Reviews
Review: Assassin’s Creed Revelations (360)
I started playing Assassin’s Creed Revelations with the plan to spend a good 10-15 minutes once I arrived in Constantinople free running around, familiarizing myself with the city, and refamiliarizing myself with the mechanics so that I could be sure that I kept my motion fluid and that I knew where my escape routes were. George Takei’s signature “Oh Myyyyy…” suddenly...[Read More]
Review: The Muppets
It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights. It’s time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight. It’s time to put on makeup, it’s time to dress up right. It’s time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight. If you’ve ever been a fan of the Muppets, hearing this song and seeing this sequence will be just one in a long line of wond...[Read More]
Review: Rayman Origins (360)
Even now, I can still remember the first time I played Super Mario Bros. I have vivid recollections of my first time playing Sonic the Hedgehog. I will never forget my first experience with Prince of Persia. Earthworm Jim, Aladdin, and, for nostalgic reasons specific to my own life, Yo! Noid all made indelible impressions on me that will be with me until time starts erasing all of my memories. I h...[Read More]
Review: Bejeweled 3 (XBLA)
Bejeweled has been around for a decade now, and I know of very few people who are not yet familiar with this casual staple. Even my mother, who writes Facebook comments like she’s writing an email (“Hi Christopher. I agree, your beard is totally fantastic, and Smallville ISN’T a valid representation of Superman. Love, mom.”), has heard tentatively of Bejeweled. Bejeweled 3,...[Read More]
Review: Chrono Trigger (PSN)
In the early days of console gaming, Japanese RPG’s set the bar for the entire genre, an influence that is still spoken of today. One of the most stunning and ground breaking entries was Chrono Trigger. It took the style of Final Fantasy and crafted a richer narrative with resonant character that stood out from the clichéd knight/mage/thief trappings. The addition of time travel as a mechanic help...[Read More]
Review: Subsonic Pro Controller Fluo (PS3/PC)
You know, for the most part, I’m a modifier kind of guy. When I had my 5th Gen Honda Prelude, I upgraded the intake, the springs, the ECU, the sound system, and more. When I got my first iPhone, it was jailbroken post haste, and each iteration has been ever since (going on four years, now). When I buy a computer, it comes in individual pieces that I put together to my heart’s content. ...[Read More]
Review: Subsonic Racin’ Pro (PS3/PC)
Ever since I was a human child, playing a racing game of any sort would see my dramatically tilting, angling, and swinging my controller around as I leaned into turns and weaved around obstacles and competitors. Now, even as a human spawn, I knew that my wild undulations and swaying had no actual effect…but it totally did, so sod off. There were racing wheels, sure, but they weren’t al...[Read More]
Review: Deus Ex: Human Revolution – The Missing Link DLC (XBLA)
Adam Jensen’s consciousness slowly fades in as he finds himself strapped to an EMP chair, negating his augmented abilities. An interrogation begins, and the first strength of Deus Ex: Human Revolution‘s first DLC experience, The Missing Link, becomes apparent. Adam escapes, and the second strength of The Missing Link becomes apparent. Adam fights or sneaks his way to the end, and the t...[Read More]
Review: The War of the Worlds (XBLA)
I remember the first time I heard about The War of the Worlds. I was at E3, being herded from a behind-closed-doors preview of the upcoming Star Trek to a small adjacent appointment room. I was wearing my “Ten Reasons Why Kirk is Better Than Picard” t-shirt (because Kirk IS better than Picard), still geeking out about what I had seen in the pre-alpha preview when I was directly address...[Read More]
Review: Rocksmith (360)
Until you become a fantastic guitar player in your own right, don’t expect to 100% anything in Rocksmith. Why? Because Rocksmith is the ultimate troll. What’s that, Player 1? You’re so close to mastering the chords of Plug In Baby? Well, I think that calls for a celebration! And by celebration, I mean I’M GOING TO INCREASE THE DIFFICULTY SO THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE JUST ALMO...[Read More]
Review: PowerUp Heroes (Kinect)
While enjoying elementary school recess in the late 80’s, my friends and I played various games of the imagination, from X-Men to G.I. Joe, and from Super Heroes to Street Fighter. You have never known joy if you didn’t spend 30 minutes a day running around shouting, “HADOUKEN! NO… NO! SNAKE EYES CAN’T BLOCK A HADOUKEN WITH HIS NINJA POWERS, YOU BIG BUTTHEAD!” N...[Read More]
Review: Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (360)
Do you want to know how I knew this would be a great game within minutes of starting the campaign? Allow me to paint a picture for you: it was a Monday afternoon, and the sun was bright in the sky. My wife sat on our couch with the laptop in front of her, while I was on the living room chair getting everything prepared for my first game of Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. The Portal was set, m...[Read More]