Yoshi Island DS (NDS)

Hey you boy and girls out there its Yuuki here with Yoshi's Island on the DS. Not to be mistaken as a remake the game is more like an expansion or a fun sequel. Ok here we go.

Story: You take on the role of our favorite multi-colored heros the Yoshis. The evil Koopa are stealing babies from all over the world and its up to you and the your baby friends to stop them.
Along with the many Yoshis you'll have a few babies with unquie abilities to lend you a hand. Just don't lose them cause that crying sound could wake the dead. 4/5

Gameplay: Your Yoshi and what's Yoshi's best ability. Hurling its unborn young at people. Although a bit creepy it is quite effective to pelt your foes with eggs made from their allies. You also have the elp of the babies who all have unique abilities to help you get around. Like Peach and her parasol allowing you to ride gusts of air to new heights or baby DK and his vine swinging. Switch babies and unlock all the fun. 5/5

Graphics: The game is a brushed up version of its older counter part. So the graphics haven't improved greatly but they do still look pretty good. Though its hard to make the game amazing looking but it really game through for what the game needed. 4/5

Audio: Turn it off if you tend to get hit alot vause thse babies are really annoying. Otherwise its acutally pretty cool. All the level have awesome little themes that make you feel warm and fuzzy. 3/5

Replay: There are some unlockables but not many the game falls short in its ability to hold your attention for more than 1 play through. 2/5

Overall: OK here's the whoel thing the game isn't terribly long but it is fun. Though the sound of screaming babies will make you want to tear out your ear drums but if you can get over that and the creepy egg thing its an awesome game. Good fun without all the crazy blood, gore, and general ridiculousness of most games. 4/5

Cartoon Network Racing (PS2)

Hey guys and gals its Yuuki here with Cartoon Network Racing. Let me say this...its cartoon network mario cart.

Gameplay: The game actually plays almost exactly like mario cart double dash. There are items and you can have a teammate who rides on the back of your car. There is drifting and the only unique thing is a toon gauge. The toon gauge works by filling when you drift and when you hit onther racer and when its full you can use your special which varies from speed boost to a super attack. Not to bad though if you can get past the faact its a rip off. 3/5


Story: There really isn't one but its also a racing game it doesn't need one. Just race your way through some of your favorite CN shows and play as your favorite characters. These include Courage the cowardly dog, Powerpuff girls, Dexter's Lab, and many more. 2/5

Graphics: The game isn't exactly pretty but the characters are tried and true and look like they've been taken straight from your TV and made 3D. Specials are unique enough and weapons basically all just blow something up. 2/5

Audio: As far as I could tell there isn't any music during the race. There is though all the characters actual voices, which is funny cause like in the show Mojojojo never shuts up. Other than the voices the Audio is kinda not there literally. 1/5

Replay: Being its a a novelty game its all a matter of how quickly that wears off. I'd say if you had younger sibling or family play it with them and score some brownie points with you parentals. Other than that there is no reason to keep this game long. 2/5

Overall: The game really is just a novelty game and for most of you its going to wear off fast. That being said, it seems they disn't put a great deal of time into the programming as no matter what your car stats are they all work about they same. Most racer, support character, and car combos do all the same thing. All in all avoid it or use it to entertain the younglings. 2/5

Brain Boost: Beta Wave (DS)

Reviewed by Kit

Hmm, nothing to introduce this, so we'll begin.

Story: It's a game designed to boost your brain activity, what story could there be? And yet, they made one. Why? Sheer stupidity I think. The story, what I paid attention to anyway, is that you're some weird little creatures that are going from planet to planet solving puzzles to help the people of the other planets so they'll help you. It was completely unnecessary and not remotely entertaining. 1/5

Audio: The music was uninteresting. It was occasionally obnoxious, but I really didn't pay that much attention to it. 2/5

Graphics: The graphics are those brightly colored overly childish looking style. Since the game is basically doing puzzles. 3/5

Gameplay: This game relies on the stylus, but it's useful in this case. One annoyance is that you can't just click something to go into that option/game/etc. You have to select the object then hit the select button at the bottom of the screen. Gameplay works like this, you go to one planet, are told you have to find something, and to find it you must do the five types of puzzles and get high enough scores on each. After succeeding, you move to the next planet and do the same. It's by no means difficult, though it's very boring. 3/5

Replay: Sure you can replay if you want to keep boosting your abilities, but I wouldn't recommend it. 2/5

Overall: It's not a good buy. If you want something like this go with brain age or big brain academy. 2/5

Out of Town!

