Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Saints Row: Gat out of Hell review: Shout at the Devil]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/saints-row-gat-out-of-hell-review-shout-at-the-devil/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/saints-row-gat-out-of-hell-review-shout-at-the-devil/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/saints-row-gat-out-of-hell-review-shout-at-the-devil/#commentsXbox 360, PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4
If your best friend, a person who has saved your life countless times (often in super-cool, action movie fashion), was sucked into hell, would you go after them? Of course not, that's ludicrous. That poor schmuck is on their own. But you're not Johnny Gat, resident murder-happy antihero of the Third Street Saints. When Johnny's best pal is pulled into the netherworld, he jumps in after him, guns blazing. Through bat-winged demons, flaming monster trucks and historically questionable playwrights, Johnny will do whatever he can to save his friend, especially if it involves punching Satan in the face.

With that succinct intro, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell drops players into a netherworld that's equal parts Hieronymous Bosch, Megadeth album covers and the 1989 Beetlejuice cartoon series. Concrete roads crack and spiral around pits of molten lava while glowing obelisks hover ominously above crowds of shambling, doomed souls huddled within a twisted mockery of a human metropolis. It's gorgeous, in a grim sort of way, and is pocked with all kinds of neat diversions and fun excuses for Johnny to test his new demonic superpowers. Saints Row: Gat out of Hell is developer Volition's most successful attempt at proving that a license is not required for a great, open-world superhero game, though a too short run time, a few technical flaws and some odd design choices keep it from eclipsing Saints Row 4.

Continue reading Saints Row: Gat out of Hell review: Shout at the Devil

JoystiqSaints Row: Gat out of Hell review: Shout at the Devil originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2015 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3ps4saints-row-4saints-row-gat-out-of-hellxboxxbox-oneMon, 19 Jan 2015 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq isn't scoring reviews anymore, and here's why]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/joystiq-isnt-scoring-reviews-anymore-and-heres-why/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/joystiq-isnt-scoring-reviews-anymore-and-heres-why/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/joystiq-isnt-scoring-reviews-anymore-and-heres-why/#comments Ever since we started publishing reviews here at Joystiq, we've striven to deliver the most timely and definitive critiques we can. The word "definitive" is important in this conversation, because things don't get much more definitive than a review score. The very purpose of a score is to define something entirely nebulous and subjective - fun - as narrowly as possible. The problem is that narrowing down something as broad and fluid as a video game isn't truly useful, especially in today's industry.

Between pre-release reviews, post-release patching, online connectivity, server stability and myriad other unforeseeable possibilities, attaching a concrete score to a new game just isn't practical. More importantly, it's not helpful to our readers.

For that reason, above all others, we've decided that Joystiq will no longer score its reviews. Don't worry, we'll still give you a reason to scroll past the review before actually reading it (it's okay, we all do it), but the information you'll find will be more helpful and meaningful than a handful of stars. I've been mulling over this decision for several months and, after discussing it with the rest of the Joystiq staff, we decided that the new year was the perfect time to flip the switch. For a rundown of why 2014 was the year that broke the critic's back, and exactly how our new system will work, read on.

Continue reading Joystiq isn't scoring reviews anymore, and here's why

JoystiqJoystiq isn't scoring reviews anymore, and here's why originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialin-other-wordsreviewsTue, 13 Jan 2015 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[The Talos Principle review: God in the machine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/the-talos-principle-review-god-in-the-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/the-talos-principle-review-god-in-the-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/the-talos-principle-review-god-in-the-machine/#commentsMac, PC, Linux
Often, performing routine tasks can provide unexpected clarity: You think of the perfect ending for your short story while in the shower, or realize the best comeback while riding your bike down a familiar street - three hours after the actual argument. Or, you finally understand the true nature of consciousness while angling a laser beam into a portal beside a door.

The Talos Principle takes advantage of this vague phenomenon, presenting a series of straightforward physics- and tetromino-based puzzles within a deeply introspective, proddingly philosophical narrative. It could have easily been a puzzle game and nothing else - and its intricate puzzles could sustain it on their own - but The Talos Principle offers an intelligent story packed with history and the quiet questions we ask ourselves just before falling asleep. It's mysterious and haunting, creative and beautiful - and loads of fun.

Continue reading The Talos Principle review: God in the machine

JoystiqThe Talos Principle review: God in the machine originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CroTeamdevolver-digitaljoystiq-excellence-award-2015macpcrecommendedthe-talos-principleTue, 13 Jan 2015 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Kalimba review: Co-op will tear us apart]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/kalimba-review-co-op-will-tear-us-apart/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/kalimba-review-co-op-will-tear-us-apart/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/kalimba-review-co-op-will-tear-us-apart/#commentsXbox One
Co-op has brought me some of the greatest joy I've ever experienced in games. It also frequently leads to bouts of murderous rage. The co-op in Kalimba, a stylish Xbox One-exclusive puzzle-platformer from the creator of Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, falls more in the second category, and is more likely to inspire anger and hurt feelings than elation.

Kalimba offers a distinct co-op campaign in addition to a collection of single-player levels. Beware, though: You and your co-op partner must be on the same skill level and puzzle-solving wavelength in order to make any progress whatsoever. If you want to learn who your true friends are, it's anyone who doesn't bludgeon you to death with an Xbox One controller after spending half an hour with Kalimba.

Continue reading Kalimba review: Co-op will tear us apart

JoystiqKalimba review: Co-op will tear us apart originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kalimbamicrosoftpress-playxbox-oneWed, 31 Dec 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- review: Technical knockout]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/guilty-gear-xrd-sign-review-technical-knockout/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/guilty-gear-xrd-sign-review-technical-knockout/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/guilty-gear-xrd-sign-review-technical-knockout/#commentsPS4, PS3
​Not everything that glitters is gold, but sometimes that glitter can go a long way. Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, the latest fighting game from Arc System Works, handily demonstrates this tweaked adage. Despite carrying over many characters and gameplay elements from the niche-hit Guilty Gear series, this entry adds a wholly new graphics engine that trades 2D sprites for cel-shaded 3D models. The result is a hyper-kinectic 3D fighter that looks like a very attractive 2D fighter while retaining a few neat gimmicks only possible in the third dimension.

But beneath that glossy exterior lies an anemic framework. What's there is great, both aesthetically and mechanically, but what's there is also relatively scant. It's hard to dislike Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- because it does so many things well, but the level of quality present in the game only makes you wonder how much better it might have been had the developers added a few more fighters and gameplay modes.

