We were pretty big fans of The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, so to hear that their team is tackling tower defense? Well, count me in.
Heroes of a Broken Land - PC Review
Well, I did not see this coming. With visuals and sound that feel like a throwback to a much older era of play, Heroes of a Broken Land surprised me by mixing and matching several styles into an all-new gaming experience. Visually it reminds of the old Heroes of Might and Magic turn-based games, with a hex-based overworld grid and incredibly simple graphics. Like kicking off a game of Civilization, you can pick the size of the world you want to create, which is then procedurally generated, like everything else. What follows are a dungeon crawling experience, played out on a turn-based hex map in between caverns, with a bit of city management thrown in for good measure. It is ambitious, and it works.
Rogue Legacy - PS Vita Review
Rogue Legacy comes to us courtesy of Cellar Door Games, who launched a desktop version last year and recently re-released on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Vita. With the new version available now, I decided to take another, closer look at this “Rogue-lite”. Success of other recent Rogue-like titles like Binding of Isaac, Don’t Starve and FTL have already shown that the modern gamer is more than willing to embrace the punishing, yet rewarding, gameplay style inspired by the original text-based “Rogue” title.
Interstellar Marines hits 100k - adding co-op
Good news for co-op fans, because the team at Zero Point is adding co-op gameplay to their Early Release title, Interstellar Marines.
ArcheAge - PC PReview
A lot of MMOs have come and gone over the last decade or so, but Trion Worlds has brought some interesting free-to-play ones to the table. ArcheAge promises to bring a sandbox feel to the MMO world with player driven structures and economy and less rigid progression structures. By and large the early returns are looking positive, with ArcheAge proving to be an attractive game with a lot of promise so far.
Fist of Awesome - PC Review
Please note that this review is for bearded folk only; those of you that do not have said beard must spend an eternity ever wondering what it is like to be so blessed by such awesome chops. Fist of Awesome is a manly-man's game; it makes those Old Spice commercials seem like a group of frail little school-girls huddled up around the newest fashion doll (now with 8 opposable joints!). In the world of video games, Fist of Awesome is Chuck Norris; that fist hidden in Chuck's beard? It is a Fist of Awesome. If you do so happen to have a beard, please, pick up the nearest fallen tree to use as a tooth pick and come right on into this wonderful land of bear-punching goodness.
Street Fighter IV is ringing in around 5 years - how much has it grown?
In the past I have gone on and on about my adoration for Street Fighter. No seriously - there is more than one article, including a look back at 25 years of Street Fighter. We even had a chance to play and review some of the Street Fighter IV versions of the game in the past. Now that Street Fighter IV is hovering around the five year mark (hard to believe the first iteration came out in 2009), I thought I would share some cool information about the latest and greatest iteration of the game, Ultra Street Fighter IV.
Shadowgate - PC Review
The original Shadowgate was one of the best-known point-and-click adventures ever, and I recall being up entirely too late at night, trekking through the pixelated, living castle on the NES so many years ago. I clung to the text, carefully trying to soak in every last piece of my environment, because failure to do so would inevitably lead to a horrible (and often frustrating) death.
This take on the game nearly two and a half decades later is not a simple port, but a newly imagined quest that has a great deal to do with the original, but offers more twists and turns than the original. The interface is still the somewhat clunky point-and-click one I remember working through in the past, but with a new soundtrack and visuals that make going back to Shadowgate worthwhile.
This take on the game nearly two and a half decades later is not a simple port, but a newly imagined quest that has a great deal to do with the original, but offers more twists and turns than the original. The interface is still the somewhat clunky point-and-click one I remember working through in the past, but with a new soundtrack and visuals that make going back to Shadowgate worthwhile.
Whispering Willows - PC Review
Whispering Willows is an interesting take on what feels like it could have been a Point and Click Adventure. Instead of using a mouse, it instead requires moving left and right from one end of the screen to the other manually instead of pointing and clicking in order to examine the various locations. This makes the requirement of actually moving across the screen much more necessary compared to a Point and Click, as by exploring each area from one end to the other will uncover things that might not have otherwise been seen if just scrolling by with a mouse.
FPS Creator Reloaded - new version and incentives
We have been giving some coverage to FPS Creator when we previewed it, talked about the demo and had an interview with the team. Well now the latest release is out, and with it come some new incentives as well.
Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar - PC Review
My initial response when first playing Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar, was to compare it to the Total War series. However, after a short time with the game, despite some similarities, The Rise of Caesar shows some fresh takes on the strategy warfare genre, but also fails to display the kind of depth some might be looking for.
