Even when a Call of Duty campaign fails to impress, you can usually count on the multiplayer portion to redeem those hours you can’t get back, even if only for a few hours spent with the maps included on the original disc. I, for one, am usually the one defending the campaigns, despite issues with length and content, and typically shy away from multiplayer; unless we hearken back to the days of old in Call of Duty 4. However, with the rise of Black Ops and its cornucopia of inventive and invigorating additions to the virtual battlefield in the shape of new map packs, I find myself coming back online more often to explore the new frontier set out for me in the form of downloadable content. First Strike, the first Black Ops map pack, made quite a splash, especially the elaborate zombie map bundled with the similarly explosive multiplayer venues. So how does the Escalation Map Pack stack up?
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Review: SEGA Rally Online Arcade
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Sega Rally Online Arcade retains the infamous “Game Over YEEAHH!” exclamation that plays upon completion of a race, but it just doesn’t sound the same. It’s not campy enough and didn’t make me giggle as much as the series’ previous incarnations, namely its first arcade appearance in 1995 with Sega Rally Championship, as well as subsequent iterations on the various Sega consoles since. This ran through my head during my first few moments with the game’s incredibly skimpy trial version, offering one track and one car, with a whopping one race built to entice players into buying. Did it entice me? Not so much, but it didn’t matter since I was keying in the review code.
Review: Jikandia: The Timeless Land
If Half-Minute Hero taught me anything, it’s that a gimmick can make a game. Similarly, it can also break it. Jikandia: The Timeless Land’s gimmick is similar to the former in that you are timed to make it through each area. What’s more, you can name the amount of time you think it’s going to take you to clear a level. If you think it’s going to take you a mere minute to complete one stage, it’s your call. Time marches on whether you crash and burn or excel at felling each beast and bringing down the final boss. The longer you stay in the world, the better your rewards, and it’s all up to you. If you choose an insufficient amount of time, you’ll pay dearly and find yourself failing all too often. It sounds like a perfectly workable, modern concept, and a spiritual successor to the raucous and enjoyable Half-Minute Hero, right? So why did I find myself constantly itching to power the PSP off?
Review: Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack
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It’s tough to top the Noble Map Pack, a collection of all things classically Halo: Reach, and to be honest I was concerned it was a feat that could not be accomplished. But I have faith in 343 Industries, as well as Bungie, and the latest round of Halo: Reach maps certainly do not disappoint. This three-pack of two multiplayer-centric maps and one Firefight-only arena fit together like pieces of a puzzle to both tell a story and keep us pulling off Killtaculars one after another, and even though the game’s been out for quite some time now, it looks like things can only get better with each subsequent map pack release.
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Review: Monster Tale
If Castlevania, Metroid, and that Tamagotchi hidden in your closet (dead because you never fed it even though you promised Mom you’d never let it out of your sight ) had a child, they’d probably name it Monster Tale…and marvel at the fact that two video games and a virtual pet could conceive new life. It’s a colorful, playful tale that incorporates elements of adventure, fantasy, puzzles, and even pet-raising that hearkens back to the days of the aforementioned classics. It doesn’t innovate or re-invent the genre, but it’s adorable, addictive fun that can be enjoyed by gamers of all ages.