Your very first encounter of Silent Hill: Downpour is not with that of a wretched wheelchair-bound monstrosity, nor the series’ iconic Pyramid Head. No, the very first victim you bury a knife into is that of a pale, overweight prisoner in the cold, sterile shelter of a prison shower. It’s one of the game’s most jarring moments that also acts as a quick and dirty tutorial. Quick and dirty, much like the errand you just completed as one Murphy Pendleton, an inmate who’s been locked away for a crime that isn’t made immediately clear. Your reasons for senselessly murdering a helpless, blubbering sheep of a man are murky at best, much like Downpour’s meandering plot and identity as the newest entry into the franchise. And while Silent Hill has been mired in a strange, genre-shifting limbo for quite some time, it’s never been able to pull off any direction but disturbing. Silent Hill: Downpour for all intents and purposes is a return to form for the classic mindscrew, but it remains riddled with bizarre design decisions that prevent it from blossoming into the classic Silent Hill fans have been waiting for.
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Review: Nicktoons MLB 3D
Mascot and crossover sports titles that attempt to simultaneously pander and garner interest from children and sports fans alike aren’t always a winning combination. In fact, Nintendo has cornered that particular market for years with an endless supply of Mario-themed sport titles, and now the Nicktoons characters have invaded the MLB with the release of Nicktoons MLB 3D on the 3DS. It looks like their position is still firmly cemented what with the frustrating mechanics and iffy framerate this particular licensed sports game attempts to pass off as a finalized product.
Review: Final Fantasy XIII-2
After protagonist Lightning’s sudden and seemingly unexplained disappearance at the end of Final Fantasy XIII, Serah Farron was distraught. Did she only dream the tender moments she shared with her austere sister moments before the end? And is Lightning attempting to communicate with her, wherever she is? These questions and more are addressed within Final Fantasy XIII-2, the direct sequel to 2010’s RPG, the first direct sequel to a Final Fantasy entry in eight years. Final Fantasy XIII might have spottily explored the indomitable Lightning’s journey to save Cocoon, but this annotated yarn follows the sprightly Mary Sue, younger Farron sister Serah, on a journey through time to save the world (and her sister) as she knows it.
Review: Sminis
Zombies may be huge right now, but let’s not forget about their metal brethren, robots. The game Sminis is packed with a gaggle of tiny, adorable robots with a mind of their own. After a particularly nasty accident in an industrial lab, Sminis, the creation of yet another mad scientist, are on the loose.
Review: Crush3D
Crush 3D takes many of the same elements its big brother utilized in the earlier PSP version and squishes them into a form suitable for play on the Nintendo 3DS. Five years after the original Crush hit the scene, Sega has resurrected the idea for another go-around from developer Zoë Mode that takes a few liberties with the previous game’s concept and expands upon its perspective-warping gameplay for something a little different. Where indie platformer Fez is being praised currently for its excellent efforts that combine both 2D and 3D mechanics, Crush paved the way and provided a stable foundation on which to build. Crush 3D excels as a fresh take on the PSP/Vita title and stands on its own as a worthwhile addition to your 3DS library, but does take a hit in terms of presentation and narrative.