Developer: SquareSoft(now Square Enix)
Platform: Playstation 2
Year: 2002

What do you get if you combined the familiar Disney characters, some amazing characters from the Final Fantasy series and mix it together with some original characters and elements? You get Kingdom Hearts, an action adventure game that became surprisingly popular even with the weird mishmash. This franchise would go on to produce even more games and there are now presently six titles.

(left to right: Riku, Kairi, Sora, Donald, Goofy)

Summary:
You start as Sora, the main protagonist, on Destiny islands. Together with his friends, Riku and Kairi, the trio was planning to leave the island to explore new worlds only for their islands to be attacked and destroyed by the heartless, shadowy monsters without a body or soul and borne from hearts that are corrupted by darkness. Sora soon finds himself in Transverse Town where he meets up with Donald and Goofy (yes, yes you heard right). The two promptly teams up with Sora after finding out that he’s the bearer of the Keyblade, a weapon that can be used against the heartless, the ‘key’ that their king (hint: He’s a mouse. A very famous mouse and he’s not mighty mouse) had asked them to find before he left their world to fight off the growing population of darkness.

The three would end up travelling across different worlds, mostly based on popular Disney movies and cartoons, via a special ship called the Gumi Ship manned by Chip and Dale. Donald and Goofy are both looking for the King while Sora is out looking for Riku and Kairi. Each keyhole they find in that world and successfully sealed by using Sora’s keyblade would ensure that the world would not be consumed by the heartless. Meanwhile, one of the big bad in the game is Malecifient (villain of Disney’s sleeping beauty) who is out to capture the seven princesses of heart in order to seek out Kingdom Hearts, a collection of immense knowledge and power and the source of all hearts.

Gameplay:

The game keeps to many of the rpg elements, player can level up, pick up spells, learn special abilities, use items and change equipments. However the battles all takes place in real time so you really have to really run around fighting heartless and dodging them. The battles are not alone, as you’ll always fight with partners. Most of the time they are Donald and Goofy but you can switch to other partners, which are special citizens to the world they come from. For example, in Halloween Town, a world based on Tim Burton’s Nightmare before Christmas, you can switch either Goofy or Donald for Jack Skellington.

The gameplay follows a linear story but gives player the choice of which world to go and what to do first. Most of the time you need to revisit the world a few time be it to train and level up or as part of the story.

Something that irks me would be the camera angle in the game. Most of the time, the perspective the camera gives you during the battle fights can give you a headache. You either run around so you can get a clear perspective or play around with the manual camera. Another thing I didn’t like was the Gumi ship mini game level you will have to go through mandatory every time you want to head to a new world. Mainly, it is your typically space shooting game. The problem? I’m terrible at those sort of games. Failing that mini game meant that you could not unlock the world and you have to retry until you get through it.

The summoning part during battles can be weird too. Summon gems can be found by Sora during the journey. These gems are formed when the heart of one of the residents being too strong to be consumed from a world that has been destroyed by the Heartless. When summon, Sora’s partners will withdraw from the battle until the summon’s time runs out. Mainly the weird part comes from the characters used for as the summon. I’m alright with Genie from Aladdin or Simba from the Lion King but Bambi? That’s stretching it a little far

(Bambi's here to save the day!)

Graphics:
A standard enough that it seems you are really in a Disney based universe. It blends in the graphics from two different factions perfectly. The graphics is really what makes the whole game seems entirely plausible even with its bizarreness. The game doesn’t heavily borrow on the Disney graphics either. The designs for the heartless are extensive and also the Keyblade collections.

Audio:
Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Sure there are some of the tracks which are based from their original music but you can tell that they put a lot of effort to create the original ones.

Is it fun:
Yes. Surprisingly it was really enjoyable and fun. It's a great game to play if you don't find seeing Disney characters and final fantasy characters together....

Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree!
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Developer: Tecmo
Platform: Playstation 2
Year: 2003
Summary:
You follow the story of two twin sisters,Mayu and Mio, who find themselves trapped in a village cursed to forever replay the day of a failed ritual. As Mayu becomes possessed by the village's spell, it is up to Mio to solve the mystery of the village, find her sister and then get themselves out of the village.

