PSN Review: "Rainbow Moon"

Publisher: EastAsiaSoft

Developer: SideQuest Studios

Release Date: July 10, 2012 (USA)

Premise:

Rainbow Moon is a traditional, "old school" RPG; bringing in all of the elements from days gone by and putting them into Next-Gen settings with crisp visuals and an enthralling Gameplay experience.

Gameplay: 

The camera is always a Top-Down perspective. You control your main party character as he traverses the world he's in, completing many Side Quests/Missions along the way for all of the folks around the many towns you visit.

Combat is completely Turn-Based and "Action Point"-styled. Coming across enemies you have multiple choices as to battling them. Some are mandatory fights that are hard to dodge and others are "Random Encounters" you get. As you walk around you will see a popup saying there are enemies nearby and you have the choice of battling them or ignoring them, which is unlike most RPG's where you run around and automatically have to battle whoever you meet.

Following the On-Screen Tutorial/Hints really helps a lot.

Your character can earn "Turns" which allow the player to move around the battle field on a grid and also to attack. You use up your "Turns" as you move around and attack enemies, and your "Turns" replenish after you use them in battle. So, for example, in the beginning you get 1 "Turn" point, which means you can either move 1 space on your turn or use that turn to defend, use a skill or attack a nearby enemy.

As you progress in the game and level up, you will earn more "Turn" points. This means you will be able to do mutliple moves/attacks for your turn. Later on in the game you can find several other members to join your party. You can also increase your chance of using Turns more quickly in battle by upgrading your character's skills.

Aside from the Retro Turn-Based Combat, there's a whole lot more to this game. A pretty detailed Loot system, upgrade system, Merchants and much more really help you get dragged into the story without the want or desire to ever leave. You can complete many Side Missions throughout the game that can yield you additional pieces of equipment, spells/skills, money and other unique items you can use against your foes.

Graphics:

I was surprised at the overall Graphical Look of this game. It looks as if its Cel-Shaded at first-glance but it's not, and once your eyes open and you see the worlds for what they are, you'll be astounded. From deserts to jungles and everything in between, the journey you take in this game is designed beautifully from start to finish.

Sound:

The only big gripe I have with the game is the Sound. There is no way to adjust the volume of any of the sound in the game, you can only turn the SFX ON or OFF and the MUSIC to ON or OFF. So as you run around you have to listen to the same musical score for most the game, only changing when reaching cities and during battles.

Thankfully, though, you can disable the sound for the Music which can become annoying at times. All-in-All, the Sound FX really saved the game, as they really sound superb at bringing together the atmosphere

Length:

Rainbow Moon is advertised as an Open-World game, although the first part of the game is really based around training. As far as length goes, I've played for several hours and have yet to reach all of the worlds available for it. According to the Game Publishers/Developers, you can rack up over 100 hours of gameplay with the game, and others who've played more have said it's easy to get over 50 hours in if you choose to do all the side missions, which brings about even more entertainment.

Value:

I was a bit turned off at first by the game, but after seeing Gameplay footage and the Trailer I was excited, and decided to give it a download and I'm not regretting it. For $14.99 USD this game gives you a great value for your money. There are so many great games on PSN out there today, but you'll kick yourself later if you pass this amazing Action-RPG up.

Even though the story may be lacking in some people's minds, I find it more than good enough and would recommend this to anybody who's interested in a completely new take on the Action-RPG Genre.

I would highly recommend purchasing "Rainbow Moon" for all of the unique and amazing experiences the game offers, especially since it's only $14.99 and you get so much bang-for-your-buck.

Purchase: Sony Playstation Network Card - $20

Xbox 360 Review: HD-DVD Player Accessory

This is a review of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player Accessory. This add-on has been out for a few years but support for the device has fallen completely off the map, as has support for regular HD-DVD Players, especially ones for the PC.

Although it is possible to use the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player connected to a PC, all of the Video Player Software has dropped support for playing HD-DVD movies. I could not find any older versions that still supported it so I will only review this on the Xbox 360.

Click on the pictures for the High-Resolution Version of them.

Installation

Installing the HD-DVD Player was very easy. All I did was plug in the power cord and plug in the USB cable to the back of my Xbox 360. After that I put in the included Software Disc and loaded it up and let it install the drivers. I do not know if the Xbox actually NEEDS that disc, especially since it could just download an update, but nonetheless I used it.

It took just a few minutes and after that I never needed the disc again and could load the movies up right away.

General Information

I picked up this Boxed, Complete Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player for $25 at a local game store. The prices for these have gone up since they're no longer made (as far as I know) and although the MSRP is now $49.99 most places charge more and they're also pretty hard to find.

As you can see the unit isn't very big and it fits nicely on a desk next to your Xbox 360.

Xbox 360 Dashboard Location

The place where you activate the HD-DVD Player has changed with the new dashboard. It is now under "My Video Apps" instead of on the same screen as your Game Disc.

