For those of you who don't know, Jump Superstars is the result of a collaboration between the famous Japanese Jump magazine and Nintendo of Japan. It features a total of more than 150 characters from 27 different anime/manga series, including the likes of Goku from Dragon Ball Z, Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto, and many, many more.

Graphically, Jump Superstars is a pretty game. It probably sports the best 2D on the DS thus far, although it's not as if the game looks so good that it won't ever be surpassed in the graphics department on the system. Still, the game just looks so polished and nice as these characters battle in these manga inspired areas.

In terms of gameplay, Jump Superstars has a simple, yet effective battle system. In order to K.O. (knock out) your opponent, you will have two ways of doing so: either knocking them out of the battle area through a broken wall or by depleting their J-Soul. J-Soul is basically recognized as your common life meter. When you die, you drop these gold coins with the letter "P" on them, essentially the equivalent to how much power is left on your special gauge. Your special gauge determines how many more special attacks you can pull off before you have to replenish your power, either by constantly attacking your opponent or by picking up other gold coins. Gold coins can also be found in barrels and treasure chests in addition to fallen enemies.

Some people have compared Jump Superstars to the Super Smash Bros. series, and that would be a pretty accurate assessment. However, they're not quite similar in every category. Yes, both games allow up to four characters to battle on-screen at once, but Jump Superstars uses the DS' bottom screen for a unique gameplay element: by touching on a certain manga piece, you can switch characters, summon help, or even do some combo attacks. It's a pretty neat way to switch characters and proves that the DS' second screen isn't a gimmick.

Sound-wise, Jump Superstars has some catchy music. Each area has, as expected, a different tune and nearly all of them are just great to listen to.

Jump Superstars should provide most people with a solid amount of replay value. The main mode in the game is called "J Adventure." Basically, in "J Adventure" you go through these missions spanned across four different "islands." Each "island" has plenty of missions for you to finish, and each mission has several goals for you to complete; for example, one goal may require you to break more barrels than your opponent while another may require you to not get K.O.ed. As you could imagine, the former would be easier to accomplish over the latter.

Overall, Jump Superstars is the type of game that is perfect for the DS. In addition to providing a geniunely fun experience, it also showcases the DS' second screen in a pretty unique and interesting way. It's almost guaranteed that due to all of the licenses involved in the game, Jump Superstars likely won't see the light of day outside of Japan. Still, that shouldn't stop you from checking out a FAQ at a site like GameFAQs -- if you don't know any Japanese -- and importing this game because it'd be a damn shame to miss one of the best games that the DS has to currently offer.

It sure has been a while since I last updated thing, eh? *dusts off journal* Heh, I have some updates for you all:

- PSP360.net is still up but, sad to say, I have completely lost interest in terms of updating it, meaning that it'll be down and out within the next month. I had fun at times during the few months it was on, but with college and all, I simply realized that I couldn't afford to go on with it much longer.

- I do have a new Web site, soul[dot]less[dot]com. It's been up for a few weeks now (it's actually down at the time I'm writing this; it should be back up sometime tomorrow). Basically, it's a little personal site of mine where I post game reviews, among other things.

Hey all, it's been a while since I last posted something in my journal, but I'm here to tell you all that I've, in the last few days, started my own Web site, PSP360.net. In case you can't tell from the name (which also happens to be the URL, heh), the site covers the PSP and Xbox 360.

Here's a direct link to it: PSP360.net. I'd appreciate some feedback on it. :)

EDIT: I've added some forums to the site which you can check out (and register at! :)) here.

Hey all, I got my PSP today from EB Games this morning. I'm currently recharging it, but hope to post impressions of the 6 games I have soon.

Ah... and here is a quick impression of the PSP itself after taking it out of the box: holy crap this thing is small (and sexy)! :!:

Hey guys, I'm updating just to let you know that I've, partly thanks to my mom, finished paying off my PSP reservation. :D All I need now is my PSP unit to play the two games that I already own, Twisted Metal: Head-On and Wipeout Pure, on.

My parents today got me my first car, a used 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse (silver in color). It was around $13,000 total, only has almost 30,000 miles on it, and has plenty of spoilers (including a moonroof and power windows). I've only driven it for a few minutes but I already am in love with this car. :D

Yep, I'm officially a graduate of high school (got my diploma today) and next week will begin a new quest as I go onto college. :)

Hey all, just updating to let you know I've become a member of GameSpot Complete! :D

So much for the Revolution being the only next-gen console I get at launch:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/24/news_6119158.html

Today, Hironobu Sakaguchi and Microsoft Games Studio confirmed news that had kept the rumor mill abuzz in Japan for the past 24 hours. The two parties announced an alliance that will see a pair of upcoming Sakaguchi-developed role-playing games be released exclusively for the next-generation Xbox.

The news is a huge coup for Microsoft, which is leveraging solid sales of its current-generation console. It also further highlights the company's strategy to ride continued strong hardware sales and be a contender at the outset of the next-gen race, rather than having to play catch-up, as it was forced to do with the PlayStation 2.

"We are ecstatic to work with Sakaguchi-san and celebrate what this news means," said the voluble Peter Moore, vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing at Microsoft, in a statement today.

Whether or not the exclusive deal will mean Microsoft can increase its share of Japanese gamers is yet to be seen, but certainly, the news will do no harm to its efforts in that market.

For Sakaguchi, the news is apparently equally sweet. "Microsoft’s cutting-edge technologies in the next-generation platform will allow me to bring to life an array of ideas that I have had for many years," he said.

Few game makers have had as many ups and down as Sakaguchi. He joined Square in 1986, first as director of planning and development, but soon rose through its ranks, at one time assuming the title president of Square LA Inc. (now called Square Enix, Inc.).

His many years as the creative force behind the Final Fantasy series drove his popularity among gamers and status within the Square organization. In recognition for his contribution to the game industry, Sakaguchi was awarded Hall of Fame status by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Science.

But after the release of the Square-developed, computer-animated film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in 2001, his stock within the company plummeted. The $137 million would-be-blockbuster's lackluster draw at the box office drove the company deep into the red, eventually forcing it into a merger with rival RPG maker Enix.

Soon afterwards, Sakaguchi quietly left the new company, Square-Enix. Last year, along with noted music composer Nobuo Uematsu (a former colleague on the Final Fantasy series as well), he formed his own development studio, Mistwalker. Sakaguchi also announced via company's Web site that Mistwalker had two role-playing games in development. However, he never mentioned a publisher--until today.

Echoing his statements already posted on the Mistwalker site, Sakaguchi said this morning, "I want these games to be alive with a new vision for gaming and vividly depict new characters that will transcend the game, find a place in the hearts of gamers, and make time spent with my games a fond and long-lasting memory."

The news today made no mention of a release date for the titles, but specified they were due for Xbox Next only.

This news could be a potentially huge blow to both Sony and Nintendo.

Random thought regarding the Revolution: it'll probably be the only next-generation console I get... at launch.

Super Mario World Beta!