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed - PS3 Review
JRPG games are great, excellent even, and build worlds that are almost equal to those in my favorite anime, but it never quite hit that apex. When I first heard of the absurdity of Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed, I was immediately intrigued. Here is a title that takes place in the place of all places, the Akihabara district in Tokyo; anime, manga, and gaming mecca. The one place on this planet that I want to visit before I die, and here is a game that is based solely on shenanigans in Akiba using an art style straight out of a Gonzo series (Welcome to the N.H.K., Kiddy Grade, Chrono Chrusade, Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing); it is reported to have RPG like elements, a little bit of visual novel/choose your own adventure gaming, and all taking place in Akiba? Count me in! Count me in! The question though, is whether it holds up to my 20+ year desire to play an anime, read on to find out more.
Doorways looks to bring the creepiness mid-September
I am a fan of spooky games, and this one looks like it might fit the bill quite nicely.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 - PS Vita Review
From start to finish, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 feels like the perfect hopping in point for players new to the series, while those who played the original should find plenty to like about this updated and thoroughly improved version of the original. Brought to the PlayStation Vita with a variety of improvements over the original, Re;Birth brings a light-hearted story together with an interesting combat system.
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Frontline: Road to Moscow - PC Review
Commanding the German military, Frontline: Road to Moscow attempts to recreate some of the more famous battles while taking war to Russia. This is a PC version of the popular mobile game, and at times those mobile roots can be felt as it might not have the polish of some of the bigger name strategy titles out there, but the gameplay is still fun, easy to learn and ultimately rewarding.
Blackguards 2 gets an official teaser
The first Blackguards was a fun strategy game that I spent dozens of hours with. That was why when Blackguards 2 was announced, I was more than a little excited. Well, Daedalic Entertainment now has an official teaser for the upcoming game, and it looks awesome.
Memories of a Vagabond - PC Review
If there is one that can be said, it would be that the older I get, the more I wish games went back to the way that they used to be. I'm not even sure if RPG Maker games can even be called a guilty pleasure anymore as I seek them out much more than I do most higher budgeted titles. There's something about them that just makes me want to dig out my old Ikea chair (which I would have to battle the cats for it) find my old CRT, hook up my SNES and play the afternoon away in front of an open window. Memories of a Vagabond covers that nostalgic feeling very well and adds new and interesting gameplay elements that had me happily going into the NG+.
New trailer for the upcoming Dying Light
Dying light looks like some creepy, fun stuff. Here's the latest trailer so you can see for yourselves.
Sacred 3 - PC Review
Some of the worst lines that anyone can start a conversation with is "I am not sure how to say this..." or "We need to talk." Fortunately this conversation will not be starting off with the latter, the former though? We will have to see, but first, a little background. When the original Sacred came out 10 years (2004-ish) or so ago, it was well after Diablo II: Lords of Destruction came out and was just different enough from the Icewind Dale/Baldur's Gate games that Sacred was filling a niche that in all honesty, had to be filled. The original did a fair job of giving us the action and RPG elements that we wanted in lieu of a Diablo sequel (that would not come for another ten years after). While not a clone, Sacred gave us plenty of dungeon-crawling goodness while offering up a little bit of humor.
Space Engineers coming to Xbox One
We recently previewed Space Engineers on PC and enjoyed the title, so it is exciting to hear it is making its way to the Xbox One as well.
The Golf Club - Xbox One Review
The Tiger Woods golf games of the past were focused on advancing a single player career or getting some games in with your friends. They were good, fun games that were built around mechanics reliant on precision and a variety of meters and gauges. The Golf Club is still a good round of golf at its heart, but it is built on several different principles. One is a lack of gadgets - your swing mechanic is tied to the animation on screen, relying more on feel than what a meter reads. The competitive, asynchronous online mode provides some 'competition' no matter a person's availability and cuts out wait times. Lastly the course creator attempts to give you powerful editing tools so that a variety of golf courses can be built, customized and shared out for the rest of the world to play. Most of what The Golf Club tries to do works quite well, but not quite everything.
