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Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 15:25
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Overall Feeling: 

Blood Dragons is a love-letter to b-movie sci-fi films from the 1980s. It is genius in its satirical take on the iconic sub-culture of the material itself as well as video games in general. Fans of action movies, the 80s, satire, or just goofy action games in general will fall in love with this game before the tutorial is completed.

The Pros: 

+Great sense of humor. 

+Sense of loyality its inspiration (80s action films).

+Same great gameplay of its predecessor (Far Cry 3). 

+Stunning visuals (both the neon in-game, and the 16-bit cut-scenes).

The Cons: 

-Character customization has been almost completely removed to make way for a straight forward leveling system (earn a level, get a new game-choosen ability).

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

Far Cry: Blood Dragon is a perfect, or rather the only, example of what fans of the 80s sci-fi/action b-movie genre have been hoping for out of video games for about the last 30 years. Of course that’s a pretty ridiculous standard for Ubisoft to try and live up to… but it was refreshing to see how serious, or rather not-serious, the team building the game took the project.

The Last of Us: American Dreams - Issue 1 [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Sat, 04/06/2013 - 13:32
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Overall Feeling: 

Expanding upon the lore of The Last of Us, American Dreams delivers a brilliant narrative focused on character building and making us, the readers, immediately care about what’s going on.  Presented with some beautiful art that blends an element of style with reality without ever going over the edge, it’s nice to receive a comic that simply isn’t a marketing tool.  It may be too early to peg The Last of Us: American Dreams as a breakout hit of 2013, but as of now the comic is certainly on the path of such a thing if the first issue is indicative of the overall quality of the series.

The Pros: 

+ Writing is perfect in the tone it captures.
+ Faith Erin Hick’s art style really creates a wonderful mood in the game along with being nice to look at.
+ The story isn’t being too obvious in laying out clues or point blank telling us the history of everything.

The Cons: 

- This was only the first issue and I want more immediately.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Taking something from one medium to another is by no means an easy feat nor is it one that results in immediate success.  At times some rather brilliant moves can be done when a film/TV show is expanded upon by becoming a novel or something else, yet most of the time it’s obvious we’re only receiving a franchise expansion as a means of a marketing tool.

God of War: Ascension [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Sat, 03/16/2013 - 07:51
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Overall Feeling: 

Once again technically impressive, the ever amazing visuals can’t save God of War: Ascension from being a rather tepid and disappointing game.  Lacking a true sense of soul and direction, Ascension seems to be all over the place with pacing that never finds its footing, combat that is riddled with small issues that prevent it from feeling refined or evolved, and a story that literally does nothing to advance or deepen the existing God of War mythos.  Aside from a surprisingly deep and fun multiplayer mode, this latest entry in the God of War series sadly shows major franchise fatigue that will likely have the biggest fans of Kratos disappointed with what has been delivered to them.

The Pros: 

+ Beautifully rendered worlds with varied art design.
+ Set-piece moments are impressive for their sheer size and scope.
+ Voice acting is solid as always, even in the case of Kratos being scaled back.
+ Multiplayer mode is implemented well and is rather addicting.

The Cons: 

- Pacing feels uneven and in some cases comes across as padded to lengthen the experience.
- Story is disappointing as it fails to expand the lore and further build up Kratos as a character.
- Combat feels uneven due to weak sub-systems and frustrating enemy habits.
- A lot of the puzzles and even the boss battles feel like they’re on autopilot since there’s no spirit to them.
- Sound design is horrendous and the soundtrack is lackluster compared to the works of Gerard K. Marino.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

The ever fierce warrior that is Kratos has returned for battle once again, yet this time the adventure he embarks on isn’t as memorable as his past efforts. As gamers I think we always have a lingering fear in the back of our minds that one of our favorite franchises may grow tiring, even if it maintains a level of quality that puts other titles to shame.  Rarely do we see top-tier games fall into a rut of things seeming complacent, but with God of War: Ascension such a thing is apparent in a game that despite the stunning visuals feels a bit stale and simply tired.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 02/27/2013 - 07:56
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Overall Feeling: 

Opting not to re-invent the series into something it isn’t, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time instead takes a few side paths that lead to a game which feels a bit muddled and unfocused compared to past installments in the series.  The new element of providing gameplay variety in the form of Sly’s descendants is nice, though it ultimately doesn’t add much since the game feels very linear and not as skillful as the series once was.  Developer Sanzaru Games has done a nice job of continuing the work they started in the Sly Collection in retaining the vibe originally created by Sucker Punch, but if we’re lucky to receive another Sly game I hope they stick to the basics instead of throwing in half a dozen elements that don’t work well together.

The Pros: 

+ The classic Sly banter is still present in well written dialog.
+ With a fresh coat of paint applied to it the graphics and art style are still dazzling.
+ Controls feel tight since platforming as a master thief is still accessible.

