Saturn Rising

Many look back at the history of console gaming, and point to the mid-90s as a pivotal point. Nintendo was toying with 3-D graphics. Sony entered the battle with the PlayStation, marking a switch from cartridge-based gaming to optical discs, and Sega - who for years was Nintendo's only real competition in the console wars after the market crash of the 1980s - released the Sega Saturn. The Saturn also ran games via optical discs, and boasted 3-D graphics, but something didn't click with audiences, despite some absolutely fantastic games.

Videogaminglounges.com - a site dedicated to bringing you the latest news on where to hang out and play new and classic games, recently posted a fantastic article about the Sega Saturn. They had the following to say:

"When it comes to original exclusive games, the Sega Saturn was a bit lacking, but still managed to produce some worthwhile hits that left a lasting impression. The first that comes to mind is Panzer Dragoon, a rail shooter where you ride on the back of a flying dragon. The opening cinematic to this game is still one of my favorites. Another well regarded side-scrolling RPG fighter that was released for the Saturn was Guardian Heroes. The storyline in this game is altered through the players' actions and choices, leading to multiple endings and the possibility of a unique experience with each play through." 

VGL has some great articles, but this one about the Sega Saturn really had the great gaming memories of my youth rushing back to me. I highly recommend you read their entire article on the Saturn, and then check out their other info. Videogaminglounges.com has some of the best articles on gaming and places to go and play games and meet friends.

Check them out now!

Whisper of a Rose

Yesterday, I had a chance to play a few hours of Whisper of a Rose, the latest release from RosePortalGames. While many people seem to shy away from RPGMaker games, Whisper of a Rose starts of with a deep story. Society has pretty much prioritized science and technology, which has marginalized a lot of people.

The story centers around Melrose - a young student who deals with the verbal abuse of her peers at school, and who deals with an abusive relationship with her parents that often goes beyond the verbal. Melrose - perhaps to cope with her reality - has an extremely vivid imagination (what would have been called a "fantasy prone personality" not but a decade ago), and often finds herself lost in her daydreams, which seem all too real.

Melrose eventually happens upon a gadget called the iDream, which will allow her to escape - if only temporarily (in theory) - into her world of dreams , where she is a powerful warrior. In her dream world, Melrose is greeted by her Godmother (who looks surprisingly similar to the Fairy Godmother in Disney's version of Cinderella), who informs her of the desperate state of the Dream World, and what Melrose must do to save it. Of course, that interaction is cut short when her Godmother is attacked by an evil entity that manifests itself as a clown (what better archetype for a dreamworld antagonist?), and Melrose finds herself alone, save for the beings and creatures she must rally to take back the only haven in her mind that allows her peace from the outside world.

I don't hate RPGMaker games. They are great for people who want to revisit the great 16-bit era of the 1990s. However, what sets Whisper of a Rose apart from other RPGMaker games is that the assets in the game are not taken from stock. Everything has a wonderful hand-drawn feel to it, and the inhabitants of the game are much more fully animated than in other games of this kind. Combat it satisfying, and complete with special skills, magic, and summons.

Unless the game really deviates from its initial presentation, Whisper of a Rose guarantees 25+ hours of gameplay (if you skip over all of the side quests and optional material), and I highly recommend it. You can get whisper of a rose directly from roseportalgames.com (with a free 1 hour demo), or you can get it on Steam, where it comes complete with achievements and trading cards.