Continue reading Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- review: Technical knockout

JoystiqGuilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- review: Technical knockout originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aksysAksys-Gamesarc-system-worksguilty-gear-xrd-signplaystationps3ps4Tue, 23 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xeodrifter review: Snacktroid]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/17/xeodrifter-review-snacktroid/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/17/xeodrifter-review-snacktroid/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/17/xeodrifter-review-snacktroid/#comments3DS, PC
There's a purity to Xeodrifter that I really admire. The 2D action exploration game is brief, but Xeodrifter explores its simple, well-executed mechanics to a T. It takes the best elements of other exploration-driven action games like Castlevania and Metroid and packs them neatly into a handful of hours.

Nimbly rewarding you with health extensions, gun upgrades and special abilities along the way, Xeodrifter plays something like a "greatest hits" compilation of the genre, though not without adding a few B-sides of its own. Before long, you'll be running at turbo speed, soaring into the sky with rocket-propelled leaps and cleaving your way through enemies with enhanced firepower.

There's no cruft, no filler - just a competent, compact adventure.

Continue reading Xeodrifter review: Snacktroid

JoystiqXeodrifter review: Snacktroid originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Dec 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsnintendopcxeodrifterWed, 17 Dec 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Never Alone review: Into the storm]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/never-alone-review-into-the-storm/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/never-alone-review-into-the-storm/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/never-alone-review-into-the-storm/#commentsXbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
​Never Alone has a message - but first and foremost it is a truly beautiful game. It turns an ancient legend from Alaska Natives, the Iñupiat, into a harrowing yet enlightening journey through ice and fire. It's a platformer set in the harsh, frozen landscape of rural Alaska, starring a young girl and an Arctic Fox that calls upon spirits to guide her to the source of a foul blizzard ravaging her community. The game also features a series of short documentaries about the Iñupiat: These bits of reality are scattered throughout, between chapters and at checkpoints, and players can choose to watch or ignore them.

Never Alone is beautiful on multiple levels. The art is gorgeous, an exaggerated 3D style that seems to reference Scrimshaw and the cartoonishness of Majora's Mask in one fell swoop. The platforming action is harrowing and satisfying, for the most part, especially if you can bring a friend. The environments are elegant, filled with icy blues and deep, dark waters. The messages contained in the game's mini documentaries are enlightening and educational, inviting players into a world they may otherwise never see.

Continue reading Never Alone review: Into the storm

JoystiqNever Alone review: Into the storm originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Dec 2014 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnever-alonepcplaystationps4Upper-One-Gamesxbox-oneWed, 10 Dec 2014 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Crew review: U-turn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/the-crew-review-u-turn/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/the-crew-review-u-turn/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/the-crew-review-u-turn/#commentsXbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PC
In the course of the last console generation, Ubisoft has gone from "the French publisher behind the Tom Clancy games" to the world's leading creator of lucrative open-world sandbox franchises (by quantity, if not quality). This success hinges on a simple formula shared by all of Ubisoft's open-world games: Large, interesting worlds plus tons of things to see and do equals happy customers. Based on massive sales and a decade of largely positive critical response, this seems like a solid and, more crucially, reproducible formula.

With The Crew, Ubisoft and developer Ivory Tower hope to apply those principles to the world of arcade-style racing games while also tacking on an omnipresent multiplayer component that supposedly makes the game's world - an abridged take on the entire contiguous United States - feel more alive, while also making it simple and fun to race around the country with your friends online. It's an idea that's undeniably ambitious and, if executed properly, could propel The Crew to the front of the racing game pack. Unfortunately, this racer is more Yugo than Porsche.

Continue reading The Crew review: U-turn

JoystiqThe Crew review: U-turn originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ivory-towermicrosoftpcplaystationps4the-crewubisoftxboxxbox-oneWed, 10 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris review: Danger zone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/lara-croft-and-the-temple-of-osiris-review-danger-zone/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/lara-croft-and-the-temple-of-osiris-review-danger-zone/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/lara-croft-and-the-temple-of-osiris-review-danger-zone/#commentsXbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
If you've got some friends over and are itching for game that requires teamwork, coordination, planning and lots and lots of yelling, then you'll be well pleased by Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, the isometric-view follow-up to the excellent Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Quick tip about the yelling before we move on: Urging your friend to "go there and stand on the THING" really isn't nearly as helpful as it sounds in your head.

The gist of Temple of Osiris is that Lara and rival archaeologist Carter started a chain reaction of whoops when they grabbed the staff of Egyptian god Osiris, an ancient and (surprise!) magical artifact. First, they released Osiris' wife, Isis, and her son, Horus (also gods), from imprisonment, which is the good news. The slightly less great news is that they also gave the evil Set (yep, he's a god, too) a way out of Duat - the underworld - where he'd been trapped ever since he chopped his brother Osiris into pieces and scattered him around Egypt. As if that particular family reunion wasn't awkward enough, a giant crocodile named Ammit has you marked for death and won't stop coming for you until you've been eaten in one gulp.

The solution to your croc-entree problems is to track down the pieces of Osiris and restore him to power so that he can take down his brother Set. His pieces are hidden in a number of trap-laden tombs teeming with giant scarabs and undead nasties. As fate would have it, though, Lara just happens to have some expertise in this area.

Continue reading Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris review: Danger zone

JoystiqLara Croft and the Temple of Osiris review: Danger zone originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Dec 2014 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crystal-Dynamicslara-croft-and-the-temple-of-osirismicrosoftpcplaystationps3ps4xboxxbox-oneTue, 09 Dec 2014 10:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones Episode One review: Baptism by ice]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/02/game-of-thrones-episode-one-review-baptism-by-ice/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/02/game-of-thrones-episode-one-review-baptism-by-ice/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/02/game-of-thrones-episode-one-review-baptism-by-ice/#commentsXbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac, iOS
The good news about Telltale Games' Game of Thrones is that it is very, very Game of Thrones. It captures perfectly the machinations, intrigue and violence that are the hallmark of the show - which is why, of course, its fidelity to its source material is also the bad news. You can say all the right things and still have everything go horribly wrong, your fate changing irreparably because of someone's malicious whim. It makes for a faithful adaptation of the popular HBO show based on the even more popular series of books, undoubtedly filling some players with despair and others with a fire to claw their way to the Iron Throne.

