if so, would you consider trying them? All titles listed here can be purchased on either the Wii Virtual Console or Steam (excluding Mega Man: The Wily Wars and Aladdin), so you shouldn't have to worry about actually getting the original Genesis to try them. If you have played a Genesis before, let me know what your favorite game for the console is! Was it one of them listed here?

...I bet everybody's favorite was The Lion King, wasn't it? That's what happens when you grow up owning nothing but Disney titles and Sonic titles, just like I did. Grumble grumble...

GadgetJax's Definitive Guide to Dance Dance Revolution!

Man, has it really been a month since the Lock-in party at the Highland branch? That thing was amazing! The cake was cool (even though I haven't read Harry Potter), the activities were fun, but what topped off the event for me was Dance Dance Revolution!

Dance Dance Revolution started out as a simple Arcade game released in 1998 by Konami. The premise of the game is simple: step on arrows that match the beat of a song played on the machine. Hitting notes correctly would give you points and raise your groove bar, while missing notes would decrease. While practically anyone can pick it up and play it because of the simplicity of it, DDR is by no means a casual game. The franchise is infamous for being one of the hardest video games you'll ever play, as the hard songs can force you to step at over 400 beats-per-minute, not to mention just how much of a workout the game is when played at a hard difficulty. 

    Because of how unique and fun the game was when it released, DDR became one of Konami's biggest franchises at the time, causing their income to increase by 270 percent upon the release of DDR Extreme!! ...but since then, DDR has sort-of declined in popularity. The most recent DDR game was DDR 2013, which is a Japanese exclusive, and the latest DDR game in English was DDRII, which was a 2011 release!! So, if you want to play DDR nowadays, what can you do? 

    That was a rhetorical question, goofball. You're reading this article, so you clearly know that I'm gonna give you the best DDR prep tips, right?

STEP 1: CHOOSING YOUR CONSOLE

While DDR has been released on several consoles over the past 15+ years it's been around, the 3 consoles with the biggest DDR libraries would be the PlayStation 2, the Nintendo Wii, and the XBOX 360. If you're already a passionate gamer, you'll probably just choose the console that you already own, but if you don't have any of these 3, then I'll show you which one to get.
    Here's a list of all the DDR titles you can find on these 3 consoles...

PlayStation 2:
Dance Dance Revolution DDRMAX 1 & 2
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 1 & 2
Dance Dance Revolution Supernova 1 & 2
Dance Dance Revolution X & X2

XBOX360:
Dance Dance Revolution Universe 1, 2, and 3
Dance Dance Revolution (2010)

Wii:
Dance Dance Revolution // Hottest Party 1, 2, and 3
Dance Dance Revolution (2010)
Dance Dance Revolution II

It should be obvious from here that the PlayStation 2 has the most game to choose from. The PlayStation 2 has the best Konami Original selection & is generally balanced for each music style out there. As for the XBOX360, I would not personally recommend this console because the first 2 Universe games are riddled with bugs and Universe 3 has a generally poor song selection. The Wii is also pretty good, but be warned: Dance Pads for the Wii connect through the GameCube cable slots on the console. Some Wii models released within the recent years do not have GameCube cable ports, meaning you can't play with a Dance Pad on there.
   
This article will be assuming that the PlayStation 2 will be the console chosen.

STEP 2: CHOOSING THE GAME

There are a ton of DDR games, but it'll obviously be hard to get 'em all, right? Well, now is the perfect opportunity to go over which game is the best to get. Most of the games listed on PS2 can be found around $5 at your local GameStop, which is nice because the average DDR game has around 60 songs to play.

Song Description Key
-
Konami Remix (A liscensed song that has been remixed by one of Konami's artists)
Konami Original (A DDR-exclusive song that has been written by one of Konami's artists)
Game Music (A song from a Konami-developed video game)
Boss Song (A song in the game that is exceptionally difficult to complete. Final Boss Songs are the hardest songs in the game, Primary Boss Songs are songs that are labeled as Boss songs but not the final one, and Secondary Boss Songs are other songs that are notably hard to finish, but not labeled as a Boss Song.)

