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Most Recent: Reviews
Radiant Silvergun Review: Better Late Than Never
For shoot ’em up fans (or shmups if you prefer), no developer is held in higher esteem than Treasure. The Japanese geniuses behind Ikaruga, Sin & Punishment, Gradius V, and others have been producing hit after hit since breaking away from Konami in the early 90s. Most of Treasure’s games would go on to be released in America, but one of their earliest successes, Radiant Silvergun, never made it across the Pacific… that is, until now. For years, dedicated fans flocked to eBay and spent several hundred dollars to obtain a copy of the Sega Saturn game. The rest of us continued to wait for the port we knew was coming, and now that day has arrived, courtesy of the Xbox Live Arcade. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Radiant Silvergun
Gears of War 3 Review: An Epic and Enjoyably Violent Conclusion
Awesome. That’s all you need to know about Gears of War 3, the final chapter of the groundbreaking, chainsaw-loving trilogy. This is not to say Epic Games won’t make more – after all, they’ve sold over three million copies in the first week, so it’s pretty much a no-brainer that the franchise will continue. Rather, it is only Marcus Fenix’s story that has come to a close – and wow, what an epic, thrilling, and enjoyably violent conclusion it is. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Gears of War 3
Driver: San Francisco Review: Playing Mind Games
It would be very easy to dismiss Driver: San Francisco as yet another failed attempt to revive a franchise that really hasn’t meant much to gaming since the days of the original PlayStation. Some might even say that making a new Driver game is a complete waste of time and resources, considering how tarnished the brand is. However, doing so might actually be a disservice to anyone who’s a fan of unique, open world driving games. If anything, Driver: SF does something that very few games do in the year 2011… it actually wants to be a video game. (more…)
No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise Review: No More No More Heroes
Did you ever wish to battle the top assassins in Santa Destroy but you didn’t have a Wii? Do not fear, because No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise is out on the PS3. Did I say “do not fear?” I meant “run for the hills” because this spit-shined hunk of bugs isn’t really worth your time. That is, unless you are a die hard fan of the series and would love to see the main character save his game by dropping his pants in splendid high definition. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise
Fruit Ninja Kinect Review: I’m A Fruity Ninja
So let’s face it: you’ve always wanted to be a ninja. Perhaps you’ve sunken hours upon hours into watching reruns of Naruto in order to perfect the art of turning into a log. Maybe you’ve honed your skills by playing variations of the Ninja Slap Game and have dominated your weaker, less agile friends. You’ve gone and filled out applications for ninja positions, but your lack of the necessary tools and a lord in which to swear your fealty has always held you back. Fear not, would-be denizen of the shadows: Fruit Ninja Kinect is here to fill the void! (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Fruit Ninja Kinect
BloodRayne: Betrayal Review: Brutal Might Be a Better Subtitle
The plot behind the BloodRayne franchise is one of those ideas that is both stupidly brilliant and brilliantly stupid. I mean, a half-naked half-vampire kills Nazis in a fantastic display of polygonal plasma… what’s not to love? You may hate yourself in the morning, but you have to admit, that is an awesome premise for a game. It was this reaction from gamers (and a trio of less-than-stellar Uwe Boll films) that caused the series to go dormant back in 2004. But you can’t keep an undead half-vampire down and Rayne has returned in the 2D side-scroller BloodRayne: Betrayal. And yes, she draws plenty of pixelated plasma this time. Sadly, there aren’t any Nazis. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged BloodRayne: Betrayal
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review: Put Some Deus Ex In Your Machina
Philosophy and Video Games have an on-again, off-again relationship. Philosophy will say, “Hey would you like to explore new and innovative ways for people to interact with an engaging and intelligent story?” To which Video Games say, “Nah! Gimme some of them flashing lights, explosions, gore, and jiggle physics. Do you have a wet nap? My fingers are covered in Cheetos dust.”
But sometimes they will find a middle ground. Philosophy will bring over nachos and guacamole and Video Games will sidle in with something that makes you question the future of evolution for humanity or the value of Objectivism. “Wow, someone has been reading Ayn Rand and William Gibson. What are your thoughts on transhumanism?,” Philosophy might ask. To which Video Games would respond, “This guac is pretty good. Could you pass the hot sauce?”
OK, maybe Video Games still have a ways to go. But brace yourself, pick up the spilled nachos, and prepare for the kinetic blend of intelligence and excitement that is Deus Ex: Human Revolution. (more…)
Ico: Castle in the Mist Review: Everything a Video Game Tie-In Should Be
Ico: Castle in the Mist is a novelization of the video game Ico as imagined by a dedicated fan – Japanese author Miyuki Miyabe. Published in 2004 in Japan, it has finally been brought to our shores, translated by video game localizer Alexander O. Smith. The book is not a direct explanation of what happens in the game; rather, it’s a retelling of the story, with details that flesh out the missing pieces. Instead of coming out a horribly uncreative jumble, as books based on video games often are, Miyabe has woven an intricate and beautiful tale that embellishes and enhances what the game creators have already made. (more…)