Author: Jessica Thompson

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.…

Building upon the success of its predecessor, “Tomb Raider II” expanded upon the Lara Croft saga by expanding the formula in various ways.  These weren’t gigantic changes or alterations mind you, but still significant enough to be considered a marked improvement in overall design.  Overall, the core gameplay and artistic style remains unchanged, of course.  It still has the same sexy Indiana Jones-like aura and relies on inventive puzzles to divide combat segments.  Yes, you could say that it was simply “more of the same”, but for Tomb Raider that would still imply unpredictable romps through untouched ancient crypts with…

It’s hard for many to think of the original PlayStation console without the game “Gran Turismo” springing to mind.  We are, after all, talking about a title that (according to Wikipedia) is in fact the “best-selling game on the system”, with around 10.85 million units shipped worldwide.  Who would have guessed that a racing game would have ended up being the PSX’s #1 game? All in all, the release of “Gran Turismo” marks a turning point in console gaming.  Up until its arrival, racing games of its caliber tended to only be found in arcades.  Gamers were initially wowed by…

Ask most gamers who possess a fairly adept understanding of the history of console gaming and they’ll probably be inclined to say that quality First-Person Shooters didn’t really emerge until the era of the PS2.  While it’s possible to argue all day long about what constitutes a quality shooter, anyone who claims that the original PlayStation didn’t have any good FPS’s to its credit is either oblivious or being intentionally divisive. The fact of matter is that the PS1 had quite a few decent shooters, albeit they’re fairly primitive by today’s standards.  However, with the rise in retro / vintage…

Sports-themed games have long been a fixture of the video game world.  In fact, it could be argued that the first truly great multiplayer titles were in fact, sports games.  Of course if you grew up with the original PlayStation or one of its forerunners no one should have to tell you this.   Chances are you spent hours on the couch with your friend(s) or sibling(s) playing some baseball / football / hockey / basketball-derived video game, right?  Naturally, this trend continues on into the future with the 7th and 8th generation consoles as well, but now there are loads…

It could be said that the modern era of console gaming started with the hardy little PS1.  After all, we’re talking about a device here that effectively ushered in a disc-based format and helped to popularize gaming as an everyday household activity.  Sure, one could argue that the Nintendo (the original NES) was really the first console to firmly plant video gaming on a TV into the minds the populace, but it did so with less-than-optimal graphics (no ability to render 3D environments, for example).  Simply put, there wasn’t a lot that game developers could do with the NES platform…

When it was first revealed that Bethesda’s next Elder Scrolls excursion would be an MMO, many were confused, excited or even upset.  The expectations have been riding high for what seems like an eternity now with many seeing this as a critical turning point for the series as it makes its way onto 8th generation consoles.  No need to worry, “The Elder Scrolls Online” delivers the goods in ample amounts, generating an experience that’s not only amazing and immersive, but also highly interactive and maybe even a bit unpredictable at times. As the name clearly implies, this is a game…

What do you get when you take the side-scrolling platformer format, add some classically familiar characters and expand it with HD graphics?  If you said “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze”, you answered correctly, but there’s more to this colorful Wii U title than meets the eye. Even though DKC:TF is in fact a 2D affair, it accurately projects an air of 3D depth by means of its integrated level design.  In other words, elements from the foreground will appear to merge with background elements and so on and so forth.  The end result is a rather classic-feeling title that looks…

Straight away, you should know that many are calling “Don Bradman Cricket 14” one of the finest cricket-centric video games ever made.  Simply put, it accurately captures many of the elements of the game while also surrounding it with nicely packaged systems that enhance the overall entertainment factor.  For starters, if you don’t know who Don Bradman is, you need only know he’s a legend of the game.  In short, what Babe Ruth is to baseball and Michael Jordan is to Basketball, Don Bradman is to Cricket.  The real question is, does this game live up to his incredible reputation?…

Let’s face it, a lot of motocross titles tend to border on the unrealistic or unbelievable.  Perhaps this is because developers are trying to “jazz up” the action or for other, more technical reasons, but the fact remains that there aren’t really many companies that are making these kinds of games that are also interested in realism.  With the release of MXGP however, that trend is being broken.  You won’t be hitting any massive jumps and performing tricks or triggering explosions here, that sort of arcade flair has been replaced with more believable additions and physics (this is after all,…

Following in the footsteps of titles like “Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island”, “Yoshi’s New Island” for 3DS builds upon well-known and accepted gameplay mechanics.  Many critics have decried its somewhat unoriginal nature, claiming that it’s basically an attempt to rehash shop-worn formulas, but in all actuality it’s but another great installment to explore.  In other words, rather than trying to build a better mousetrap, developer Arzest is simply providing fans with more of what they want. A game that tells the story of a stork delivery gone wrong and the subsequent kidnapping of baby luigi, Yoshi’s New Island adds…

When “Super Mario 64” was initially released, many didn’t know how to take it.  Up until that time, platformers (particularly those featuring Mario) tended to be extremely linear 2D side-scrolling experiences, not open-world fantasies.  Needless to say, Super Mario 64 remains a landmark title, the sort of game that essentially rewrites the rules and setting expectations much higher. Right off the bat, what set SM64 apart was its very thoughtfully-designed 3D design.  As opposed to doing something conventional and well-explored, Nintendo EAD decided to eschew traditional menus altogether, essentially creating a world that was self-contained.  In other words, everything was…