Notable DDRMAX songs: (click here to see full songlist)

I Like To Move It
Darude Sandstorm
Rhythm & Police K.O.G. G3 MIX (Konami Remix)
AM-3P (Konami Original)
Jam & Marmalade (Konami Original)
Matsuri Japan (Konami Original)
Gradiusic Cyber AMD G5 MIX (Konami Original; Gradius Game Music)
Trip Machine Climax (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song)
Candy Star (Konami Original; Primary Boss Song)
Max 300 (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)

Misc: DDRMAX doesn't contain too many liscensed tracks, and the game is pretty difficult as well. There's no Beginner mode, either. I would only recommend this to someone who wants a classic DDR Experience at an insane difficulty.

Notable DDRMAX2 songs:

Conga Feeling
Dream A Dream
Let's Groove
Long Train Runnin' (Konami Remix)
D2R (Konami Original)
TSUGARU (Konami Original)
End of the Century (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song; Beethoven Remix)
Paranoia KCET (Konami Original)
Kakumei (Konami Original; Chopin Remix)
MAXX UNLIMITED (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)

Misc: While DDRMAX2 contains a few more liscensed tracks, I would say that DDRMAX 1 is the better choice. Sure, you don't get as many popular songs, but I would take quality over quantity any day.

Notable DDR Extreme songs:

Believe (Konami Remix)
Kick The Can (Konami Original; Can-can Remix)
Kids In America
Ladies' Night
Move Your Feet - Junior Senior
The Reflex
YMCA
V [For Extreme] (Konami Original; Vivaldi Remix)
Drop Out (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song)
Trip Machine (Konami Original)
Absolute (Konami Original)
Maximizer (Konami Original; Primary Boss Song)
The Legend of MAXX (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)

Misc: DDR Extreme excels in a good blend between Konami Originals and Liscensed music. The game is generally easier than the average DDR game, but the secondary and final boss songs make up for it. Trust me, they feel impossible.

Notable DDR Extreme 2 songs:

Captain Jack // Grandale Remix (Konami Remix)
Cartoon Heroes // Speedy Mix (Konami Remix)
I will Survive (Konami Remix)
La Copa De La Vida
Oops! ...I Did It Again (Konami Remix) ((Ugh, this song is awful. It's popular, but awful.))
Play That Funky Music
Speed Over Beethoven (Beethoven Remix)
1998 (Konami Original)
Candy Heart (Konami Original; Remix of Candy Star)
Heaven is a '57 metallic gray (Konami Original)
La Bamba (Konami Remix)
SAKURA (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song)
TwinBee Generation X (Konami Original; Twinbee Game Music)
Burnin' The Floor (Konami Original)
Dynamite Rave (Konami Original)
Afronova from Nonstop Megamix (Konami Original)
Paranoia Survivor MAX (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)

Misc: If Extreme had a great balance between Konami music and liscensed music, then Extreme 2 is absolutely perfect. Bring this game to a party and you're sure to please everyone. The Konami Original selection is also some of the best in the entire console series, only second to DDR Konamix on the original PS1.

Notable DDR Supernova songs:

Battle without Honor or Humanity
Centerfold (Konami Remix)
Funkytown
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Jerk it out
Let's Dance
Since U Been Gone
Flow // True Style (Konami Original)
True Love (Konami Original)
Curus (Konami Original)
No. 13 (Konami Original; Beethoven Remix)
RED ZONE (Konami Original)
Xepher (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song)
Blue Impulse [For EXTREME] (Konami Original)
Matsuri // J Summer Mix (Konami Original)
Healing-D-Vision (Konami Original; Primary Boss Song)
Fascination MAXX (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)
CHAOS (Konami Original; Primary Boss Song)

Misc: Supernova is a great mix, mostly because of the time-based selection of music. Most of the liscenses are from the '60s and '70s, while most of the Konami Originals first debuted right around the time of this game's release. Also, the Boss songs in this game are disgusting. Fascination MAXX in particular features 800BPM streams!!

