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…

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…