Playstation Store Launches Worldwide!

We’re extremely late on this news story, and I apologize (especially since we’ve only been covering the store for a gabillion months now, including in our Holiday Guide), but in case you haven’t heard, SONY has released its Playstation Store worldwide on PC, without any real release date. Though we appreciate it, we’re just a bit ticked off that SONY didn’t announce any release date–I’m sure more people will use it as we get further into the PSP’s life cycle, but right now, considering that only online junkies (like you and myself) know about it, there’s little chance the non-internet PSP owner will use it. There is no PSP-direct store yet, FYI, so you’re still forced to connect your computer, but you now have access to PS1-games, demos, and more: all in one place. Of course, this is not it. It’s a late-night here at BGL as I will soon be uploading some photos of my first experiences in downloading a freebie followed by an actual PSOne game. (First, I have to delete half of everything on my Memory Stick ) Check the store out here.

MetaReview: Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (PSP)

Even though we’ve learned to take some reviews with a grain of salt, when all of them are compiled together, gamers get a bigger picture of exactly what the hell is right (or wrong) with a game. Critics traditionally blab much more than they should and some critics unintentionally ramble on about little details that bugged them. Even so, that does not mean that everyone should try any game that looks good–it simply means to appreciate ratings that scream “Decent”, “Good”, or “Okay” much more. And Medal of Honor Heroes 2 sounds just like one of those games–IGN loved it, but the others said it was decent. Now the only question is: should you buy it or hold off?

• IGN (8.4/10)- “For on-the-go gamers Heroes is a great title though, as it autosaves every few minutes, and has almost no load time at all; extremely impressive for a system that is often plagued by a sluggish processing. Team Fusion went all out to make sure the game was optimized to its fullest, and it pays off in a big, big way.”
• GameSpot (7/10)- “Thanks to solid controls, a short, albeit enjoyable single-player campaign, and an impressive online mode, Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is a battle worth fighting.”
• GameSpy (7/10)- “[T]here’s still no headset voice support, and the diminutive map and mode counts put a significant crimp on multiplayer’s potential longevity.”

RIVALS2: IGN Slams Sonic Rivals 2

Sure, it’s only one review, but if IGN’s review of Sonic Rivals 2 is any indication, SEGA and Backbone Entertainment might want to consider: a) letting Nintendo handle all Sonic-related projects from now on, b) split up considering none of their Sonic-only projects have been successful, or c) stop producing damn racing games and get back to the platformer that once was great in all of its speedy glory. They gave it a 6.5, citing horrendous gameplay, cheap-ass mini-games, short and painful boss battles, and did a double-whammy assault, claiming now that the first-game (which they panned nearly as much) is great in comparison to this one. I’ve come to give only a grain of salt to any reviewer when they pan Sonic games, because it’s still a lovable and thriving franchise that I enjoyed with Sonic Rivals. Even still, this could be hurtful to the game’s sales, as the majority of unsure, potential buyers trust the reviews highly before anything else.

LOCO2?: LocoRoco Devs Looking for new Staff…

LOCO2?: That’s right. The LocoRoco developers in Japan are looking for new help in developing a new game, which could either mean LocoRoco2 or an entirely-new project. Considering that we haven’t heard anything about our favorite game since the release of Cocoreccho, it’s nice to know that the LocoRoco faithful might have something else to play in the upcoming months.

[Via PSPFanboy]

FPSFTW: Medal of Honor Heroes 2 Surpasses SOCOM…

FPSFTW: The SOCOM faithful might have no SOCOM-branded first-person-shooters to play with this holiday season, but be surprised, as Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 arrives in stores this week, receiving critical acclaim from IGN. After playing the original Heroes demo, I can say I actually like the game–IGN has admitted that Heroes 2 doesn’t change gameplay that much. Perhaps if you’re a disgruntled SOCOM fan whose unwilling to check out Tactical Strike, you might want to check out Heroes 2. We’ll have a preview in our Holiday Guide coming up…

HOLIDAYS07: The Guide to Everything PSP

The Guide to Everything PSP

The PSP, or Playstation Portable, has been rocking the market for two years straight, by far the most graphically capable of the two major portable devices. This year, a new model and several new games try to improve the PSP’s sales and succeed. But, which one is right for you and why should you jump into the PSP market now? Find out after the jump.

