Staff reviews, page 166

Final Fantasy II review

You plan in most games to survive, and that's interesting. In Final Fantasy II, you do it because you want to beef up your weak ice spell instead of your ax. There's no sense of urgency and that gets tedious. You'll dread running into…

Jason Venter · September 11, 2007

Staff Turbografx-CD HG exclusive

Might and Magic review

Might and Magic is an easy game to recommend, but not in this particular format. NEC clearly wanted to expand on the game's main storyline, they clearly wanted to infuse the epic gameplay with a presentation to match, but — either through…

Zigfried · September 8, 2007

Staff GameCube HG exclusive

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance review

Imagine how difficult Ike's very own journey would become should he lose his dear sister Mist in the thick of a heated battle. It's a feeling that becomes negligible with a reset, but without it, it adds to the gameplay as a whole, thanks…

Kyle Stepp · September 7, 2007

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Red Faction II review

Without a doubt, Red Faction II is one of the PS2’s most prized first-person shooters, and the plot is only one piece of a memorable experience. The pursuit of the fleeing Sopot will take Alias through government high-rises, into the…

Brian Rowe · September 7, 2007

Staff Game Boy HG exclusive

The Final Fantasy Legend review

For example, in the very first world, all a player has to do is go to three castles and get a specific item from each king to open the next few floors of the tower for exploration. One king gladly does so if the party kills a local bandit…

Rob Hamilton · September 7, 2007

Staff PlayStation HG exclusive

Saga Frontier review

So, even though I only had to do all this “magic collecting” once, I wound up choosing to do it with the majority of the other characters. That got boring pretty quickly, as the hunts for mystical runes and tarot cards are the same…

Rob Hamilton · September 6, 2007

Staff PC

Loki: Heroes of Mythology review

This isn't a particularly original title, but the level of craftsmanship in its components makes it something more than just another hack & slash RPG. Somewhere down the line, Loki cast away the clichés of its genre and became a work of…

Lisa Harrison · September 1, 2007

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 review

In one section of the career mode, it even made it look like Bobby Lashley had an ounce of charisma! You know technology has advanced when it achieves the impossible.

Gary Hartley · August 31, 2007

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance review

You might think that tossing 23 playable heroes, dozens of villains, and countless recognizable characters into the same game would be fan-service enough, but some people don’t know when to quit.

Brian Rowe · August 29, 2007

Staff PSP HG exclusive

The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion review

Throughout the course of the 30+ hour adventure, Avin and Mile will come across countless scenarios of people in need of bonding, just like they once were. While Avin and his newfound friend set out in what appears to be a typical…

Kyle Stepp · August 29, 2007

Staff PC HG exclusive

Sam & Max: Season One review

While their looks and sounds have been updated, both Sam and Max retain all the personality they boasted in 1993. Deadpan and noir-inspired Sam is the canine shamus with a love for Bogart-like wordplay and overloaded sentences, while Max…

Gary Hartley · August 29, 2007

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Taito Legends 2 review

Unless you lived in arcades 20 years ago, you probably won't even remember half the stuff you find here. You're thus denied even the value that nostalgia might lend each selection. Taken on their own terms, most titles you'll find here are…

Jason Venter · August 28, 2007

Staff PC HG exclusive

Falling Stars review

Initially you'd be forgiven for thinking that the mechanics of gameplay are rather intricate, but this really isn't the case. The story's a standard good versus evil affair, and the in-game dress-up option is nothing beyond an annoyance.

Lisa Harrison · August 24, 2007

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Espgaluda review

Cave's hyperactive shooter Espgaluda lets you soar through the Middle Eastern sky on wings of psychic light, weaving tapestries of carnage with threads of deadly energy. The quest for vengeance is both challenging and beautiful.

Zigfried · August 22, 2007

Staff PlayStation HG exclusive

Revelations: Persona review

For example, jokester Masao Inaba, complete with Asian skin tone, playful freckles, and pseudo-jester hat, did not make the cut. Instead, he’s overwritten by Mark. Mark, the token black kid akin to Billy Dee William’s role in Star Wars…

Gary Hartley · August 22, 2007

Staff NES HG exclusive

Hydlide review

While this place is guarded by a seemingly immortal dragon, that’s of little concern to Jim, as all this beast does is go back and forth aimlessly. If Jim’s not directly in its never-changing path, it ignores him. Apparently Varalys…

Rob Hamilton · August 22, 2007

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Ecco the Dolphin review

I glide through the sea with the grace of an Olympic swimmer. The sun's rays burst through the surface of the ocean's water, making everything sparkle beautifully. A friend nearby challenges me, dares me to see how high above the water's…

Kyle Stepp · August 21, 2007

Staff PC HG exclusive

Concentration review

It's not that the artwork is bad—it's not—but it's obscure and could mean a few things. Half the time, you'll look at a picture and say to yourself “Hmm, that's either a stick, a log, a limb, a branch or a twig or something else I'm…

Jason Venter · August 21, 2007

Staff PC HG exclusive

Kudos: Rock Legend review

If you can find satisfaction in high percentages, Rock Legend just might be your game, as It's basically clicking through menus until as many bars as possible say 100%, but with a theme. Because without the theme, it'd hardly even be a…

Josh Higley · August 20, 2007

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Indigo Prophecy review

The relentless gravity of Indigo Prophecy pulls you through a vivid storm.

Nicholas Tan · August 20, 2007