I took some time out of my extraordinarily busy Fallout 3 schedule to download the Mirror’s Edge demo on XBLA. This is a game I’ve been watching for some time: the austere art direction really touched a chord in me, and I was intrigued by DICE’s commitment to producing a momentum-based first-person platformer… essentially, a game that plays like Prince of Persia, but feels like Quake, since you’re in the first person driver’s seat.
Review by Old Rooster The Colour Of Murder Developer: MDNA Games Publisher: Merscom Released: October 29, 2008 Available for Windows (System Specs Below) Verdict: 5/5 Gold Star! “The fifth Carol Reed mystery continues the unusual, intricate and suspenseful story telling of one of our finest independent adventure game developers. Moreover, this time the Nyqvists have also incorporated one of the best progressive hint systems yet seen. We’re pleased to award a Gold Star to this …
After a long wait, Fallout 3 hit the shelves Tuesday. Since its precursor, Fallout 2, was released by Black Isle in 1998, a new generation of gamers have come of age having never played either of the original games. Few thought a third game would actually see the light of day. Then Bethesda bought the rights and soon after announced Fallout 3. Its last blockbuster game, Oblivion, had been greeted with a surge of early …
New over the news tickers today is the suggestion that failed Maxis “masterpiece” Spore, released to tepid reviews but hella sales in early September, underwent some significant changes to up the simplicity and cute factor and back-burner the SimLife science originally planned by Will Wright and his team. The conjecture is that Maxis employee and outspoken industry dude Chris Hecker is responsible for the change. Whether or not that’s true, the cuteification of Spore actually …
Continuing my Day of Plagiarism, allow me to pull directly from Alec Meer’s IGN UK review of Fallout 3: “So it’s tragic that the often awful production values make a fool of it so regularly. Whenever you’re really settling into the game and thinking what a wonderful world it is, it goes and does something incredibly stupid and clumsy, and the whole illusion shatters. It’s a truly fabulous RPG in so many ways, but we …
I totally stole the above picture from the indispensible gamepolitics.com site, but it’s worth the theft to share.
Review by Old Rooster Outcry Developer: Phantomery Studios Publisher: The Adventure Company Released: September, 2008 Available for Windows (System Specifications Below) Verdict : 3/5 Middlin’ “With intriguing visuals and lovely musical score, Outcry will involve you in its mysterious and, ultimately, psychological storyline. Unfortunately, excessive verbiage as well as the insertion of odd and often difficult puzzles for their own sake brings the final score of this short game down to a 60% range.”
As if there were any doubt, Mr. Steerpike grabbed this game on Day Zero and has given it a solid four hours. Largely interesting because this is the first “big studio” open-world shooter, a format that’s been dominated until now by the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games and nothing else, the question becomes: does Far Cry 2 deliver? Click to find out…
A Book Nonreview, or Three Things That Guarantee a Book Will Suck Bitchfest by Jen The Lecturer’s Tale James Hynes Picador USA, New York 2001 Verdict: 0/5 Chunky! “World domination? Pshaw.”
Review by Steerpike S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Developer GSC Game World Publisher Deep Silver, Steam Released September 21, 2008 Available for Windows Verdict: 3/5 Middlin’ “In the end, Shadow of Chernobyl stood above its many, many flaws because it was a revolutionary title, a game-changer. Clear Sky, though in many ways a far superior game, does not enjoy the same immunity to its flaws, because it’s supposed to be of the second generation, and the mistakes …
Review by Old Rooster Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches Developer: Arberth Studios Publisher: Got Game Entertainment Released: October, 2008 Available for Windows (System Specs Below) Verdict: 4/5 Thumbs Up “I Am 15 Years Old. Will I See 16?” – Rhiannon’s Diary Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches is an unusual, beautifully written game that offers an entertaining, challenging visit to the folklore and legends of Wales. With only a few rough edges, Arberth …
Review by Old Rooster Developer White Birds Productions Publisher Got Game Entertainment Released October 2008 Available for Windows (system specs below) Verdict:3/5 Middlin’ “Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals is a disappointing adventure game adaptation of the works of Enki Bilal, famed French graphic novelist. Stunningly detailed graphics and atmosphere do not compensate for the obscure, linear storyline cluttered with Rhem-like puzzles. At under 10 hours playing time, this strange game earns only a “masks” rating, …
I love a good time travel story; even if it messes with the space/time continuum and people start to disappear from photographs because their parents didn’t meet at the appointed time and go to the prom together.
So EA’s internally-developed Dead Space comes out Wednesday, and reviews have been a mixture of pretty positive and very positive. This is one I’ve got on my GameFly list rather than down as a purchase. Why? Because scary games make me tremble, and because I’m witholding judgment on the game’s overall quality until I hear a little more about it. EA is not, after all, really what one thinks of when one thinks of innovative …
“Revenge Beyond Death; Truth Beyond Legend” Welsh development company, Aberth Studios, offers an impressive first effort with a “haunted farmhouse” traditional point-and-click adventure. Although there are some rough edges, the solid story and interesting puzzles make this visit to Wales worthy of your consideration.