Crappy videogame review: Ikkitousen, Xross Impact (PSP, 2010)

Ikkitousen Xross Impact is a 2010 action game for the PSP, based on the Ikkitousen anime and manga series. It combines fast-paced, side-scrolling beat 'em up gameplay with a large roster of characters, each inspired by warriors from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Featuring flashy combat, cooperative partner mechanics, and plenty of fan service, the game is tailored for fans of the franchise while delivering an energetic brawler experience.



Back when I had my PSP some years ago, this was a game that was really hard for me to put down. I could spend hours and hours playing just this game. One of the last times I checked, I had poured like 80 hours into it… and the worst part is that I don’t know why.

I can’t figure out what draws me to this game so much. Despite its "pretty crappy" look, it was incredibly addictive.

The game is a beat-'em-up. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a genre where you pick a character (and there are many to choose from here) and progress through stages, beating the crap out of every copy-pasted enemy you encounter until you reach the boss. In this case, there are usually two bosses per stage, and yes, you beat the crap out of them too.

This particular game is based on the Ikkitousen anime franchise. Back in the day, anime about badass girls fighting until their clothes were barely hanging on was all the rage. It was THE AGE of fanservice. It wasn’t uncommon to see anime featuring girls in skimpy outfits kicking each other around, and it was considered the coolest thing ever. Funny thing is, I never watched Ikkitousen. It felt a little too fanservice-y for me—like it was trying too hard to grab dudes' attention. And while, yes, I do enjoy that kind of thing sometimes, back then it felt too corny for my taste. (I don’t hate it; it’s just not my cup of tea.)

The game also has its fair share of fanservice, but that’s NOT what draws me to it (seriously). It has a story mode where you pick one of three schools and follow their plotline, but here’s the catch: the game was only ever released in Japan. It’s all in Japanese, and no one’s bothered to fan-translate it. So, if the plot isn’t what hooked me, then what did? The mechanics? Probably.

I haven’t played many beat-'em-ups outside of some arcade classics, which are designed to be tough as nails. This game, however, is different. The mechanics are butter-smooth. Each stage floods you with enemies, so you’re constantly mashing buttons to fight them off.

Honestly, the game works like a button-masher fidget toy. (Remember fidget spinners? Those were wild times. Glad they’re gone, but I digress.) The fighting is dynamic and satisfying. You can string together combos by mashing the punch button, jump to do aerial attacks, or use “spirit bombs” to blast away enemies when surrounded. Each character also has one or two special moves activated with a simple button combo, which deal massive damage. Defeat a boss with a special move, and you even get a little surprise.

Whether you play story mode or arcade mode, you always have two characters in a tag-team setup. You control one, and you can switch to the other at any time, either to level them up or to use their unique abilities. Every character has their own quirks, so it’s fun to experiment and see who works best for each stage.

As you play, your characters level up. The more combos you land, the more points you earn, and leveling up lets you improve stats like strength and stamina. But the real fun is unlocking new combo moves. You can extend combos, juggle enemies in the air, and unleash all kinds of chaos.

I think this is what makes the game so entertaining. The enemies don’t put up much of a fight—sure, they’ll get a few hits in, but mowing down hordes of them with combos is so satisfying. Before you know it, hours have flown by, and you’ve been mindlessly smashing everything in your path.

So, yeah, this game is a mindless button-mashing fest, and I love it for that. Some people might prefer a game with more depth in its story or gameplay, but that’s not what this is. Sure, it gets repetitive—most stages throw the same enemies at you over and over—but if you enjoy the mechanics as much as I do, that’s not a bad thing.

The game’s for PSP, so you can play it on your PSP/Vita, or use an emulator on your computer or phone, or even one of those Sony consoles capable of running PSP games. Whatever works for you.

You see? What i was talking about in >>>1726376526 I had to upload the entire site because of a typo.

Thanks obama.

Meaningful updates to follow soon.

I had planned to put a site counter on the page and a likes counter on every post outsourced to some third party script but today i have decided against.

I certainly don't care if a lot or people OR noone reads this page, so putting any kind of engagement counter somewhere would just put false expectatives on the page.

Don't let advertisers and "influencers" use your anger and outrage to try to sell you stuff or make their content go viral.

I was about to buy Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, but I realized that I could get even more Omega-3 for the same money by buying two cans of sardines each week instead. The sardines provide more Omega-3 than the supplements would and would last roughly the same.

As I mentioned in my "Better Health - Better Mood" post ( see >>>1731045487 ), I've started a routine that’s been helping me get a deeper and more sound sleep, I've completely shut down my computer at least half an hour before I try to actually fall asleep. The goal is to wind down properly and spend time actually relaxing, and it’s made a noticeable difference in the quality of my sleep.

Instead of getting lost in mindless doomscrolling, I use this time to truly relax and prepare my mind for rest. A big part of that is listening to calming ambient sounds, and I’ve found a few easy ways to make it part of my nightly ritual.

One of the simplest methods is to put on a YouTube video with relaxing sounds like rain or gentle wind. Here’s an example I really like, such as this one.

Another great option is A Soft Murmur, which lets you mix your own custom soundscape using sliders for different ambient noises. You can use it right on their website, and they also have an app if you prefer.

Finally, there's MyNoise. It’s similar to A Soft Murmur, but with a MASSIVE library of ambient sounds to explore, from classic rain sounds to more imaginative options like fantasy forests and cinematic atmospheres. While some of the soundscapes are locked behind donations, there are plenty of free ones to enjoy for hours to end. This one is meant to be used for sleeping and for doing other stuff like as background noise for work, reading, writing or any other kind of activity.

These tools have really helped me unwind at the end of the day, and I hope they can be helpful for you too!

The internet on the whole became a lot more mental these last days. Like i said i am not gonna talk about politics here, but i know exactly the reason of this.

Chill a bit will ya? IDK... take a walk, go to the park, have a picnic, something.

"Better health - Better mood" plan

1.- Sleep at a reasonable time and set a consistent sleeping routine.

2.- Try to add more exercise and physical activity to the day.

3.- Try to add more Omega 3 fatty acids to the diet, in food or supplements.

4.- Take breaks regularly (every hour or so) at work.

5.- Try to read more pages each day

6.- Shutdown the computer at least half an hour before sleeping.

7.- Reduce sugar consumption.

8.- Buy one or two plants for the bedroom.

9.- De-clutter living and work spaces.

10.- Use sundays to try to go out and catch some sun.

Grab a book and read it.

The best weapons you have against the evils of the modern world is wisdom and knowledge.

Reading is punk, reading is radical, reading is non-conformist.

In a world overwhelmed with noise and distraction, reading is your quiet rebellion.

Books offer the rare gift of time-tested knowledge, free from the fleeting pull of trends.

Each page you turn sharpens your mind, strengthens your spirit, and arms you with insight.

Through books, you gain perspective, you gain knowledge, your mind grows.

You build resilience, see patterns, and learn to ask the right questions.

Reading equips you to face the challenges of today with clarity and conviction.

Grab a book, open your mind, and fortify yourself with the ultimate shield: knowledge.