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.
All posts in Xbox 360
Impressions: Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
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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.
Review: Evil Controllers Evil D-Pad Controller
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Few issues with the Xbox 306’s standard-issue controller have plagued gamers like its finicky, hard-to-press directional pad (d-pad). Originally a grey circular “button” rather than separate directions, its long been the bane of fighting enthusiasts’ existence on Microsoft’s more-than-capable console, as well as Netflix fans navigating through queues. Or anyone who wishes for a bit more precision than the analog sticks offer. Or any game that relies heavily on 8-directional digital controls, such as classics or re-imagined classics available on the Xbox Live Arcade. I think you know where I’m going with this, and that’s why I’m always happy to see companies looking to rectify such a game-crashing design flaw.
Impressions: X-Men Arcade
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It often baffles me, the games chosen for revival through services such as the Xbox Live Arcade or PlayStation Network. Konami’s X-Men Arcade is one of the latest additions, but for the life of me I’m not exactly sure why it was ever a delight to play through, even during my youth, the supposed heyday of 2-D brawlers. By today’s standards and pricing, it’s a bona fide relic of a particular time and place that even many of today’s most hardcore gamers might not be familiar with, let alone want to revisit digitally. It might be a quick decadent nostalgia trip for those who may have fond memories of standing in front of the original arcade cabinent, but your money, in terms of value and enjoyment, is likely better spent elsewhere.
Impressions: Zumba Fitness: Join the Party!
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The first few rounds of Kinect games are packed full of exercise-oriented excursions – Dance Central, Dance Masters, and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved to name a few. The latest exercise craze has joined the ranks of Kinect as well: Zumba. You’ve probably heard about it in passing. It’s a fast, frenetic dance-oriented program usually experienced in large classes, much like Jazzercise or Tae Bo. While its also available for the PlayStation 3 (with Move support) and the Wii, Zumba Fitness: Join the Party for the Xbox 360’s motion-sensing Kinect attempts to offer a similarly enriching solo wellness endeavor, but ultimately doesn’t bring too much to the table in light of the myriad of other fitness options that are currently available.