Reviews by Jason Venter, page 27

de Blob review

The developers wisely threw in some hazards and puzzles to mix things up a bit, but these don't help nearly as much as they should. Early on, there just aren't enough enemies to challenge you. Even when more of them enter the picture…

Jason Venter · October 19, 2008

Staff Wii

Mario Kart Wii review

Nintendo should be commended for making genuine improvements to its classic formula, but my resulting goodwill vanished the minute I was reminded that rubber band AI is the devil.

Jason Venter · October 15, 2008

Staff DS HG exclusive

Master of the Monster Lair review

The thing that keeps a person digging is the sense of ownership. Once you've crafted a beautiful maze, it's fun to return because then you'll get to see what monsters have decided to inhabit your dungeon. If you just built a few bland…

Jason Venter · October 9, 2008

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Mega Man 9 review

This is a game where your skills start out rusty, yet your experience as you improve goes from “pretty good but wow is this game hard” to “I can't believe I used to have trouble with that!” The sense of accomplishment as each stage is…

Jason Venter · October 8, 2008

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice review

The game falters slightly because it couldn't pull a rabbit out of the hat and produce something wholly new and exciting that we haven't already seen from the franchise. Evolution can be a grand thing, though, and that's precisely what's…

Jason Venter · August 31, 2008

Staff DS HG exclusive

Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns review

Trudging through a dungeon each time you fight the boss monster might not sound so bad—after all, we did that same thing for years before developers started generously sprinkling save points throughout their labyrinths—but in Izuna 2 it…

Jason Venter · August 21, 2008

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

Soulcalibur IV review

Some of the new characters also try to ratchet up the sex appeal, with one girl in a wire-frame dress (newcomer Ashlotte) tumbling before the start of each match while the camera swoops down to catch a shot of her panties. Most of the…

Jason Venter · August 18, 2008

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Little League World Series Baseball 2008 review

Not every game that promises optimization for Wii has been able to deliver anything noteworthy, but Little League World Series 2008 happens to be one of those rare success stories. It's not likely to win over hardcore baseball fanatics…

Jason Venter · August 16, 2008

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

The Bourne Conspiracy review

There's a certain appeal to the thought of jumping into the shoes of a rogue assassin like Bourne. Explosions are cool. Sniping is a hoot. Fast car chases through the streets of Paris are all sorts of exciting. Hand-to-hand combat with…

Jason Venter · August 12, 2008

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

1942: Joint Strike review

While most of the game is manageable enough if your twitch gaming skills haven't grown too rusty, boss encounters can be a different story entirely. Even the adversary you face at the conclusion of the first stage is beefy, unleashing a…

Jason Venter · August 6, 2008

Staff PC HG exclusive

Packaging Man review

While Pac-Man is an endearing classic because of the constant challenge and addictive gameplay it provides, though, Dogwood Alliance's effort lacks the substance it needed to exist as more than a fleeting memory. It's over almost before it…

Jason Venter · August 5, 2008

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Hail to the Chimp review

The humor is practically non-existent with even the puns falling flat (and I usually love those). This wouldn't be a problem if the rest of the game were an improvement, but it's really not. The uninspired mockumentaries are actually the…

Jason Venter · August 4, 2008

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Women’s Volleyball Championship review

It's so frustratingly unpredictable that you begin to feel like you're not even playing. Why do the players respond so poorly to your commands? Why do you have so little control over where the ball goes? How is it that your teammates are…

Jason Venter · August 4, 2008

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Order Up! review

Despite the solid selection of dishes on hand, cooking for the same motley assortment can get old after awhile and the game doesn't really offer much relief. About the only exceptions are a few mini-games. One has you flicking rats that…

Jason Venter · August 1, 2008

Staff DS HG exclusive

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard review

As you become proficient with the tools provided, the game and its challenges evolve. You'll rely on the bottom screen to let you know where you are in relation to horrific monsters called FOEs that have wandered down the tower from much…

Jason Venter · July 29, 2008

Staff PC HG exclusive

The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes review

Aside from the first case, which is complete filler in my opinion, the sixteen mysteries presented here are genuinely interesting. Examples include a man who takes off in a hot air balloon and crash lands after a dagger somehow finds its…

Jason Venter · July 14, 2008

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy review

The main hook in the campaign and arcade modes is the ability to attract debris to your ship and use it to your advantage. Anything you destroy within a stage (except for the boss) can be pulled to your ship and will stay with you until it…

Jason Venter · July 13, 2008

Staff DS HG exclusive

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 review

There's still a learning curve for those new to the franchise, but returning veterans should be able to jump right into the action. Working too quickly is likely to lead to errors just as it should, but missed slices and injections feel…

Jason Venter · July 7, 2008

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

Overlord: Raising Hell review

Because everything is so familiar, the few twists are completely memorable. In Overlord: Raising Hell, you don't play the halfling hero. You kill him. And when a noble paladin enters the picture—Sir William the Black, they call him—you…

Jason Venter · July 1, 2008

Staff DS HG exclusive

Arkanoid DS review

Basically, the game is meant to be played with vertical orientation (like Tetris). To make full use of the space provided, this means that the developers had to split the playing area in two, with dead space at the center. If you were…

Jason Venter · June 28, 2008