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LittleBigPlanet 2: Move Pack - The Rise of the Cakeling [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 09/20/2011 - 09:34
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Overall Feeling: 

LittleBigPlanet 2: Move Pack – The Rise of the Cakeling is easily the best addition to hit the world of LBP and the best use of the Move in a core PlayStation 3 game.  Using the Move to manipulate objects or guide loveable Sackbots is easy and never once feels gimmicky given the context and world of LBP2.  With 13 wonderfully designed and rather addicting levels, the Move Pack has a nice amount of content only made more enticing by the new tools available in the Create Mode – which does indeed allow gamers to create Move enabled creations.  Those who already own LBP2 really should check out the LBP2 Move Pack as it takes an already amazing experience and simply makes it better.

The Pros: 

+ The Move controls are terrific in how they’re executed and devised.
+ LBP is always humorous but the Rise of the Cakeling story is LBP humor at its best.
+ The mini-games unlocked via the story mode offer a lot of variety, good Move control and nice bonuses.
+ Price point is perfect for the content that’s offered and the length of the main adventure.

The Cons: 

- There are only 13 Media Molecule created levels. I WANT MORE!

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

I’ve already documented some of my feelings concerning the PlayStation Move thus far and I of course wholeheartedly stand by my opinions.

God of War: Origins Collection [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 09/19/2011 - 13:53
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Overall Feeling: 

Kratos may not be back in a new adventure just yet, but the God of War: Origins Collection allows gamers to experience two amazing entries in the franchise with a fresh coat of HD paint.  Replaying both God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta didn’t feel like a mere exercise in gaming as the games managed to wow me once again due to the graphical upgrades they received and just because ripping out the wings of a harpy or killing a daughter of Death is a fun thing to do. 

The Pros: 

+ The visuals in both games are extremely crisp and don’t feel like someone merely changed the base code so they could be played on the PS3.
+ Combat and boss battles still hold up well even if the pace may be quicker than what GoW veterans are accustomed to.
+ Seriously, the graphics in Ghost of Sparta are amazing and seeing the vistas on the PS3 made me appreciate developer Ready at Dawn even more.

The Cons: 

- Analog stick movements in some QTEs still feel a bit hit and miss.
- There’s no teaser for a new GoW project, as has been tradition in the past.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

As much as gamers may like certain franchises, at some point the immediate fandom begins to wane for a variety of reasons.  With sequels/prequels the formula either becomes too predictable or gamers simply outgrow what appealed to them initially.  Despite whatever awe may be in them, some gamers grew tired of the many adventures Kratos went on during the course of the God of War series.  Without delving into debates relating to combat schemes and how it stacks up to other titles, the God of War series definitely deserved the attention it received but to some out there the ser

BloodRayne: Betrayal [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Mon, 09/19/2011 - 12:53
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Overall Feeling: 

Betrayal feels like a positive move forward for the BloodRayne series overall, but the game itself doesn't go far enough to buck with the game's middling past. The art and concept are brilliant, but the actual feel of the game and combat system do leave something to be desired.

The Pros: 

+Side-scrolling is a great new direction for the series.

+The art is unique, and eye-catching.

+Shorter/Downloadable title seems a better place for BloodRayne.

The Cons: 

-Ridiculous scoring system.

-Lack of tutorials/guidance.

-Very mediocre revamp of an already middling game-series.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

A couple of weeks back saw the return of Bloodrayne. The good news is that it is a far departure from the previous games and movies (if you were a fan of either, I'm sorry for you). The bad news though is that it doesn't bring anything all that compelling on interesting to the table.

Rugby World Cup 2011 [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 06:58
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Overall Feeling: 

Rugby World Cup 2011 is a rugby sim that almost nails the rugby feel but falls a bit short in a few key areas. With a very dull presentation that doesn’t feel celebratory or important at all given the World Cup status of the game, Rugby World Cup 2011 fails to capture the immediate depth and feeling that’s found in proper rugby games.  Rugby fans may be entertained by Rugby World Cup 2011 for a short period of time as the lack of immediate content and skill level does sink the game to being nothing than a mere sub-part sports game.

The Pros: 

+ It’s a rugby game and any rugby game is better than nothing.
+ Controlling a rugby squad is easy since the layout is straightforward and the commands are responsive.
+ Commentary is good and lends some much needed authenticity to the game.