Telltale's Game of Thrones absolutely assumes that you are not only familiar with the show (or the books, potentially, though the game is very much based on the world created by the show, using voices and likenesses of the cast) but also fairly up to date. Without getting into spoiler territory, when the game begins, Joffrey isn't married, but Robb Stark is, and if the significance of either event is lost on you, you'll be baffled by most of what happens in the episode. The game makes no effort to explain to newcomers what a Maester or Septa is, why cozying up to Tyrion is not without its complications, or why it would be bad to be brother and sister the way Jamie and Cersei are. It doesn't take a devotee of the show to grasp the import of bad people tormenting decent people, but the nuance will be lost and, in Westeros, nuance is often the difference between life and death.

Continue reading Game of Thrones Episode One review: Baptism by ice

JoystiqGame of Thrones Episode One review: Baptism by ice originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2014 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-of-thrones-a-telltale-games-seriesiosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3ps4telltaleTellTale-Gamesxboxxbox-oneTue, 02 Dec 2014 02:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker review - Locked and Toaded]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/captain-toad-treasure-tracker-review-locked-and-toaded/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/captain-toad-treasure-tracker-review-locked-and-toaded/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/captain-toad-treasure-tracker-review-locked-and-toaded/#commentsWii U
Toad doesn't get the credit he deserves. He helpfully points you in the right direction whenever the princess is in another castle. His small size is an aerodynamic advantage when you plop him in a go-kart. And he was always willing to give you items in Super Mario 3D World, even after you thanked him with a fireball to the face.

Now, Toad's distant relative, Captain Toad, has taken off on an adventure of his own. While Mario and company were off fighting Bowser in 3D World, Captain Toad starred in a series of unique puzzle levels that stood out thanks to their compact size and laid-back pacing. These levels made such a strong impression that they landed him a starring role in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, a fully fledged spin-off release for the Wii U.

While I wondered if Captain Toad's limited capabilities and the small scale of his adventures could support a full retail release, Treasure Tracker emerges as a pleasant surprise. It fully explores its limited scope, and offers a satisfying quest in its own right.

Continue reading Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker review - Locked and Toaded

JoystiqCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker review - Locked and Toaded originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captain-toad-treasure-trackernintendowii-uMon, 01 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions review: Game cubed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/geometry-wars-3-dimensions-review-game-cubed/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/geometry-wars-3-dimensions-review-game-cubed/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/geometry-wars-3-dimensions-review-game-cubed/#commentsPS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Mac
In 2008, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 was the ruler (pun intended) of Xbox Live. It riffed on Asteroids aptly, mixing simple, refined shoot-em-up with a hypnotic techno frenzy. Like a three-legged pub crawl with tequila shots, it delivered in short, impelling bursts that kept you drunkenly chasing high scores through the night, or at least until your thumbs passed out. In short, it was a black hole of time in the best possible way.

After such a siesta, it's hard to see Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions outside of what came before. Oddly enough, it's a sometimes overlooked Geometry Wars entry, Galaxies, that brings the most enjoyable component to developer Lucid Games' revival: a dense, challenge-based campaign. In contrast, GW3's freshest defining quality, the third dimension, doesn't make the same impact. If you view GW3 in the inebriated, blurry lens of GW2 it comes up a little short. Take a more sober look at it, and it's a welcome, faithful enough return that you can still sink plenty into.

Continue reading Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions review: Game cubed

JoystiqGeometry Wars 3: Dimensions review: Game cubed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Nov 2014 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisiongeometry-wars-3-dimensionslucid-gamesmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ps4Sierraxboxxbox-oneFri, 28 Nov 2014 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[WWE 2K15 review: Disqualification match]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/wwe-2k15-review-disqualification-match/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/wwe-2k15-review-disqualification-match/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/wwe-2k15-review-disqualification-match/#comments Like past games in the series, WWE 2K15 spends a lot of time looking back on wrestling history. Propped up by years of real-life stories, cuts and bruises, the series continues to be a good source for professional wrestling nostalgia. Still, while 2K Sports' efforts pay off in a few areas, the publisher missed a chance to be the best in the world by a wide margin this year. By dropping a number of customization options and introducing an annoying game mechanic, WWE 2K15 loses touch with what made the series special.

Continue reading WWE 2K15 review: Disqualification match

JoystiqWWE 2K15 review: Disqualification match originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftplaystationps3ps4wwe-2k15xboxxbox-oneWed, 26 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tales from the Borderlands Episode One review: Busy earnin']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/tales-from-the-borderlands-episode-one-review-busy-earnin/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/tales-from-the-borderlands-episode-one-review-busy-earnin/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/tales-from-the-borderlands-episode-one-review-busy-earnin/#commentsPS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Mac, iOS, Android
You should probably know who Handsome Jack is. That's really the only advice I'd give to anyone looking to dip into Telltale's latest episodic series, Tales from the Borderlands. Granted, Borderlands doesn't have the most sophisticated lore, subsisting largely on dick jokes, pop culture references and lots of screaming jerks, but suffice it to say that you don't have to be intimately familiar with Gearbox's first-person shooters to appreciate Tales. If you know that Handsome Jack is a villain, perhaps heard his smarmy voice in a trailer or two, you should be fine.

In other words, regardless of your level of Borderlands experience, Tales from the Borderlands is a witty, well-written adventure with broad appeal. And yeah, there's a dick joke or two.

Continue reading Tales from the Borderlands Episode One review: Busy earnin'

JoystiqTales from the Borderlands Episode One review: Busy earnin' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3ps4tales-from-the-borderlandstelltaleTellTale-Gamesxboxxbox-oneWed, 26 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Rogue review: Avast ye, clone!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/assassins-creed-rogue-review-avast-ye-clone/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/assassins-creed-rogue-review-avast-ye-clone/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/assassins-creed-rogue-review-avast-ye-clone/#commentsPS3, Xbox 360
Here are just some of the things you can do in Assassin's Creed Rogue: climb a tower, hunt a whale, hide in a haystack, steer a ship in a storm, stick a sword through a man's eye socket, air-assassinate a fox, fight off a boarding party.

If the opening of this review sounds mostly familiar, it's because it was mostly copied from our review of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. This was done to illustrate a point: If you're looking to Rogue to bring something fresh to the table, keep pillaging elsewhere. Assassin's Creed Rogue is essentially a clone of Black Flag's setting and systems.

