136 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.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon was initially thought to be some sort of April Fools' joke, but as with Twisted Pixel's Splosion Man, this proved to be untrue. Blood Dragon is real, a ton of fun, and full of nice throwbacks to the 80's in many different ways. The name alone suggests that Far Cry 3's story would be integrated somehow, but their only similarities are mainly from the game's controls, the fact that it takes…
Bioshock Infinite has you controlling Booker DeWitt, a man who finds himself in debt who gets a chance to clear it when he is given the task of retrieving a woman from Columbia, a city that floats high above in the clouds. He's given her name, location, and sets off to find her in the hopes to have a clean slate. When he arrives at the city to find Elizabeth, he slowly unravels a string of events that uncover the…
With a great TV show breaking records weekly with the viewer count on AMC, the monthly issue of the comic still going strong, the solid books detailing more information about key characters, and the video-game from Telltale last year that won several awards and was adored by fans and critics, there has never been a better time to be into zombies. While Telltale's game was a great story of choices and consequences,…
Crysis 3 takes place 20 years from the end of Crysis 2, and has players assuming the role of Prophet as he fights to takedown the human CELL forces, as well as the remaining alien Ceph threat. His fight begins back in New York, where CELL have dramatically altered the terrain with a biodome, changing New York into a real urban jungle. The visuals that Crysis 3 bring are still as impressive as ever, and the gameplay…
The original Tomb Raider games we're fun and offered PlayStation players one of the best playable female protagonist characters with Lara Croft, an adventurous, dual pistol wielding explorer who could take on bears, dinosaurs, and mercenaries. Ever since the PlayStation era of Lara, Crystal Dynamics has had a hard time creating a Tomb Raider title that was both critically and commercially successful, and many…
Dead Space 3 is an incredibly polished action game continuing the story of the troubled engineer Isaac Clarke. While there are still moments of fright, players who have been in Isaac's shoes since the beginning know that the horror element has taken a dramatic hit in terms of gameplay. Isaac can now crouch, dodge and take cover, which is needed when you'll have to face human enemies throughout the 10+ hour campaign…
Far Cry 3 is essentially the last major title to release this year, and it contains everything that you would expect from a AAA title. There's an interesting story of redemption, character growth, and the conflict of battling crazy pirates, as well as great open-world gameplay elements, fun co-op and multiplayer modes, and the return of the game's map editor that allows you to build your own island of fun. After…
It's been about five years since we last played as Agent 47. The agency was disbursing, and attempting to eliminate agents and handlers, but 47 and Diana Burnwood we're able to lay low. It turns out that Diana caused some harm and attention in her exit, which prompts the newly built agency to reach out to 47 and give him his returning contract to eliminate Diana. From there, things turn out to be more complicated,…
PlayStation All-stars Battle Royale pits many classic Sony characters and others that have made an impact on Sony's consoles against one another as they duke it out on various levels, using super moves and items based on the games the characters are from. The way that you play this game is the main differentiating factor between Nintendo's Smash Bros. titles because performing supers is the only way to win. Even…
Black Ops II is comprised of three major components, which are easily displayed on the back of the box: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Choices two and three are considered the main attraction for players, but the game's Campaign does some great things that move the series forward in terms of interactive storytelling. With over $500 million big ones made off of this title so far, Black Ops II is ready to once…
The original Naughty Bear game had an interesting concept. Ignored and cast-ed out from your fellow bears, you controlled Naughty as he set out punish others using various tools and traps similar to Manhunt or Hitman. While it was critically received as an interesting but poorly executed title, I find myself enjoying the title. I agreed that the $50 price point was too much and many felt it would be better suited as…
343 Industries has the difficult task of appeasing millions of fans that come to expect certain elements when it comes to the release of a new Halo title. As the start of a brand new trilogy starring Master Chief, Halo 4 is their major debut as a developer and a chance to show that they are up to the task of continuing the popular franchise. In my opinion, they not only do enough with Halo 4 to let fans know they…
The SEGA Genesis had its fair share of great titles that made it a fun console to have in the 90's, and for me ToeJam & Earl games were high up on the list. Each game provided fun gameplay mechanics, great co-op play, and a varied soundtrack containing tunes that are just as memorable to me as level 1-1 of Super Mario Bros. Now available on XBLA and PSN, the first two games in this series can now be played by a…
With Ezio and Altair's story behind us, Ubisoft has moved into a more recognizable time period which features new gameplay mechanics and motivations to lead both players and Desmond to continue working inside the Animus. Assassin's Creed III features a new assassin named Ratonhnhaké:ton, but you can simply call him Connor. As Desmond you will venture around the world looking for special items to help stop the…
