There are a couple things that are absolute game-breakers for me: terrible voice acting and subpar gameplay mechanics. Bethesda’s Wetoffers up a healthy portion of both, and it’s a real shame. It could have been the beginning of something beautiful. Instead, it only manages to stand on its own two feet as an extremely derivative third-person shooter in the vein of, well, too many other games.
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Review: Wet
Review: Just Dance
Fitness buffs have long known the benefits of using the Wii as an exercise machine via extensions such as Wii Fit, EA Active Personal Trainer, or even simple games such as WarioWare: Smooth Moves, which asks you to pose accordingly in order to be successful. As of late I’ve taken it upon myself to get in better shape, so I’ve taken advantage of the glut of options available to me in order to facilitate my own fitness program. For a while I had my eye on Ubisoft’s Just Dance, a music/rhythm game that encourages you to get up off your derriere and get into the action by dancing your little heart out. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t work too well as it was intended, but if you simply use the game as a visual guide to shaking what your mama gave you, it does provide an intensive and entertaining workout if you’re willing to throw your inhibitions — and possibly your dignity — out the door.
Review: Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble
On December 3, 2009
In PSP, Review
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When being a man isn’t enough, you’ve got to step up your game. Considerably. Good looks, charm, intelligence, and even riches can only take you so far; to really get ahead, you need swagger and strength. You’ve gotta become a bona fide badass: a Bancho. In the tumultuous Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble, another quirky offering from Atlus, your one true goal is to display the most Banchosity. That means smash talking your way into some ridiculous situations, staring down any rivals with electric Menchi beams, and striving to become the toughest on your turf (along with everyone else’s). Those familiar with the pompadoured, tough-talking, gang-affiliated students popularized in Japanese anime and culture should delight in stepping into the shoes of these delinquents who care about nothing more than being bad.
Review: Bleach: The 3rd Phantom
On November 27, 2009
In Nintendo DS, Review
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As far as shonen epics go, Bleach is one of the most successful franchises to rock Japan. Countless video game spinoffs have been crafted as a result, most of them falling into the doldrums of normalcy, subpar gameplay, and showing a blatant disregard for quality. Bleach: The 3rd Phantom is the latest entry into the Bleach video game legacy, and it proves to be no exception. While it serves up delicious fanservice and well-written plot expansions for Bleach diehards, it cannot stand on its own two feet as a capable SRPG. Instead, what eager fans can expect is a humdrum visual novel sprinkled with meager, unsatisfying battles. Similar to how the Bounto arc turned many viewers off, this title will likely disgruntle genre loyalists looking for a solid anime-to-video game adaptation.
Review: Zenonia
While the iPhone is rarely considered a true gaming platform by a glut of the gamer populace, it’s actually home to quite a few substantial successes that wouldn’t be out of place on the more “accepted” handhelds. Amongst ports of classic FPS titles, addictive puzzlers, and handy applications, the App Store is home to several fantastic RPGs, namely a particularly intriguing one entitled Zenonia.