| 5 (0) |
|
|---|---|
| 4 (12) |
|
| 3 (16) |
|
| 2 (1) |
|
| 1 (0) |
|
3.43 stars 3.43/5 Stars Average score of 51 user reviews spread across 50 releases and 1 DLC
The main character attacks the dino with his pickaxe. Not Phi-Beta-Kappa....I haven't written a blogpost on the last day of 2012 about my top 10 games of the year (which is a common thing for other people on Giantbomb.com), but one game I would certainly talk about in that post would be Fossil Fighters for the DS. While it is not the best game I've ever played, it exceeded expectations because of a neat mini game concerning fossil cleaning and an insane storyline that got me chuckling and shakin...
Take a good look; you won't be seeing average graphics after the box cover.A note to my readers: I do not watch the Chaotic cartoon that this game is based off of. I do not know the basic plot or the underlying stories of the show. I also never played the card game and have virtually no clue about its cards, rules and whatnot. Everything I write is merely based off of what I see in the game, and my judgments of the game will be based off of those observations and those observations only. That be...
Having a chance to play Children of Mana by Square Enix allows me to play a game from the World of Mana series for the first time. To those unfamiliar with the franchise the "Mana" series is another set of video games from Square Enix revolving around the fictional world of Mana. The second game, Secret of Mana (1993), is widely praised and placed alongside lofty company such as the Legend of Zelda. But since the series hasn't been entirely successful, and Children of Mana (the subject of this r...
You think this cover looks cool? Wait till you see the game.Let's get the non-essentials out of the way. You are an anonymous protagonist attempting to purify a computer database and save a girl called Lumi (insert "Princess not in this castle joke" now). You do so rails-shooting style, alternating between weapons resembling lock on missiles and a gatling gun. Child of Eden is my first game that has Kinect functionality (though it still can be played with a 360 controller). And I enjoyed the gam...
Ms. Pink and Mr. Vandal don't have a clue of their impending doom lurking behind the title logo.If you have to make a game by ripping off a successful game franchise, Fossil Fighters (FF) for the NDS is the example you want to follow. Certainly many of the things seen in this Artdink product will scream Pocket Monster knockoff, but there are enough features to separate the imitator and the imitated. In fact, there are moments that FF actually seems to surpass Pokemon. The story is one of humor a...
Keiji Maeda and Okuni are the co-cover characters in Samurai Warrior's inaugural PSP gameI've talked about two Dynasty Warriors games on the PSP, and now I move to both similar and familiar territory: Samurai Warriors (or SW). For those who don't know, Samurai Warriors is another franchise from KOEI, with the same Dynasty Warriors formula but set in the tumultuous conflicts preceding the rise of the Tokugawa era. The first SW game on the PS2 didn't set the world on fire, but had enough wrinkles ...
Xing Cai takes over as the cover girl in this gameI have a bit of a like-dislike relationship with the Dynasty Warriors franchise. On the one hand, it is still really cool to slice up hundreds of thousands of enemies in a battlefield to take control of Han Dynasty China. On the other hand, the simplistic combat system and (most importantly) the lack of meaningful upgrades from game to game bothers me. This sentiment about the franchise as a whole gets us to our subject of today: Dynasty Warriors...
The cover does no justice to the insanity that is Ninja BladeAll the criticisms for Ninja Blade are all legitimate:Yeah, it isn't a great looking package in the XBox360 library. Yeah it story is paper-thin. Yeah, it's gameplay element mimics other series like God of War and some franchise named Gaiden. These portions of the game do not inspire much confidence about the game's quality... until you see the cutscenes.Silly, unlockable costumes do not deter Ken OgawaIn those sizable moments of the g...
Now, when shaking hands, Ryu must only use his left hand for the occasion.*Hello. RayCarter here. This is the final piece of my arranged "Ninja Month", where I look at four games revolving around famous video game practitioners of ninjutsu. I reviewed two Tenchu games and most recently gave an opinion/piece on Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the NDS. Now, with an exhaustive review, I will give my two cents on Team Ninja's latest, and probably most maligned, product, Ninja Gaiden 3. Was it as tras...
The titular Dragon Sword is unceremoniously dragged to the side by the protagonist.*Hi, RayCarter again. This is the third and second last installment of Ninja Month, where I review two Tenchu games and two Ninja Gaiden games. With the Tenchu games all wrapped up I am venturing into Itagaki territory, where I play two games from the franchise that stars one of the video game's most beloved ninjas: Ryu Hayabusa. This week I'm reviewing Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword for the NDS. Hope you can see my ot...
