Home

PC Games

Warhammer: Space Marine [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 07:47
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Warhammer: Space Marine is a well put together action sci-fi game that may not be completely perfect or groundbreaking but offers some decent action.  Controlling a huge space marine with a badass British accent is cool but the combat does wear thin over time and is plagued with repetition as far as the mechanics and missions are concerned. With a nice plot that isn’t too heavy on the Warhammer mythos, Space Marine is definitely entry level material for those new to the Warhammer universe which in the end makes the game worth checking out even if it has a few faults.

The Pros: 

+ Killing Orks feels just right thanks to the Execution Moves and the visual representation of combat.
+ The art design is really good in how it gives the settings an aged look that isn’t too cartoony or contrived.
+ Combat system is easy to get into and the gunplay feels tight.
+ Mark Strong’s voice acting is truly badass.

The Cons: 

- Mission variety is lacking in a lot of ways, whether it’s through the sheer linear nature or lack of boss battles.
- Combat is a bit too simple and would’ve benefited from more moves to bring some depth to everything.
- The story is good but takes a long time to pick up any steam and at times can drag a bit.
- Multiplayer modes are nothing to write home about.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

Somehow over the course of the last few years sci-fi properties of any kind have lost their luster.  Despite the advances that have been made from a technological perspective in both films and video games, there just aren’t too many things that really push the uniqueness that one typically expects from the sci-fi genre.  I won’t go on a mass tirade about the decline of sci-fi films, but even sci-fi video games have fallen by the waste side for some reason.  There are a few good sci-fi games left these days with a universe that’s engaging such as Dead Space or Mass Effect but

Renegade Ops [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Fri, 09/23/2011 - 06:24
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

It may be yet another twin-stick shooter filled with explosions, but there’s just something thoroughly fun about Renegade Ops.  With a basic premise that doesn’t over stay its welcome, Renegade Ops offers plenty of action and hammy dialogue to keep things entertaining – even during a few slow spots or sudden repetitious moments towards the end.  Developer Avalanche Studios may have put their necks out there developing a smaller title, but their risk paid off as Renegade Ops is visually pleasing, fun to play and is a perfect laid back co-op action game.

The Pros: 

+ Game is easy to get into thanks to simple controls and straight forward objectives.
+ The camera may never get extremely close to the action, but the graphical details are impressive and the game is just nice to look at all around.
+ The plot is a bit shallow but it has the perfect amount of cheesiness to it complete with G.I. Joe elements.

The Cons: 

- The action is fun but it does get repetitive towards the end.
- Having a moderately thin plot is fine, but having some more detail and character to the Renegade Ops team would’ve been nice.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

At this stage in the current video game generation we’re used to seeing two things pop up consistently: action filled experiences with little reasoning behind them and twin-stick shooters.  Twin-stick shooters have in a way been a staple of the video game industry as a whole but for some reason at the start of this generation something just clicked with gamers and developers which is why we usually see at least a dozen or so major releases in the genre every year.  I probably don’t need to delve into why popcorn action games are popular these days since most people like to turn of

Deus Ex: Human Revolution [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 19:39
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Deus Ex: Human Revolution comes as close to deliverying on its campaign promises as any game has ever dared before. The story line is an epic web of conspiracies and lies interwoven with a question of humanity and what it means to each player. By the end of the game you'll have created your own individual Adam Jensen whose final choice may surprise even you. 

The Pros: 

+Brilliant sci-fi noir-esque story.

+Interesting and relatable characters.

+Plenty of replay value.

+Deep and expansive world with plenty to do and see.

+An almost unpressidented level of 'play how you want'.

The Cons: 

-The game does heavily favor stealth, if that's now how you play/wanted to play you can miss out on some of the side-quests/rewards of the game.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Just over two years ago now I was lead into a private booth on the floor of E3 to catch my first glimpse of Human Revolution. The demo that I saw then would set an impossibly high bar that no game could ever match. The demo show cased gorgeous cinematics, stealth-oriented gameplay, ridiculous take-downs in the form (in single, double, and five-at-a-time varieties) combined with dialog from the development team; which wound up selling me with one quote: "You can play through the entire game without killing anyone."

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings [Review]

Submitted by JJ Webb on Mon, 08/01/2011 - 17:55
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

The Witcher 2: Assassins of kings holds nothing back.  As you battle spirits, monsters, and everything else you can think of in a fantasy setting, you will find yourself feeling rather accomplished.  As the game takes its dark and mature twists and turns you will find yourself along with the ride of an excellently crafted action/RPG.  The guys of CD Project Red have created a shining gem with their brand new engine. Without any major gameplay problems except for some clunky inventory management, you will find yourself getting lost in this world of fantasy beauty. With a brand new combat system that you will find as fast paced as the depth of it, you can’t help but feeling rewarded at what they have put up to offer you. And you should in one of the best looking RPGS of today.