What is this:
The second installment of the Fatal Frame series which is a survival horror game. During the game, player have to explore the curse village and solve puzzles while at the same time survive attacking ghosts. These ghost can be defeated however by a special antique camera, Camera Obscura. Taking pictures of the ghost will allow you to exorcise it. There are various ammunition that can be found collected and used in the game which gives the camera different power. The camera can also be customized by special items found in the game which would help the player during battles with the undead. The filament of the camera also turns red when there is a hostile ghost around, a good indicator to start running or prepare to fight.

(smile for the camera)

Is it hard:
Not for the the faint hearted I'm afraid. As you have to take pictures of the ghosts in order to defeat them, you are really meeting them face to face. Sometimes you have to let the ghosts get near to you in order to deal a lot of damages. The boss battle can be tricky as well sometimes. What you do in the game can affect the ending which you get in the game. So if you want to achieve a certain ending, you better check if your the conditions done right. Player can choose the level of difficult at the start of the game of if they are starting the game again. But trust me when I tell you nightmare difficulty is called nightmare difficulty for a reason.

For beginners, it will take some time to get use to the camera. Most of the time you will lean towards the 'take as much pictures as you can' strategy. This thus leads to the player not making full use of the camera's function. But once you get use to it, the gameplay will get easier.

(don't turn back... don't turn back...)

Artwork:
The game is in 3D and there are some scenes which are done very realistic. The cut scenes are something to look out for. They really look as if they could be used for a horror film instead.

Audio:
Hauntingly chilling. The music they used for the ending theme is actually pretty nice though. Would leave you in tears especially when you hear it after getting the true ending of the game. Won't spoil it for you but the ending is really amazing...

Is it fun:
It really is. What actually drew me was the story inside the game, the tragedy of some of the characters (yes, they're ghosts but they were people too!). The game is more fun if you're playing together with an audience. One, for the thrills. Two, for the chills. Three for... well when you hear your friends scream when a ghost suddenly pops up unexpectedly.

Developer: Level-5
Platform: NDS
Year: 2009

Summary:
Solve the mystery of the legendary Elysian box which is rumored to have killed its past owners with Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke.
What is it?:
This is the second game from the Professor Layton adventure and puzzle series. Player have to solve various puzzles and explore different areas to aid the professor in his quest to solve the mystery behind the Elysian box. Each puzzle is worth a certain amount of "picarats", the resource of the game. Collecting the picarats helps unlock special features in the game such as character profiles, story art, etc. If the player solve the puzzle wrongly, the value of the picarats earned will drop. Fortunately there're three hints for each puzzle. Unfortunately, you have to spend a hint coin for each hint which is not easy to collect. These hint coins are hidden throughout the game or they can be earned sometimes through certain tasks. Puzzles can be revisited once again even if they are solved successfully accessed from one of the tabs at the game's menu. There are also some mini-games to be played located in the game.

Is it hard?:
The game is actually quite straight forward. You just need to go to one point to get to another. The only problems are the puzzles to solve to get there. I face the biggest challenge (or temptation) of not going online and looking up for the answers to the puzzles. Because of the variation of the puzzles, you really have to use your head to solve the puzzles. There's a total of 138 puzzles to be solved in the gameplay but there are also additional puzzles that can be unlocked. So I have to say that the difficulty varies from person to person. Some of the puzzles are easy but some can be... difficult.

(A simple puzzle could look like this)

(Slightly challenging...)

Artwork:
I actually like the artwork of the game for it's simple and clean graphics. It gives a nice feel to the game especially the cut scenes. It makes the story of the game more interesting.

(Character design)

Audio:
The background music can get actually quite repetitive at times but it's not all bad. Voice dub is decent but it cannot beat the original Japanese voices. I quite actually like the voice of professor Layton though.

Is it fun?:
Only if you like puzzles.

