Nintendawg

Some people really need to get off their high horse (no pun intended).
There are many ways to separate the men from the boys, but gaming isn't one of them.
The fact alone that the game developers allow you to reset the console and start the mission anew renders their own argument about adding to difficulty and suspense null and void and proves that they only included "permadeath" to feed certain individuals' ego in their quest to become more "elite" and "legit" than everyone else. And that's just petty and ridiculous, to say the least.
It would only make sense if there wasn't a way to cheat this "permadeath".
As it stands now, it's plain dumb.

@Manfred I love the way you guys use bump mapping and lighting effects.
This game looks great and I will be getting it on day 1.
Also, I got Nano Assault (retail) at launch and was wondering how different the EX version is, in terms of graphics, to the original. I might get the e-shop version as well, that's why I ask. Your feedback will be most appreciated.

I'll get this. It's only fitting that I support my fellow dawgs lol

Sweet review.
I expected no less and that's why I've had this pre-ordered. It'll be a while before I finally get to play it, though... Atlus has been so prolific lately, it's hard to keep up

It's Liberation Maiden for me

@Schprocket The tag-line itself suggests exactly the opposite.

The Wii was at an advantage versus its competitors, despite being inferior in terms of technical specifications, for a specific reason: It was targeted toward a completely different and yet large, market group. With its cheery library of games, it was purposefully promoted as a family-oriented system.
The Wii U, on the other hand, attempts to do something completely different: to enter the HD fray and compete with its rivals head-on. Nintendo knew they were taking quite a gamble when they decided this. Keep both its family-oriented profile, or persona, if you will and its more M-rated one at the same time? Can it really work? So far it has all but confused potential buyers (anyone not painted with a big N. brush, at least), in my opinion, unlike its competitors that seem to merely further build upon previous foundations of success, i.e. buyers (will) know what to expect.
Planning strategics in marketing and advertising while resting on one's laurels is surely no way to go and all sides of the gaming industry have demonstrated such idiosynchracies. On the other hand, like Mr. Pachter aptly put it, being asked to "be patient" is no better, either, at least from a marketing perspective.

I'm still waiting for a review of this before I decide. Like Kirk said, I would very much rather this was at least 16-bit looking instead.
@Thomas Just a small typographical error that I might bring to your attention: "becomingly".

@evanescent_hero "an mindless as they come", however, isn't.
You are making an issue out of it, let it go already.

@Flowerlark You're the one that needs to loosen up, "dude". I only pointed that out out of common courtesy.

Nice and meticulous review.
"as mindless as they come"

I was fine with the omission of feet on the characters' models (and by "fine" I mean it didn't bother me that much, I still thought it was annoying) until I read their explanation as to why that happened.
Now it really pisses me off, that they're making it seem as if everyone's got a foot fetish all of a sudden.
Mr. Kusakihara, you sure are a chirpy chap. How high are you sir?

I've been looking forward to this ever since it was announced for Japan.
Day one pre-order!

I'll pre-order this for sure. Along with PMD: GTI it is my most anticipated game for this year (so far, at least!). It seems bound to set new standards for rpg's on the console too.
I thought it'd be at least another year or so before we got it!
So many massive games being released one after the other...
Atlus, seriously, we have other things to do besides gaming! LOL

I have to admit, the ending of PMD: Explorers of Darkness made me cry like a baby, heh. I still cherish the hours spent.
For this one, I didn't even need to try the demo, I've had this on pre-order from day one. In fact, a PMD for the 3DS was a dream come true!
My only grievances are the lack of the personality quiz and the small selection of starter Pokémon... I wanted to be a Totodile again

@CanisWolfred "Curiosity killed the cat"... ever heard the expression?

I guess this is why songs like "At Last" never get old.
Get the 3D version if you can... it's much better.

yeah.
I'm still unconvinced about this game...

It looks promising, I love the eerie visuals.

The only thing that doesn't please me aesthetically are those platformy bits that look too squared-off at the edges. Other than that, it looks cute and I will be on the lookout for a review.

@kkslider5552000 LOL!

