Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: December 9, 2004

The strategy genre is the one proverbial nut that the console platform has yet to crack; the one genre that consistently produces overly complex, substandard titles. It seems a little odd then, that Korean developer Phantagram would select their flagship strategy franchise as their strongest foray yet into said domain. However, given the complete overhaul that the series received to better tailor itself to console gamers, it appears that Phantagram are resolute in their endeavor. Granted, the always-present concern that there are just too many commands for too few buttons is tough to shake, but this action-strategy hybrid might just be the one to form the mold from which all future games are shaped. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: December 2, 2004

It’s not quite a 20-year-old PC port, but Brian Fargo’s next generation update of his classic RPG retains the spirit and sharp humor of the original Bard’s Tale. However, with infinitely better visuals and audio, and an assortment of gameplay options that simply weren’t possible at the time of the original, Fargo has carte blanche to once again lambaste the storytelling traditions that are as prevalent and hackneyed today as they were two decades ago. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: November 29, 2004

If there lingered any doubts as to where Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima draws inspiration for his legendary game franchise, the third installment in the series should put them safely to rest. With a trippy intro video and references to James Bond movies throughout, Snake Eater is an unmistakable tribute to the classic cold war Connery films. Set in 1960′s Russia, and loaded with intricate new hunting, healing and camouflage systems, I, like many others, can only hope that it’s From Russia With Love for Kojima and the gang. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: November 18, 2004

If there’s one thing that can hurt a game more than bugs, it’s hype. Take Halo 2, Bungie’s follow up to their mildly successful 2001 shooter. With mind numbing visuals, relentless action and a new Xbox Live component, who wouldn’t be excited? The problem is that in this particular instance, the hype machine continued to push forward at full speed until it was revealed that the game could, in fact, cure illness and mend broken bones. Alas, my eyesight is still poor and my knee still aches in the morning, but looking back at it all, was our enthusiasm justified? ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: November 12, 2004

Back when arcades still had a breath of life left in them, sometime around 1993, no game had a longer line than Acclaim’s Mortal Kombat II. Kids waited a solid hour to spend their lunch money in a futile bid to unseat the reigning champion. Skip ahead a decade and the arcade experience has been replaced by Xbox Live, and that geek who mercilessly throttles his competitors is now half the world away. The game itself has changed as well. Levels are much broader in scope, strategies are more complex, and the action is more frantic than ever before. What has not changed, however, is the immense satisfaction you feel after pulling off a fatality on a stranger who’s been talking smack all evening. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: November 5, 2004

Drawing from several sources of inspiration, including Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 2, Codemasters’ Second Sight is another of these famed hybrid games. While secrecy and tactics are important elements in the adventure, it’s tough to classify this title as a stealth-action romp because it is possible to run-and-gun your way through most of the missions. Likewise, intense gunplay is crucial to the completion of many levels, but the presence of special psychic skills similar to magical abilities gives the release a slight hint of role-playing goodness. Whatever genre you include it in, though, the atmospheric Second Sight tells quite a tale. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: November 3, 2004

I never would have thought it possible, but judging from the recent batch of retro-themed shooters flooding the market, the virtual Vietnam is an even bigger disaster than the war itself. The most recent misstep was the directionless ShellShock: Nam ’67, though it didn’t take long for the next potential victim to surface. The question is: What’s so different about Conflict: Vietnam? ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: October 21, 2004

Often accredited with the birth of anime fanaticism in the United States, the Robotech series is older than a large portion of the gaming population. Still, it wasn’t until 2002 that the venerable franchise received its first video game adaptation with Battlecry. While everything from the cel-shaded visuals to the third-person action was designed to instill a nostalgic feeling, the series’ second installment, Invasion, moves in the other direction. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: October 7, 2004

While the thought of an RPG based on the personalities and situations of a comic book doesn’t mesh well with our traditional views of both mediums, if any franchise has a chance of succeeding in such as crossover, it would be Marvel and Activision’s X-Men Legends. Since role-playing releases are almost always based on parties, it’s certainly advantageous to have a team of heroes as opposed to an individual, as with Superman or Spider-Man. Additionally, each character’s mutant powers could easily double for magical spells, another staple of the genre. However, with plenty of fantastic action RPGs already on the market, Legends needs to deliver a solid battle system and make the most of its unique heroes if it hopes to reach beyond the comic fanbase. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: October 4, 2004

With so many realistic, simulation style racers flooding the market at the moment, it sure is nice to see the arcade antics of Burnout back on the Xbox. Now in its third incarnation and under the wing of publishing giant Electronic Arts, the venerable license takes its largest leap forward with all new, over-the-top gameplay mechanics as well as a few not-so-minor tweaks. The most significant of these modifications pertains to the once distinctly separate race and crash events. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: September 22, 2004

Just as football fanatics demand greater control over their athletes and role-players expect the ability to customize their heroes, gear heads, and street racers in particular, are always hungry for a title that will allow them to trick out their vehicles. Need for Speed: Underground no doubt resides on the shelves of these people already, and the prospect of an even deeper, more involving street racer surely has them salivating uncontrollably. Granted, it’s a tough decision for some: whether to spend that $50 on Street Racing Syndicate or a new oversized muffler, but hopefully that decision will be a little easier at the end of this review. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: September 17, 2004

The unofficial, but undeniable torchbearers for the newly reinvigorated turn-based role-playing genre, developer / publisher Nippon Inchi has certainly been busy stateside this past year. With two titles – Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and La Pucelle: Tactics – already in the bag, it’s now time for the company to roll out its big gun. Though Phantom Brave is a spiritual successor to the two aforementioned offerings, it is also the game that bears the least resemblance to its predecessors, or, for that matter, to any other SRPG. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: September 13, 2004

More than five years after the release of The Second Story and 18 months behind the Japanese launch, the aptly named Till the End of Time has finally crossed the Pacific, ending what not only seemed like, but almost was an eternity of waiting. Patience is golden, however, and with a special Director’s Cut, complete with bonus areas, monsters, cutscenes and even a couple of extra playable characters, North American role-players are reaping the benefits of the near torturous wait. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: August 30, 2004

Think back to the days of the original PlayStation; remember that venerable RPG series called Tales of Destiny? Didn’t think so. Like Valkyrie Profile or Xenogears, the Tales franchise was one that garnered little attention relative to juggernauts such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior, but gained a sort of cult following in subsequent years. How much things have changed just a generation later. With GameCube owners famished for a good role-playing adventure, the hype surrounding Tales of Symphonia has grown to a feverous pitch. ( read more… )

Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: August 19, 2004

Overshadowed by the trumpeted arrival of the professional-league football games, NCAA 2005 is somewhat like the Viewtiful Joe for football aficionados. Still, even though it’s a bit of a niche title, the world of college sports is a very large niche indeed, and fans aren’t about to let the developers off the hook if they botch this year’s installment. Fortunately for Xbox owners, Microsoft and Electronic Arts seem to have settled their differences, and for the first time ever EA’s sports lineup will come packaged with Xbox Live compatibility. ( read more… )