HD-DVD Player In-Action

Once you select "HD DVD" in the "My Video Apps" page, it will take a few seconds to half a minute sometimes for the movie to start loading. Once it loads it gets right into the movie after a brief introduction logo.

The Movie Menu seems to be the same for all HD-DVD Movies, at least all of the ones I have. The response time for it is pretty slow and lags behind a bit, so it can be frustrating trying to get to the right place in the menu.

Overall Quality & Thoughts

The movie quality is superb. Each movie looks really good in High-Def and I don't notice a difference between the HD-DVD Movies on the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player and Blu-Ray Movies on my PS3.

If you were looking to get into Next-Gen Movies, you should obviously stick to Blu-Ray and not bother with HD-DVD, as it's dead technology and no new movies are being released. The only value I can see for this HD-DVD Player for the Xbox 360 is Collection purposes, which is the reason I bought it.

Whether you pay $25, $50 or more, it's a neat little accessory to have to compliment your Xbox 360, though you'll probably find yourself never using it like me, but nonetheless it's a needed add-on for those wanting a complete collection.

XBLA Review: "Trials Evolution"

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: RedLynx

Release Date: April 18, 2012 (USA)

Premise:

Trials Evolution is the Sequel to the popular Trials HD Arcade Game. Trials Evolution brings riders out of the warehouse and into the open landscapes of the world, up mountains, over rivers and around many other areas to give the player the feeling of increased freedom.

Gameplay: 

The gameplay for Trials Evolution is identical to Trials HD, with the main difference being the change in landscape. Levels take place all across the world in many different locales. There are several new Game Modes and Abilities included, such as a level where you're not on a Motorcycle but rather on Ski's and you must Ski down dirt slopes to the finish line while attempting to pull off aerial maneuvers.

There are several dozen pre-made tracks in the Single-Player "Campaign" to overcome that get increasingly difficult as you move up the levels, all the while learning how to utilize advanced tricks and maneuvers to overcome the new obstacles. You can also partner up with up to 3 other people in Local or Online Multiplayer to race against each other for the fastest times on tracks in the "Supercross" levels.

A vast improvement to the game comes in the form of the revamped Level Editor. This time around, players can not only create their own custom levels, but they can also enter an Advanced Professional Editor that affords players the abilities to create scripted sequences of explosions and other effects, including the ability to manipulate the camera to create a First-Person-Shooter-type custom map.

Players can also visit an in-game Marketplace where players can freely upload and share their custom-made tracks as well as download new tracks and challenges from other people. The overall emphasis of the game is on aerial maneuvers and super speed mixed with super challenges that is sure to not only entertain for hours, but to frustrate you to hell.

Graphics:

The world of Trials Evolution are improved over Trials HD, even if only slightly noticeable to most. The bike textures and rider character models are very well done, and the tracks and their respective obstacles, ramps and physics-based mechanics fit in very nicely with the overall tone of the racing game.

Sound:

The engine sounds are spot on and sound amazing. The explosions and ambient noises you hear constantly really help you get into the moment of your intense races. You can use the Level Editor to create all sorts of commotion for each track that always seems to fit in perfectly with the tone of your tracks, no matter what your imagination can create.

Length:

It's hard to describe the length of a game like this. There is a "Campaign"-type mode where you get to go through the motions of the tracks/races that were created by the development team and earn medals and points to advance along while learning new tricks and methods to climb obstacles that will take you a few hours to complete.

With the added Level Editor and Pro Editor, the ability to play and customize Skill Tracks and create a near-unlimited amount of tracks will give you hours upon hours of replay value for the game, helping to ensure you don't get bored easily.

Value:

At $15 (1200 MSP) Trials Evolution seems like an easy purchase to make. The fact that you'll have so much fun playing the pre-made tracks for a few hours and then knowing that you can download thousands of tracks from other members free of charge as well as create your own, it becomes a very simple choice to make for purchasing this game.

PC Review: "Alan Wake's American Nightmare"

Publisher: Remedy Entertainment (PC)

Developer: Remedy Entertainment

Release Date: May22, 2012 (USA) (PC)

Premise:

Alan Wake's American Nightmare is a Spin-Off type title based around the Alan Wake Franchise. The player once again controls the titular character as he becomes entrapped inside an episode of Night Springs. Alan Wake is lauded as the "Champion of Light" who is chasing after his evil doppelganger Mr. Scratch who is the "Herald of Darkness."

Gameplay: 

Gameplay is identical to that of the first Alan Wake game. You control Alan in a Third-Person perspective, fighting The Darkness as you search for clues to the whereabouts of Mr. Scratch and to rewrite reality as he has been transported to Night Springs after rewriting reality following the Cauldron Lake Incident.

