Author: Jessica Thompson

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…

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3z1Gkud9Cc

For the most part it is always the gameplay that makes for a truly awesome video gaming experience, but there’s also something to be said about storytelling, especially if it’s really great.  While the mechanics of a title are always going to be what increases the “fun factor” in most instances, it is a quality storyline and plot which actually push the entire experience to a higher level.   Yes, a great narrative can turn a decent game into a masterpiece, opening doors in your mind that you didn’t even know were there and unlocking imaginative new possibilities for developers and…

Among the many city-building simulators out there, the Tropico series has emerged to forge a solid position ahead of the competition due to its in-depth control of activities as well as its solid graphics.  With Tropico 5 it would seem that developer Haemimont Games has taken things a few steps further by incorporating competitive and cooperative modes, thus allowing for even more intricate gameplay where others can directly influence the direction your island takes in its development. Arguably, one of the coolest things about this game is that it allows you to experience a wider swath of history, as it…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLQX_NKDK84

The simple fact that there’s a game which allows you to basically simulate all aspects of a modern farming operation speaks volumes about just how far the sim genre has come.  Moving on from mere life emulators to nearly every other type of activity you can imagine (real and imaginary), there’s now a game for nearly everything.  Farming Simulator 14 on the PS Vita is perhaps one of the best opportunities that most of us will ever have to interactively grow large quantities of crops, raise livestock and tend to the land.  However, don’t think for a second that they…

Simply stated, there really aren’t many titles which delve into the secret world of Dwarves.  Empire-driven humans, elves, even orcs?  Yes.  But not really a large selection out there when it comes to Tolkien-esque / fantasy-themed dwarf-kind, at least not the sort that specifically caters to their exploits.  What makes developer Whale Rock Games’ (based in Kiev) upcoming title “We Are the Dwarves!” so interesting is that it basically takes you on a wild ride with three dwarves who are tasked with adventuring through especially strange and dangerous lands, replete with all sorts of weird monsters.   However, rather than being…

The thrill of exploration, the looting, the seemingly endless possibilities and boundless adventure…Role-Playing Games stand tall as one of the most appealing and largely popular genres within all of video gaming.  Additionally, there are literally hundreds upon hundreds of individual offerings out there, not to mention loads of series which are steeped in incremental development thereby offering steady improvements in gameplay and visuals on multiple fronts.  This is one of the main reasons why putting together a list of the top 5 RPG’s (for any platform) is so daunting, of course (not to mention the fact that there will likely…

Air Conflicts: Vietnam is a spin-off title from the little-known Air Conflicts series, by developer 3Division Entertainment.  As its name clearly implies, the focus of the title is in aerial combat, and for this particular installment, the deadly dogfights taking place over the skies of a 60’s era Vietnam.  While this might sound like a rather interesting premise for a video game, particularly one which mixes together simulation elements with actual historical data, the game actually falls a bit flat, leaving the player feeling confused and lost in the clouds. On its face, this title isn’t really about supplying you…

Taking a quick look at “BloodBath” it would first appear to have all the necessary elements required of an arena combat PC game.  It has decent visuals, intriguing character design, and of course, an engrossing, yet oft-treaded storyline concept involving your standard dystopia / apocalypse setting.  However, none of these elements are able to congeal correctly to save face for this title.  In the end it seems like one big missed opportunity wrapped up in a rushed desire to bring something to market that looks vaguely violent and interesting. You choose from one of six different characters, each with their…

As it was released quite a few months ago now, we thought today would be a good time to write and release a full review of Call of Duty Ghosts. While it might not be the best game in this series, it’s certainly the most recent, and as updates are still coming thick and fast, it might improve even further in the near future. Most CoD enthusiasts would agree that perfection was reached with Modern Warfare 3. However, all that good work as soon undone by the release of the poorly received Black Ops 2. Anyway, we haven’t got time…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M56_O7a_aKQ

Who says you have to stick to just one platform, eh?  If you’re the type of gamer who enjoys seeing what the entire field of releases has to offer, the following selections will certainly pique your interests.  Presenting now, the top 5 interesting games coming out soon (for any and all platforms)… The Evil Within Simply put, “The Evil Within” is Shinji Mikami survival horror, a game that’s sure to tickle the fancy of the denizens.  Again, we’re talking about a major release from the creator of Resident Evil here.  At the same time, the team at Bethesda is involved…

Worms Clan Wars is now Worms Battlegrounds, the latest in a series of Worms games dating as far back as 1995. For those of you unfamiliar with the game, it’s a strategy game with a deep focus on teamwork and a large assortment of weapons. Everything depends on skill and strategy as players struggle to be the last team to survive. For the last two decades, developer and producer Team 17 has created a variety of Worms games, with Worms Battlegrounds being available on PS4, Xbox One and PC. Once again, players are confronted with a classic, old-school game available…

If you’re ready and rarin’ to jump behind the driver seat for another exciting installment of simulated NASCAR racing, developer Eutechnyx’s latest release is sure to satisfy…just don’t expect to see it on the latest consoles.  That’s right, opting to stick to 7th generation machines in lieu of making the jump to 8th gen boxes, NASCAR ’14 is exclusively designed for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and of course, Windows.  Despite this fact, the game retains a certain charm and sharpness that devoted NASCAR fans will certainly appreciate. First off, rather than being some kind of bombastic driving title that…

Chalk it up to marketing or perhaps some other clever business move, Nintendo’s Game Boy handheld console remains one of the first significant mobile gaming devices to ever come onto the market.  In fact, the Game Boy is so well-known and popular that many aren’t even aware of the fact that there were other similar units available from Sega, TurboExpress, Atari, etc.  Moreover, many feel that some of the competitors were actually offering better devices; nevertheless, Nintendo’s handheld topped them all.  Obviously, a gaming device can’t become increasingly popular without there being a few great titles in its library (814…

The “Die Hard Trilogy” by Probe Entertainment represents a quirky attempt to briefly capture a bit of the magic from the first three films of the same name.  In the end, we’re left with a bit of retro goodness that’s both glitchy as well as fun.  Part of the title’s initial marketing strategy was to offer it up as a sort of “3 games-in-1” –style package, which it is.  Regardless of how short they fell in actually capturing elements from the movies themselves, each section offers its own unique style of gameplay or theme.  Simply put, it was a package…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ovX6q9E5SA&feature=youtu.be

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

If you haven’t already heard, GameSpy is shutting down, which means 50 of EA’s games will be effected. EA are hoping to offer some kind of resolution for the more popular titles on the list, however, they aren’t promising anything. Many of the titles are old and perhaps many of them won’t be missed, however, there’s a handful that many will still want to play online. Crysis 2, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 and Battlefield 2142 are surely going to be missed by quite a few loyal fans. Below is the list of games that will be effected: Battlefield 2…