Notable DDR Supernova 2 songs: 

Eternus
Le Freak (aka Freak Out)
Take On Me
Arrabbiata (Konami Original)
Freeway Shuffle (Konami Original)
Bag (Konami Original; Imposter Boss Song)
Calico Cat Rock (Konami Original)
La Bamba (Konami Remix; Not the same version as the one in Extreme 2)
Trim (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song)
Fascination // Eternal Mix (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)
NGO (Konami Original; Primary Boss Song)
Trip Machine Pheonix (Konami Original; Primary Boss Song)

Misc: I do not recommend Supernova 2. There aren't too many good liscenses, and the Konami Original selection is pretty average. It's not the worst DDR mix, but there just isn't enough substance to make you want to jam to it.

Notable DDRX songs: 

30 Lives // Up-Up-Down-Dance Mix (Konami Remix; Contra Code Parody)
Dub-i-dub // 2008 X-edit
U can't touch this
Blind Justice // Torn Souls, Hurt Faiths (Konami Original; piece from 'The Epic of Zektbach')
Bloody Tears IIDX (Konami Original; Castlevania Game Music)
Poseidon (Konami Original)
Saber Wing (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song)
Trust // DDR Mix (Konami Remix; Gurren Lagann Main Theme)
Trigger (Konami Original; Primary Boss Song)
Pluto (Konami Original; Seconadry Boss Song)
Pluto Relinquish (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)

Misc: DDRX could be described as a gold mine, but not in a good way. There are a few really good songs like Blind Justice and U Can't Touch This, but there is so much mediocrity in the rest of the soundtrack that I would just say to pass this one. On a side note, you should know that DDRX uses a 1-20 scale for song difficulty instead of 1-10. Most songs have been adjusted specifically for this rating chart. For example, U Can't Touch This is normally a 7 chart, but X re-rates it as a 10.

Notable DDRX2 songs:

Daft Punk is Playing at my House
Ice Ice Baby
Let's Get It Started
Viva La Vida
A Brighter Day (Konami Original)
G.R. Special Challenge charts for AM-3P, B4U, BRILLIANT2U, Dynamite Rave, and D2R.
Freeze (Konami Original)
Keep on Movin' (Konami Original)
La Bamba (Konami Remix; This is the version from Supernova, not Extreme 2)
La Senorita Virtual (Konami Original)
MARS WAR 3 (Konami Original)
Nadeshiko (Konami Original)
Ubertreffen (Konami Original)
Dance Dance Revolution Main Theme (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song; Main Theme from DDR First Mix)
Pluto: The First (Konami Original; Final Boss Song)
Kimono Princess (Konami Original; Infamous for internet parodies)
Roppongi Evolved (Konami Original; Secondary Boss Song)

Misc: Despite the fact that this is a sequel to DDRX, this is a surprisingly good mix. There are some pretty good liscensed songs, and the Konami Original selection is also nice. This is a solid pick if you want some variety, and you're sure to pull out your hair while trying to beat Pluto: The First.

Out of all the DDR games to choose from, I would say that Extreme 2 and Supernova are the best to get, followed by Extreme 1. Max is the best game to pick if you want a dedicated challenge, and DDRX2 is also pretty fun. Remember: The PlayStation 2 can play PS1 discs, so you can use DDR 1st Mix and DDR Konamix on the PS2!

Now that you know exactly what DDR game you'll be playing, it's time to find the thing that makes DDR so special in the first place: The Dance Pad!

