Tag Archive

Destiny | Review

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Rae Michelle Richards

Version Tested: PlayStation 3

Destiny quickly become one of the most pre-ordered titles in recent memory and of course it was backed by one of the largest marketing campaigns we’ve seen in a while for a videogame. Needless to say expectations for Bungie’s first post-Halo release reached into the stratosphere and after playing Destiny for quite some time I’m ready to render my verdict. Should you forge ahead into the stars and join the ranks of the Guardians or pass at being an interstellar savior?Read More

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Hyperdimension Neptunia: Rebirth1 | Review

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Rae Michelle Richards

Idea Factory has brought over Compile Hearts’ PS Vita remake of the original Hyperdimension Neptunia to North America.  After spending several hours playing through the humorous, self referential JRPG we’re finally ready to render our verdict.  Should you shell out your hard earned cash for the latest trip to GamesIndustri or should Neptunia’s latest remain on store shelves?  Read on to find out…Read More

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Sea Battle | Review

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Jason Nason

Teyon’s newest game is for the good old Nintendo DSi and the DSiWare service, something that has all but been abandoned by most developers. And with some of the games being released in the eShop looking like they could have easily been DSiWare titles, including lacking 3D support, that is a shame.

But Teyon’s Sea Battle, while solid in the gameplay, game mechanics and look, has a few quirks which drag it under.

If you’ve ever played the board game Battleship you’ll know exactly what to expect from this title. The game isn’t marketed that way though as the developers clearly don’t have the license to do so, but that is what you’re getting. So if you’ve ever played it you’ll have no trouble getting started, though there are a few neat additions to the game. More on that in a bit.

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UnEpic | Review

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Les Major

If you’re a fan of Metroidvania titles, you know, games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for example, UnEpic is a wonderful exploration title you’ll probably enjoy very much! I’ve already gushed a little bit about the game before, but there is a lot more to be said about the game itself. Available both on Steam and on the Wii-U eShop, I took a look at the console release that is available thanks to EnjoyUp publishing the title on Nintendo’s latest system. The best part that I’ve already noted is how much UnEpic feels like you’re living a comedic RPG web comic.Read More

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Spirit Stones | Review

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Jason Nason

I don’t know what it is about trading card games that are so addictive. There’s something about building your collection of cards from nothing to something very powerful that appeals to me, even in digital form. But Spirit Stones isn’t just another collectible trading card game. It’s something much more than that.

What do you get if a trading card game, a role-playing game AND a puzzle game collided? You would get one of the most addicting games I’ve played in a really long time.

At its core, Spirit Stones is a puzzle game. Much like other games you’ve probably played, this part of the game will feel very familiar. You are presented with the lower half of the screen filled with different coloured orbs. Using your finger you must swipe together three or more orbs of the same colour to eliminate them. Once you do more will fall from the top of the screen. Simple stuff, and there are four different coloured orbs: blue, red, green and yellow. Now here is where genres start to collide.

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Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes | Review

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Rae Michelle Richards

Version Reviewed: PlayStation 3

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is one of those games that almost defies explanation, is it a “two hour demo” for The Phantom Pain as some have suggested? Or, is the game’s $29.99 price justified with the addition of optional side missions and bonus content? Certainly the game’s marketing gimmicks (*cough* Fake producer joakim mogren *cough*) have led to some confusion in the gaming community as to what exactly Ground Zeroes entails. Well I took Big Boss’ latest retail release for a spin and I’m ready to debrief you on why you should suit up for Snake’s latest.Read More

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South Park: The Stick of Truth | Review

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Les Major

South Park is an incredibly accurate gaming experience. The style is exactly like the show and it flows so well between cut scenes and regular gameplay. Exploration in the open world of South Park makes the game just a joy to experience. You really are the new kid in town and the game does a fantastic job of making you feel like a character in the show itself.

It’s ridiculous just how entertaining it is to go from house to house and explore. The game is so much fun in this way, I’m already craving Halloween DLC, unless there is something like that in game and I’m just not there yet. This really is your own living, breathing version of the show. So much so that you’ll get distracted away from the RPG elements rather quickly. Even their implementation is well thought out.Read More

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Scourge: Outbreak | Review

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Les Major

Imagine a game that plays similar to Gears of War, but is a near future sci-fi adventure that takes place at a secret lab on an island. You’re part of Echo Squad, a team sent in to rescue a doctor and recover a chunk of meteorite. With a choice of one of four characters, you progress much in a similar GoW fashion going to each checkpoint and enjoying the story as it unfolds.

Gameplay and progression is quite solid. At first you may feel unsure about this title, but it does quickly pick up. After the tutorial, which I’d recommend checking out, you’re dropped right into an outdoor island location, working your way into the lab. In the general open areas outdoors I didn’t take much cover at first, but I didn’t need to at the very start. When you reach the lab and start making your way inside it takes on a good cover system feel.Read More

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LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins | Review

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Jason Nason

LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins is all of the fun you would expect from a Nintendo title, filled with charm, humour and lots to do.

