Review: Deadly Premonition

Platform: Xbox 360

Developer: Access Games

Publisher: Ignition Entertainment

# of Players: 1

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A-


Deadly Premonition
just might be a tipping point for certain gamers who don’t quite trust mainstream review sites for any number of reasons. Sure, if you apply the now boring “by today’s standards…” mantra to every aspect of the game, it deserves a low score for failing to have stunning graphics, online multiplayer modes, flawless controls and so forth and so on. On the other hand, if you approach DP as a game experience that’s going to be (outside of yearly sequels and games trying to copy other games) wholly unique… well, hell – welcome to paradise. Granted, it’s a twisted paradise of survival horror, intentional comedy, open world exploration, police car driving and a main character that’s crazy as a herd of cows on a crack binge.

Continue reading

Review: Alice In Wonderland (Wii)

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: Etranges Libellules

Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios

# of Players: 1 – 2

Rating: E10+

Official Site

Score: B-

As with the Nintendo DS/DSi version of Alice In Wonderland, developer Etranges Libellules has done a great job, transforming what could have been a boring platform-hopping romp into a visually stunning, simple to play (yet challenging at times) experience. The Wii version uses the film’s look and much of its major voice talent with excellent results and while it’s not the longest game on the planet, a few tricky puzzles and combat should keep you entertained There’s co-op play here for those that crave companionship or want to share the fun, but it’s not quite perfect and actually can make the game a bit harder in some areas. Continue reading

TopWare Introduces Battle vs Chess

Well, color me pleasantly surprised. You’d figure that since every strategy game is based in one way or another on Chess, we’d have seen something like this hitting consoles sooner. I can still remember playing Archon on the NES and Battle Chess on the 3DO back in the day, so this should be as much addictive fun from a gameplay perspective. Of course, those lovely new graphics are nothing to sneeze at.

Here you go – two screens from TopWare Interactive’s upcoming Battle vs. Chess, set for a May 2010 release across “multiple platforms”. Hmm… as if the publisher’s upcoming epic RPG Two Worlds II isn’t going to be keeping folks like me too busy to breathe already! I guess BvC will be a “downtime” game for when I’m not exploring Antaloor’s expansive over world and deadly dungeons.

 

Continue reading

Sherlock Holmes vs Jack The Ripper To Stalk 360 in April

Looks as if the adventure game on home consoles isn’t quite dead after all. Thanks to Dreamcatcher and The Adventure Company, Xbox 360 owners will get their hands on Frogware’s Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper on April 20, 2010 for a mere $29.99.

The game is a port of the 2009 PC version (which garnered pretty decent reviews overall) and features first and switchable first and third-person perspectives, detailed environments based on actual locations around London and more investigating than you can shake a walking stick at. Here’s a quick peek at a few screens as well as a little bit of info on what to expect in the final version:

Continue reading

Review: Alice In Wonderland (DS)

Platform: Nintendo DS

Developer: Etranges Libellules

Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios

# of Players: 1

Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Official Site


Score: A

When it comes to licensed movie games, the DS usually gets the short end of the stick and that stick usually has a particularly blunt end. With much less memory to work with, movie games squeezed onto the handheld (generally in record time) often show off the handheld’s limitations rather than its strengths. On the other hand, every so often you’ll see games that take what the system can do and combined with more stylized visuals and truly fun gameplay, manage to impress as much as (or more than) the console versions. Continue reading

Classic Gaming Expo 2010 Info!

It’s baaaaaaaaack! Want to spend a weekend in Vegas surrounded by TONS of vintage to current games, game consoles and plenty of cool folks who love them (as well as a few that have created them)? Well, Classic Gaming Expo 2010 is set to take place at the Tropicana Las Vegas on the weekend of July 31 and August 1, 2010, so boogie on over to the registration page and get your pass NOW.

In addition to more games than you can shake a stick at (sticks not included at the show) , AtariAge and Digital Press are hosting a “Retro Rumble” tournament where the best classic gamers can compete to win fame and some awesome prizes. There will more likely than not be an incredible, eyeball searing auction where attendees can snag some really rare games, systems and swag (I’ll update this as info comes in) as well as many special guests

As the press release says:

“Classic Gaming Expo is the largest and longest-running celebration of classic video games, the designers who created them, the players who enjoy them and the fanatics who collect them.”

Anyway, c’mon down, bring the family and prepare to break the bank (or at least maim it slightly)… but not on slots or roulette! You’ll more than likely go broke picking up some great deals on classic to current gaming goodness.

Avernum VI Released, Grand Time-Suck Begins Worldwide…

 


That Tardis-like sound you’re hearing on occasion as you stroll about isn’t your tinnitus going haywire. That’s the sound of pure time energy being vaporized as people download and play Spiderweb Software’s supremely addictive new RPG, Avernum 6. What, you don’t believe me? Hmmmmm. Go download the PC or Mac demo and see for yourself. Have a great time, but maybe remind friends and family of what you’re doing, as you won’t be coming up for air any time soon…