Joystiq

Resident Evil: Revelations review: Any port in a storm

Mike Schramm — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:00 EST

The 3DS is no graphical slouch. Aside from the glasses-free 3D feature, the system can kick out some impressive scenery, and it did so with last year's Resident Evil Revelations, a well-made little horror shooter in a series that's been looking for a lifeboat lately. After launching Resident Evil 6 fewer than six months ago, Capcom seems to think HD platforms need even more Resident Evil love, and so this week Revelations hits Xbox 360, PS3, Windows PCs, and the Wii U.

Playing it in enhanced form on an HD console, however, feels just a little goofy. The textures do look excellent, but the game's models are clearly made for a more lightweight graphics engine, which means you get characters with hair frozen in place and enemies with just a few animations to use over and over again. Revelations was made for a handheld machine, and its designers cut corners that the other platforms would have let them curve around more gracefully.

But Revelations' saving grace is that it's a Resident Evil game, and it's a good Resident Evil game at that. For that reason, fans of the series who missed out the first time around will probably appreciate the chance to see it for themselves.

Gallery: Resident Evil: Revelations (5/20/13)

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Resident Evil: Revelations review: Any port in a storm originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen review: Cheating Death

Brittany Vincent — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST

Death has always been an integral part of Dragon's Dogma. From the intoxicating notion that it could come at any time while travelling the world of Gransys to the corpses that litter an area once you've torn through it, death permeates the narrative like a foul odor. The punishing difficulty ensures defeat in most cases, making it an absolute certainty that a restart will be necessary at least once. That same frustration, however, is what attracted the droves of players to Capcom's open-world RPG in the first place.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen ups the ante by introducing Death personified. Your first sighting could end up being your last, though with persistence, even Death itself can be cheated. And that's just one small piece of this sprawling hunk of supplemental content. The austere world of Dark Arisen is a meaty expansion pack that serves up a substantial amount of new material, opening up welcoming arms to veterans and enticing new players with what will inevitably be billed as the definitive Dragon's Dogma experience.

Gallery: Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

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Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen review: Cheating Death originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm review: Zerg rushing towards resolution

Mike Schramm — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST

In music theory, there's a series of notes called a tritone interval. (I'm a writer and a Rock Band player, not a musician, so bear with me, band members.) The tritone consists of three different whole tones: The first sets the stage, marks the spot on the musical scale that our ear can attune itself to. The second note is actually dissonant - it throws off the harmony, and introduces new elements so distasteful that the chord used to be called "The Devil in Music."

The third tone, however, finishes off the chord in exactly the right way, and brings resolution to all of the dissonance. Leonard Bernstein famously put the tritone to great use in the song "Maria" from West Side Story: "Ma-" is the beginning tone, "-ri-" shakes things up with some disharmony, and "-a" resolves the melody, justifying the lead couple's forbidden love.

Now, using that theory to talk about Blizzard's StarCraft 2 trilogy is a little unfair. The second campaign, Heart of the Swarm, isn't anywhere near "distasteful." But it does introduce plenty of new elements to the series, spinning off the RTS classic into places that Wings of Liberty never dared to go. And like that second note of a tritone, it makes sure to leave plenty of ambiguity and promise out there, making sure we're all ready for the big finale in Legacy of the Void.

Gallery: Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm

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StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm review: Zerg rushing towards resolution originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guardians of Middle-Earth review: MOBA fête

Mike Schramm — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:30:00 EST

"Multiplayer Online Battle Arena," or MOBA, is the name given to the emerging genre of games initiated by Dota, and now led by games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Heroes of Newerth, Smite, and more. Because MOBA games come from a heritage of real-time strategy gameplay, they tend to have most of the qualities of that genre. They're complicated, high stakes affairs, with lots of controls and nuances, where one little move can sometimes turn the tide of battle completely. These are traditionally games meant for hotkeys and minimap clicking, mouse precision and a Ventrilo client, rather than the relatively imprecise triggers and joysticks on a console controller.

Which makes it all the more impressive, then, that Monolith (a studio with a long shooter tradition that includes No One Lives Forever and the FEAR series) has chosen to take on Guardians of Middle Earth, a MOBA game designed from the ground up to recreate the traditionally PC-centric experience on consoles. Yes, games like Awesomenauts and Monday Night Combat have borrowed MOBA principles, but Monolith here goes full bore, all the way back to the top-down isometric view that began with the original Starcraft Aeon of Strife map at the genre's inception.

In fact, given this task, the fact that Monolith's game also happens to use the Lord of the Rings license (right around the release of the new Hobbit film) is almost inconsequential. Tolkien nerds may want to see Sauron battling it out with Gandalf directly, but MOBA nerds should be even more excited to see what Monolith does with this emerging new form.

