March 2012
19 posts
8 tags
I Am Alive
Writer: Andy Astruc
XBL (reviewed), PSN Released: March 7, 2012 (XBL), April 4, 2012 (PSN) Developer: Darkworks, Ubisoft Shanghai Publisher: Ubisoft
The world is coming to an end. All the power plants exploded, a meteor has entered the atmosphere, the robots have taken over and all the men have caught a mysterious disease and dropped dead. In a stroke of good fortune, the only people equipped...
7 tags
Mario Kart 7
Writer: Liam Fisher
3DS (Reviewed) Released: December 4, 2011 Developer: Nintendo/Retro Studios Publisher: Nintendo
We often complain about a game series being too long, or becoming stale. Mario Kart in particular gets a lot of flak for being an unchanging rock of stubborn kartiness. What I’ve always found ironic, though, is how hard Nintendo tries to keep it fresh without changing much of...
11 tags
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Writer: Fraser Brown
PC (Reviewed) Released: December 20 2011 Developer: BioWare Publisher: Electronic Arts
Over the last few months, I’ve slaughtered Sith, Jedi, jawas and a couple of Hutts. I’ve brought worlds to their knees, become best buddies with a hideous force eating monstrosity and called countless people “nerf herder” (including Liam and Andy). Yes,...
7 tags
Valkyria Chronicles
Writer: Steven Hansen
PlayStation 3 Released: November 4, 2008 Developer: SEGA Publisher: SEGA
Ignoring whatever confused abomination (or occasional 2D gem) Sonic Team cobbles together, SEGA has done some interesting things both as developers and publishers; particularly, fostering new IPs. With one game alone, SEGA has built up a couple of banks worth of credit with me. That game is...
9 tags
Raw Emotion: Talking Design with thatgamecompany
Writer: Ishak Ferdjani
Most video games begin their life as a tiny spark of an idea. A developer has a gameplay mechanic in mind, a financial goal or simply an interesting story to tell. These are all noble goals in their own ways, but they only scratch the surface of the medium. What makes us truly resonate with any creative work is emotion. The feelings and connections provided by our...
17 tags
Fraser Brown, Xenoarchaeologist
Writer: Fraser Brown
When I was growing up — a process some would suggest I never quite got the hang of — there was nothing I liked more than to lie in front of the television and watch reruns of my favourite program, Star Trek. Without a doubt, the episodes I adored the most were the ones where Kirk and company found themselves on bizarre alien worlds. At that age it didn’t...
6 tags
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Writer: Arlo Levin
Nintendo Ds, iOS App Store (reviewed) Release Date: Jan 11, 2011 (DS) February 2nd, 2012 (iOS) Developer/Publisher: Capcom
In the past few years, an adventure game renaissance has been going on in video games, mostly of the point-and-click variety. Whether it’s Telltale delving into episodic gaming with formerly beloved franchises or Double Fine’s recent...
6 tags
Journey
Writer: Liam Fisher
Playstation Network Released: March 13, 2012 Developer: thatgamecompany Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Back in 2006, thatgamecompany entered into a three-game contract with Sony. The fruits of that contract have already been great – Flow and Flower are both must-plays for PSN users – but Journey, the completion of that trinity, is easily the most beautiful game I’ve...
10 tags
Mass Effect 3
Writer: Fraser Brown
PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Reviewed) Released: March 6 2012 Developer: BioWare Publisher: Electronic Arts
It’s been just over four years since Commander Shepard became a household name, at least in my household. In that time I’ve turned away from my initial skepticism and fully embraced the Mass Effect universe, let’s just say I’ve become...
8 tags
Escape Plan
Writer: Steven Hansen
PSVita Released: Feb 15, 2012 Developer: Fun Bits Interactive Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Escape Plan is one of the first games I played on the Vita, months before its release, and it instantly became my most anticipated game for the system. The arresting art direction that utilized gorgeous saturation and stark, black and white contrast, coupled with a Looney...
6 tags
Dillon's Rolling Western
Writer: Liam Fisher
3DS eShop Released: February 22, 2012 Developer: Vanpool Publisher: Nintendo
Nintendo’s 3DS eShop has been on a bit of a good run lately with Mutant Mudds, Pushmo, Mighty Switch Force, and Sakura Samurai all showing that the old, old, OLD dog still has something to offer the world in the way of original IPs. Beyond that, it let us breath a hesitant sigh of relief as...
10 tags
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Writer: Fraser Brown
PS3 (reviewed), Xbox 360 Released: February 7 2012 Developer: 38 Studios, Big Huge Games Publisher: 38 Studios, Electronic Arts
I confess that I was not particularly excited by the prospect of playing yet another fantasy RPG. Not because I have a particular problem with the genre, far from it, it’s just that years of finely honed cynicism has made it hard for...
9 tags
NeverDead
Writer: Andy Astruc
PS3 (reviewed), X360 Released: Jan 31 2012 Developer: Rebellion Developments Publisher: Konami
There are many games out there which, while technically polished and exceedingly functional, fail to grab my attention. Whether it’s a military shooter obsessed with beating the terrorist Russians, a fantasy RPG cluttered with elves, or a thing where you jump on other things...
8 tags
Shadows of the Damned
Writer: Liam Fisher
X360, PS3 (Reviewed) Released: June 21, 2011 Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture Publisher: Electronic Arts
Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture have the wonderful ability to create games that fans will absolutely adore, but they have virtually no chance of appealing to the mass market. Killer 7 and No More Heroes both offered experiences that were uniquely Suda, with...
9 tags
The Darkness II
Writer: Fraser Brown
PC, Xbox 360, PS3 (Reviewed) Released: February 7, 2012 Developer: Digital Extremes Publisher: 2K Games
The Darkness took me by surprise back in 2007. I had a passing familiarity with the comics, but did not have particularly high expectations for a licensed game. My, how I was wrong. I finished the campaign in one sitting, fixated on my TV, ignoring everything else. So I...
Mutant Mudds
Writer: Arlo Levin
3DS eShop Released: January 26 2012 Developer: Renegade Kid Publisher: Renegade Kid
You know how sometimes when you’re at a party and you see a guy kinda just hanging out alone, maybe talking to some people then and there, but you don’t make much of him? Then your friend asks you “Hey, have you met Barry?” and proceeds to introduce you to...
7 tags
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Writer: Steven Hansen
PS3, X360 Released: Oct 5 2010 US, Oct 8 2010 EU Developer: Ninja Theory Publisher: Namco Bandai
I let Enslaved: Odyssey to the West slip by when it first released. I hear tell it released smack dab in the middle of a busy fall brimming with big name titles, and that’s why it didn’t make much of a splash, but I knew what it was at the time and was pretty sure I...
10 tags
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Writer: Andy Astruc
PS3 Released: Nov 1 2012 US, Nov 2 2012 EU Developer: Naughty Dog Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
I’m uneasy. Uncharted 3 lies on my floor, bloodied and beaten. I scaled the side of an ancient home and exited at speed when it was set ablaze by evil dudes. I ran through market streets in pursuit of a man with seemingly magical powers. After being...
8 tags
SoulCalibur V
Writer: Liam Fisher
PS3, X360 Released: January 26 2012 US, February 03 2012 EU Developer: Namco Bandai Publisher: Namco Bandai
Let’s get this out of the way: I still play SoulCalibur II. I’ve tried other, later iterations of the series but they - or any other fighter for that matter - have never managed to capture my attention in the same way. With that in mind, it’s a bit...