The trailer to the upcoming movie: (with subtitles)

Summary:
Typically one of your tower defense games which is quite simple and addictive. Though the graphics are simple (they're bubbles, what do you expect?), strategic thinking is required.

Gameplay:
Basically you are given a field where you have to plant towers and prevent the enemies from crossing to the other side. Every enemy that successfully crosses to the other side means a life down which is a point to consider because your enemies mostly come in swarms. At the beginning of the game you are given a certain number of points used to place towers to prepare your field. After that you can only gain points by the number of enemies you destroy. Plus once you place your towers there's no way to reverse the decision except to sell the tower at a lower price and place another one. Once you start wave (your list of enemies in chronological order), your enemies will keep on coming until you defeat them all and advance to the next level. So the tricky part in the game is to keep your eye on the points, upgrade you towers and the enemies coming at you.

(The 'time line' shown, you can click on the next enemy to bring them forward for more points)

Enemies:
There are different types of enemies in the game which makes the game even more challenging. Some of them are regenerative, some fast while others have their own speciality. These difference makes the user consider carefully what upgrades he wants and towers to place to take down the enemies. A common strategy used is to force your enemies to travel a pathway which is fine and dandy until the ghost enemies come which can pass through all obstacles. Placing too much towers also means not having enough points to upgrade them all when the hardier enemies start coming. A good strategy is to make sure your plan can be adaptable and effective to the later attacks.

Sound:
Simplistic and strangely meditative for a tower defense game. I find it rather therapeutic when I hear all those popping sound when the tower shoots down the enemy.

Is it fun:
Yes!

Is it hard:
You can change the difficulty level in the game but i find the game challenging enough as it is. The strategy used in one level may not exactly work as well in another level. You really have to use your thinking skills to plan ahead.

Platform: Sony Playstation
Developer: Squaresoft (Now part of Square Enix)
Release: North America Version, 2000

Summary:
Threads of Fate is played through two heroes which the player can choose, the mysterious Rue and ex-crown princess Mint. Both of them are hunting down a powerful artifact known as the relic which is said to give one the power to do anything in order to fulfill their own agendas. The story will differ depending on the character picked but most of the quests are similar to each other. You're heading for the same goal but how each of the main character takes it is different. However after completing one character you can continue on to play the other main character. Complete both of the protagonist story will unlock the 'true' ending which is based on the two storylines.

Gameplay:
Depending on the character you pick, the gameplay will be different. Rue is the warrior type who takes down enemies with his club/axe weapon. His special skill is to take on the form and ability of the monster he has defeated which will leave a disc behind. Rue can only take up a limited set of monsters so any new ones will replace the older ones. This ability allows you to not only defeat your enemies and also solve puzzles in the game. Mint however is your typical magic user and uses these large hoops for her melee attack. Her set of magic she can uses are elemental base with varying strength and range that can be collected as the story goes along.

(Rue as a red monster lizard)
(Mint's Magic- Can only at set one spell)

One interesting thing to note is that you don't really collect any items(not including in quest items) other than coins which are used to revive you when you die in the game. Yes there is an item shop but the items you buy are immediately used and they're all for you to increase your stats only. That means no special effect like immunity to some elements of speed up, etc. Mana can be regained through time but for health you need to defeat monsters and hope they drop potions; red for mana, blue for health.

There are no level up features in the game nor is there any experience gained when fighting enemies. Only the chance to increase your stats by either going to a shop or doing a special quest. So most of the time you have to make sure that your health and mana are both sufficient before heading into the dungeons.

Graphics:
The 3D graphics can be considered good for during that time. The graphics are colorful though simple. It is not as realistic as some of the games now like Final Fantasy but it is still visually pleasing with the exception of one scene with Fancy Mel's place which is painfully bright and lots of odd colors. But since she is supposedly an oddball(but powerful) character so the developers probably did this on purpose.

What makes the game so compelling:
I guess what really draws me are the characters in the game. You have main characters that have a personality of their own and talk (I know too many games with the heroic mime...). There are some pretty interesting dialog littered in the game which makes the experience more fun.

