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Power Rangers Super Samurai [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Sat, 12/22/2012 - 11:29
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Overall Feeling: 

Low quality may be expected out of most video games based on established licenses, but the gameplay and direction taken in Power Rangers Super Samurai is truly appalling since it totally misses the mark.  Failing to capture the dumb yet enjoyable charm that  has been present in the Power Rangers franchise for nearly twenty years, Super Samurai is a soulless action game that presents an annoying experience that for some reason utilizes the Kinect.  Those who grew up watching the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as kids will likely be disappointed with Super Samurai as well younger gamers who merely want to play a fun game.

The Pros: 

+ The main menu music is one hell of a buttery beat.
+ Controls may be horrid but there aren’t any sudden spastic control issues during combat.

The Cons: 

- Gameplay is atrocious. Combat movements are horrid and there’s no variety.
- Visuals look extremely dated and are plagued with recycled assets and noticeable environmental proportion issues.
- The Rangers and baddies may be there, but there really isn’t a pronounced feel in the game that one would expect from a Power Rangers experience.
-Voice acting is terrible even when compared to the sometimes stiff acting we expect from Power Rangers.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
2

If any of you were born between 1985 and 1992 then you likely grew up with one glorious piece of entertaining as part of your life: The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.  While we may have had things like The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, or even Care Bears, the Power Rangers was something that struck a chord with a lot of kids. 

Crash Planets [PlayStation Mobile Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 12/19/2012 - 08:49
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Overall Feeling: 

Evoking shades of the mid-tier/low budget PS2/PSP games that are released in Japan, Crash Planets has a concept that is silly yet could’ve made for a fun game if it wasn’t for the constant control issues that plague the experience.  Compared to the other key offerings made on PlayStation Mobile within the last two months, Crash Planets is a valiant effort considering its origins, but it fails to meet the standards that make for an entertaining game, even when looked upon as a bite-sized adventure.

The Pros: 

+ The concept may be strange but at least it’s original.
+ Content is varied within the main mode.

The Cons: 

- Both the analog stick and touch controls feel less than responsive and completely undermine the experience.
- The blaring techno music feels out of place.
- There really aren’t any gameplay, narrative, or visual hooks since everything is barren.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

It didn’t exactly take long, but the first game made by an average Joe has hit PlayStation Mobile in the form of Crash Planets. Perhaps I shouldn’t had used the term average Joe since not everyone out there possesses game programming skills, but Crash Planets does mark the first time in which a game has been released on the PS Store that was made using the publicly released PS Mobile SDK (software development kit).  So in a lot of ways Crash Planets is a true indie game in the purest sense but that doesn’t translate to an exceptional gaming experience.

Black Knight Sword [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 09:30
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Overall Feeling: 

Not normal by any stretch of the imagination, Black Knight Sword strives to deliver an old-school action-platforming adventure in a rather unconventional setting filled with an ever shifting world and strange creatures.  The finer points of the combat system may be a bit flawed if not as much fun as they could be, but the visual approach in the game ultimately carries everything without leaving a very obvious void that was filled with substance in the hopes of saving things.  Even if you’re not a fan of Grasshopper Manufacture and the weirdness that accompanies their titles, Black Knight Sword presents an inventive take on a genre that sadly isn’t as prominent as it once was.

The Pros: 

+  Artistic approach is unbelievable as it weaves in various elements such as folklore to create something that is entirely captivating.
+ Controls are really easy to get into and don’t have nagging issues like loose plat forming.
+ Story is vague but in a good way as it never feels cheaply done.

The Cons: 

- Enemy encounters are missing a certain impact to them.
- Stages last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, but it’s disappointing that there are only five total in the main story mode.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

Sometimes it can be fun to experience something not knowing what the full story or background is.  Being jerked around by constant riddles that have no payoff is a thing that most people don’t enjoy as it will only lead to disappointment (case in point the TV show Lost).  But even then I think there’s something inside us that doesn’t mind having to turn our brains on and pay attention even if we’re busy slashing stuff up, the victims of which are creatures who themselves are mysterious oddities. 

