Reviews & Articles

There’s a reason in the game review community that the phrase “what can be said that hasn’t been said before” is both exceedingly accurate and cliché. Certain games reviewed are so popular that the same themes are reiterated in almost the same voice and phrases. So it brings up the point: Why review an over-reviewed game? Keep that in mind as we retread one of the most popular games of the last decade: Resident Evil 4.

Mega Man makes his second 8-bit debut of the decade, bringing back all the best from the original games in the series. A terrible virus, Roboenza, has spread across the world, infecting robots and leaving humanity unable to perform even basic tasks because of it. What’s worse, the robots are threatening to take over the world! Enter Mega Man.

I despise Halloween. I blame it on being 3 years old and having the heebies jeebies scared out of me by two teens dressed as a werewolf and a commando. Ever since, I have hated the holiday. Would I care to dress up as anyone or anything? Forget it! But I have gotten my hands on a game that everyone can probably get behind. That game is Costume Quest on Xbox Live Arcade.

In no other game will you find such a variety of utter nonsense as that in DeathSpank. One moment you are provoking unicorns to poop as you’re attacked by evil gingerbread men, and the next second you could be getting “felt by Freen.” The minds behind DeathSpank have brought more than a bountiful supply of humor through outstanding writing. It is a classic hack-’n’-slash adventure that mishmashes the action with a role-playing game twist.

As far as classic marketing tools go, “The Demo” is near the top. Whether or not I am in the market for a new game, I download and try just about every demo that exists, just to see what is out there. Fairly recently, I downloaded the demo for the most recent iteration of Pac-Man, and to be honest, I was expecting little more than a bit of fun nostalgia; I ended up completely floored at the results. The full version of Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is amazingly fun — and a terrifyingly addictive re-vamp quickly added to my permanent collection — and after several hours, I can tell you this game is going to be on my playlist for quite some time.

Dungeon crawlers have been a staple of videogames since the inception of the personal computer. No longer were gamers chained to other people’s schedules for their favorite tabletop game, such as Dungeons and Dragons. Provided one had some free time, one could indulge in some exploration and monster slaying in the digital realm on one’s own. Some of the games provided a stronger sense of atmosphere than an actual person could ever provide. Others failed in different areas that a person naturally covered, such as an engaging narrative. So keep those two extremes in mind as you read about Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls for the PS3 off PSN.

There’s no denying that videogames owe a lot to the arcades. The games were meant to be simple, fun, challenging and addictive in order to keep players pumping quarters. The shoot-’em genre is one of the best examples of the arcades. One of the common criticisms of the genre is the shallow and repetitive gameplay as it is more about rote memorization. One of the most hidden and interestingly rough gems hiding in plain sight on PlayStation Network is Qlione Evolve.

Autumns Games and Reverge Labs have come together to build a beautiful and frenetic 2-D side-scrolling fighting game, Skullgirls, that when previewed at E3 this year, reveals the potential of the game when it’s released later this year. I was able to clear some time with fighting game ace and project lead Mike “Mike Z” Zaimont at a preview event, who gave me a tour of the demo levels and characters that are available so far.

Wikipedia tells me that John Henry “Doc” Holliday died Nov. 8, 1887. Doc Holliday was involved in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. But if the developers of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West have anything to say about it, 123 years later, the Wild West is still alive and kickin’ with gunfights, fur trappers and good ol’ boys having a dynamite-chuckin’ good time. Set in the era of the Wild West, this strictly multiplayer third-person shooter captures the feel and theme of Doc’s day so well, you can almost smell the gunpowder. If games received soundtracks like movies, then I’d say pop in some Garth Brooks or George Strait while you take out some dirtbag desperado — heck, do that now when you’re just starting to read.

It’s been awhile since I’ve played the main quest for Costume Quest (pun highly not intended). And there’s a good reason for it: It’s meant to be a quick romp through the eyes of children. There are a lot of great ideas in it, and it seems only natural that an expansion would be made: Grubbins on Ice.

Alien Breed 2: Assault is a new breed of gaming. I will admit I had never heard of this game before, but I love to try new games. This is by far one game I was very pleased to have played. I will also admit I have never in my life been a fan of top-down shooters, but again Alien Breed 2 made me a believer.

Lara has had it pretty bad these days. And it could be safe to write “how the mighty have fallen!” Although it isn’t entirely true, it isn’t hard to see how far Tomb Raider: Underworld has deviated from the path of it foremother. The series was originally well-known for its exploration, light puzzle solving and light combat. Underworld, while a solid game in its own right, is heavy on combat and puzzle solving while being a linear experience. And fans who played Angel of Darkness found a lot of intriguing game elements in a buggy environment. That is the game Eidos has been working hard over the past several years to distance itself from even though it shares some level design similarities (linearity). Now there is a current Tomb Raider that should show Lara still has some life in her. Welcome to one of the coolest games I remember from E3: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

I had the pleasure of getting Dead Nation from Housemarque before the game released, and let me tell you one thing: ZOMBIES!

This game is nothing short of f@$%ing EPIC. Honestly, sitting here writing this review, I am at a loss for words. I have no idea who I am and what I am doing (except for writing the review); that is how excited about this game I am!

I don’t know what it is about the play Brigadoon that appeals to me. In case you didn’t know, it is a musical about a man traveling around Ireland with his best friend, and they stumble upon a village that only appears once every 100 years. As one can guess, he falls in love with a young lady. Maybe it’s the mystical element of the story. Or maybe it’s the overwhelmingly nauseating love story. I’m not really certain. But in my mind, it sets up the stage perfectly for Cladun: This is an RPG!

