Author: Jessica Thompson

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You can think of “Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments” as being something of an epic mash-up.  On its face it is a rather direct investigation game based on the adventures of Sherlock Holms, however, upon closer inspection you discover that there’s much more to this mystery than meets the eye.  For example, its subtitle “Crimes and Punishments” also echoes the Dostoyevsky novel of nearly the same name and it eloquently introduces a fresh but classic sort of gameplay at the same time.  For anyone that’s an avid video gamer and a fan of Watson and Holmes’ exploits, this is definitely…

Let’s face it, each year brings with it a new FIFA outing (or two).  Heck, it isn’t even like Déjà vu at this point, more like a fix for hungry masses of football fans.  Don’t let the negative connotation color your judgment of FIFA 15 though, because it definitely meets or exceeds desires.  Yes, it basically holds the torch that’s been passed down by FIFA 14, with a number of key additions further enhancing what was already a splendid formula, as you’ve probably already guessed by this point… Gameplay The heart of any solid football / soccer title is its…

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If you’re sitting there wondering when the next great FPS is slated to hit the PC, consider the following soon-to-be-released titles.  Each and every one of the following games is slated for a 2014 release (ahead of the Christmas holiday too…maybe), so get ready to add some new items to your preorder list if you haven’t done so already.  Let’s jump right in, shall we? Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Fans of the Borderlands series should be pretty ecstatic right now because yet another fine installment is about to drop.  Dubbed “Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel”, you can expect nearly the same sort of…

While it may not be quite as visible as many other simulation titles, 2004’s “Transport Giant” (developed by JoWood) is certainly unique.  Somewhat inexplicably and suddenly, a new comprehensive version of the game was released in 2012 (Transport Giant Gold Edition), which includes the original content plus Transport Giant Down Under.  The game itself is set in the year of 1850, where railroads are all the rage.  Instead of managing manufacturing centers, as is seemingly the standard with titles of this genre, you are starting up your own shipping company, initially choosing your scenario (Europe or the US).  Needless to…

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One could easily say that the RollerCoaster Tycoon series opened a whole new door within the simulation genre, not only sparking the imagination of PC gamers worldwide but also laying the groundwork for other franchises to follow in its footsteps.   The very idea of managing something like a theme park, replete with shops and more, is clearly a departure from typical video game standards (most involving violence of some kind).  Nevertheless, one cannot deny the awesome fun that’s to be had within the world of RollerCoaster Tycoon, especially considering that you can develop new technologies, monitor visitor happiness as well…

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There are a lot of different reasons as to why PopCap Games’ Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare belongs in your video game library.   For starters, it’s just so much fun.  Highly unique titles like this just don’t come around very often, especially those which so artfully combine so many different “flavors” of entertaining gameplay.   In other words, yes, this game manages to do pull a few new tricks out of its sleeves while at the same time remaining extremely fun throughout.  Don’t get the wrong idea though, it’s still based on familiar multiplayer concepts and retains a certain colorful charm as…

This updated and redesigned package containing the previously released titles, “Metro 2033” and “Metro: Last Light” is a big win for FPS fanatics and fans of the series.  Aside from its obvious graphical enhancements (which we’ll get into later) and thoughtful little gameplay additions, there’s also the great value of gaining a pair of games.  If you’ve been gaming for any length of time already you have probably picked up some type of “two-pack special”, offering you a bundle and many additional hours of gameplay.   Well, as far as those sorts of deals go, Metro Redux is definitely a good…

All in all, “Surgeon Simulator: Anniversary Edition” is a macabre, funny and altogether strange game that has inexplicably stoked the fires of interest from a significant cross section of the gaming community.  As its name implies, you are a (supposedly) qualified surgeon who is tasked with performing all sorts of standardized operations.  Needless to say, things don’t always go as planned, which is where the game’s darkly sardonic humor comes into play, obviously.  While many might have thought that the original version of the game was more or less fine the way it ways, developer Bossa Studios has somehow managed…

Visual Imagination Software’s “Pineview Drive” is really a one-of-a-kind offering, the sort of game that breaks ground in a small, but significant way.  Within the horror genre, the potential for things to become rather stale is always present, as many of you probably already well know.  For starters, there are only so many different types of jump scares and scenarios one can set up before everything starts to become a bit of a wash and/or you begin to anticipate the chills.  This is natural, of course, as human beings we look for patterns and respond accordingly.  But what if a…