Big Sky Infinity [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 12/17/2012 - 09:07
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Overall Feeling: 

If you’re fond of twin-stick shooters and shmup games then you’ll probably enjoy the rather eclectic mixture of goodness that Big Sky Infinity has to offer. It may not end up being one of the most impactful releases in the genre as was the case with Sine Mora, but as a throwback to the days of arcade action in which games were difficult, challenging, yet ever fun, Big Sky Infinity is an entertaining game that isn’t yet another lifeless offering on the PlayStation Store.

The Pros: 

+ The colorful depiction of space really makes the game nice to look at.
+ Difficulty can be insanely high at times, yet the challenge has a nice arcade throwback feel to it.
+ The base game is short, but the addition of various bonus modes ups the overall longevity.
+ Commentator dialog is priceless. Seriously, the various geek cultural references dropped in this is near legendary.

The Cons: 

- Enemy colors sometimes blend into the background too much making it hard to decipher what’s going on.
- The difficulty can at times be fun, but it could be too much for some people.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Hearing that yet another twin-stick shooting game has arrived on the PlayStation Store may result in one of those moments when it seems like all hope is lost for the games industry.  Sure, there may be fans of  the twin-stick shooting genre, but even people in that camp are beginning to be disillusioned in a sense due to what we’ve received in the past, which to be honest has only had a modicum of originality to it in some cases.

Surge [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 08:46
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Overall Feeling: 

Taking an established formula, Surge injects a massive amount of originality into the puzzle genre thanks to an engaging touch mechanic and gameplay that is surprisingly nail biting.  The game as a whole may be simple in it’s approach and direction, but Surge is far from being yet another forgettable puzzle game since it’s one of the more well-rounded games to not only appear on the PlayStation Mobile platform, but the puzzle genre in general.

The Pros: 

+ Gameplay has the perfect balance of accessibility and engaging difficulty.
+ Touch mechanic works well within the game.
+ Having bonus Trophies and Leaderboards is a nice addition.

The Cons: 

- Game would’ve benefited from having an additional mode, especially a free-for-all with custom options.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

It’s never easy for a video game to take form no matter what the concept is.  At times a certain base may be in place, but for a developer to take that and try to create something that’s new and feels fresh is no easy feat at all.  Trying to figure out how to take something that sounds good on paper and make it be fun to play can at times prove to be far too difficult to actually make a reality; especially when it involves the puzzle genre. 

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Thu, 12/06/2012 - 11:23
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Overall Feeling: 

A few notable fan-favorite characters and franchises may not be in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, but the game is still amazing thanks to gameplay that is balanced and visuals that are delightful.  Opting not to simply make a sequel that has an incremental increase in quality, Sumo Digital have delivered a game that feels like a true sequel as it has loads of content and increased production values. If you enjoyed Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing or are a fan of kart titles all together, then Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a game that not only does the Sega world justice but is a welcomed addition to the somewhat sparse kart racing genre.

The Pros: 

+ Vehicle alt modes are executed well and feature some amazing stage sections.
+ Controls still feel spot on.
+ Stages maintain their franchise identity while being fun to race on.
+ Graphics are insanely colorful and do an excellent job at balancing the different franchise art styles.

The Cons: 

- Certain character/franchise omissions are disappointing.
- Online matchmaking is hit & miss at times.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Even though there are dozens of major game publishers and developers out there, only a select few hold a special place in our hearts for various reasons, most of which are personal. For the people out there who have been gaming for such a long time that it’s almost embarrassing that they’re as old as their favorite gaming franchise, Sega likely has a key place in their hearts.  Personally I can tell you in great the specific moments in which I played Sega titles like Virtua Fighter, Die Hard Arcade, L.A.

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 08:38
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Overall Feeling: 

Even though it’s the 10th anniversary of the R&C franchise, Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault fails to recapture the magic the series once had or feature it in a small way that would’ve served as a nod to fans. A nice level of humor is still present thanks to good writing, but the action oriented gameplay leaves a lot to be desired as only a few key mechanics show up with little to no major context or thought put into making them actually be fun to do.  The multiplayer mode does provide some good moments, but the simple basis of it does make it far from being the next big thing to hook people in from a long-term point of view.  The Ratchet & Clank series has had a lot of good moments in the past but Full Frontal Assault is far from being one of them.

The Pros: 

+ Art style and graphics are still superb.
+ Voice acting and writing is top notch as expected thanks to the talents of James Arnold Taylor and David Kaye.
+ Multiplayer mode handles action well without being too overwhelming.