I remember reading in a blog I like to frequent that inside every gaming critic there is a game designer trying to get out. I confess that I had my dreams of programming quickly shattered by learning how much work is entailed. And it can be frustrating trying to figure how a section does not work. The reason I mention this is because the guys at Penny-Arcade have satirized videogames for years. They are trying to continue the old art of satire and bring various issues to light. It just so happens that their target audience is gamers. More than two years ago they attempted to enter the gaming industry as designers and have, to date, created two games. This review is all about their second game, Penny Arcade Adventures: On The Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode Two for PlayStation Network.

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years of Armored Core games. We all have crushed, shot and blown up many robots in past Armored Core games. Armored Core: Last Raven Portable speaks for itself as the same robot action with different levels, missions and upgrades throughout the game. There really hasn’t been much change in Armored Core for the most part, even though it’s a great game. Fans will get better upgrades in this game, but it is still the same old setup and items. I didn’t think this was the best battle robot game this year, but it was a nice game to play if you are up for a robotic challenge.

I like strategy games. However, I am just not any good at them. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps I just build too many structures. Maybe I just do not know how to effectively use my units. Or maybe it is because I take too darn long completing a mission. But there is one strategy game I am rather excited about: Valkyria Chronicles II for the PSP.

When I first heard of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, I confess I was not impressed. The series Miss Croft is associated with is well-known for its exploration, gunplay and platforming. Creating a game that would be downloadable didn’t seem practical to me due to the nature of the gameplay. I didn’t expect to get so excited after playing the demo at E3.

It would be easy to suggest Lara Croft is looking for a fresh start with the upcoming PlayStation Network/Xbox Live Arcade title, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, but as creative director Dan Neuberger is quick to point out, “This is not Tomb Raider.” It’s something completely different.

Konami 2010 Gamer’s Night opened with quite a bang. An overwhelming amount of information flowed forth, exciting the crowd, and many of our nostalgic gaming memories were tantalized.

Role-playing games are very interesting. They consist of strong and compelling gameplay, deep yet simple control schemes and many other elements. One important aspect that completes the uniqueness of this genre is a good storyline. Without it, all seems bland and hollow. After playing many RPGs, I have come to appreciate and realize a complete package when I see one. Final Fantasy VIII is just that. There is nothing about the game that comes off as generic and/or cheap. Every factor fits perfectly together like a puzzle.

Get ready to slip on some virtual spandex and take to the streets fighting crime as a dorky comic book fan turned superhero teen in Kick-Ass. Based on the movie and comic book of the same name,Kick-Ass will be a downloadable action-based fighting game from PlayStation Network. The story is about Dave Lizewski, a high school student that brings to life every fanboy’s dream of becoming a superhero; at the Game Developers Conference, I watched as players inKick-Ass the game, did so, too.

Rocket Racing is an awesome little 2-D rocket ship racing game from Halfbrick Studios for PlayStation Network. You’ll defiantly need to have some good racing skills to keep up in this game, and some of the elements and obstacles make it hard to play, but with 24 levels of play and oodles of missions, Rocket Racing is definitely worth a try.

Blue Toad Murder Files: The Mysteries of Little Riddle is a quirky little game that makes use of absurd language and silly storytelling. The game itself, developed by Relentless Software from the UK, is a six-part adventure about a detective from the Blue Toad Detective Agency. The game’s story includes murder, theft and the most irrelevant minigames found in a game this generation. The gameplay does a good job of being totally separate from the story you are supposed to unravel.

I was a fetus when the original Frogger hopped into the arcade, so I never got the chance to sample the novel gameplay and theme that made the original a revered classic. Although it’s not exactly the same as Frogger, Frogger Returns is a faithful recreation combined with updated graphics and additional modes of play. Those who could grasp a joystick back then should be pleased with the game’s new look.

Age of Zombies, developed by Halfbrick Studios, is a PlayStation Network game that is absolutely worth the $5 it costs. A combination of top-down shooting aspects coupled with hilarious dialogue and ridiculous sound effects have created a very fun experience for those looking for some quick fun. The game’s biggest fault is its length, which for me is way too short. Aside from that, Age of Zombies represents evolution for small game developers — an evolution that will put a bigger spotlight on the little guys as opposed to the gaming giants of the industry.

Feeding Frenzy 2: Shipwreck Showdown is a fish-eat-fish action game. You join a colorful cast of fishy characters that chomp their way through the sea. This sequel is much like the original, but there are new levels, a few new power-ups and new environmental challenges, including above-water challenges and Midnight Zones.

I love Penny Arcade. I remember years ago when Official PlayStation Magazine was still alive and printed a Penny Arcade comic each month. I still get a kick out of remembering the writers’ comments about Ico. Mainly because it’s true. At the same time, what makes Penny Arcade difficult to read is that it quickly rotates through bathroom humor, slapstick and college humor. I believe this makes the commentary more visceral. So imagine my delight when I finally got my hands on Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode One.

Pinball ... one of the earliest frontiers of electronic gaming. As such, game manufacturers realized a hook was needed to keep people interested and, more importantly, to keep them placing their hard-earned cash into the machines. Simply put, it needed to be fun. This is still true today. But we can’t forget that everyone has his or her own definition of “fun.” Pinball is something almost everyone agrees is fun. And ZEN Pinball from PlayStation Network is no exception.

Capcom was one of the few software companies at the Consumer Electronics Show, and I got to see quite a few of its games, including Mega Man 10, Final Fight Double Impact, Super Street Fighter 4, Lost Planet 2, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Monster Hunter Tri. For more information about Capcom games, visit www.capcom.com/us/.