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.

	Fantasy Wars review (PC) Reviewed by Gary Hartley on February 27, 2008 - # What's refreshing is that the word 'strategy' isn't just in the genre's name out of some long-forgotten tradition: it must become the lynchpin of your game should you ever dream of progression.
	Speedball 2 - Tournament review (PC) Reviewed by Josh Higley on February 26, 2008 - # But underneath all the machismo and violence, Speedball is actually a rather complex game that can best be described as a cross between soccer and pinball. The goal of the players is to score points by injuring the other team, or getting the ball into the goal. You can boost the number of points you score by throwing a ball through a loop-de-loop built into the wall. Each time you do so, you get a x2 multiplayer added to any points you score, which can be reduced by the opposing team doing the same thing.
	AGON: The Lost Sword Of Toledo review (PC) Reviewed by Paul Josua on February 25, 2008 - # If you’ve been playing the earlier Agon games this is probably a natural purchase, but don’t let lack of experience with the previous games put you off. It stands up just fine by itself, and there is a detailed codex that outlines the professor’s adventures in the past episodes if you’re so inclined. It isn’t as extravagant or exciting as many of the new-school adventures that have been hitting our shops in recent months, but The Lost Sword of Toledo is a solid package that does the important things right.
	Lost Odyssey review (X360) Reviewed by John Sacranie on February 24, 2008 - # Kaim's journey might be accompanied by a story that's wildly different from the crowd, but its gameplay isn't far removed from that of other JRPGs. Battles are randomly encountered, turn-based affairs, but more strategic than you might expect. Both you and your enemies have front row and back row formations where characters in the front shield the rear characters from damage.
	Burai Fighter review (NES) Reviewed by Rob Hamilton on February 22, 2008 - # From there, despite graphical differences, the second, fourth, fifth and seventh stages are essentially the same. You go one way while blasting stuff, change direction while killing more things, change direction again and so on until you get to the boss. While it’s a nice formula that does have its moments, such as in the fifth level where you seemingly spend an eternity in the first corridor scrolling every which way before moving on, things tend to feel like you're?doing the same thing over and over again.
	Kirby's Dream Land review (GB) Reviewed by Rob Hamilton on February 21, 2008 - # Without his ability-stealing powers, Kirby’s a pretty dull hero. He can gulp down some air and fly, he can spit that air at enemies and he can swallow them and their projectiles to either shoot at other foes or eat. And that’s all. He won’t pick up a sword or hammer. He can’t emit an freezing barrier to turn foes into blocks of ice. He’ll never transform into a fast-moving, laser-shooting UFO. Kirby might not simultaneously suck and blow, but those are about the only things he is capable of doing.
	Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None review (WII) Reviewed by Gary Hartley on February 21, 2008 - # The original PC version utilised a point and click interface to navigate Narracott's investigation, and the Wii takes that same approach sans mouse. Instead, the Wiimote is employed to use the on-screen pointer, which you aim at objects of interest to have your avatar interact with.
	Sam & Max 203: Night of the Raving Dead review (PC) Reviewed by Gary Hartley on February 19, 2008 - # Night of the Raving Dead brings all the good things the series has been steadily building upon and then some. It improves upon the lacklustre length of Moai Better Blues, keeps the quality of the script high, and, while the puzzles are still on the easy side, they’re still a step above those seen in the first season.
	Dream Day: First Home review (PC) Reviewed by Jason Venter on February 18, 2008 - # Dream Day: First Home is actually quite simple in design. The bulk of the game plays like someone ripped a page out of an old issue of “Highlights for Children” magazine and made it interactive. Stages provide a series of pictures—lovingly rendered scenes taken from a 'first home' and local supply shops so that they fit the overall theme—and from there you have to find items from a list before the timer expires.
	Art of Fighting Anthology review (PS2) Reviewed by Gary Hartley on February 17, 2008 - # Art of Fighting will break you harder than Ivan Drago.
