Metal Slug XX is the newest installment of the Metal Slug series and a port of the previously released Nintendo DS Metal Slug 7. Metal Slug has shown up on the PlayStation Portable before in the Metal Slug Collection which combined the six previously arcade titles on one UMD. The issues with the UMD included long load times and small freezing issues something that hampered the overall experience with the title.

With XX, the issues have more or less been addressed and Metal Slug XX is a much more streamlined release.

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At the end of Dragon Age: Origins, Bioware did a great job of wrapping up the story depending on the decisions made by players while still leaving it open enough to add to the story.

In the expansion, Dragon Age: Origins Awakening continues a version of the story that introduces more of the background of the darkspawn and creates more decisions for players to make that will affect the outcome of the title.

Players who completed the original game will find a great continuation of the overall plot of the world of Dragon Age, though some might think that there is not enough content for this expansion to warrent the $39.99 price tag.

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Star Ocean: The Last Hope International is a ported version of the previously released Xbox 360 version of the title almost a year prior to the PlayStation 3 exclusive International version. Included in this version is the original Japanese audio, multilingual text options, and changeable character portraits, otherwise the game does not have any other huge changes to the actual gameplay.

PlayStation 3 owners were missing out on this great tri-Ave developed title, and Star Ocean: The Last Hope International was the first Star Ocean that I played. The Japanese RPG uses a lot of the same standards that the genre of the East is known for, but it does a few things differently that keep the action moving and doesn’t slowdown the story. Though the occasional grind was necessary.

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As one of the more long-standing series of the mecha genre, the Armored Core games have appeared on many platforms since the original PlayStation. Long considered one of the most customizable mech games, Armored Core has again arrived on the PlayStation Portable.

Now, From Software has somehow crammed their own PS2 game into a handheld-size version. They’ve added new features and new arenas, but the question is, how does the port hold up?

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The second DLC pack from Capcom’s Resident Evil 5 entitled Desperate Escape has released and takes a different approach from the first DLC Lost in Nightmares by creating a more action focused mission between BSAA Agent Josh Stone and Jill Valentine. Instead of the nostalgic pairing of Redfield and Valentine, Desperate Escape is much like the title describes, trying to survive among pursing hordes.

Included in the DLC is also Rebecca Chambers and Josh Stone for Mercenaries Reunion. Capcom is also releasing Resident Evil: Gold Edition for PlayStation 3 on 1 Blu-ray and Xbox 360 which includes the original game and a download token for all the DLC.

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The first thing that needs to be known is that Korg DS-10 Plus is not a game. It’s not even a simulation or dumb-downed version of the Korg software made for casual players.

Korg DS-10 Plus is a hardcore piece of software that while isn’t as powerful as the actual synthesizer, utilizes the Nintendo DS and the touch pad in a fashion that appears so simple, but actually hides the sophisticated beast in the cartridge.

With Korg DS-10 Plus, XSEED improved on the original release by adding Nintendo DSi functions which allow for two decks rather than the single one for the Nintendo DS. After putting hours into experimentation, it can be said that this software is a hidden gem for the Nintendo DS/DSi, especially for musicians.

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Lost in Nightmares is the first of the new downloadable content that expands on the story of Resident Evil 5 and will be included in the new Gold Edition releasing after the DLC has hit the PSN and Xbox Live.

Since most players have completed Resident Evil 5, most know the story of Chris Redfield and his experiences with the Umbrella Corporation and how deep their influence went in the world of Resident Evil.

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Even through the first words about Dante’s Inferno is that it is a God Of War clone, is there a better game to pull influences from in the action genre?

Dante’s Inferno successfully pulls off the “epic” game through the journey of the nine levels of Hell and while most of the game is a linear journey down and boss battles aren’t as often as they could have been, the experience is what the title should be: fun.

Dante’s Inferno can be completed in about eight to ten hours depending on how quickly each area is completed, but sometimes it was fun to stick in areas that constantly spawned enemies to gain experience and attempt to hit high combos.

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