Gameplay revolves heavily on "rewriting reality," in that you will visit Three (3) locations in the game and after your first playthrough in the level, you will return later with new information that allows you to unlock your powers to recreate the scenes that happened but with a better outcome. The finding and reading of Manuscript Pages makes a return, as you will need to scrounge around the environments to find all of the Manuscript Pages so you can use them to unlock weapon and item chests spread throughout the game.

Apart from the addition of several new weapons, such as the Uzi and other Machine Guns, the overall core Gameplay hasn't changed from the first game. But, even though it's the same, it's still very fun.

Graphics:

Perhaps the only difference between the two versions of American Nightmare is the Graphical abilities of the PC version. Compared to the Console version, the PC version of American Nightmare allows you to add on Anti-Aliasing, High-End Resolutions, Depth of Field, FoV, etc. All of these aspects make the game look quite a bit crisper compared to the Console release. With this version you are truly able to play Alan Wake's American Nightmare with amazing models and effects and textures that further immerse you in the game through its brilliant and vibrant world.

Sound:

The overall Musical Score for the same is generally the same, though the tone has changed dramatically to focus more on the supernatural aspects of the game. Between the crazy videos you see on the TV screens and the ominous sounds from the environment as well as the horrifying noises The Taken make when they appear all blend together to create a wonderful atmosphere.-

Length:

Alan Wake's American Nightmare was never meant to be a full-length adventure like the first one, and therefore the length of the game is drastically shorter. An average playthrough will see you spending about 4-6 hours, though you might be able to extend it by another 30 minutes or even an hour if you focus on collecting all of the items and Manuscripts in the game.

There is also a new Arcade mode that lets you play through the game with the intent of having a challenge to earn points to be at the top of the leader-board for highest overall score, which can increase the replay-ability for those who enjoy those game modes.

Value:

I have always applauded Remedy Entertainment for their games, which include the original Max Payne games. I was a bit skeptical before the game came out because I heard about the addition of the Arcade Mode and I was getting worried that the game would be stripped down into an Action-Shoot-Em-Up game. Thankfully I was wrong and the game has a great Single-Player Story Mode to enjoy.

Even though the game only lasts for about 6 hours roughly, I feel it is worth the $15 price-tag to both support Remedy as a company and because the game offers a good fix for all Alan Wake lovers out there, including myself.

If you're debating on whether to get the PC version or the 360 version, it will really come down to whether you have a Powerful PC to handle Alan Wake at Highest Graphics, which is the only reason to spring for the PC one over the Console one (unless of course you don't have a 360, than the choice becomes easy.)

XBLA Review: "Alan Wake's American Nightmare"

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios (360)

Developer: Remedy Entertainment

Release Date: February 22, 2012 (USA) (360)

Premise:

Alan Wake's American Nightmare is a Spin-Off type title based around the Alan Wake Franchise. The player once again controls the titular character as he becomes entrapped inside an episode of Night Springs. Alan Wake is lauded as the "Champion of Light" who is chasing after his evil doppelganger Mr. Scratch who is the "Herald of Darkness."

Gameplay: 

Gameplay is identical to that of the first Alan Wake game. You control Alan in a Third-Person perspective, fighting The Darkness as you search for clues to the whereabouts of Mr. Scratch and to rewrite reality as he has been transported to Night Springs after rewriting reality following the Cauldron Lake Incident.

Gameplay revolves heavily on "rewriting reality," in that you will visit Three (3) locations in the game and after your first playthrough in the level, you will return later with new information that allows you to unlock your powers to recreate the scenes that happened but with a better outcome. The finding and reading of Manuscript Pages makes a return, as you will need to scrounge around the environments to find all of the Manuscript Pages so you can use them to unlock weapon and item chests spread throughout the game.

Apart from the addition of several new weapons, such as the Uzi and other Machine Guns, the overall core Gameplay hasn't changed from the first game. But, even though it's the same, it's still very fun.

Graphics:

The world space hasn't been improved beyond the original Alan Wake, though to be fair the original was quite amazing in its own right. The lighting effects are incredibly eerie and the character animations are still very nicely done. The textures of buildings, vehicles and character models are also top-notch. My favorite graphical effect in the game is the use of Flares or the Flare Gun. When those light up the red hue beams through the blackness to create an awe-inspiring beauty of contrasting lights that makes it look as if it's real life.

Sound:

The overall Musical Score for the same is generally the same, though the tone has changed dramatically to focus more on the supernatural aspects of the game. Between the crazy videos you see on the TV screens and the ominous sounds from the environment as well as the horrifying noises The Taken make when they appear all blend together to create a wonderful atmosphere.-

Length:

Alan Wake's American Nightmare was never meant to be a full-length adventure like the first one, and therefore the length of the game is drastically shorter. An average playthrough will see you spending about 4-6 hours, though you might be able to extend it by another 30 minutes or even an hour if you focus on collecting all of the items and Manuscripts in the game.

