Review Archives (Staff Reviews)

You are currently looking through staff reviews for games that are available on every platform the site currently covers. Below, you will find reviews written by all eligible authors and sorted according to date of submission, with the newest content displaying first. As many as 20 results will display per page. If you would like to try a search with different parameters, specify them below and submit a new search.

	Half-Life: Opposing Force review (PC) Reviewed by Mike Suskie on June 08, 2008 - # My least-favorite segment of Half-Life was the journey through the border world Xen at the end, only because the human factor had been taken out of the equation, and battling the far less intelligent alien grunts got old after a while. Much of Opposing Force more or less feels like that entire sequence, only set in the Black Mesa facility itself. The good news is that the action is kept fairly interesting throughout thanks to some new (tougher) alien baddies to fight (whom I later learned are not from Xen, but from… uh, somewhere else). The game is simply never as exciting or action-packed as the original often was.
	Kung Fu Panda review (PS3) Reviewed by Jason Venter on June 07, 2008 - # Fans of more demanding gameplay will be sad to hear that there's not really ever a moment—even at the very end—where the game grows challenging enough to test veteran gamers. There are three difficulty modes so that you can push yourself more if you're interested, but most gamers will probably like the default settings just fine. Enemies offer token resistance and death in combat won't occur often at all.
	Haze review (PS3) Reviewed by Louis Bedigian on June 05, 2008 - # As a Mantel soldier, you’ll feel the power of Nectar with a bird’s-eye camera shift, a display that could be described as a vacuum that’s trying to devour your world. The devoured image quickly pops out, replacing the standard game view with an enhanced look at your enemies, who are now highlighted with a yellow glow. Bullets are taken with less damage, and your shields will replenish much quicker.
	Super Mario Bros. 3 review (NES) Reviewed by Jackie Curtis on June 02, 2008 - # There are big fish to fry in the waters of world three and even bigger brothers walk the landscape of four. In five, a spiral palace ominously leads high up into the clouds, but you won’t want to rush to get there; you’re a shoe in anyway. Six is where obstacles get downright frigid, but a sharp mind and some nifty tricks will keep Mario hammering away. It’ll take more than a pipe dream to sink the brain twisting, precision demanding puzzles of world seven. And as for eight, the final stomping grounds and home of the nefarious King of the Koopas, this author is going to have to leave you in the dark.
	Half-Life review (PC) Reviewed by Mike Suskie on June 01, 2008 - # There’s a surprise around every corner, be it a new enemy, a new platforming challenge, or some new method of simply scaring the piss out of you, like watching a scientist get sucked into a hole in the wall, only to see him re-emerge in pieces a moment later. Take out any five-minute segment of Half-Life and it probably wouldn’t seem like anything particularly special – you have to play it all at once to fully understand just how well each piece compliments the next, how it all adds up to one nearly seamless FPS experience with rarely a single dull moment, or even one that feels like what you’ve already been through. It is truly greater than the sum of its parts.
	Resident Evil 4 review (PS2) Reviewed by Rob Hamilton on May 29, 2008 - # Those early-game villagers utilize all sorts of farming implements, such as pitchforks, sickles and hatchets, in their attempts to end Leon's mission prematurely. And they're the patsies. Just wait until one of their heads explodes to release a tentacle-flailing parasite seemingly crafted in the darkest recesses of H.P. Lovecraft's imagination. Or a gigantic ogre lumbers into the fray, rips a gnarled tree out of the ground and starts swinging it around like it was light as a feather. Or a monstrous semi-invisible bug pounces, spraying Leon with acidic secretions.
	The Immortals of Terra: A Perry Rhodan Adventure review (PC) Reviewed by Harry Slater on May 28, 2008 - # Perry Rhodan, for the uninitiated (or rather for those who haven't Googled his name for review purposes), is the star of a forty year old German space opera. Beginning life in print, the series is now a massive phenomena in its native land, spawning TV shows, Graphic Novels and now, a point and click adventure game.
	Overclocked review (PC) Reviewed by Scott Constantine on May 28, 2008 - # Overclocked follows the story of David McNamara, former army psychiatrist, as he wanders the rain-slicked streets of New York, hunting for clues to uncover the mystery surrounding his five new patients.
	Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis review (PC) Reviewed by Martin G on May 28, 2008 - # Arsène Lupin and Sherlock Holmes face off not in a book, but in an adventure game that encompasses all staples of the point-and-click genre, and manages to remain strictly faithful to the source material at the same time.
	Ys Strategy review (DS) Reviewed by Gary Hartley on May 26, 2008 - # This becomes most apparent in the campaign mode battles, which seem to be aimed at an advanced tutorial rather than the driving force behind Ys Strategy. You’ll constantly switch forces throughout the game, playing as Abel’s allies (and, sometimes, foes) giving you a quick glimpse at the sparse changes of powers promised by each team. Which, basically, amounts to there being very little change in your tactics throughout the campaign.
	Grand Theft Auto IV review (X360) Reviewed by Mike Suskie on May 23, 2008 - # This isn’t the GTA I “know and love.” It’s a new GTA, one that I know better and love more dearly.
	World Heroes Anthology review (PS2) Reviewed by Marc Golding on May 22, 2008 - # The two main Heroes are SNK’s answer to Street Fighter II’s Ryu and Ken, right down to the fact that the ‘alternate’ choice is the guy in red. Even their moves are rip-offs – a rising uppercut, a spinning attack, and a projectile attack – all effected in the exact same way as in Capcom’s game. This wouldn't be so bad if the newer game actually improved upon the source material. As it is, the moves that enaged, that elicited such a gut feeling of satisfaction in the execution, here come off with little pay-off for the player.
	TrackMania United Forever review (PC) Reviewed by Scott Constantine on May 21, 2008 - # Last month, the TrackMania franchise premiered on Steam with their title ‘TrackMania Nations’; a freeware game that has been often described as a joy filled, causal experience that everyone should try at least once.
	The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian review (X360) Reviewed by Jason Venter on May 20, 2008 - # At first, I stupidly tried to battle everyone. This is a waste of time. Instead, you need to work actively on the current objective, whatever it might be. These can range from destroying siege engines, bashing stone pillars with your club (while riding on back of a lumbering giant) to simply working your way through the maelstrom to safety.
	Toy Shop review (DS) Reviewed by Jason Venter on May 19, 2008 - # While it's true that a lot of games of this type bury you in menus, they at least have other things going on so that you can remain entertained throughout the process or there's a sense of urgency. With Toy Shop, I would frequently set up my assembly work for the day, then just leave the DS sitting for 2 or 3 minutes while the game did its thing.
	Golden Horde review (PC) Reviewed by Martin G on May 19, 2008 - # The Golden Horde is an entertaining RTS that may not revolutionise the genre, but certainly enriches it a bit with experience and equipment systems.
	Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword review (DS) Reviewed by Mike Suskie on May 18, 2008 - # With Dragon Sword, Team Ninja has taken a game known for brutal, in-your-face action and made the switch to a control scheme that is far more unconventional and alien to those experienced with Ninja Gaiden. It could have been a disaster – that it’s actually a relatively smooth, entertaining action game (on a handheld, no less) should serve as a testament to the skills the team possesses, especially in an area as potentially hostile as DS development.
	Speed Racer: The Videogame review (WII) Reviewed by Jason Venter on May 16, 2008 - # Speed Racer: The Videogame is fast. Really fast. Early circuits are mellow and you won't have the beefier vehicles available, but that changes quickly enough. Each completed championship yields you another driver with new stats, until you've unlocked all 20. These are the folk you'd see if you watched the movie, with voice work to match.
	The Dog Island review (WII) Reviewed by Jason Venter on May 11, 2008 - # Some of that innovation should have instead been saved for the different missions you'll attempt. These regularly amount to nothing more than running back through several areas to someplace you've already been—just to sniff out some secret new item—then crossing the map again to return it to whoever wants it. Even after you gain the ability to warp to familiar locations, you'll still be doing a lot of redundant footwork.
	Jack Keane review (PC) Reviewed by Josh Higley on May 10, 2008 - # "This is Monkey Island done right, at last," the box proudly proclaims. It's somewhat appropriate that the first comparison to the iconic adventure series would be made before you even start the game, given the parallels. Still, it's high praise indeed, and appropriate to boot. While some might argue that Monkey Island was done right a long time ago, Jack Keane is certainly a fitting reminder of times long past.

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