I remember when MGS Touch came out. Numerous gaming websites revealed a vague announcement made by Konami and speculated on what this meant for fans of the franchise. It was an elusive green circle with the trademark exclamation point in the center (pictured above)...and that was it. What could it be? Was this a new console Metal Gear game? Who knew! Well, less than a year after MGS4, Metal Gear Solid Touch was officially known to the public. I was very much intruigued by such a game, as who wouldn't want a portable version of one of the best games ever made? Unfortunately, it did not live up to such hype and anticipation.

     While MGS Touch does a lot of things right, the core gameplay is where the game ultimately suffers. Of course on the iPod, a game can live or die based on how intuitive the control is. Loosely based on the events of MGS4, Touch allows players to visit various locations from the aforementioned PS3 title - but you won't get to fully experience the environments as the game is a rail shooter. There is nothing wrong with a rail shooter, but when Konami plays coy with a vague announcement and then dares to boast a $7.99 price tag for this Metal Gear app, you'd expect a much more involved gaming experience. And for 8 dollars, that's a mighty steep investment considering that many incredible iPod app games are under 2 dollars.

     The graphics are quite stunning in MGS Touch, and you could say it is the best looking iPod game out there - just like its PS3 counterpart, as it is the best looking console video game out there to date. The game also contains many little different bonus features such as Drebin's Shop where it has a slew of wallpapers and such available, but some of the content is blocked until you complete certain portions of the game - you must also have enough Drebin Points to purchase them - so there is incentive to carry on with the game. In addition, there is also a bonus section entitled "Special" that explains the history of the entire franchise game by game and I must say that is a nice touch.

     As I mentioned earlier, the gameplay is subpar. When the PMC soldiers you are shooting at pop out from different cover areas, you have to drag Snake's gun across the screen to fire at him. It is a rather slow drag and the gameplay isn't just quick paced, you just feel stressed trying to drag your weapon from one side of the screen to another. The aiming must also be very precise, you have to be directly centered on the enemy if you want to take it down and that can be a nuisance considering how difficult it is to drag the weapon all about.

     MGS Touch is a decent game. But it is colassally overpriced, and if you can adjust and live with the fairly rigid and stiff controls, then you may have some fun. Otherwise, you may just be frustrated and disappointed. I also recall at the origin of its release, there was no "Lite" version available, which is for free. Now I check back and a free Lite version is indeed available. If I were able to screen this game ahead of time, I likely would have declined spending 8 dollars on this product. If it were cheaper, it'd be worth the time.

-Kurt L.

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     Mega Man II for the iPod really intrigued me. As it is one of my favorite NES titles, I simply had to try it on my iPod Touch. While it features all of the sights and sounds in a crisp manner, the game suffers from its busted control. The touch screen on the iPod is generally very well implemented, and it goes without saying, this is an impressive little device. However, to play Mega Man II, it is a let down. If you hold the iPod in a vertical fashion you have the option to play the game with a tiny joystick at the bottom of the screen. I would avoid that control scheme as the joystick feels very constricting and difficult jumps are made nearly impossible.

     Fortunately, you can flip the iPod to its side and play horizontally. That allows you to control the game like a miniature NES controller, and this works far better. It doesn't entirely solve the delicate movements required to make some tough jumps in Mega Man II and also to negotiate the numerous patterns by the oncoming enemy. The NES version of the game seamlessly blends the action onscreen with the good old boxy NES controller in your hand, and all is well.

     In the end, the question is - is it worth our time? Well, for 2.99, while still cheap in the grand scheme, it's a bit pricey considering its flaws. There are some truly brilliant games out there available on the iPod for a mere .99 cents. However, fans of such nostalgic classics such as Mega Man II will, like me, download it anyway. Though, I would reccomend downloading the "lite" version of the game for free as to screen it ahead of time to see if you like the controls. If you can look past its shortcomings, you are clearly in for a treat with this classic and legendary NES title.

-Kurt L.

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     In my lifetime as a gamer, I have found it incredibly difficult to find Star Wars games that were up to par. That’s not to say they aren’t out there, but anyone who has spent any time playing such a beloved franchise like Star Wars in video game form will probably agree with me. Luckily, when I have come across a Star Wars game that is any good they usually exceed all of my expectations or come pretty darn close to doing so. That was certainly the case for Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.

    Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast features the return of the former Jedi turned New Republic mercenary, Kyle Katarn. Kyle Katarn is no stranger to Star Wars games, and several of the better games in the franchise had Katarn as it’s protagonist. Luckily, I have these games in my own personal collection and will all eventually get their own separate review right here on Ethos Reviews.

