Green Day: Rock Band
Posted by Jim Hunter in 360, review on June 8, 2010
Green Day: Rock Band is exactly what you thought it would be when it was announced. Nothing more, nothing less. If you’re into Green Day and aren’t burnt out on music games yet, then this is for you. As someone who’s been wanting something new out of the music genre, this title doesn’t bring anything new to the table other than songs and some Green Day unlockables. I hope Harmonix’s Rock Band 3 work will freshen up things a bit.
3D Dot Game Heroes
Posted by Jim Hunter in PS3, review on May 12, 2010
There’s certainly quite a bit to do if you want to explore the land of Dotnia (including a new game plus mode), but I found that after a half dozen hours the charm had passed and the dated adventuring mechanics had turned the title into a rather short-loved trip down memory lane. If you’re really into the old school then you may want to grab 3D Dot Game Heroes, but if you’ve never touched anything from days past, you should certainly steer clear. Its main draw is nostalgia, and even that fades quickly.
Alan Wake
Posted by Jim Hunter in 360, review on May 5, 2010
While the open ended ending left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, I’m still interested to see where Remedy takes this game with the upcoming episodes. The town, atmosphere, and characters made me want to keep playing till the end, despite the somewhat repetitive combat. Let’s just hope that 1) the game is sucessful enough to warrent a proper conclusion later down the road, and 2) Remedy doesn’t take their “episode” queues from Valve. We’ve already waited long enough for Season 1.
Super Street Fighter IV
Posted by Jim Hunter in 360, review on April 26, 2010
If you didn’t like Street Fighter IV, there’s really nothing here that will change your mind. While it is a bit disappointing that this is a full retail item that will certainly split the userbase, if you’re an existing fan there’s just about zero reason to not buy this. Capcom has released a truly monumental update to the best fighting game in years which will certainly keep it truckin’ long into the future.
Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening
Posted by Jim Hunter in 360, review on April 19, 2010
Despite these quibbles, Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening is still a fun romp which extends the already solid framework laid by the original title. If Dragon Age is calling you, but you don’t feel like reinvesting the time in the base title, or just want to see what happens next, there’s really no reason to stay away. It may not be as completely awesome as Origins was, but it’s still Dragon Age and by that regard, it’s still awesome.
God of War III
Posted by Jim Hunter in PS3, review on April 8, 2010
Perhaps I’m harping on the story a bit too much when it’s a straight up action game but considering that we’ve already done this twice before, I really feel there’s got to be something new to make it worth doing again and the mechanics certainly haven’t changed. With God of War Collection already available, it’s difficult for me to recommend God of War III as anything other than an extended tech demo. Combine Santa Monica’s checkbox approach to game design with a fairly callous and meaningless angst journey of a straight up unlikable main character, and you’ve got nothing worth writing home about except the scale.
Mass Effect 2
Posted by Jim Hunter in 360, review on January 26, 2010
Mass Effect 2 is quite honestly everything you would hope it would be. An epic story full of interesting characters within a huge universe with all the problems from the first game fixed. Whether you’d rather go prospectin’ for some minerals on planets or just stick to the game’s story, there’s plenty of content to keep you busy. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a second character to import while anxiously awaiting ME3.
Dragon Age: Origins
Posted by Jim Hunter in 360, review on December 8, 2009
One particular area I am always concerned about when playing through lengthy games is the possibility of general game fatigue. I could either grow tired of the story, get lost on side missions, or start to hate the general mechanics and ultimately just shut off the game with a “I’ll come back to this later” thought, never to return. Thankfully, that just wasn’t the case here at all. With plenty of different endings, six origin stories each changing the world’s perception of you, and having a plethora of important decisions to make throughout, you’ll certainly get your money’s worth. As long as you’ve got the gumption and staying power, you won’t find a better true RPG on the market for this generation.
Left 4 Dead 2
Posted by Jim Hunter in PC, review on November 25, 2009
The few issues presented in the first game have been thoughtfully repaired and improved upon in just about every way possible. Not only is the formula created by Valve and Turtle Rock still relevant and entertaining, but they have basically perfected the zombie apocalypse. From the new cast of engaging characters to the polished campaigns and new modes, Left 4 Dead 2 is an incredible multiplayer experience from top to bottom with everything a true sequel calls for.
DJ Hero
Posted by Jim Hunter in 360, review on November 3, 2009
At the end of the day, DJ Hero is a great start into a new line of music titles. It may not have all the bells and whistles, and it may be a little expensive for the normal everyday person, but it is certainly a refreshing take on a tried and true game genre with a crapload of awesome music. If you dig this type of music and have the scratch to spend (see what I did there?), it’s hard to not recommend it.