The art of presentation and realism is truly acknowledged here in this game. Sound becomes a cruical element as you hear everything so clearly: from the basketball dribbling along the court floors, to the shooting, bouncing off the rims if it misses, the net swishing when it goes in, and the slam of a dunk when pounded down in the basket - it's all there. In fact, there is a special visual just for slam dunks, and it really adds to the atmosphere of the game. It's a pretty iconic image I would say for the NES - play Double Dribble, and try and dunk, and you'll see what I mean.

     What's also great about this game is that you can finally have a 5 on 5 experience - not really seen before the release of Double Dribble. With an actual full-court 5 on 5 game, along with some cinematic liberties and some tremendous sound effects, you've got a very sharp representation of the game of basketball on your NES.

     By today's standards, Double Dribble is fairly tame. Though, that is only because basketball games have evolved so immensely since 1987 - just look at the awesome NBA Live 10 for Xbox 360 as a prime example. In any case, Double Dribble has a important role in video game history as it ushered in a new era of more realitstic gameplay and presentation. It's available currently on the Wii's Virtual Console, so if you'd like a history lesson in one of the best early basketball simulations, go check it out. It may be an oldie, but it is definitely a memorable and very enjoyable game.

-Kurt L.

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     Nothing was lost in translation when the game was ported to the GBA handheld. Actually, the version seen here in Mario Advance 4 is not the original NES game, but rather the SNES version from Super Mario All-Stars as it boasts the same impressive and timeless visuals from the 16-bit era. The Mario All-Stars version of Mario 3 was also an identical version of the original, just with the improved visuals and SNES sound effects. Anyway, Mario Advance 4 adds a few small surprises and nuances throughout the game. Extra visuals here or there, like a "Level Clear" screen at the end of each world is added for eye candy. Other slight adjustments like added enemies here or there are noticed, but I would say 98% of the game is exactly the same as it was back in the day - and that is a good thing.

     With the few liberties taken in Mario Advance 4, it is a game I will obviously recommend considering how much I have enjoyed it on the NES and SNES. It's only shortcomings are that the game simply plays better on a regular console and television. Perhaps I am so used to playing it as a console game for so many years that I can't see past my own preferences, but regardless, it is still my preference. Naturally a game with a bigger screen is easier to play and navigate, and it's just the same with Mario 3. Also, the controls themselves are not quite as stellar as they were on the console versions. Perhaps that is my own perspective, but it just seems that the controls on the DS are just a tad looser than on a regular control - at least for Mario 3, because many DS control wonderfully. I must state though, that these are merely minor gripes and DO NOT detract from the overall experience.

     What you will get is the greatest game of all time in a portable form and you really couldn't ask for a better one. Super Mario Bros. 3 is the finest example in Nintendo's vast library of great games with supremely designed levels and incredible gameplay. Mario Advance 4 is a valiant effort to bring the greatest game and usher it in to a new generation of gamers by way of a medium of portable handhelds whose technology nowadays is top notch. Whether you play it on the GameBoy Advance, the DS, or DS Lite (which is my choice of play), it is a great game. You won't be disappointed by this - and how could you be? It's the greatest game ever in a portable form.

-Kurt L.

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     One of the original launch titles for the Playstation 3 back in 2006, Resistance: Fall of Man is considered to be one of the premiere games on the PS3 platform. Boasting impressive graphics and immersive first-person play, it surely lives up to the hype. In my own experience, I didn't have a particularly strong interest at first to get into this game as I assumed it would be another typical FPS. I'm happy to say that I was very much wrong in my assumption (and we all know what happens when we assume!). Resistance is a terrific game, one that exemplifies the very best of what the first-person shooter genre can offer.

     While Resistance doesn't break the mold like that of Halo, or Goldeneye 007 (N64), it does stand as a fantastic FPS. There are tons of FPS games out there and so many of them forgettable or overrated - such as the Wii's overhyped The Conduit. Resistance is just such a competent title that does everything right. You'll be drawn into its alternate telling of post-WWII history, where the Chimera virus has infected most of Europe leaving Great Britain with one of the last strongholds. You'll love the blend of advanced alien weaponary along with the vintage British firearms. The graphics are another big plus for this game, as well as the sound. Couple all that with a interestingly told narrative that unfolds carefully as you progress through each level, adding a sense of urgency to each situation.

