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Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 15:25
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Overall Feeling: 

Blood Dragons is a love-letter to b-movie sci-fi films from the 1980s. It is genius in its satirical take on the iconic sub-culture of the material itself as well as video games in general. Fans of action movies, the 80s, satire, or just goofy action games in general will fall in love with this game before the tutorial is completed.

The Pros: 

+Great sense of humor. 

+Sense of loyality its inspiration (80s action films).

+Same great gameplay of its predecessor (Far Cry 3). 

+Stunning visuals (both the neon in-game, and the 16-bit cut-scenes).

The Cons: 

-Character customization has been almost completely removed to make way for a straight forward leveling system (earn a level, get a new game-choosen ability).

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

Far Cry: Blood Dragon is a perfect, or rather the only, example of what fans of the 80s sci-fi/action b-movie genre have been hoping for out of video games for about the last 30 years. Of course that’s a pretty ridiculous standard for Ubisoft to try and live up to… but it was refreshing to see how serious, or rather not-serious, the team building the game took the project.

Star Trek: The Game [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 11:15
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Overall Feeling: 

Dull, repetitive, and lifeless. These are words I would’ve never associated with the Star Trek franchise but they perfectly encapsulate the experience that’s to be had in Star Trek: The Game.  As a companion piece to the movies there may be an ounce of enjoyment to be had since the film cast actually reprises their roles, with some actual luster and energy to boot, yet that isn’t enough to save a game that feels dated and like it missed every ounce of potential it held. 

The Pros: 

+ The film cast does a good job retaining the vibe found in their theatrical performances, especially that of Chris Pine.
+ Some of the locales do provide a nice visual style worthy of the Trek franchise.
+ Music is absolutely stunning.
+ If you ever wanted a co-op Star Trek game then now you have it.

The Cons: 

- Levels drag on endlessly and it doesn’t help that the actual variety is low.
- Visuals are below average and fail to convey the style found in the movies.
- Gameplay is dull and overly repetitive.
- A.I., both that of the companion character and enemies, is shoddy and often glitch prone.
- Story is passable, but has some major weak points and an enemy that’s nothing more than a tool rather than an integral narrative component.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
4

For the last sixty years we’ve had the Star Trek franchise as a key part of our culture, or at least our pop/geek culture.  Starting off small in a TV series that was in some cases ahead of its time, which is partly why it got the boot, Star Trek has gone on to become a major element of both the sci-fi world and genre TV in general.  Now rebooted under the direction of J.J.

Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Thu, 04/18/2013 - 17:54
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Overall Feeling: 

Failing to build upon any of the established game mechanics or possible narrative elements that could’ve been explored, The Devil’s Cartel is an empty game that features some passable shooting which is plagued by lackluster controls, scenarios that feel repetitive, and a lack of any replayability outside of earning more cash to buy pointless upgrades and superfluous wardrobe changes.  Instead of improving on things we simply have a game that has somehow regressed and in turn assures that the Army of Two franchise will die with a whimper rather than going out with a bang like a true boss.

The Pros: 

+ Action is somewhat passable on a very base level.
+ Campaign is short so it’s easy to blow through in an afternoon and gain a hefty amount of Trophies/Achievements.
+ There’s a button/mechanic that allows you to blow stuff up. BIG EXPLOSIONS!

The Cons: 

- Plot is silly and characters lack any true chemistry or likeable traits.
- Action scenarios get repetitive due to shallow game mechanics.
- Glitches and random crashes are abound.
- Visuals boast a diversified color palette, but the fidelity is poor and borders on below average at times.
- Big Boi and B.o.B are in this game. Why?  What purpose do they have?

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

Sometimes even the best game concepts can result in an experience that’s completely and utterly stupid.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Fri, 04/12/2013 - 04:58
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Overall Feeling: 

Developed with the best of intentions, it’s clear that Terminal Reality wanted to do something special in The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct but couldn’t under the guise of the powers that be.  Such a scenario has ultimately resulted in a game that has interesting elements such as survival gameplay which includes survivors who can be left to die or thrive, but such a thing is coupled with dull level design and combat that is clunky and poorly designed.  Fans of The Walking Dead will likely be disappointed with what Survival Instinct does, but those wanting to experience a different type of zombie FPS should at least rent the game or pick it up once it’s in the $5 bargain bin.

The Pros: 

+ Norman Reedus delivers a solid voice performance as Daryl Dixon.
+ Some of the survival gameplay/survivor elements are interesting.
+ The game is short.