*Note: This review is, word for word, taken from a longer review about the original game, Dungeon Siege 3. Please note, however, that I wrote that same DS3 review myself and therefore is not a case of plagiarism.Treasure of the Sun, a DLC for Dungeon Siege 3, is an outstanding addition for the game, thanks to its storyline and additions to the gameplay that make it a bit deeper.The DLC starts when you accept a quest from a former Legion servant who wants to find his master in the Desert. You tra...
The cover looks better than the game already*This is Part 2 of Ninja Month, where I, RayCarter, look at 4 games based off of ninjas (2 from Tenchu, 2 from Ninja Gaiden). I previously wrote a review for Tenchu Z for the XBox360 for Part 1. Hope you can check that out too!Tenchu- Shadow Assassins is another game I’ve played that has terrible gameplay but has everything else well covered (like Sands of Destruction). On the one hand, you have a really good troupe of voice actors and an orchestral sc...
If you look closely, the cover gives a tip for future Tenchu Z playersThere is just one question you need to ask yourself if you want to pick up this game:Are you fond of sneaking around, staying hidden, observing enemy patterns, then striking out of nowhere at the most opportune time?If you answer yes, then Tenchu Z is a possible candidate for purchase, especially at bargain price, because for at least a dozen hours you guide your ninja through various (and eventually rehashed) locales chock fu...
You see a similarity between this and a certain JRPG franchise, right?Eternal Legacy for the iPhone or iPad is a game that I have a soft spot for. Its features are not entirely overwhelming save for a couple of bright spots, and from the picture you are already aware that this game borrows heavily from the acclaimed Final Fantasy franchise. But at the same time, the faults are easy to forgive in the grand scheme of things; everything else actually works fine, if not pretty well. In the end, it i...
Maverick Hunter X (MHX from now on) is a great package for several reasons. It upholds the standards of Megaman games of the past, from controls, to boss battles, and music. But it does so in a very unique fashion. Instead of appealing to just the longtime fans who followed the Blue Bomber since 1987, Capcom did the smart thing and also catered the game to newer players who aren't familiar with the rich history of the franchise. In short, there's a little bit of everything for everyone in this M...
He looks like Bond. He shoots like Bond. But he is not Bond.The remake of Casino Royale is one of my favorite movies of all time. For the first time in a long while people see the man behind the gun and gadgets. Daniel Craig sold Bond to be an ice-cold, capable, and yet vulnerable and inexperienced character. Whenever he was on camera my eyes were glued to the screen because he comes off as interesting and nuanced. Eva Green as Vesper, witty and pretty, was a great Bond girl. She didn't need to ...
I remember the first time I played the game “Tap Tap” was before a French class, when one of my then-classmates Gustav showed it to me (or was it Sam B.A Chan? I don’t remember but I think it’s Gustav). I was then intrigued because of the game’s novelty: literally pressing on the screen to play a note. Since then, I still like Tap Tap as both a game and franchise, but there is usually a need to find something that is both new and familiar at the same time.There are options. Most likely you, dear...
Just a note here: I have not played the first Prototype game. I’ve only glanced at its generally favorable reviews and left the game there. Therefore coming into Prototype 2, the sequel, I’ve had some mild expectations, assuming that 2’s foundation is already solid and that there will be some improvements, therefore a better product. But by the time the clock reads 5 hours, I have had a bit of a sinking feeling that my standards won’t be met. Don’t misinterpret me; Prototype 2 still has some awe...
How many games have you seen transition from a 3D to 2D environment? Usually, it’s the other way around, with Mario and Sonic being the most iconic examples. But the subject of today, Mirror’s Edge, transports the prodigious runner Faith from the 3D urban jungle into a straight 2D (well, 2.5, but still) left-to-right-racecourse.We’re still in the world of Mirror’s Edge… right?In a way, Mirror’s Edge has its soul taken away. I’ve heard from IGN that M.E is meant to be 2D, but I frankly disagree w...
Code Lyoko has never looked this good outside the telly, until now.Code Lyoko for the NDS is the first foothold from the franchise to the video game market. As I’ve noted twice already (one actual review on this site and another re-reevaluation piece), there are some good moments but the package feels average overall. Not very long after, our old friend The Game Factory published another Code Lyoko game: Quest for Infinity (which will now be referred to as QOI), a third person action/platformer ...
Although some might not know this, but Glory of Heracles (GoH) for the NDS isn't a standalone product; it is in fact the sixth game in a franchise of the same name. Probably the only reason we don't know this is because for quite a while the series resided in Japan. This incarnation of GoH is the very first in its brethren to have a release outside of Japan, and while it doesn't alienate its new western audience, it does very little to exceed the baseline expectations of the modern RPG.Meet the ...
The First Templar is an intriguing package from the outset. It is probably the first game that puts a spotlight on the Knights Templar, a prominent religious and military organization from the Medieval Times that was responsible for escorting pilgrims to the Holy Land. As a visual package it looks incredibly dated, given the blocky textures and the character models that looked pulled out of a last generation console. As a game, it has some simple yet fun ideas, combining a combat system with puz...