“GoldenEye 007” probably needs no introduction, especially if you gaming in through the late 90’s on up into the early 2000’s.  Quite simply, this wonderful little title actually helped to put Nintendo’s N64 console on the map in many ways.  Almost overnight everyone was raving about how awesome this new bond game was, prompting legions of gamers to run out and purchase their very own console after experiencing it.  Of course now, in hindsight, the game certainly appears to be rather blocky and dated, but that initial appeal is still there and it’s still a hell of a lot of…

With the 8th generation of consoles now officially launched and stretching out into their new role at the top of the heap, 2014 is only now starting to begin taking shape in terms of game releases.  Spring tends to usher in new life, not just in terms of organic flora / fauna, but also within the domain of software and gaming as well.  Likewise, many of the really “big” titles that have long been in the works are being rolled out for pre-order.  Naturally, this is your cue to begin setting aside reservations – preparing for the awesomeness that is…

Turtle Beach is an organization that’s really made a name for itself within the realm of gaming accessories over the course of the last few years.  This is especially true when you look at the various headsets they’ve been steadily releasing.   In fact, the Ear Force XO Seven model that we’re taking a look at here is essentially an upgraded counterpart to another entry from Turtle Beach, the XO Four (which is also a fine piece of gaming equipment).   Truth be told however, the XO Seven is truly of an entirely different caliber – suitable for everything from professional tournament…

Nintendo EAD Tokyo & 1-UP Studio’s “Super Mario 3D World” is pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted in a Mario title.  First off, it artfully blends together the trademark overhead 2D gameplay you find throughout recent series releases with some abstract 3D designs.  The result is a game that looks, plays and responds like you’d expect a truly classic platformer to.  It’s basically the sort of game that can transport you back to a simpler time in gaming without sacrificing modern visuals, of course. If you’re already familiar with the way Super Mario 3D Land worked then 3D world is…

The highly-entertaining and often hilarious Sims series has long been a fixture of PC gaming thanks to its extremely addictive strategy-based gameplay and comic visuals.  Luckily of course, the game’s developers Maxis / The Sims Studio aren’t attempting to reinvent the wheel, as they say.  The winning formula which they’ve worked so hard to develop leading up to the release of The Sims 3 is merely being cultivated with this upcoming release in order to produce an even more engrossing nonlinear experience. The Sims 4 is bringing new things to the table, as it were, including even more lifelike sims…

In short, Dong Nguyen’s “Flappy Bird” is a no-frills mobile game which provides exactly the sort of experience it advertises.  You control the side-scrolling movement of a somewhat clunky “Flappy” bird, the ever-present goal being to avoid steering your fowl into any of the green pipes which are located above of below.  That just about sums it up right there, no additional elaboration required.  Having said that, there is actually a subtle element which adds another layer of depth to “Flappy Bird” – it can be quite addictive. Traditionally speaking, when you think about 2-D platformers (especially those featuring lower-bit…

Sony and Microsoft have really become quite the competitors.  While the Nintendo empire is always a threat (and always seemingly popular with a certain demographic), it is the animosity between the PlayStation and Xbox franchises which most seem to be more interested in.  Naturally, it’s more or less an issue of which box has the most power and features (while remaining sturdy enough to handle the sort of routine abuse that consumers might throw at it). However, the real question is “what about the software and games?”    In short, the PS4 and the Xbox ONE are both soon going to…

When you first lay eyes on “Banished” it’s easy to simply think that it’s just another strategy / sim title which involves building cities – nothing particularly new, in other words.  Of course if you did this then you would seriously be short-selling this wonderfully inventive and rustically-styled game.  You essentially act as some sort of omnipresent guide whose goal is to make sure that a burgeoning settlement of outcasts is able to grow and thrive.  Think of it as a spin on a familiar theme – a kind of sim city-meets-Elder Scrolls-type affair, where you’re treated to a RTS…

Business simulator games clearly aren’t meant for everyone, but if you can appreciate the finer points of a game which allows you to effectively control all the various aspects of running something fairly complex, Zoo Tycoon is a pretty enjoyable game.  One of the things which tends to remain rather sparse in a lot of simulator titles is in-depth research.  Yes, there are some which do place you into a situation where you can check on various stats, conditions and projections, but few which offer what ZT can give. Some will delight in every aspect of building a new structure…

In case you haven’t heard, this time around Microsoft is being a little bit more understanding with regards to non-OEM headset users.  As per this story from ITworld, a specialized headset adapter is being rolled out in March (2014) which allows a person to use whatever audio hardware they might already have.  In other words, if you’re mad because you haven’t been able to use your Xbox 360 headset, after purchasing the $25 adapter you will finally be able to do so. Having said that, this essentially means that you can use any pair of headphones that you wish to…

Given the incredible success of “Grand Theft Auto V”, we thought it appropriate to take a track back in time to see where the series got its start.  While GTA III is often seen as being the progenitor of the series, the fact of the matter is that the open-world car-jacking formula actually got its start much earlier.  “Grand Theft Auto” first appeared on the PS1 in 1997, and was created by a DMA Design, which would become Rockstar North.   The game featured a distinctive top-down / overhead viewpoint which perhaps paid homage to some early-period video games such as…

Do you find yourself often bored or on the lookout for something interesting to do in your off time?  Do you own a device which utilizes the iOS mobile operating system, such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod or second-generation Apple TV?  If so, you’re in luck because we have a perfect suggestion for you – download a few quiz apps.  Yeah, yeah…while you might be inclined to think that trivia is tedious or dreary the truth is the following 5 examples will change your mind.  Each one features an interface which is both appealing and easy to navigate along with…