P S Plea

(Or, SKU You!)

After a number of heart-to-heart conversations and much soul searching, my husband and I have made the decision to add another handheld gaming system to our little family. We currently have a DS Lite (his) comprising the entire mobile contingent of our gaming hardware, the stationary branch of which is well represented by Nintendo's and Sony's most recent offerings. (We also have a broken XBox, but, hey, who doesn't?) We had initially planned to add another DS Lite to the brood, in part so that we could play multiplayer games together over WiFi, but primarily so that I could join his FFIII friends list; apparently, you can't unlock the ultimate items in that game if you don't have anyone on your WiFi friend list. And no one hates leaving a game unfinished more than my husband.

Then we began to hear mutterings of a Disgaea port for PSP and SquareEnix announced that the twentieth anniversary of Final Fantasy collection is going to include several entries for the PSP (Final Fantasy I and II Anniversary Editions, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core). Knowing that I have no higher aspiration in life than to buy and play every Final Fantasy title, again and again, as frequently as Square releases it, my husband suggested that we might get a PSP instead of a second DS Lite. Other notable forthcoming titles like Jeanne D'Arc (by the same folks who made Rogue Galaxy and DQVIII) and Tales of the World, and a host of existing titles that I never got to play (LocoRoco, Valkyrie Profile, etc.) are starting to make the PSP look pretty tempting. With the long-rumored price drop in effect as of April 3, there's more reason than ever to move forward with picking one up.

I have one big reservation, though. It's not really limited to the PSP, but since I already own all of the consoles I'm planning to need for the next five to ten years, this is the area that best spotlights the problem in my case.

I have a sinking feeling that the moment I run out and pick up a PSP, Sony is going to announce a new SKU. It happened to early adopters of the XBox 360---the new XBox 360 Elite is going to be a bargain compared to the Premium model that was previously the high-end 360 (the Elite is more expensive, yes, but not proportionately more expensive for all of the upgrades that it contains). What is disturbing about news of the impending new MS SKU is not necessarily that they're releasing a new "trim level" of the 360; that might disturb some early adopters who feel as though they were mislead when they purchased the "best" 360 early on, and I understand their feelings, but MS hasn't defrauded them or anything. What I do think is underhanded is MS's deliberate campaign to cover up development of the Elite in order to prevent sales of the Premium from dipping. See, e.g., Peter Moore's comments as of January 2007 to the tune of "You know, certainly the price point of the PS3 isn't something that I want to emulate. It's very difficult for me to point to anything there that I think we're missing right now."

Is it possible that the 360 Elite, announced in March of 2007, was not yet in development as of January 2007 when Moore made these comments that directly imply that the 360 doesn't need any upgrades? If the 360 wasn't missing anything, why was a new SKU announced three months later? Indeed, a SKU that is intended to compete with the PS3? In fact, there is some suggestion that Sony, too, is working on an upgraded PS3. That's all fine with me; I don't feel that my PS3 is missing anything, and if I decide I need a larger harddrive for it, I can easily upgrade the one I have. With the PSP, however, rumors of a redesign have been flying around for ages---now confirmed, now debunked---so that I have to prepare myself for the eventuality that, the moment I commit my money to a PSP, Sony is going to announce a redesign---Internal storage! Bluetooth! Improved D-Pad functionality! And then I'll be the fool parted from her money too soon, wishing I had waited longer for the new and improved PSP.

I have no beef with the game industry expanding its offerings in the console and handheld departments. Considering that new items in this industry become available only once every five to ten years, it makes sense for developers to give us more options from the start. What I am concerned about is the sudden shift toward releasing an item, selling 10 million of them, and then turning around and releasing a "new and improved" model so that you can sell said item again to some of those same 10 million who already purchased it. I can understand the allure of this business model. After all, once you sell a console to a customer, assuming your high-quality product doesn't break (again, not a safe assumption *cough XBOX cough*), they're not going to buy another one. Nobody replaces their console annually or every couple of years like they do with PCs and cars. But if a new SKU is in development, I think console makers have an ethical obligation to let consumers know, so that we can make an educated purchases.

In the mean time, I'm going to delay my purchase until my birthday this summer; if I haven't heard any news of a redesigned or reissued PSP by then, I'll take the plunge. I can't avoid the guilty feeling, though, that my decision to wait is only holding up the impending news of a redesign. I'm sure they're only waiting for the charge to hit my credit card before the press release rolls out.

Finery

Though in modern English the term finery may mean showy, elaborate clothing, in modern Engrish it means it's about damn time.

Word from IGN is that Disgaea PSP is coming to America this August, reportedly with some nice bells and whistles. I played through the original, and when word of a port for Japanese consumers first surfaced, I was somewhat disappointed that the portable installment would not be based on DG2. Regardless, I didn't play the game to death like... some people I know.

And with the personal nature of handhelds, I won't have to worry about accidentally deleting Catarina's save. (Sorry, about that again, and for bringing it up.) I haven't dabbled in any of the SRPGs for the PSP as of yet, like the somewhat attractive Generations of Chaos, but there has never been a doubt in my mind that the genre would lend itself perfectly to the platform. The advantage of racing or fighting games on the PSP is the fact that you can enjoy them in short intervals without any detraction. And unlike the other two types of games just mentioned, you aren't at a disadvantage if you have to slip into sleep mode at a moment's notice. All in all, I'm very much looking forward to this game and it's new content. Let's all have a big w00t! for good ports.

Killer Ops

The real challenge would be to review Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops on its own, independent of its place in the franchise, or its status among PSP offerings. If one could only review it as its own game, free of the labels and expectations and allowances.

