Survival horror games pluck the players from the battlefield and pit them against their worst nightmares. They are an art but few games get it right. Video games are an immersive experience, but for horror games it is easier to be thrown out of the experience with the slightest fault. Horror games must have the appropriate mix of design,...
“Child of Light” is the newest RPG from developer Ubisoft Montreal that uses the UbiArt Framework, the same game engine used to create “Rayman Legends.” It is a 2D, side-scrolling RPG that adds in some minor platforming and puzzle solving to its stellar turn-based combat system, and the gameplay instantly grabs your attention with its storybook-like art style, which...
“Dark Souls II” has finally come out on Steam to the sound of PC gamers everywhere rejoicing and preemptively rage quitting. The latest in From Software’s “Souls” series, this game comes with the promise of great gameplay, a nearly incomprehensible story and so many deaths that the previous game was given a “Prepare to Die” edition. Fortunately, the game...
“Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut” is the latest indie game to fly its way onto Playstation 4 and Xbox One. This space combat game by Born Ready is your typical space shooter, except for one minor detail: You can transform the spacecraft into a humanoid robot. So, it's pretty much “Transformers” in space. As the title alludes, this is...
“Simulation” is a scary word to a good portion of the video game community. Hearing or reading it, some people instantly conjure images of the annually rehashed “Farming Simulator” series or any number of games about trucking across the country or settling in Oregon. Onto this scene come the irreverent games of simulation like “Kerbal Space Program,” “Surgeon Simulator”...
“Infamous: Second Son,” from developer Sucker Punch, has finally made its way to PlayStation 4. Set in Seattle, this third-person action sandbox game is the first big title to hit Sony’s next-gen console. I’m glad to report that it is a good game which highlights something we will probably see out of both next-gen consoles: gorgeous graphics. Unfortunately, while...
Ever since it was announced, “Titanfall” has been hyped as the next big step in gaming. If you’ve been living under a rock, “Titanfall” is an online-only, competitive, futuristic first-person shooter (FPS) exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC. However, describing it in such a simple manner is doing the game some disservice. The main appeal — and what sets...
“Strider” is not Strider Hiryus’ first time in action, but a reboot of Capcom’s 1989 arcade game. The original was known for a lot of flashy moves, which the reboot has in abundance, bringing its lightning-fast action to the PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360 as a downloadable game. At its best, “Strider” is a smooth action-packed game...
Warning: This game is not for the faint of heart — it will drive you bananas. “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze” is the sequel to Retro’s beloved “Donkey Kong Country Returns,” which was infamous for its difficulty. I am glad to report that the difficulty level has not decreased. You will have to jump from platform to platform, rolling...
Japanese role playing games (JRPG) have a reputation for clinging to the past when it comes to gameplay. Square Enix, the long-loved developer of the “Final Fantasy” series, has been accused of this practice for a while now. This all changes with “Bravely Default” on the Nintendo 3DS, which feels like an homage to the classic turn-based JRPG with...