Review: Auditorium (PS3)

This is one of those rare games that’s instantly engaging and completely engrossing.  Most puzzle games have a varying period of total confusion and frustration until that “aha!” moment when whatever arbitrary rule set being imposed makes sense.  With Auditorium there’s oddly no ramp up at all: the mechanics are introduced so slowly and easily and with no imposed time limits.  You’re free to play with each of the tools and explore their effects on the environment and while you’re definately learning it just doesn’t feel like work.

Read more of this post

Review: Folklore (PS3)

Authored March 2008, Originally appeared at GameSpot

Initial reviews of this game were middling while later reviews steadily grew in appreciation. This may point up an issue with mechanics of reviews in general: people that speed through games to meet a deadline often don’t get the best impression of them. This game does take a while to truly savor.

Read more of this post

Review: Assassin’s Creed (PS3)

Authored June 2008, Originally appeared at GameSpot

Finally finished this game (which I started long ago) off.

Like the UBISoft classic “The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” this game works hard to provide compelling narrative explanations for game mechanics. In this case a fairly generic young man, Desmond, has been captured by a mysterious, powerful organization. He’s hooked up to a computer system which can replay ancestral memories, in this case those of a 12th century assassin named Altair. Apparently Altair was the last to know the whereabouts of a mysterious religious artifact lost during the Third Crusade that the organization wants. You must control Altair through a period of his life in order to learn the location of this artifact.

Read more of this post

Review: High Velocity Bowling (PS3)

Authored December 2007, Originally appeared at GameSpot

This downloadable game implements SIXAXIS motion controls to simulate the motions of real bowling. Although this game will suffer many (and many ignorant) comparison to Wii Sports Bowling the games are really in two different (bowling) leagues.  Where Wii Sports excels at being a “kiddy” game High Velocity Bowling takes a much more realistic tack and provides many more options for deeper play.  A large selection of balls and throwing styles are available.  You can even review the wax pattern on the boards if you wish.

Read more of this post

Review: Jak 3 (PS2)

Authored December 2005, Originally appeared at GameSpot

An amazing experience and a great capstone to the Jak Trilogy. Sony really does have the action platformer genre locked up.  Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank and Sly Cooper are the kings of that hill now (and this is coming from a serious Nintendo fan).

If you were scared off by the difficultly of the second game don’t worry – this one is easier although by no means a cake walk (some missions are downright frustrating).  Thankfully the most frustrating missions are optional (unlike the second game which I nearly abandoned a half-a-dozen times).

Read more of this post

Review: Grand Theft Auto, San Andreas (PS2)

Authored December 2005, Originally appeared at GameSpot

Well – I finished the story missions.  I could still do a lot, but I probably won’t – I’ve already spent over 90 hours on the game.  I finished the story, got most of the export cars, got mostly gold in most of the schools, did all but two of the “asset property” missions, dated all but one of the girls (but never got 100% with any of them), reached “hitman” skill in all weapons, bought all of the safe houses, did the pimping missions, maxed my driving and motorcycle skills, got all 100 gang tags, got all 50 horseshoes, did all of Zero’s RC missions, and got 100% of the available neighborhoods in the turf wars.

With all of that my “percent complete on the game” isn’t even 80%.

Read more of this post

Review: God of War (PS2)

Authored December 2005, Originally appeared at GameSpot

To start with let’s be abundantly clear: “God of War” is a stunning achievement nearly any way you consider it.  For those of you that for some reason still have an urge to “show what a PS2 can do” this is the game to do it with.

Read more of this post

Review: Lego Star Wars (PS2)

Authored October 2005, Originally appeared at GameSpot

This is surprisingly one HELL of a great little game!  It’s easy enough for kids but never dull and so remarkably well put together any adult will have just as much fun.

Essentially the game features several chapters for each of the three prequel movies using Dexter’s Diner as the central hub.  It can be played with one or two players and players can enter and leave the game at will (when they enter they take on the role of a friendly and when they leave that friendly goes back to computer control).

Read more of this post

Review: Sly Cooper 2, A Band of Thieves (PS2)

Authored September 2005, Originally appeared at GameSpot

The level of polish in this game is unbelievable.  Those that think that the PS2′s glory days are gone are sadly mistaken: this game is one of the best (looking, sounding and playing) on any platform.

Read more of this post