Home

Game Reviews

Ridge Racer Unbounded [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 05/15/2012 - 12:32
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Stuck in the middle between being a full-on arcade game and a stylized sim, Ridge Racer Unbounded plods along in an experience that’s passable in a few areas but is far from wowing us as some arcade racing games tend to do.  There are some unique elements in Ridge Racer Unbounded like the track editor, but other than that the game feels like it’s an amalgamation of hot trends and different racing games as opposed to being a unique entity. It may have been fine to alter the Ridge Racer formula a bit, but in the end what’s offered in Ridge Racer Unbounded lacks any substance and simply isn’t that much fun to play.

The Pros: 

+ Track Editor is easy to use and is robust in what can be done.

+ In-game presentation is rather slick in how it presents key info to the player.

+ Main campaign is rather lengthy in a good way if you like that sort of thing.

The Cons: 

- Difficulty level is insanely high from the get go.

- The cars don’t feel like they’re driving on ice, but the car handling doesn’t feel fluid and there’s no physicality to the cars.

- Environmental destruction is slightly impressive but feels flat and ultimately pointless in the later stages of the game.

- Visually the game fails to stick out much due to drab industrial and urban locales we’ve seen dozens of times already.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

As gamers we want developers and publisher to take risks with the experiences they offer us.  One major grip of gamers this generation is that games have fallen into a familiar pattern in which half a dozen games all try to copy one particular thing that’s popular – thus turning things into a “me too!” contest instead of pushing innovation and originality to the forefront.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a developer wanting to push something new to gamers as I implore more studios to do such a thing. 

Trials Evolution [Review]

Submitted by Michael R. Rousseau on Thu, 05/10/2012 - 10:49
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Trials Evolution takes the simple concept of riding a motorcycle though a series of obstacles and elevates it to frustrating and satisfying new heights. There’s a great wealth of content here, from a lengthy single player career, to online multiplayer and one of the most robust track editors ever. Aside from some minor issues with gated progress and an overdramatic camera, Trials Evolution stands as one of the most addicting games available on the Xbox Live marketplace.

The Pros: 

+ Great locales and level design

+ Track editor provides infinite content

+ Simple, addictive gameplay is easy to learn, hard to master

The Cons: 

- Extremely frustrating at times

- Learning curve is solid up through Medium difficulty, but rises sharply thereafter

- Gated progress means replaying tracks for better times and fault counts 

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

According to the best times posted for Way of the Ninja, one of the Extreme difficulty tracks in RedLynx’s Trials Evolution, the ride should only take about two minutes. It’s just a trip around a short racetrack with some obstacles scattered between the goal and I. Fifteen minutes later, I’m given the warning that I can only fault 250 more times before I automatically fail. That means I’ve faulted about as many times already, and I’m still only on the second jump.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition

Submitted by JJ Webb on Wed, 05/09/2012 - 12:22
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

CD Projekt Red brings their savage, gritty, and mature title: The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings to the 360 in their console debut.  All the amazing and intricate things that made this fantasy RPG one of the best games last year on the PC are here on the 360 in full stride.  Controls feel very fluid and combat is more fun than ever. The intriguing political story will have RPG fans new to the series invested right from the start, and will give players who are revisiting it satisfaction with the new elements that were added in the Enhanced Edition.  The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings is one of the best titles I have played so far this year.

The Pros: 

+Fantastic story with intriguing plotlines and characters

+Terrific and rewarding combat system

+The use of the 360 controller feels even smoother than when you could use it on the PC version

+New cut scenes are very cool and help guide the story

+Holds nothing back on its mature rating.

+Years into the 360’s lifespan it takes advantage of both discs and the visuals are great

The Cons: 

-Clunky menu navigation that they should have fixed when moving to a console

-Some long loading times (when installed on your hard drive it helps a lot)

-Some voice actors are not on par with other terrific ones

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

I was a big fan of CD Projekt Red and their game The Witcher back in 2007.  So when the sequel was announced a couple of years ago for PC’s I was very excited.  Then I heard about how amazing the brand new engine was they made themselves, and that it would take a powerful PC to run it.  I was less thrilled then, since at the time I had not updated my PC for a few years and knew it was not going to work by any means. 

