The past few Spider-Man video games have been decent. They weren’t fantastic by any means, but they were but they were playable and even enjoyable. Sure, Spidey was a whiner who loved Mary Jane’s present more than life itself in Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, but the game’s go anywhere and do anything sandbox stylings made for a frenetic good time. Since Spidey has free reign over most areas he travels to thanks to his famous webslinging, it only makes since to offer large, open areas which players can explore. Those are the venues in which I enjoy playing as Spider-Man the most, and the games that typically work.
All posts in Xbox 360
Review: Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
On October 5, 2010
In Review, Xbox 360
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I saved rock with a lizard, a man-boar, a steampunk goddess, and the Headless Horseman. I teamed up with this motley crew for the sole purpose of preserving rock as we know it. Atreyu and Fall Out Boy slipped through, but overall, it was a job well done. Unfortunately, this journey smacked of sameness, squandered potential, and an unsatisfying track list. After all this time and all of its facelifts, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is still Guitar Hero, even with its cast of characters (plus new faces) sporting gaudy Halloween costumes.
Review: Space Invaders Infinity Gene
On September 23, 2010
In Review, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade
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Space Invaders Extreme was an interesting departure. . Space Invaders Infinity Gene completely changed the way I looked at the 30+ year-old arcade classic. I thought a simple injection of color and thumping techno were notable additions to the Space Invader scene, but Infinity Gene’s unique approach blew those simple augments out of the water. As the latest in a long line of ports from the iPhone/iPod Touch to XBLA and PSN services, this reimagining never ceases to keep things fresh with a minimalistic approach, existential quotes, and trance/synth tunes to keep you grooving all the way through each evolution of the original manifestation. Despite the fact that it turns what you know about Space Invaders on its head, it’s distinctly familiar and approachable. If this is the future of all arcade classics, then count me in.
Impressions: Halo: Reach
On September 23, 2010
In Impressions, Xbox 360
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Not long ago, I finished the fight…or so I thought. This September, I started it. While this ordering may sound a bit unusual to non-Halo fans, I’m talking about Halo: Reach, Bungie’s final heartfelt love letter to the fans; potentially the last “true” Halo. Considering the series’ massive popularity and rabid fan devotion (myself included) it’d be downright naive to think this the case. Reach is a fantastic and fitting end to the series under their direction (let’s not count ODST, travesty as it was) and an inspiring beginning to an accessible, easy to digest sci-fi saga that will entice you with tales of an epic narrative and keep you playing with solid multiplayer action through Xbox Live. It’s hardly perfect, but it’s very much Halo; noticeably tightened, nipped, and tucked. Its multiplayer mode will be remembered – and played – for years to come, as with the previous titles in the saga. But is it the conclusion series loyalists deserve?
Review: Mafia II
I’ve spent plenty of time with Grand Theft Auto, inFAMOUS, and other similar excursions — except I’ve done nothing but harm innocent pedestrians, wreck countless cars, while racking up an indeterminable amount of property damage. As a result, I didn’t bother to finish them.The reason Mafia II works for me was because it was nothing like the go-anywhere-and-do-anything romp I assumed it would be. Like its predecessor, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (one of the few similar games I did complete and a fantastic play), it’s a scathing, disturbing, and at times decidedly stereotypical look at the lengths one man will go to make money, a better life, and most importantly, a name for himself.