Author: Jessica Thompson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQFiWpp5Y5w

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…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzpx0im7U0c

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…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhCCyA9EAFM

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…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z9Xu9rZLpM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzpx0im7U0c&list=UUkTuhwNKaVh-Qv68OUdE_ew

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…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4efkoiswjc&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dDHWCZH9ZA

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,…

With all of the new top racing titles being in ultra HD, replete with blockbuster graphics and open world action, the only way to significantly up the immersion factor is to turn toward alternative control mechanisms.  Naturally, if you’re well into experiencing the next console generation with Microsoft’s Xbox One and driving games are really “your thing” then it only makes sense to invest in a quality steering wheel.  Again, nothing quite captures the overall feel of a racing game quite like a wheel-based controller does.  Moreover, as many packages today come with not only a steering column but also…

Valve has hit the proverbial gold mine more than once, as you are undoubtedly probably already aware.  Within the video game industry they’ve landed more than a few massive registered hits that have allowed them to silently rest and invest their efforts in other directions.   This seems to be the case with their line of “Steam Machine” consoles, which are set to stream game data from the internet through the mega popular PC gaming site Steam.  Naturally, being able to instantly access the amazing library found there on a streaming box that you can hook up rather simply to your…

To many people the “Just Dance” series might have at first seemed like a bit of a novelty, something that served as just another passing fad of sorts.  The truth however, is that it has now become a certified institution, with timely releases and new installments being offering up frequently enough to remain on everyone’s respective radars.  Many game developers, publishers and marketers actually didn’t even see this trend taking off in the West quite as much as it has, but there’s simply no disputing its influence now.  With Just Dance 2015 we see developer Ubisoft giving fans more of what…

For all intents and purposes, Chris Sawyer Productions’ (including Frontier Developments, for the Xbox) original “Rollercoaster Tycoon” is the granddaddy of all the amusement park sims out there and still stands alone as one of the better specialized simulators available for those who get a kick out of management and resource allocation.  One could even argue that the various elements added in RT 1 actually helped to influence a slew of other titles, including some well-known RTS games which are in no way similar in style.  Because of its influence, we’ve decided to take a “retro review” / nostalgic look…

So, what makes a game “retro” anyway?  One would say that the only real qualifier is age and a graphical base that’s significantly behind the times, as it were.  However, if you took a short-sided view of what it means to be retro then you’d be entirely avoiding the overall aesthetics behind recent trends which see gamers going back to explore titles from the past.  Whereas a lot of analysts tend to see the retro movement as one concerned with a strong desire to explore specific types of older gameplay, one could just as easily argue that it is driven…