Today I went to GameStop to trade in some games which I decided not to sell on eBay since they no longer work.  Shhhh.  Anyway, as soon as I got there I started to search frantically for a copy of Valkyria Chronices which was recently given a hefty price cut in their “Game Days” sale.  Rather than the standard price of around $59.99, a new copy will run you just $29.99!  Considering how new the game is, and its quality versus some of the other crap on the list, this is a really good deal.  Anyway I couldn’t find it so I figured I would ask at the counter.

As I was waiting in line to trade in my stuff, the GameStop employee was trying to convince the person in front of me about how good of a deal Valkyria Chronicle’s new price was, and explained that the last copy was in a cart right behind him.  Naturally I took the opportunity to swoop down like a predatory owl descending upon a sleepy vole, clutching the game to my bosom.  After my trade-in, I only ended up paying a little over $20 for a new copy of the game.  Hell yeah.

If anyone out there was waiting on Valkyria Chronicles to go down in price, I highly recommend buying now.  According to the GameStop employee, the sale will be in effect until the end of the month, but I guess most stores did not receive many copies for this promotion–my branch for instance only received 2 copies.  This makes sense since GameStop is probably taking a blow with each copy that goes out the door.  Go out there and grab it before they are all gone! It’s also important to note this sale is not available online.

In more exciting news, Sega announced that the DLC which came out a while back in Japan is going to be available on the Playstation Network this Spring:

Hard EX Mode: fight your way once again through the entire Imperial army, where the enemies are more lethal and your main tank Edelweiss is unavailable. You’ll have to be more strategic in order to overcome your opponents. Edy’s Mission: “Enter the Edy Detachment” – six members have been separated from Squad 7 and on their journey to reunite with their squad, they stumble upon a tiny village under attack by the Imperial Army. Play as Edy and command your outnumbered team to defend the small village from annihilation. Selvaria’s Mission “Behind Her Blue Flame”: Taking place right after the outbreak of Gallian battle lines, you play as Johann, a young and meek engineer assigned to Selvaria’s troop. See the action as it unfolds behind enemy lines and see the war play out through the eyes of the enemy.

With the money I saved buying the game, I will have more than enough left over to pay for the DLC, giving me the complete package!  I love getting a good deal.

Related Entries:
Valkyria Chronicles for the PS3 Preview
Holiday 2008 Gift Giving for Gamers
Kotowari: 10 Games of 2008 You Need to Play

It looks like there is hope yet for the promise of a decent Metal Gear Solid 4 Bundle. The 80 GB one is on SonyStyle’s website making it official in my mind. More exciting still is that the bundle is available for pre-order at Circuit City.com for the previously announced price of $499.99. I have already pre-ordered mine, so unless something goes horribly wrong, I will be making my leap into the next generation.

Apparently the 40 GB version includes the Limited Edition of the game, which comes with a Blu-Ray disc containing 2 hours of exclusive content as well as a soundtrack and access to Metal Gear online. I am assuming the 80 GB bundle comes with the standard version of the game perhaps explaining the price difference.

On a personal level, twice the memory, backwards compatibility and an extra 100$ in my pocket is a better deal. What can I say, I am poor.

If this package interests you I highly recommend pre-ordering as soon as you possibly can. They will be available in EXTREMELY limited quantities relative to demand.

Pre-order the 40 GB version here
Pre-order the 80 GB version here

Related Entries:
Metal Gear Solid 4 T-Shirts
Metal Gear Solid 4 Bundle Now Sucks
Metal Gear Solid Bundle

I recently made a post concerning the rarity of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, which has become available on Play-Asia. Some people were happy to hear the game was easier to find, and they didn’t need to spend close to $70 on eBay for it. Other people began asking me about Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga (Part 1). Apparently the second installment is infinitely easier to find in stores, and the first is nearly impossible. I decided to do some digging for the sake of my loyal readers (haha).

Who would have guessed, but it appears that Gamestop (as of April 22, 2008) has used copies available for $39.99 here. These copies are in stock and available to be shipped in 24 hours. I have checked Amazon.com, eBay, and Play-Asia among others. All of them are either overpriced or out of stock. I recommend acting fast if you want the game.

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1 at Gamestop ($39.99) here.
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 at Amazon ($39.99) here.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne at Play-Asia ($44.90) here.

A story synopsis and explanation of gameplay elements can be found at the game’s official website.

Right around the time that Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 was picking up in popularity, word began spreading about Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. People who couldn’t get enough of Persona 3 wanted the next closest thing, and Nocturne was it. At that point, the game was already rare due to a limited number of copies produced. Since then they have become even more scarce to the point where the only place you can find a copy is probably eBay or Amazon.com for around $70.00.

Imagine my surprise when I noticed that Play-Asia somehow has an unknown supply of brand-spankin’-new copies. If that wasn’t enough, they are (comparably) dirt cheap, priced at $44.90. If you are a new fan of the MegaTen series, now is the time to strike. You can purchase the game by clicking here.