That would be tough indeed. But the world of game reviews is not a vacuum. Too bad.

In terms of the larger Metal Gear saga, MPO is an important link in the chain, and it wields a fair amount of clout being a canon entry in the series. This is one of those games that "forced" series fans to buy a PSP, though once it is acquired a Gearaphile can enjoy Ac!d, Ac!d², and the Digital Graphic Novel as well. Speaking of the DGN...

The hand drawn cutscenes by Ashley Wood that tell the dramatic moments of MPO are excellent, and more than supplement enough for the in-engine cutscenes of previous games. Since doing these instances in engine would have been the most glaring example of the less detailed graphical presentation, I feel they create a very cohesive game experience.

In all honesty, though, the graphics aren't shabby. It is basically the exact same engine as Ac!d², although the character models are a little more detailed overall. In my personal library of titles for Sony's portable, Ops is second in the visual department only to Tekken:DR.

We go now from good to superb. The audio in this game is par excellence. The very cool 70s superspy music blended with the expected MGS full orchestration is, for lack of a better word, crucial. The voice acting, the sound effects, the ambience: all perfect. They nailed every aspect of aural pleasure.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Gameplay. Here's the gist: MGS3's camo is out, a new and very useful sound indicator is in its place. The traditional linear structure is replaced by a mission based one, more suitable for portable Ops. Solo sneaking missions now allow you to take a quartet of characters into each mission, sneaking one at a time, and switching off by hiding in cardboard boxes at set hiding places scattered throughout the level.

Who else goes in your squad? Well, just about any soldier you see can be recruited. Just knock 'em out and drag 'em back to the truck. And each soldier has their own appearance, stats, and special traits. Most of the bosses can be recruited if one meets special requirements, for example the good old stamina kill (as opposed to a lethal "health" kill). These new comrades can be used to sneak, gather intel, develop technical supplies, or see to the health and well-being of your forces.

They can also be taken online, in a mode not unlike MGO from MGS3:Subsistence. Individual and team variations of deathmatch and capture the kerotan provide for unlimited replayability, and the option of Real Combat (as opposed to virtual reality), wherein you can capture your opponent's soldiers, creates an incentive to constantly build up your characters and search for better ones.Oh, and so you know, I had no problem putting together an exciting match with five other eager players at 5 AM EST. So yeah, there's alot of activity online.

What more could anyone possibly want?!

Well, starting with online, the six player limit chafes some, but sits fine with me. More maps, though, like the ones to be available for the Euro release, would be nice. Also there is a big controversy about hacked characters online that usually have otherwise inaccessible uniforms, S ranks in all weapons, and the health to withstand two headshots at point blank range. With proper communication, though, you can find opponents that share like-minded views of sportsmanship and avoid t3h hax0rz.

Next off, there are two really outstandingly bad segments in the game. One is a brief, very uncharacteristic platforming element in the Silo Complex level. I get the feeling Hideo Kojima backhanded someone when he played through that portion. It is especially frustrating on Extreme difficulty due to the key placement. This isn't Mario, okay?

Secondly, in the Ravine level, en route to the Power Substation, you come to a boulder in your path that prompts a codec conversation, telling you to find another route. I suppose one could double back around the other side of the canyon, or perhaps bring explosives to destroy the blockage. I wouldn't know, however, because I just had Snake hang off the edge of the path and climb his way around the large rock. This is Metal Gear Solid, okay? Electrified floors that need to be disabled with remote controlled missiles, I expect that. I also expect to use cigar smoke to identify infrared security systems. But, climbing around a rock? What the fuck, Konami? What is that?

Oh yeah, back on the plus side, the story is awesome. Great characters, intrigue, excitement, betrayal. You know, top-notch. It helps a lot to have played Snake Eater, but I wouldn't say it's a dealbreaker if you haven't.

In summation, this is the best PSP game I have played. Yeah, that's right. The best. Cardboard boxes and dirty magazines for life.

Gaming Resolutions 2007: Killa Edition

There is, of course, some overlap betwixt our lists, but please enjoy my current agenda of games. This sort of hindsight/foresight foray makes me feel somewhat like the Roman god of doorways, the two-faced Janus. Although, people today may be more familiar with his more recent incarnation, Phanto the two-tone mask from Super Mario Brothers 2. Regardless, you get the point.

Sidenote: This kind of makes me nostalgic for the reoccuring On the Horizon segment from the old blog.

Currently playing, need to finish

• Prince of Persia: Revelations (PSP)
• Final Fantasy XII (PS2) (With Catarina)
• Metal Gear Ghost Babel (GBC*)
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance (Wii) (With the J-Team)
• Ico (PS2)

Purchased, but not yet played

• Metal Gear Solid Porable Ops (PSP)
• Namco Museum Battle Collection (PSP) (A gift)
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (PS2) (Street Fighter Anniversary Collection)

Say Arr! to Piracy

• Snatcher (SegaCD*)
• Samurai Showdown Zero Special (NeoGeo*)

Want to play through again this year

• Final Fantasy VI (SNES)
• Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 (PS2)

Still need to buy

• Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)
• Playstation 3 console
• Ridge Racer 7 (PS3)
• Mega Man ZX (DS)
• Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (PS2)

Forthcoming titles of interest for 2007

• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patiots (PS3)
• Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
• Heavenly Sword (PS3)
• Tekken 6 (PS3)
• White Knight Story (PS3)
• Assassin's Creed (PS3)
• Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)
• flOw (PS3)
• Prince of Persia: Rival Swords (PSP)
• Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core (PSP)
• Smash Brothers Brawl (Wii)

*Arr!