Review Archive

PixelJunk Shooter‘s name does not do the game justice. I’m sure that Q-Games wanted to keep it short and sweet, as they did with Monsters and Eden before it, but this new moniker seemingly lumps the game in with the glut of other dual-stick…shooters currently crowding the PSN. Space spelunkers who have already downloaded this treasure know that this label couldn’t be further from the truth.

Of course Shooter takes its time working up to brilliance. The first few stages require players to navigate a ship through tight caverns to rescue stranded scientists. A few waterfalls may provide some pretty scenery and a quick way to cool down your missile launcher, but it isn’t until you discover your first lava-spewing volcano that the game really picks up steam. Suddenly, the impressive fluid physics aren’t just for show, as the lava and water combine to form a soft, destructible crust.

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In the first Modern Warfare, there’s a mission in which the player sees through the eyes of a marine operating in an unnamed Middle Eastern country. After some harrowing firefights and a quick airborne escape, both you and he probably assume that the good guys will be able to wipe out the terrorists and save the day. Not quite. Instead, your helicopter nosedives, and your poor marine is suddenly left crawling on the ground as a nuclear weapon is detonated nearby.

*Spoilers ahead! The following review assumes you’ve either completed most of the campaign or don’t care about the storyline.*

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There’s been a lot of taking turns and character swapping with the Super Mario Bros. games over the years, but it seems strange that a series about two brothers has never really put them on the same screen before. In other genres, the name Mario is synonymous with multiplayer thrills, but in the official platforming games, Luigi, Toad and anyone else in the headlining plumber’s crew are usually sidelined. But with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Miyamoto decided that this year’s big innovation would be four-player support, ushering in a fresh, chaotic, friendship-ending brand of fun to the beloved series.

This is not to say that the game fails to offer a compelling solitary experience. While playing alone can’t offer anything as thrilling as tossing your buddy into a swarm of enemies or using him as a go-go-Gadget personal helicopter, you’ll still appreciate the impeccable level design and nostalgic enemy roster. But NSMBW is most successful when it forces players to figure out a means to proceed forward together, even as they constantly push each other off into bottomless pits. Intentional or otherwise.

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(originally published at Smile Politely, 11/25)

Since its debut last spring, Nintendo’s WiiWare service has scored a number of well-received hits: World of Goo, BIT.TRIP BEAT, Swords & Soldiers and a handful of others. But you may notice that the one thing missing from that brief list is Nintendo’s own lineup of beloved mascots. World of Goo’s bulgy-eyed globules are not without their charm, but they’re not going to move software like Mario or Donkey Kong can. This has been a deliberate decision, as the company higher-ups are trying to promote independent developers, whose games probably wouldn’t stand a chance against the plumber and company. That’s why it came as such a surprise last week when Excitebike: World Rally showed up.

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At first glance, LocoRoco Midnight Carnival seems to fall right in line with its predecessors. Bold graphics, Chipmunk-inspired music and the same troupe of lovable multicolored blobs from the previous two games – even as a $15 downloadable quickie, you may be reluctant to put down cash on a mere “expansion.” It’s a valid concern, but after a couple of stages, it’s clear that this is a significant departure from the easy, breezy rolling of the past.

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(originally published at Smile Politely, 10/29)

From the treks through steamy jungles to the endless wisecracks, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves has a lot in common with its 2007 predecessor. You’re still controlling the rugged everyman Nathan Drake in an Indiana Jones-inspired adventure, and he hasn’t learned many moves since his first outing. But while the sequel may sound by-the-books on paper, the actual results are astonishing. While the original was competent and easy on the eyes, Uncharted 2 is a game that should sell consoles. I cannot believe how well the final project came together.

Uncharted 2 wastes no time throwing you into the action, as Nathan awakens in a wrecked train dangling from the Himalayan cliff. After a harrowing climb back onto the snowy ground, the game flashes back to a tropical beach. Here, he and new “friends” Chloe and Flynn discuss how to steal a lamp that may hold Marco Polo’s secret directions to Shangri La. From this initial meeting, you’ll be struck by how well-written and delivered the dialogue is. Not that the first game was a dramatic slouch, but because you’re more familiar with Nathan and company, their actions have much more resonance.

