Staff reviews, page 122

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces review

For anyone who has viewed the movie, the mere existence of the game may seem puzzling. There, the grand war was merely a backdrop, a meaningless cycle that only highlighted the Kildren's wasted existence. Nevertheless, Project Aces has…

Benjamin Woodhouse · February 8, 2010

Staff PSP HG exclusive

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories review

The major failing of Shattered Memories is its predictability. The whole point of a survival horror game is to keep a player on his toes. The formula that the game establishes early on never undergoes much change or deviation, allowing the…

Jonathan Stark · February 8, 2010

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Our House: Party! review

What makes things even worse is that they are sandwiched between several load screens that are disguised to trick you into believing that they contain useful or exciting information. You'll soon learn better. Pre-game tutorials explain how…

Jason Venter · February 7, 2010

Staff Turbografx-CD HG exclusive

Shadow of the Beast review

When I borrowed a Turbo Duo back in 1993, I cycled through over a dozen games in the span of two days. While most of those 48 hours became a blur, a few moments stood out; Shadow of the Beast's conceptually simple title screen was one…

Zigfried · February 6, 2010

Staff PC HG exclusive

Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy review

Perhaps the biggest problem isn't the limited nature of the building, though; it's the backtracking. When you first arrive, you'll make the rounds as you get acquainted with your new classmates. That takes a lot of time, since at first it…

Jason Venter · February 5, 2010

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 review

When it’s not trying to congratulate itself on the supposed brilliance of its subtext, Modern Warfare 2 remains one of the tightest titles on the market.

Gary Hartley · February 5, 2010

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Polar Panic review

With his home destroyed and family captured, this Ursus maritimus snuffs out Globoco, one life at a time. Sounds like the setup for a gruesome action adventure, but Polar Panic is actually an adorable puzzler. Murder may be the main goal…

Benjamin Woodhouse · February 3, 2010

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

FIFA Soccer 10 review

The referee will even miss fouls, be inconsistent with bookings and red cards, and make incorrect calls of offside from time to time and, while that annoys the hell out of me when it doesn’t go my way, I can’t help but hugely appreciate…

Gary Hartley · February 3, 2010

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

NBA Live 10 review

The characters in this year's game move with more faithfulness to their real-life counterparts. The difference isn't huge, but it's there and it's just one of many tweaks that I absolutely appreciate. Other upgrades have also been made to…

Jason Venter · February 3, 2010

Staff Wii HG exclusive

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle review

Some have said No More Heroes is like nothing you've seen before. Unfortunately, fans can't say the same for its sequel. It often feels like a budget-priced, sugar-free facsimile of the original; less of a time investment, but ultimately…

Zigfried · February 2, 2010

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - The Crystal Bearers review

The biggest flaw facing those who give The Crystal Bearers a chance is the way that the game requires so much tedious backtracking. Though the world that you'll explore throughout your adventure is beautiful, it's relatively small. That…

Jason Venter · February 1, 2010

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment review

On one level, Flames of Judgment proudly lives up to the original's standard. This Live Arcade release did bring me back down memory lane a few times. The problem is that it didn't do so for very long. The average turn-based strategy game…

Rob Hamilton · January 30, 2010

Staff PSP HG exclusive

Half-Minute Hero review

Told in a generational sort of manner that's reminiscent of a more expanded Dragon Quest V, the plot in Half-Minute Hero won't win any awards for narrative originality. It obviously isn't trying to, either. Instead, it has fun rushing…

Jason Venter · January 29, 2010

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Mass Effect 2 review

Defending Mass Effect has never been easy, since the game’s unpolished mechanics, cumbersome driving segments and barren, repetitive environments form a strong case against it. The case against it is so strong, in fact, that I often have…

Mike Suskie · January 28, 2010

Staff PC HG exclusive

Torchlight review

To its credit, Torchlight is much more than just a cash-in on our nostalgia. As much as it is an homage to its diabolic predecessor, Torchlight easily stands on its own as a game. Rather than using those familiar Diablo elements as a…

Will Roy · January 27, 2010

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Bayonetta review

The nimble and unusual lead character perfectly matches the fast-paced, responsive combat. Bayonetta features a blend of third-person melee and gunplay similar to Devil May Cry; sword slices are followed by pistol shots, although you're…

Zigfried · January 24, 2010

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Death By Cube review

You might call it a post-apocalyptic battlefield simulator, or a Geometry Wars clone or perhaps you'd even call it art. Certainly, the minimalist approach makes a case for that last descriptor. There's something beautiful about the simple…

Jason Venter · January 24, 2010

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Bakugan: Battle Brawlers review

Bakugan: Battle Brawlers manages to accomplish more than expected from a licensed product. It injects life into the game by taking normally mundane aspects, like throwing the Bakugan, and making them a focal point. By daring to reshuffle…

Benjamin Woodhouse · January 23, 2010

Staff PC HG exclusive

The Treasures of Montezuma 2 review

You'll likely spend most of your time in said Adventure mode, both because you're initially compelled to do so and because the developers were wise enough to include rewards for working your way through its individual stages. Each success…

Jason Venter · January 21, 2010

Staff DS

Wedding Dash review

The problem is that everyone is different. Betty is a snotty rich woman, so no one wants to sit next to her. Chloe, on the other hand, is so popular that all the other guests want to be with her. Chuck is impatient and wants to chow down…

Justin Boot · January 19, 2010