STEP 3: CHOOSING YOUR DANCE PAD

The whole reason this game is called Dance Dance Revolution is so you can dance, so you'll obviously need a dance pad to get maximum enjoyment from the game. Yes, you could play just using the basic PS2 Controller, but what's the fun in that? Playing like that makes the game too easy, not to mention that it involves no dancing.
    There are 3 main Types of Dance Pads to select from: Soft Dance Pads, Foam-Filled Dance Pads, and Metal Dance Pads. This picture below lists their appearance.

Soft pads are the most common pads you can find, as they are usually packaged into the console games. The pads are made of a pretty basic material, almost like a rug. These dance pads aren't too bad, but they move around very easily while playing and they're not very good for constant step streams. These pads can usually be purchased online for about $20, so they're the cheapest pad variety out there, but the quality may not be up to par with what a serious DDR player would need. I recommend this pad variety for players that will play on easier difficulties, mostly because easy mode doesn't cause the pad to move around as much.
   Foam-Filled pads contain pieces of foam inserted inside the pad itself, which keeps the pad straight and prevents it from moving as much. This pad variety is the most affordable kind if you want a serious challenge from DDR, and it's the kind of pad I use at home. These pads are a bit more expensive, usually between $35 and $45, but the price is honestly worth it. Besides, the average video game controller is $50, so this dance pad isn't THAT bad of a deal. I recommend this pad kind to anyone that wants to enjoy DDR at brutal difficulty levels.
   Metal pads are exactly what they sound like. Most of them are designed around the official dance pads you'll find in arcades, and as such, they're the best kind of pad you can find. Some metal pads also come with built-in barrier bars, simulating the appearance of the arcade pads. Of course, since the pad is made of metal, it's price is pretty high. A typical metal pad will be about $100, and probably even more if you get one that has bonuses like multible console cable connectors and handlebars. I don't recommend getting a metal pad unless you want to play DDR like a king.

Okay, I think we've covered everything now. So, once you start playing, what'll a serious game look like? Well, here's a video of my current DDR setup at home. I play on the PS2, I use a Foam-Filled pad, and the games I own are DDRMAX, Extreme 1, and Extreme 2.

(Shameless plug.)

Pretty good, huh? It's takes lots of practice to get good at Dance Dance Revolution, but it's worth it. Dance Dance Revolution is one of the very few video games out there that makes you feel good about yourself - not to mention that it's a great workout when playing at a high difficulty level! 

GadgetJax Reviews: Sonic Generations (PS3/XBOX360)

In my more recent of years of gaming, I really haven't played a 'new' game that really blew me away. Sure there were a lot of titles that I loved, like 'Super Mario Galaxy', 'Portal 2', and even 'Super Smash Brothers 4'. However, I ended up receiving Sonic Generations for Christmas of 2014, and it was defenitely one of the grandest experiences of my gaming life.

Let me momentarily say this: Sonic Generations is not a perfect game. There is no such thing as a perfect game. That said, however, Sonic Generations does such a good job of combining old school Sonic conventions with the new that it ends up feeling so close to perfect without actually reaching it.

I would touch up on the plot of this game, but it's defenitely the weakest point of the experience. It's every crossover plot ever written: A portal appears out of nowhere, sucks Modern Sonic and his friends up, and then they get Time Travel'd all the way to 1991- or more specific, Green Hill Zone from the first Sonic The Hedgehog game. Modern Sonic teams up with Classic Sonic to defeat Modern Dr. Robotnik, who has allied himself with Classic Dr. Robotnik. Yeah, it's predictable on every corner, but a Video Game honestly doesn't need to have a story to be good.

Sonic Generations is split up into 2 gameplay styles. Act 1 levels are played as Classic Sonic and feature 2D Side-scrolling gameplay. These levels focus on tight platforming and run at a fairly smooth pace, providing a solid experience that is just as good as the original Genesis titles. Act 2 levels are played as Modern Sonic and focus on a combination of 2D AND 3D platforming. The Modern levels also focus primarily on speed rather than tight platforming, making the game feel like one long marathon.

