Review by: Jeff Burke
Published: December 29, 2005

Being deep rooted in what is now the very definition of a platform game, the Castlevania
franchise has brought us from its humble beginnings in 1986 to a few months before what could be its 20th anniversary, and what do we have to show for it? When will Konami learn what that people want? I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself; I want a 2D Castlevania on a console. ( read more… )

Review by: Greg Niehaus
Published: December 7, 2005

Here’s something to ponder: how many games can you think of that take place in the old west? I’m willing to bet not many. Now take the smattering of western titles you can think of, and pick out all the ones you would say should define a genre. You don’t even have enough for one handful do you? Guess what; now you have one. ( read more… )

Review by: Jeff Burke
Published: December 5, 2005

“New York City, 1979. A battle on the streets of New York. The armies of the night number 60,000 strong, and tonight they’re all after The Warriors– a street gang wrongly accused of killing a rival gang leader. The Warriors must make their way from one end of New York to their turf on the other side of the city. ( read more… )

Review by: Jeff Burke
Published: November 3, 2005

It’s odd that I somehow feel guilty for not being a fan of the zombie genre. I enjoy George Romero films as much as the next person, but I found that agreed with critics on their opinions of the 3rd and 4th “Dead” movies, and found a lot of enjoyment from the movies after that. The Resident Evil franchise offers some amazing games, and it is absolutely deserving of being influential to the zombie genre. So what do I think of what some of the minds behind the Halo series has done to the genre? Something it needed– a comedic change from a new point of view that doesn’t take itself too seriously. ( read more… )

Review by: Jeff Burke
Published: May 12, 2005

Jade Empire was the game set to bring Role-Playing-Games (RPGs) to the masses. Combining a popular console action game with a RPG was a sure fire great way to market a genre that often gets overlooked as a Japanese-Anime-Comic Book-Nerd-Only sign was on the front of the box. Maybe it’s the pages of text associated with RPGs, the time consuming fashion in which you shape and mold your character, or the complexity of managing all of the aspects of a RPG that turns people away. ( read more… )

Review by: Jeff Burke
Published: Jan 10, 2005

Left up to game developers, the future looks quite grim. Maybe it is just a reflection of the classic “Man versus” struggle or the public’s desire to see the grit and grim of modern warfare. With so much of it in the news nowadays, it only makes sense for development houses to capitalize on it. Granted, there have been other “near future” shooters in the past, for example: any number of games under the Tom Clancy franchise, but Mercenaries truly manages to come across with something new and unique. ( read more… )

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: Michael Rack
Published: November 24, 2004

The console industry is now leaning heavily into online play, but 3D brawlers have only begun to scratch the surface. Mortal Kombat: Deception recently broke the seal, but right on its heels came Dead or Alive Ultimate, with an entirely different idiom. While the former exists in a realm drenched in blood and evil, the latter takes a softer approach, showcasing the fairer sex in breathtaking environments. This title is essentially a remake of Dead or Alive 2, but with a hefty graphical overhaul and Xbox Live support. The original that started it all is also included with online play, but with the original graphics for that old school feel. ( 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 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: Michael Rack
Published: September 27, 2004

I can only imagine the terror felt by game store employees when Fable finally hit the shelves. I’m sure they had to field countless, “Are we there yet?” calls, placate angry consumers demanding satisfaction, and mop the floors clean of drool from mobs of eager Xbox owners (myself included) frothing at the mouth to get their hands on what was expected to be the next big thing – the legendary Morrowind-killer. After all, few titles are so thoroughly hyped for so long, carrying gamers’ anticipation levels high enough to touch the sun. To make matters worse, the Xbox is still light on RPGs, so demand is very much in the red zone. However, many cried foul prior to Fable‘s release, citing a list of dropped features which cast some doubt on its opening. Now, only one question remains: Was it worth the four-year wait? ( read more… )