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Most Recent: Reviews
Shadows of the Damned Review: An Overshadowed Gem… Packed to the Rim with Dirty Jokes
Suda 51 has a tentative grasp on reality at the best of times. The stark-raving mastermind behind Killer 7 and No More Heroes would like to invite you along for a trip into the underworld with his friends: a Mexican demon hunter named Garcia F***ing Hotspur and his disembodied skull sidekick named Johnson. Shadows of the Damned is the most grounded Suda 51 has ever been. Is that a bad thing? Certainly not. Grounded for him means marking save points with a defecating demon named One-Eyed Willy and assuming you know that goats are a protective light source. Like I said… grounded. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Shadows of the Damned
Catherine Review: Do Cheaters Dream of Neurotic Sheep?
Catherine is the latest game from the twisted minds over at Atlus, who are responsible for the Persona series as well as a plethora of other bizarre games. An amalgam of strange and uniquely Japanese concepts and story twists, I assumed Catherine would either go down in the history books as a revolutionary game, or fall short and be simply categorized as weird. It turns out to be more of the latter than the former, but still has many redeeming qualities – and compelling reasons to play. (more…)
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon Review: The Only Good Bug is a Dead Bug
In certain corners of the Internet, you’ll find a group of gamers who are very enthusiastic about Earth Defense Force 2017, a budget third-person shooter released in the early days of the Xbox 360. The game featured poor graphics and some absolutely baffling gameplay choices, including several mazelike underground levels and terrible vehicle control. But it has also developed a cult following due to its insane enemy count and the awesomely arcadey “kill ’em all” vibe that runs through the action. Four years later, D3 Publisher has finally seen fit to release a sequel, Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon. Can they catch lightning in a bottle twice? Well, they did name the main character Lightning Alpha… (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon
Ms. Splosion Man Review: Shoes, Meat and The Macarena
Though I have a soft spot for The Maw, Twisted Pixel rose to fame with 2009’s Splosion Man. Splosion Man is an… unusual platformer that merged a simple gameplay concept (blowing yourself up, over and over) with intense challenges (navigating brutal stretches that are almost rhythm-based in design). Two years later, the Splosion Man franchise returns with Ms. Splosion Man – a game that builds up the original game in some very good ways. In fact, it’s easily stated that MSM is even crazier than the first game, in almost every way. With lengthy single and multiplayer options and tons of unlockables, Ms. Splosion Man also ranks as one of the deepest games on Xbox Live Arcade, making it a great buy for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). Just keep in mind that the game demands much from everyone… from start to finish. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Ms. Splosion Man
InFamous 2 Review: InFamous Harder!
It’s good to be bad. But sometimes, it can also be badass to be so good. Sucker Punch’s sequel to 2009’s InFamous delivers on all fronts with its spectacular graphics, gameplay, and story. Gone is the original voice actor for Cole, the one who eats gravel for breakfast, lunch, and presumably dinner. We have a new Cole who sounds closer to a gruff version of Jay from Kevin Smith’s Askewniverse. Perhaps coincidentally, Cole’s new character model also happens to look a lot like a battle-scarred Jason Mewes. Once you’ve taken in all of the graphical and audible changes, the game bounds through the introduction and pulls a Samus Aran, wiping you clean of all but your most rudimentary powers. While this was a big annoyance, regaining powers helped me make the push through the game, dangling a carrot of electro-destruction in front of my face. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged InFamous 2
Alice: Madness Returns Review: Almost the Nightmare of Your Dreams
mad·ness, Noun
1. The state of being mentally ill, esp. severely.
2. Extremely foolish behavior.
3. The state of that grayish-pink thing in American McGee’s skull casing.
Only once before has American McGee dared to present an intriguing new spin on the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland. Alice: Madness Returns dives back into a nightmarish Wonderland where the very fabric of poor Alice’s mind is being torn asunder from overly long levels and a maddening lack of story. Let’s see if American McGee is insane. I certainly think so. (more…)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Review: Revisiting the Temple of Time
Remember the first time you ever saw the Deku Tree? Remember how immersive Hyrule felt, with 64-bit graphics so realistic and detailed that you imagined you were actually inside Dodongo’s Cavern? Remember how pissed off you got with the Water Temple, how you couldn’t find that one last Small Key you needed to retrieve the Boss Key? It’s time to journey backwards a decade and a half to rediscover everything that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time held, and to experience the game in sleek, polished 3D. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Review: The 30 Second Climax You Actually Want
Japanese role-playing games are almost always lengthy, involved affairs that require hours of your free time. In our modern era of instant gratification, the genre might be a touch out of step… until now. Originally a hit title on the PlayStation Portable, Half-Minute Hero has arrived on the Xbox Live Arcade, complete with a host of enhancements. That, and a totally ridiculous subtitle which perfectly fits the crazed motif of the game. Designed as a super speedy take on your traditional Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest game, Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax presents role-playing in extremely small chunks, with a hearty side of wacky humor to boot. RPG fans looking for something different will certainly find it here. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax