Author: Jessica Thompson

Just a short time ago it seemed like nearly everyone was uber-hyped on 3D technologies.   You couldn’t make more than 3 clicks across any tech news or gaming website without running across some pundit shouting the virtues offered via 3D enhanced viewing systems.  Even though the fad has now subsided and people are turning their attentions toward things like 4K, there’s still something to be said regarding the awesomeness of 3D gaming in general.  Of course, for a lot of people, the question then becomes – what cool, interesting games are actually out there?  Not to worry, that’s exactly what…

There’s three things you need to know upfront about this highly animated Nintendo 3DS JRPG title.  Firstly, it’s essentially a remake of the original game in the series, two – the built-in map making features make it very unique amongst classic-themed RPG’s in general, and three – it’s basically a two games in one package.  Naturally, devoted fans of the franchise will want to jump straight into this “re-imagining” of the game that started it all, and this time there’s even a fully-engrossing storyline to enthrall you. Concerning the story mode; you will team up with an investigation team and…

With each emerging piece of gaming tech there are always a slew of individuals (as well as press organizations) claiming that their new gadget will “revolutionize the gaming world”.  Regardless of how much hyperbole we encounter, the truth remains that there are often timely releases of intriguing new technological bits that DO drastically influence the course of development in various fields.  The world of video gaming is of course no exception to this, which is clearly evidenced each time a new generation of consoles goes online. But with the dawn of Virtual Reality gaming on the horizon, many feel that…

Just like in any other field, technological progress is also a constant within the video game world, with new gadgets, add-ons, systems and concepts being added all the time.  The overall evolution of gaming is about to get a big boost however with the emergence of many great honest-to-goodness virtual reality headsets coming onto the market.  Each one of these wonderful devices offers gamers the opportunity to experience their games like never before.  Finally, we’ll be able to actually (virtually) step inside our favorite worlds and actually feel what it’s like to know be standing there in the moment, courtesy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHnm2PxdxQc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cGjShhjqAY

Those who previously owned a PS3 (before purchasing a PlayStation 4) are probably already familiar with “Stick it to the Man!”  It’s a very cloying title that melds some very clever storytelling with what one might consider classic platforming elements.  Don’t get the wrong idea though, there’s nothing saccharine about developer Zoink!’s production here.  This is a completely crazy, yet all the while charming title that introduces you to both a bizarre tale as well as slightly non-standard gameplay. After being struck on the head by some mysterious object, Ray awakes to discover that there’s some type of extra-dimensional pink…

If you’ve been waiting for a great realistic Golf simulator that doesn’t mince words and offers up loads of options when it comes to creating your own courses, HB Studios’ “The Golf Club” is going to be right up your alley.  With its impressive graphical fortitude and lowered price tag (around $30) this game is sure to make a lot of friends, especially with the sports crowd.   Oh, and did we mention that there’s no loading times to deal with between holes? The real question of course (as with any athletically-minded title) is how’s the gameplay?  After all, you can…

It’s hard to write a review about a game that’s so creepy and frightening, especially when it remains so alluring and appealing.  By offering up praise to a game like “Outlast” (developed by Red Barrels), one is essentially directing others toward having their own nightmarish encounters with the terrible residents of the Mount Massive Asylum.  Nevertheless, it’s a journey that most, if not all, PS4 owners should take, particularly if they like fright-inducing experiences. You assume the role of freelance journalist Miles Upshur, who is tipped off by a mysterious whistleblower that strange things are going on in a little-known…

As long as we’ve had computer gaming there’s been a chess title or two kicking around.  For whatever reason, the 1500 year old table top game continues to have mass appeal, even in digitized form.  Turning our attention toward the recently released “Pure Chess” for the PlayStation 4, we have a game that’s already essentially made its mark on the PS3 and Vita, rising to the #4 spot in terms of overall Vita games sales and becoming the 11th best-selling PSN title (according to Wikipedia). On the PS4, “Pure Chess” is pure bliss.  It’s fundamentally the same game, but for…

With Rollercoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile out and making its rounds, attention has turned toward the release of its fuller PC counterpart.  Needless to say, there are high hopes and expectations for RT 4 from legions of fans which cannot simply be overlooked any longer.  There’s no need to worry – we now have confirmation that Rollercoaster Tycoon 4 (PC) is not only in the works, but the developers are also taking direct input from gamers as well. According to Atari, who is producing this impending monstrosity, this next installment might actually fulfill the wildest desires of the series most diehard…

For many dedicated Command & Conquer: Red Alert fans, it’s tough to imagine how EA might improve upon the formulas they meticulously developed with RA 2 and subsequently, RA 3.   Nevertheless, there’s always room for improvement and creativity, right?  Here are some ideas that we’d love to see integrated into the next iteration from the series, which we’re assuming will likely be titled “Red Alert 4”… Maybe bring back a bit of the feel from Red Alert 2? Hands down, one of the things that a lot of hardcore C&C fans repeatedly talk about is the disparity between RA 2…