Gallery: Guardians of Middle-earth (E3 2012)

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Guardians of Middle-Earth review: MOBA fête originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joe Danger 2 - The Movie review: High-ish voltage

Sinan Kubba — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:50:00 EST

Like a lot of film sequels, Joe Danger 2 sounds good on paper, in a bigger-better-more-explosions kind of way. Promoted from stuntman to star, Danger's garage and scenery are now fuller and more diverse. One minute he's skiing away from an avalanche, the next he's jetpacking through a jungle and breaking dinosaur eggs. With an action-packed variety of backdrops and vehicles, the 2D puzzle-racer never looks the same from one level to the next. This is a quality not to be sniffed at; many games would do well to break out of their beloved grey corridors and empty brown plains.

Nonetheless, like a lot of film sequels, Joe Danger 2 proves that it's hard to expand on a winning formula without breaking it. Thankfully, rather than break the formula, the game simply garbs itself in a pretty new veil. The sceneries and vehicles are bright and beautiful diversions, when in fact the game plays much the same as before. What tempers this is that what came before is still a bit special. As are many sequels, Joe Danger 2 is a strong pretender to its predecessor, but no more than that.

Gallery: Joe Danger 2: The Movie

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Joe Danger 2 - The Movie review: High-ish voltage originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Journey review: I want to go to there

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

The word "awesome" gets thrown around a lot, but I think we as a culture have lost track of its real meaning. Originally, the word meant "awe inspiring," and Dictionary.com defines "awe" as "an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like." Nowadays, "awesome" functions as a synonym for "cool" or "impressive:" When someone says a game is awesome, they're really saying that it's great, and generally are not implying any existential or emotional significance beyond that.

I bring this up, because I don't want to be misconstrued as generic or uninspired when I say that Journey is an awesome game. In the most classical, archaic sense of the word, Journey is a beautiful, evocative and unequivocally transcendental experience.

Gallery: Journey (Gamescom 2011)

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Journey review: I want to go to there originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget evaluates Razer Blade performance

Mike Schramm — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST

Our fellow bloggers at Engadget have gotten their hands on the Blade laptop from Razer (the very first commercial fruits of that "Switchblade" concept seeded so long ago), and the unit gets some high marks, despite some significant flaws. The worst issue with the laptop seems to be the audio (the built-in speakers are so bad that Engadget suspected their unit was broken somehow), but in general the problem with the Blade seems that it's tuned for a mix of portability and performance, which means neither gets to be perfect.

Yes, the Blade is sleek and super thin for a PC laptop, but it trades on that build ~~by being a "gaming" unit that doesn't play StarCraft 2 on its highest settings perfectly~~. (see update) For the sticker price of $2,799, Razer traded a little too much performance for the admittedly impressive form factor.

But while Engadget doesn't recommend the laptop wholeheartedly, the site does praise the Blade's "bright and delectably tactile" LED buttons. The article surmises we'll see those types of controls again soon, either in Razer hardware, or units from other device manufacturers.

Update: Engadget has discovered that they didn't have the latest drivers for the graphics card, and with those, apparently Skyrim runs much better. Engadget is working on updated benchmarks for all of the Blade's performance aspects.

Engadget evaluates Razer Blade performance originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forza Motorsport 4 review: Hybrid synergy drive

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:01:00 EST

Simulation games, be it racing-simulators, flight-simulators or farming-simulators, always run the risk of designing themselves into corners and alienating potential players. These types of experiences are a challenge to craft, as implementing a feature for the die-hard enthusiast often means sacrificing something designed for the novice or hobbyiest.

No one seems to have told Turn 10 how impossible a task the all-encompassing simulator is, however, and as a result Forza Motorsport 4 provides the same challenging, exhilarating racing experience to each and every player who gets behind the proverbial wheel.

Gallery: Forza Motorsport 4 (Gamescom 2011)

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Forza Motorsport 4 review: Hybrid synergy drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Driver San Francisco review: A beautiful dream

Jordan Mallory — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST

The Driver series has spent the majority of its twelve year lifespan in Grand Theft Auto's shadow. The original Driver may have hit consoles a full two years before Grand Theft Auto 3, but it was GTA that secured pole position in the minds of the public, and Driver has been struggling to keep up ever since. The franchise's desperate attempts to stay relevant culminated in 2006 with Driver: Parallel Lines, a game that unabashedly and haphazardly aped Grand Theft Auto in every appreciable and quantifiable way.

That was five years ago, however, and in the interim Ubisoft Reflections appears to have realized a very important and universal truth: The only way to win a game you're destined to lose is by not playing at all. Driver: San Francisco is the best Driver game there's ever been, because it is wholly and entirely true to itself.

Gallery: Driver: San Francisco (GamesCom 2011)

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Driver San Francisco review: A beautiful dream originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Catherine review: Love is far from over

Jordan Mallory — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:05:00 EST

The words "relationship simulator" and "puzzle game" generally aren't the most common of bedfellows when it comes to genre classifications. Even less common is the idea of making a game focused on infidelity and its consequences into a tried-and-true archetype for success. Catherine is all of these things and, somehow, Atlus has managed to extrapolate everything that makes romance enthralling and compelling and successfully build a puzzle game around it.