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition [Review]

Submitted by Adam Ward on Wed, 05/09/2012 - 09:04
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Porting a title is no easy task... especially if it’s coming from PC. There are certain variables that often don’t work on consoles as they do on its computer counterpart. 4J Studios, Mojang and Notch had their hands full when they positioned the idea of moving Minecraft to the Xbox 360. While a few features didn’t make the cross over, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition is a near flawless transition.

The Pros: 

+ The essence of Minecraft wasn't lost in transition

+ An innovative crafting experience is introduced

+ Split screen co-operative play

The Cons: 

- Movement can be a bit iffy at times

- Inventory cursor lacks the accuracy of a mouse

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Oh Minecraft... how I resented playing you for the longest time, for fear that I would be absorbed into your blocky world. Coming into the Xbox edition I was slightly worried as to how 4J Studios and Mojang would tackle some of the challenges Minecraft brings with it. For example, gaming with a mouse and keyboard often brings its share of bonuses.  Minecraft is also very user friendly as it allows gamers to enhance their play with the addition of mods. A personalized touch can go a long way.

Top Gun: Hard Lock [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 13:45
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Top Gun: Hard Lock sadly is yet another licensed game that misses the mark on what made its source material so much fun and that of course results in a game that’s simply mediocre if not below average for the aerial combat genre.  For flight genre enthusiasts Top Gun really doesn’t present an exciting experience thanks in part to combat that lacks an immediate punch and visuals that are serviceable but don’t necessarily measure up to what has been previously released.  Top Gun: Hard Lock could’ve been a fun if not slightly goofy flight action game, but in the end it’s simply a game that lacks any true character and could’ve been quickly forgotten about if not for having the Top Gun moniker slapped on.

The Pros: 

+ The jokes are so bad that they’re funny for the wrong reasons.

+ You can create your own meta story based on how bad the dialog is.

+ Trophies/Achievements are easy to acquire.

The Cons: 

- Visuals are really bland and lack any unique and defining characteristics.

- Not having the same spirit as the Top Gun film makes the story completely unnecessary.

- Action is limited in its set pieces and fails to present an edge of your seat experience.

- No Iceman makes Ian a sad gamer.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
3

As a gamer and a video game journalist I like to play as many games as I can get my hands on. Doing such a thing often leads me to stumble across a few hidden gems while in other cases I simply subject myself to a terrible game merely to see how bad it truly is and maybe get one or two easy Trophies or Achievements in the process. 

Fable Heroes [Review]

Submitted by Adam Ward on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 19:51
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Lionhead Studios put in a valiant effort towards breathing new life into their RPG series Fable. While its charm shines through in character design, it’s overshadowed by repetitive and simple minded gameplay.  This is defiantly made for the gaming impaired... namely kids. Hardcore Fable fans tread lightly.

The Pros: 

+Lionhead succefully crafted both charming characters and a vibrant world

The Cons: 

-Repetitive gameplay leaves this title dead in the water

-Difficulty progression is none existent 

-Player customization is long and exhausting

-Good and evil decision should have been left on the sidelines

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
4

 

Fable Heroes is a step back from the RPG roots it’s garnered its fame from. Now a 4-player beat ‘em up, players cross the universe of Fable hacking and slashing through familiar enemies and new ones.  You take the role of a puppet hero from a library of 12 characters. As you finish each world, you’re able to customize your stats, and character appearance. 

SSX - Mount Eddie DLC [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 13:14
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

As a somewhat minimal add-on to the core SSX experience the Mount Eddie DLC succeeds in giving some exciting content to gamers as well as providing a much desired return to the classic SSX formula.  Mount Eddie may not be bursting at the seams with content as it only has a couple of events, but at the end of the day it’s still an amazing addition to SSX since it captures the same fun energy that the series had back in the PS2 era.

The Pros: 

+ The price point is perfect for what’s offered.

+ Combining the tone of the new SSX with the classic era doesn’t feel too odd as both are evenly represented.

+ Mount Eddie itself has a balanced design which results in some amazing trick opportunities.

The Cons: 

- Not having a Deadly Descent does feel a bit odd and like a missed opportunity.