Nocturne is about a teenage boy and his life after the cataclysmic event known as “The Conception” which effectively wiped out all humans, and caused the earth to become an eerie fusion of the demon world and the real world. The protagonist survives the same way as the earth, by becoming a hybrid– not quite demon and not quite human. He wanders the ruins of Japan in search of a reason, battling deadly demons and occasionally meeting friends who met similar fates.

The most unique feature of the game is the ability to recruit demons to your side via MegaTen’s patented “talk” system. Recruited demons can evolve, learn new abilities and become helpful allies. Nocturne also features multiple endings depending on the “reason” the player follows. The US version contains an optional series of dungeons known as “Kalpas” which can be used to (among other things) get Devil May Cry’s Dante to join your party. In addition to the extra dungeon, the US release comes with a bonus soundtrack disc.

Again, if you are at all interested in the series, and don’t own it yet, I highly recommend grabbing a copy.

Related Posts:
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne OST (2-Disc Japanese version)

Naturally, this formula is very lose and won’t apply to everyone. I know it is tempting for all the Wii owners out there to add a decent RPG to their collection, but don’t assume that this game is for you, simply because it can be called an RPG. My recommendation is to become a bit more familiar with the genre. Or if your grill is solid gold, just buy it anyway.

Previous articles about Baroque
Baroque (Wii and PS2) OST
Nintendo Power’s 3/10 Review
Baroque Exclusive Artwork
Baroque Preview

Maken Shao is an action RPG developed by Atlus with character designs by Kazuma Kaneko. A bad action RPG suffers from a few main faults: unimaginative storyline, monotonous battle system, and awkward controls. Any one of these three is enough to ruin an otherwise good title. Well luckily Maken Shao suffers from none of these setbacks. If anything, its only problem is that its localization was not taken very seriously. It was released in very small numbers in the West, and the voice acting and translations are considered by many to be atrocious.

The world of the game is a bleak one. China and the US battle each other for superiority via means of terrorism. In Japan, a team of scientists attempt to awaken an ancient entity known as Maken, or demon sword. Just as the team succeeds in awakening the sword, an unknown creature breaks into the research lab and kidnaps the head scientist. The iconic girl in red on the cover, Kei Sagami, is the daughter of that scientist. She decides she will take up the Maken to rescue her father by traveling the world, hunting down whatever forces set these events into place.

While you may think that Kei is the main character, Atlus would surely correct you. The game is actually the story of the Maken, traveling from body to body ultimately unraveling the mysteries of the evil powers of the world. That’s right; you can transfer bodies. The Maken gives the player the “Brain Jack” ability which lets you drop whichever sack of skin and bones it’s currently attached to, and upgrade to a new one. There are around 20 playable characters, each with their own weapon (the Maken changes shape when held by different people) and skills.

So what is the combat like? Well perhaps it’s best to just show you.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As you can see there are quite a few familiar elements to most action titles. Attack, block, lock-on, dodge-roll, and you can even deflect enemy attacks.

If you are interested in snagging a copy, you are in luck, it shouldn’t cost you a whole lot. It pops up every once and while on eBay for around $10.00, but usually its location is the UK. Be sure to check that the seller ships to America before bidding. If you are one of the lucky few who still has a Sega Dreamcast floating around you can instead purchase Maken X, which is basically the same game, but with a first person viewpoint. It should only run you around $5.00 on eBay. If possible though, I would recommend the PS2 version, since there are some issues with the first person mode.

It turns out that there is a seller on Amazon.com who sells copies of Breath of Fire III for PSP.  They are currently going for $39.99 here.

Any owner of a PSP will tell you there are not many decent RPGs for the Playstation portable. Breath of Fire III is an exception, which is probably why Japan decided to port it to the PSP from the Playstation version. The game’s story is the same as the others in the series: a dragon boy named Ryu tries to save the world and his princess friend Nina from the forces of evil. The graphics are timeless, being mostly hand drawn 2-D sprites and 3-D cartoony backgrounds. Each dungeon is an extremely elaborate puzzle, and the Dragon transformation system is probably the coolest in the series, allowing the splicing of various ancient dragon genes.

The PSP version was translated into English and sent only to the UK. It was released in limited numbers, and for whatever reason SCEA or Capcom decided to not bring the game to North America. The UK version is in English, and the PSP is free of region restrictions, so anyone with a PSP can play it. Finding it outside of the UK is where things get a little tricky.

There is of course eBay, but as you can see the price for the English version (if the seller even specifies the language) is going for quite a bit, around $40-50 including shipping. If you are patient a good “Buy in Now” price may pop up, I have seen one for as low as $26.00. Another option is UK’s Amazon. While this version of Amazon refuses to ship software to North America, there are some sellers who will ship internationally. The price is a bit cheaper for just the game, but keep in mind the prices are in GBP(£), so you need to basically multiply the actual price by 2. This goes for the shipping as well. The average for the game on Amazon UK is around $19-28, so as long as you can find shipping for around $5 you will have a pretty good deal. Be sure to e-mail the sellers to confirm shipping prices before you make the order.