Gallery: Catherine (5/5/2011)

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Catherine review: Love is far from over originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops review: The great battle

Mike Schramm — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:01:00 EST

Maybe it's our competitive streak. Maybe it's the fact that we're constantly battling, over leaderboards and in deathmatches, that pushes us to compare one console against another, one franchise title against its peers, or even, as the industry has grown and matured, one developer's artistic creation against another's. Even when developers work in huge teams for years to craft a great experience, we're children of numbers and "less or greater than," of rankings and high scores and levels. Someone's got to win, and someone's got to lose.

Maybe it's only natural, then, that much of the discussion around Call of Duty of late falls into the question of whether Infinity Ward is a better studio than Treyarch, or whether megapublisher Activision can continue to have a successful series of games without Jason West and Vince Zampella. Our little community keeps asking, like some political zealot overcome with decision on the eve of an election: Are you with IW or Activision? Did you like WaW or CoD4? Will you like Black Ops more than MW2?

Our competitive nature is working against us here. The truth is that, in the latest two iterations of Call of Duty, we've gotten two great games. With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward brought us a cinematic, action-filled FPS combat title with a strong and lasting multiplayer element. And with Call of Duty: Black Ops, Treyarch has done the same thing.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops (review)

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Call of Duty: Black Ops review: The great battle originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: APB (Day 4: Cards on the table)

Mike Schramm — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:46:00 EST

Review Diary

This is the final part of a four-day review diary about the first MMO from developers Realtime Worlds, APB.

One of the hardest parts about reviewing an MMO is that the genre takes full advantage of being online and persistent. Because players need to log in to an updated client every time, developers can quickly and relatively easily push out new bugfixes and content with regularity. Realtime Worlds has already released one patch post-release for APB, and while I've talked about certain issues with repetitive gameplay and earning customization levels, both of those issues can be fixed with updates if the developers choose to do so.

So the final question in reviewing an MMO isn't necessarily if you should buy this game today or not. It's: Does the game offer enough promise to invest your time and attention? Future plans included, out of all the games you could spend your free time on, is APB capable of rewarding that investment with a quality experience?

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Review: APB (Day 4: Cards on the table) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: APB (Day 3: Choose your illusion)

Mike Schramm — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST

Review Diary

This is part three of our four-part APB review. Today: Customization and clans in the game's Social District.

Yesterday, I examined APB's core gameplay, and while I found it lacking, I hoped it could at least in part be made up for by the incredibly detailed customization system. With a series of in-game editors and marketplaces, you can personalize every aspect of your character, from what you wear and carry, to custom-designed vehicles and even hand-crafted signature killing tunes.

I spent about one-quarter of my game time hanging out in APB's Social District (a non-combat, free-to-play section of the game), trying to create some new clothing, shop the game's marketplace, and build some colorful wheels. Unfortunately, while APB's editors allow for a lot of creativity, Realtime Worlds hasn't implemented many ways to reward it.

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Review: APB (Day 3: Choose your illusion) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: APB (Day 1: Welcome to San Paro)

Mike Schramm — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:30:00 EST

Review Diary

Reviewing an MMO is a famously tough thing to do. The things that make a good massively multiplayer game (a strong update schedule, a solid community, and a mechanic that supports gameplay across a wide audience) are tough to quantify in a one-shot writeup. Many outlets avoid the task completely, leaving the judgment of newly-released MMOs to their own communities. If an online game floats, it's good, goes the conventional wisdom. If it sinks, it wasn't any good anyway.

But reviewing a game can shine a harsh light on its weaknesses, put a spotlight on its best features and help bring attention to lesser-known yet still deserving titles. Despite its differences from more traditional boxed products, don't MMOs deserve the same treatment?

So, in that spirit, we're presenting a review for All Points Bulletin, the latest game and first MMO from developer Dave Jones and his Realtime Worlds. MMOs are an evolving investment in both time and money, so rather than a simple writeup, I'll have a few posts over this week to look at all of the different aspects of the game critically. Today, I'll install the game and create my character. Tomorrow, I'll talk about the actual grind and how it works. Thursday will cover the game's community and customization options, and Friday will feature APB's current state and Realtime Worlds' future plans for the title, along with final impressions and the overall review score.

Gallery: APB

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Review: APB (Day 1: Welcome to San Paro) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (multiplayer)

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:41:00 EST

For those who prefer their multiplayer experiences to be full of camaraderie rather than competition, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 delivers a bonding experience like few other games can. By pushing the idea of teamwork upon players, Bad Company 2 is a game that discourages the "lone wolf" mentality found in many, if not most, online first-person shooters.