The beauty of Sonic Generations and it's gameplay is in replay value. While the main game is rather small, featuring only 18 Acts and a few Boss battles, the game makes up for this in the level design itself. Every level features multiple routes that encourage playing through certain levels over and over to find the route that is the quickest and/or most enjoyable to play through.

Speaking of beauty, Sonic Generations features a really well done graphical display. Everything is colorful and feels distinct within each level. Even levels with similar appearances have enough color variation to feel like fresh each time. The character animations do end up feeling a bit out of place in certain cutscenes because of how they incorrectly contrast the level they are in, but because of how the story means nothing to the actual gameplay, this is easily ignored.

The sheer amount of fanservice this game features (I don't mean in the filthy kind of way) is absolutely crazy. There are tons of unlockeable music remixes, some of which from the more obscure titles in the franchise. Remixes are featured from games varying from Sonic Advance 3 to as far as Knuckles Chaotix, and there's even a remix from Sonic Mega Collection, which was just a compilation title!

Oh, but Sonic Generations is not perfect, like I mentioned. In fact, because of how much good there is in the game, it makes the bad portions feel even worse!

First off, all the levels in the game are inspired by levels from previous Sonic games. For the most part, that's fine, because the level selection is fairly strong. Chemical Plant, City Escape, Planet Wisp, and more are all good choices, but WHY IS CRISIS CITY IN THIS GAM-

Sorry, lost my train of thought. Now, Crisis City from Sonic '06. This level is beyond broken. It is just way too flip-flopped and there is little consistency. This is especially true to the Act 2 version of the level, because of how the level keeps switching between speed-based platforming and precise platforming. A good analogy for it would be riding your bike at 20 mph down a straight path, but out of nowhere there are a bunch of precise turns you have to make, meaning you need to slow down and lose that incredible experience of speed.

Also, this game introduces a very unenjoyable mechanic called 'Skills'. They act as sort-of power ups that you can equip that give you bonuses. The problem? Most of Sonic's trademark moves from previous games can only be accessed by using these 'Skills' the one that angers me most is the one skill that prevents you from having to take time to get up after taking damage. Sonic is the fasting thing alive, why would HE need to take his sweet time just to recover?!? He doesn't do that in any other Sonic game in existance, not even Sonic '06 or Sonic Shuffle, so why does he have to here?!?

Challenge Mode is also a thing here. Every individual Act has 5 Challenges that are 'optional' to play through, meaning that there are a total of 90 of them in the game. They keep the game lasting long enough so it doesn't feel like an unsatisfactory purchase, but some of them are really bad to play through.
Ones that come to mind are the Doppleganger races.
I normally like rival races in games, but in these races, it's just to see who gets to the end. Since your doppleganger isn't affected by anything you do, and you aren't affected by it, it turns the missions into average Time Trials with a shadow running alongside you to show if you're doing good or bad. That's boring.
Also, I say 'optional' to play through with very loose air quotations because the game requires you, once every few levels, to beat a few of these Challenges in order to reach the next leg of the game. It throws off the pacing so much that I just end up completing all the Challenges for that Act at once, just because I don't like to have to leave missions un-finished. My Completionist side is ruining my Sonic experience :(

And finally, the boss battles. There are a few cool rival battles within the game that act as a sort-of 'Sub Boss', which are really enjoyable, but the rest are just average. Many of them often involve waiting, and more waiting, and MORE waiting. As Arin Hanson once said: "Waiting isn't hard, but it gives off the illusion of difficulty because it causes the battle to become an ordeal."

Still, don't let any of the above issues derail you from getting this game. It's otherwise perfect, and on the same level of quality as Sonic 3 & Knuckles, which is my favorite game ever! I wouldn't say that you NEED to get a PS3 or XBOX360 just to have this game, but anyone who ever gets either of those consoles needs to make sure that they get this title to go with their bundle.

