I’ve always wanted to be a ninja.

Unfortunately, I haven’t the athletic prowess nor the patience that such a trade necessitates. Thankfully, there have always been numerous games in which I can live out that fantasy: Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, Tenchu, and now N+.

After being given the opportunity to take the PSP edition for a test drive, I come bearing two gifts for you, dear readers. One, a review of the enhanced port, and also a bit of helpful information: being a ninja takes patience. A metric ton of it.

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So last week we found out who the proverbial dimwits of the sidekick world are. This week, to make up for all my nay-saying, I’m going to divulge who I think the best sidekicks of the video game world are. I admit, I had a lot to choose from and it was hard to break it down into just five. However, I’m trying anyway.

A sidekick doesn’t have to be an amazing asset, or be capable of turning into a huge weapon. Just so long as they’re faithful and willing to go into battle. Not being annoying also helps. *coughNavicough* Some of the best sidekicks are the strong silent type.

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I love to win.

The smug sense of superiority I get when I overcome my opponents simply cannot be matched sometimes. It’s amusing to me to know that I have conquered friends, family, and strangers. It’s a license to brag. For a few shining moments, I am revered as something magical. Unstoppable. Truly the greatest.

That is, until the next round when a bullet sets up camp in my character’s head.

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Back in the old days of yore, when I would wake up early to watch Saturday morning cartoons, I always marveled at the way superheroes always had a handy, competent sidekick following them around. In the cultural transition that has been the video game phenomenon, it’s interesting to see how the role of a sidekick has transformed as well. Gone are the days of spandex costumes and lame “Golly-Jiminee!” catchphrases. Now we have robots, boogers, foxes, breegulls, the list goes on.

But not all sidekicks are useful or even fun to be around. Most of them are whiny snots, scantily clad women, or just plain cowards. Who was the best of the worst? Let’s take a look.

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It’s that time again, dear readers! Meeeeerrry Christmas!

What’s that? It’s summer, you say? Haven’t you ever heard of the time-honored tradition of celebrating Christmas in July? It’s the perfect time for stores to gear up to sell you your Christmas necessities and for everyone to celebrate the holiday season while lounging in the sun sipping on some delicious iced tea.

It’s also the perfect time to take a look at some great releases we’re going to see around the real holiday season this year. Let’s take a look into Santa’s big red bag.

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Last week I told you why I loved graphics. Juicy polygons, full of shine, make me happy. But, I have to say, there is one other thing that makes me fall in love with a game.

Just to review, we covered the little details that make a game great - such as the GTA IV cellphone. We covered the plot, which in some cases can make a game instantly a classic, and in other cases can destroy it entirely. And we covered the graphics, the spit and polish of a game.

I’m going to finish up this series with what I think is personally the most important part of a video-game - assuming that I can play it halfway intuitively and it isn’t broken.

The most important part of making a video game great is the characters. Those would be Link. Sephiroth. Mario. Knuckles. Dante. Leon. Master Chief. Samus. Lara Croft. Sonic the Hedgehog. Solid Snake. Iconic, classic, and with that certain something that makes fangirls and boys everywhere go weak at the knees.

Quite what it is that makes gamers so attached to the characters they play I’m not quite sure. Maybe it’s because there’s a little piece of us in them. Maybe it’s because they are hot. Maybe it’s because they can defeat three thousand enemies single-handedly.
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