There is also a new Arcade mode that lets you play through the game with the intent of having a challenge to earn points to be at the top of the leader-board for highest overall score, which can increase the replay-ability for those who enjoy those game modes.

Value:

I have always applauded Remedy Entertainment for their games, which include the original Max Payne games. I was a bit skeptical before the game came out because I heard about the addition of the Arcade Mode and I was getting worried that the game would be stripped down into an Action-Shoot-Em-Up game. Thankfully I was wrong and the game has a great Single-Player Story Mode to enjoy.

Even though the game only lasts for about 6 hours roughly, I feel it is worth the $15 price-tag to both support Remedy as a company and because the game offers a good fix for all Alan Wake lovers out there, including myself.

Xbox 360 Review: "Red Dead Redemption"

Publisher: Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive

Developer: Various Rockstar Games Studios

Release Date: May 18, 2010 (USA)

Premise:

Red Dead Redemption follows the story of John Marston, an Outlaw Renegade who has escaped his violent Gangland past to start a fresh new life with his Wife and Son. Unfortunately for John, the Federal Government is not too happy with his life choices, and they have kidnapped his family and are holding them hostage until John hunts down all of the members of his former gang and brings them to justice, alive or dead.

Gameplay: 

Red Dead Redemption uses the same engine as Grand Theft Auto 4, with only a few alterations to make it fit better into the world of the Wild West. You take control of John Marston in this Third-Person Action-Adventure across a vast Open World of the West Coast, encompassing many different lands. Much of the game revolves around the exploits of John as he interacts with the world around him, going from town to town trying to find information that might lead him to the locations of his ex-gang members.

There are many Side Quests/Missions to do in the game, in addition to the main goals, that will help further along the story and develop characters more thoroughly. You can be a Bounty Hunter, help Herd Cows, Stop Robberies, play mini-games such as Horseshoes and much more. There are dozens of challenges to complete as well throughout the game, such as honing your skills with weapons and hunting animals. You can collect skins and meats from animals to use or sell, collect plants and other items to use later in the game as well.

You can run across Random Encounters with people who you can choose to help, such as deciding how to help a man obtain and that he wants by either using force or persuasion. There are many outfits you can find and collect pieces for that you can later change into to alter your appearance, as well as stronger and faster horses to obtain.

Graphics:

The world-space in Red Dead Redemption is a breath-taking one to say the least. There are so many things going on that truly make the game have a living, breathing believable world to explore. The character models are very nicely done and detailed with high polygon counts for every character. The weapons look amazing and the textures on the buildings and the land truly feel as if you are living in the 18-1900's (The game takes place in 1911). The environment and the foliage do wonders for the atmosphere and the bullet effects are quite stellar.

Sound:

There Score for Red Dead Redemption is one for the ages. The music seems to be always well-placed and timed perfectly to the current situation. When you're riding at full-speed on a horse chasing down a train you feel exhilarated at the prospect of what's happening. When emotional scenes begin you get perfect reminiscent music playing while you're trotting along on your horse awaiting an emotional reunion with friends or loved ones. The battle scenes are scored very nicely as they keep you jacked up while in the moment that gives you the motivation to keep on going.

Length:

While there are a lot of tasks and things to do in Red Dead Redemption, all good things must eventually end. An average playthrough will take roughly 15-18 hours to complete if you focus on mostly the main story and some additional side quests. If you spend the time to collect all of the loot, complete all of the challenges and tasks as well as the side missions, you can easily push well over 20-25+ hours out of the game.

Value:

Red Dead Redemption is another stellar release by Rockstar Games. If you've played any of their previous games (and of course you have) than you will know exactly what to expect from this game, and it doesn't ever fail to deliver on that notion. The game has an amazing story filled with intrigue, love, sorrow, sadness and happiness that is sure to tug on those tear strings from time to time. I would highly recommend picking this title up even for full retail price.

Playstation 2 Review: "Yakuza 1"

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Amusement Vision

Release Date: September 5, 2006 (USA)

Premise:

The first "Yakuza" game is the beginning of the saga. You play as Kiryuu Kazuma who is expelled from his Yakuza family after taking the fall for the murder of a Crime Boss his friend committed. After being released from prison after Ten (10) years, you come in contact with a Nine-Year-Old girl named Haruka who everybody is after because she is supposedly the key to the missing 10 Billion Yen that was stolen from the Yakuza clan.

Gameplay: 

Yakuza is an Action-Adventure game that focuses on Exploration and Melee Fighting. Throughout the game you will be able to explore an open city and roam around interacting with various people to perform Side Missions, Collect Valuables, encounter random gangs and thugs, all-the-while in search of the missing money and the truth.