I felt very excited upon the purchase of The Saboteur, given my two full go-arounds in Fable 3 and Saints Row The Third when it came to playing open world games. I was hoping for another fun adventure blowing up, shooting down Nazis. Upon completing the main campaign and participating some side quests and forays into blowing stuff up at my own leisure time, I couldn't help but feel that the game has some unfilled holes. Yes, there is a lot to like here, such as the action, but there are many fac...
The first Medal of Honor: Heroes wasn't a fantastic FPS. However, it was a great addition for the PSP library because of its ability to adjust to the control limitations of the portable console. Add on a great theme song and Nazi-gunning action, and voila, a product that PSP owners can get behind. With a trial run with MOH 1 over with, you would think that EA would have a better sense of how to craft their sequel, Medal of Honor Heroes 2. Unfortunately, that is not the case, as MOH 2 has made im...
We are back to the late 1930s, early 1940s in Europe. You're holding a Thompson MG, a pistol, and several grenades for good measure. When you realized that a grenade just blew up in your face and shoddied your vision, you immediately activate a Med-kit off screen and continue the fight. Ladies and gentlemen et les autres, this is Medal of Honor Heroes (aka MOHH), one of two first person shooters for the Medal of Honor franchise. Of course, its name would be overshadowed by other FPS titles, but ...
Unlike some of my GiantBomb colleagues (unless they updated or something), I'm actually coming into this review with the distinction of actually beating this game, from start to finish : )All kidding aside, I can see why people are down on this game. The gameplay was a HUGE issue with many, resulting with many low scores and opinions. But that's where I divert from my fellow gamers on this matter, because I see some good in the bad. I think the story is above average and the presentation is bols...
Key facts:The version I played: Zerker x SaurianThe perspective: Someone who already played Star Force 1 and wrote a review about it.How I got through the game: Played without engaging in side quests or excessive grinding. Had around 16 hours out of the game. Beat the game once and saw the ending once via the Saurian file.Before I go on and talk about the game, I would like to discuss sequels. From a story perspective, there are some games that reset the entire cast and settings, but more often ...
As a former high school basketball player, I understand the value of the "glue guy" role: A solid, dependable contributor who isn't exactly on par with the team's superstars, but whose performances are nevertheless valuable to the squad. If I assemble a list of RPGs on the XBox 360, Dungeon Siege 3 will be the "glue game". It's a game that has few glaring weaknesses, coupled with enough strengths to make it stand out slightly above the crowd. It's not a game that will forever change RPG game his...
We often hear the following about movie games: Some person who made Movie X wants a game. Person hires Company A to make one. Company A either has too little time to make Game B or just takes an existing formula from another game and calls it a day. Some games do better than what I've mentioned above, and there are others that are go above and beyond to the point of excellence. The Adventures of Tin Tin (which will now be abbreviated as AoT) for the iPad (which is a different game from the other...
In Dead to Rights: Retribution, you play as Jack Slate, a hard-nosed, uncompromising Grant City cop, who intends to shove justice down the throats of criminals by doing things like: a) urging on his malamute/wolf hybrid Shadow to rip off enemy scrotum b) Brtually kicking the enemy in the stomach twice. Then when the crook doesn't get the message, Jack will do it one more time. c) Shooting both kneecaps off of a soldier. To put the finishing touches, Jack sends the opponent up in the air and clog...
To say that Again: Eye of Providence is a unique game for is a bit of an understatement. I've never seen a game that has marketed itself as an interactive crime novel before, and the concept of seeing both the past and the present to solve a mystery is intriguing in its own right. Therefore, despite lackluster reviews from Gamespot and Gametrailers, and of course the funny QL (quick look) from the Giantbomb staff, I still was interested enough to try out the game once I could get my hands on a c...
If we remove the secondary features of a game (read: story and graphics), and put ourselves in the eyes of a video gamer/customer, the value of a game will depend on two things: a) The game's ability to give its players a control scheme that is precise and varied enough to overcome challenges given by the game. b) The game's ability to employ unique, creative and ultimately fun ways for players to exploit or utilize the control scheme to resolve said challenges, resulting in positive experien...
Before I go on with this review, I need to get a little autobiographical here. (Please scroll to the fiftth paragraph, if uninterested). Dynasty Warriors on the PSP was my first purchased game and my third game overall for the PSP. But besides that, it was the very first game that I reviewed ever. Back then, Giantbomb didn't exist, so I posted my thoughts on gamefaqs.com. And guess what? I gave the game a 10 out of 10. So as time went on, as I became more comfortable in reviewing games and sub...