The Cons: 

- Combat is painfully dull and doesn’t feel that good.
- Level design is built around fetch quests that have contradictory design logic.
- Graphics are way below average.
- This isn’t the game fans of the series deserve.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
4

When a video game is bad word quickly spreads about just how terrible it truly is. In this social media powered era it’s somewhat shocking that in a span of a day or two the reputation of a game, or developer in the case of Sweet Billy, can be tarnished since gamers are indeed an ever chatty and analytical bunch.

The Art of Bioshock Infinite [Product Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 03/27/2013 - 08:11
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Overall Feeling: 

Fans of BioShock Infinite won’t want to miss this chance to take an inside look at what Irrational Games sought to achieve with their latest project and what sadly made the cutting room floor. Featuring images that are truly beautiful, The Art of BioShock Infinite features an amazing glimpse at the creative process of video game design leading up to when everything is in a playable form.  With a hearty amount of pages and a manageable price tag, gamers and lovers of video game art owe it to themselves to pick up The Art of BioShock Infinite.

The Pros: 

+ Layout is perfect since it features plenty of full-page art highlights.
+ Nice amount of focus on concepts that aren’t in the final game.
+ Brilliant art from beginning to end.
+ Price is very reasonable for the content that’s provided.

The Cons: 

- A bit light on the full creative process and development stories.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

Going through the creative process of a video game is always fun since so much stuff occurs during the three or sometimes five year cycle a game may be in active development.  If we can notice key differences when a game appears at an event like E3 and then finally hits retail then what could’ve gone on during a more extended time period?

Tomb Raider Signature Series and Limited Edition Strategy Guides from BradyGames [Product Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 03/11/2013 - 11:09
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Overall Feeling: 

The action may be the forefront of this latest reimagining of the Tomb Raider franchise, but there are still plenty of secrets to find and the new strategy guides from BradyGames do an excellent job at making the quest both easier and more manageable.  Filled with information that is actually useful to the quest provided by the game, the strategy guides may be a more old-school way of tackling things but they’re nonetheless effective compared to more modern offerings.

The Pros: 

+ Layout of the guide is easy to read and is presented well thanks to good in-game screenshots.
+ Specific breakdowns of enemies, weapons, and multiplayer abilities is nice.
+ Tagged maps do an excellent job at showing where every secret on Yamatai is.

The Cons: 

- The Limited Edition guide is missing some of the more unique extra content one usually associates with BradyGames past efforts.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

No matter how long we’ve been playing games for, there always comes a time in which we’re utterly stumped once we come across a particular section.  While the possibility of entering a cheat code may have entered the minds of gamers during the heyday of items such as the Game Genie or the Game Shark, one ever trusty standby has come in the form of strategy guides.

Tomb Raider [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 03/11/2013 - 09:14
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Overall Feeling: 

The direction may be new and somewhat unexpected, but the experience delivered in Tomb Raider is one that is thoroughly enjoyable and doesn’t stray away from the essence of the franchise so much that it’s only a Tomb Raider game in name only.  Filled with unexpected moments that are exciting to experience, Tomb Raider is a well-crafted game that goes in some interesting directions all while maintaining and evolving the core elements of the Tomb Raider franchise.

The Pros: 

+ Atmosphere on the island is superb thanks to some stunning visuals and art direction.
+ Lara controls wonderfully as she doesn’t feel too automated whilst platforming.
+ Combat sections feel cohesive and feature different ways to tackle things.
+ Narrative is good in providing believable characters and building the mythos of the universe.

The Cons: 

- Certain parts of Lara’s character could’ve been built up better.
- QTE scenarios are hit and miss.
- Multiplayer mode is rather terrible and seems tacked on.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

When something becomes legendary it’s often for good reason. Whether it’s in the mediums of literature, film/TV, or in this case video games, the connection made within an experience and the immediate appeal of it is often what helps propel something to a level that people often dream of. 

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 03/05/2013 - 07:09
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Overall Feeling: 

Keeping a few of the longstanding Metal Gear elements such as stealth, cardboard boxes, and hidden posters of Gravure models, Metal Gear Rising injects an amazing amount of personality and gameplay depth to the franchise.  Platinum Games clearly have molded the new exploits of Raiden around their strong suit of dazzling action, but the studio has done an excellent job at making the combat accessible yet skillful all while not forsaking everything by making it too easy.  There may be a few minor rough spots here and there, but Metal Gear Rising is a simply brilliant game that easily ranks as one of the best games in the Metal Gear franchise.

