Sunday Roundup: 10/9/11
Mercury Hg for PSN, Orcs Must Die! for the Xbox, and an on-sale downloadable board game make up this week’s new games.
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October 9, 2011
Gameplay Vault: Orcs Must Die!
I’ve gotten a lot of play time in with the new Xbox Live Arcade tower defense/action title Orcs Must Die! Last night I decided to plug in the ol’ mic and record some thoughts of the gameplay. The mic work sucks (sorry, first time recording while playing: I’ll improve for future vids), but it’s still a decent video. Check it out.
October 7, 2011
Review: Rochard
I remember when the Xbox Live Arcade title Shadow Complex released in 2009 and thinking, “Man, I wish I had an Xbox to play that!” I didn’t regret purchasing my PS3, but I felt sad that I couldn’t play the Metroidvania-style action game. Fast forward to 2011 and PS3 owners get their own exclusive side-scrolling Metroidvania type game in the form of Rochard. Combining the action of retro side-scrollers, an upgrade system reminiscent of the Metroid series, and a heavy emphasis on physics puzzle solving, Rochard is a fantastic downloadable title that PS3 owners should be proud to call an exclusive.
October 6, 2011
Review: The Binding of Isaac
What do you get when you mix The Legend of Zelda and Robotron with a dash of randomly generated dungeons? Not a super violent top-down Zelda game, but the super violent top-down dungeon crawler from Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl of the team behind brutal indie puzzler Super Meat Boy. Based off the biblical story of the same name, The Binding of Isaac is a “roguelike” top-down shooter that mixes several elements from other games with a grotesquely disturbing setting that works well. The Binding of Isaac is truly the stuff of nightmares and is not for the easily offended.
October 4, 2011
Review: Kirby Mass Attack
When thinking of the Kirby series of games my mind eventually focuses on the main fundamental of the franchise: gobbling up baddies and copying their powers. I’d say it’s fair to say that’s been the core of the franchise outside of Epic Yarn, which is why I was surprised to find none of that in the newest Kirby title, Kirby Mass Attack for the Nintendo DS. I was about to get my Kirby fanboy rage on, but when I played the game all that rage went away, and all that was left was the fuzzy feeling of satisfaction that only the pink puffball can give me. Kirby Mass Attack is coming out on the tail end of the DS’s lifecycle, and though it doesn’t follow the same formula as other Kirby games, it’s an excellent swan song showcasing everything the DS has to offer.
September 30, 2011
Modern Classics: Castle Shikigami 2
Vertical scrolling shoot-em up action, Castle Shikigami 2 probably flew under your radar. And for obvious reasons. Terrible voice acting, simple gameplay, and a sure fire option to destroy your TV when playing! Check out this game in my latest video entry into the Modern Classics library.
September 28, 2011
Now Playing: Oblivion & Kirby
I’ve been playing the amazing RPG Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to get ready for the upcoming release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and I’ve been enjoying every minute, nay, hour, of it! I’ve also been dabbling in the fantastic little DS game known as Kirby Mass Attack. So what is it about these games that makes them so good? Read on…
September 26, 2011
Sunday Roundup: 9/25/11
A note about this week’s roundup: I enjoy buying games that are both considered classics, and games that simply look fun. Also, I’m a fan of older games, which should explain the amount of old PS1 titles here. Without further adieu…
September 25, 2011
Review: TrackMania 2: Canyon
When I think of racing games, two distinct sub-genres come to mind: arcade racers like Crusin’ USA or San Francisco Rush and simulation games like Gran Turismo. I tend to steer toward the arcade racers for their fast, easy gameplay over the more complex gameplay of simulation racers. And then there’s the TrackMania series, which blends elements of these two sub-genres. The TrackMania series features fast paced arcade style racing, an intricate level editor, and an online hub to connect racers from around the world. With improved graphics, streamlined editing tools for novice editors, and a strong online component make TrackMania 2 a good sequel that racing fans will enjoy.
September 22, 2011
Modern Classics: Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter
The precursor to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter was a good game that received a lame port on the PS1. Join me as I take a look back on this classic fighter.
September 21, 2011