This thread will be a place for me to speak on various games. I plan to update fairly regularly with more games as I play them. Some will be new, some will be old. But they'll be fresh for me! Feel free to chime in with your own thoughts.
Rei Choaniki (PSP)
Having never heard of developer/publisher GUNG HO before, and also seeing the anime-stylized cover artwork (very unlike the original games' art), I purchased this with some degree of trepidation. I didn't even opt for the limited edition -- with music CD -- because I knew nothing about how this was going to be.
Bear in mind, I'm a fan of the series. I enjoyed it on PCE and on PS2 (Saturn/PS1... not so much). But seeing someone new take the reins can be scary.
I was pleasantly surprised. The game's visuals are crisp, the music is true, and the gameplay is the best since the original Choaniki... probably better! It employs a new left/right functionality (similar to Section Z or Sidearms) and, more importantly, this is actually put to good use as enemies regularly swarm from both sides.
It's not an easy game. In fact, with its RIDICULOUS boss gauntlet at the end, it's nigh unbeatable. But it's still immensely fun. My major gripe would be that the majority of bosses have been culled from earlier games in the series. It's not a remake and it's not something entirely new... it's more of a tribute. And it's a fine tribute, at that.