The main aspect of the Gameplay is the Melee Combat. When you encounter a foe you will enter a cordoned-off small area where you fight in Real-Time Hand-To-Hand combat. You can also use any number of weapons to increase your damage, though most of the weapons can only be used a certain number of times before the item breaks. Most of the combat is with bare fists, utilizing combos and special attacks to defeat your enemies. There are some gun battles in the game and an On-Rails Shooting level.

While exploring the city you can enter many different buildings, play mini-games, visit casinos, stop at restaurants to eat and replenish health, purchase health and armor items and much more. There are also Keys to Lockers throughout the game that you can use to unlock storage lockers that contain special items.

Graphics:

The game was released at the very beginning of the Seventh (7th) Generation of systems (360, PS3, Wii) and therefore it utilizes all of the power of the Playstation 2. The character models are done very well for a PS2 title, though the polygon count isn't tremendously high due to the system limitations and at some points during fights or while exploring the city you can get some slowdowns. The graphical effects are very nice and the modeling of the buildings and their textures really fit in nicely along with the ambient lighting of the environment.

Sound:

In Yakuza there is a beautiful Musical Score that helps further improve the atmosphere of the game. There is somber, emotional music that plays during the serious moments in the game, as well as fast-paced action music that's used during fights and certain sequences. There're a lot of background sounds, such as people talking and moving about, that help immersion further.

Length:

There is so much to do in Yakuza that you will be very surprised to know how long the game can last. My first play-through I racked up over 15 hours, but I also skipped quite a few side missions and collectibles.

If you work on finishing every single side mission, collect all of the collectibles and perform all of the additional tasks, the game can very easily be over 20+ hours in length and also has replay-ability where you can play the game in an Arcade-type mode to complete challenges and rack up high scores.

Value:

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this game, and I think it was overshadowed by the Xbox 360 and the other Next-Gen systems when it launched. I would highly recommend picking this title up when you get the chance to. You can find this game for around $5-$20 depending on your location, and it is worth that amount of money for the great game that it is.

XBLA Review: "I Am Alive"

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Darkworks & Ubisoft Shanghai

Release Date: March 7, 2012 (USA)

Premise:

I Am Alive was released in March of 2012 and gave Gamers another Post-Apocalypse adventure to enjoy through the eyes of a lonely man in search of his wife and child through the streets of Haventon.

Gameplay: 

The gameplay in I Am Alive is a mixture of mostly Third-Person exploration with First-Person shooting, though the shooting is very limited in scope and doesn't involve a lot of gun-play. The majority of the game revolves around exploring the ruined city in search of your family, going from place to place, scavenging items to aid you in your adventure, such as health items, very scarce ammunition and unique food items.

The player can use these items to satisfy the needs of several other survivors throughout the game, such as finding a fresh tomato to give to a desperate person in need. Helping out survivors awards the player with "retries" - where the player is able to continue from a checkpoint after they die/fail. While the premise of the game has the player searching for his family, the majority of gameplay revolves around solving problems for other people unrelated to his family journey.

A vast part of the game's exploration is climbing around buildings, managing your stamina to make sure you don't plummet to your death below if you become too weak.

Graphics:

The graphics are pretty intense, especially for an arcade game. The textures of the buildings are pretty decent and the depth of field that was used in conjunction with the fog really makes you feel like you're in the struggle with the protagonist. Some character models are less-than-stellar, though, and the effects could be better, but all in all, they're at least up to par with current-gen games.

Sound:

There's a lot of good music in the game, even some somber tones during the speaking points. The eerie ambient sounds of the environment really help to bring home the experience of struggling in a life devoid of anything humanly.

Length:

I was surprised at the length of the game, as I spent a little bit over 6 hours on my first playthrough. There are two difficulty settings to help the replay-value, though replaying right away wasn't of much interest to me as I viewed the story as a good piece of art and didn't want to ruin that by seeing the story again so soon.

Value:

The game itself is great, and anybody looking for a good experience in a Post-Apocalyptic world will no doubt find enjoyment from it. But, and this is the big part, the game is made and published by Ubisoft, which is a company I do not support. While I felt compelled to purchase the title and I felt it was worth the $15 price-tag, I felt regret for supporting Ubisoft so I cannot justly recommend or not-recommend this title in an unbiased way.

Purchase: Microsoft Xbox LIVE 1600 Marketplace Points

Indie Game Review: "DLC Quest"

Publisher: N/A

Developer: Going Loud Studios

Release Date: November 2, 2011 (USA)

Premise:

DLC Quest is a side-scrolling platform game that is a satire about DLC in games. The main goal is to rescue the princess.

Gameplay: 

The gameplay of DLC Quest consists of traditional platforming. While you initially play, certain features are restricted, such as the ability to move left or pause the game. As you progress through the game, you are able to unlock necessary features by purchasing DLC in-game (not real DLC but the game calls it DLC as a satire of game companies restricting content).