Dungeon Defenders Eternity - PC Review
The Tower Defense genre has been a popular format, typically found in Flash or other web-based games. Usually adhering to a top-down format of placing defenses at static locations in order to protect against waves of enemies, it lends itself well to short pick-up-and-play sessions. While there have been some standout releases like Defense Grid and Anamoly that have come out on Steam, most other releases have felt like ports of existing web or mobile games. In order to bring a more robust and unique experience to gamers, the Action Tower Defense genre was born. Putting the player in charge of an avatar inside the game world, and allowing for more customization and direct interaction with the enemies and surroundings, games like Sanctum and Orcs Must Die have created a completely new experience. Dungeon Defenders from Trendy Entertainment was among the first wave of entries in the genre, and their follow up game Dungeon Defenders Eternity has just been released. But does the game do enough to build upon the early groundwork of its predecessor, and create a fresh experience?
The sights and sounds of F1 2014
Codemasters has promised an update not just to the graphics of the F1 series, but also how it sounds.
Risen 3 - Titan Lords - PC Review
When Risen 3: Titan Lords released their first trailer at E3 2014 I was immediately interested. A dark, shadowy setting, filled with Stonehenge-like pillars and hellhound-looking beast was broken up by a fully armored hero walking out into the open, hands aglow with mystical energies as he hurls magic about. The only other games I have played in recent memory that allowed you to wander around in full armor while tossing fireballs or lord knows what else around, are Dark Souls II and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (I personally refuse to consider "The Elder Scrolls Online" an Elder Scrolls game, or really even a game at all). Then came along E3 2014 and there it was, a fancy looking knight rolling about as hellhounds were chomping at the bit and he tosses some sort of magical explode-y goodness; I was hooked. Over the coming months I spent a little more time paying attention to the press releases, page updates, screenshots and the plethora of videos that were provided on both the Steam page as well as the various news outlets. Even with all of the excitement around some of the titles this year (Rainbow Six: Siege!), Risen 3: Titan Lords was high on my list of games to watch out for. Now that Risen 3: Titan Lords is here, was the wait and anticipation worth it?
Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX ships September 23
Pre-orders for this title are now available, and with it comes a few new screens and some additional information.
Afterglow AGU.1S Wireless Headset - Hardware Review
A lot of audio aficionados, me included, tend to be a bit skeptical about wireless audio devices. I for one tend to feel that wireless devices do not have the power to adequately push the drivers for the low frequencies (i.e. bass) and the mid frequencies (where the rich depth comes in). I will fully admit that I have heard some wireless devices provide some crystal clear highs that rival some of the better home audio devices that are readily available (read: affordable). When you are as big of a fan of audio as I am you tend to spend quite a bit of time picking apart different devices and playing with equalizers to get just the right sound out of the speakers. I find that, regardless of the device, I am able to tweak the EQ to just the right setting that all audio is good and as I sit back and ponder, I cannot think of a single audio device (speaker, headset, microphone) that I have plugged into a computer that I have been unhappy with. When I landed the chance to review the Afterglow AGU.1S wireless headset by PDP I was both eager and skeptical; after all, I personally have not had any experience with their audio devices not to mention, it was wireless. Like any good audio geek, I immediately checked out the specs, paying particular close to their drivers to see if I could take a guess at how it would sound. Now that I have had the headset for some time, does it push the drivers as I expected it to?
Square Enix confirms Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
Considering how well-received Sleeping Dogs was when it first came out, it really should not come as a surprise that an updated version of the is now slated for released on PS4, Xbox One and the PC.
Defense Grid 2 - PC Preview
Something about tower defense games simply appeals to me. I can sink hours into trying to come up with that perfect strategy, which then requires I have the proper reflexes to carry it out. The original Defense Grid is pretty much my gold standard for tower defense games, which is why I am anticipating Defense Grid 2 as much as I am. The early (very early) returns? This game could be amazing.
How about some Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 gameplay footage?
So late last week, I gave my initial impressions of the upcoming Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1. Now I wanted to take a few minutes and share some of the gameplay footage before the title's release.