If you can accept rampant copy-and-paste in another full priced entry, you'll more than likely enjoy what Assassin's Creed Rogue has to offer.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed Rogue review: Avast ye, clone!

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Rogue review: Avast ye, clone! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-roguemicrosoftplaystationps3ubisoftxboxTue, 25 Nov 2014 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U video review: Fight club]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/22/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-video-review-fight-club/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/22/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-video-review-fight-club/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/22/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-video-review-fight-club/#comments

We concluded our written examination of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U last evening, but with a discerning absence of gifs within our review, we had to find another way to heed our fondness for moving pictures. The above video review offers a visually-oriented breakdown of Smash for Wii U's leading features, including eight-player battles, the Smash Tour board game and customizable special moves, but a general breakdown is also included for anyone just tuning in to Nintendo's hectic mascot fighter.
[Image: Nintendo]

JoystiqSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U video review: Fight club originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Nov 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendoreviewsmash-brossuper-smash-brossuper-smash-bros-2014super-smash-bros-for-wii-uwii-uSat, 22 Nov 2014 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd review - Pretty punisher]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/21/hatsune-miku-project-diva-f-2nd-review-pretty-punisher/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/21/hatsune-miku-project-diva-f-2nd-review-pretty-punisher/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/21/hatsune-miku-project-diva-f-2nd-review-pretty-punisher/#commentsPS3, Vita
We had the chance to stop her, but now it's too late. Hatsune Miku has taken over.

At this point, Miku is a global phenomenon. The virtual pop idol recently infiltrated American culture in a guest appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman and as an opening act for Lady Gaga, but her worldwide success comes as a result of a fascinating mixture of official licensing and fan-made mythos. Miku herself may be rooted in sterile voice synthesis software, but it's the work of fans that gave her a vibrantly marketable identity.

This unique melding of fandom and Japanese idol culture defines Sega's Hatsune Miku: Project Diva series, which showcases fan-made art and music alongside slickly produced rhythm-driven gameplay. The latest series entry, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd, introduces game-changing features and streamlines its predecessor's weaker elements while crafting a surprisingly diverse challenge for rhythm game veterans.

Continue reading Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd review - Pretty punisher

JoystiqHatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd review - Pretty punisher originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When I began playing Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, I expected it to be a time-biding knockoff of the Persona franchise, meant to placate rabid fans until Persona 5 finally emerges and provides fresh meaning in our lives. (We Persona fans are a little intense, ok?) I admired the super-cute art style and was naturally pleased to see the familiar characters, but a crossover with Atlus' other long-running RPG series, Etrian Odyssey, didn't seem like a good fit, except perhaps as a marketing ploy.

I was completely, totally, utterly wrong. Persona Q is a brilliant game in its own right, more than able to take its place in the Persona lineage, taking the best elements of each franchise and combining them into an addictive, hour-devouring experience.

Continue reading Persona Q review: When worlds collide

JoystiqPersona Q review: When worlds collide originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsatlusnintendopersona-q-shadow-of-the-labyrinthThu, 20 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U review: Show me your moves]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-review-show-me-your-moves/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-review-show-me-your-moves/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-review-show-me-your-moves/#commentsThis review has been updated with commentary and a final score following the launch of online play in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

"Who would win in a fight?" is the lighthearted crux of the Super Smash Bros. series, and it's impressive how extensive that conversation has become. Pitting beloved video game characters in unlikely rivalries seems as amusing as it did during the series' 1999 debut, especially when it involves a mix of iconic faces and left-field picks. With fresh contenders, several new competition types and a lite resemblance of Pokemon training in the form of Amiibos, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a meaty talking point that proves the "Who's the best?" debate is still well worth having.

Smash's bouts remain layered - newcomers can focus on throwing basic attacks by combining button presses with tilts of the joystick, learning deep-cut mastery of evasions and timing in-air knockouts as they add matches to their career. Whatever nuances your play style adopts, everyone's victory involves launching opponents from shared platforms, heaping damage on them to make banishing them to the oblivion beyond the screen's edges more feasible.

Continue reading Super Smash Bros. for Wii U review: Show me your moves

JoystiqSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U review: Show me your moves originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amiibonintendosuper-smash-bros-2014super-smash-bros-for-wii-uwii-uWed, 19 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grand Theft Auto 5 review (Xbox One, PS4)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/grand-theft-auto-5-review-xbox-one-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/grand-theft-auto-5-review-xbox-one-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/grand-theft-auto-5-review-xbox-one-ps4/#commentsBelow, we have republished our original Grand Theft Auto 5 review, with added evaluation of the new material found in the Xbox One and PS4 version. The updated text is based on a retail PS4 copy of Grand Theft Auto 5, provided by Rockstar.
With the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 on PS4 and Xbox One, Grand Theft Auto has never looked so good and, thanks to the new first-person mode, the series has never been more gruesome. The addition of the (optional) first-person mode makes this more than a simple HD port of the original release, giving you an excuse to explore Los Santos and its surrounding areas once again. GTA Online and its multitude of content updates are also included at launch.

GTA 5 is presented in full 1080p with high-def texture resolution and increased draw distance. Lights show natural reflection from impressive-looking water sources, including puddles that form after inclement weather. Geometry appears more vivid with proper texture from tessellation. Characters haven't been remodeled, but the game's graphical boost makes existing citizens look sharper and more detailed than before.

The showpiece of GTA's current-gen debut is its first-person mode, which - for the first time, officially - gives players a street view of the franchise. Rather than lowering the camera and shoving it in the chests of its three protagonists, GTA 5's first-person mode adds detailed animations that give the perspective a feeling more akin to simulation than a shooter.

Continue reading Grand Theft Auto 5 review (Xbox One, PS4)

JoystiqGrand Theft Auto 5 review (Xbox One, PS4) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Nov 2014 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grand-theft-auto-5gta5microsoftplaystationps4recommendedxbox-oneTue, 18 Nov 2014 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire review: A real gem]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/pokemon-omega-ruby-alpha-sapphire-review-a-real-gem/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/pokemon-omega-ruby-alpha-sapphire-review-a-real-gem/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/pokemon-omega-ruby-alpha-sapphire-review-a-real-gem/#comments It's been 18 years since Nintendo first introduced humanity to a world of adorable monsters that would capture the hearts of millions and grow into the sort of media juggernaut that usually involves a teenaged British wizard or an especially smug Robert Downey Jr. Despite nearly two decades of success, the series' core - the handheld Pokemon role-playing games - have remained perennially good, if not particularly revolutionary. The biggest leap in series history arrived last year with Pokemon X and Y, and while our review of those games was glowing, they weren't without flaws.