Sonic Generations earns my seal of approval any day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfUoXJzff2I

GadgetJax's Top 10: Favorite Video Games!

Around here, I'm usually known as 'The guy that only reviews things he doesn't like', and it isn't a lie. Like I've mentioned, I prefer to tackle things that I think are bad, because comedy is richest when it is derived from something that isn't pleasing.

However, instead of being the usual me, I want to step out of my comfort zone and do something different. Something that is, dare I say it, ENJOYABLE! (dun-dun-duuun) And, honestly. I don't think that I can find anything more enjoyable than Video Gaming.

I've never personally done a Top 10 here before, but like I said, that comfort zone is pretending to be on a coffee break today. He isn't here, so I can make this list however I like. So, my personal Top 10 Favorite Video Games I've ever played! Any rules for this list? Just one. I'm only list 1 game per franchise, so don't expect to see 2 or more 'Sonic' titles on here.

So, as 'The Black Eyed Peas' always say, "Let's get it started in here!" Top 10, go!!!

#10 Pac-Attack (SNES, GENESIS)

Pac-Attack is nothing more than a simple puzzle game. Think along the lines of something like 'Tetris' or 'Dr. Mario', and you should get the picture.
Tiles and Ghosts are falling down, and you direct them to the bottom of the screen. Once in a while, a Pac-Man will start falling, and it will eat any ghosts in his way. The game is simple, relaxing, and absolutely a blast to play with friends, thanks to the inclusion of a nifty 1 on 1 mode. Combine it with a catchy soundtrack, and I'd say that Pac-Attack is quite a pleasure.
My family has owned the game ever since the days of the original Sega Genesis, and I've played it ever since I was three. Any age should be able to find out how to play quickly, and even a grand-parent could learn it, earning this number 10 spot easily.

#9 Dance Dance Revolution Extreme (PS2, ARCADE)

Music games, you love 'em or hate 'em. Me? Love 'em. It is kind of hard to grasp them if you aren't talented in the rhythmic category, but DDR Extreme is still a blast.
All you have to do is hit notes as they rise to the top of the screen, while following the beat of music. The reason I chose DDR Extreme over any other DDR game for this list is because it has my personal favorite selection of songs to play to, including 'YMCA'.
The more curious thing about DDR Extreme is that even though the Arcade version was Japanese exclusive, many spots in the USA have cabinets for the game, including Six Flags Great America. If Six Flags can import DDR, you KNOW they have good taste. Don't question it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkiD66ASXMQ

#8 Cave Story (PC, Wii, 3DS,)

Many games can take a huge team to develop. Some games even require the work of several companies! How many people made Cave Story?
Just one man, named Daisuke 'Pixel' Amaya.
While the game does have a very simplistic art style, this can be forgiven easily thanks to pretty much everything else in the game. As the name implies, Cave Story has a very grand tale that contains many heart-warming moments, along with even a few plot twists that might jerk a tear out of you.
The gameplay is incredible, mixing up Metroid-Vania exploration with the brilliant projectile combat from the Mega Man and Contra franchises. The worlds are varied, the weapons are all unique, and that soundtrack.
THAT. SOUNDTRACK.
Cave Story is brilliantly composed, with a varied amount of tracks that always mix up the tone of the game in just the right way. Some are catchy, some are dark, and others just feel so nice.
If you haven't played Cave Story yet, there is literally no reason not to. The original japanese game is a free download from the creator itself, and you can probably find a translation patch for it without much difficulty. The game has also seen several re-releases on WiiWare, Steam, and just a few years back, a 3D remake was released for the 3DS. All the versions are great, so pick up at least 1 of them!

