Staff reviews, page 135

Punch-Out!! review

I always enjoyed the portraits and the clever little sayings that opponents offered in the NES installment, but such elements could only go so far. Movements in the actual ring were likewise limited by hardware. This time around, things…

Jason Venter · May 24, 2009

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

ZEN Pinball review

The problem I encountered is that the "quick" matches are often too intimidating for inexperienced players. They amount to a score race, with every competitor playing simultaneously and trying to hit 5,000,000 (or some much higher number)…

Jason Venter · May 24, 2009

Staff DS HG exclusive

The Dark Spire review

Contrary to word-of-mouth, this isn't a Wizardry-style journey. It certainly pays homage to its legendary predecessor, but its wicked sense of humor and creepy atmosphere lend the adventure a personality all its own. The Dark Spire is an…

Zigfried · May 23, 2009

Staff PC HG exclusive

Deus Ex review

Deus Ex knows what it is. It's a computer game, through and through. There's a reason why the new big-name releases boast about multiple routes and character-shaping; in-depth, branching stories; moral and practical dilemmas. This is that…

Lewis Denby · May 20, 2009

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Star Trek D-A-C review

A lot of downloadable Xbox Live Arcade titles live off of simplicity and a good solid gimmick. Star Trek: D-A-C, however, is too simplistic and its gimmick is to bait in unknowing consumers with the Trek license; and that’s quite possibly…

Jeremy Wood · May 20, 2009

Staff DS HG exclusive

Dokapon Journey review

Perhaps the most disappointing difference this time around is that winning against your rivals is no longer an opportunity to serve a huge dish of delicious humiliation. One of the best things about Dokapon Kingdom was the number of ways…

Jason Venter · May 19, 2009

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Velvet Assassin review

Few players will get through Velvet Assassin without grumbling about the camera issues or the many untimely deaths. But those who stick with it will have the privilege of viewing the game’s gorgeous graphics and color enhancements. They…

Louis Bedigian · May 15, 2009

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Excitebots: Trick Racing review

Each time you manage a long power slide, you could earn anywhere from one to five stars. Launching into the air and staying there for a lengthy period of time also yields a similar reward, as does weaving between perilous stands of trees…

Jason Venter · May 12, 2009

Staff PC HG exclusive

Demigod review

Though Demigod is an exceptional offering with unique strengths, one that does a fantastic job of straddling the genre fence and moving gaming forward, the multi-player headaches beg the question: is it ultimately worth buying?

Frank Austin · May 10, 2009

Staff DS HG exclusive

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride review

Narrative strength is one of two important elements that make Dragon Quest V such an adventure. Monster recruitment is the other. As you wander the land, you'll defeat all manner of beasts that should be familiar to those who have been…

Jason Venter · May 10, 2009

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Deathsmiles review

With so many entertaining scenes, it's clear that Cave put a lot of care and attention towards creating an appealing new world. They attempted something similar a while back with Mushihimesama, but this time the gameplay lives up to their…

Zigfried · May 9, 2009

Staff SNES HG exclusive

Breath of Fire review

The eight characters that compose Ryu's party all have their own specific uses and abilities, which makes backtracking very useful. Many early-game dungeons have their share of locked doors and crumbling walls hiding rooms full of treasure…

Rob Hamilton · May 8, 2009

Staff PC

Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures: The Last Resort review

There's a slightly uncomfortable predictability about The Last Resort, this second instalment of Telltale Games' Wallace & Gromit adaptation. The first episode, Fright of the Bumblebees, impressed with its faithful aesthetic and witty…

Lewis Denby · May 8, 2009

Staff PC HG exclusive

Elven Legacy review

If you're a turn-based strategy fan looking for something new, a Fantasy Wars fanatic or even a real-time regular who appreciates the RISK-type features many titles feature on their overworld map, Elven Legacy is for you. It sucks you in…

Freelance Writer · May 6, 2009

Staff PC HG exclusive

Plants vs. Zombies review

The addictive nature of Plants vs. Zombies comes as a bit of a surprise given the generally repetitive nature of its design. There are several available modes of play that switch things up with varying degrees of success, but they almost…

Jason Venter · May 5, 2009

Staff Saturn HG exclusive

Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series The Final: Dural review

If, like me, you haven’t played a lot of Virtua Fighter, you might not know who Dural is. In this case your first several seconds spent with her portrait series will be rife with confusion as you try to come to terms with the fact that…

Jonathan Stark · May 4, 2009

Staff PSP HG exclusive

Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II review

Similar to the setup of a racing game, each individual mission belongs to a series of missions. This seems like an interesting presentation until you discover that the consequence of losing is also similar to that of a racing game. When…

Louis Bedigian · May 3, 2009

Staff Saturn HG exclusive

Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol. 2: Jacky Bryant review

Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol 2 highlights these traits by showing Jacky playing with a Dalmation, going grocery shopping and entering a deserted bar to play a rousing game of pool. By himself.

Gary Hartley · May 3, 2009

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Monsters vs. Aliens review

If you want to get all of your characters' upgrades (and/or look at the concept art, 3-D character models, etc. you also can purchase), you'll be following up a number of stages with mini-stages covering the EXACT SAME ground you just…

Rob Hamilton · May 1, 2009

Staff DS HG exclusive

Lux-Pain review

The game's primary failure is a very basic one: the story just isn't compelling. One important element for any visual novel is believable characters. Some of Atsuki's classmates manage to avoid standard stereotypes (the fortune-telling…

Zigfried · April 29, 2009