About the author: Scott Ellison II
- Profile
- Scott is a disabled Marine veteran, married to his wife Nicole and has three kids. Scott also has a full-time job with Fastly as the Manager of Tier 3 - CSE. Scott is most well-known for founding, and writing for Saving Content, but you can find his other work on G4@Syfygames (defunct) and GameCritics.com (active).
Posts by Scott:
GUNHEAD Review
Nov 08, 2023
GUNHEAD comes from the minds at Alientrap, who’ve made memorable games such as Capsized and Apotheon , but I really took notice with CRYPTARK in 2017. It felt like a revelation for the roguelike genre and became one of my favorites as you went spaceship spelunking in 2D to take down systems and fight bosses while earning a paycheck. It was that same year GUNHEAD was announced, and after six long years I can’t help but find it to be inferior to its predecessor. It still retains all of the engaging systems that made CRYPTARK so good, yet even as a fast-paced first-person shooter roguelike, GUNHEAD feels like a pale imitation.
HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged Review
Nov 02, 2023
HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged takes what was loved about the first game, and gives us more of that and less of the stuff that was less than liked. Milestone have captured the essence of what it’s like to be a kid and letting your imagination take you to fantastic places as you play with your Hot Wheels. The sequel here is a great compliment to the previous game, and has more than enough reason to move to the new game. HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged doesn’t have any dramatic shifts in gameplay or presentation, yet it still remains an incredibly fun time for all ages.
EA SPORTS WRC Review
Oct 30, 2023
Electronic Arts has taken over the WRC game license, and Colin McRae and DiRT developers Codemasters are in the driver’s seat for the first time. The result of this marriage is something new and something borrowed, but nothing to be blue about – it’s really fantastic. The simply titled WRC is a festival of rallying’s past, present, and future as Codemasters finds their path. WRC is a strong start from the veteran developer, and the next great rallying experience you can’t do without.
WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card (1TB) for Xbox Review
Oct 30, 2023
The WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is the first competitor to Seagate’s expansion card offering on the newest generation of Xbox consoles. Storage space is an ever-present concern, but WD_BLACK’s combination of size and performance are welcome. With games becoming increasingly demanding in terms of storage requirements, the C50 Expansion Card aims to provide a seamless solution for Xbox Series X|S users. This is a plug ‘n’ play storage card that can be swapped between Xbox Series X and S, as well as other consoles that aren’t yours. WD_BLACK continues to sit comfortably at the top to be the best bang for your buck.
Monoprice Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick Review
Oct 27, 2023
Monoprice released the Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick over a year ago, and I’m now taking a look at it after being sent a review unit. Arcade games are rather nostalgic at this point, and esports fighting tournaments utilize them heavily. The Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick provides an authentic arcade feel for fighting and retro game purists, enthusiasts, and even casual enjoyers alike. The combination of precise controls and nostalgic design elements make for a truly remarkable experience.
SteelSeries Alias Pro Review
Oct 23, 2023
From the static-filled days of yesteryear to the crystal-clear audio experiences of today, the importance of high-quality audio cannot be overstated. In the realm of professional-grade microphones, SteelSeries has consistently impressed me with their innovative approach to audio solutions. Their latest offering, the SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR Microphone + Stream Mixer, is a testament to their dedication to providing creators with top-notch audio tools. Whether you’re just someone who wants to sound good to your friends, or impress co-workers, or kickoff a career in content creation, there is nothing better than the SteelSeries Alias Pro.
Cities: Skylines II Review
Oct 19, 2023
It’s somewhat odd sitting down to play a game for the first time that you already know how to play. Cities: Skylines II is one of those games, mainly because I never stopped playing Cities: Skylines as it has received constant support and DLCs for eight years running. Colossal Order has come a long way since Cities in Motion , and this is a complex and rewarding game that showcases lessons learned. Cities: Skylines II is a great monument to city builders by overshadowing its predecessor through improving upon it in significant ways to be one of the best city builders ever made.