A question I've been asked a lot this week: "I barely played and/or didn't really enjoy the first Battlefield: Bad Company's multiplayer. How does this stack up?" The sequel is more Battlefield 1943 than Bad Company. It's a more balanced experience like developer DICE's summer hit, but with a modern setting and delivering the scope one would expect from a full-priced retail experience.

Squads. It's one of the most important elements to Battlefield and a feature that has gotten better through each iteration. A squad is your mini-team within the game; working with them just makes sense, since you'll be respawning with them when you die. In previous Battlefield games, squad members would sometimes be switched to the other team, even as total strangers were inserted in your squad. (As one comrade-in-arms aptly put it this week: "It's like being invited to a Rock Band party, but you're accidentally given the address next door and they're playing Guitar Hero. Sure, it's almost the same, but that's not the party you wanted to attend.") Thankfully, the biggest problem with making a squad is resolved in this outing.

Gallery: Battlefield: Bad Company 2

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Review: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (multiplayer) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIII director comments on linearity, early reviews

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST

If you're an avid follower of pre-release review scores for super anticipated titles, you've probably noticed the scattershot scores garnered by Final Fantasy XIII. Most critics' biggest complaint with the game is its linearity -- a qualm which the game's director, Motomu Toriyama, claims to be a hang-up that's native to Western audiences and reviewers.

During a recent interview with Xbox World 360 magazine (via CVG), Toriyama explained, "we think many reviewers are looking at Final Fantasy XIII from a western point of view." He later added, "when you look at most Western RPGs, they just dump you in a big open world, and let you do whatever you like... it becomes very difficult to tell a compelling story when you're given that much freedom." We'd advise Toriyama to take caution when badmouthing freedom, lest he wants to become the subject of a scathing Toby Keith song.

Final Fantasy XIII director comments on linearity, early reviews originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Pricing and social features most important factors for game success

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST

Prepare yourselves, dear readers, to be blinded with science! Russell Beale and Matthew Bond, two industry analysts from the University of Birmingham, UK, recently conducted a study to see what factors mattered the most when determining video game review scores. What they found was that graphical fidelity and storytelling actually took a backseat to budget pricing, social networking features and family accessibility when it comes to racking up the ten-out-of-tens.

The article on NewScientist which reports on the study gives us no indication as to how it was conducted -- still, it's inspired us to create a casual video game based on MySpace, which will hit retail shelves at a cool $9.99. All that left to do now is drown in sweet, published accolades.

Study: Pricing and social features most important factors for game success originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Savage Moon

Jem Alexander — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

For a relatively new genre, Tower Defense games have become incredibly popular. Among the PS3 crowd this is in no small part thanks to Pixeljunk Monsters, but that hasn't stopped other developers trying their hand at competing. For Tower Defense fans variety can only be a good thing, but how do they stack up against each other. Savage Moon has a very different aesthetic to Pixeljunk Monsters, but is difference in gameplay worth the purchase?

The gameplay follows the same basic principles of every other Tower Defense game. Your base is at one of the level and beasties (in this case, Insectocytes) approach from the opposite end. It's your job to build a series of gun towers in their path to prevent them from reaching and damaging your base. Simple stuff, on paper. Not so easy in practice.

Savage Moon builds you up and, to begin with, lulls you into a false sense of security. The first few levels will train you up via an extensive tutorial, which is necessary because the game is slightly more complex than most in the genre. As usual you'll spend money on different sorts of towers and you'll receive money from each individual beasty you kill. The levels are laid out so that there are areas of rocky mountains, level ground and lava. Lava cannot be built upon and usually marks the Insectocytes' pathways. Towers can be built everywhere else but are much more protected when on large rocks.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Savage Moon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review

Kaes Delgrego — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bury the Shovelware

We're barely one week into 2009 and I'm already prepared to make a judgment about the current year: I don't like it one bit. With that in mind, I've decided to take a nostalgic look back to an easier, care-free time: 2008.

Our study began on the 2nd of July with a look at the laughably terrible Homie Rollerz. It will continue indefinitely (in other words, until my overlords decide to give me the axe), or until we can come to a concrete and atomic definition of "shovelware."

That's not to say that we've been woolgathering this past half-year. Indeed, we've learned quite a bit about what constitutes shovelware and what doesn't. Here's a handful of our most acute observations:

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Bury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Prince of Persia

Xav de Matos — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, X3F Features, Prince of Persia

Arguably one of the last big releases of 2008, Prince of Persia from Ubisoft puts players in control of a new protagonist in a new universe. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, the team behind the critically acclaimed 2003 title Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, this generation's Prince pairs him with a mysterious ally Elika as they battle the forces of darkness in a mystical land. Does this Prince of Persia stack up to the legend of the classic series or does it fall short of greatness? Jump in for X3F's full review and make sure to check out our screenshot gallery of over 100 new images from the soon to be released adventure.

