Gaming Review – Shank

Shank’s revenge story might be a tale as old as time, but that is where the comparisons to a Disney film end.  Instead it provides a gruesome blood bath of 2D side-scrolling violence that would do Quentin Tarantino proud in many ways.

The player will take control of the title character, wielding an array of weapons to slice, shoot, and blow up goon after muscular goon that protect those who have made it onto Shank’s kill list, a la the bride’s in Kill Bill. And just like her, Shank has no hesitation in leaving unburied mass graves in his wake.  The controls of the game are familiar to most gamers with the simple options of jumping, light and heavy attacks, blocking, etc., with the different weapons picked up throughout the gameplay providing a nice variety to the action.  Whether you choose to button mash your way out of a corner or add a little thought to the mindless violence by figuring out the best way to take down the different opponents, Shank will look great massacring whoever is stupid enough to come up against him. [Read more...]

Gaming Review – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game

For weeks now Playstation 3 owners have known what it is like to be Scott Pilgrim while the rest of us (I am including me because of my achievement whore status) have had to sit and live vicariously through the film and books.  Now with the recent release on the Xbox 360 Arcade everyone can feel just how epic it is to live as Pilgrim in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

This game is no different from any incarnation of this story in that the player will work through seven levels with one of Ramona’s evil exes acting as a boss to defeat before moving on to the next.  However, this time around instead of just fighting as the title character, now Ramona, Kim, and Stephen are playable as well.  All four stay true to the spirit of their respective characters with hints at personality traits and signature moves to lash out at the throngs of thugs with, evolving more as they level up throughout the progression of the game. [Read more...]

Gaming Review – Mafia II

In all honestly I wasn’t expecting too much from my time with Mafia II because I was never able to finish the one Grand Theft Auto game I started because the gameplay just wasn’t for me (which Mafia II closely resembles), and in all honesty I think The Godfather is pretty overrated.  With that said I decided to give this game a try anyway because the video footage I had seen prior did seem pretty promising.  Before I knew it I was so immersed in the game that my inner voice was verging on switching over to a poor imitation Don Corleone’s speech.  It may not be perfect, but that’s a pretty powerful game in my opinion.

It might be well known that it is hard out here for a pimp, but no rap song is necessary to know that the mafia is no picnic either.  In Mafia II, protagonist Vito Scaletta knows this better than anyone.  In order to escape the poverty he was raised in he turns to crime, a lifestyle that will eventually lead to the organized variety with his entry into the mafia of Empire Bay, a path he hopes will lead to him having everything he ever wanted but never had. [Read more...]

Gaming Review – Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

With the current surge in popularity of Nathan Drake’s treasure seeking world travels in the Uncharted series it would be expected that Lara Croft is feeling a little worried.  However, with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light it is clear that she is too busy using the torch while raiding tombs to pass it off to Drake just yet.

At the start of Guardian of Light Lara has already found the treasure nestled deep within the Yucatan, but before she can start her victory dance an ancient evil is released from within the item.  Now she must work with the reanimated guardian to put it back in its prison before the sun rises.  With that said the co-op option is not online yet, so if you are of the solo sort then “working with” Totec is not quite accurate.  More like he goes his way and Lara goes hers, leaving her to fend for herself in this large labyrinth of jungle and dungeons.  But no matter, even without him tagging along there is still plenty of fun to be had. [Read more...]

Gaming Review – Limbo

Summertime might be all about the sunny days, but the Summer of Arcade on XBOX Live is starting things off a tad bit gloomier with Playdead’s Limbo.

At the start of the game the player wakes in the body of a young boy lying alone in a grassy field. Similar to Remedy’s Alan Wake (released back in May), Limbo sets the tone of the game through the environment.  Without any indication of his thoughts or explanation for the path he must take, he sets off through this dark world that alludes strongly to the old German Expressionism films (think the horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari).  What little light is given fluctuates as the world moves in and out of focus within a screen that fades to black around the edges, filled only with the silhouettes of set pieces, moveable objects, obstacles, dead bodies, and the boy himself.  Similarly to the aesthetics, the soundtrack gives little comfort to the player.  Instead there is almost no sound, with only the faint calls of indistinguishable animals, dripping water, and noises of the dangers lurking ahead providing muddy audio cues. [Read more...]