Lords of the Black Sun - PC Preview
I have been a huge fan of strategy games for as long as I can remember; while the pace is generally laid back, the scope and capabilities that strategy simulation games bring to the table is staggering. At some point along the way I become somewhat fanatical about space-based 4X strategy games (likely due to Alpha Centauri) which eventually developed into a healthy obsession over space-related video games. There is something grand about managing a space-faring civilization as you work to take over the galaxy, whether that is by diplomacy, economic domination, or by way of military conquest, the choice is yours. I think that the depth that these strategy games from the micromanagement of an individual planet's resources to the tactical positioning of military assets, is why I am so interested in them. That and they give you your share of options, if you want to parlay with a particular civilization and craft a relationship with them, you can, or if you wish to declare war on a civilization, you can. It is these options that really interest me, as no other games out there come close, with the exception of role-playing games.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky - PC Review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is about a group of would-be heroes that are a part of a peacekeeping organization called Bracers who take on various jobs, from exterminating monsters to fetching specific ingredients or items of value and protection of goods or people as they move about in the wilderness. Unlike most role-playing games, which tend to start off with the village idiot/scoundrel/troublemaker/etc. who may, or may not be, an orphan (if they are not, then in the opening scenes some attack on the village will make they an orphan) who most likely has some sort of latent super power that ensures that they are the only ones on the planet that can stop "Evil Mr. Badguy" from conquering the known nations and then destroying the world. While I completely enjoy these underdog-gone-superhero tropes and cliches, when something new pops up, like an Atelier game, then I am almost immediately hooked.
Road Not Taken - PS4 Review
This is one of those games that really had me all over the place as I played it. On the one hand, the simple but pleasant presentation and yearly progression of the main character drew me in, as did the variety of interesting puzzles in this roguelike title. In the end however, I found its depth to be somewhat lacking, with a world that proved a little more shallow and far less interesting to me than I had initially hoped. In the end we wind up with a game that has its heart in the right place, but at the same time it seems to be suffering from a bit of an identity crisis.
Roller Coaster Tycoon World coming to PC in early 2015
Here is some recent news that will no doubt have my wife very excited. She logged more time into Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 than was probably healthy, and though number 3 never quite appealed to her as much, she has long hoped the series would see a new game. Well, here it is.
Ubisoft shows off loads of new content at Gamescom 2014
Ubisoft has shown quite a diverse collection of upcoming titles, including Assassin's Creed Rogue, Assassin's Creed Unity, Far Cry 4, Heroes of Might & Magic VII, Just Dance 2015, Shape UP, The Crew, The Settlers - Kingdoms of Anteria, the Division and more. With most of these games targeted with specific release dates now, Ubisoft also decided to show off lots of screenshots, concept art and trailers to go with them. As a huge strategy fan, the Might & Magic announcement was a big one for me, but there is a lot of other really good stuff to be had in this lineup as well.
We have collected assets for all of these titles - so be forewarned: there is a lot of media here, making this a very large article.
We have collected assets for all of these titles - so be forewarned: there is a lot of media here, making this a very large article.
Space Engineers - PC Preview
Floating in space, trying to find an asteroid, drifting endlessly, hoping to get somewhere. Finding your beloved asteroid, spending time mining, then refining, then building. Creating fleets of star craft, an illustrious base to call your own, a powerful ship, mining rigs, and much more. This is Space Engineers - a game with a large learning curve and a heap of potential.
Real Boxing - PC Review
Real Boxing sure has the look and the feel of a quality boxing simulation. Under the hood, it is perhaps not as powerful and customized as the venerable Fight Night series, but Real Boxing holds its own with respectable visuals, some decent career progression and solid controls.
Tropico 5 coming to Xbox 360 in November
Tropico 5 did quite well critically and commercially, even as a console release. I suppose it should come as no surprise then, that it will now be releasing globally in November for the Xbox 360.
Son of Nor - PC Preview
Early Access is one of those hot topics lately, because there is a bit of a show of faith by all parties involved. The development team has something tangible out there, and the hope is that they will use this time to really listen to and make use of feedback from fans who purchase the game in an early, unfinished state with the hope that eventually they wind up with a great game. Son of Nor is very early on, with plenty of rough edges, but they are actively seeking feedback from players and there is some serious potential here for when the game is completed.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII - PS3 Review
I am a Final Fantasy fan. Have been since the original came out for the Nintendo. Back in those days we (my brother and I) had a total of three RPG games; Dragon Warrior, Hydlide, and Final Fantasy. I was not a fan of Dragon Warrior since I could not see my character unless I was wandering the world map and do not bet me started on Hydlide. Then along came this massive Nintendo Power issue that had a poster for Final Fantasy, and a complete strategy guide in it. I remember playing Final Fantasy for hours and loving every second of it. Once the Gameboy was release and Final Fantasy Adventures and Final Fantasy Legends came out and I had every one; not that they were Final Fantasy games, but they had the name "Final Fantasy" in the title, so I bought them.