#7 Gunstar Heroes (GENESIS)

Most of my descriptions for the other games on this list have all been because they mix solid gameplay with a very nice atmospheric feel.
Well, Gunstar Heroes takes those games and throws them into a First Class airplane sent to Norway, because this game is crazy!
Gunstar Heroes is a mess, in a good way. It was developed by Sega alongside Treasure, a company that is famous for many cult classics like Dynamite Headdy, Sin & Punishment, and even Alien Soldier.
This game is truly madness incarnate. The game starts up quickly, you choose a weapon and level, and then go. Enemies are all over the place, the soundtrack pumps up every moment of the game, and everything is just, WOW. Literally, the best word to describe this game is with the word 'wow'.
Oh, and the boss battles. If you want to play a game just for boss battles, play Gunstar Heroes. Right now, guys. The boss battles are awesome.
Couple everything I just mentioned with a fantastic 2 player mode, and I don't really think anyone can call this game 'bad'. It may not be my favorite game on this list, but is probably one of the most flawless of the bunch.

#6: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GameCube)

Mario is the Mickey Mouse of gaming, really. Pretty much every Mario title out there is great, and Paper Mario TTYD is my favorite.
I'm not really an RPG guy, but I can really say that Paper Mario TTYD does an excellent job of mixing story telling, unique art styles, and swell combat. Everything is user friendly, and isn't hard to learn at all.
Experience Grinding is nowhere to be found here, which really allows the user to control the pace of the game. Do you want to continue your quest, or do a side quest first to obtain a new item? The little choices like that help make the game feel fresh in spots that would normally feel mundane.
Paper Mario TTYD (I should stop calling it that) is almost like a children's pop-up book. Everything is so delicately crafted, and anyone that can still afford a copy of this game should defenitely play it. It is worth it in every way.

#5 Pokémon TCG 2: Here Comes Team Great Rocket! (GBC)

If it wasn't painfully obvious by the constant notes I leave at the end of my entries, then I'll say it again: I love the Pokémon Trading Card Game to death. So much so, that this game is the only entry in the list that was exclusive to Japan!
So, if this game is Japanese, how have I been able to play it? Simple. English Patch, works every time.
Onto the game itself, it's the Pokémon TCG, no duh.
Here Comes Team Great Rocket features Base Set, Jungle Expansion, and Fossil Expansion from the first game, and much more. The biggest addition to the game is the inclusion of Team Rocket, the set released after Fossil. In addition, many cards that were originally Japan exclusive, like the Vending Machine cards and promos from the Ivysaur vs Wartortle Deck Set are available, and it really helps make the battles feel varied, based on the kind of deck you choose to play.
Outside of the cards themselves, many of the players you fight against in the game have their own rules on how to play against them, such as Lightning Types doing more damage, or Special Energy not allowed. The little things like this help this game go from a simple TCG to a curious melting pot full of lots of creative ways to play.

#4 Little Big Planet 2 (PS3)

If my 6-year old self knew what LittleBigPlanet was, he probably would have fainted from happiness.
I love Level Editors. A lot. I've always wanted to make my own game, and thanks to Little Big Planet 2, I've been able to create so much.
Little Big Planet, as a franchise, isn't about the main campaign and the standard platforming it features. It's about that amazing Creator mode. I'm serious when I say that if you can think it, you can probably make it in LBP2 in one way or another. An battle tank? Sure. A jet-propelled sled? Probably. An entire castle to explore through? Go right ahead. I've been able to create a headset that fires blobs of glue that cement themselves into traversible platforms. Yeah.
There is nothing else like Little Big Planet 2 in terms of creativity scale. There is so much you can do in this game, if you know how to.
Do you know limitless this game is? I found a playable level that recreates the entirety of the first dungeon from the first Legend Of Zelda game.
There. Is. No. Comparison.