     Along with that nicely woven narrative is a heightened sense of atmosphere really drives this game forward. Through the few quieter moments of the game, take a moment to look at your surroundings and you'll see some fascinating and eerie sights. Danger is clearly everywhere when you look out above you or before you at the horizon and see a distubing looking alien drone patrolling the vicinity. You'll see little nuances like these everywhere and it truly adds extra awareness and tension to an already compelling game.

     Not only are there harbingers of death lurking all about, but the levels themselves enhance the atmosphere around you. From the war-torn British streets, to the night-time at the docks, to a snowy neighborhood town, to underground Chimera tunnels, this game has it all (and many more I failed to mention). It spans so many different places, it's remarkable, but it all feels cohesive.

     For the most part, Resistance retains a compelling experience throughout but from time to time, especially in the latter half of the game, it may hit a bit of a lull. In retrospect, it's actually a fairly lengthy game, but even with the occassional lull, it's a streamlined great experience. This game will surely be enjoyed.

     As a launch title for the PS3, it certainly made a strong case that Sony's newest gaming machine was a true dynamo - it could surely handle the First-Person Shooter. Resistance: Fall of Man is a game you'll certainly fall for. One of PS3's more memorable titles.

-Kurt L.

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     The graphics are pretty solid but are quite repetitive as all the cities - from Detroit, to Houston, to Los Angeles, to New York - all look exactly the same. I suppose you can't be too harsh on the design of the game considering it was 1988, but there is really nothing at all to tell these settings apart. Also, the music is poor. It is the same 2-second loop over and over again, and never ends or changes. Perhaps if the music varied a little bit, or just sounded a little more lively, it'd be a better experience.

     The gameplay itself is actually rather fun. It's a blast to climb buildings and smash them, then eating the food, or the poison, or even the toilets that lay inside the buildings and watching your characters reactions - yes, that's right, I said toilets. Much like the music and level designs, the gameplay is also repetitive. In a nutshell, the game is fun in spurts. The control is generally responsive, which is a major plus. However, the jumping in the game is rather odd. When you jump, you don't do so in an up and down manner like in any other game, like Super Mario Bros. for instance. In Rampage, you don't jump but rather leap forward. It can be a little awkward when trying to navigate from rooftop to rooftop. Sometimes it helps your jump, because it is performing the leap motion for you - but most times it's rough.

     The NES version of Rampage is fun for a short time and it has some sentimental value. If you want to play a good Rampage title, I'd highly recommend the Nintendo 64 versions of the game - they are the best of the series. The Rampage franchise has never been known as great or legendary, but it's carved out its own niche as a fun game. It's easy and pretty mindless, but regardless it is entertaining. I can't strongly recommend this NES version, as it has its fair share of flaws, but it's at least worth checking out as a curiousity. Nowadays, its place in history is that of a novelty.

-Kurt L.

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     The newest Ethos Video Review has been posted on our YouTube Channel - Video Game Music: Part 1. In this new video from Ethos Nation Productions, I take an in depth look and discuss the importance of music in NES games. I also showcase game music and game footage with small segments from various games including the classics Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, and so many more. Click the link below to watch the video. Thanks as always for your support and for watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLmTYGdH3zE

-Kurt L.

(Photo above courtesy of Matthew Green of PressTheButtons.com)

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     I take an in depth look at the NES, to go over some of its best games, its worst, and some quirks as well. To see the newest video review, click the link below! Thanks as always for watching! An Ethos Nation Production.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-QCCMEsvQA

-Kurt L.

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     Released in 1994, the game was made by the notorious developers at LJN, who have actually made a host of terrible games for the NES back in the day, most infamously - Karate Kid, Friday The 13th, Jaws, Back To The Future, and many more bombs. When I was a young lad playing WWF Raw, I was unaware that LJN had made such awful games in its past, because this new one for SNES was awesome! And even to this day, it is still one of the more memorable and enjoyable wrestling video games. Even with the advent of 3D gaming, WWF Raw maintains a strong foothold in this genre. Though, it is worth noting that the Nintendo 64 boasted a very impressive library of wrestling fare with games like WCW/nWo Revenge, Wrestlemania 2000, and WWF No Mercy. But, I must digress.