Gone for the weekend, expect late review.

Baten Kaitos Origins (GC)

Reviewed by Kit

Today we're reviewing Baten Kaitos Origins, and because I have nothing to say, let's move on in this.

Story: You play the guardian spirit to Sagi, a young spiriter who recently joined the private army of a noble. Your first assignment is to kill the emperor, when things go horribly wrong. Someone else already does it, and your friends in the army decide to double cross you and arrest you instead. As you're fleeing, your machine friend Guillo goes psycho and beats into a boss you just decide was unbeatable. And with each punch your head hurts more until you can't take it anymore and you wake up in some other place. After some following people around you discover you were in a dream of sorts, and things are still pretty bad in reality. The story progresses as such with twists and turns along the way. Occasionally you'll meet character who appear in the original Baten Kaitos, which takes place 20 years after Origins. Another important character who later joins you is Milly, who steps in to save you. The story is good, thoguh it takes time to get into. 3/5

Audio: The voice acting is mediocre. they try their best, but it's nothing outstanding. The music itself isn't bad. I can't remember any off the top of my head though. 3/5

Graphics: The graphics are well done. The backgrounds are beautifully rendered and the characters each have a special portrait. 4/5

Gameplay: From what I gather, this is the part where it's hit or miss with people. They've altered the battle system from the original, and for the worse I feel. Your characters still controls a deck of cards to make his moves, but instead of being able to use a certain number per turn, you must chain the cards. That is, if you want a combo you begin like this, usign a 0 card (weapon or armor) the using a 1 card (weak attack) then a 2 (medium attack) then a 3 (strong attack) then a 4 (special attack). Of course you can skip some parts in the chain, but you have to make sure you are constantly increasing. Using items or random skills will prevent any linking. After each battle you are fully healed....and an annoying voice tells you that you've won. Outside of battles you still collect magnus from the areas around you. Some are quest items, and some just give you stat bonuses while you hold them. There are sidequests all over the place to do. Some are interesting, and many are fetch me this particular item on your magnus. 3/5

Replay: No reason for replay. 2/5

Overall: It had lots of potential, but I think it fell short. I'd highly recommend the first over this one. 3/5

Guitar Hero 2 (PS2)

Hey boys and girls it's Yuuki with my review of Guitar Hero 2. Not much is changed here so there isn't alot to talk about.

Gameplay: Alright the game is simple. Just hit the notes when they come by. The notes are either cords on the guitar attachment or the shoulder buttons and "x". As you play through you unlock more songs and difficulties. It's all the same as the last one. 3/5


Story: The story is basically nothing. You can pick a character and go through the career mode which takes you from venue to venue. 2/5

Audio: This is where the game shines but thats because its the focus point. The songs are fun tho today's audience may only know a few of them. But even though the songs are different its still the same as the previous version. 4/5

Graphics: The graphic are sub-par at best but they don't really need to be flashy. The games general fun overlaps them pretty easily. 2/5

Replay: After you unlock everything its fun to get family and friends together to play and sing along all these great and obscur songs. It's got good party value but sometimes feels stale. 3/5

Overall: The game is basically an extension of its previous version. No real new content other than a few characters and songs. It's just the same and if you've played the first one the novelty of the new songs wears off quick. 3/5

Happy Birthday!

Game Ranters is over a year old now. I can't believe it. Seems like only yesterday when someone told me that I might as well write reviews for games since I play so many. And here we are, a year later, still palying games, and still writing reviews.
Now as for our typical Sunday review...because of the Holidays and general celebratory laziness, it didn't happen. Expect Guitar Hero II review up tomorrow, and then back to Sundays. We'll probably end up only doing 1 review a week for a while.

Thanks for stopping by,
Kit and Yuuki