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Red Dead Redemption [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 05/25/2010 - 09:25
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Overall Feeling: 

Red Dead Redemption isn’t a simple sandbox action; it’s a true Old West experience. With a diverse set of missions, amazing visuals and a story that never drags RDR is now the sandbox game to beat this generation.

The Pros: 

The story is gripping and is a nice mix of classic Old West traits combined with the Rockstar edge. Shooting guys with revolvers and rifles is fun and is made even more fun with the Dead-Eye ability. Rockstar’s RAGE engine pumps out some amazing visuals that perfectly capture the Old West look and vibe. The voice acting and music is some of the best Rockstar has produced.

The Cons: 

Some missions can drag a bit. Shooting weapons on your horse is a bit clunky.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

There’s something about the Old West setting that strikes a chord in people. Maybe it’s the lawless and violent nature of the period that people find so appealing.

Alan Wake [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Mon, 05/24/2010 - 15:47
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Overall Feeling: 

A dark, unnerving setting back-lighting an intense, powerful horror survival game with a fantastic story and immersive game-play.

The Pros: 

Strong story. Interesting characters. Powerful narrative. Amazing scenery. Unique game-play. Fantastic presentation. Solid soundtrack. Subtle queues to evoke eerie atmosphere and a drive to plow straight through the campaign.

The Cons: 

Left-side-loving camera. Blatant product placement.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

For a while there I was having discussions with fellow gamers and friends about the death of single-player gaming. It seems that every title that releases these days has multiplayer associated. In most modern cases the story-mode of the game does little more than introduce you to the ideals of the multiplayer. I was afraid that the cinematic, story-driven games of my past may have gone the way of the Dodo. 

Skate 3 [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Fri, 05/21/2010 - 08:06
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Skate 3 once again offers a skateboarding experience that is fun and relatively easy to get into. Veterans of the franchise may feel things are a bit too “been there, done that” but supplementary features such as the skate park creator inject a nice amount of freshness to things. In the end Skate 3 is far from being the ultimate Skate experience but it’s still a fun game to mess around in and become a skateboarding legend.

The Pros: 

Skating around and pulling off grinds and tricks is still fun and highly satisfying. The skate park creator is a wonderful addition that offers near limitless possibilities. Even though it may be a bit easy at times, there’s still a nice amount of challenge in the career mode. Online features are solid and their integration in the game is done rather well. Amazing live-action intro.

The Cons: 

The city of Port Carverton isn’t that memorable as far as locations and design is concerned. Having to be in a team to play ranked matches kind of sucks. The career mode is really short and can easily be completed in a few hours. Not enough new core mechanics or features were added to the career mode which makes things slightly repetitive.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Even though sequels are rather abundant this era that doesn’t mean they’re any less easy to create than an IP. When following up a popular game with the inevitable sequel developers are often tasked with figuring out how to top their previous effort.  In some cases it’s easy since an existing foundation is present but still, it can be a bit difficult trying to peg what gamers want.  With sports games such as EA’s Skate franchise it’s a completely different beast.

NIER [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 05/17/2010 - 06:54
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Overall Feeling: 

NIER is far from being a perfect or traditional JRPG game with its untraditional story and action focused gameplay. But it’s the unconventional aspects of the game that makes NIER so damn good. With good production values and gameplay that isn’t just standard hacking and slashing, NIER is a game that everyone should check out no matter what perceptions they have about it.

The Pros: 

The story is really deep and is filled with emotion that isn’t just sappy JRPG writing. Voice actors like Liam O’Brien really inject an incredible amount of personality into the game. Controlling Nier and using the power of Grimoire Weiss during combat is fun and has a nice level of depth. The music is so damn good that you may just want to leave the control idle so you can listen to it.