ABRISS – build to destroy Review
Oct 03, 2023
ABRISS – build to destroy is a towering creation from three college students known as Randwerk. In just over a year, it has gone through Early Access to 1.0, and this is an example of Early Access done right. This is one visually stunning, unique tower-building simulation and destruction game. Playing it feels like all the times you’d build something with LEGO, K’Nex, or even Jenga blocks, and then bring over one of your favorite villain figure to knock it all down and watch it crumble – only for you to rebuild it and do it all again. A few minor issues hold it back from achieving the heights it should, but it’s clear that ABRISS delivers on many fronts, offering an experience that’s both engrossing and visually captivating.
Pizza Possum Review
Sep 28, 2023
You’ve heard of the pizza rat , but now there’s the Pizza Possum. Contrary to popular belief, opossums are nice and gentle creatures. As such, the game actually portrays them correctly, as scavengers. There’s no malice or malcontent, just the possum wants some pizza, and by golly, you’re gonna do it. It’s a simple concept, baked wonderfully for a golden experience. Pizza Possum may not set the world on fire, but it will be great for some quick games either solo or with a friend.
El Paso, Elsewhere Review
Sep 26, 2023
El Paso, Elsewhere is the second game in the “El Paso” universe, following up the first-person shooter of EL PASO, NIGHTMARE that leads into the events for this game. Coming from the folks at Strange Scaffold, this is a supernatural third-person shooter with slo-mo dives, and tools to vanquish werewolves and vampires with ease. Told like a noir piece, the game in its two parts feels like an ode to Max Payne. It’s this then where it disappoints, never reaching the heights of that game from either a story or gameplay perspective. It’s an enjoyable game in its own right, but has far too many quibbles to be fully enjoyed.
The Crew Motorfest Review
Sep 22, 2023
Hawaii is a dream destination for most, and The Crew Motorfest does things a little different by narrowing down its scope to just the island of Oahu instead of the entirety of the United States. I always thought that The Crew having an abridged version of the United States made it standout, but it’s really the vibe of “go anywhere, do anything”. It’s a game that aims to take Forza Horizon ‘s lunch money, and has been built on the back of Test Drive Unlimited, which is where some of the developers ended up after Eden Studios closed. The Crew Motorfest has a fantastic, colorful, focused open-world that makes it a racer not to miss and best in the series to-date.
Gunbrella Review
Sep 18, 2023
Gunbrella is doinksoft’s first game as part of a Devolver, but a special mention goes out to the excellent cat-themed metroidvania of Gato Roboto . Since making a couple of games published by Devolver since then, doinksoft really branches out and sprouts new leaves of creativity here. Gunbrella is a tight experience with equally tight controls and a fun premise that doesn’t overstay its welcome. With its intriguing premise, stylish visuals, and a unique gameplay mechanic, Gunbrella is one of the better action-adventure games where traversal is king.
Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX Review
Sep 07, 2023
Don’t call it a comeback, because to some, the Raiden series has never left. Maybe it’s a custom cabinet, an arcade in Shinjuku City, or just someone’s gaming PC, the series has staying power. While we’ve seen recent entries, MOSS has gone back to update and remix their prior games. Earlier this year we had the release of Raiden IV x MIKADO remix , and now after a short delay is Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX . It’s oft-considered the weakest of the series, but it manages to be the best of the two MIKADO versions to release. I think that the updates, inclusions, and overall gameplay make it the best entry into the series.
Starfield Review
Aug 31, 2023
We should really keep going to space, pushing ourselves further and further towards colonizing new planets and expanding the human race. While we currently don’t have the technology to do so, I feel like we’re on the cusp of making that leap. Starfield shows what that could look like for us, a new universe that’s filled with wonder and ready for us to explore. The visual language of this game is “NASA punk”, an aesthetic design where there aren’t screens to touch, instead there’s buttons to push. Bethesda Game Studios have been making games for a long time, but they haven’t made anything like this before. Starfield is fresh, and such a blast to play, there’s so many things to do and see, and all of it is interesting. Starfield is going to be someone’s Fallout 3 or Skyrim, bolstered by future content and modding. Starfield is compelling, enthralling, and has me enamored with its vastness and scale that is a truly stellar adventure.
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy Review
Aug 29, 2023
A series that started 14 years ago continues with Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy . This puzzle platformer boasts some of the tightest controls and cleverest designs the series has seen. In the four years since Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, it just feels like it’s the right time for a follow-up. Frozenbyte’s commitment to innovation of their coop puzzle platformer is remarkable. Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is fresh, exciting, and above all, the best entry yet.
Popular