The game takes its inspiration not only from the LEGO City line of building toys but also from the type of open concept gameplay more mature fans have become accustomed to in the Grand Theft Auto series. In this game you will find many of the same familiar themes and gameplay mechanics from GTA titles without any of the violence or language that that series has become famous for.

In LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins you step into the shoes of Chase McCain, who is ready to prove he’s more than just a rookie police officer. This prequel to LEGO City Undercover on the Wii U reveals the origin story of Chase McCain, one of the city’s most celebrated crime fighters. Chase has just joined the police force and is sent undercover in order to prove his worth as a LEGO City police officer, making use of disguises to gain special abilities, and engage in hand-to-hand combat with underground criminal gangs. He quickly becomes a one-man show set to bring down the criminal element running amok in LEGO City.

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Super Mario 3D World | Review

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Les Major

I figured I’d enjoy Super Mario 3D World, but I didn’t realize how much fun it would be until I got into it. Throughout the game there is a lot of nostalgia mixed with newer style gameplay. In a lot of ways the game reminded me a lot of Super Mario Bros. 2, the US version. I’d actually originally gone in wishing this was a sequel to that part of the series, caught up with playing as the four heroes again that starred in the US remake of Doki Doki Panic. However 3D World quickly won me over and made me forget that dream for another day.

The adventure starts off with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad running off to save the Sprixies, these little fairy people who honestly reminded me of the citizens of Subcon. Bowser has captured them and taken off to their kingdom. You’re dropped off as your chosen player character on a open map you can wander and search for coins on. Sure it’s similar to Super Mario Bros. 3 with paths between levels, but you can actually wander off of those in this one.

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The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | Review

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Jason Nason

Nintendo has done it again.

You would think that after twenty years and just about as many Zelda titles that the series would have gotten stale. Everything that you think could have been done in a game which, at its core, hasn’t really changed since the start. Well, except for Zelda II but that is a whole other type of game. You would be wrong. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the first new game for the Nintendo 3DS and the developers have utilized the system’s stereoscopic 3D effect to perfection. They have introduced a brand new game mechanic which adds a whole new level of challenge and complexity to dungeons and exploration, and is one which really gives the game a fresh feel.

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Skylanders Swap Force | Review

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Les Major

One of the biggest misconceptions of Skylanders is that it’s a game just for kids. The fact is that these titles have a ton of quality built into them and while some of the cutscenes may feel youth oriented at times, they tend to be enjoyable for all audiences. This is no small cast either, with the voice of Invader Zim (Richard Steven Horvitz) as your nemesis and Joe Swanson from Family Guy (Patrick Warburton) playing your friend Flynn, and that’s just to name a few! This is a professional, polished production.

Gameplay isn’t a kids button masher either. Skylanders in Swap Force gain experience, level up to level 20, and collect coins to purchase new moves. Best of all, the multitude of figures available are all quite unique in the different ways they attack. Some have moves that are more focused on motion while others are defensive skills. So if you haven’t checked the game out yet, and can resist spending beyond your means on getting only the figures you really need, the games come highly recommended.Read More

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State Of Decay Breakdown | Review

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Les Major

The first DLC expansion to State of Decay is a treat for hardcore fans who want to play out their own survival story without being weighed down by any main story missions. While it may sound strange to purchase an add-on to essentially take things out of the game, this potentially did take a lot of work to accomplish and there is an interesting mildly arcade sort of focus to Breakdown.

Basically the expansion, accessed separately from the title screen, starts you off with Lily Ritter admitting defeat to your situation and looking for a new home base. You are given a choice of three randomly selected ones that have survivors already living in them at the start of this. These seem to be from a slightly smaller pool than the total ten or so, I think it picks three of about a potential five. From there, you basically survive until Breakdown’s main add-on begins, which is finding an RV or similar vehicle marked on the map, which allows you to escape your current area and move on to a refreshed map. It’s still the same valley, but with scavenge areas restocked.Read More

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NHL 14 | Review

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Jason Nason

Aside from demos, I haven’t played a full edition of EA’s NHL series since way back in NHL 07. That’s a long time to be away, though I have played that game an awful lot. The newest game in the series, aptly titled NHL 14, continues on with everything that I thought was great in that game and builds upon it to make an even greater game.

Included in NHL 14 are a few new modes as well as the franchise’s continual advancement of existing features.

One of the new modes is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of NHL ’94, which was released twenty years ago for the SNES and Sega Genesis. NHL ’94 Anniversary Mode is a new way to get into old-school NHL action.

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State of Decay | Review

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Les Major

State of Decay is a unique zombie survival adventure that mixes elements of Dead Rising with RTS ideas in an open world with safe house improvements. All of this adds up to a very enjoyable experience that can be approached several different ways. Sometimes you’ll find yourself using stealth to sneak past undead hordes, using bushes, similar to that of Assassin’s Creed; there will be other times when you’ll want to tackle a mission head on, and get into a vehicle to mow down the “Zeds”.

The story begins with two survivors up at a camping site in the northern section of the map. After being away for so long, they missed the undead outbreak, but you’re immediately put into combat, rushing to save your friend Ed. It works and quickly gets you into the action. For more on the intro, check out my previous article about it here.Read More

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