The Pros: 

+Brand new engine produces one of the best looking games out

+A fast pace, in depth combat system that remains fresh all the way throughout

+A mature and dark story that holds nothing back

+Just the right amount of side quests to keep you busy with the world

+They make a healthy use of their mature rating

The Cons: 

-The lack of tutorials can sometimes feel like they have thrown you to the fire

-Voice acting not always up to par

-Inventory system can be a little clunky

-If you did not play the first you might be feeling a little out of the loop

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

I know what you’re thinking: “Who the hell is developer CD Project Red and what have they ever done?” Well back in 2007 they made a little ‘hidden gem’ of a game for the PC called The Witcher, based upon Andrzej Sapkowski’s (don’t worry I am not sure how to pronounce his name either) book series of the same name. Now I don’t know if you can call selling over one million units a ‘hidden gem’, but in today’s console craving culture it seems like a lot of PC exclusive games don’t get the credit they perhaps deserve, especially in the case of The Witcher.

F.E.A.R. 3 [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Thu, 07/28/2011 - 07:53
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

F.E.A.R. 3 isn’t a terrible game that has a plethora of issues as it simply boils down to being an experience that is a bit boring and unrealized.  From a gameplay perspective there are some fun moments in F.E.A.R. 3 but the incoherent story, lack of tense horror moments and by the numbers game design really hold the game back from being something special.  F.E.A.R. 3 doesn’t have the same dull vibe found on titles like Homefront, but as the final installment of the F.E.A.R. franchise it really doesn’t hold a candle to its predecessors or other FPS games on the market.

The Pros: 

+ The gunplay can be rather intense thanks to the A.I. and is often satisfying due to the small but well-rounded weapons roster.
+ Split-screen co-op support for the campaign mode is greatly appreciated.
+ All of the multiplayer modes are a blast to play, especially if you like modes which encourage teamwork.
+ Playing as Fettel is a nice option even if his abilities aren’t as cool as they could be.

The Cons: 

- The story is complete nonsense that borders on being incoherent drivel.
- Most of the levels aren’t too long but occasionally they can be boring and don’t have a real rhyme or reason to them.
- Having only four core enemy types really puts the game in this mode of repetition and comes across as lazy.
- Did I mention that the story is really bad?
- The visuals aren’t bad but there’s not a lot of pop to anything in the game.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
6

Every now and then we receive games that end up defining the genre in every possible way.  Games like Halo, Call of Duty and Uncharted have to an effect influenced their respective genres to such a degree that they’re the industry norm as to what sort of things should be achieved and are held in such a way by gamers that if a game doesn’t reach the same greatness it can be a complete disappointment in some cases. When it first came out for the PC in 2005 F.E.A.R.

Portal 2 [Review]

Submitted by Adam Ward on Mon, 04/25/2011 - 16:32
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Portal 2 is like reliving your first kiss or watching a pig fly for the first time. It’s a gaming experience you would tell your kids about. Surpassing that of the original, Portal 2 delivers the perfect mix of puzzle solving gameplay, with a soundtrack I want to burn to a CD... people still do that right? The difficulty progression is set at the perfect rate, however the replay value might be missing.

The Pros: 

+ Co-op gameplay adds its own unique story and characters for players.

+ The voice acting is the best I’ve heard in a very long time.

+ New elements such as the Propulsion and Repulsion Gels, provide great new dynamics

+ The charm of Portal: Still Alive is maintained and not discarded.

The Cons: 

- The replay value could be a hit or miss depending on Valves plans for DLC.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

The history of sequels has shown us that sometimes it’s best to stay with the original. This can be taken even further when you look at games. Portal: Still Alive was a shining star in a sky filled with clouds and video game pollution. As a game that was released in the Orange Box, it wasn’t a standalone title.  Where am I going with this? Look at it like this, if Portal was a movie, it would have been straight to DVD. Garnering so much success a blockbuster sequel was made. For Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Steam users this head turning experience is called Portal 2.

Section 8: Prejudice [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 04/25/2011 - 16:32
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Section 8: Prejudice may not be incredibly polished from head to toe in pure triple-A production values or game design, but the game offers some raw and somewhat old-school FPS fun that’s somewhat tough to find these days.  The single-player mode may be straightforward but it’s far from being a complete after thought when compared to the fun and highly addicting multiplayer mode. With a few tweaks here and there and some additional content down the road, Section 8: Prejudice has the potential to receive a huge following online since it’s a callback to the era of FPS games like Tribes instead of trying to be the latest Halo or CoD killer.