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited - Vita Review
Disgaea is probably Nippon Ichi Software's most popular series and NIS America has just released the latest in the series, Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited. This is a slowly paced, tactical game with over-the-top characters that have seen some nice improvements to the visuals since Disgaea 3, and added some new characters and content since Disgaea 4 released a couple of years ago. There is a substantial learning curve here if you are new to this series, but for fans of this genre it really does not get any better than this.
Crowntakers - an RPG/strategy game by Kasedo Games announced
We have a soft spot for RPG/strategy hybrids, so we have high hopes and expectations for Crowntakers, which has been announced.
World War 1 Centennial Edition - PC Review
World War I Centennial Edition is the latest version of a very heavy strategy game that takes place during the time period of the First World War. Whilee World War I does not really need an introduction as to what it is about, the game itself is an enhanced version of the 2008 with several improvement both to gameplay and performance. While I generally love strategy games (and believe that I am not bad at them) whether they are real-time (Age of Empires, StarCraft, Warcraft, Warlords Battlecry) or turn based (Civilizations, Warlocks, Heroes of Might and Magic, Disciples), I felt somewhat out of my depth with the complex systems that WWI uses. I was more than grateful for the various tutorials that help players understand both the basic and more advanced systems had to offer.
Destiny: The beta did its job - I am sold
Thanks to an awesome Editor-in-Chief (editor's note: Yeah, he's a pretty good guy :) ) I recently got to play Destiny on the PS4 during its early and limited beta stage, and instead of writing a preview this is more of my impression of my time with it. Destiny is not only the latest, but also the first game that Bungie has done in a little while since releasing my favorite of the Halo series, the prequel Reach (I have played 343’s Halo 4 but Reach was awesome!). While I may generally be an RPG/SRPG kind of guy with a love for platformers, I do love a good shooter every now and then especially when RPG elements are intertwined.
Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King - PC DLC Review
Now that you have played Dark Souls 2 and died a few thousand times, you
are ready for the first of three DLC packs that have been announced for
Dark Souls 2. Crown of the Sunken King leads off the trilogy by adding a
few new zones, a whole host of new puzzles, and more enemies that are
looking to thoroughly thrash you. Bringing into the depths of a sunken
temple, you will wade through the ruins of a monarch long dead finding
new powerful gear and clever traps that are challenging to get beyond
and rewarding when you do. Read on to hear my take in this opening DLC
for Dark Souls 2, the Crown of the Sunken King downloadable content.
Ryse: Son of Rome gets a PC release
Ryse: Son of Rome was one of those titles that did an excellent job of showing off the visuals of the Xbox One when it released last year, with opinions on the game heavily divided. For those who did not have an Xbox One to play this on, you could be in luck as it is now seeing a PC release.
Beasts of Prey - PC Preview
The trend of Early Access games on Steam has exploded in the last year or so. By allowing customers to purchase a game well before it is finished, developers and publishers get to line their coffers to fund the development process, test ideas, and receive immediate feedback from their prospective user base. The customers then get to see the game evolve as features are added, textures updated, and bugs squashed. While gamers may be split on whether this is beneficial for all parties, or can lead to dead-in-the-water games that leave a sour taste in your mouth, it shows no signs of slowing down. Tapping into the trend, newly created development studio Octagon Interactive has put their game Beasts of Prey into Early Access.
Sunrider: First Arrival - PC Review
Admittedly, I stumbled onto Sunrider: First Arrival by complete accident. Simply put, I sent an email to the wrong address and, well, a happy accident happened. Instead of having contacted who it is that I was originally intending, I receive a reply from none other than the developer for Sunrider: First Arrival, an indie visual novel currently enjoying the "beta" stage after an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign (they were looking for $3,000 and raised $44,000!).
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 - Vita Preview
The title may be a bit of a mouthful, but there is generally enough game to back it up in this series. Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 is a remake of the original Hyperdimension Neptunia, which had originally released on the PlayStation 3 back in 2011. Here the visuals and text have seen updates, but some new game mechanics promise to give this latest iteration a fresh feel.
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A trailer for the upcoming Shadowgate
Sahdowgate is one of those titles that as soon as it was announced, our interest was piqued. Here is a new trailer that is keeping that interest high.
Pure Pool - PS4 Review
Pool is one of those games that is sort of like chess for me. I thoroughly enjoy it, have been playing it on and off for years, yet I am probably only average at best. It is a bit ironic that the makers of Pure Chess - a game that I love and yet am not particularly great at, has come out with a new game called Pure Pool. It sure looks, sounds and feels the part - right down to reminding me that while I enjoy the game, I am not by any stretch of the imagination great at it.