Gallery: Prince of Persia

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Review: Prince of Persia originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meta-Metareview: The best reviewed games of 2008

Randy Nelson — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo DS, Mac, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Metareviews

With almost all of the big games of '08 now on shelves (we're looking at you, Prince of Persia) or available via Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, you're left with a lot of choices. Some of them you've already bought; others you've been on the fence over; others you didn't realize were "supposed to be" any good - but, if you're anything like us, you don't want to miss any of the must-plays this year has to offer.

Enter our "meta-metareview," a list of every game released this year that's scored above 85% on average from reviewers around the world. You won't be surprised by the games that made the list; you will be surprised that some of your (and our) favorites didn't make it. Check out the full list after the break and please, before you send us a nasty email because Castle Crashers didn't make it on, remember that them's the (sometimes painful) breaks with aggregate scoring.

Some fun facts:

October was the most crowded month for quality titles with 12 released, followed by November (8), September (7) and April (6).
Breaking it down by console, PlayStation 3 has the most presence on the list with 22 titles, followed by Xbox 360 (20), PC (15), Wii (8), DS (7), PSP (2) and PS2 (1).
The best-reviewed game this year? April's Grand Theft Auto IV (98%), followed by a three-way tie between LittleBigPlanet, BioShock (PS3) and World of Goo (95%) -- all three of which were released in October. Metal Gear Solid 4 and Wrath of the Lich King are the next tier below at 94%.
Of the 55 titles listed, 12 (or approximately 22%) were not based on an existing franchise: Sins of a Solar Empire, Patapon, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Braid, The World Ends with You, Boom Blox, World of Goo, GRID, Pure, LittleBigPlanet, Dead Space and Valkyria Chronicles.

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Meta-Metareview: The best reviewed games of 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Valkyria Chronicles

Jem Alexander — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

Amid a sea of Resistance 2s, LittleBigPlanets, Dead Spaces and Mirror's Edges it's easy to miss out on some real gaming gems. Titles that don't immediately spring to mind when you think of 2008's must-have games, but which are nonetheless worthy of your attention. Valkyria Chronicles is one of those games and I'm putting my cards on the table in this, the review's intro paragraph, so that there's no ambiguity; Valkyria Chronicles is an amazing game. Here's why.

Valkyria Chronicles is a Japanese Strategy RPG set in a fictional Second World War. You take control of Squad 7 of the Gallian Militia in order to prevent the evil Empire from invading your home country. The game places a lot of stock in its story, with many cutscenes throughout.

The first thing you'll notice about the game is how beautiful it is. The overall anime style may be familiar to you, but you've never seen it done like this before. A textured overlay makes the game look like a watercolor painting on stretched canvas. An effect heightened by the very edges of the screen, which have been left blank and uneven. As if the artist has not painted all the way to the edge.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Valkyria Chronicles originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq review -- Mirror's Edge

Justin McElroy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Features, Reviews, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

Before they had even laid hands on Mirror's Edge, a lot of journalists were ready to give EA and DICE the 2008 Brave Choice Award[TM] for taking the risk of crafting a AAA title in a completely new genre. And let's make no mistake, that's exactly what this is: Bold, fresh game design that feels like nothing you've touched before.

But we'd be remiss to forget there's also an act of faith required on the part of you, the player. You have to open yourself up to Mirror's Edge, to avoid playing it like a first-person shooter. You have to trust that if you take the time and the effort to learn this new genre, you'll receive something out of it that you couldn't have found anywhere else.

After finishing the 360 version of Mirror's Edge, I'm happy to report that those who can take that leap will find their trust rewarded.

Gallery: Mirror's Edge

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Joystiq review -- Mirror's Edge originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Mirror's Edge

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:25:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

It's very rare to pick up a game and think to yourself "this is the beginning of a new genre." But, that's exactly what Mirror's Edge is. It wasn't too long ago EA and DICE unveiled the game with a stunning gameplay trailer that had us all asking: "is this really possible?" The answer is a resounding "yes."

Mirror's Edge has almost everything going for it. The innovative first-person parkour gameplay, meshed with a distinct high-contrast style, makes it look and play unlike anything before it. To think, only a generation ago, we touted Metroid Prime on Gamecube for its ability to successfully present first-person platforming. Mirror's Edge goes even further, offering a system that's far more complex, but at the same time, deceptively intuitive.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Mirror's Edge originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Gears of War 2

Xav de Matos — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Gears of War 2

Gameplay in Gears of War 2 can do no wrong. I don't mean that in the hardcore, mouth-breathing, 1337 sense that the entire experience is flawless but the gameplay itself is already well established ... and, why shouldn't it be? Gameplay in Gears 2 is nearly identical to the 2006 Game of the Year original from Epic Games with slight tweaks that make the experience less jumpy and more enjoyable. Writing a review that focuses on the gameplay of Gears of War 2 would be about as helpful as explaining the importance of breathing so the focus of this review will be based on the story and additions.