I enjoyed this game a lot. It even reminded me of Starcraft 1 at times.
Alas, the enjoyment abruptly came to an end when I got to the last mission.
That's when the frustration began.
I'll never forgive Intelligent Systems for what they did with this game's last boss. True to his name, Stolos (Hellenic for "fleet") is practically unbeatable, unless you make strictly specific moves which require hours of OCD trial and error.
This game is the only one that's made me want to throw my DS across the room, because of that last boss. I never saw the game's ending and still bear a grudge against Intelligent Systems for that.

I bought the retail version at launch, but I would consider purchasing this updated one as well, if the visuals prove to be as improved as is being rumoured. I'm hoping they'll have a demo available so I can see for myself.
I'm already impressed, to be honest. The original boasts some incredible graphics and I'm quite curious to see how many notches they've been taken up.

It was the demo that convinced me to pre-order the game
Comparing this game to the previous ones on the DS is a mistake. It begs to differ and that is evident from the get go. I know I wouldn't want more of the same.

@hngdmn Make no mistake, this isn't Street Fighter. I understand your concern as to how the circle pad might hinder proper controls (as, admittedly, is the case with Street Fighter IV 3D), but there are no shoryukens or hadokens or flash kicks to be performed here, combos and their mix-ups are very simply executed (and, more importantly, cancelled). It plays like an over-simplified version of Blazblue (and I stress the "over-simplified") and that's a good thing as it adds depth without being over-complicated.
Mercury Steam have managed to combine the best of both worlds, in my opinion.

I love this game. I love the combat system. I love everything about it, in fact.
The combat system reminds me of the one that Activision uses in several DSi titles (Spiderman Web of Shadows to name one) and that is GOOD!
Moreover, I can see what Dave Cox meant when he said they've looked into 2D beat 'em up games like Street Fighter when they were developing the combat system. Synch-block, for instance is similar to the parrying system from Street Fighter 3.
This is evolution and I welcome it.

I can't wait for this!!!!!!!!!!!!

The addition of the Demon Compendium in this enhanced edition makes it well worth purchasing. Not to mention the top notch voice acting. I had a blast with the original on the DS, but Overclocked took it to another level indeed.
Be prepared to GRIND

I got my copy 3 days ago, the game is absolutely amazing. I love the updated graphics and the "free look" camera, both make the labyrinth seem more vibrant and alive than ever. Having finished E.O. III not too long ago, I felt right at home with this new instalment. I'm applying my old tactics and so far it works like a charm.

"There's very little hand-holding, and the game is quite happy to let you charge off in the wrong direction towards unbeatable enemies with a party of five Medics, if you so choose."

Now, who in their right mind would ever do that?

The chick who sells weapons is Winry's twin sister, btw. lol
tsk tsk Atlus!

I'm getting this game day 1.
On a related note, isn't it high time Nintendo gave us demos for their games as well?
Their elitism is quite unbecoming.

Whenever I want to relax, I play this game

@Einherjar The region lock for DSi games only comes into play when there are DSi features being used in those games (i.e. camera). Since RF3 doesn't use any of those features, it should work just fine.

Well, this is quite a surprise. I would have thought that Natsume would be the publisher as was the case with all previous RF games. Strange.
Not that I'm complaining, of course! I've been looking forward to its release ever since it was first announced for Japan!
And Natsume still owes us a patch for that terrible game-freezing bug in Harvest Moon 3D - The Tale of Two Towns. >

"I'm pretty impressed..."
Well, there we have it; straight from the horse's mouth (no offence, Bertil ).
I'm looking forward to seeing what his next project will be.

So, as it turns out, our little squid is anything but titular afterall. This word has been abused, of late.
I enjoyed Cave Story on my DSi and its quality merits the $9.99 spent, but Nicalis is asking way too much for this. Lest they start making fans [really] angry, they should wisen up and start pricing releases like this one more reasonably.
Good review as always, Philip.