Now, developer Game Freak is ready to take another shot at it, using the same enhanced graphics technology, but leaning on the existing plot found in the 2003 GameBoy Advance releases Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. It might seem lazy to rehash these old storylines, but after working my way through the remakes, it's clear that it was a wise decision that allowed the developer to forgo writing a new plot and instead focus on the aspects of Pokemon games that truly matter to players: combat, the expansive world and, of course, the Pokemon themselves. If Pokemon X and Y were Game Freak's first tentative steps into the world of 3D monster taming, Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are proof that the studio has mastered the technology.

Continue reading Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire review: A real gem

JoystiqPokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire review: A real gem originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsGame-Freaknintendopokemon-alpha-sapphire-omega-rubyTue, 18 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LittleBigPlanet 3 review: Knitting lessons]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/littlebigplanet-3-review-knitting-lessons/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/littlebigplanet-3-review-knitting-lessons/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/littlebigplanet-3-review-knitting-lessons/#commentsPS4, PS3
There's a moment in LittleBigPlanet 3 where Hugh Laurie's villainous Newton, an effete British lightbulb with an egg timer built into his bowler hat, faces down his conscience, berating him with his greatest fear: that nothing he creates will ever be good enough, has never been good enough. It's a fear that LittleBigPlanet players will be familiar with, given the creative possibilities presented by the series. The feeling is more pronounced this time around, and the overwhelming diabolical genius at work in LittleBigPlanet 3 is almost a cause for alarm.

The first and second games in the series felt like a toy box, with developer Media Molecule providing about 3 or 4 hours of examples of how it could be utilized. In contrast, LittleBigPlanet 3, now helmed by Sumo Digital, is the first to feel like the pre-formed game at its core is meant to be a showstopper, an abundant showcase of greatness, a dare to the player to push the envelope even further. Lucky for us, for those who decide to rise to the challenge, they have never made creation easier or more satisfying than it is now.

Continue reading LittleBigPlanet 3 review: Knitting lessons

JoystiqLittleBigPlanet 3 review: Knitting lessons originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>littlebigplanet-3playstationps3ps4Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Far Cry 4 review: Home despot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/far-cry-4-review-home-despot/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/far-cry-4-review-home-despot/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/far-cry-4-review-home-despot/#commentsXbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Far Cry 4 is about a man returning home to scatter his mother's final earthly form. Only he gets distracted, goes mountain climbing for a bit, helps dismantle a despotic regime, fights a tiger, runs in circles looking for an ancient scroll, lands a gyrocopter on someone's house and develops a caustic vendetta against nature's sweet-sounding fur demon, the honey badger.

This doesn't make him an absent-minded son so much as the protagonist in an excellent open-world game. Like the vessel enshrining his mother's ashes, Ajay Ghale can't accomplish anything without a player to move him, lugging him up and down South Asian mountains in pursuit of peril and the next exotic vista. And like Ghale, you get in so deep after a while that it doesn't really matter what brought you there in the first place.

Continue reading Far Cry 4 review: Home despot

JoystiqFar Cry 4 review: Home despot originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-4microsoftpcplaystationps3ps4xboxxbox-oneFri, 14 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Harvest Moon 3D: The Lost Valley review: Fractured farming tales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/harvest-moon-3d-the-lost-valley-review-fractured-farming-tales/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/harvest-moon-3d-the-lost-valley-review-fractured-farming-tales/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/harvest-moon-3d-the-lost-valley-review-fractured-farming-tales/#comments3DS
After taking root in the 16-bit era and spanning multiple console generations, the Harvest Moon series now finds itself in a precarious spot. The North American publishing rights for the Marvelous-developed Harvest Moon games have changed hands, leaving Xseed to publish the next 3DS sequel as Story of Seasons. Freed of its ties to the series itself but retaining the Harvest Moon trademark, Natsume took the opportunity to shift the franchise in a new direction with the internally developed Harvest Moon 3D: The Lost Valley.

Featuring terraforming mechanics inspired by the indie hit Minecraft, The Lost Valley shakes up long-standing series traditions in a bid to explore new farming-focused gameplay ideas and forge its own identity. While its attempts at innovation are successful to a limited extent, longtime Harvest Moon fans will be disappointed with the barebones end result.

Continue reading Harvest Moon 3D: The Lost Valley review: Fractured farming tales

JoystiqHarvest Moon 3D: The Lost Valley review: Fractured farming tales originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsharvest-moon-3d-the-lost-valleyharvest-moon-the-lost-valleynatsumenintendoThu, 13 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[On my iPad: The Sailor's Dream]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/on-my-ipad-the-sailors-dream/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/on-my-ipad-the-sailors-dream/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/on-my-ipad-the-sailors-dream/#commentsThis is On my iPad, a quick look at an iOS game we think you'll enjoy.
When I was little, my favorite books were pop-up books, where you'd pull a tab or turn a dial and something would happen on the page: Knights would ride jauntily across the space to attack a dragon, or the sun would set and the moon would rise. It felt like the book was coming to life right in my hands, a tiny kind of magic. The Sailor's Dream is the modern evolution of that kind of storytelling, casting you in the role of storyteller as you pull at the seams and make the tale of a sailor and his lady love come to life.

It's difficult to classify The Sailor's Dream as a game, per se, though it has some puzzle-ish elements to it. It is, first and foremost, a story, though one that relies on the player to do some exploration and discovery in order for it to be told. Upon opening The Sailor's Dream, you'll find yourself at sea, floating amongst several different islands. Swiping to either side allows you to select different islands, home to the Secret Lighthouse or the Faraway Ruins. A quick swipe up and you land on the island, free to follow the paths to its different locations, such as The Creaking Stairs or The Lost Hallway, by swiping in the corresponding direction. Some paths simply lead to lovely visuals, like a room filled with tiny, firefly lights or a geometric shape that warps the music when you tug on its points. Each island holds an important piece of the sailor's tale, and some islands hold even more, if you can figure out how to unlock their secrets.