- Half pipes are slightly under-utilized which is a shame.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Taking an already fun game and making it more fun is sometimes a tough thing to do, especially when it comes in the form of DLC.  We’ve seen dozens of games go the DLC route this generation with add-on content that in some cases has been terrible in what it provided to the player. There’s honestly nothing worse than paying an additional $5 or $10 for some add-on content after you spend $60 on a game only to think about how you would’ve been better off buying a sub from Subway with that money.

Mortal Kombat - PlayStation Vita [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 01:42
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

It may be rougher around the edges than what we expected or had hoped for, but Mortal Kombat’s debut on the Vita still provides the same level of fun that was had on the HD versions of the game.  The visuals may be a bit ugly or reminiscent of a mid-era PSP game, but the Mortal Kombat formula is still fun and has a few fun modes to boot as well which does extend the overall longevity.  With combat that’s fun and a multiplayer mode that seems to work (at least as of now pre everyone hopping online), Mortal Kombat on the Vita may not be a perfect port but it’s an admirable first effort that doesn’t feel like a complete shameless cash grab.

The Pros: 

+ The fighting mechanics feel perfect on the Vita in respect to the buttons and layout of the device.

+ New Challenge Tower modes may feel a bit gimmicky in a few areas, but they’re still fun.

+ Having the DLC characters available at the start of the game is a nice bonus.

The Cons: 

- Visuals are uneven and honestly look below what the Vita is capable of.

- It would’ve been nice if there were one or two Vita bonuses thrown in for the Story mode or character roster.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

Ports of video games can be a tricky thing for a variety of reasons. First off when it comes to porting a game there’s already an obvious example of where the quality level should be and secondly gamers can be very particular as to what they expect out of a port.  These days we’ve seen games receive ports that have been less than reputable as they’ve been riddled with issues in the all too important areas of visuals and gameplay.

Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir [Review]

Submitted by Jen Alaggia on Mon, 04/30/2012 - 14:19
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

The game itself is determined to creep the player out, but falls flat due to its dependance on the included AR book. Many (myself included) would argue that survival-horror is a genre best played in the dark, but being forced to play in the daylight or under intensely bright lamps strips the atmosphere and left me playing simply to get through the storyline. The integration of the 3DS' camera is clumsy at best and it's difficult to play in 3D when you have to constantly wave your system around.

The Pros: 

+ Interesting story

+ Battling with ghosts in your living room can at times be seamless and engaging

The Cons: 

- Dependance on included AR book means if you lose sight, the game is interrupted

- Playing with the 3D enabled means you see a lot of blur when moving your system around

- Scary atmosphere is non-existant when playing in bright light 

- Very short title

- Constant static when book view is obscured is incredibly irritating and breaks the illusion

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
5

Were or are you a fan of the Fatal Frame series? I am, a huge one. The idea that you couldn't simply beat what was attacking you with a crowbar until it went away, but rather face it head-on and take a freaking picture, staring right into a ghoulish face, in order to defeat an enemy was the source of many a restless night in the dark. And as a spin-off of such a fantastic series, I wanted to love Spirit Camera so badly. I tried, really I did. But, like math homework, sometimes you miss the common denominator and the formula doesn't work out.

Fez [Review]

Submitted by Michael R. Rousseau on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 15:34
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Fez bends the platforming genre to its will by allowing players to rotate a 3D world and traverse across it as if it were a 2D structure. Along with some relaxing, low-stakes platforming and a focus on collection, Fez features some incredibly complex and demanding puzzles that require some serious attention to detail to solve. This is a game that rewards players according to how deep they want to go, and stands as an example of the level of quality indie games should aspire to.

The Pros: 

+ Perspective-shifting gimmick never gets old

+ Hidden puzzles are challenging and intelligently designed

+ Atmospheric, calm environments are accompanied by a wonderful 8-bit soundtrack

The Cons: 

- Platforming isn’t overly challenging

- Puzzle clues can be impossibly subtle at times

- Occasional slowdown can be a bit disruptive

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Fez, from indie developer Polytron, isn’t an easy game to review. That’s not because it’s bad, disappointing, or polarizing. Fez is a remarkable achievement, and a new touchstone for what indie games can aspire to. It’s difficult to talk about Fez because the less said about the game and its mysteries, the better.

Syndicate content