	Zoo Tycoon 2 DS review (DS) Reviewed by Jason Venter on February 14, 2008 - # It's easy to get sidetracked, since there's so much to do. For example, you might be asked to build cages for animals that all come from Africa. Of course, some of those critters can be pretty expensive, so you have to build up revenue by first showing less costly beasts to your happy patrons. Then along the way, you might start going overboard with the placement of vending booths and benches. Suddenly, a year has gone by and you haven't made any progress on those primary objectives. Disaster looms.
	Devil May Cry 4 review (PS3) Reviewed by John Sacranie on February 13, 2008 - # On the normal setting, DMC4 isn't anywhere near as difficult as the previous game, but it's still challenging enough to entertain long-time fans of the series. On the easy setting, enemies still put up some resistance, but the battles are quite forgiving. The game offers just the right amount of challenge on both settings, yet deftly avoids becoming frustrating, making this a game that's enjoyable regardless of how skilled you are.
	Taito Legends 2 review (PS2) Reviewed by Marc Golding on February 13, 2008 - # A Taito shooter showcase would not be complete without representation from the Darius series of shooters. The side-scrolling fish-featured mainstay makes two welcome appearances here: in the shmup fan favourite Darius Gaiden, beloved for its balance, and the ostentatious bullet storm that is G-Darius, beloved for its excess.
	TimeShift review (X360) Reviewed by Brian Rowe on February 11, 2008 - # I would like to know why giant robots roam the streets of 1939, why the rebellious Occupants are battling the empire of Dr. Krone, and most of all, why those rebels trust me without so much as a “hello.” If a stranger popped into my house, the last thing I would do is give him a gun and turn my back.
	Advance Wars: Days of Ruin review (DS) Reviewed by Paul Josua on February 07, 2008 - # Fans of the series will find Days of Ruin the perfect sequel, but those who don’t enjoy the slow pace and steep difficulty curve won’t find anything new to tempt them.
	Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power review (PS2) Reviewed by John Sacranie on February 05, 2008 - # This is a strategy game for people who love strategy games. The amount of depth and complexity here is pretty much unparalleled, and the sheer quantity of menus, statistics, and text will doubtlessly scare off a lot of players.
	Uninvited review (AMIGA) Reviewed by Sho on February 05, 2008 - # You gradually regain consciousness at the wheel of what used to be your car, the thick smell of gasoline piercing your thoughts along with the vague memory of swerving to avoid a shadowy figure that suddenly appeared in the road. Well there’s no trace of it now, or of your kid brother either; he must have headed for that old mansion just up ahead in search of help. Unfortunately your day is about to become a whole lot worse – you might be Uninvited, but the longtime residents lurking inside can’t wait to have you for dinner.
	Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball review (XBX) Reviewed by Sho on February 03, 2008 - # I’m actually referring to the fact that Tom had the cajones to think up, develop, and then seriously release a game that consists of little more than breasty beach bunnies who hop up and down in skimpy swimwear – and people bought it in droves. Of course just because I admire and slightly fear the man for doing it doesn’t mean I think his game is any good. The visuals are typically gorgeous, but when it comes to Xtreme Beach Volleyball the only parts that aren’t underdeveloped are the girls’.
	Rez HD review (X360) Reviewed by John Sacranie on January 31, 2008 - # This is one of the only games where the graphics and sound are as important, if not more important, than the gameplay. The A/V presentation defines Rez. The visuals consist of wireframes and simple polygonal figures on sparsely detailed backgrounds. Normally, this would be hideous. Thankfully, everything in Rez is constantly moving and pulsating -- from the lines that compose the ground to your character, nothing ever stands still.
	Tales of Legendia review (PS2) Reviewed by Rob Hamilton on January 31, 2008 - # Now, if I wanted to use a bit of tactics, I’d hit the O along with the directional pad to use one of Senel’s special attacks. And if I REALLY wanted to go overboard, I’d program a magic-user’s healing spell to either the L2 or R2 button and personally dictate when they regenerated everyone’s life. And if forcing one character to CONSTANTLY cure everyone didn’t make even the toughest boss fights pathetically easy, well, there’s Climax Mode.

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