Gameplay revolves around exploring the world by running and jumping around collecting coins so that you can purchase the necessary DLC that you need to finish the game, all the while poking fun at the ever-increasing craziness of real-life DLC in games.

Graphics:

The graphics are retro pixelated, and some animations such as walking have to be unlocked to be used.  The game is kept very simple and straight-forward and is reminiscent of past games that had simple, clean interfaces and looks.

Sound:

Sound is another aspect of the game that you must unlock through DLC as you progress through the game. Having ambient music in the background and sound effects of hitting things with your sword and moving around are all unlocked as you play.

Length:

DLC Quest is not a very long game, not at all. You can complete a playthrough in roughly an hour or maybe even less. The game is kept very simple with easy objectives that are told to you plainly so you always know where to go and what to do.

Value:

I applaud the developers for making a satire out of the nature that DLC has taken on in the past years, and for providing the experience for simply $1. If you're looking for a quick pick-up-and-go game that will give you a few chuckles than I would recommend buying this game off of the Xbox Live Indie Game Marketplace.

XBLA Review: "Dungeon Defenders"

Publisher: Reverb Communications

Developer: Trendy Entertainment

Release Date: October 19, 2011 (USA)

Premise:

Dungeon Defenders is an RPG/Tower Defense game where you play as many different child characters who are defending their homeland from the invading monsters while their parents are out in the world fighting monsters themselves.

Gameplay: 

Dungeon Defenders blends the RPG elements with a heavy emphasis on Tower Defense. You choose from a bunch of different characters, such as a Mage, a Knight, an Archer, etc. that each have their own unique attacks and defenses they can build. You can choose to attack the incoming monsters with your character using their primary attack, or you can use Mana points to build Defenses, which is the core of the game.

There are several different defenses that each character can make and in-between each wave you have unlimited time to build defenses. To build defenses you must collect Mana Crystals that are dropped from every enemy that you kill, as well as inside chests that reappear at the end of every round. You can also hot-swap between characters during the building phase to put out traps from every character, but there is a limit to the number of Towers you can build so you have to plan your strategy.

There is also a leveling up aspect of the game that gives you the ability to level up your character by gaining XP and earning Skill Points when you reach the next level. These skill points can be put into making your attacks stronger, your defenses better, giving you more health and much more. There is also a loot system in place; sometimes enemies will drop weapons and armor that you can equip or buy and sell at the store that you visit between missions.

Graphics:

The graphics in Dungeon Defenders are mostly on the cartoony-side, though that isn't a bad thing. The environments make you feel like you're in a toy chest playing with different toys. The models of the characters are nicely done and what they lack in detail they make-up for in execution. The visual effects of the defenses attacking and the magic around you bring a certain sense of vibrancy to the game. 

Sound:

There's all sorts of different sounds in the game, though there's very little music. Each defense has its own unique sounds and the characters make varying sounds of accomplishment as you progress in the game.

Length:

Dungeon Defenders has several different levels you play in, as well as additional game modes to increase the replay value. After completing a level in the Story Mode, you can replay the level in a new Challenge mode. These challenge modes vary in their modeling; some of them involve beating the level without building a single defense and others have it where you can only use defenses and cannot attack with your character.

You can customize the challenges a little bit by adding or removing certain features which can further extend the gameplay. There are several hours of gameplay to be had here, easily over 10 hours, just from playing the levels and going back to try and beat the challenges put forth.

Value:

Dungeon Defenders is a very fun game, and it only becomes more fun when you play Co-Op with other people. The fact that the game does not tend to get repetitive-feeling enables you to replay the game over and over and still feel satisfied. Because of this I would say this game is worth the full price on the Xbox Live Arcade.

Purchase: Microsoft Xbox LIVE 1600 Marketplace Points

PSN Review: "Dead Nation"

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: House Marque

Release Date: November 30, 2010 (USA)

Premise:

Dead Nation is an Isometric-style Twin-Stick Shooter. The player takes control of one of two main characters (or both if playing Co-Op) and fights hordes of zombies through various cities as they aim to escape the zombie apocalypse.

Gameplay: 

Being an Isometric-style Twin-Stick Shooter means you always see your character from the top down, though it's only Three-Quarters so you can see the immediate area around you. The objective in the game has you running from checkpoint to checkpoint, similar to Left4Dead, as you run around different areas killing zombies and earning money. You can then spend the money you earned at the beginning of each checkpoint at the store, which is an armored van.

Inside the van you can purchase and upgrade new weapons as well accessories such as grenades, flares, landmines and more. As you play the game, you will need to explore the areas to find crates that can contain anything from more ammunition to pieces of armor. When you find new armor you can equip the armor at the store, choosing a balance between very armored clothes that weigh a lot and slow you down and light armor that provides less protection but lets you run faster.

