Reviews
Sniper Elite III Review
Jul 28, 2014
During World War II, snipers instilled fear and confusion unto opposing soldiers. Shots rang out from impossible directions, often killing important members in the chain of command. This brand of tyranny made snipers the most important part of any battalion. In Sniper Elite III, this power and control you have over the enemy is felt as each bullet passes through the cranial cavity of those you point your rifle at.
OlliOlli (PC) Review
Jul 22, 2014
To paraphrase Bushnell’s Law, OlliOlli epitomizes the “Easy to learn, hard to master” aphorism. There’s an air of the replayability and quick reloading of Canabalt meets the condensed control scheme of skate. along with the zaniness of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. All of it is nailed so well that it becomes it’s own beast. However, this beast will often chew you up and spit you out until you become better at it.
Contraption Maker Review
Jul 21, 2014
Growing up, my introduction to Rube Goldberg and the complex machines that perform simple tasks was first seen in “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” with the memorable Breakfast Maker. Then, in the early 90s came The Incredible Machine series. Spotkin, the developer comprised of those who worked on those games have made a spiritual successor, Contraption Maker. The result is a faithful recreation, while introducing modern elements that make it relevant and worth playing.
Xenonauts Review
Jul 18, 2014
In 1979, the world was technologically disadvantaged as it neared the end of the Cold War. That is, when comparing the technology of the time to the aliens now invading Earth in Xenonauts. Being outmatched technologically, sets the tone of the game: you’re always the underdog and feel equally overwhelmed at all times. You’re always on the brink of collapse, and this is what makes Xenonauts a more exhilarating experience over the XCOM games that inspired this.
Quest for Infamy Review
Jul 16, 2014
Infamous Quests’ first game, recreates the early 90s Adventure RPG in the way of a Quest for Glory, almost too well. In that, the more unpleasant nature of PC gaming of the era, and trial by fire gameplay is ever-present. In contrast, the game is so fresh and new, often feeling it like it was retrieved from a vault that was locked away for the past twenty-something odd years.
Light Review
Jul 14, 2014
Outside of being an SEO nightmare, Light is a top-down stealth action game for the PC. Filled with mystery, is the story of a man the subject of a super secret project, that has left him an amnesiac. So begins the journey to discover the truth and unravel the corporate conspiracy that surrounds it.
GRID Autosport Review
Jul 07, 2014
Codemasters took the criticisms of GRID 2 to heart. And in that time since that game’s release until now, has been the development of GRID Autosport. And, as stated in my preview, they have worked to correct the major problems of the past game rather than toeing the line. If you’ve played the ToCA Race Driver series, also by Codemasters, you’ll be more inclined to enjoy GRID Autosport as a result, if not for some debris on the track.
Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha Review
Jul 03, 2014
Dead Rising 3 was one of the better launch titles on the Xbox One. Not tied to small sections with load times and a mass of zombies filling your screen, Dead Rising 3 became what I finally wanted to experience. Even with some back story related DLC, I had my fill after finishing the game, but here they come with something right out of left field that is possibly the most bizarre and fantastic piece of DLC I’ve seen in awhile. If it isn’t apparent by name alone, this Capcom takes this DLC pokes fun at it’s self with the ridiculous name and fills the game with loads of fan service. If you own a copy of Dead Rising 3, do yourself a favor and splurge a bit on this crazy piece of content.
1001 Spikes Review
Jul 02, 2014
The games that brought you the most grief, the most heartache, are the ones you remember the most. There’s Battletoads, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Ninja Gaiden to name only a few. They rest in the pantheon of difficult games you most likely never beat. 1001 Spikes aims to be that kind of game. While it is beatable, it is not willing to just let you.
Watch Dogs Review
Jul 01, 2014
When Watch Dogs debuted at E3 2012 and was shown off again at E3 2013, there was a ton of excitement about this game. It did a good job of showcasing all of the systems at work in the game, and how they seemingly were a step above previous generation games. Not only that, but Watch Dogs (along with the defunct Star Wars 1313) was the first current generation game we actually saw.
Awesomenauts: Starstorm Review
Jun 27, 2014
From Kickstarter to Steam Early Access to release, Starstorm, the expansion to Awesomenauts has been on an incredible journey since August 2013. Ronimo Games had a surprise hit on their hands with Awesomenauts, which took the MOBA game and made it a 2D sidescroller, keeping in tact the core tenants that make it all work. The expansion makes good on bringing more of what made the base game work so well without sacrificing balance or fun.
Shovel Knight Review
Jun 26, 2014
You either are, or know someone who grew up around 8-bit gaming. There are memories you cherish, or stories you tell of playing your favorite games until all hours of the night. You’ll likely recall the nostalgia for the games Shovel Knight is so greatly inspired by. Yacht Club Games does tell their own story, build their own world, and set their own rules for you to play in, creating new memories and stories to tell.
Transistor Review
Jun 23, 2014
The Father of Taoism, Lao Tzu said, “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Red’s motivations for her courage and strength exemplify that. Transistor is beautiful sci-fi world, somewhat anachronistic as it is a neon-soaked jazz-infused world reminiscent of the 1940s.
Dark Souls II (PC) Review
Jun 20, 2014
Without having to wait for long, the PC version comes just over a month after the console release. And without question, it is the definitive release to play and enjoy. But beyond that, and more to the point Dark Souls II is pure excellence. There’s a challenge around every corner, lore hidden within conversations, and secrets begging to be revealed in the environment. It can be frustrating, but it can also be extremely satisfying too. It’s a deep game that demands your attention, and won’t let it go for long after you’ve put the controller down.
Dark Souls II Review
Jun 20, 2014
Dark Souls has gained quite the following over the past couple years and the series just keeps bringing in new players. With the Souls series “go anywhere play anyway you like” style, Souls games tend to be different for each and every player. This makes the task of creating a direct sequel difficult with such a wide variety of expectations on the line. From Software took to this challenge and created a title that was more of the same, and it’s wonderful.
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