There is a reason why Mario Hoops 3 on 3 is not called Mario Basketball or something like that. While the sport does include a basketball and a pair of nets, there are fundamental rule changes in this game. For example: - Instead of scoring 1,2, or 3 points, players can score between 20 to about 150 points. - Characters are allowed to jump on, slap, and create magical pillars to knock another character off his or her feet. - Turtle shells, stars, lightning bolts and other staple items in o...
WARNING AND APOLOGY: IN AN EFFORT TO EXPLAIN THINGS CLEARLY THIS REVIEW WILL BE VERY, VERY LONG, EXHAUSTIVE AND WILL BE ORGANIZED INTO HEADERS. IF YOU WANT A QUICK BREAKDOWN ON THE SCORE SCROLL DOWN NOW TO "THE BOTTOM LINE". ALSO, SPOILERS APLENTY!!Have you seen the Gamespot review about the 3rd Birthday on YouTube?As I write this review, more reviewers DISLIKE the review then liking it. Except for some spamming/fake videos, I rarely see a video that much hated and panned. The venom in the comme...
The Megaman EXE franchise is a major series in the GBA, spanning over 6 installations that follow the story of Megaman, Lan and friends hunting down bullies, conquerors and everything else in between. However, the overwhelming majority of those games follow an Action-RPG blueprint. Only one game was truly from a TCG genre: Megaman Battle Chip Challenge (for the sake of convenience I'll be using BCC to abbreviate the title). However, despite its different style, BCC is still a worthy addition to ...
I think there should be a new genre for games: Garage games. The sole focus of these games is to get stuff, run them through a couple of tests, get more stuff, do more tests, rinse and repeat. In addition, these games tend to avoid any sort of storytelling, causing players to worry more about the game flow and process than anything else. Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2004 (I'll call it YGO WC04 for conveniency) is a Garage game through and through. There's absolutely nothing to do except for...
It was said that the Megaman X series originally wanted Zero to be the protagonist. But fearing the fan's potentially negative response to the new character, this idea was scrapped... or at least postponed, and Zero was instead put as a partner-in-crime to Megaman X. But in 2002, Zero was given the individual spotlight in a remote outpost of a game in the Gameboy Advance. So how did Zero handle the job of being numero uno in his solo debut, Megaman Zero? Well it pleases me to say that Zero...
Foreword: I've already wrote a review of this game. But it didn't show up in the site even after I posted it. This is the second attempt to write a review for this game. Hopefully this one goes through. Untold Legends: The Warriors Code is a sequel but not a sequel. Sony essentially removed everything from the first game except for its core gameplay mechanics. The result is a game set in a different universe and slightly expanded combat mechanics. Is this new facelift a success? Well, as a sequ...
Let's put this out straight away: Haze is not a GREAT game. Shooter fans obviously needed to feel a little ticked and (quite frankly) disappointed that this hyped-up PS3 exclusive hosts a generic arsenal of guns, along with a bordering-to-mundane storyline, and some really outdated graphics. On the other hand, however, Haze does do a couple of things right. Not super, beyond-duty right, but right enough to avoid more unkind words from us gawking reviewers. Haze is a solid shooter t...
Note: To be clear, this story is NOT TRUE. It's just fictional. It is August 13, 2009. Developers of GI Joe: The Rise or Cobra were accused of "License Abuse in the First Degree", with many haters stating that the game GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is "a get-rich scheme which injures the integrity of electronic entertainment and is an insult to the videogame community." Millions of bucks were at stake, and the court case went back and forth, back and forth until there is a final showdown at the Int...
There are games that are forgettable, and games that are OK. Then there are those that are in a complete class of their own. Pokemon Crystal is one of those games. Even to this day, I still lament that I've lost the game card from a trip to Japan. It's not just the basics done right in Crystal, but it's also the other little things that helped to set the standards for other Pokemon games to come. Crystal is a remake of Pokemon: Gold/Silver version. Like in Gold/Silver, you move around, ba...
We are off to Ancient China, circa 180 in Dynasty Warriors 6. The object is simple, just like the previous installments: Lay waste to the opposition, and help your side conquer all of China. There are different character designs and a new Renbu system to spice things up, but it's still Dynasty Warriors game to the very core. Which could be a good and bad thing . Warriors 6 takes place in Ancient China around 180-260, where separate groups and clans fight one another to claim the throne fr...
Electronics dominate the landscape, Net-Navis fight to the death and evil organizations are about to unveil yet another plan to take over the world. MWA HA HA HA HA! Yes, we return once more to the Mega Man alternative future 1 in MegaMan Battle Network 4, split between the Red Sun and the Blue Moon versions. This installment has lots of ups and downs. One the one hand, there are improved graphics, and the new Double Soul System works well. However, there would also be questionable design choic...
Log in to comment