The Pros: 

+ Zandatsu mechanics and combat offer some amazing scenarios due to the amount of depth that’s provided.
+ Boss battles offer some nice variety and stunning combat choreography.
+ Controls are perfect since nothing is complicated or clunky.
+ Special graphical effects such as chopping stuff up is convincing and looks cool.
+ Plot has some good character flourishes all while featuring the standard serious Metal Gear narrative.
+ Voice acting is a bit corny in some spots but it works since each character is memorable.

The Cons: 

- Camera is a bit too close to Raiden which results in it being difficult to view everything.
- Enemy lock-on could use some work.
- Some of the environments look a bit drab and are missing a sense of character.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

One of the many goals of any video game is to immerse the player into the experience.  Usually the key thing a development team often strives for, immersion within a game is not an easy goal to achieve since there are so many factors to take into consideration.  With things such as the narrative, gameplay, and visuals to take into account, making the player feel truly connected to the character they’re controlling is something that truly sets the great developers apart from the rest.

Aliens: Colonial Marines [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 09:13
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Overall Feeling: 

The bad far outweighs the infinitesimal amounts of good within Aliens: Colonial Marines since the game is riddled with poor design choices, bad A.I., and action scenarios which become old hat.  Feeling rather archaic right from the get-go, Aliens: Colonial Marines doesn’t have enough of a personality to get by on fan-service alone since the story and writing is simply abysmal and feels like it was shoe-horned in with what remnants of the game which remained that were deemed passable enough to ship by the development team.  With a multiplayer mode that’s as equally forgettable as the single-player campaign, Gearbox Software has delivered one of the most disappointing FPS games this generation since it entirely missed the opportunities the Aliens franchise provides.

The Pros: 

+ Trophies/Achievements are easy.
+ It gave actors Michael Biehn (Corporal Hicks) and Lance Henriksen (Bishop) an easy paycheck for their voice acting contributions.
+ The single-player campaign is short so the horror thankfully doesn’t last long.

The Cons: 

- Story is complete non-sense that is filled with dialog that strives to be funny and dramatic yet isn’t.
- Gameplay is boring, lacks tension, and feels ancient in what it attempts to do.
- Graphics and tone are flat and lacks any kind of detail to really make the world feel fleshed out.
- A.I. is horrendous. Seriously, enough with the door humping from my comrades and Xenomorphs doing floor shuffles in corners.
- Multiplayer mode is simply there and isn’t addicting enough to warrant a long-term commitment.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
3

As someone who is a video game journalist/blogger along with being a lifelong gamer, I think I’m a good judge of character when it comes to an actual video game.  Like everyone else, I may have my personal preferences along with a few games that are guilty pleasures of mine, but all together I like to think I have an astute understanding of how to judge a game – even if it’s in the form of a preview/early showing.

DmC: Devil May Cry [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 11:29
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Overall Feeling: 

It may have seemed unlikely at first, but Ninja Theory’s take on the Devil May Cry franchise has yielded good results since DmC is flat out entertaining to play.  Filled with the same combat depth that the DMC franchise is synonymous with, DmC offers a new take on the tale of Dante and in the process delivers a game with a unique identity that actually expands the core lore instead of dishonoring it.  Some of the changes may be tough to swallow for fans who have been with Dante since the beginning, but don’t let your fandom cloud your thoughts too much since DmC takes the series in some interesting directions that immediately had me wanting more.

The Pros: 

+ Combat feels just right. Moves are spot on and it’s still possible to do insane combo strings.
+ Additional depth given to the characters and story is nice.
+ Dante is still a badass and actor Tim Phillipps delivers a new version of the character that feels perfect.
+ Art Direction is amazing as is the depiction of Limbo.

The Cons: 

- Seeing color-coded enemies was disappointing.
- The story could’ve benefited from a bit of additional substance and old-school DMC action (motorcycle kung-fu)
- Boss battles are underwhelming, both in execution and the total number provided in the game.
- Production value discrepancies (enemy A.I. issues, graphical inconsistencies) are odd to see compared to the rest of the game.
- Certain levels run out of steam fast.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

When considering the possible outcomes, the prospect of change can be truly frightening.  Seeing things evolve is good and all, but sometimes the end result can stray too far from the origin, almost amounting to a leap that does more harm than good.  We as gamers are occasionally put in a tough spot of sorts as we want the games we play to evolve but at the same time we want them to have the familiar element that made them so appealing to us in the first place.

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