Graphics:

The graphics for this Playstation Network Game are very nice. The animations of the zombies are done really well and the textures of the environments really give you the feeling that the end of times have arrived. The buildings and vehicles you come across are richly detailed and look as though all hell broke loose not too long before you arrived, meshing perfectly with the game.

Sound:

There isn't a whole lot of different sounds in the game, there's some music that plays during the game to get you in the mood of shooting zombies and even some emotional music during the few cut-scenes there are and it's good. The sounds that the zombies make as they run after you are just about what you'd expect a zombie to sound like. The weapon noise seems appropriate as well, nothing too much or too little.

Length:

Dead Nation is not an Open-World type game, though you can explore the areas you visit. It is a linear title that sees you running through streets, parks and other areas trying to get to the next checkpoint. While there isn't a huge area to explore, there is a necessity in scavenging as much as you can to collect all of the money, ammo and armor pieces you need to survive. A typical playthrough will take you between 4-6 hours depending on how much exploring you do.

Value:

Dead Nation is a very fun game to play, especially if you play it with a friend on the same screen so you can team up for some zombie-killing fun. I purchased this game at full price on the Playstation Network and haven't regretted it yet, so I would definitely recommend you picking this title up if you just can't get enough zombies.

PC Review: "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim"

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Release Date: November 11, 2011 (USA)

Premise:

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an Open-World Action-Adventure game. Skyrim is similar to Oblivion in that it uses the same engine although it's been heavily modified and improved. You start out as an unknown character who is about to be executed for a crime. Before you can be beheaded, a huge Dragon attacks the town you're in and you escape to a nearby city. After composing yourself, you head out into the world of Skyrim to find out about the Dragons.

Gameplay: 

Like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, gameplay conists of First & Third-Person perspective viewing. Most of the game involves exploring the icy continent of Skyrim in search of Quests, Dungeons, Towns and much more. As with all Bethesda games, there is an extensive loot system in place that lets you pick up (or steal) almost any object in the game world. There are hundreds of weapons to choose from, such as bows and swords as well as magical staffs and shooting magic from your hands or conjuring spells.

Through exploration you can find hundreds of Side Quests and miscellaneous tasks to do through interacting with the environment, talking with people or just simply running around. There are a few new features in the game now in addition to the overhauled inventory and HUD. You can Dual Wield weapons such as two swords, use magic attacks in one hand and a sword in the other and there is also a Sprint feature that lets you run faster for a period of time until your stamina runs out.

The main theme of the game is Dragons. As you explore the world you will come across random encounters with Dragons and other people. Dragons can be defeated to earn Dragon Bones & Scales which can be used to craft Dragon Armor as well as Souls which can be used to unlock Thu'um's that you find around the world; these Thu'um's are powerful blasts of energy known as "Shouts" that deal destruction to your foes.

Graphics:
The Graphics have been drastically improved in Skyrim. The terrain is very complex and real-looking, the buildings have great structural detail and the character models are amazing; all of the textures in the game are pretty top-notch and make the entire atmosphere engulf you into it.

The downside to the typical Bethesda Open-World game is the re-use of textures and interiors. Every single Hotel/Inn that you enter is exactly the same look and setup with no differences at all. A lot of caves and buildings you enter will be modeled very similarly and sometimes identical, giving you the feeling of Deja Vu as you play. While this is disappointing, it is understandable given the scope of the game and in no way does it break your game experience.


Sound:
There is a lot of music in the game and the theme of the game fits very well in the world space. Casting the different spells will create different noises and the sound of swords and melee weapons hitting enemies makes you feel like you're really doing it yourself. The general ambience of the environment is very well done.


Length:
Having an Open-World the size of Skyrim, and knowing that it's a Bethesda game, means that it's going to be very long. I have racked up over 160 hours of gameplay so far and have not finished everything. It would be a safe bet to say that if you wanted to complete the game and collect all of the unique items and do all of the Quests that you could plausibly spend over 200 hours in the game world.


Value:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a huge game with great detail put into the creation of it. As is customary with Bethesda games it seems, there were literally several hundred bugs in the game at launch since Bethesda chose to not do any Beta Testing of the game prior to release. It took several months before the majority of the bugs were fixed, including a few Game-Breaking ones. Given the scope of the game, I would say that it is worth the full retail price.

Xbox 360 Review: "Fallout: New Vegas"

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Release Date: October 19, 2010 (USA)

Premise:
Fallout: New Vegas is a 2010 First/Third-Person Open-World Action-Adventure game. The player takes control of an unnamed person known as "The Courier" who had the job of delivering items from one place to another. At the beginning of the game, the player is shot by an unknown man in a white suit and buried, presumably dead. A robot digs The Courier up and after getting aid from a doctor at a local town, The Courier heads out into the Wasteland to find out what happened.