Obviously, Kick-Ass 2 is a game that’s directly tied to the movie franchise, which extols the exploits of a hapless high school super hero who, along with a group of other ordinary citizens, decide to take justice into their own hands.  As for the game itself, it’s a brawler that basically bathes in the tropes of the film from which it is derived, even including many of the related “finishing moves” and such.  Now comes the hard part – trying to justify the game’s existence to those who might be expecting some kind of slickly polished experience that will make…

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There seems to be an undue amount of criticism being leveled at “Risen 3: Titan Lords”.  Sure, it really isn’t a completely polished affair, nor does it perfectly convey the sense of drama or guided storytelling that we’ve come to expect from the major blockbusters, but relegating this game to “garbage” status is an incredibly gross oversimplification and an insult.  At its core, R3: Titan Lords is a freewheeling open world adventure, of the sort that any RPG fan will probably enjoy exploring.  Again, if you’re completely off-put and unable to connect with any aspect of the game at all,…

There’s at least one thing we can count on within the video game world, and that’s Nintendo doing quite well in whatever venture they undertake.  Whereas competitors might be apt to entice consumers in as flashy and bombastic a way as possible, the company who was there at the very start of the console revolution keeps on coming back to deliver more of exactly what their fans want most.  While the Wii U certainly isn’t considered to be “new” any longer, it still remains viable as a wonderful gaming machine with a lot to offer and possessing a very unique…

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Upon first inspection, “Eat Dragonfly” appears to be just another Flappy Bird knock-off, or perhaps some glittering variation thereof.  While there’s no disputing that the game actually borrows most of its basic concept from the runaway hit app, the truth is that it is also original in its own way(s).  In fact, one might even say that Eat Dragonfly outdoes Flappy Bird where fun is concerned. Rather than introducing gamers to a stripped down Mario-esque background and character yet again, this app’s developers actually took the time to create their own assets.  The backdrop is basically an animated bamboo forest…

Just saying aloud the title of this game, “Sacred 3” calls to mind a slightly generic backdrop – a fantasy world that you expect is going to cash in on clichés we all know and love.  One shouldn’t necessarily take this as a bad thing though, what it lacks in polish and execution it makes up for in the gameplay department, affording you a chance to bash your way through some rather well-designed levels and hordes of strange creatures.  After playing for any length of time however, you’re certainly come to notice some of the title’s rather obvious pitfalls, the…

The simple, yet lovable app “Flappy Bird” rose to prominence seemingly out of nowhere to become a truly hot commodity among mobile users. The developer becoming quite “freaked out” by his sudden incredible success (where millions of people were downloading it), he removed it from circulation, but now it’s back of course. Naturlaly, while we were experiencing some downtime there people were fervently looking for other similar alternatives, i.e. – games that offer nearly identical gameplay. Luckily, there are more than a few great options in this area which you are still free to explore, assuming you’re not playing the…

Developed by HeSaw and published by Focus Home Interactive, Blue Estate is an arcade style rail-shooter game based on Viktor Kalvachev’s Eisner Awards – nominated Blue Estate comic books. Players get to assume the role of L.A. mob boss Don Luciano’s homicidal son, Tony Luciano, who is psychotically tearing a bloody path through the Silk gang to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend. Players also get to play as Clarence, an ex-navy seal who is trying to end the violence and clean up behind Tony. Unfortunately, Blue Estate (the old school arcade rail-shooter styled game) has not been met with the enthusiasm…

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It could easily be argued that the need to accessorize is even greater with video gaming than it is in fashion.  Sure, the average modern day console (such as the Xbox One or PlayStation 4) is definitely jam-packed with basically all the goodies you need to pick up and start playing right away, often right out of the box, but give it enough time and you’ll discover than you’re in need of some critical piece of hardware.  In turn, this addition might be something which simply increases your overall enjoyment or even better, serves to fundamentally improve functionality in one…

While the Wii U doesn’t exactly get quite as much attention as its more visible modern day counterparts (i.e. – the PS4 and Xbox One) make no mistake, it IS a fantastic console that deserves all the accolades it receives. Some of the various titles available for the Wii U are not only extremely cool and deeply satisfying in terms of overall entertainment value (for all ages), but they’re also exclusive Nintendo releases as well. Having said that…there are a number of accessories out there for the Wii U which can dramatically increase your experience with the console; in fact,…