Ultimately, Gears 2 has a few promises to live up to. When it was announced the first marketing spiel thrown out with it was, "Bigger, better and more badass." Does it answer those claims or does Gears of War 2 fall faster than a burning Locust Reaver? Jump in for the full review.

Ed. Note: This review does not include any story spoilers.

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Review: Gears of War 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Dead Space

Jem Alexander — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

Dead Space is a survival horror title developed by EA's internal Redwood Shores studio, a new IP from a studio with (and I say this with no malice intended) a mediocre pedigree. The odds were stacked against Dead Space being a good game. Instead, it emerges as one of this year's must-have gaming experiences.

From the moment Dead Space begins, you're thrust into a highly stylized and great-looking game. The opening cutscene sees you, Isaac Clarke, and your team respond to a distress call from mining vessel USG Ishimura. As the Ishimura comes into view, the light from a nearby sun bounces off it. The use of color is stunning. This is the first of Dead Space's "wow" moments.

From the get go, my graphical expectations of the game were raised -- and Dead Space doesn't disappoint. The texture work is excellent, lending to the creepy atmosphere with blood stains and wall scribbles. "Cut off their limbs" and "evacuate this area immediately" appear to be scrawled in blood. The Ishimura is well realized thanks to this level of detail. For example, every door has an LCD ticker above it, telling you the next room's name. Character models look good and move well, with impressive animation throughout.

Gallery: Dead Space

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PS3 Fanboy review: Dead Space originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Fanboy review: Star Ocean: First Departure

Alan Tsang — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Star Ocean

RPG fanatics have probably heard this tale before, but there's a bit of history behind the very first Star Ocean game. Back in 1995, a majority of the team that created Tales of Phantasia (which was released stateside on the Game Boy Advance back in 2006) left Namco due to creative differences. The team moved onto Tri-Ace, whose debut title was Star Ocean. One of the last games for the aging Super Famicom, the RPG pushed the console to its limits in terms of the cartridge size and graphics. The game even had limited voice-acting, which was unheard of (no pun intended) in those days. The question is, does this remake of the first game in the classic franchise have what it takes to stand out in the portable gaming market?

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PSP Fanboy review: Star Ocean: First Departure originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Fable II

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fable 2, X3F Features

click to enlarge

During the 15.78 hours I've played Fable II (which the game measures out as 56,796 seconds) I have earned 987,502 experience, completed 13 quests, dispatched 28 trash-talking gargoyles, opened 1 demon door, bought 14 buildings (3 houses, 11 shops), shot 11 enemies in the groin, acquired 4 scars, and -- because I finally felt like getting around to it -- saved the kingdom of Albion from a particularly evil doom. The story begins much earlier than all of that, of course, in the kingdom of Albion, in the streets of Bowerstone Old Town, where Rose and her sibling, known to her as 'Sparrow,' dream of a better life.

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Review: Fable II originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy review: PlayTV

Jem Alexander — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

The PS3 has firmly entrenched itself as not only a games console, but a fully fledged multimedia device. It features blu-ray, media streaming, a web browser and image viewing and printing. Now, with PlayTV, the PS3 adds television to its repertoire. Sony could easily have released a simple TV tuner with only the most essential features, but instead they've developed a product that's incredibly feature rich and integrates itself into the PS3 experience seamlessly.

Setting up your surprisingly light PlayTV box is simple and painless and requires nothing more than plugging an aerial in one end and a USB cable, connected to your PS3, into the other. Once this is done you need only load up the accompanying disc software, which will install the PlayTV client onto your XMB and guide you through the simple setup. After this, you'll have a new "TV" section on the XMB. PlayTV takes advantage of Freeview in the UK, a set of free TV channels and radio stations. Load up the client and you're off.

The emphasis has clearly been placed on being user friendly. The first time you enter any section of the software a splash screen will show you the controls. These can be reviewed again in the help section, along with more in-depth guides. If you'd rather use a remote control than a SIXAXIS controller, your Blu-ray remote will work just fine and PlayTV even comes with an overlay which can be stuck on top to show which buttons do what.

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PS3 Fanboy review: PlayTV originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Fanboy review: Buzz! Master Quiz

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:10:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Buzz

Have you ever seen the game show Temptation? Probably not. It's a game show with an incredibly low budget -- so low, in fact, it doesn't have a studio audience. Prizes are worth only a few thousand bucks at best, and it's syndicated on stations that used to be the UPN. If Buzz! Quiz TV on PS3 is "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" then Buzz! Master Quiz on PSP is "Temptation."

Unfortunately, PSP isn't very well suited for a Buzz! game. The franchise is best in front of a television with three of your friends. However, Master Quiz simply can't offer the same kind of competitive spirit, especially on a system like the PSP. It's not to say the developers at Relentless Software didn't try -- there are a number of creative multiplayer modes included. However, they're ultimately unsuccessful in emulating a fun Buzz! experience.

