Videogame Talk Reviews

Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers (Xbox Live Arcade)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:11:02 PDT

Highly Recommended

Cross Edge (PlayStation 3)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:45:56 PDT

Rent It

I wouldn't exactly say that I'm a Japanese RPG addict but man, my game collection is full of them. No matter what console I own, if a J-RPG hits the American market it eventually finds a home somewhere on my game shelf. To that extent you bet Nippon Ichi Software has a proud section all its own. J-RPG fans generally celebrate when NIS America announces a new release, but is there latest effort really worth getting in a tizzy about? Sadly it's not. [Read the entire review]

We Cheer (Wii)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:48:00 PDT

Recommended

What's It All About:
When I saw the title We Cheer I certainly wasn't excited, as cheerleading is possibly the last thing I want to take part in for a video game. When I saw the cover art, which could easily be mistaken as the packaging for a Bratz doll, my interest dipped even further. It felt a lot like something from the Imagine series, aimed squarely at young girls looking for something pink and fluffy to play. But in reality, it's a rhythmic movement game in a cheerleading packaging, which is an unfortunate case of bait and switch that will drive away people who might enjoy the game, and draw in players who can't keep up with the title's demands, while not finding enough cheerleading or cheerleading-related activities to satisfy them. [Read the entire review]

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Nintendo DS)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:44:38 PDT

Highly Recommended

Let's face the facts: bringing Rock Star's legendary Grand Theft Auto series -- a legacy of quality games plagued with scorn for its controversial content -- to Nintendo's family-friendly Nintendo DS handheld system is, well, an odd decision. Carrying over similar gameplay and graphical prowess to the PSP for its line of Liberty City / Vice City offshoots makes much more logical sense, largely because of the Sony handheld's demographic of teen-to-twenty-something males. When Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was announced at E3 in 2008, it was uncertain what direction Rock Star and Nintendo would take the mature series on a touch-screen gaming console � mostly because of the ominous �gimmick� stigma firmly fixed on its potential output.
[Read the entire review]

Guitar Hero Smash Hits (PlayStation 3)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:37:49 PDT

Rent It

[Read the entire review]

Afro Samurai (PlayStation 3)

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:03:22 PDT

Rent It

Afro Samurai has become one of the more popular anime franchises on the market today. That most assuredly has something to do with its mainstream appeal, thanks to the presentation on Spike TV and involvement of Samuel Jackson. Despite the obvious marketing attempts on behalf of the producers of the series, the fact remains that Afro Samurai is actually a bloody good time. Now, when I heard a game was coming out I was naturally skeptical. I mean, how many crappy license-to-game endeavors have been forced to suffer through? Imagine my surprise when I realized that Afro Samurai, the game, was pretty damn fun...to a point. [Read the entire review]

Midnight Club Los Angeles (PSP)

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:49:28 PDT

Highly Recommended

Midnight What?

For the uninitiated, the Midnight Club franchise has had a long history of highly enjoyable racing games dating back to the Playstation 2 heydays. Since it first started, Midnight Club has been more about the fun and �arcade-y� style of racing that you can find in other series such as Need for Speed Midtown Madness. If you�re the type of person that would rather enjoy a high technical race such as those found in Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport, then Midnight Club is not for you. However, if you enjoy arcade style racing games with nonsensical �drift� buttons or nitrous that auto-magically recharges with the successful completion of a lap, then prepare for loads of fun.
[Read the entire review]

Wallace & Gromit Episode 1: Fright of the Bumblebees (Xbox Live Arcade)

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:29:00 PDT

Recommended

The Premise

�Wallace and Gromit� is a highly beloved series of claymation shorts from England that have been popping up on a sporadic basis for 20 years now, in the forms of short film clips, commercials, and feature films. This lovable man and dog duo are no strangers to video games either, however this new series �Wallace and Gromit�s Grand Adventures,� of which this game �Fright of the Bumblebees� is the premiere episode in, is the first time they�ve embarked on a completely original game plot. Developed by Telltale Games, Wallace and Gromit takes the new approach of episodic content delivery and this first Xbox Live Arcade offering is a great kickoff.
[Read the entire review]

The Munchables (Wii)

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:46:56 PDT

Recommended

What's It All About:
One look at the cover of this game and you'll think it's a kids game, which makes sense, with the bright, candy colors and goofy animated characters, and after playing it, it's certainly not the most sophisticated gaming experience ever, but it's selling the game short to dismiss it as simply for children. Choosing to play as either the hard-edged Chomper or the adorable Munchy, two hungry members of a race known as the Munchables, you are responsible for saving the planet Star Ving (get it?) by getting rid of villainous space pirates that have invaded. And as befits hungry creatures, the way they take care of their enemies is by eating them. You'll have to clear several levels of bad guys, including bosses for each level, in order to save the world. The game sports some really nice art-design, built around a very analog papercraft/drawing look, and a cute sense of... [Read the entire review]

Guitar Hero Metallica (PlayStation 3)

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:18:38 PDT

Recommended

Several years ago I was living in Northern California. One year, around my birthday, The Rolling Stones came to town. I eagerly bought myself and my girlfriend a pair of tickets, fully prepared to be blown away by the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World. What I didn't expect was an announcement that arrived just a week or two before the show. Without much pomp or circumstance, I was informed that opening for the Rolling Stones would be...Metallica! Needless to say, I couldn't believe it. Metallica is one of the most famous bands in the world, so for them to open for The Stones was astonishing. In a press release, the group said it was their idea, and that they always wanted to play with The Stones. And that was how I got to see Metallica live. I remember being blown away by their energy, but was slightly relieved that they didn't play a longer set, lest they start pulling out tunes I didn't care... [Read the entire review]