The Cons: 

- Certain mini-games don’t work that well as they disrupt the flow of everything.
- Platforming sections are extremely brief and limited in their scope.
- Missions feel too restrictive and have a similar tone to them.
- Load times are long both on the PS3 and PS Vita versions.
- Some characters fall a bit flat in their execution thanks to iffy writing and poor conceptualization.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
6

Expectations can be an absolutely evil thing when you think about it. While it’s almost human nature for all of us to get excited about something, hyping ourselves up too much often results in one thing: disappointment.  Every now and then our feelings about a game will be justified in a positive way, but more often than not we find ourselves yearning for more and wishing things were different once we finally play a game. I know I felt such things as I played Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time as the game sadly failed to live up to the immediate magic of the past entries in the series.

Haunt the House: Terrortown [PlayStation Mobile Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 01/09/2013 - 09:21
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Overall Feeling: 

Adding a little humor and charm to PlayStation Mobile without being overly saccharine, Haunt the House: Terrortown is an enjoyable offering that’s simply hampered by its dearth of longstanding content.  The gameplay within Haunt the House is easy to get into and is filled with laughs, yet it does seem to be lacking a sense of skill that would push it over the top in the fun department.  Minor gameplay shortcomings aside, there isn’t much to harp on in Haunt the House aside from the small selection of levels, which even then provide a nice amount of fun.

The Pros: 

+ Premise is fun and well executed.
+ Art style is perfect for the tone and is one of the most polished games to appear on PlayStation Mobile.
+ Controls are easy since performing ghost possessions is a breeze.

The Cons: 

- Content is a bit lacking due to the small selection of levels.
- Gameplay feels a bit underutilized in how things are presented.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
7

At times it can seem like a given project, or a service in this case, can be practically dead due to the lack of info or promotion we receive for it.  Usually at the end of the day what makes something a hit no matter what is whether or not people know about it, and in the case of the PlayStation Mobile it seems like not a lot of people know that the service provides quality games.

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.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 11/26/2012 - 10:17
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Overall Feeling: 

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale may fall short from being a complete celebration of the PlayStation brand due to some ho-hum design and presentation choices, but as a brawler the game excels at being fun.  Thanks to a nice amount of depth in how moves can be pulled off, PS All-Stars goes beyond being a button smasher as some thought needs to be put into battles, especially those that take place online or in a local competitive romp. If you’ve been a longtime fan of the PlayStation brand then PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale will likely put a huge smile on your face once you pick the controller up and suddenly see Sackboy deliver a suplex to Nathan Drake.

The Pros: 

+ The characters feel good to control and it’s amazing to see how they’ve been transformed for a fighting game.
+ Graphics stay consistent and feature some impressive effects and scale.
+ Controls are easy to get a grip of.
+ Online action is mostly free of annoyances such as lag or slow matchmaking.

The Cons: 

- Lack of a more cohesive or well-rounded story in the Arcade mode is disappointing.
- Certain characters don’t feel broken but could do with some more tuning.
- Presentation lacks a PlayStation personality to it as its plain in some areas.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

To a lot of people out there playing video games is nothing more than an occasional hobby, something that’s done to pass the time while on the bus or serving as the only outlet they have to be an all-star quarterback or take the Chicago Cubs to World Series and actually win.  Like anything, there are different levels of fandom since some people look at gaming as an intense passion and something they hold close to their heart.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 13:22
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Overall Feeling: 

As a game Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified is kind of okay. Seriously, it isn’t that bad since the controls feel good and are responsive and the graphics border on being just okay.  The problem is that the game doesn’t feel like a true CoD experience due to the lack of a traditional story mode and lackluster multiplayer components that feel like a few features were thrown in and it was called a day.  That along with some rather poor A.I. design which has enemies who are all too willing to die makes for a game that definitely isn’t worth $50.

The Pros: 

+ Controls are good, even if they take some getting used to.
+ Graphics still aren’t great but they seem to be slightly improved compared to Resistance: Burning Skies.
+ Online performance was shockingly smooth and hitch free.

The Cons: 

- Single-player content is severely lacking in appeal and replay options.
- Enemy A.I. is laughable in how eager they are to die.
- Multiplayer modes feel weak due to the limited options.
- Where are the now expected CoD features like CoD: Elite or the Zombies mode?
- Price is simply way too high as this isn’t a traditional or console level CoD game that can be taken on the go.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
4

At long last I found myself with the potential savior of the PlayStation Vita. So far Sony’s handheld has had some decent titles, but none of the have really had the massive worldwide appeal found in the Call of Duty series. So the arrival of Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, which in my case was procured through Gamefly since Activision wouldn’t send us a review code, was kind of a big deal for me. 

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