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PSP Fanboy review: Buzz! Master Quiz originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Fanboy review: Yggdra Union

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Yggdra Union

This used to be a GBA game? That's what you'll think to yourself after only a few hours with Yggdra Union. While the map sprites are taken directly from the GBA original, everything else about this PSP remake shows incredible polish. The redrawn high-res sprites used in battle and story sequences look sharp on the PSP screen. But what really steals the show, on a technical level, is the impressive amount of voice acting. Nearly every important story sequence is voiced in both English and Japanese, which makes for a really immersive experience.

Of course, a game needs to do more than look and sound pretty to be good -- and thankfully, Yggdra Union offers tons of gameplay. In fact, it may offer too much with an adventure that clocks in at about 30 hours. The lengthy story is far from original, but a growing cast of likable characters and a few nice plot twists make it an enjoyable adventure that kept me chugging through the lengthy story.

At its heart, Yggdra Union is an epic about underdogs that overthrow an empire. Your starting cast of a group of bandits and an exiled princess is severely outnumbered in an obviously one-sided battle. As such, players shouldn't expect a cakewalk through the game. Yggdra Union can be a relentless difficult game at times, so much so to the point of frustration. However, the challenge only emphasizes how important a solid strategy is when approaching each situation. Players must understand the importance of character placement and card selection -- a single error can lead to game over. However, the game's greatest hook comes from the exuberant ability to seize victory in a rather dire situation. Each battle is hard fought and incredibly rewarding.

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PSP Fanboy review: Yggdra Union originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Fanboy review: N+

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, N

Beneath its simple exterior lies a cruel, sadistic gaming beast. N+ is known for its brutally simple, addictive, ninja-inspired platforming. The goal of the game is ridiculously simple: get to the exit. However, each level in this challenging title will test your nerve and will push you to that strange land where frustration and euphoria meet.

There are a number of obstacles that can get in your way -- all of them deadly. Whether it be explosive mines, homing missiles, or heat-seaking lasers, death lurks in almost every inch of N+. The combination of clever level designs and obstacle placements make each level like a puzzle: players must think of interesting ways to get to the goal. Players will be able to perform incredible feats of acrobatics, bouncing off walls, racing past rockets, and jumping past deadly lasers. Players must learn how momentum works, as many of the levels require pixel-perfect jumps.

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PSP Fanboy review: N+ originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Fanboy review: Secret Agent Clank

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Ratchet and Clank

What went wrong? After an excellent first outing on PSP, High Impact Games has created a follow-up to Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters that's worse in almost every single aspect. Everything, from the presentation to the graphics to the core gameplay, has been downgraded in this PSP-exclusive. Could this be PSP's biggest software disappointment of the year?

The premise of Secret Agent Clank is quite intriguing. Inexplicably, Ratchet has broken into a museum and has stolen the universe's largest diamond. But what's his intent? Secret Agent Clank is sent on the case. The experience of playing as Clank is similar to Ratchet, but there's a greater emphasis on stealth and gadgetry. Busting out the big guns simply won't work with Ratchet's diminuitive friend.

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PSP Fanboy review: Secret Agent Clank originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Fanboy review: Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Hot Shots Golf

It's not easy reviewing Hot Shots Golf. Why? It's not because it's particularly bad -- no, in fact, the game is quite good. The franchise has a long legacy of high quality titles that date back to the PS1 era. However, how does one explain the merits of a game that has so subtly changed? Each iteration adds a bit more functionality, and refines the gameplay. However, the core mechanics have remained largely unchanged for a decade.

Open Tee 2 expands upon the original Open Tee game by adding more courses, more customization options and the biggest selling factor, online Infrastructure gameplay. For those that are familiar with the franchise, these additions may be enough to warrant another purchase. However, those that want more than the series' traditional 3-click swing mechanic have no reason to upgrade from the already-excellent original Open Tee.

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PSP Fanboy review: Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Haze

Jem Alexander — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

Developed by Free Radical, the ex-Rare employees responsible for the excellent Timesplitters series, Haze has been a long time coming. The game has suffered from multiple delays as well as exclusivity confusion over the last year. Haze promised to deliver an immersive story, balanced multiplayer and seamless online and offline co-op play. It was also backed up by some excellent live-action trailers.

Unfortunately, it becomes apparent whilst playing the game that, while the team at Free Radical may have reached for excellence, they have either fallen short or made some bad decisions with regards to the execution of many aspects of the title. Haze isn't a bad game and, despite some shortcomings, can be enjoyable and thought provoking. But is it as good as the hype suggested? Frankly, no. Read on to find out why.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Haze originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 May 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MGS4 gets perfect 10 in first 'exclusive' review

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: News

What major game doesn't get a 10 from an "exclusive" first review? With publications so eager to become the lapdogs of game companies, the integrity of the "exclusive" review should always come in question. Regardless, the first review of next month's Metal Gear Solid 4 will have PS3 fans weeping in joy. Rather unsurprisingly, the UK Official PlayStation Mag has awarded Kojima's PS3-exclusive a perfect 10. "Ultimately, this is a game for fans -- and you should be one," writes Paul Fitzpatrick. "As for Snake? It turns out his last stand really is his finest hour."

