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5 (6) 4 (22) 3 (23) 2 (4) 1 (0) 3.5 starsAverage score of 55 user reviews
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The Legend of the Fellowship's B-Team 0
Foreword: This is my first video game review in eight, long years... Will this piece be any good?Also, I have not tried either local or online co-op, and will review the game on the normal difficulty.Lord of the Rings: War in the North (WITN) a tame Action RPG with little new to offer. It tells a Tolkien story that initially cannot gain separation between itself and the tribulations of the Fellowship, but has admittedly hit its stride once the playable heroes strike out on their own. Gameplay mo...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Lives up to the Hype and Then Some 0
Beautiful... haunting... The Last of Us in a nutshell.*Know what you're getting into: This is going to be a long piece*This review will only discuss the single-player campaign, as I don't think speculating about the multiplayer is worth your while and this piece is long to begin with.By the time you are reading this review, you most likely have known the existence of The Last of Us, an action adventure, survival-horror PS3 exclusive by acclaimed video game developer Naughty Dog. You might have a...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
More Art Than Video Game 0
Is Remember Me worth...remembering? Bah dum tss....On the surface, the source material for PC's Remember Me come from very familiar territory. I for one already had my share of stories about dystopian futures, evil mega-corporations and amnesiac heroes. But upon reflection in the 13 hours I put in to complete this game, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Here is a video game that takes worn-out tropes and with them creates an interesting narrative and a conceptually and aesthetical...
4 out of 4 found this review helpful. -
A Solid if Unoriginal JRPG 3
Do I have your attention now? Good.Magna Carta 2 (MC 2) for the XBox 360 is best summed as a 101-JRPG: Every trope you associate with that genre would most likely be in that game. That isn't to say that the game is bad, as there are some bright spots. The game looks very beautiful and you can get a lot of replay value from the game. But the flashes of brilliance are largely overshadowed by middling or cliched parts, such as the story and combat.If you are a gamer you'd probably heard of plots si...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
Good Enough I Guess 0
The main character attacks the dino with his pickaxe. Not Phi-Beta-Kappa.... The introduction video already indicates that Artdink and company took a serious look at their first Fossil Fighters game and decided that the game needed a graphical upgrade. I admit that for all the cuteness and charm exuded by the first game the graphics weren't exactly a strong suit. In FFC however there seems to be some effort to add detail. The animated portions of the game, first of all, have a cartoony style and...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
My God is this Bad 1
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
A Solid Entry for the Mana Series 4
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
There is No Escape From Eden 0
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
The Best Ripoff I've Been Around 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Solidly Average 0
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 ...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Now That's a Sequel! 0
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
In a Unique Level of Insane 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Was it THAT Bad? 0
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Uniquely Hectic 2
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...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
A Should-Add 0
*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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Ninja Tanks! 0
*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 score that can cover virtually any mood imagi...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Do You Like Sneaking? 3
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...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
Still Holds Up 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
X Reborn 0
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...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
COD-lite action in Bond game 0
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 ...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Rayark's Inaugural is a Stunner 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Competent Enemy Required 0
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Into the Free and the Me 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
A Tiny Step Upwards 0
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 ...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Will the real Heracles please stand up? 0
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 ...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
OK... It's just OK 1
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 pu...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
He's Oyrish. I'm Gamer. What's New? 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
A Step Backwards 0
This cover actually looks pretty damn good.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,...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
A good WWII FPS for the PSP 0
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 ...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
A game that needs better gameplay 0
Two teenagers with attitude will take the world to hell.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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
A Formula All Too Familiar 0
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 than not sequels are meant to expand the universe of the original game. More importantly, however, a sequel is meant to fix, improve and mature the core gameplay elements of its predecessors to produce a more enjoyable package. In short, for a sequel to be worth it, it has to be noticeably and significantly better than it...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
A Tale Worth Seeing Through 1
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
I Kid Thee Not: Tin Tin for the iPad is Gold 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Snapping Heads and Eating Meatballs 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Again's Good Points Can't Carry the Whole Package 0
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...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
An Uninteresting but Functional Package 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
A Compromised Version of DW4 on the PSP 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
The AI has a Split Personality 0
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...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Super-divisive, But I'll Give This Game a Nod 7
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...
5 out of 5 found this review helpful. -
A Unique and Well-done game for the Cyber Blue Bomber 0
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 ...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful.
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