The Red Alert series has always been fairly unique amongst the various other RTS (real-time Strategy) games existing within the genre. It’s one of those series within the Command & Conquer canon that’s at once somewhat bizarre and comical as well as deeply tactical and loads of fun. Likewise, the franchise retains a robust cult following that seems to be truly devoted toward the concept and unique gameplay features found within any of the three current titles on the market. Given this, the question remains to be asked – why hasn’t EA produced another follow-up to Red Alert 3 and/or…

If you are a gamer, chances are you already know what to expect whenever you see a title brandishing the LEGO namesake.  Typically, you get a game that neatly integrates the visual aesthetics of the popular toy brand with an overall concept of reliving whatever it is that the title is portraying.  In other words, if we’re talking about the Lord of the Rings movies, you pretty much experience a cute and colorful scene-for-scene remake which you can also participate in interactively.  In short, LEGO The Hobbit doesn’t deviate from this well-established trend, it actually enhances the formula. This is…

Within the gaming world, hunting simulators are often overlooked in favor of more action-oriented titles.  However, it’s often hard to overlook that fact that many popular games (such as Bethesda’s “Skyrim”) integrate various honest-to-goodness elements of hunting within their core gameplay.  There’s something strangely calming about wandering around lush virtual forests without having to worry that some gigantic Dragon / Troll hybrid is going to emerge from the tree line to smash you to bits.  “Cabela’s Big Game Hunter: Pro Hunts” is a good example of this as it presents a somewhat slower and more deliberate FPS experience that’s a…

Taking cues from older arcade racing titles, the Trials series has always been about providing gamers with fun and accessible, yet uniquely deep and challenging side-scrolling gameplay.  In other words, these games are often very easy to begin playing for enjoyment, but extremely frustrating when it comes to mastery (latter levels often being very difficult in design).  Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, RedLynx and Ubisoft’s “Trials Fusion” is evolution of the aforementioned model. Whereas previous entries tended to place you in rather restricted locales, this release has you racing across an incredibly diverse range of terrains.  In short,…

If you’re only interested in somewhat serious sandbox titles, the kind of games that seek to convey some sort of deep story, Coffee Stain Studios’ bizarre “Goat Simulator” might not be for you.  On the other hand, if you delight at the very notion of a game that’s every bit as zany as its title implies, this peculiar 3rd person open-world experience will definitely hit the spot. One of the hallmarks of this insanely fun creation is a complete lack of any type of plot or series of objectives.   While this might sound rather droll, within the context of Goat…

There’s something to be said about the concept of releasing stand-alone, tournament-based sports games like “2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil”.  On the one hand you could easily say that the fully annualized editions are flagrantly superior, but you’d be missing out on the character that a game like this offers you.  One could just as easily argue that titles like FIFA 14 are so massive and filled with options that it’s often tough to know where to start.  Likewise, if you’re after a title that accurately captures the spirit of a particular event, what better way to accomplish that than…

Regardless of the image that the industry tries to cultivate, every game that’s released onto the market is not a glaring success.  In fact, some releases are downright disturbingly disappointing.  The following list of titles contains some of the more noteworthy failures we’ve seen… Lost Planet 2 In case you’d already forgotten, in the early days of the Xbox 360, the original “Lost Planet” kept gamers entertained with its rather simple yet workable concept of seeking to replenish thermal energy by means of defeating large foes.  In LP 2 of course, this mechanic was thrown right out the window in…

Almost immediately, the first thing you’ll notice about Arc System Works’ “Blazblue: Chrono Phantasma” is its wild, hyperactive visuals.  Seriously, this game is basically analogous to a sugar rush, replete with an energetic soundtrack to provoke your button-mashing bouts.  This is a 2D fighting game that makes allusions to 3D dynamics, effectively generating a sense of depth within a more simplified range.  We’re not talking about a game that shoots for slow, mediocre skirmishing – no, Blazblue: CP is basically a brush with full-on frenzy. Those who might be looking for the same sort of highly-individualized character storylines found throughout…

Let’s get one thing straight here – “Titanfall” is essentially Microsoft’s attempt at building an exclusive multiplayer-centric title that’s capable of somehow evolving the FPS genre.  Whether or not they accomplished this, you can’t deny that Titanfall artfully integrates all the various things we love about online matchmaking into one potent stew. First off, the action is by default, sort of frantic, with loads of players scrawling across the various maps inflicting damage at will in increasingly unpredictable ways.  This is offset by the dualistic nature of the game itself, which pits large, bulky and visually imposing robotic mechs against…

Say what you will about Disney’s “Aladdin” game for Sega Genesis, but it more or less perfectly embodies a certain type of 2D platformer which a lot of retro gaming enthusiasts really seem to enjoy.  In truth, there’s a lot to like about this rather straightforward side-scroller, even though it was published in 1993, the visuals and overall gameplay style are both markedly sharp.  If not for the somewhat primitive soundtrack one might be tempted to think it was released much later.  This is due to the use of cel animations, which provides the game with a very distinctive look.…