Kamikaze: Welcome to Shukan Famitsu. I’m Kamikaze Osada.
Honma: And I’m Shukan Famitsu’s Honma
Kamizkaze: So what’re you wearing today? It’s a very Japanese style.
Honma: Yes, today I’m dressed as Oichi from the game Samurai Warriors.
Kamikaze: It looks great. Right, this month we’d like to show you many games from the Shukan Famitsu magazines. There’s a lot to get through so let’s begin!
Time 00:40 to 02:42
Honma: This month we’ll present to you reviews for games from Shukan Famitsu issues 1003 to 1006. Here we go.
Soma Bringer
An action RPG where the battlefield is set out in real time. In a world where
Soma energy flows, defeat the mysterious enemies which appear without warning. Up to three people can play at once with wireless play.
Keroro Gunsou 3
The action game based on the popular Anime series. You can use many unique characters as well as Keroro himself.
Aerial Planet
The flight adventure game where you are a glider soaring through the skies with the birds around you. In order to survive in the air you must use the power of the birds and aim to reach distant lands.
Skate
Perform versatile tricks with your skateboard in this fulfilling skating game. You
can embark on a career as a pro-boarder and challenge your rivals. Customize
your characters from head to toe.
Sim City DS 2
The newest title in the series where you can enjoy creating your own cities. This title has 8 different time periods from classical to future times, meaning the buildings you create change as you move forward in time. Build as big a city as you can!
Pokemon Ranger Batonage
The action adventure game where you solve mysteries working together with Pokemon. If you surround a Pokemon using the touch pen, you will capture them. Protect nature and peace using the abilities of your Pokemon friends.
Time 02:43 to 08:33
Honma: Now moving on to Retro Game Corner where we reacquaint ourselves with nostalgic games of the past. So what is this month’s game?
Kamikaze: It’s a great one. We have a special guest appearance.
This month’s special guest is pro-wrestler Kikitaro
Kamikaze: So this month’s special guest is pro-wrestler Kikitaro, a big game fan, just like all of us at Famitsu. You really like games don’t you?
Kikitaro: That’s right.
Kamikaze: What have you been into recently?
Kikitaro: Recently it has all been about Monster Hunter for me. It’s such an exciting game, but there’s one monster that I just can’t defeat.
Kamikaze: Right now, we’re not going to introduce a recent game as this is Retro Game Corner.
Kikitaro: Of course, leave it to me.
Kamikaze: So there’s a game which left an impression on you as a child? What is it?
Kikitaro: It’s a really fun game. It’s called Downtown Hot Blooded High Schooler’s Sports Day.
The game Kikitaro has chosen is now available on Wii Virtual Console. It was originally released on the Famicom in 1990. Four characters compete against each other in various events, each trying to outwit their opponents by doing things like punching and kicking them. Let’s begin the battle!
Kamikaze: I want to get going straight away.
Kikitaro: Do you know this game Honma? You hold down button 1 and move the controller like this.
Kamikaze: No no Kiki, it’s a Virtual Console game.
Kikitaro: Hurry up.
Kamikaze: Honma, hurry up. You went too far. Oh it’s too late.
Kikitaro: I was beaten by the computer. It’s alright, there’s one more round to go.
Kikitaro wins the game!
Kikitaro: It’s pretty addictive isn’t it?
Kamikaze: It was great fun, thanks for introducing it to us. So will you visit us again?
Kikitaro: Of course, I’d love to come back.
Kamikaze: Thanks for coming today.
Kikitaro: No problem.
Time 08:34 to 10:27
Time Hollow
You play Tokio Horo, changing the past with your Hollow Pen in this adventure game. Solve various mysteries by listening to stories from people and gathering clues.
Dramatic Dungeon: Sakura Wars
The newest title in the Sakura Wars series is a dungeon RPG featuring all the characters from past adventures. Using each character’s differing attack abilities, capture the dungeons!
