A delightfully brutal and expertly animated hack-n-slasher, Shank is an action-packed experience, but still suffers from irritating control issues and a short playtime.
You may be asking yourself why we're only now posting our review of StarCraft II. Well, we had two very good reasons to wait: One, a game like StarCraft II requires a lot of time to feel out, especially its multiplayer component; and two, we had the opportunity to have longtime industry vet Jeff Green (whose lengthy resume includes a stint as the editor-in-chief of the influential PC gaming mag Computer Gaming World) write the review for us. We gave Jeff plenty of time to chew on Blizzard's latest effort, and what he found was that while StarCraft II is a terrific game, it's really only ideal for a very specific type of gamer.
Valkyria Chronicles 2 boasts the same brand of deep, strategic combat as its console-based predecessor, but occasionally falls victim to a lackluster narrative and temperamental control scheme.
A short yet memorable chapter in Samus Aran's biography, Other M does an admirable job of blending elements of her past 2D adventures with those of her more recent 3D titles. It does misfire in several key areas, but it's still a worthwhile addition to the Metroid canon. Even more interestingly, it showcases the human side of the previously silent bounty hunter, and although her backstory is full of holes and incongruities, it's still an interesting glimpse at the woman who lays hidden beneath the armor.
Producer Yuji Naka helped created Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the most iconic characters in all of gaming, but his latest effort is a bit more subdued and relaxed. But despite her lack of speed, Ivy the Kiwi still stars in a terrific puzzle experience for the DS.
With a beautiful and interesting setting, a likable cast of characters, and a decent dose of action, Mafia II had the potential to add a new and exciting layer to the established myth of the American mobster. But even though it offers some worthwhile moments, it unfortunately squanders most of its vast potential on a heavily scripted experience that doesn't take full advantage of the compelling world around it.
Avoiding the typical trappings of a licensed adaptation, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a stellar throwback to the 8- and 16-bit beat-em-up era that inspired both the original comic book and the recent movie.
Full of unlikeable characters and mindless violence, Dog Days is a grisly mess of a game. It tries hard to be a tense and gritty crime drama, but it lacks the narrative chops to give its two murderous stars any sense of humanity or emotion. So what are you left with when all the bullets have been fired? Two ‘heroes’ who are more lifeless than the numerous dead bodies they leave in their wake.
Focusing less on her tight tops and short shorts, Guardian of Light lets Lara do what she does best: kick ass, collect treasure, and decipher brain-bending puzzles. The addition of co-op and several other game-changing tweaks only serve to complement this can’t-miss formula.
It won't be hailed as 2010's deepest role-playing experience, but what Falcom's Ys Seven lacks in narrative and character depth it more than makes up for in entertaining and engaging combat-heavy gameplay.
