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.

Retro Game Review:
Blaster Master - Blasting Again
Year: 2000
Playstation 1



"Blaster Master - Blasting Again" is essentially a sequel or "reimagining" of the original Blaster Master series, which first appeared on the NES and a few other consoles of that era. Like its predecessors, this game maintains a heavy focus on exploration, and it doesn’t disappoint in that regard.

If you've ever played Metroid Prime for the GameCube, the core concept will feel familiar, aside from a few core gameplay differences (like perspective and such). The general idea is the same: you traverse vast maps, exploring every nook and cranny, trying to figure out how to proceed. You'll be unlocking doors, activating elevators, and checking unmarked areas of the map to figure out your next move.

For fans of games that emphasize exploration and puzzle-solving in dungeon-like environments, this is an excellent experience. It doesn’t hold your hand, and the sense of satisfaction you get from figuring things out on your own is rewarding.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the shooting mechanics. While exploration shines, the combat falls flat. Despite the various weapon upgrades you acquire, enemies remain just as tough, and many of the upgrades feel underwhelming against the more relentless monsters. On top of that, the guns sound weak, like you're firing a pebble gun, so the combat never quite feels satisfying.

The controls are another weak point. They feel a bit stiff for a game that emphasizes free roaming, and the camera angles can be frustrating at times, requiring constant adjustment. However, despite these shortcomings, you do get used to them fairly quickly.

On a brighter note, the music is a highlight. The tracks are energetic and fit the atmosphere well, though some songs can get repetitive after being looped in the same dungeon for long stretches. Still, the quality of the music helps you overlook this most of the time.

As for the graphics, they're pretty much what you'd expect from a PS1 game. They're not mind-blowing, but they’re not bad either, decent for the time period.

The story did nothing for me. I guess if you know about the previous games you can have a bit more context on why things happen but it's not a necesity to know since nothing crazy happens. The voice acting of the cutscenes falls into the "so bad it's good" department so there's that.

Overall, I found Blaster Master - Blasting Again enjoyable, especially due to its focus on exploration, which is something I personally love. If you're like me and can overlook its flaws, you'll likely have a good time. My suggestion? Try it on an emulator to smooth over some of the rougher edges, but even with its quirks, it's still a solid recommendation.

Rating: 80/100

So, how much did the PS2 sold compared to it's contemporaries?



I have to admit that i have barely played any game from that generation, but i think it was a very exciting moment to experience regarding the evolution of videogame consoles. The leap in graphics was very large and the studios were keen to tell new stories.

I don't want to sound like an old coot with this, but honestly i think the golden age of gaming is way way a thing of the past. It's one of the reasons i'm a declared "retro gamer", barely interested in new releases.