Reviews & Articles

It’s somewhat amazing that in the year 2013, pixelated graphics and high-definition polygons exist side by side. What’s even more amazing is that games are not being assessed just on the art style alone, it’s how well everything is pulled together and succeeds in helping the game obtain greatness. So allow me to introduce you to an indie game that will eventually be a household name: Anodyne.

Heist and Run is a lightning-fast casual 3-D racing extravaganza of a game. You are put in a role of car driver navigating across three lanes of traffic with cops after you.

Raise your hand if you have an old Game Boy and can remember the two main Mario games on the system. Anyone? Well? Maybe I’m showing my age by remembering the original Super Mario Land on its small pixels and the even better sequel Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins. I digress. It’s been a long time since Mario has been released a true handheld platformer (like the aforementioned games). So enters in Super Mario Land 3D for the 3DS. So is it worthy as a launch title for the system?

Masters of Mystery: Crime of Fashion is a hidden object/puzzle game wrapped in a police procedural. As the title would lead you to believe, it’s a murder set in the fashion industry. You will play the new detective at the department, Miss Chase. I was a little put off at first by the introduction and the very rude boss of our character, but things settled more into the groove as it moved along, and the new boss got less rude.

There’s something to be said about “irony.” And as a trope, it’s one of the hardest to master. Perhaps that is, in itself, ironic — or not. So what’s the point of this quick English 101 lesson that far too many individuals improperly use? It’s rather simple: It’s the basis for the game Unepic.

Set in a dystopian and post-apocalyptic future, Underrail puts you in a role of a new inhabitant of a vault like underground city. The universe is reflected in a unique blend of isometric two-dimensional world where the player fights to figure out his or her purpose.

Spirit Walkers: Curse of the Cypress Witch is a hidden-object/puzzle game, but with a lot more story than you usually get on this type of game, especially for an iPhone version.

I loved the old SNES Final Fantasy games. In many ways, they set the standard of what the system could do visually, fun though grindish gameplay and the tone for what is now considered “standard” trope usage for storytelling. Back then, it felt fresh and unique. And it was because new ground was being covered and created. So fast forward from the early 1990s to today and Square-Enix has released Final Fantasy Dimensions on the Google Play Store and iTunes. Is a game that is a throwback to yesteryear worth either a $20 or $40 admission fee? The short answer is “no.” The long answer is “it’s complicated.”

My BabyChicks for iPad is a neat little game for kids that allow them to raise virtual chickens. Kids can learn a lot about managing a little chicken farm.

I love the original Darksiders. It still felt fresh when I played it two years ago. What was so engrossing about it, you might ask? It is a game that took Christian mythos and ran with the idea. It was dark. It was gory. And it was awesome. So where in the world does Darksiders II stand when the original was so good? In short, it’s a good game in its own right. It just isn’t a good Darksiders game.

Space Shuffle Extreme is one of those arcade gems that are a must-have.

I’m not too sure if there is a good reason why individuals like optical illusions. Life is full of these illusions. Some are fun, such as the stereograms and the flat holograms while others are more serious such as side mirrors of cars. So what’s the point of mentioning all of this? It’s the basis for an indie game known as Mutant Mudds.

Flick Cricket HD allows one to experience all the fun cricket offers. For those not familiar with cricket, it is a game that influenced the development of baseball.

As much as I identify as a hardcore gamer, I admit I’m highly guilty of engaging in casual gaming. Can you really blame me? There are days that I’m so tired from school and work that I just want (and some days need) a game that is completely lighthearted and provides instant rewards. As such, I go online for flash games. So how does this explain why I have enjoyed Plants vs Zombies so much? The answer is simple: It provides a lot of fun while having a higher degree of challenge that is rarely seen in the casual genre.

Alien Egg Pet Zombies is one of those crazy games that can be described as air bubble popping in your hands.

When it comes to what games to play, I like playing the hero. So I’m not sure why have I enjoyed Saints Row: The Third.

Penguin versus Yeti Gold Edition is an iOS port of an award-winning Windows game in which players control a snowboard-riding Penguin. The game is reminiscent of an old school side-scrolling game with an added twist — it is also a racing game.

I remember playing a demo of the original Sam & Max game on my family’s old Macintosh. And I remember thinking it wasn’t that funny and I couldn’t figure out how to advance forward. Of course, it was on the The Dig’s CD and that game troubled me just as much. (And that’s a different altogether.) Fast forward several years and Tell Tale resurrected the two characters and made a season of downloadable games. I recently completed Sam & Max Season 3: The Devil’s Playhouse, and it’s a great conclusion for the series.

Born to be Rich Slot Machine is a free casino simulation in which the player plays a variety of slot machines. The game literally puts Vegas in one’s palm through polished HD graphics, sounds effects and realistic models of a slot machine, making for a challenging but fun experience.

I confess that I’m a huge fan of tropical fish. And forget Nemo as I loved them long before I ever knew of his existence. The downside is that I never had a good track record with them. It is this love that I bring to the DS game The Legendary Starfy. While it is on the easy-side, it makes me wonder why this game doesn’t have a bigger following.

Rasta Slots is a neat slot machine simulator game with a reggae theme for the iOS. The game offers built-in reggae music with more than 20 downloadable tracks that you can import to your iTunes library or play in the app.

What is it about strategy role-playing games that political intrigue tends to be the main theme? Seriously, think about. How much of a difference would the genre be if this theme was not present? I honestly don’t think players would be as interested in the genre as they are today. So keep that in mind as I tell you about Gungnir for the PSP.

Epic Adventures: La Jangada is a hidden object/puzzle game. In this case, I played it on the iPhone.

Every now and then something comes along that shines brightly and separates itself from the rest of the pack. Whether it be a Blockbuster movie, New York Times bestseller or Twisted Pixel’s ’Splosion Man. This game is something that should not be missed.

Back in 2008, I had my hands dipped in several indie games. While this exposed me to games I may have missed on my radar, I had no money to indulge in them past the demo. This brings the review to one game that I completely forgot about: Hinterland.