The Cons: 

Side missions are a bit boring. At times the camera can be a slight hassle. Generally the graphics aren’t bad but there are a few rough edges and textures that may make you go “yeesh.” A few of the missions can drag on a bit too long and feel like nothing more than grinding.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

With most RPG games, particularly those that come out of Japan, there seems to be pre-conceived notions on what to expect.  One can’t particularly fault those who expect andronoyous heroes, spiky hair or a quest involving saving a kingdom when they hear of a new RPG.  For a long period of time the genre has mostly remained the same and is almost bordering on becoming stagnant.  Aside from a few old standbys such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest the JRPG genre has remarkably remained the same for better or worse.

Rocket Knight Review XBLA + Free Game Give Away

Submitted by Casey White on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 20:04
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Solid gameplay, and another great example of how to re-do an old school franchise correctly. The game is simple and fun. Though the game runs very short, you will enjoy the time spent with it, and if you're a high-score/collecting hound then you'll find plenty of re-play value.

The Pros: 

Easy to pick up and play. Very laid back and fun styled platforming game. Great graphic and sound tweaks form the original. All-around enjoyable game.

The Cons: 

Way too short. No co-op play, even though there are two additional unlockable characters.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Way back in the early 90s, there was a short lived series following the adventures of an Opossum with a rocket powered suit of armor. While the premise might have sounded a little goofy, it quickly became an endearing franchise that I fell in love with on the Sega Genesis.

Iron Man 2: The Video Game [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 16:59
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Iron Man 2: The Video Game sadly doesn’t break the trend of most games based licensed properties. Instead of getting an even mildly entertaining game with a few unique sections and mechanics, the game is your run of the mill movie tie-in game that totally lacks any soul or substance to it. If you’re a fan of Iron Man then you should stay far away from this game unless you want some easy Trophies/Achievements or if you want to chuckle at the bad production values.

The Pros: 

The voice acting, specifically the Robert Downey Jr. stand-in, is good in a cheesy sort of way. Being able to play the game with different types of Iron Man armor such as the classic Mark 1 design is nice. You can finish the game quickly so the torture doesn’t last long. The story is decent but feels a bit under-developed at times.

The Cons: 

Visuals are just downright ugly at times. Iron Man and War Machine’s armor lack the detail that you would expect them to have. The missions are boring and often have an odd flow to them. Fighting the same flying robots and tanks gets boring really fast. Never once will you feel like you’re the invincible Iron Man.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
4

At the start of this year I made a special gaming related resolution.  In an attempt to better my life, in terms of curbing my ever present rage, I decided to scale back on the amount of movie/TV based video games I would play in 2010.  2009 was an almost devastating year for me with games like Wanted: Weapons of Fate, Dragon Ball: Evolution and Terminator Salvation which once again proved that most video games based on movies are crap.  

Dead to Rights: Retribution [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 06:24
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Dead to Rights: Retribution is a game that while not groundbreaking still manages to be a ton of fun. While a few issues are persistent, Dead to Rights: Retribution delivers an extremely solid action experience with fun combat and a gripping noir story. The game may have a basic concept but it’s far from being yet another soulless clone of popular action games.

The Pros: 

Shooting and beating guys up is extremely satisfying and does an excellent job of making you feel like a badass. Surprisingly the story is rather deep and is backed by a really good voice cast. The atmosphere is terrific and each level has its own identity and never feels like an arena for you to shoot guys in. The music is really atmospheric and hits all the right action and dramatic notes.

The Cons: 

At times the combat has a few missteps which range from slow targeting to problems facing an opponent. Jack’s dog Shadow is awesome but his animations and appearance could have use some more work. There’s not a lot to do once you finish the game aside from collecting bonus items and Trophies/Achievements.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

As you walk the old decrepit streets filled with rust and the memories of better days you can’t help but feel a chill in the air.  With the endless waves of enemies armed to the teeth with weapons it almost seems like a futile battle when you’re only one man. Battered, bruised and almost broken you persevere and move on fueled by your desire for retribution against those who wronged you and to uphold your duty as a police officer to find out the truth and maybe, just maybe bring some justice to the corrupt streets of Grant City.