    Anyway, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast takes place several years after the events that took place in the Valley of the Jedi. Kyle Katarn, and his mercenary partner/love interest Jan Ors are on route to their next assignment for the New Republic. They are going to investigate what is supposed to be an abandoned Imperial outpost on the planet Kejim, unfortunately when they arrive Kejim is still crawling with Imperials. It is there, they find the Imperial Remnant have been doing some sort of experiment with crystals that are very much like those found inside a Jedi’s lightsaber. Being that Kyle Katarn cut himself off from the force after nearly falling to the dark side, he isn’t overly interested getting involved in anymore “force business.” But being the mercenary that he is, he and Jan follow the crystal’s back to their source on the mining planet Artus Prime. It is here Kyle and Jan are confronted by two Dark Jedi named Dessan, who is a brutish raptor-like man lizard, and his apprentice Tavion. Jan is captured by the new Sith, and after a brief confrontation between Dessan and Kyle, Katarn is easily beaten. Dessan orders Tavion to kill Jan. With Kyle knowing he doesn’t stand a chance against Dessan and Tavion in his current state, he has no choice but to return to the Valley of the Jedi, the place where he chose to sever his ties to the force, and regain his lost powers. It is here where this tale of revenge really begins. I won’t go into much more detail on the events that take place in the main plot of Jedi Outcast, but it is easily one of the most mature and well developed stories ever put into a Star Wars game.

    In terms of game play, Jedi Knight: Jedi Outcast is very diverse. It is a mix of both standard First Person shooter, and Third Person styles. This combo has a lot of depth to it, although admittedly it doesn’t start off that way. The first few levels of the game, game play is very basic. The main perspective in use during these levels is the First person mode, as players will use a variety of weapons like the Bryar Blaster pistol, the Imperial E-11 Blaster Rifle, a Wookie crossbow, and thermal detonators among other things. There is nothing wrong with the weaponry itself, or even the game mechanics. The problem is how the first few levels are laid out. The are essential the same thing over, and over again. Kyle Katarn shoots up wave after wave of storm troopers, which have an impressive AI system that makes the troopers run in fear, try to flank Kyle, or numerous other features that add realism to the game. But, players are also forced to complete variations of the same key puzzles to unlock doors and gain access to new areas. This really isn’t bad, its just basic. After a while it can get a little old, but if you stick with the game through these few brief levels of averageness, you will be rewarded.

    This game doesn’t truly begin to shine until Kyle Katarn regains his force powers and lightsaber. This is where for the majority of the time the Third person perspective takes over, and game play becomes addictively epic. Now I know Jedi Outcast isn’t the first Star Wars games to feature the use of force powers and the lightsaber, but in my opinion this is one of the first games to pull it off successfully enough to allow the player the feeling of actually being a Jedi. Once the lightsaber and base force powers are acquired, the scope of the game changes simply because the challenge of non-Jedi enemies goes down. The game itself isn’t any easier, its because Kyle has become more powerful. In no time you’ll be taking down countless storm troopers with the lightsaber, or in later levels force lighting with out even taking damage. The force is truly a powerful ally. Possibly the most addictive aspect of the force/lightsaber combo, is when facing off against Dark Jedi. While fighting an enemy who can also wield the force, your edge against your opponent begins to level out. This results in some pretty outstanding lightsaber battles, that feel equal to those found in the movies. When fighting with the lightsaber, players have full control of attacks and swing direction. This allows for pin point control, so with a little practice you can become very proficient with the lightsaber. This proves useful when bringing your skills online in the multiplayer mode.

    For its time, Jedi Outcast’s multiplayer mode was just as addictive as its single player mode. Players could take their skills online to face off against others in a variety of game styles, which all felt true to the Star Wars brand. Being this game was released in 2002, many people no longer compete online. That’s not to say there isn’t those still playing it, I’m sure there are, but from what I could tell the variety in players is no longer there. Luckily, there is modes where you can go up against bots. True this isn’t the same as going against another player, but if you just want to get in some lightsaber action, this is a pretty nice feature to have.

    Anyone looking to get this game, its well worth the investment. It is available for PC, Nintendo Gamecube, and the Microsoft Xbox. Although it is a worthy purchase on any platform, in my experience is was pulled off the best on PC. Those of you who do want it for the PC, a word of warning for anyone running Windows 7 or Vista. Jedi Outcast might not run properly with Windows 7 or Vista. By switching the program to run windows compatibility mode XP, any errors you might run into will be resolved.

