Pennypincher's Corner IV - Double Feature: Alter A.I.L.A. & Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis

Genre: RPG
Developer: Neok

Sturgeon's Law shows up in spades when looking at games made in RPG Maker (I, myself, have fallen to it, which is why I haven't actually released any of the games I've made). Alter A.I.L.A. and its remake, Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis, both fall into that other 10%. They're both really good, if almost different games.
Both versions of Alter A.I.L.A. take place in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, in which a group of nine prisoners fight for their lives for the public's amusement (kind of like the late Roman Empire). When circumstances allow them to escape, they find new lives for themselves. And this is where the two games differentiate themselves.
The original Alter A.I.L.A. presents three different storylines: serve the Empire, join the rebellion, or try to ignore the conflict and live as a normal citizen. Clearing all three unlocks a fourth, and this gives the game great replay value. You can find it here.
The remake, Genesis, only has one storyline, but this allows for more detail in its plot, and more character development. It also has an improved combat system. Get it here.
Which version you'll want to play all comes down to what you'd prefer. Myself, I love them both equally well, as they're both well-made RPGs. So I say, try them out.

--Kotaro

Note: Both Alter A.I.L.A. and Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis were made using RPG Maker 2003, and thus require the program to be installed on your PC before they will run. Fortunately, RPG Maker 2003 is now officially freeware, so you can easily download it.

Psychonauts

Platform: Xbox/PlayStation 2/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Release: 19 April 2005
Rating: Teen
Price: $10-15

It's always a horrid shame when a beautifully-original game like Psychonauts fails to sell, until years later when the entire world simultaneously discovers it. While yes, it's a good thing that the game is finally being bought, the initial lackluster sales tend to really hurt the publisher.
Tim Schafer is a brilliant man, and has created some of the wackiest games this side of Grasshopper Manufacture. Psychonauts was the first time he worked outside the genre of adventure games, and the result is unpolished, but still genuinely fun. The premise of the game is that the hero, Raz, is a kid at a summer camp for psychics. When a conspiracy comes to light, it's up to him to save his fellow campers by using his powers to explore the minds of other people. So each level has an entirely different feel, and they can get rather surreal at times. The conspiracy theorist's mindscape is a warped version of an American suburb with trenchcoat-wearing, CIA-looking guys all over the place; The boot-camp-style counselor's brain is a war-torn battlefield; and the retired actress' subconscious has actors reliving her life in the form of a stage play.
While the difficulty curve is inconsistent, and the gameplay has a slightly unfinished feel, Psychonauts is still a colorful adventure with an insane cast and is definitely worth a look.
GameStop sells the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game at $13 and $15 respectively, while Steam and GOG offer the PC version for $10.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.

--Kotaro

Super Meat Boy

Platform: Xbox 360/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Team Meat
Publisher: Newgrounds
Release: 20 October 2010
Rating: Teen
Price: $15

Meat Boy was an interesting little platformer published on Newgrounds.com. It possessed an ungodly level of difficulty, but due to several design choices (levels are short, you respawn immediately, and you have unlimited lives), it never really got frustrating. It was a short, but fun, game. And then Steam and Xbox Live Arcade saw its successor: Super Meat Boy. And it's also really fun. Very similar to the original, Super Meat Boy features the same level of difficulty and the same "anti-frustration features." Is it worth $15, though, while the first game is free? Well, SMB is certainly a bigger game: it has more levels and several unlockable characters from other games (such as Commander Video from BIT.TRIP, and Tim from Braid).
Super Meat Boy's insane difficulty is offset by the typical humor of Newgrounds developers, which is a selling point for some people (myself, I don't find it that funny). And the game is fun, so what more could you want? Try the original on Newgrounds, and if you like it, pick this one up. $15 on Xbox Live or Steam isn't too bad a price for it. And I always say to "support the indie developers," so that answers that, I suppose.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.

--Kotaro

Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness

NOTE: As those who follow my Twitter account are aware, this entry is a day late due to technical problems with Blogger. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Platform: PlayStation Portable
Genre: Strategy/RPG
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software/otwo
Publisher: NIS America
Release: 30 October 2007
Rating: Teen
Price: $19

It may come as no surprise that I love offbeat humor in my games. Which also means it should be no surprise that I am a huge fan of the Disgaea series. Excellent turn-based tactical RPG combat stuffed with some of the most clever humor to ever come out of Japan? I'm all over it. I even gave Disgaea the #2 spot on my Top Ten Weird Japanese Games.
All of the Disgaea games are great, but the best place to start is with the first. And when it comes right down to it, the PSP version is the best one.
The PlayStation 2 original was fantastic, sure, but the PSP port adds several new features, including an alternate story mode, and multiplayer. While the later Nintendo DS remake adds even more features, the graphics were downgraded and most of the voices removed, to the point that it loses some of its charm. So my opinion is to stick with the PSP version.
As for the game itself, there's not much to say about it. Anyone who's played Final Fantasy Tactics or any other turn-based strategy game will know basically what they're in for. Disgaea does bring some new things to the table, though. There's a unique equipment system that allows you to level-up your equipment as you play, you can create and customize your units however you want (to an almost ridiculous extent), there's an unending supply of randomly-generated dungeons to explore, and the level cap takes things beyond the insane: it's not 50, or 99, or even 100. It's 9999 (no, that is not a typo).
Disgaea is downright fun, and it never takes itself seriously at all. It's a lighthearted romp through Hell (literally) that will make you laugh until you cry. It's a game well worth the admission price of $19.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.

--Kotaro

StarCraft: Battle Chest

Platform: PC (Windows/Mac)
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release: 31 March 1998
Rating: Teen
Price: $16

StarCraft is often considered to be the greatest real-time strategy game of all time. Nothing else need be said. If you haven't already, play this game. You are missing out.
StarCraft doesn't do much that hasn't been done before, but it does it so well, what more could you want? I'll allow the game's legacy to speak for itself:
-It remains one of the most popular games online to this day, thirteen years later.
-It has become the standard to which all modern RTS games are compared.
-The phrase "Zerg Rush" (named for one of StarCraft's playable factions) has become an oft-used gaming term.
-StarCraft has been used by the US Air Force to teach new recruits how to plan under stress.
I can't say anything about StarCraft that hasn't already been said many times. But if my words can get more people to play this excellent game, then I will say it: buy StarCraft.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.

--Kotaro