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword
The action game where you play ninja Ryu Hayabusa, defeating enemies with the use of the touch pen alone. With the touch pen you move, attack and use ninja magic performing various battle actions.
Armoured Core 4
The newest title in the popular series. In this version you can enjoy fighting with enormous weapons and experience high speed battles of up to 1000kph.
Army of Two
The third-person shooter game where you fight in war along with your partner. One person draws attention from the enemies, while the other attacks. Cooperation with your partner is of the utmost importance as you perform manoeuvres such as back-to-back shooting.
Blazing Angel 2: Secret Mission of World War II
With the setting at World War II you become a pilot of the United Nations completing top-secret assignments in this shooting game. Perform versatile actions and guide the UN to victory.
Time 10:28 to 17:35
Kamikaze: This month’s Pick Up Game is Army of Two. Those who will introduce the game to us are these two gentlemen.
Bunbun: I’m Shukan Famitsu’s Bunbun.
Suomi: Hello. I am writer, Suomi Matsuzaki.
Kamikaze: As soon as I saw this game, I knew that it would be you two sitting here with me. Although this is called Army of Two, it’s not a sequel is it?
Bunbun: Right. It’s the first title.
Kamikaze: So this ‘Two’ means that two people play the game.
Bunbun: That’s right. Basically, even if you play by yourself, there are two characters fighting at the same time, so you play the game with a partner. But it’s much more interesting if you play in two-player mode, supporting each other as you go along.
Kamikaze: Even if you play by yourself, you need to have good cooperation with your partner.
Bunbun: So that’s the origin of the title ‘Two’.
Bunbun: As I said before, it’s much more fun to play this game with two people. The screen is split into two with myself on the bottom and Suomi on the top. I can move around like this. I can even shoot my partner and do things like head-butt him. This is why it’s really fun, because you can mess about with each other.
Kamikaze: So where is this game set?
Suomi: It’s in a stateless land.
Bunbun: Look, you can play air guitar like this.
A key feature in this game is the Aggro-meter. As you can see I’m doing most of the shooting so I’m attracting a lot of enemy fire. The Aggro-meter is now moving towards me. At this point Suomi becomes almost invisible and can therefore sneak around the sides. If your partner gets shot, you can pull them to a safe place and inject them with painkillers.
Suomi: Okay, so I’ll do the shooting now.
Bunbun: So while he’s shooting, I become invisible and move closer to the enemy without a trace, then I can kill him.
Bunbun: One of the important aspects of this game is the Weapon Dealer. There are many salesmen from whom you can by weapons. When you clear a mission you receive money and can choose new items. You can also strengthen your current weapons. I personally recommend upgrading the magazine first then the barrel which has a lot of power. The mask is important too. Your status doesn’t exactly change, so you should choose based on your tastes.
Bunbun: Here I’m using the sniper. I aim for the rotor of the helicopter and with this the mission is almost clear.
Suomi: Now we’re using the back-to-back technique.
Bunbun: When you use this technique you can kill enemies all around you one by one. This upgraded weapon I have is extremely powerful.
Suomi: On top of that it’s got a shotgun in place of the barrel.
Kamikaze: Wow!
Bunbun: So this is the main boss. It won’t be a problem to defeat him as long as we use our power together. I’ve got a chance now. Let’s do it!
Kamikaze: Right, so as we have seen, this game is played by dividing your roles. One person attracts fire, the other moves toward the enemy.
Kamikaze: So there we have it, Army of Two. What has been the recent trend in First Person Shooter and Third Person Shooter games?
Bunbun: It’s becoming more popular to play with a partner where you cooperate with each other and help each other along
Kamikaze: I see. Of course it’s fun to confront the enemy by yourself, but it’s kind of anti-social isn’t it? Games are something which should be played together with friends, not necessarily always on your own. So there we have it, I think you will all enjoy this game as long as you play with a friend! See you next month.
