Video Games
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]
Review: Sonic Generations (PS3)
I start the console, hear the familiar cry of “SEGA!” and then bliss, as I hear an updated but still recognizable Sonic theme song. I press start, and find myself returned not just to the levels of the past, but that feeling of skill and response that I developed as a child for these games. I’m in heaven.
Review: A Game of Thrones: Genesis (PC)
I have tried incredibly hard to love A Game of Thrones: Genesis. AGoT has so many great ideas it hurts to not love it. First, a little bit about my knowledge of the stories that inspired this… game. I know this will upset the diehards but I entered the world through the exemplary HBO series. I read the book along with each episode, making sure to stay just behind the current story. Then scho...[Read More]
Review: A World of Keflings – It Came From Outer Space DLC (XBLA)
I have a bit of a love-love relationship with NinjaBee’s games. When we first got our current Xbox 360, I was browsing through the XBL Marketplace and decided to look through the avatar games, where I found A Kingdom for Keflings. I showed my wife, we took a risk and bought some points, and had a blast. When we first heard that a sequel was being developed in A World of Keflings, our excitem...[Read More]