The Pros: 

+ Despite having features like jetpacks, auto lock-on feature and advanced sprinting, it’s really easy to jump into the game and get a handle on the mechanics that are offered.
+ The map size may be limited (only four) but the size of the maps is incredible and they offer some really nice gameplay scenarios.
+ Conquest mode is never boring thanks to the dynamic missions that are constantly being issued.
+ Being able to play offline or online with bots is always a nice bonus these days.

The Cons: 

- It takes a while to rank up or at least feel like you’re making some actual progress online
- The game could’ve used a bit more variety in the art design department in respect to the weapons.
- The vehicle controls and even the general movement controls could’ve been streamlined a bit better.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

These days the FPS genre may be at an all time high as far as popularity is concerned, but if you look below the surface of games like Call of Duty: Black Ops and Killzone there’s something wrong.  The main problem FPS games have these days is that they’re all too familiar.  Whether it be the typical dudebro archetype, the gritty real-world or sci-fi settings, or the standard and almost bog-type “I’m a diabolical evil madman with a foreign accent” villain, most FPS games are just so similar and typical that at times it can be a bit depressing.

Rift: Planes of Telara [Review]

Submitted by Eric Musco on Mon, 03/21/2011 - 15:09
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Rift is not only the cleanest launch of an MMO I have ever seen, it is hands down the most polished MMO at launch that I have ever played. This is no small feat since I have been playing MMOs for well over 10 years. Not only was the launch clean but the game is really, really good. The only test left for Rift is its lasting power but if launch is any indication, this game has nothing but success in its future.

The Pros: 

+ A near perfect launch with next to no bugs, lag or server issues.

+ The game is very reminiscent of other popular MMOs such as World of Warcraft or Lord of the Rings online, meaning any MMO player can dive right in.

+ Tons of little innovations to set itself apart; AoE looting, zone puzzles, collections, crazy class (soul) system and so much more.

+ The games namesake, rifts, are a huge leap forward in the MMO genre and not only offer a new path of progression but are a ton of fun.

The Cons: 

- Class balance is still being refined which can cause some frustration, especially in PvP.

- It might steal your soul.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

Rift is the MMO that came out of nowhere and has caught the entire genre off guard. Since the rise of World of Warcraft, every single MMO has struggled to take a real foothold in the market. Lord of the Rings: Online achieved some success, especially with its re-launch as a free-2-play title. There have also been some niche titles such as EVE which are massively (yay for puns) successful. However as a whole, the fantasy MMO genre only has one name, and it is World of Warcraft; or should I say had one name.

Bulletstorm [Review]

Submitted by Travis Orgel on Sun, 03/06/2011 - 21:03
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

While lacking a few features, the game campaign alone makes this game worth everything it costs.

The Pros: 

+ Skillshot system is awesome

+ great dialogue between characters

+ solid voice acting

+engaging story.

The Cons: 

-lack of multiplayer options

-game froze briefly on the PC

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

I've never played a game that so encouraged shooting people in the balls. Bulletstorm not only encourages it, but rewards it. In fact, some of the hardest shots in the game require some serious punishment to the 'funzone.' A good thirty minutes of my time was spent with the sniper rifle, guiding bullets into testicles. The AI made sure it was hard too, because nutshots were more protected against than having their head blown off. Despite all that, Bulletstorm happens to be one of the highest quality FPS games to come out in the recent set of releases.

Tritton AX PRO Dolby 5.1 Headset & Custom Skins Offer Killer Sound & Style [Review]

Submitted by Corey Rollins on Wed, 02/23/2011 - 05:37
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

With eight fully controllable speakers and true optical Dolby Digital surround sound performance, it's pretty clear why Tritton AX PRO headsets are becoming industry standard among professional and hardcore gamers. Great for immersive movie viewing as well.

The Pros: 

+ Amazing true Dolby 5.1 sound via 8 speakers.

+ Light weight but extremely durable feeling.

+ Replaceable / changeable head pad and ear cups.

+ Stylish design with the choice of "Headset Skinz" to personalise.

+ Inline controller makes it easy to view and tweak Dolby 5.1 settings on the fly.

The Cons: 

- Requires a lot of cords that can be a little hard to stylishly organise.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

If you've ever been to a gaming event, convention or poked your head into a professional gamming cafe, chances are you've seen the ominous orange glow of Tritton Headsets. Now a part of the MadCatz umbrella of brands, Tritton is a leader in the gaming industry and yet another example of the modern day MadCatz doing things right.

Syndicate content