Blue Toad Murder Files: Episodes 4-6 [PSN Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 05/04/2010 - 09:26
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Overall Feeling: 

Blue Toad Murder Files: Episodes 4-6 may not be the pinnacle of mystery gaming in the realm of video games but it’s a solid attempt. Combining nice humor and unique puzzles the game can at times be rather enjoyable. But things like annoying characters, puzzles that are too difficult and a lackluster ending prevent Blue Toad Murder Files from becoming the Sherlock Holmes of its genre.

The Pros: 

When the puzzles are good they’re really damn good. Nice visuals and art style that perfectly melds a cartoon ascetic with a realistic one. The presentation of the story is nice and I loved the musical cues that were hit at key moments.

The Cons: 

At times the puzzles are either too hard or feel like more a chore than actual fun. The ending doesn’t have that grand mystery finale feel to it. One voice actor does the voices for everyone in the game. All 10+ male & female characters is one dude and you can tell which at times is really distracting.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

This generation we’ve seen the rise of games released with an episodic nature.  While not every game is jumping aboard the bite sized game bandwagon, it is becoming a more acceptable thing amongst gamers.  One such title that took the episodic route was the PSN exclusive Blue Toad Murder Files. Combining a mystery backdrop with mini-game puzzle mechanics, Blue Toad’s premise perfectly fits the simple digital episodic approach.

After Burner Climax [PSN Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:49
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Not only is after Burner Climax a nostalgia trip to the glory days of arcade gaming but it’s an extremely solid PSN/XBL game. While short, the game is bolstered by addicting combo and skill based gameplay and unlockables which extend the core experience. After Burner Climax is a must own game for those out there who love arcade games and for only $9.99 After Burner Climax is a steal given what it offers and how damn addicting it is.

The Pros: 

Amazingly fast gameplay is arcade twitch goodness personified. The graphics are sharp and the diverse levels really keep things fresh. The EX Options is a terrific addition to the game since it adds to the replay factor for all the arcade perfectionists out there.

The Cons: 

It’s slightly disappointing that Sega didn’t add any meaty additions such as new weapons or stages to the console port. Despite the EX Options some may be turned off by how fast the game can be completed.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

 

These days pure arcade style game experiences are far and few between.  Outside of games like Burnout and a few PSN/XBLA games we really haven’t gotten a game that perfectly encapsulates that arcade experience.  Thankfully Sega has come to our rescue with the release of After Burner Climax, a console port of the arcade version that came out four years ago.  While being nothing more than a direct port of the arcade version, After Burner Climax is probably one of the best arcade games released on the PSN and XBL.

Hysteria Project [PSP Minis Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:30
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Hysteria Project can be best summed up as a project that falls short of greatness. An interesting premise and concept lead way to an experience that is at times held back by its budget and uninspiring gameplay. Despite the issues the game has I would still recommend checking out Hysteria Project especially if you’re a fan of old-school adventure games, merely for the thematic thrills and nostalgia it offers

The Pros: 

The story is rather captivating on a “WTF” level. Seeing FMV gameplay is nice, even if things are a bit blurry due to tech issues. For only $1.99 you won’t feel too bad that you wasted money if you weren’t satisfied with the game.

The Cons: 

The gameplay mechanics don’t feel thought out. All the adventure game style elements mean nothing as everything is rather linear. While shot nicely, the quality of the video isn’t as sharp as it could be and often results in blurry or pixilated images. Some may be pissed that the story isn’t wrapped up and you’ll need to pay another $2 to continue things.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
6

If you added elements from The Blair Witch Project, horror films and mechanics from adventure games like Heavy Rain the result would be the Hysteria Project.  Unless you’re a fanboy, oops I mean loyal follower, of the PlayStation brand then you may not know much about the Hysteria Project.  No, Hysteria isn’t a new fangled PS3 IP as it instead is a PSP Minis.  Utilizing FMV (that’s full motion video); Hysteria Project is an interesting concept that sadly falls short in some key aspects.

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