75 public reviews
The views here are this user’s only and are not representative of Giant Bomb's thoughts and opinions on the discussed video game. GB's official reviews reside at giantbomb.com/reviews.
When the first Army of Two was released in 2008, I made it through about an hour of co-operative play with a friend before both of us declared it offensive bile and never touched it again. The Middle-Eastern setting hit a little too close to home for some, but what really turned us off was the over complicated controls and nausea-inducing "bro moments." It certainly didn't help that these flawed systems were framed…
The GiantBomb community should be intimately familiar with the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series. Most of us know by now that Persona 3 and 4 were superb RPGs that featured socially relevant characters and deep, involving combat. But what about the lesser-known original games for the PSX? Atlus has answered the call and taken advantage of Persona's current popularity by re-releasing the very first Persona for the…
If for some reason you have yet to pick up Uncharted 2, turn off your computer and buy it right away. Naughty Dog's newest creation has "Game of the Year Contender" written all over it. The single player is an epic journey that benefits from many improvements over the original, but this time, the battle doesn't end when the credits roll. A fun and well rounded multiplayer suite backs up the 8-10 hour campaign,…
Wolfenstein is one of the rare games that actually surprised me. Judging from the pre-release trailers and largely mediocre reviews, I was expecting just another bland shooter when I popped Raven's newest game into my PS3. The funny thing is that, on a certain level, Wolfenstein is just another shooter. The game makes few attempts at innovation, and when it does, they sort of fall flat. Despite its adherence to…
To say that Batman: Arkham Asylum is the best comic book game ever made is to do the game a disservice. Think about it. Most games based on comics are average at best, with only a few rising to greatness. Arkham Asylum easily leaves all of those games in the dust with its superb graphics, varied game play, and compelling characters. It is much more fitting, then, to say that Arkham Asylum resides comfortably…
Okay, let's get straight to the point: I know that a lot of you are not here for the multiplayer maps. You're here for the zombies. Unfortunately, in this case it seems like Treyarch has just gone overboard when throwing in new content. Sure, the change of scenery is great and the addition of zombie dogs keeps players on their toes, but the huge map size, random perks, and numerous traps can all be a bit much. My…
In a nutshell, Battlefield 1943 is the gameplay of Bad Company on the maps of Battlefield 1942. If you loved Bad Company and fancy the idea of playing more like it, 1943 will certainly scratch that itch. If you missed Bad Company, you have brought shame upon your family, but you can redeem yourself by purchasing this great online-only shooter. While the classic Battlefield style of sandbox gunplay feels great on the…
It seems to me that Atlus owes Giantbomb.com a great big "thank you." Ever since Jeff and Vinny began the Persona 4 Endurance Run, I've found myself entranced by their virtual exploits. I know of several people who have gone out and purchased Atlas products solely because of the ER, and I am happy to say that I now rank among them. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor would have totally flown under my radar if not for…
If Prototype seems familiar to you, don't be surprised. Anyone who played last generation's The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (also developed by Radical Entertainment) will immediately recognize most of Prototype's key mechanics, as many of them are ripped, unchanged, straight from The Hulk. While the core action was great fun last gen, Radical seems to have recognized that the industry has moved on since…
Morality seems to be a big trend in gaming recently. Infamous marks the latest in a string of releases that puts the player's moral fiber to the test over the course of the story. What separates Sucker Punch's latest from, say, Mass Effect or Bioshock, is the impact that player's decisions have on the gameplay. See, protagonist Cole is imbued with electrical powers at the start of Infamous, and how these powers…
For about ten hours, Resident Evil 5 provides one of the most polished action experiences on consoles. The graphics are jaw-dropping, the setpieces are ludicrously intense, and the story is wonderful and campy. Although RE5 seems to have transcended the need to actually be scary, the heartpounding action more than makes up for the loss of the horror elements. The full package amounts to one of the most polished…
I stand at the top of a castle, a trio of werewolves bearing down on me. As the first charges, I dodge the attack with a backflip and rev up my chainsaw, running the blade lengthwise up the creature's body. The werewolf splits in half and vibrant blood stains the walls and floor. As the remaining enemies rush forward, I wrench a lightpost from the ground and shove it through the first wolf's head, then sling his…
The original Killzone suffered from an overabundance of hype. Billed by Sony as a Halo -killer, the game inevitably fell short of expectations when it turned out pretty average. In 2005, a trailer for Killzone 2 was unveiled at E3 showcasing incredible graphics and chaotic setpieces. Many doubted Guerrilla 's ability to deliver on the promises of that trailer, and it seemed as if the second Killzone might go the way…