#3 Super Smash Brothers (2014) (Wii U, 3DS)

Nothing can even begin to descripe Super Smash Brothers, and it is honestly the greatest Nintendo franchise in existence.
Super Smash Brothers has a perfect blend. Unlike more complicated fighting games like Street Fighter and BlazBlue, Super Smash Brothers plays out more like a platformer game where you fight other players. The controls are really simple to pick up and learn, allowing for pretty much anyone to start winning within a round or so.
Because of the near-endless amount of customization, you can change the game from an ultra competitive 1 on 1 match, to a randomized 8-player brawl with randomly spawning items. On the more technical side, Wii U/3DS Smash excels over Melee and Brawl because of how much balance there is in the speed. Melee was too fast, Brawl was too slow, but this one is just right.
Oh, and the character roster? Probably the best of any video game ever made. You have your popular guys, like Mario, Link, Sonic, Pac-Man, Pikachu, but then there are the more obscure ones and fan favorites, like Mega Man, Robin, Ness, Shulk, Wii Fit Trainer, and more. The sheer amount of diversity in the choice of characters is so grand, that pretty much anyone could find someone that they can cling to.
The soundtrack may just be one of the most diverse ever written. In addition to several original compositions, the game features several remixes of songs from other games, of many vary genres.
Super Smash Brothers for Wii U and 3DS is kind of hard to really give a true opinion on, because you really have to go into the technical portions of the Smash chronology to really be able to make opinions about it. So, I will leave you with this:
Super Smash Brothers for Wii U and 3DS is my favorite Nintendo game ever made.

#2 Mega Man Battle Network 6 - Cybeast Falzar (GBA)

When I started getting older, I'd say about 10 years old, I went through a phase where I started noticing flaws in video games much easier. Many of what used to be my favorite games, like Mario Party 5, Sonic Adventure 2, and movie tie-in games. Yet, there was one game that I could just go and play any time, and I would feel nothing but happiness...
As I've said before on this blog (An obscure DS vs PSP post) and elsewhere, I really love Mega Man Battle Network 6, more specifically the Cybeast Falzar version. The gameplay is kind of like an RPG, but throws so many curveballs into the mix that the game ends up feeling like nothing else.
Battles are done on a 6x3 grid, and fights are played through in a complex formula revolving around 'Battle Chips', which are kind of like Pokémon cards to a certain extent.
Just like the Pokémon TCG, the huge amount of Battle Chips is what allows for complex design when building your strategy, and the game has a very futuristic art style and soundtrack that compliments each of the characters very well.
The story is very difficult to understand if you haven't played through 1-5, but it is quite an interesting conclusion to the series.
Mega Man Battle Network 6 is a greatly underrated game, and it's a shame that not many people have played it. Considering that Battle Network 1 and 2 have already come out as downloads for Wii U, it's just a matter of time before the eShop sees the release of this one. It's defenitely worth the price, as I've spent 100+ hours on this game already!

#1 Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (Genesis, PC, GameCube, Wii, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox360, DS)

Sonic is a great platformer series. It combines complex platforming with incredible speed that can literally be found in no other game. On the top of that Sonic pyramid is Sonic 3 and Knuckles, which is my favorite game ever made.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 was originally planned to be a complete title, but it had to be cut in half because of release date deadlines. The second half was later released as a sequel called 'Sonic & Knuckles', which featured a special bonus cartridge slot that you could connect many other games to. So, what would happen if you connected Sonic 3?
Boom, now you can play Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
Not only does it allow for the entirety of the game to be played in 1 straight save-enabled file, but it allows you to play as any of the 3 characters, along with many new soundtrack changes and slight variations to certain levels.
As for the game itself, It's brilliantly designed to the point of near-perfection. Every level is unique, and none of them are dull. Because of the endless supply of alternate routes in each level, the game allows for lots of creativity in the choice of traversing through each level.
Just like every other game I've listed, the soundtrack is great. However, what makes it so great? Well, a very special person helped compose it. A fellow you might know by the name of Michael Jackson.

I have already played through and Completed Sonic 3K at least 7 times, and I would be willing to do it again any day. In fact, I think I might do that right now.

If you happen to have a favorite video game, leave your thoughts below. The viewership is what helps this blog stay alive, so all opinions are appreciated!