Nicholas Bale
There's something to be said about the Dawn of War series, of its focus on battle and unit management rather than base building, and its laying of the foundation for one of the best real-time-strategy games on the market (Company of Heroes, that is). Unfortunately, something can also be said about its refusal to change this formula and how it's starting to show. Read More.
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters was a handheld-sized entry into the popular duo's adventure, released on to the PSP about a year ago. It was well met and bringing the duo to a handheld went pretty well, save for a couple minor issues. Now the game's been ported onto the PS2, unfortunately it doesn't fare the transition well. Read More.
Okay, let's first make this known: as far as the Conflict series goes, Denied Ops is not something that has much in common with the rest of the series. Tactics have been replaced with run-and-gun gameplay, the third person has been chocked in favour of the first-person, and the once-four-man team is now two. Read More.
Let's start this by saying that I am not what one would call hardcore when it comes to fighting games. I do, however, live with someone who is. His constant litany of advantages, combos, and, good lord, frame counting, makes me cringe at times. This does not prevent me from enjoying a decent fighter now and again, and though I may not know how to execute a 100%-damage combo (it can be done in some recent titles, trust me), I do know how to enjoy a game. Read More.
Hey, I know what you're thinking: you're thinking that you've always wanted to run a zoo, aren't you? Aren't you? Okay me neither, but then, I never thought I'd want to be a guy who gets shot repeatedly and games have proved me wrong in this regard countless times. Read More.
When I received Race 07, I jumped into a race immediately, figuring I'd pick up things as I went along. I mean, heck, I don't remember the last time I had to read an instruction booklet. I'd do fine. And the first race began, and I went zipping past the drivers. Read More.
The Warhammer 40K world has been around for quite some time, at least on tabletops. Figurines, landscapes, and strategy all have been going hand in hand for many years now. Considering the amount of strategy involved in the game, it's a surprise it's taken this long for someone to create a turn-based title that effectively embodies the nature of the original game. Read More.
What does it take to make a game scare you? Is it the shadows, curling around you like the cold embrace of the night? Or how about hollow sounds, echoing down a hallway, reminding you that you are not alone? Is it quick surprises or long, drawn out suspenseful moments where you have time to wonder what, exactly, is breathing on the other side of that door? Read More.
Speedball 2 - Tournament revives a popular classic with a new coat of paint and a bit of polish, but keeps the classic gameplay from the original. This brings back a lot of memories, but also raises a bunch of new problems. While some fans of the classic might like the new title, there are issues that arise that will bug both them and those who have never heard of Speedball before. Read More.
I am so tired of playing this game.
As I write this first paragraph, I have a campaign battle going on in front of me. My trebuchets are running in circles, my archers can't get the hint that when I tell them to move to point A, I mean that I would like them to move to point A, you know, now. Read More.
So demons have invaded and are destroying the world. What're you going to do? Well, gather loot and upgrade your stats, of course! Hellgate: London is a typical dungeon-crawling, loot-collecting hack-and-slash game, and while it does a lot of things right, it seems that whenever is done well, there's something else that just seems to fall flat. Read More.
The setting of World War II has been home to dozens of first-person shooters over the years, but oddly, it never held that much of an interest for turn-based strategy developers. Panzer Tactics DS is the latest title to enter this moment of history, letting you play as all sides as you stretch your strategic mind. Read More.
I have suddenly been put in the position of reviewing a game that is clearly not made for me in any way. It's the Big Game, Charlie Brown! is a title made for the younger gamers in the crowd, and so to have me play it creates something of a challenge as I try to view the title not for its ability to entertain the typical gamer, but for its potential to entertain someone a little smaller. Read More.
Crysis is something else: stunning graphics, an underused setting, an epic story, and an enjoyable multiplayer game to boot. People playing this will likely recall a game from many years back called FarCry, with good reason. Crysis is the evolution of that title, using a new engine, but keeping the general feel of a 'hell in paradise. Read More.
When you think about cowboys, perhaps pirates aren't the first thing that spring to your mind. After playing some Swashbucklers, your opinion just might change. The game offers a unique setting and styled graphics, but the rest of it seems to be as misplaced as tumbleweed on a tropical island. Read More.
