G-pinions

Any way you look at it, the 360 backwards compatibility list is pretty funny. I mean, I'm pretty impressed that they pulled off 213 games for launch, nearly a third of the Xbox library, but why is every single horrendous budget game on there and most of the best third-party games not? Is anyone really worried about not being able to play Sneakers, Circus Maximus, Barbie Horse Adventure, Chicago Enforcer, Curse, Egg Mania, Kabuki Warrior and dozens more games that you've probably never even heard of on their 360? It's noble that they're going for the whole library, but starting partially with games like those just makes the games that aren't on the list that much harder to stomach.

Say goodbye to Psychonauts, Oddworld, Panzer Dragoon, Burnout, Phantom Dust, Jet Set Radio, Riddick, Mercenaries, Full Spectrum Warrior, Advent Rising, Deus Ex, Otogi 1 & 2, Psi-Ops, Galleon, Beyong Good & Evil, Breakdown, Syberia, Tron and just about anything else unique or interesting (which I not coincidentally, own). Hell, not even all of Microsoft's titles are on there - no Conker, no Kingdom Under Fire, Mechassault, etc. And then there are just some really weird choices that I don't care about but would be fuming if I was Johnny Average Gamer - Doom, Madden, Splinter Cell 1-3, Star Wars Battlefront 1 & 2, and plenty more. It's not a bad start, it's just a bit weird and a bit hilarious.

It is cool that all games that are compatible will be upscaled to 720p and 1080i, with improved anti-aliasing. And if I ever get an HDTV, I'll probably be even more pleased with that. Anyhow, I guess I'm hanging on to my Xbox for the time being, which is a shame - I really wanted to get rid of that beast. Good day.

Edit: Oops, sorry Tom.

With only twelve days to go before launch, Microsoft has interrupted their busy schedule of whipping Rare programmers to speed up development of Perfect Dark Zero, to release the list of backwards compatible software. I know many people have been waiting with breaths held for this most elusive of lists, turning blue as they mutter silent prayers for their games to carry over to the next gen console. And, as I continue to dance around while revealing no actual facts, I will say this: a ton of games are being supported. Rough estimates pegged about three games being immediately playable right out of the box - Fable and the two Halos. Optimists believed as many as five games would be supported - Ninja Gaiden and Knights of the Old Republic - joining the already confirmed. But not even the most wide-eyed, MS worshipping soothsayers could have guessed that Microsoft would support a full 213 titles. I could only think of 189 Xbox titles off-hand, so a number 24 notches higher literally made me squeal "Oh sweet lord, papa found the laundry." Needless to say, I am impressed.

For all my fretting and fussing about Microsoft's apparent attempt to wedge their entire head inside their rectum, they finally got one thing right in their first stab at making a profit in this industry - offering backwards compatibility for the one game I most desired: Grabbed by the Ghoulies. There were some tense moments leading up to the announcements. Would MS have enough time to create an emulator for a title that sold almost 10,000 copies in its first three years on the market? A classic that will forever live in the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere? A historic first entry in what is sure to be an epic catalog of Rare software for MS's systems? A family friendly game with a title so sophomoric and, to some ears, offensive that kids around the world bought an Oxford English Dictionary to discover just why people were giggling?

I, for one, am eternally grateful to MS for allowing this gem to live for the next five years.

However, games like Psychonuats and Panzer Dragoon Saga did not make the list. BMX XXX, however, did. A baffling list, to say the least that, will force football lovers to buy Madden 360 since Madden '06 is not compatible. Ah, the ability to print your own money. How lovely that must be.

It seems as though every game will require its own emulation code. Right now, MS is saying anyone will be able to download the appropriate code from Xbox Live, using only the Silver Package which, thankfully, is free. As of now they are giving away the code, but I wouldn't be surprised if they charge a couple hundred Marketplace Points in the future. Only time will tell. Considering how many games are on this list, I expect most of the relevant titles to crossover within the next six months. Here's my theory: the idea of backwards compatibility sounds very enticing. You look at your collection and think "Of course I'll play these games forever." But then reality sets in. Right now you haven't tasted next gen stuff yet and can't imagine a world without Warrior Within. But when a next generation Prince of Persia comes out you'll never want to go back to the obsolete, though admittedly hardcore and definitely extreme, WW. Once people get a taste of next gen goodness, complaints about Conker and Splinter Cell not being supported will fall to the wayside, and MS will be happy to cease work on bringing old crap to their shiny new system.

Shadoon will live forever.

You know you want to

I love my Nintendo DS. In the beginning, I couldn't see why Nintendo thought a dual-screen, touch screen system would be a good idea. The early games were awful. Half-assed touch screen elements thrown in simply because developers needed something to separate them from their console brethren. Have you played any of those early games? Feel the Magic was considered the killer-ap for hardcore Nintendo whores. How is this even possible? Using the touch screen was a chore yet there was no alternate control method. A horrible game for, what I thought, was a horrible system.

After playing Kirby and Meteos, though, my mind was forever changed. It was possible to make games controlled only be the touch screen that were not only innovative, but incredibly fun as well. Who knew? Clearly, as one reader of this site has said many times over, Kirby should have been a launch title. There is no question Nintendo pushed the NDS out the door sooner than they wanted to trump Sony and their PSP. Somehow, they survived a horrendous launch; the NDS has become my favorite system on the market.

One question lingered, however: would it be able to handle conventional games? Finally, after getting Castlevania Dawn of Souls a few days ago, I was able to see what a game that used both the digital pad and the buttons was like. My verdict - a decisive meh.

I was worried about playing a conventional game because the system is poorly made. Don't cringe, you know it's true. The buttons are incredibly small. Why are they so darn tiny? My thumb easily covers up all four buttons, with plenty of room left over for angels to dance on. And the angle in which my hand is forced to bend to accurately press those pieces of plastic is horrific. I keep a sheet over my hand while playing in public so as not to scar babies with my contortionists act.

And yet, the game is still amazing. Despite the baby-sized buttons and blocky design, C:DS is still a blast. I'm 9:30 hours into the game yet, thankfully, a mere 44.4% through with my journey. This pleases me immensely. Nick, who finished this game a few weeks ago and was ultimately let down by the experience, completed it in around 8 hours. "8 hours?" I exclaimed, "I guess that means it will take me about 20 since you fly through games." "I took my time," Nick lied.

Meanwhile, in console land, I am about a third of the way through my second play through of Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal. I'm not sure how much more I'll play. When Jak X arrives at my house later in the week I assume I'll turn to that for a while, but R&C could be a constant pull until my PS2 finally burns out. Easily one of the best games I have ever played.