Reviews
Review: Rochard (PSN)
I’m willing to bet that not many people have wanted to play a video game starting a character that resembles John Goodman more than Arnold Schwarzenegger. The blue-collar, colloquial everyman is a great character for film or television, but he seems a strange fit for an action star. Yet, hero John Rochard manages to be an affable, memorable character who transforms a thin premise into one of the b...[Read More]
Review: Dark Souls (360)
Typically, the difficulty level of a game isn’t used as its main selling point, yet the allure and excitement built around Dark Souls is built strictly on the vaunted difficulty. Billed as the spiritual successor to the extremely difficult PS3 exclusive Demon Souls, From Software decided to make the difficulty an even bigger element in Dark Souls. Even the back of the box contains the warning “Pr...[Read More]
Review: Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X HD (XBLA)
When Resident Evil first came out, it introduced millions of gamers to the survival horror genre it solidified and defined. It also helped make zombies the oversaturated theme it is today. Well over a decade later, the franchise is still going strong with dozens of games across multiple gaming platforms. Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X recently made its debut on PSN and XBLA, but it originated on t...[Read More]
Review: Force FX Lightsabers (Detachable Blade)
If I could have one wish, it would be to have a fully functional lightsaber of my own design and specifications. Yes, there’s world peace, an end to hunger and homelessness, and the general advancement of humanity…but I REALLY want a lightsaber, y’know? Unfortunately, we do not have the technology now to produce such a wonderful thing. We do, however, have the technology to produ...[Read More]
Review: The Gunstringer (Kinect)
Sit right down and I’ll tell you a tale…a tale of adventure, brotherhood, betrayal, justice, and revenge. The Gunstringer, the rootinest-tootinest sheriff in the West, was betrayed by his posse. With the spirit of revenge in him, he rises from the dead to enforce justice on his former friends. All variety of bandits and bad guys are thrown his way, but he plows through them all. Nobody...[Read More]
Review: RAGE (360)
RAGE is an absolutely beautiful game. Regardless of what else may be said about the game, RAGE brings its post-apocalyptic world to stunning life with an amazingly crafted environment, wonderful character design, and smooth animations. And let me tell you something…by the time you get through the first disc of RAGE, you’ll be glad that it’s so beautiful…because you’re...[Read More]
Review: Orcs Must Die! (XBLA)
There are fantasy worlds in which orcs are noble creatures. Valiant, peaceful, and in harmony with nature, these orcs are worthy of respect and admiration. While I do appreciate the effort that has gone in to bringing a modicum of civility and gentility to a stereotypically barbarous and bloodthirsty race, my orcs of choice have always been, and always will be, Tolkien orcs. Orcs Must Die!, as you...[Read More]
Review: Child of Eden (PS3)
Just over two months ago, Child of Eden was released for the Xbox 360 and Kinect. Tetsuya Miziguchi’s follow-up to his visually stunning Rez was an absolute improvement, bringing gamers a truly beautiful visual and aural experience. Now, that same experience has made its debut on the Playstation 3 console, with Move support. How does it compare?
Review: Resident Evil 4 HD (PSN)
It’s no secret that gamers are ruled by nostalgia. Each time we pick up the controller we’re trying to recreate that incredible first time when everything was new and exciting. Like the drug addict, we keep trying, but we always refer back to what came before. With such a passion for the classics, the recent deluge of “High Definition” remakes is hardly surprising, and since Resident Evil 4 seems ...[Read More]
Review: Renegade Ops (XBLA)
A supervillain named Inferno is threatening the world, and the United Nations wants to negotiate, against the will of General Bryant. Facing the grim reality of the cowardice of politicians, General Bryant does the only sane thing there is to do; he forms a group of operatives who will work outside of the law to take down the threat that Inferno is presenting. These uncontrolled operatives, or Ren...[Read More]
Review: Radiant Silvergun (XBLA)
In the past, I may have made mention of my adoration for Ikaruga. I have spent many frustrated hours immersed in the bullet hell of Ikaruga, and I don’t regret a single second of it. Now, for the first time in my life, I’ve had the chance to play the game that made Ikaruga possible: Radiant Silvergun. Developed by Treasure, and ported as an XBLA exclusive, Radiant Silvergun is just as ...[Read More]
Review: Rise of Nightmares (Kinect)
I imagine that watching me play Rise of Nightmares would not be totally dissimilar to watching me do a mixed-pace session of Tae Bo. I am fairly certain that SEGA was fully aware of this fact when developing it. As the first M rated Kinect game, I’m sure they relied on it, in fact, to help counteract the severity of the game’s violence and demeanor. That being said, Rise of Nightmares ...[Read More]