Continue reading On my iPad: The Sailor's Dream

JoystiqOn my iPad: The Sailor's Dream originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iosipadmobileon-my-ipadsimogothe-sailors-dreamWed, 12 Nov 2014 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: The Master Chief Collection review: Chief salad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/halo-the-master-chief-collection-review-chief-salad/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/halo-the-master-chief-collection-review-chief-salad/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/halo-the-master-chief-collection-review-chief-salad/#commentsXbox One
Before Halo 2 launched in 2004, I must have watched the trailer a hundred times - easily accessible from its permanent home on my college computer's desktop. Like many fans, my anticipation for the Xbox follow-up was ... let's say substantial. And, like many fans, I was a little disappointed by the campaign and its abrupt, cliffhanger ending. Thankfully, a genre-defining multiplayer suite did more than enough to salve any abrasions left behind by the rough campaign.

Now, ten years later, 343 Industries and Saber Interactive have taken another energy sword stab at Halo's most maligned moment, slathering it with pristine visuals, a fully remastered musical score and gorgeously recreated CG cutscenes for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. All of these additions go a long way toward delivering the kind of grandiosity that original developer Bungie probably intended, even if they don't quite take away the sting of the campaign's final minutes (or some of the less interesting levels, for that matter).

And this time around, you've got every single main series Halo game to soothe any lingering discontent, including Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4. That's every campaign level across all four games, every multiplayer map, player-created maps and gametype sharing, saved films, and a lovely kitchen sink, all flowing at a liquid 60 frames-per-second.

Continue reading Halo: The Master Chief Collection review: Chief salad

JoystiqHalo: The Master Chief Collection review: Chief salad originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industriesblur-studiobungieBungie-Studioscertain-affinityhalo-the-master-chief-collectionmicrosoftxbox-oneTue, 11 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Unity review: A tale of two games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/assassins-creed-unity-review-a-tale-of-two-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/assassins-creed-unity-review-a-tale-of-two-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/assassins-creed-unity-review-a-tale-of-two-games/#commentsPC, Xbox One, PS4
It was the best of Assassin's Creed, it was the worst of Assassin's Creed. So it goes with Assassin's Creed Unity, the newest game in Ubisoft's alternate-history series, where sci-fi tech allows you to relive the secret war between Assassins and Templars. Unity succeeds where it needs to, but it falls short of the metaphorical, fall-breaking haybale almost everywhere else, landing with a sickening thud on hard pavement.

Unity is capable of inspiring loving adoration while simultaneously bringing you to boiling hatred. It aims high, fails more often than it triumphs, and is in dire need of a technical re-tweaking. At the same time, whenever the pieces align, it feels like coming home.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed Unity review: A tale of two games

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Unity review: A tale of two games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-unitymicrosoftpcplaystationps4ubisoftxbox-oneTue, 11 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragon Age: Inquisition review: Tipping the scales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/dragon-age-inquisition-review-tipping-the-scales/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/dragon-age-inquisition-review-tipping-the-scales/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/dragon-age-inquisition-review-tipping-the-scales/#commentsPC, Xbox One, PS4
Dragon Age: Inquisition is an immense fantasy epic, a sprawling adventure across the many landscapes of Thedas, unapologetically mature in its exploration of politics and brazen in its combat. Inquisition is also developer BioWare's redemption song. It's everything that a sequel to Dragon Age: Origins should have been, and time will slip by as players enjoy the hundred hours of escapades it delivers.

The end of Inquisition's spectacular first act gave me chills. The last time I can recall that feeling is when the Normandy was reintroduced in Mass Effect 2. It's the chill of being at the beginning of a grand story and anticipation for what's to come.

Inquisition is the thoughtfully conceived world of Dragon Age living up to its potential. Origins looked dated when it first launched. Dragon Age 2 lacked scope. By comparison, Inquisition's arresting Hinterlands, the first massive open area players can explore, is full of things to do and collect. There are several of these lands in the game, along with mission-based set pieces and the player's hub fortress. This is the sequel fans were hoping for all along, and new adventurers will be eased into this next generation of Dragon Age.

Continue reading Dragon Age: Inquisition review: Tipping the scales

JoystiqDragon Age: Inquisition review: Tipping the scales originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredragon-age-3dragon-age-inquisitioneaElectronic-Artsmicrosoftpcplaystationps4xbox-oneTue, 11 Nov 2014 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Lords of the Fallen review: Fallin' in and out of love with you]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/05/lords-of-the-fallen-review-fallin-in-and-out-of-love-with-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/05/lords-of-the-fallen-review-fallin-in-and-out-of-love-with-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/05/lords-of-the-fallen-review-fallin-in-and-out-of-love-with-you/#commentsPC, Xbox One, PS4
There is a brand of player that sees impossible odds, sees fiery, poisonous, roaring death from all directions, and greets it all with an insane grin - and then turns up the difficulty. For everyone else, there's Lords of the Fallen.

This is not a necessarily an insult. There is no shame whatsoever in Lords of the Fallen being what many will immediately identify as a brazen riff on the special niche From Software has built for themselves with the Dark Souls series, especially when it's in the interest of a much more accessible game. Accessible is a good thing. Inferior, however, is not. There's plenty of both to be found here.

Continue reading Lords of the Fallen review: Fallin' in and out of love with you

JoystiqLords of the Fallen review: Fallin' in and out of love with you originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bandai-Namcolords-of-the-fallenmicrosoftnamcoNamco-Bandaipcplaystationps4xbox-oneWed, 05 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare review: House of CoDs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-review-house-of-cods/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-review-house-of-cods/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-review-house-of-cods/#commentsPC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3

You get just a novel snippet of peace in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. In this shooter's future, technology has trumped terrorism, rooted out the last evil masterminds and flexed its bionic muscles in total defiance of lead-footed politicians who'd rather talk than get things done. "The world is running out of bad guys," your partner says, hopeful but tragically unaware that he's basically describing a video game glitch. Call of Duty never runs out of bad guys.