(Yes, he is really dressed as a star...)

Is it fun?:
Yep. Especially when you're someone who is very new to action RPG games. It's not complicated and the graphics are nice. There are mini games which you can play and you can revisit the dungeons again, without the boss monsters though.

Is it hard:
For seasoned players, no. It will actually be quite a breeze. Unfortunately, this game was one of my first games I played so I actually took a long time to finish both Mint's and Rue's story and get the secret ending. There are rumors of people able to complete this game within a day...

Creator: Alejandro Guillen
Platform: Flash
Type: Online Game

Summary:
Magic Pen is a simple flash game where you solve levels by getting the red circle to collect the flag(s). You use your mouse to create various shapes using your crayon (the cursor) such as other circles, triangles and squares to help you. Hinges and pins to your advantage. This game really requires you to think at times how to move the red circle to collect the flags. There's no definite answers on how to solve the level sometimes but just using what you can do with the crayon.


What makes this game compelling:
1) I really like the visuals of the game. The simple graphics and the crayon like effects are really nice.

2) Though there are 26 levels to solve in the game you can jump to any of the levels as you like even the ones you previously solved. They even display how many shapes you took to solve that particular level. You can challenge yourself into coming out with different ways to solve the level or taking as little shapes as possible.

3) Magic Pen is not a hard game to play but it can really challenge your mind. Shapes created are immediately in use so sometimes you have to plan ahead or else you find your red circle heading off screen because there wasn't anything to stop it from rolling away.

Is it fun?
Yep. If the background music gets on your nerves you can turn it off from the menu. There is even this free play mode where you can just just create shapes and do whatever you want. The fun part is not only in solving the level but how did you solve it.

Is it hard?
Depends on the individual playing this game. Frankly I don't find it hard except the occasional problem of judging how big to draw the shapes. You can always restart the level or jump to another one before coming back to try again. The instructions are also located under the menu for reference besides the tutorial at the start of the game.

Anything bad about the game?
Well sometimes it gets frustration when things don't go your way and you have to restart the level to try again. There was a time where my 'bridge' gave way and my red circle when falling altogether with it just before getting to the last flag. Music can get on your nerves since it is the same one looping all over again but you can turn it off.

Conclusion:
It's an entertaining casual game. Nothing fancy but it's not that simple that you can just brisk through it. Don't take it seriously if you get stuck on a level just skip, come back again or watch the online video walkthrough on youtube.

Try it here:
Magic Pen

Platform: PC and Mac
Developer: The Learning Company
Release: 1992

This was one of the first education games introduced to me by my primary school. Like any seven year old kid, playing a game on a computer during school hours was already the equivalent of a miracle in 1995.

The story is simple, an evil scientist uses a machine to freeze an entire mountain. Players have to scale up the mountain which is divided into three levels. Each with level have their own challenges- level one is on how to tell the time, level two is on number equalities while the last is on counting and a guard you have to get past by solving his question on number patterns. Along the way there are elves that gives you money or hints whom you can catch by using nets. These nets are perishable items that has to be restocked at a shop. You can use the money to buy parts to help you get up to the next level of the mountain though you can earn them. Getting to the top of the mountain will lead you to the evil scientist who will give you a treasure before sending you back down the mountain to start all over again. Winning the entire game is to collect treasures until you fill up your chest. The game can be played with the option of having evil flying snowball monsters that can attack you. The difficulty of the math problems will rise as the player progresses in the game.

Graphic wise though it may not be as amazing as the visuals found in games nowadays like the Final Fantasy series, the simple graphics and animations were good enough to keep the attention of children below the age of nine to continue playing. The visuals are simply nostalgic to especially those who played these education games in school.

Overall I think it is still a fun game for young children just learning some of the basics of maths. Though given at how children are now more exposed to computer games or any other digital games at young ages, they may not share the same experience as the kids from fifteen years ago.

The gameplay plus ending:


Anyone else played this game before?

Geraldine Ghwee