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Most Recent: Reviews
Mass Effect 2 Review: Shepard’s Back and There’s Gonna Be Trouble
It was one of the best-reviewed games of 2010. It received many accolades and dozens of Game of the Year awards. Now… Mass Effect 2 is finally available on the PlayStation 3, one year after its initial release on the PC and Xbox 360. The late-releasing port is usually a wasted venture that appeals to a small subset of gamers who own just that platform, but BioWare has done everything it can to make it appealing to those who haven’t yet experienced the game. Whether it’s touching up the visuals (check), using it to demonstrate the engine that’ll be used in Mass Effect 3 (check), or including $20 worth of bonus content (check), Mass Effect 2 for PS3 is in many ways the prototypical “Game of the Year” re-release… only in this case it’s done specifically to satisfy PS3 owners that have been waiting an entire year to play one of 2010’s best games. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Mass Effect 2
Radiant Historia Review: An RPG Renaissance
Radiant Historia is a steampunk, time-travelling RPG created by Atlus. At least, that’s how it’s marketed. But deeper than the gearpunk, deeper than travelling through the timelines, there’s that traditional Japanese story of environmentalism mixed in with sentiments of loyalty and the general idea of good versus evil. And beyond the depth and immersion of the story is even more: brilliant character development, a challenging and satisfying battle system, a plethora of sidequests, and a gorgeous soundtrack. This is not just a successful game; this is a game that should be used as an example for what a successful RPG is really all about. (more…)
Posted in DS, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Radiant Historia
Bejeweled Blitz Live Review: 60 Seconds of Fun, Over and Over Again
Bejeweled was one of the first breakout “casual” games, and has been a phenomenon for many years now, evolving into numerous forms. The madness spread to Facebook with Bejeweled Blitz, a fast-paced take on the formula that PopCap has established. Now, as part of Microsoft’s “House Party” campaign, Bejeweled Blitz has hit Xbox Live arcade in the form of Bejeweled Blitz Live, marking the second time the franchise has appeared on the platform. Not only does the XBLA version of Blitz bring all the addictive gameplay from the free-to-play Facebook edition, but it features the kind of gameplay options that one might expect from Xbox Live, along with a new “Twist” to the proceedings. Is that enough to make you pony up the 800 Microsoft Points when the game can be played for nothing? That’s the ten dollar question… since 800 Points equals ten dollars, and all. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Bejeweled Blitz Live
Dead Space: Ignition Review: Devilishly Puzzling
Visceral Games has been really busy lately with the release of Dead Space 2, the port of Dead Space: Extraction, and the development of their recently released DLC entitled Dead Space 2: Severed. Back in October, they released Dead Space Ignition, which came free with Amazon pre-orders of Dead Space 2. I finally had a chance to play this devilish puzzler, and while it was short, it was enjoyable and gave yet another viewpoint of the Dead Space universe. (more…)
Killzone 3 Review: Next Generation Gaming
Almost two years to the day after their last game set the PlayStation 3 on fire, Guerilla Games returns to the universe of their sci-fi franchise with Killzone 3. Despite its gritty realism, brutal encounters, and unparalleled production values, Killzone 2 suffered a lot of criticism from mainstream shooter fans who called for more conventional gameplay and were tired of the grey and monochromatic settings. The production values are still unmatched, but Guerilla went above and beyond accommodating the concerns of the wider console demographic, for better or for worse. While the final product departs significantly from its predecessor, Killzone 3 still manages to honor its spirit by once again raising the bar for first person shooters and pushing the boundaries of the imagination. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Killzone 3
Stacking Review: Yertle Ain’t Got Nothing on Double Fine’s Puzzler
In a space where a million small studios are trying to make the next big hit, world-class developer Double Fine productions returns to the downloadable scene with Stacking. From the mind of Art Director Lee Petty and under the mantle of the legendary Tim Schafer, this puzzle-solving adventure game combines pleasantly appealing visuals and intuitive gameplay with the social commentary and quirky humor of the era of silent films. (more…)
Test Drive Unlimited 2 Review: A Modern-Day Fantasy Island
The original Test Drive Unlimited was a legitimate sleeper hit in the earliest days of the Xbox 360. Thanks to its combination of classic arcade-style racing, the stylish open world map of Oahu, and the introduction of Massively Open Online Racing (better known as M.O.O.R.), TDU garnered a loyal following. However, that was over four years ago, and for a while it seemed the Unlimited series would be a one-and-done. Thankfully, last year, Atari and Eden Games satisfied the demands of the followers by announcing Test Drive Unlimited 2… and now it’s here. Was it worth the wait? (more…)
Hard Corps: Uprising Review: A Contra Game By Any Other Name…
The definition of a “shooter” game has changed greatly since the days of the NES. In those days, a “shooter” was a game like Contra: a side-scrolling, brutally hard, assault on wave-after-wave of enemy soldiers, followed by a screen-sized baddie that flashed red when you shot its weak point. Today, a “shooter” more likely means a first person shooter as visions of Halo, CODBLOPS and Gears of War dance through your head.
But Konami has shown that the old ways don’t have to fade away as the publisher has taken great care to bring the Contra series into the 21st century. Recognizing the franchise’s trademark stlye, the most recent Contra games have been 2D side-scrollers that specialize in controller-throwing difficulty. There was the grittiness of the PS2 entries, the portability of Contra 4, and the 16-bit stylings of Contra ReBirth. Now, there’s the anime-inspired Hard Corps: Uprising, the first game in the series not to carry the Contra name. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Hard Corps: Uprising