Gaming Review – Red Dead Redemption

If ever there was a time to use the word “epic,” now seems mighty fitting.  Red Dead Redemption offers a grand look at the days of the Old West (well… South.  This is on the border of Mexico after all) without the fear of family members dying of some random disease or a wagon yoke breaking along the way (first reference to Oregon Trail 2 in the bag).  So saddle up and get ready for the ride of your life.  Unless you get stuck with a mule (such is the case when starting out the Free Roam multiplayer experience); then you will have to wait a little bit for the ride of your life…

With the changing times slowly effecting the disorderly, live-and-die-by-your-own-rules ways of the United States, John Marston decided to hang up his holster, giving up his life in a gang for a respectable life that his family could be proud of.  Unfortunately for him, a life of crime leads to quite a reputation in certain circles, and this reputation is what leads to trouble knocking on his front door.  Seeing his past as their way to spread their influence and power over the area, a group of government agents kidnap Marston’s wife and son with the promise that they will not be harmed as long as he helps them hunt down the gang that he once rode with. [Read more...]

E3 2010: Microsoft, Sony, & Nintendo Press Conference Reflections

So the biggest week of the year for the video game world is here and it started these last two days with the annual first party conferences where the Big Three unveil there plans for the year to come.  With everyone still on a major console release freeze we are instead being introduced to the current hot properties for Big Three, gaming for everyone and motion control.

Now Nintendo has a head start on this mindset as this is what they have spent the last few years building Wii around, motion controls and games for everyone, so Microsoft and Sony used much of their space to debut and show off their entries into the motion gaming world.  I will take this company by company and share my thoughts on how excited I am for the next year based on their E3 showings.

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Gaming Review – Splinter Cell: Conviction

Side note:  This is just a review for the main single player campaign for the game because I am still waiting for someone (*cough* Zac *cough*) to play the co-op portion to the game.

Sam Fisher has gone off the map in Splinter Cell: Conviction without his gadgets, secret government agency backing him up, and without his daughter.  The one thing he does have is the tenacity to find out the story behind her death.  It may be a sad undertaking for him, but it sure is fun for the player to see him angry, and I sure do like him when he’s angry.

The gameplay is pretty simple in this incarnation, taking on a more action adventure feel to it in the vein of the Uncharted 2 and Arkham Asylum, which is right up my alley.  In the beginning of the game Sam is working with the bare minimum of gadgets to cycle through on the controls, sticking with the basic gun/explosives combo to go about his business.  With just these, a mirror (eventually a snake cam), and a soft step Sam has to work his way through some streets and buildings with some pretty dumb thugs to take out from the shadows. [Read more...]

Gaming Review – Mass Effect 2: Kasumi’s Stolen Memory DLC

The first DLC pack with a price tag for Mass Effect 2 was released last week, and though it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations I had, it is a decent enough experience while it lasts.

Kasumi’s Stolen Memory introduces another addition to Shepard’s squad.  Keeping with the team of many talents, Kasumi offers up some pretty nice skills thanks to her master thief career path, which is exactly why she has been recommended for your mission (if you have already completed this mission as I have, AKA beaten the game, then just consider it one less vacancy on the Normandy.  Stupid Collectors…).  In return for her services she asks the favor that Shepard help steal back something that was stolen from her late partner. [Read more...]

Q&A Review – Mass Effect 2

Below you will find a Q&A between Lauren and myself in which we had a casual conversation over Mass Effect 2 and what we liked and disliked about the game, or expectations going in, and our outlook on the future of the series.  So take a look if you are a fan of the series or gaming after getting pumped with one of the best video game trailers in recent memory.

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Perfect Dark on XBLA to have Online Multiplayer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! This is the most amazing news ever, I am going to loose myself to this damn thing.  Check out some articles from Kotaku and IGN for hands on impressions, it will only cost 800 MS Points ($10) and might get future DLC in the way of maps and weapons if it does well.  You will also be able to play co-op and counter co-op online and I am sure leader boards will pop up as well.  Can, not, wait! I will see you in the Facility, holding the bathroom, sometime in March.

Gaming Review – Gears of War

Side note – Because I am so popular… Okay, because I have one other friend that has this game, I have yet to just play it by myself so everything I say is in response to the co-op campaign mode of the game.

I may have made a mistake by playing the sequel to this game first, but Gears of War remains a great game despite all of the noticeable flaws that were fixed for the second game.
Gears of War takes place years following an event known as Emergence Day, which marks the day when creatures known as Locusts attacked and killed huge numbers of humans. Though the humans were able to strike back, much of the planet and its cities were destroyed in the process. The player takes control of Marcus Fenix (unless you play as his squad mate Dom in co-op), one of the built-like-a-bodybuilder COG soldiers who found himself in prison after defying orders during the initial days following Emergence Day. Now he is out and has plenty of opportunities to release any pent up aggression he may have thanks to the continuing attacks from the Locust. [Read more...]