While we're curious to try and find out more about the end of Metal Gear Solid 4, we absolutely refuse to subject ourselves to any game-ruining spoilers. Suffice it to say, we're glad to hear that whatever the end of MGS4 is, "the resolution is worth the wait."

[Via Joystiq]

MGS4 gets perfect 10 in first 'exclusive' review originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 May 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IGN responds to concerns over exclusive GTA IV review

Kyle Orland — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Hacks, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

Earlier this week, Variety's Ben Fritz expressed concern over IGN's exclusive first review of Grand Theft Auto IV, asking rhetorically, "How can we trust a videogame review when the outlet running it has been given a major commercial favor ... from the publisher of the game?" Well, GameDaily Media Coverage Columnist Gus Mastrapa went the extra mile and asked that very question to some people at IGN. And he even got an answer!

"We in no way trade scores for an exclusive," said IGN VP Tal Blevins, adding that publishers have no access to or say in the text of a review before it goes live. That doesn't mean IGN didn't make any concessions to secure the exclusive, though. IGN Xbox editor Hilary Goldstein admitted the site used promotional placement on the site's top feature bar to secure the exclusive. "Our bargaining chip is to basically say, 'I will put it here if you let me have this,'" Goldstein said. Mastrapa likened the practice to an "exclusive cover story" in a game magazine.

As for Variety and Fritz, Goldstein seemed unimpressed with with his journalism bona fides. "Nobody from Variety called us and said, 'Hey, would you like to comment about this?'" he said. "He says in blog post, 'If I had the game right now I would have broken the embargo.' To me that goes against your ethics." Nothing like an I'm-more-ethical-than-thou battle to get your heart racing in the morning.

IGN responds to concerns over exclusive GTA IV review originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 May 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

Majed Athab — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

Click for high-resolution image.

Editor's Note: This review was published earlier, before the reviewer completed all the license tests. We pulled the review, acknowledging it was an inaccurate representation of the game. The reviewer has completed all the license tests and has provided a new, edited review.

Before gamers ever really got to play it, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue was already slapped in the face with accusations of being nothing more than a glorified demo. Branded with such a stigma, many gamers had turned away from Prologue and decided to wait out until next year when the "real" GT5 races out. Are these people vindicated in their racing abstinence? Or are they missing out?

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue does continue the tradition of maintaining the most realistic driving sim out on the market. It does this with stunningly gorgeous visuals while at the same time playing like a charm. A rigid online mode does drag the title down a bit, but overall, Prologue will leave you well satisfied. This is one PS3 exclusive that'll definitely make you proud to be a PS3 owner.

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PS3 Fanboy review: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IGN: First web GTA IV review, another perfect 10

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Is it too early to say that we're beginning to see a pattern develop here? We know that a mere handful of reviews for Rockstar's latest opus have been published, but should the current trend continue, Grand Theft Auto IV could be the subject of more perfect scores than 1976 Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Yes, IGN recently dropped the suspiciously non-embargoed first online review for the title, giving it a 10 out of 10 (on both platforms) and evoking the wrath of the Nintendo Defense Force, calling GTA IV "the best game since Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time."

The seven-page, five-thousand word review (and accompanying video review, after the jump) praises the game's art style, the immersive backdrop of Liberty City, the "Oscar quality" story and the "refined" gameplay. The enamored reviewer even commends some of the quirky extra features included by Rockstar, such as Niko's multipuropse cellphone, or the in-game use of alcohol: "You don't have to drive drunk," the reviewer exclaims, "but it's fun to give it a try." Great, now we can look forward to public backlash towards the game's DUI-endorsing write-ups, as well.

Continue reading IGN: First web GTA IV review, another perfect 10

IGN: First web GTA IV review, another perfect 10 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Fanboy's shiny new review index

Alisha Karabinus — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: Meta

Did you ever wish there was a convenient page that gathered all of our game reviews in one place? Do you hate wading through categories? Are you in the mood for delicious candy? While we can't actively help you with the last one (though we can recommend these), we've got the answer to the first two questions in the form of DS Fanboy's handy review index. On the new page -- which we'll update every week -- you'll find a chronological list of all of our full game reviews, with the newest first, along with their scores and the initials of the reviewer. We've also included a sortable spreadsheet for your downloading pleasure, and as we add more reviews, we might just add more information there as well. It's an exciting time to be a DS Fanboy!*

*Okay, not really. But pretend for us.

DS Fanboy's shiny new review index originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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