Andrew Sztein
Is there any hero in the history of film that lends itself as well to video games as James Bond 007? I certainly can't think of any. The James Bond films share a lot in common with a lot of video games in that they both feature a nearly invincible protagonist who shoots first, asks questions never, and is always taking on wave after wave of faceless henchmen. Read More.
I wanted to like this game, I really did. One of the things that sucks about being a hardcore console gamer is that you rarely get a chance to truly support the little guy on a major console release. While platforms like Xbox Live Arcade, the iPhone, and even the PC have been a fruitful breeding ground for excellent independent and lower budgeted games, it's extremely rare to find a full retail release on major consoles that will keep your interest over more celebrated AAA fare from well known publishers. Read More.
Once upon a time, when I was knee high to a grasshopper, Nintendo brought out a Rare developed shooter that took the console world by storm. Sure, first person shooters were nothing new in a world that already featured the likes of Doom and Duke Nukem, but GoldenEye 007 brought solid control and addictive multiplayer the likes of which consoles had never seen. Read More.
I can see it now, the dollar signs lighting up in the eyes of some random video game company exec in a meeting when the PlayStation Move was released:
"Hey guys, those Tiger Woods guys seem to have the market cornered on golf games, but they only release a game each June. Read More.
If you ask me, and since you're reading this review you are; DJ Hero last year gave the music genre a nicely needed shot in the arm. In a landscape dominated by Guitar Heroes and Rock Bands, it was a breath of fresh air to play a game that not only gave other genres like hip-hop and rap a starring role, but that also depended on an entirely new way to play the music, in this case a plastic turntable. Read More.
My name is Andrew, and I'm an addict.
Yes, if I go back an count up the hours that individual franchises have stolen from my youth, I'm pretty sure that the Civilization series will be at the top of the heap. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly makes the games so addictive, but addictive it surely is. Read More.
Here we are again, anxiously hitting another season of NHL hockey. Like clockwork, EA Sports has released their annual simulation of the sport, and the results are still spectacular, but not without some caveats. Read More.
When you sit back and think about it, this really has been a long time coming. With the plethora of dongles and accessories for the Wii that let you turn the Wiimote into a tennis racket, golf club, rifle, sword, or what have you, it's really surprising that its taken this long for someone to go Canadian and turn our favourite waggle stick into a hockey stick. Read More.
We've been hearing it for years, that the PSP is dying, that it's too far behind the DS, blah, blah, blah. Every time I hear that statement, I take a quick gander at the upcoming release calendar and see that there always seems to be a great PSP exclusive on the horizon, ensuring that the fledging platform stays alive for another little while. Read More.
Ahhh, Summer... That wonderful time of year where the sun shines bright, clothes get skimpier, and the great outdoors come beckoning. It's a great time of year, unless you're a hardcore gamer. Releases get spaced out, AAA titles are months away, and unless you have air conditioning, gaming sessions become sticky, sweaty grossathons. Read More.
If there's one emotion that the video game medium conveys better than any other, it's fear. While many are still looking for that elusive game to universally bring gamers to tears or touch the heart in ways only the greatest books and films have, fear has been kind to video games. Read More.
It's no secret that in recent years, video games have essentially been split into two camps: Casual and hardcore. In no other genre is this more apparent than in sports games. Sports games generally act as total fan service, giving fans of a sport the most in depth possible simulation of the sport, both on the playing surface and within board rooms, gyms, and the concession stand. Read More.
I've reviewed a lot of games for GamingExcellence. I've reviewed long games, short games, fun games, crap games, complex games, simple games, and pretty much everything in between. Read More.
When my boss handed me my copy of BioShock 2 for review, he had a word of advice: "review the game for what it is, and don't let your love for the first game cloud your judgement of the sequel." Considering that the original game is one of my favourite gaming experiences of all time and remains the highest review score I've ever given in three years of writing for GamingExcellence, it was good (yet unnecessary) advice. Read More.
The commercials that have been bombarding my TV for FIFA 10 have been asking the question: "How much bigger can soccer get?"
It's an odd question to ponder, due to the fact that I live in Ottawa, the equivalent of a soccer Siberia. Here in Canada, professional franchises are few and far between outside of Toronto, and most sports fans around these parts want to discuss hockey and on occasion, hockey related topics. Read More.