I have no idea what's going on. Now I'm not trying to be cute or funny here; I really don't understand what is happening in front of me. Noby Noby Boy is a game with no real goals, no real characters, and no real purpose. Oddly enough, it is this sense of pointlessness that makes the game so endearing. Playing Noby Noby Boy is akin to playing on a playground as a child; all of the devices to create a fun game are…
It really is startling to see how closely video games and simulated killing have become interwoven. Even child-friendly characters such as Mario are little more than pastel colored turtle squashers deep down. It is for this reason that Flower is so deeply refreshing, as this is a game that celebrates the miracle of giving a life instead of glorifying the act of taking one. Throughout Flower's two hour "campagin"…
Lumines Supernova is the latest in the trippy puzzle series, and the first to premiere on the PS3. As someone who owned and played the hell out of Lumines Live! for the 360, it is clear to me that Q Entertainment has listened to fan feedback when crafting this downloadable title. The main complaint leveled against Supernova's downloadable predecessor was leveled towards the game's pricing structure, which nickeled…
Warning: No More Heroes may contain content that is innapropriate for everyone. Blood will flow. Strange sexual references will be made. Human limbs will littler the ground. It's pure, outrageous genious. The story of No More Heroes is a very simple one. Travis Touchdown, the antihero of the game, goes out for a drink one night and ends up killing the eleventh best assassin in his hometown of Santa Destroy. Now…
I want to enjoy my time with The Force Unleashed, I really do, but Lucasarts clearly had other plans. Every time I play through a legitimately fun section of the game, I am foolishly lured into thinking, for the umpteenth time, "Hey, maybe this will turn out good after all." Not so. Like clockwork, each fun section of the game is followed by a hideously annoying one. In short, there are many elements of TFU that…
I have to admit that I didn't expect much out of Prince of Persia before the game was released. However, after surprisingly positive reviews and a sale at my local game store, I decided to give it a shot. After taking in the gorgeous graphics, going through a few tutorial battles, and restarting the game due to a glitch that caused the ground to disappear from under my feet, I was not too optimistic. Luckily, the…
Littlebigplanet is many things; a video game, an interactive art project, an outlet through which creativity can flourish. But the fact remains that first and foremost, LBP is a platformer video game, and while the artistic and creative aspects of the game outpace all competition, the gameplay that holds these aspects together does not. That's not to suggest that LBP is unplayable; far from it, the simple controls…
I was really pulling for Mirror's Edge to be one of the best games of the year. I mean, with a concept this unique, the development expertise of DICE, and EA's deep pockets, ME should have been superb. The harsh reality is that all the hype has built up to a game that is broken in more ways than one, and more frustrating than entertaining. It really took a while for the full extent of this game's lack of polish to…
The newest Call of Duty game has a lot to offer to shooter fans. The single player campaign, which is purported to last around 6-7 hours, never lets up on the intensity, and the multiplayer package is one of the most well rounded and well executed in any shooter. The graphics and sound do not disappoint, the controls are well mapped and will be instantly familiar to anyone who has played a CoD game, and the weapons…
Resistance 2 is everything that a stellar sequel should be, and then some. The graphics, sound, and scale of the game have received dramatic overhauls since the first Resistance, and the new additions make R2 one of the top shooters released on consoles. From the moment that the single player campaign begins, it is clear that Insomniac tried to, and succeded at creating a campaign that will keep players in awe at…
Motorstorm: Pacific Rift is the video game equivalent of someone shining a flashlight in your eyes and screaming in your ears. It keeps you on the verge of sensory overload from start to finish with its loud music blasting out of the speakers and its beautiful environments screaming past almost too fast to see. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush of a video game, look no further: Pacific Rift will be the PS3's…
Dead Space is a scary game. The lighting, sound, and pacing blend perfectly together to create an experience unlike any other, even when it's clear that EA has aped a few of the design mechanics. The control scheme, for example, shares a number of elements with Capcom's RE4, while the audio logs and ruined environment reek of Bioshock. The genius of Dead Space comes when players realize that the game has come…
In the vast library of next-gen games, Bioshock is the equivalent of Shakespeare, Resistance is Michael Crichton, and Fracture is some trashy action book on the Clearance rack. It's not well written, it's not nuanced, but it does provide some decent thrills despite its flaws. That said, you wouldn't buy a mediocre book at full price and you shouldn't pay full price for Fracture, either. This is most definately a…
WipEout HD has been hyped for a long time now, and from the perspective of a first time WipEout-er (WipEoutee?)it surely delivers. The graphics are stunningly polished, the gameplay incredibly fast and intuitive, and the thrills sharp enough to keep you on the edge of your seat even while you're gritting your teeth. It is a truly good game that remains addictive even when it is punishingly difficult, and WipEout HD…