ROUNDUP: The Cereal Edition

WEEKLY ROUNDUP for 10/29-11/3 ~ We’ve done compilations of everything we’ve had for the week (see: WWWF, the short-lived Weekly Roundup), but this is one I’m finally committing to. A full compilation of absolutely everything important that went down this week for those of you who love compilations. It’s a quick and easy way to find everything good that happened this week wrapped up into one.

But it’s also a good way for me to tell offbeat stories about things I’ve just wondered about. Had LocoRoco been widely successful in Japan, I could actually imagine a LocoRoco cereal, those Japanese gamers and everyone alike pulling out a bowl and dumping some yellow LocoRoco-like cereal into it, along with marshmallow MuiMui extras. Of course, there is one problem to this awkward fantasy: one, LocoRoco wasn’t widely successful in Japan. But to say that it couldn’t be accomplished is false, because Kelloggs actually produced a Pokemon cereal a long time back. Thanks to the dwindling popularity of the television show, movie properties, and trading cards, it has been discontinued, but even still, there actually was one, right? All the weekly stuff after the jump

MetaReview: SOCOM: Tactical Strike (PSP)

Maybe SONY should consider continuing the Fireteam Bravo franchise on PSP, because despite a slew of positive, early impressions, Tactical Strike just doesn’t cut it with several critics. We reported to you earlier that the SOCOM fanbase was upset about this game, and the critics are just as disappointed:

• PSPFanboy (9.5/10)- “In spite of the flaws, SOCOM: Tactical Strike is one of the best experiences I’ve had to date on the PSP. This is an easy candidate for PSP GOTY. Gorgeous, believable graphics, innovative gameplay, and massive levels are just part of the game’s unique appeal…far from a pick-up-and-play game due to its rather unique and relentless gameplay, and will undoubtedly confuse and anger players expecting a traditional SOCOM experience”.
• IGN (7/10)- “[Tactical Strike] is an upsetting game. Not because it’s a poor title – not in the least, nor is it terribly difficult (though it can be frustrating). Rather, Tactical Strike is upsetting to us because it’s a perfect example of a game that could have been lot of fun, had it not been damaged by several seemingly obvious mechanical problems that take away from the overall experience”.
• Games Radar (7/10)- “If you factor into your plans the possibilities of your commands not being followed perfectly, you can have a slow-burn, satisfying experience.”

OMG: Manhunt 2 Lives Up to Controversial Buzz on PSP at least

Following the ultimate bitchslap the gaming industry gave Rockstar Games for the ultra-violent murder simulator, Manhunt 2, Rockstar went back to the drawing board to create a slightly less violent version to qualify for a mature rating rather than the industry’s kiss-of-death, the Adults Only rating. After lackluster reviews for both the Wii and PS2 versions, the PSP version is in the spotlight, but has received decent reviews so far. While it isn’t perfect and the reviews don’t make it sound as godly as GTA PSP, the game still has enough props to warrant a purchase for those who simply love death, controversy, and killing.

STRIKE: IGN, PSPFanboy Might Love new SOCOM, but Fans Disagree

So far, all we’ve heard about SOCOM: US Navy Seals Tactical Strike has been positive. Though taking a different route than previous PSP and PS2 editions of the popular shooter, IGN and PSPFanboy have expressed positive opinions about the games, but fans are disgruntled over the fact that the game is alienating its core base by switching perspectives and gameplay. On the IGN boards, previous fans have responded to a recent IGN hands-on by bashing it: “CRAP GAME”, “…looks like garbage”, “they’ve [SONY] completely altered the game away from FTB1 [the first SOCOM on PSP]“. Over at Gamespot, a protest has started by some members who believe the game looks like crap and alienates its true base. The graphics surely don’t look pretty at eyesight, but PSPFanboy has already explained that the screenshots do the game no justice and they assure that it’s truly beautiful. To disgruntled SOCOM fans: give it a chance.