Gameplay: 

Gameplay in Fallout: New Vegas is completely identical to Fallout 3, as it uses the exact same engine. The setting this time, though, is in the West, in Nevada. The player runs around the Mojave Wasteland in search of answers to why he/she was shot and along the way can perform a vast amount of Side Quests in addition to the Multiple-Path Main Quests.

There is an extensive loot system in the game that allows the player to collect thousands of different objects, weapons, armors, plants, and much more. As the player levels up through earning Experience Points (XP) by completing Quests or killing enemies, they can allot Skill Points into a number of different Skills to improve their character's shooting, health, sneaking, etc.

When the game first came out and for the first few months, there were several hundred bugs in the game that could be minor or even game-breaking. While there are still a host of bugs in the game, a vast majority of them have been cleaned up to improve the experience of the player.


Graphics:

There isn't anything super special about the graphics in Fallout: New Vegas. The textures are relatively low-quality, including the terrain and all of the different buildings that you can enter and explore. Weapons look pretty well done and the character models and creatures are above average. All told, the graphics don't seem to be anywhere near a deal-breaker, even though they do leave something to be desired.


Sound:
There are many different sounds in the game and the weapons you use have pretty authentic sounds, though a majority of them are reused on multiple weapons. There are radio stations that you can listen to in the game but each one of them replays the same songs over and over, and the one radio station where you have a person DJing (known as "Mr. New Vegas" who is voiced by Wayne Newton) will say the same things over and over for the majority of the game, though as you progress through the game he will mention things that you've done and speak of new topics.


Length:
Since the game is an Open-World, you can explore hundreds of different areas and there are many buildings to enter and explore. It's not uncommon for players to rack up well over 100 hours of gameplay time, even 150+ hours if you decide to go out and collect all of the hundreds of different collectibles in the game ranging from magazines and books to unique armor and weapons.


Value:
Fallout: New Vegas can easily satisfy the gamer who loves Post-Apocalyptic worlds. There is so much to do in the game that you will be playing the game for months on end to completely see everything there is to see. There are multiple endings to the game and many different factions to align yourself with, so there is a necessity in replaying the game on multiple playthroughs to experience everything in the game.


Though the game has reached the bargain bin only a few months after release due to the bugs, I would still feel comfortable saying this game is worth full retail price and is a must-play for any Wasteland lovers.

Xbox 360 Review: "Max Payne 3"

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Developer: Rockstar (Various Studios)

Release Date: May 15, 2012 (USA)

Premise:
Max Payne 3 is a 2012 Third-Person Action game. You star as the titular character Max Payne who has now managed to make his way to São Paulo, Brazil working as a bodyguard for a rich and powerful man. When the man's wife is kidnapped, Max is drawn into a web of conspiracy and betrayal as he battles his own personal demons to save the life of another distressed woman.

Gameplay: 

Max Payne 3 is a Third-Person-Shooter. All of the classic elements of the Max Payne franchise return in this newest installment. The game involves a lot of shooting, then some more shooting and after all of the shooting, there's more shooting. Bullet Time makes a return, allowing you to slow time down to gain an advantage against your foes.

Max Payne 3 also employs a cover system that you will need to take full advantage of at all times. Enemies are very accurate in their shooting and most of the time just a few bullets is all it takes to kill you. The traditional Painkillers are back as the method of Health Kits, and there is a new feature included called "Last Man Standing." What that means is if you have at least 1 Painkiller in your possession and you get shot enough to where it would normally kill you, you have the chance to kill the person who last shot you. Doing so lets you continue the game but takes away a single Painkiller.

Graphics:
The graphics in Max Payne 3 are just about as good as it gets for an Xbox 360 game. The character models are absolutely amazing, as you can tell Rockstar went into great detail with each NPC as well as Max, such as adding blemishes and skin flaws to make them look even more real. The environment is crafted perfectly, and the textures look amazing along with the detailed and vibrant cities, towns, jungles and other areas that you visit throughout the game.

Sound:
In addition to the original music score that is the most well-known to Max Payne fans, there are some additional musics that really get you caught up in the game. The weapons sound very authentic as well as the ambient sounds of the environment of doors, wild animals and much more.

Length:
Max Payne 3 is a linear story/action-based game. It will take you roughly 6-9 hours to complete the entire game which can be extended if you spend time scrounging around each area you visit for the collectible Gold weapons, more Painkillers and finding "clues" around the world that give you a further glimpse into the story as it unfolds around you.


There are several difficulty levels to unlock as you complete the game multiple times, as well as an "Arcade" mode that's similar to Gears of War 3's Arcade mode in which you play the campaign with the goal of racking up the most points possible. There is also a multiplayer element to the game that lets you battle against people on Xbox Live.

Value:
Max Payne 3 is a hell of a great experience. The story is filled with raw emotion and sadness from Max as well as a shit load of heavy action. The fact that the game was done so well, I would gladly pay full retail price to show my support to Rockstar for making such an amazing game.