     WWF Raw features a lot of options for the player. First off, you can play as either 1 or 2 players, then, choose what mode you'd like to play: one-on-one, tournament, Royal Rumble, tag team, etc. - there are plenty to choose from, adding to the games surprising depth. Also, you can choose the difficulty rating, which ranges from a 1-10 scale. One of the best modes in this game is the Royal Rumble, and the action can get pretty hectic if you aren't quick to throw opponents out of the ring - it's a fun kind of chaos. Of course, the more standard matches are a blast too, especially when you take the action outside of the ring - easily transforming the match into a hardcore one with a bucket and a chair available for smashing. It's great fun.

     Unfortunately, by 1994, wrestling great Hulk Hogan was already on his way out of the WWF and continuing his career at WCW, so he is not in the game. As a young Hulkamaniac, I was disappointed, but there are plenty of great wrestlers to choose from nonetheless: Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Yokozuna, Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels, Doink, Diesel, 1-2-3 Kid, Owen Hart, Luna Vachon, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Lex Luger. Each wrestler has its own signature finishing moves in the game, and their moves vary a bit from one another, while some share the same basic moves - in any case, there is a lot of depth here too.

     WWF Raw certainly stands out as one of the premiere wrestling titles available throughout gaming history. It has a timeless charm, and tight, fun gameplay; not to mention, it has some crisp and vibrant graphics as well, the best of its kind compared to previous wrestling games. While it may not have the high volume of wrestlers and options as more modern games do, it still stands among the best, as it was a marvel for 1994. Enjoy this SNES classic!

-Kurt L.

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     Since its release in 2000, The Legend of Dragoon has been given both good and bad reviews. At times, the bad reviews seem to outnumber the good as there seems to be a genuine distain for this large 4 disc Playstation RPG. Upon replaying the game for review purposes, I couldn't help but think "Does The Legend of Dragoon really deserve such a bad rap?" I mean, when I first got the game I didn't think it was that terrible. In fact, I actually enjoyed the game. But, perhaps it was just the ignorance of youth as there were some things about The Legend of Dragoon I didn't notice back in the day.

     Just like the other countless reviews available for this game, The Legend of Dragoon is filled with good and bad qualities. For starters, The Legend of Dragoon is a pretty bloated game spanning 4 discs as I mentioned earlier. Having an RPG span three or four discs was fairly common on the Sony Playstation platform, and isn't inherently a problem for most players. For an RPG to be successful however, all of the game play elements have to be interesting and epic enough to hold a player's attention which in return drives them to complete the adventure. The Legend of Dragoon has interesting and epic moments, but it isn't nearly as well put together as say Final Fantasy VII or even Final Fantasy VIII for that matter.

     The Legend of Dragoon is a tale about a red armored clad warrior named Dart, who players will be controlling almost exclusively throughout the game. Dart is just returning home after an unsuccessful 5 year stint of trying to hunt down a black monster who burned down his village and murdered his parents. With the quest of vengeance seemingly done with, Dart finds that his home is once again under siege by Sandora armed forces. His childhood friend Shana has been kidnapped, and if things weren't bad enough Dart is almost taken out by a dragon. After being saved by a shadowy character named Rose, Dart learns that he is a Dragoon which is someone who control the spirits of certain dragons. Not a bad start to the story by any means, but as the game progresses there are some problems to the story's presentation overall. Anyone who has played any almost any RPG on a platform predating Playstation 2 or the Microsoft Xbox will be familiar with the use of written dialect as the main source of story progression. Similar to comic books, this written dialect appears in conversation bubbles over the character or characters that have something to say, and for the majority of the Legend of Dragoon players will be spending most of their time reading these conversations. Unfortunately, this portion of the game is really lacking. The written dialect is typically dull, and this is do to impart by poor translation. That's right, poor translation. The Legend of Dragoon is filled with grammatical mishaps, and translation errors. Now back in the good old days of the NES, translation errors were common and generally forgiven. Being the Legend of Dragoon was released in the year 2000, we're talking about a new millennium in gaming here people. Such mistakes should not have occurred, and down right hurt the game. On the brighter side of the spectrum, this game is filled with excellently crafted cinematic cut scenes that come with their own equally impressive voice acting.