The Cons: 

- There’s no immediate depth to the actual rugby action.
- A.I is often stupid and will result in a few awkward occurrences or easy try opportunities.
- Presentation is the very definition of dull and lacks any charm or spirit.
- Lack of official licenses means that some players aren’t represented.
- Graphically the game isn’t much to look at which does take away some of the impact and believability in a few areas.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

Having lived in the United States my entire life I’ve grown up watching the usual sports of basketball, baseball, hockey and football ever since I was a kid.  As I’ve matured through the years I’ve stayed up to date with the latest happenings in the NFL or NBA but one day I came across something truly unique: the sport of rugby.  Given the somewhat enclosed view that American’s sadly have, there isn’t a lot of international sports coverage thus my knowledge of rugby was almost non-existent.  But thanks to flipping on the Fox Sports channel one day I saw a rugby match and inst

Train Frontier Express [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 05:58
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Overall Feeling: 

Train Frontier Express may sound like a complete bore since it’s a train sim/creation game, but the title is nothing but pure joy in raw form.  The game may not be the most visually pleasing title out there, but building a city or an elaborate rail system is easy to do and more importantly feels extremely satisfying.  With a good amount of content to utilize and a multiplayer mode that allows user-created tracks to be saved for later enjoyment, Train Frontier Express is an easy going yet highly engaging title that deserves to be checked out if you’re fond of trains or building virtual worlds.

The Pros: 

+ There’s a ton of content in the game and it’s all easy to access.
+ Building stuff is easy and extremely intuitive.
+ Riding around in a train is actually fun and it is nice to take in the world you’ve created.

The Cons: 

- Movement speed for the tool cursor is a bit too slow.
- Being able to have a bit more variety in the structures would’ve been nice (more buildings and the ability to create bridges).

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

One of the more terrific things about this generation beyond the obvious jump in graphics and new ways we can play games (Kinect, mass multiplayer gaming) is that indie developers can release whatever they want via the wonders of digital distribution.  Indie developers may never have a sure fire hit on their hands upon releasing a homegrown effort on the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live Arcade, but they can still see their dreams become a reality if they have the tech know-how and the passion to see their project through to the end.  Since it’s relatively easy for small developers

Resistance 3 [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 05:11
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Overall Feeling: 

The Resistance franchise may have had some high and low points but Resistance 3 is a perfect way for the series to go out.  Featuring a robust single-player campaign that has amazing variety and a terrific weapons upgrade system, Insomniac Games has fixed all the wrongs they committed in Resistance 2 and then added a ton of Resistance 1 nostalgia in for good measure.  Resistance 3 is a simply gritty and surprisingly emotional action experience that doesn’t fall victim to being incredibly shallow like so many other games today.  Thankfully the multiplayer experience isn’t a mess and instead offers some old-school style fun that does indeed have a level of strategy and skill to it.  Gamers may have been intensely burned by Resistance 2, but Resistance 3 is honestly a step in the right direction as it matches and slightly exceeds what we received five years ago with the first Resistance.

The Pros: 

+ The mood created in the game through the visuals and scenarios is superb.
+ Upgrading specific weapons is fun and allows the game to have a tailored experience.
+ Level pacing is right on the mark since nothing ever drags.
+ Boss battles are still a bit predictable but are more intense and generally look better.
+ Graphically the game really shines when it comes to the art design.
+ Multiplayer totally rocks as of now and is filled with action while not being too chaotic.

The Cons: 

- A few action segments are too scripted.
- The multiplayer mode is balanced but there are a few kill streak bonuses that could throw things off.
- Not having some lingering plot points resolved is disappointing considering what transpires at the end.
- Graphical quality is a bit hit and miss in some areas.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Developing and ultimately releasing a worthy sequel can often be a tough thing to do, even for the most adept developers out there such as Hideo Kojima or Peter Molyneux.  Having an established formula that works is good and all but the somewhat difficult task of deciding how much to change and what to keep the same often rears its ugly head when a studio is deciding what should be included in their next potential blockbuster video game.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 19:39
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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."