Pre-ordered mine today, Atlus is on a roll!
@Tech101 Remember, there's a casual mode in EO IV now, so Windy (or anyone, for that matter) might be able to finish it in a fraction of the time required, compared to previous instalments

I hate japanese voice acting, it's always so over the top, but there will probably be mostly grunts and shrieks involved, rather than dialogue, haha so it doesn't really matter. At least I'll get a few laughs while playing!

No reason for me, other than impatience, to download the demo. I have this on pre-order from day 1
It's a good thing you can transfer progress made. I really appreciate it when they implement things like that, it in turn makes me feel like an appreciated [potential] customer.
cheers Atlus!

7:58-8:00 I never grow tired of watching that combo... ever since the very first VF.

I had a feeling this would happen, so glad it turned out true!
Thank you Namco Bandai!

Well, like the Stifmeister said...

"suck me [dry], beautiful!!!"

I'm hoping Capcom will do this for the PS Vita, even though I don't own one.

@Tech101 I was being specific: Nintendo did a much better job with Super Mario 64 launching along with the system." The company's future depended on it. What happened with later releases is another topic of discussion and I'm sorry to hear you had such a rough time finding games, anyone can relate to that.
I remember when I got my ambassador 3DS all I had to show to my friends were those downloadable game videos, one of which was that of Luigi's Mansion, so we're talking way back. I just do not see the point of announcing a game 2 years prior to its release. Or rather, I do, but it's already been discussed (i.e. HYPE).
In contrast, look at Fire Emblem Awakening, for instance. It's only been a few months since it was confirmed for release, not just vaguely announced and we also have a demo to try (which is amazing, by the way and made me pre-order the game). Now that is good marketing strategy.
As for Kid Icarus, you're right and I have already expressed my complaints in the past. I have yet have to purchase that game and frankly I don't think I ever will. Part of what put me off was all the delay, it got to my nerves.

@sinalefa Please... I was making a point, not a rant. Give me a break, I'm not "crying" or anything
I'm not one of those people you describe. Plus, as an Ambassador, you know, those early adopters who actually prevented the 3DS from being a total flop, I feel I have the right to exercise some healthy criticism.
'dawg out

@C-Olimar
"Not sure what either of you are talking about."
Help yourself and read it again.
As for the 4 months interval before its announcement... you may be right, I'm not sure as it's been a [long] while, but that wasn't even my point. We all know how hard those first months were for the 3DS. If anything, showing little snippets of a game "to-be-released-in-God-knows-when" made it quite evident that N. wasn't ready to launch the system. Even more so, in retrospect. It kind of reminds me of the N64 days, only they did a much better job back then with Super Mario 64 launching along with the system.
I don't know if this game will be good or not. I'm just saying it's long overdue. Old news.
'dawg out

laugh
Seriously, Nintendo? Uh, this was supposed to be a launch title and 2 years later we're still "speculating"?
No. I won't speculate. I just don't care anymore and whenever big N. gets so cryptic there's always something fishy behind the stale hype.
Thank God for all the 3rd party support.

I take it that's some sort of hand grenade at the end? haha...

@Slapshot Well said.

@ueI You didn't think it was grind heavy? Come now
You haven't played the game then. Either that or you gave up on it after 30 min.
If you decide to play it though, keep in mind that several pieces of equipment need a number of specific monster parts before they can become available for purchase. And the only way you can get those is by killing specific monsters repeatedly, a.k.a. grinding.
Why, even to imbue your weapons with magical properties you need to grind for the materials required.
If that doesn't qualify as "grind heavy", I don't know what does.

Nice and detailed review, cheers.
I've been keeping my eye on this game ever since it was announced, glad to see it turned out great.
A big thank you to XSEED Games once more.
Downloading tonight!

Giant laser?
Dr. Evil's been there and done that.

Well spoken, Hugo Smits.

I had quite a lot of fun with the retail version, about 30 hours and will certainly play it again with a different character. I downloaded the 2nd instalment when it came out and it has some gameplay improvements compared to the retail version, for instance certain skills have been improved and items you get as loot have more uses, but there are no shops to visit and villagers to talk to. But it's still fun if you're into dungeon crawlers. So I guess I'll be getting this as well