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(originally published at Smile Politely, 10/6)

Music games have come so far since the original Guitar Hero hit the PS2. Four years ago, we tolerated questionable covers of some of our favorite songs, and even as more music labels started lending their talent to the plastic instrument titans, a handful of classic bands remained unattainable. We had the Stones and Dylan, but there was no way we’d ever see Zeppelin, Pink Floyd or the Beatles, right? Well, still no luck on those first two, but after some cajoling and (likely) a proverbial dump truck full of money, Harmonix somehow booked the Fab Four for their first video game tour in The Beatles Rock Band.

Of course, The Beatles Rock Band is not the first band-centric music game in recent years. Metallica, Aerosmith and Van Halen have all received star treatment from competitor Guitar Hero, while Harmonix did release a pricy AC/DC disc last year as a Wal-Mart exclusive. But for The Beatles —arguably the most popular band in modern history – the developer suggested that a major overhaul was in order. And while the results may no necessarily live up to that initial announcement, baby-boomer Beatles devotees and hardcore plastic rockers should both be thrilled with the game.

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(originally published at Smile Politely, 7/16)

If Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4 is any indication, there is no such thing as a casual fan of first-person shooters. If you don’t know every map and every weapon, you’ll quickly find yourself buried in grenades. I learned a long time ago that if you don’t invest enough time on the battle ground du jour, there’s little hope of catching up. That’s why Battlefield 1943 on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 is such a refreshing departure from the norm. With only three maps and three classes, skeptics may wonder if they’re getting a good deal, but the lean package is actually one of 1943‘s greatest assets.

Of course, if you’re an Xbox 360 owner, the much-publicized server problems may be the greater deterrent. For whatever reason, Electronic Arts was overwhelmed by the demand from gamers following 1943‘s launch last week. Even as of this Tuesday morning, the “Quick Match” option is still anything but. This isn’t the first time that an online-only shooter has been bogged down by network problems; the PS3′s SOCOM: Confrontation was almost unplayable when it was released last year. However, EA seems to have a much better handle on the situation, and the upside is that there is already a large community of gamers ready to hit the beaches running.

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(originally published at Smile Politely, 6/30)

Rocket Riot might not sport the production values of a summer blockbuster,  but it could certainly match even the most bombastic Michael Bay flick in the number of explosions and pyrotechnics on display. Though not entirely devoid of strategy, this Xbox Live Arcade release probably won’t hold your attention for more than a few hours if you’re playing solo. But as an incredibly chaotic party game, Rocket Riot is a success.

You control one of dozens of potential tiny avatars, all of them armed with jet-packs and rocket launchers. Though your objectives may change from stage to stage, you’ll invariably be forced to blow both the levels and your opponents to smithereens. With endless ammo and frequent power-ups,  part of the challenge in Rocket Riot is just keeping track of everything on screen.

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(originally published at Smile Politely, 6/24)

It took over two years to make it happen, but Sucker Punch Productions has finally delivered the Playstation 3’s answer to Crackdown. In inFamous, the electrified delivery boy Cole can scale tall buildings, skate along power lines, and call down lightning on a whim. The game is considerably more fleshed out than the Xbox 360 game it is trying so desperately to emulate. Why then does all of this feel so unsatisfying and incomplete?

I certainly wouldn’t blame inFamous’ failings on the mission variety. Throughout the lengthy adventure, the main objectives always keep you invested. In one late mission, Cole will be asked to climb aboard and dismantle weather balloons that are raining poison down onto the populace. In another, he must fight toxin-induced hallucinations in a subterranean tunnel. And in between, there are frequent obstacle courses in the city’s sewer system that grant Cole new abilities. Sure, some of the optional escort and scavenger hunt distractions become repetitive, but you can hover over those and not be penalized.

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