Bionic Commando, undisputed classic of the NES era, was rebooted a couple of years ago in a not-so-enjoyable manner. Its first real next-gen imagining left a lot to be desired, though its companion release, a polygonal remake for XBLA/PSN re-titled Bionic Commando Rearmed, happened to be a sight more entertaining than the higher budget full-fledged release. It wasn’t as ambitious as the hokey hotdog-haired endeavor, but it was a sufficient remake that worked quite well. It’s now gotten a sequel, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, an adventure that follows Nathan “Rad” Spencer after the events of BC:R. It doesn’t hit all the high notes that its predecessor did, but is still a decent adventure that’s worth taking if you can stomach its premium price tag.
Archive for February, 2011
Impressions: Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
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Impressions: Devil May Cry 4: refrain
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With EA and Capcom leading the charge in the race to successfully mimic console experiences on a handheld, it’s a great time for gamers who’ve never played some of their biggest releases in full fledged, home console form, which include some of their greatest hits. These experiences may not be perfect, but they’re certainly evolving and making progress, and this is clear in Devil May Cry 4: refrain, one of Capcom’s latest attempts to take a blockbuster console adventure and successfully miniaturize it. But the only question is whether or not the game itself survived the process.
Impressions: Dead Space (iOS)
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For the most part, mobile ports of full-featured console releases irritate me. They hardly ever live up to even a third of what made the original games a success to start with. Combine this frustration with iffy touch controls and you have an overpriced, tedious little disaster of an app. Timed for release with its “bigger brother” version of anticipated sequel, EA’s mobile Dead Space for iOS devices (iPhone/iPod Touch version played) falls somewhere in between greatness and absolute mediocrity. On one hand, it accomplishes much for a “little brother” sized version of a popular franchise. On the other, it over-complicates things in such a way that strips the game of what made the bigger releases so darn fun in the first place.
Review: Dead Space 2
The old adage is untrue – in space, plenty of people can hear you scream, as you’re being viciously eviscerated by the ravenous Necromorph s inhabiting the Sprawl. Former silent protagonist Isaac Clarke has finally been given a voice in the chilling continuation of the Dead Space franchise in the meaner, leaner Dead Space 2. It doesn’t attempt to innovate or break its exemplary deep space survival horror conventions, but instead serves up a hefty helping of familiar yet completely unsettling moments and the voracious monsters that want only to take a meaty chunk (or two) out of your torso…or your face. Whatever’s tastier.
Impressions: Frobot
Frobot – he’s one bad mutha…robot. Shut my mouth? Man, I’m just talkin’ ‘bout the funkiest robot ever to hit the Wii. It’s also the name of indie developer Fugazo’s new multiplayer game for Nintendo’s WiiWare service, which sees the best stereotypical blaxploitation flicks, the “swagger” of the ‘70s, and an explosive rainbow palette of colors joining forces to create one of the most unique adventure/platforming/puzzler the console has seen in a while.