This one gets points for honesty, though, in that there is no pretentious cover-up of why the good guys beat the bad guys (or why the plot finds them easily interchangeable). In Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, you win because you have better guns, stronger sights, super abilities and superior movement. Whether it's in the rich and varied multiplayer mode, or the frantic, thrill-a-minute single-player campaign, you're constantly relying on cool weapons and combat data to make taking lives easier. Advanced Warfare front-loads the benefits of power in a franchise that has always made technology the exalted, almost fetishized solution to every problem. And you know what? It's more fun when it admits as much.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare review: House of CoDs

JoystiqCall of Duty: Advanced Warfare review: House of CoDs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Nov 2014 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-advanced-warfarehigh-moon-studiosRaven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamesMon, 03 Nov 2014 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Sunset Overdrive review: It's my party]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/sunset-overdrive-review-its-my-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/sunset-overdrive-review-its-my-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/sunset-overdrive-review-its-my-party/#comments In developer Insomniac's world of Sunset Overdrive, it's not a typical post-apocalypse day unless you're grinding along the open city's railings, power lines and rooftops, bouncing off a truck hood, smacking a mutant with your special guitar that sends out a shockwave of miniature tornadoes and firing a gun that shoots electrified vinyl records, all while making clever wisecracks that shatter the fourth wall.

You may be familiar with the phrase "if X and Y had a baby, it would be Z." Sunset Overdrive is no one's baby; it is the act of metaphorical lovemaking itself, and it incorporates ideas, style and gameplay lifted from the likes of Jet Grind Radio, Saints Row The Third, Infamous, Ratchet & Clank and some guy named Cliff who just plain likes to party. And it is glorious, offering something for everyone.

Continue reading Sunset Overdrive review: It's my party

JoystiqSunset Overdrive review: It's my party originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Oct 2014 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>insomniacinsomniac-gamesmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiossunset-overdrivexbox-oneMon, 27 Oct 2014 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The Legend of Korra review: Bend it like Bayonetta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/the-legend-of-korra-review-bend-it-like-bayonetta/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/the-legend-of-korra-review-bend-it-like-bayonetta/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/the-legend-of-korra-review-bend-it-like-bayonetta/#comments Bending the elements like folks do in The Legend of Korra is an intoxicating dream. Much as they did in the original Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon, many people born in Korra's world can freely manipulate the four elements through martial arts. The Avatar, born into every generation to maintain the spiritual balance of the world Dalai Lama style, is the only one who can bend all four. Fire from your fingers, literally riding the wind, lifting up the earth to make an easy chair, and never needing a squirt gun; the promise of feeling unity with the physical world, even if you're just playing around, is mesmerizing. Who wouldn't want to do that?

That Platinum Games captures even a little of that feeling in its video game adaptation of The Legend of Korra is impressive, but physical fantasy is only one piece of the show's winning formula. Platinum's made a fun, flighty, sometimes infuriatingly pedantic game that's admirably old fashioned but disappointingly limited. The Legend of Korra is a strong body missing most of its heart.
[Images: Activision/Nickelodeon]

Continue reading The Legend of Korra review: Bend it like Bayonetta

JoystiqThe Legend of Korra review: Bend it like Bayonetta originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Oct 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionmicrosoftnickelodeonpcPlatinum Gamesplaystationps3ps4the-legend-of-korraxboxxbox-oneFri, 24 Oct 2014 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Civilization: Beyond Earth review: Buy-in Alpha Centauri]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/civilization-beyond-earth-review-buy-in-alpha-centauri/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/civilization-beyond-earth-review-buy-in-alpha-centauri/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/civilization-beyond-earth-review-buy-in-alpha-centauri/#comments Viewed through the idea that it's a standalone expansion to Sid Meier's Civilization 5, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth streamlines gameplay in the long-running strategy series to enhance the pace of the historically-strapped franchise. As a spiritual successor to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, however, it's a cut-rate disappointment.

Beyond Earth is best described as an epilogue to the events of Civilization 5. Humanity has ruined the planet and must commit itself to starting all over again on another rock and potentially making the same mistakes. And so, various nations make conglomerate factions and shoot for another spherical mass to strategically explore, expand, exploit and exterminate (4X) one another.

Why I wish Firaxis had never mentioned Beyond Earth as a spiritual successor to Alpha Centauri is that this game doesn't look like it was given the financial resources to kick off a new franchise. It feels like it had the budget of a Civ 5 expansion, where asset creation went into making a visually interesting game world, but not its overall presentation. The characters are painfully dull and inarticulate. The tech and wonder voiceovers are all done by one person, but in many cases are attributed to faction leaders within the game (who do have their own voices). The experience doesn't feel luxe. Firaxis has been the benchmark in accessible strategy games and it's owned by triple-A publisher Take-Two Interactive, but I've seen stronger production values from independent European competitors.

Continue reading Civilization: Beyond Earth review: Buy-in Alpha Centauri

JoystiqCivilization: Beyond Earth review: Buy-in Alpha Centauri originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beyond-earthcivilizationcivilization-beyond-earthfiraxisFiraxis-GamespcThu, 23 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fantasia: Music Evolved review: The rhythm is gonna get you]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/fantasia-music-evolved-review-the-rhythm-is-gonna-get-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/fantasia-music-evolved-review-the-rhythm-is-gonna-get-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/fantasia-music-evolved-review-the-rhythm-is-gonna-get-you/#comments
If you've seen the movie Fantasia, you know the bit where Mickey, the Sorcerer's Apprentice, puts on his robe and wizard hat and tries to make magic happen, arms sweeping grandly through the air. Things eventually get out of hand, of course, but for a brief while, Mickey feels the euphoric glee that comes with mastering something really difficult, and in its best moments, Fantasia: Music Evolved makes you feel the exact same way. Pulling off its complicated combos makes you feel like an honest-to-goodness wizard, bending the forces of light and music to your mighty will. Best of all, no pesky brooms to clean up if you miss a beat.

The game doesn't really bear all that much resemblance to the movies that shares its name, though cranky sorcerer Yen Sid does make an appearance. You are indeed his apprentice, but your job is to clean up the noise that's cluttering several different areas of the world after Scout, another protege of Yen Sid, accidentally releases it by trying to get a peek at her future. She'd be happy to clean it up herself, but she doesn't have the magic that you learned as the sorcerer's apprentice, so it's on you to restore the music to each location. As cleanup duties go, it's way more fun than mucking about with a bucket and broom.