    Since I first got my hands on this game, I’ve found myself returning to it time and time again. Sure its not entirely perfect, but its better than the vast majority of other Star Wars games on the market. I could be very tacky and end this review with a comment like “the force is strong with this one”…but, ah what the heck. You get the idea.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     While the best in the NES series of games remains to be Mega Man 3, Mega Man 6 is certainly not a slouch by any stretch. In fact, it is indeed more advanced graphically than any other of the previous games - and once again the music remains top notch. There are various upgrades available in MM 6, such as the BEAT upgrade - which is a flying bird that essentially kills everything on screen when utilized. Also, Mega Man's faithful robot dog Rush plays a new role as he transforms into the Jet and POW upgrades. The Jet is exactly what it sounds like - a jet pack - and is a blast to use. POW transforms Mega Man into a hulking powerhouse capable of busting through some bustable walls and much more.

     A lot of things seem the same about Mega Man 6 than they do for the previous iterations of the series, but that is a good thing. However, if you for some reason you were not a fan before, there isn't much to convince you otherwise about liking this game now. In any case, the long running Mega Man series on the NES spanned almost the entire life span of the system and are regarded as some of the best games for it. Even with its 6th game in a long line of sequels, you could see that Mega Man is not only prolific, but longevity and quality are on its side as well.

-Kurt L.

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     Starring in over 120 different video games spanning decades of history and numerous consoles and handhelds, Mega Man has seen it all. He's had his fair share of ups and downs over the years, but his best games were on the NES. Mega Man 1 thru Mega Man 6 were all classics and in this newest Ethos Video Review, I celebrate his best work by discussing the games in depth. Click the link below to watch the newest video. Thank you all for watching!

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

-Kurt L.

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     Limbo is one of the most unique games I have had to pleasure to play in quite some time. In addition to that, it is also one of the eeriest and mysterious of games to boot. It's a brilliant achievement and should be experienced first hand by any gamer. In this newest Ethos Video Review, I take an in depth look at Limbo - available currently on the Xbox Live Arcade. Check out the newest Ethos Video Review by clicking the link below. Thank you for watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmwLHNxY504

-Kurt L.

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     Not to knock the NES in any way possible, as it is one of, if not my personal favorite console of all time, but like I said, it had numerous stinkers in addition to its timeless classics. Xenophobe is a game wastes a perfectly good alien butt-kicking premise and turns it into an ugly, slow, boring, confusing disaster. The character designs look hideous, the graphics are bright sure, but are horribly bland in nature. The gameplay is weak and uninspired. The level design is the classic one-screen-at-a-time sort, harkening back to Pitfall! on the Atari 2600, but fails to capture or captilize on a simple mechanic such as that. It just leaves the player confused on where to go - as everything just seems too vague in this game. Once you get far enough anyway, you'll be so terribly bored, you won't want to keep on going - nor care. There are so many betters games out there.

     Xenophobe could have been a great game, as it has a pretty cool title (as it means "a fear of aliens"), and game box looks very enticing with an awesome looking angry alien on the cover - clearly inspired by the Alien film series. However, that is where the charm ends. Oh, and maybe one of the characters in the game being a duck named Dr. Kwack will provide a quick chuckle, but otherwise, that is it. On a side note, this game is made by Sunsoft, which is a rather respectable gaming company - but even a good company can release a bad product I suppose. I mean, Konami made Laser Invasion after all.

     The game has a two-player feature, which makes the game more playable, and to its credit, that's fine. But why would one player, let alone two, want to waste their time with this game? If you want a great game that has two-players simultaneously playing together, then play Contra, Super C, River City Ransom, Battletoads, or a Double Dragon game.

     So if I keep spewing hate about this game, then why do I bother reviewing it? Well, it's my job here at Ethos to review games, music albums, or movies, both good and bad - but ultimately my goal here is to have this review act as a deterrent. To implore you, the reader, the gamer, or whomever it may concern, to stay away, far away, from this wretched game. You'll be much better off if you haven't played this.

-Kurt L.

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     In this newest Ethos Video Review, I take an in depth look at the Nintendo 64. Originally known as the "Ultra 64", I reflect upon some of its more interesting aspects as well as some of its best games. To see the newest video, click the link below. Thanks as always for watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5hG0E0zgxw

-Kurt L.

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     Show and tell time! Just for fun in this newest Ethos Video Review entitled My Video Game Collection, I reveal my own personal collection. Consider this a sort of exhibition video. Feel free to comment and discuss your own collection! Click the link below to watch the newest video. Thanks for watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZc0ekHCxUc&feature=channel

-Kurt L.

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     With this newest Ethos Video Review, I take an in depth look at one of the finest games in the Nintendo 64 library - Goldeneye 007. The subject in this video is easy to discuss considering how truly masterful this game is. Consider also the indelible mark this game has left on the industry itself! This is truly an amazing video game. Take a trip down memory as I take an in depth look at this classic. Click the link below to view the video! Thank you as always for watching and supporting the website. An Ethos Nation Production.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEJywX9NBrY

-Kurt L.

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