Set in Ancient China during the third century, this action-filled title delivers free-roaming fun amid epic battlegrounds, with expanded actions like climbing and swimming so players can fully experience the boosted graphics. [...]
Jumper: Griffin’s Story
March 2, 2008 Leave a Comment
Written by Matt Paprocki Jumper is a licensed title with one decent idea behind it, and it still manages to screw it up. As with the film, the characters have the ability to warp anywhere at any time. This fits right in with the fast paced, beat-em-up mechanics, but the execution is completely off. Following [...]
The Spiderwick Chronicles for Wii
March 1, 2008 Leave a Comment
This largely linear fantasy adventure, based on the book series of the same name, follows the adventures of the Grace family as they stumble into a unique situation when they move into a new house. Freddie Highmore does great double duty as twin brothers Jared and Simon while sister Mallory is voiced by Sarah Bolger. [...]
Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground
Jan. 10, 2008 1 Comment
Proving Ground is the deepest “X-sport” video game ever developed, and that means something considering the Tony Hawk franchise singularly created the alternative sport video game genre. That said, Neversoft should have done a hell of a lot more testing. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground brings new features like “nail the grab” and the speedy aggro [...]
Addiction, thy name is Switchball
Jan. 1, 2008 Leave a Comment
The adventures of a small ball — what could be so great about that? Everything. Switchball is a game that needs not a storyline, nor characters, nor a plot to be great. Gameplay is simple. Use a little ball to roll around the levels, completing puzzles by moving boxes around to make paths to the [...]
Assassin’s Creed fails to deliver
Dec. 3, 2007 Leave a Comment
Forget all the 9′s and 9.5′s you’re seeing in the leading online gaming outlets — that is, if you can wade past the flash and interstitial advertisements for Assassin’s Creed on these sites to see the review in the first place. There are far too many flaws that keep it from being a great game, and with so many other great games available this fall, it’s hard to give Assassin’s Creed more than a passing look. [...]
Guitar Hero III
Nov. 26, 2007 2 Comments
Guitar Hero III came into the world with a large reputation to live up to. For months, gamers have been waiting to get their hands on the newest hit in the Guitar Hero franchise. It represents one of the best party games around and with new multiplayer modes, and it’s better than ever. Guitar Hero [...]
The (latest) Simpsons Game
Nov. 14, 2007 Leave a Comment
By Jason “Njiska” Westhaver When EA announced they were making The Simpsons Game the first thought that ran through my head was, "Oh Christ not another hacked-kneed, sloppy, piss poor attempt by EA to suckle on the teat of a popular franchise". Fortunately EA managed to proved my initial suspicions wrong and I couldn’t be [...]
NBA Live 08
Oct. 25, 2007 Leave a Comment
Written by Matt Paprocki Needing everything the development team had to make the franchise relevant again, NBA Live 08 is a remarkable turn around from 07. It’s still far from perfect, but the basics are now in place to refine this series into a worthwhile basketball title when compared with mounting competition. Improvements start with [...]
BioShock
Sept. 3, 2007 Leave a Comment
Written by Matt Paprocki Everything in BioShock hinges on a deeply woven narrative, brilliantly written and conceived by developer 2K Boston. It’s a centerpiece to a gripping and unbelievably involving title that doesn’t always break new game play ground, but contains an additive edge rarely found in the industry. The effort and style land BioShock [...]
All-Pro Football 2K8
July 21, 2007 2 Comments
Written by Matt Paprocki With three years to simmer, All-Pro Football brings the 2K style of the sport into a new generation and it feels a lot like… 2K Sports football. There are few notable changes aside from the licensing once on the field, and fans will clamor at the chance to play this updated [...]
Project Sylpheed
July 9, 2007 Leave a Comment
Action – Project Sylpheed – Xbox 360 – Square Enix Hardcore gamers will remember Project Sylpheed as Silpheed, a 1988 side-scrolling action game and later a failed Sega CD game with better-than-normal graphics for the time. The Xbox 360 variant brings a complex story and tons of action in a Star Wars meets General Hospital [...]
Vampire Rain
July 6, 2007 Leave a Comment
Action – Vampire Rain – Xbox 360 – Microsoft In Vampire Rain, vampires have taken over the streets. An elite black ops unit, under the faux "American Information Bureau" is sent to Los Angeles, where a contingency of vampires is said to roam, to wipe them out. The familiar sounding plot could make this one [...]