     The Legend of Dragoon plays like most RPGs that were available at the time, with a few elements that give the game its own personality. Players will roam the environments as Dart, with the rest of the party neatly out of sight until needed. While going through each of the many environments, there are plenty of things for players to interact with including side characters, treasure boxes containing useful items, an have combat encounters which brings up a battle screen. For the most part, combat is identical to the Final Fantasy series. Graphics are improved in the battle mode, characters and environments have more textures, and the action is turned based. There are no real surprises here, except The Legend of Dragoon has two additional features. The first feature, which is a topic of heated debate, is the ability to string together attacks by hitting the correct button combinations when prompted. Early in the game, these string attacks are easy to master, but as the game progresses they grow more difficult as they grow longer. By the end of the game, perfectly timed string attacks are crucial for producing enough damage to bring down bosses. Each character also has their own unique string attacks, adding to the difficulty. Some would say the string attacks are too complicated, and distract from the overall experience. I disagree. True, these attacks can be difficult, but the effectively keep a player engaged in an otherwise mundane turned based experience. The most memorable feature to the Legend of Dragoon, is the ability for characters to take on dragoon form. When characters in combat transform into their dragoon state, they grow a set of wings, get stronger armor, and gain access to better spells. Although transforming into a dragoon really is only necessary when taking on bosses, players will be wanting to use this in combat as frequently as possible. Being random attacks are incredibly frequent in this game, almost too frequent, there is plenty of chances to use this and completely dominate lesser enemies.

     Graphically, The Legend of Dragoon really doesn't shine except for the cut scenes. Character animations are adequate enough to get the job done, while background environments are very detailed. Considering the amount of detail that was put into the cut scenes, it is disappointing that the rest of the game looks so average. There is a good use of sound and music in the game, and they do add to the overall presentation to the game.

     Sony put in a lot of time to bring The Legend of Dragoon to the Playstation. Considering the final product, there were some misfires to the game. That doesn't mean the Legend of Dragoon is the critical failure some would lead you to believe. Sure it might not be the best RPG ever made, but it still has qualities that caused Dragoon to have a cult following. I myself am among The Legend of Dragoon's fans, but I have no choice to tell it like it is. Anyone who is interested in the game, I urge you to play it and decide for yourself. Just don't expect a Final Fantasy experience.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     This game is a mess. What is it? Maru's Mission is a Game Boy game made back in 1991 that no one remembers. I'm surprised I remembered it enough to review here on Ethos. This is a game embodies many qualities that will repulse the player.

     The graphics are not the worst, but often look too dark and become difficult to see - even when you adjust the brightness on the Game Boy itself, it's not easy to look at. The story is uninspired, cliched, and not very compelling. Perhaps the worst aspect of this game is its gameplay. It is a side-scrolling platforming game, and the main character, Maru, shoots a projectile - simple enough. However, it is so confusing, and boring. It's a game that isn't sloppy, but it's just not good. It doesn't give off the vibe of a game that was slapped together, but it is simply a bad game - with poorly made choices by the developers. I can't get over how horrendous the gameplay really is, and the bizarrely executed health system, which seems that after each hit you take, your health is drained in a random numerical fashion.

     The only fairly commendable quality is the sound. The music is moody and interesting, and the sound effects articulate the action pretty well. Unfortunately, the music and sound in this game only acts as an auditory reinforcement of what I'm actually playing - and that is this gahbidge game. I know that when I hear the audio of this game, I am playing the dreadful Maru's Mission.

     On top of being an awful game in so many ways, the icing on the cake is that it is punishingly hard - it's the awkward design and terrible gameplay that often contribute to the insurmountable difficulty. So, while already a bad game from so many different persectives, Maru's Mission is rendered virtually unplayable because of many of its innate issues. And how can a game be unplayable? That's an oxymoron. You play a game!! How can a game exist that is unplayable? Well, I've found it! Maru's Mission is that game.

     I know, I know, there are worse games out there; E.T., for Atari 2600 and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for NES come to mind, but those were beyond horrible - they are at least memorable because of their legendary and notorious infamy. What separates Maru's Mission from those bombs is that Maru's Mission is a forgettable experience. Nobody remembers it, and nobody will. Hopefully by writing this review, I will have purged this game from my memory and it will be lost in the abyss of nothingness, where it ultimately belongs.

-Kurt L.

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