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JoystiqFantasia: Music Evolved review: The rhythm is gonna get you originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasia-music-evolvedHarmonixkinectmicrosoftmusicxboxxbox-oneTue, 21 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Golden Wake review: The City Beautiful]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/a-golden-wake-review-the-city-beautiful/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/a-golden-wake-review-the-city-beautiful/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/a-golden-wake-review-the-city-beautiful/#commentsPC, Mac, Linux
Unlike other tales, Grundislav Games' A Golden Wake is a piece of historical fiction, dipping its toe into a deceptively hopeful economic period following the first World War. Being that the game is deeply-rooted in American history, players also have the luxury of knowing the gist of how the story ends; the market crashes, hurricanes hit the coast and the Great Depression sets in. Even with that knowledge on hand, A Golden Wake remains a delightful trip through the best and worst of times for its cast.

The point-and-click adventure game skips through the era and its protagonist becomes a sympathetic symbol for a rough economic time. It stars Alfie Banks, a smooth-talking New York real estate agent that travels to Florida to cash in on the 1920s land boom. Banks is one fictional character in a very real setting, but A Golden Wake is as much about the Roaring Twenties as it is about the man that's looking to make a name for himself in the business world.

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JoystiqA Golden Wake review: The City Beautiful originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Oct 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-golden-wakeadventuregrundislav-gamesLinuxmacpcSTEAMwadjet-eye-gamesMon, 20 Oct 2014 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Souls 'Crown of the Ivory King' review: Burning bright]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/17/dark-souls-crown-of-the-ivory-king-review-burning-bright/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/17/dark-souls-crown-of-the-ivory-king-review-burning-bright/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/17/dark-souls-crown-of-the-ivory-king-review-burning-bright/#commentsPC, Xbox 360, PS3
It sounds strange, but one of the best environments in the latest downloadable chapter of Dark Souls 2 DLC is hardly an environment at all. It's called the Frigid Outskirts, and it's a vast, nearly empty expanse - a long, curving valley only occasionally dotted with small, dilapidated stone structures. Like much of Dark Souls 2, however, this area of "The Crown of the Ivory King" DLC differentiates itself from the rest of the game with a few outstanding features.

Specifically: a constant, unrelenting blizzard. What should be a simple jaunt from one end to the other becomes considerably more difficult, as near whiteout conditions make it impossible to see more than a few feet in front of you, only clearing once every thirty seconds or so. It's a smart mechanic that not only imparts a sense of fear, but also elevates what would otherwise be a boring, linear quest.

And then there are the lightning-spewing horse bastards that accost you at regular intervals, but we'll get to those later.

Continue reading Dark Souls 'Crown of the Ivory King' review: Burning bright

JoystiqDark Souls 'Crown of the Ivory King' review: Burning bright originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandai-namcodark-souls-2From-Softwaremicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 17 Oct 2014 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A City Sleeps review: Bullet purgatory]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/16/a-city-sleeps-review-bullet-purgatory/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/16/a-city-sleeps-review-bullet-purgatory/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/16/a-city-sleeps-review-bullet-purgatory/#commentsPC, Mac
A City Sleeps marks a bold new direction for developer Harmonix. After spending the last several years working on the big-budget Rock Band and Dance Central franchises, Harmonix is now scaling back its internal studio culture, forming small independent teams within the company to encourage new gameplay concepts that can be fleshed out quickly.

A City Sleeps is the first project to launch in the wake of this major shift for the studio. While it doesn't require any musical instrument peripherals to play, the finished product retains much of Harmonix's signature charm, skillfully implementing rhythm-driven gameplay elements in the context of a side-scrolling, arcade-style shoot-'em-up. A City Sleeps succeeds on many fronts, but its short length and uneven difficulty curve make it a tough prospect even for hardcore shooter fans.

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JoystiqA City Sleeps review: Bullet purgatory originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-city-sleepsbullet-hellharmonixmacpcshoot-em-upsteamThu, 16 Oct 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chariot review: Girl, you're gonna carry that weight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/chariot-review-girl-youre-gonna-carry-that-weight/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/chariot-review-girl-youre-gonna-carry-that-weight/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/chariot-review-girl-youre-gonna-carry-that-weight/#commentsPC, Mac and Linux. Also coming to PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3
In a clearing, all nature's beauty comes to bear witness as a dead king is laid to rest. His daughter has taken his coffin from the royal palace to a sacred place of burial to pay her last respects. It's a bittersweet, but solemn moment that starts Chariot; a moment that is ripped from you by a needle scratch ending the gentle score, as the ghost of the dead king poofs into ethereal being and starts to complain. The coffin is not regal enough. There's not enough treasure. Why can't he have a better sepulchre? It goes on like this for the next few hours.

And your job is to give the ungrateful jerk everything he wants.

Continue reading Chariot review: Girl, you're gonna carry that weight

JoystiqChariot review: Girl, you're gonna carry that weight originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chariotmicrosoftpcplaystationps4xbox-oneWed, 15 Oct 2014 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Costume Quest 2 review: Sweet tarts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/costume-quest-2-review-sweet-tarts/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/costume-quest-2-review-sweet-tarts/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/costume-quest-2-review-sweet-tarts/#commentsPC, Mac and Linux. Also coming to PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3
A pterodactyl, a wizard and Thomas Jefferson walk into a bar that exclusively serves candy. No, this isn't the set-up for an old-school joke; this is Costume Quest 2 from Double Fine, and it is a bag bursting at the seams with strange and charming humor. Unfortunately, it's also a shallow bag, lacking variety and depth.

This is a snack of a game; easily consumed and enjoyable while it lasts, but packed mostly with sugar and little else. Still, that sweetness is addictive, and it's okay to binge every now and then.

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JoystiqCostume Quest 2 review: Sweet tarts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costume-quest-2macmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3ps4wii-uxboxxbox-oneTue, 14 Oct 2014 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Evil Within review: Keep out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/the-evil-within-review-keep-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/the-evil-within-review-keep-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/the-evil-within-review-keep-out/#commentsXbox 360, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Misplaced expectations can destroy your enjoyment of a game before you ever pick up the controller. Thinking of The Evil Within as a horror game, then, would be a misstep, because while it's certainly awash in grotesque imagery, it places far more emphasis on combat and stealth than it does creating an atmosphere of dread.

Sadly, thinking of it as an action title won't really improve your chances of enjoying it, as the sloppy controls and hackneyed design ensure that it's a nonstop exercise in aggravating tedium, but at least your disappointment will be more accurate.

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JoystiqThe Evil Within review: Keep out originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3ps4the-evil-withinxboxxbox-oneTue, 14 Oct 2014 00:01:00 EST