The Cons: 

- Single-player feels weak as far as content and direction goes.
- Ratchet & Clank not being at the forefront of the story is both disappointing and frustrating.
- Certain gameplay elements feel under utilized, thrown in for the sake of it, and recycled.
- Lack of platforming, or sections that are unique in their design and accompanying mechanics, is disappointing.
- Multiplayer mode doesn’t have a load of content in it.
- Some of the expected Insomniac craftsmanship is missing as evident in unexpected technical issues.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

Injecting a bit of variety into an existing game series is something I think gamers as a whole can appreciate. At times we can be a bit fickle as to what advances or additions are made in a sequel to a popular gaming franchise since tampering with the perfect recipe can often lead to disastrous results.  But at the end of the day I think most people don’t mind a little variety here and there as long as the core remains the same.

[Review] WWE 13 - One of the Worst Games in Recent Memory.

Submitted by Corey Rollins on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 15:38
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Overall Feeling: 

The fact this game was released is astounding. Any positive points from WWE Attitude Mode or player creation are fully eclipsed by an absurd number of bugs and poor game design.

The Pros: 

+ Attitude Era Nostalgia Bomb.

+ Deep and impressive player content creation tools. 

The Cons: 

- Frequent game crashes.

- Unpolished and riddled with glitches and bugs.

- Online servers keep erasing data.

- 3GB save file on PS3 makes PS+ Cloud storage useless.

- Broken Universe mode design.

- Pay-Per-View matches have no purpose.

- Terrible game audio issues.

- David Otunga's Music. 

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
3

THQ's latest installment of their long lived World Wrestling Entertainment licence hit the shelves on October 30th 2012. While many publications, blog and fans rushed to get their reviews of WWE 13 up on day one, I waited. Patiently.  Now that we’re over a month since its release, I'm rather glad I sat on this and really took the time to explore this game. 

Book of Spells [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Sat, 12/01/2012 - 08:41
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Overall Feeling: 

Thankfully Book of Spells won’t be put in the “could’ve been cool” category as it’s not a forgettable title that reeks of being a tech demo for a new peripheral. The base of the game may be aimed towards children and younger gamers, but the immense charm found within the wizarding world and the solid gameplay ought to be something that a wide array of gamers can enjoy.  Devoid of any annoying technical glitches, Book of Spells is a good example of what developers can achieve via the Wonderbook as it provides one of the more immersive experiences to hit the world of gaming.

The Pros: 

+ Wonderbook works really well, both technically and within the context of the game.
+ Graphics are surprisingly detailed and really sharp. It’s obvious a lot of care was put into the game.
+ Gameplay is simplistic but it’s still fun.

The Cons: 

- Wish there was more freedom within the game.
-The player representation on the screen may have benefited from a visual filter of some kind to make things look cohesive.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Over the last few years Sony has been called a lot of things. At times the company may be applauded for it’s innovation within the PlayStation brand yet at other times things like the PlayStation Move can draw the ire from folks since it has a “copy & paste” appearance.  However, I think Sony has finally struck gold with the arrival of the AR driven peripheral that is Wonderbook and the accompanying title that is Book of Spells as it provides a truly magical gaming experience.

Puzziball [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 11/28/2012 - 10:25
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Serving as the perfect example that we should be cautious of free games, Puzziball is a shallow title with mechanics that aren’t dreadful yet aren’t entirely fun.  The small amount of stages within the game that aren’t paid DLC may be enough to keep someone busy, but Puzziball is so forgettable that I doubt anyone will be motivated to play the game past the first themed world.

The Pros: 

+ It was free and the download size is small as it’s only 69MB

The Cons: 

- Gameplay is dull.
- The amount of free content is somewhat small.
- Art style is horrendous in a mid 1990s kind of way.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
3

Sometimes when an item is free it can either mean two things: company x is being nice to us or the product is so bad that it’s obvious a decent profit won’t be made.  It’s somewhat rare for games to be free, yet every now and then we are lucky whether it’s a piece of DLC or in this case a new title for the PlayStation Mobile platform.  Being an open minded gamer and one that’s always on the search for new titles to play on my Vita, I decided to download the completely free game that is Puzziball.  Too bad that the game ultimately turned out to be so painfully bad to play that

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