*NOTE* When ordering from Amazon UK you can still log in with buyer information from NA’s Amazon.com, which should recall all of your shipping and payment information. If you decide to simply purchase the game off of eBay instead, make sure to confirm that you are not purchasing the Japanese version before placing a bid (unless you don’t mind ???). The Japanese version may have a gray border around it, meaning it is a “greatest hits”.

If you manage to snag a copy, congratulations, and enjoy it!

Please check out the update to this post here.

Some sources out there are indicating that Revelations: Persona will be coming out for PSP. No clear date is given yet, or any details whatsoever, only word that Atlus is releasing a title for the PSP called “Persona”. I have already written an entry concerning the game’s localization for the Playstation. Hopefully, given the popularity of the series, the game will be released in its true, untampered form.

If this is the case, I would advise any Persona fans to avoid purchasing the Playstation version from sites like e-bay, since they are drastically overpriced. If the game comes out first in Japan, we can assume that there will be a direct translation made, rather than port of the old Playstation version to the PSP. I will continue to check until I find something in either Japanese or English, and report any findings as soon as I can.

I know what you’re thinking: “I already know how to buy video games!” Well, I am sure you do, but the meaning of this post is simply to give some advice on the matter depending on the type of game you’re buying, and what kind of benefits you want to get along with it.
I break games into 4 Categories, and give you an idea of where to buy them and why.

1. Big Name Games

By “Big Name Games”, I mean games like Madden 2K9, Halo 4 and etc. Games that anyone with the appropriate system will probably feel compelled to buy.
Best place to buy: Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, Target, Wholesale stores
Reason ???: Constant price wars between mega-powers mean you can probably get a better deal than at a place like Game Stop or EB. I was employed at Best Buy for roughly a year, and saw these games come and go in mass quantities. By mass I mean upwards of 150 copies per system. And yet there would always be people who reserve them. If you are like me, and try to buy games the day they are released, then reservations are entirely unnecessary for this type of game. However, if you are the type who is likely to meander in whenever they happen to remember that Halo 4 is out, then definitely make a reservation, as you cannot be trusted. If you are interested in any kind of promotional item that comes with the reservation, act fast, as they run out extremely quickly.
When to Buy: The first week or two of release

2. Small Name Games

By “Small Name Games”, I mean games that are released by small companies with a tiny but dedicated fan base.
Best place to buy: Direct from publisher’s website, Gamestop, EBgames
Reason ???: Generally released in low numbers, and the bigger guys sometimes don’t even bother until a week or so after the game has been officially released. Also, many of these kind of games come with an incentive to reserve, like an OST, art book, or stuffed animal. In some cases, a limited edition is released as well, which usually goes fast since for an extra $10, you can get a lot more.
When to Buy: A.S.A.P.

3. Wild cards

By “Wild cards”, I mean games that are not easily categorized. They are games that are so new or different from the norm, that even the companies themselves who produce them cannot predict how well they will sell. The best example that comes to mind would be Rock Band’s Limited Edition bundle. While EA did predict the game would be intensely popular, with the $169.99-129.99 price tag, it is best to make sure you are getting your moneys worth.
Best Place to Buy: Gamestop, EBgames
Reason???: Since these games are fairly new, you may have questions about them. The smaller places are usually the most knowledgeable and most capable of providing any help you may need, beyond making the purchase
When to Buy: With games like this, there is not much hurry. It is better to just wait and see what kind of reception it gets, and make a decision based off that. Do your research!

4. Old Games

By “Old Games,” I mean games that have been released and are no longer in print, making them difficult to find. I am sure we have all been in this situation, and the desire to own it seems to be accentuated by its rarity. Try your best to stay calm. The old me would have gotten in the car and driven to all the Gamestops or EB’s in the area trying to find it. Now I realize that if you take your time, you can get a better deal and probably get more for your money.
Best Place to Buy: E-bay or Amazon (used)
Reason???: Since these games are so rare, you will have a tough time finding them at a Gamestop or EB. Especially since they only carry games for last gen systems (i.e PS2, XBOX etc.) and up. The internet is where people who love games as much as you or I gather, so if you are careful about user feedback and ratings, than you should have no problem buying it. Also, there should be many copies to choose from, so the price will be more fair than at a used games store.
When to Buy: A.S.A.P
Note: It is nearly impossible to predict when a game will become insanely rare and popular, but DO NOT wait too long. Last year I purchased Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (or Maniacs) off of eBay for around 45 USD. It now sells for about 70 USD. Probably due to the popularity of Persona 3, more people are looking for a similar experience. The sooner you can find it, the better!