Publisher: Kalypso Media
Developer: First Star Software, Catnip Games
Genre: Action/Puzzle
ESRB rating: Everyone
Release date: Available now
Review by: Michael Rabalais

I understand myself to be among the youngest, if not the youngest member of the Avault staff. I have never lived in a year where John Lennon was alive. And when the Twin Towers were bombed in 2001, I was in fifth grade. Even though I shoulder the incredible burden of my young age, I’ve supplemented my classic game knowledge to the best of my ability. I’ve beaten every Super Mario game, even the CDi exclusive Hotel Mario. I’m as versed in the origin of gaming as a scholar may be in Greek classics. So when I was assigned to review Boulder Dash-XL, and heard it described as the follow-up to a gaming classic, I found my knowledge lacking. While I hate to make assumptions, I think it’s safe to say I’m not the only gamer unfamiliar with Boulder Dash. Can a reimagining of a Commodore-era staple bring relevance to a franchise many might be unfamiliar with?

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Boulder Dash XL is now available at the Xbox Live Arcade. The game, which brings the classic title into the modern HD-era, is available for 800 Microsoft Points. A Windows PC version is scheduled for release later this summer.

The game features 5 different modes and pays tribute to the original Boulder Dash with its Retro Mode, which attempts to replicate that 1984 PC look and feel. Retro Modes utilizes only the gameplay elements featured in the original and Kalypso boasts that the behavior of enemies inhabiting the caves is exactly as it was back then. The original graphics and characters have been brought to life in real-time 3D, and both the music and sound effects were created using 8-bit samples.

Back in February, THQ announced they would create games based on the 80s cartoon Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Now they’ve revealed that folks will finally get a look at it this year during Comic-Con. The title will be part of a Voltron panel that will include toys, comic books, and other collectibles. In addition to the upcoming series of games, there’s a new cartoon and a feature film in development.

According to Joystiq, there’s a new James Pond game on the streets for both the iPhone and iPad. For those of you who don’t remember 1993, James Pond was a series of British platformers published by EA, that starred a tuxedo-clad goldfish secret agent. In the new title, James Pond in the Deathly Shallows, James must stop Doctor Maybe from ruining the oceans by navigating an underwater maze to find and repair leaking oil pipes.

Galaga Legions DX is the latest title in Namco Bandai’s Namco Generations series of classic updates. Though still slated as TBN for PSN, the game will hit XBLA on June 29 for 800 Microsoft Points. This trailer details your ship’s new Diffuse Fire ability, which is designed to provide a strategic advantage compared to the previously revealed Focus Fire technique.

Mega Man 5 can now be downloaded for the Wii via Nintendo’s Virtual Console for 500 Wii Points. Originally released in 1992 on the NES, this platforming action game features Mega Man in his 8-bit glory as he runs, jumps and shoots his way through 13 stages and eight robot masters.

The story focuses on Mega Man’s brother-bot, Proto Man. Seemingly a mysterious aid before, Proto Man suddenly turns against peace by kidnapping Dr. Light and attacking with his own robot army. As you might expect, there’s much bot bashing to be had against the likes of Gravity Man, Napalm Man, and Crystal Man. It’s also the first time Mega Man gets equipped with his robotic companion, Beat.

Atari now has an anime re-imagining of their classic arcade game Yars’ Revenge available via Xbox Live. The new incarnation takes the title to new artistic heights with an anime inspired art style and a narrative that expands upon the original story. The game also features local co-op gameplay. Players assume the role of a nameless Yar, who has been brainwashed by the evil Quotile empire to do their bidding. After being shot down and rescued by the ancient and mysterious Bar Yargler, she sets off on a mission to seek revenge on her former master and his deadly squad of assassins.