Bodycount [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 05:50
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Overall Feeling: 

Bodycount is a game that held great promise but is ultimately a squandered opportunity since it comes across as lazy and uninspired.  With a solo campaign that can be finished in less than five hours and that also has the gall to revisit locations several times, Bodycount doesn’t have a long standing entertainment value even when looked upon as potential gun and action porn.  Bodycount does offer a smidgen of entertainment since the destruction aspects are indeed a sight to see but the general gameplay is plagued with dull level design issues and enemy A.I. that is truly idiotic.

The Pros: 

+ I was truly impressed by certain aspects of the level destruction that was capable in the game and how it was executed.
+ Finishing the game and hitting certain weapons/action milestones will give you a good boost on your Trophy/Achievement profile.
+ The game is rather short so you won’t waste too much of your time if you opt to complete the solo campaign.

The Cons: 

- The solo campaign shamelessly reuses levels or chunks of levels which is lazy and makes for an uninspired experience.
- Enemies are dumb as bricks and the lack of engaging boss battles is a sore spot.
- Visually the game isn’t ugly but feels flat despite the decent amount of color.
- I had no clue what was going in with the story.
- Multiplayer mode is an unbalanced mess that has maps which don’t directly cater to the overall experience.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
4

As a member of the press through being a journalist/blogger I sometimes find myself in an interesting situation when it comes to reviewing games.  I of course have a basic set of guidelines set forth when it comes to reviewing a game based on the particular genre of the title in question or occasionally I’ll have a long standing history with it, whether it’s because I’m a fanboy of the property or have been following things religiously for five years or more.  Most of the time I try my best to represent a review that gamers can relate to and appreciate while still going into criti

Dead Island [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 20:30
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Overall Feeling: 

The game is expansive. So much so that it is impossible to discuss everything that went into the game outside of publishing a full novel to detail it. There is plenty to do and see, and all of it is beautiful and interesting. The only draw backs the game has are mechanical, and they aren't enough to detract from the over-all spendor of the title. 

The Pros: 

+Massive game with almost unparalleled scope

+Addictive game-play

+Four player co-op through the entirity of the story

+Expansive skill-tree system to build the zombie-slayer of your dreams

+Ridiculous amounts of weapons/mods/upgrades

The Cons: 

+Wonky shooting system

+Unintuitive combat 

+Fluctuating difficulty level

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

I'll be honest; I went into Dead Island with very low expectations. From the very minimal amount of information I had collected about the game (glancing looks at screenshots, news articles and a couple of videos) I figured it was going to be a straight-up rip-off of Left 4 Dead. Fortunately the guys over at Deep Silver had a whole lot more up their sleeve than that. Unfortunately, Left 4 Dead is going to be far from the last comparison that I make in this review.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - The Video Game [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 08/23/2011 - 05:37
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Overall Feeling: 

Despite the somewhat decent track record of the previous Harry Potter games, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is another dull and lifeless video game based on a movie.  Taking gamers through Harry’s epic final battle at a breakneck speed, there’s no substance at all to the game and worst of all there aren’t any memorable moments.  With basic level design choices and only brief spurts of variety via chase action sequences, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 isn’t a completely awful game whose name should never be uttered like that of Lord Voldemort, but it’s far from being looked at as one of the shining beacons in the bleak movie video game genre.

The Pros: 

+ The music is rather good given its all original music and doesn’t heavily rely on tracks found in the film.
+ Controls are responsive and switching between spells is easy and quick.
+ There are a few nice visual moments due to the general scope of the world, whether it’s the caverns of Gringrotts or Hogwarts.

The Cons: 

- There’s no depth at all to the combat and gameplay gets old fast since nothing new pops up.
- Outside of Rupert Grint reprising his role as Ron, the voice acting in the game is atrocious.
- Visually the game can look nice if not decent at times but some of the character models are simply ugly.
- The game rushes to tell the story and refuses to breathe for a minute and explore a story element or include a new gameplay scenario.
- There’s absolutely no replay value at all aside from bonus content quests and Trophy/Achievement hunting.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

Upon looking at the title for this review a great many of you may be a bit befuddled as to why I’m reviewing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – The Video Game.  Yes, I will admit that I may be a bit late to the party since both the film and the game came out last month.  Personally I always strive to have my reviews out on a timely manner as best as possible, even if publishers don’t send us review copies or I find myself totally screwed once more by Gamefly, but every now and then I may get to a particular game a tad later than I would like to.  Anyway, I will be

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