Hyperkin, a 3rd party developer of video game peripherals, has announced their upcoming launch of the SupaBoy Handheld Video Game Console designed for SNES game cartridges. The SupaBoy will play original SNES cartridges on a built-in 3.5″ LCD screen and is designed to emulate an original SNES controller including a D-pad and buttons on the front as well as right and left shoulder buttons. Hyperkin has also included two front loading ports that are compatible with full-size SNES controllers and video/audio out, allowing up to two players to play the SupaBoy on a regular TV screen. The device will retail for $79.99 when it releases this summer.

SupaBoy will be compatible with multiple SNES titles including: Super Mario RPG, Starfox, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, Zelda, Noah’s Ark 3D, Aerobiz and others.

You once again buy a Commodore 64 (of sorts), but this time there will be a big boy PC inside. Rock, Paper, Shotgun reports that a company has secured the rights to the names of the old machines, and calls themselves Commodore USA, LLC.

The new Commodore 64 features a slot or tray load DVD RW(with optional Blu-Ray), and 2 GB of DDR3 memory that is expandable to 4 GB. The versions currently available for pre-order don’t yet have the C64 emulator installed, but Commodore claims that it’s coming soon. The C64 model will cost you $595, which is the exact price the machine cost when it was originally released in 1982. Expect to see them shipping in May.

The Mega Man Zero Collection is now available at North American retailers exclusively for the Nintendo DS. The compilation is comprised of all four Mega Man Zero titles previously released for the GameBoy Advance.

First introduced in Mega Man X, Zero is a Maverick hunter responsible for disposing of robots that have turned against humanity. First released in 2002, the series follows our hero, Zero, through a 2D action-adventure as he battles his way through countless enemies to save the populace of innocent reploids. Complete with new modes and unlockable items, the Mega Man Zero series is rated E and retails for $29.99.

Doom II is now available for XBLA download! The title expanded upon the white-knuckle excitement of the original Doom with an assortment of additional weapons, monsters, and carnage-filled environments. Players can now revisit (or experience for the first time) all of the heart-pounding action of this classic PC game, complete with 5.1 Surround Sound, HD display, never before seen Achievements, multiplayer, and co-op over LIVE! The game can be purchased for 800 points, and includes 32 new levels, six new enemies, and a sparkly new bonus chapter.

I’ve been a gamer for as long as I can remember. I’ve rescued princesses, slayed dragons, captured ghosts and saved worlds. I started my gaming life with a Sega Master System, and I’ve played almost every single console that’s come out since. The only one I missed was the Dreamcast.

Now I know what you’re thinking: “How can you judge a console you never even tried?” I’m not here to judge, my friends, I’m here to learn.

Dreamcast fans will fight tooth and nail to defend their console’s honor. They are the most loyal of fans. I admire that dedication, and I would like to find out from whence it comes.

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Despite the fact that we’re ushering in a new age of purchasing and upgrading our game software, we haven’t been deterred from dropping bills on gaming’s relics. With digital media, everything old and dusty, is now new and digitally. But let’s set our blind nostalgia aside for a moment. Truth be told, some games, unlike wine, do not age particularly well.

That’s what I’m here for. I’m hoping to start a series of entries exploring the old “gems” that are available through PlayStation’s online service. PSN is my DeLorean, and I’ll be informing you what games are better off left in the past. These are not reviews per se, as we all read the reviews when these titles originally came out. It’s more of an analysis of how the game holds up compared to today’s standards. If you like this first entry, please share your thoughts and provide feedback on what else you’d like me to cover, and if you’d like me to try out any specific games.

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Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Developer: Westwood Studios, Inc.
Genre: Real-time strategy
Release date: October 10, 2001

While the Allies and the Soviets were fighting each other in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Yuri (the psychic adviser to the Soviet Premier) was secretly building his own army of clones and mutations. Once the war ended, Yuri launched his own attempt to take over the Earth with a series of psychic dominators designed to turn the world’s population into his puppets. The only chance to stop him lies in using Einstein’s chronotechnology to travel back in time and destroy the dominators before they can come on line.  ( read more… )