Dishonored puts you into the shoes of Corvo, a respected guard of the Empress and her daughter, who later steps into the role of an assassin after a series of events occur in the beginning of the game. Without giving much away, Corvo is forced to hide his face from public by wearing a special mask which graces the cover of the game, and allows for you to hide your identity throughout the game. The story is full of…
Happy Wars is among the first of an incoming wave of Free-2-Play games coming to Xbox Live. Featuring a high player count, three classes to choose from, and accesible gameplay, the base game is fun enough that Gold Members should check out especially since its free. The main question that comes into play is if it is worthy of the optional costs that gets you extra items to use in battle. When you first start up the…
Millions of gamers have enjoyed Trials HD and its sequel Evolution, and been hard at work creating thousands of new tracks everyday. RedLynx trickled in their own tracks here and there, and have now released the first pack for the game which not only features new tracks to ride around on, but also new skill games, a new island to play on, and the introduction of a BMX bike to use. For $5, you'll be getting a good…
Serious Sam 3 BFE ups the visual quality of the classic shooting franchise, which has once again made its way to Xbox Live Arcade after releasing on PC last year. Now running on the Serious 3.5 engine, this game features improved animations and a visual style that makes the game more modern while retaining the classic shooting gameplay that the franchise is known for. The game on XBLA has also launched with the…
Carrier Command is an FPS/RTS hybrid that is a spiritual successor to the original game, which was released in the 90's. While not for everyone, Bohemia Interactive has attempted to make Carrier Command an accessible experience, but frequent visual and gameplay bugs hinder the overall experience. The game’s Sci-fi story features a conflict between Asian and US forces in a futuristic apocalyptic setting. Its focuses…
Borderlands was a game that was full of action, co-op play, loot collecting, and tons of guns. While the game had its share of shortcomings in a few areas, it was still one my favorite games of 2009. From the appealing visuals, colorful cast of characters, and quality of the downloadable content, there was so much to love about the game. We're now about two weeks into the release of the sequel, which maintains all…
The original Double Dragon was released in 1987 on the NES, and featured fun beat-em-up arcade gameplay with simple yet colorful graphics. I played the game as a young kid and once I got a SEGA console years later, I played as the duo as they fought alongside the Battletoads. Fast forward to now, Double Dragon Neon retains most of the elements from the original title while offering up a remixed game soundtrack, HD…
While Counter-Strike enjoyed many years of success on the PC, the title has been notably absent from consoles since it was released on the original Xbox. It's nice to see now that PS3 and 360 users are able to get back into the tactical action game, especially those who may be looking for different shooters to play besides CoD and Battlefield. Building upon the successful Counter-Strike source game, Valve has…
Red Johnson's Chronicles is an adventure puzzle game that may connect with fans of classic Lucas Arts titles. As as the private eye, you'll have to solve increasingly difficult puzzles, interrogate characters and sometimes fight or shoot in the form of QTE prompts. If you're looking for something different to play on XBLA, Red Johnson's Chronicles is worth taking a look at. The visual style of game goes great along…
Read the full review Red Johnson's Chronicles: One Against All
Originally True Crime Hong Kong, Sleeping Dogs was the game that Activision essentially canceled. Square Enix and United Front saw potential in the nearly completed game, and decided to bring it back from the brink and rework elements that they hoped fans would enjoy. It's a good thing that they because Sleeping Dogs is the 'Sleeper Hit' of the year so far. From the combat, populated world with plenty to do, and the…
Essentially the creation of one person, Dust: An Elysian Tail is an 2D action adventure game in the similar vein of Metroid and most recently Shadow Complex, with a vibrant and expansive world to traverse. You'll play as Dust, the mysterious warrior with a case of amnesia who must rely on a talking sword and it's guardian to help him fight and uncover the truth about his existence. Dust is not only one of the best…
Uncharted Golden Abyss is a prequel to the original Uncharted game on PS3, and utilizes most of the features that the Vita is capable of. You’ll touch the screen, rotate the Vita, use the rear touch, and even play around with the camera features. With a great story, impressive visuals on the Vita’s OLED screen, and Nolan North reprising his role as the popular adventurer, this launch title is still the Vita game to…
With Syndicate, Starbreeze Studios brings back a strategy game from the 90's and turns it into a Sci-fi shooter with co-op multiplayer. In the game's campaign, you play as Miles Kilo, a silent protagonist and newest Syndicate for Eurocorp, a company with some shady dealings as they publicly promise the freedom of spreading information to their clients and the public. Behind the scenes though, they send out…
Deadlight is an 2D game with 3D visuals and contains familiar elements if you've ever played Shadow Complex or Limbo - which were both Summer of Arcade releases as well. Action plays out on a 2D level, but features 3D visuals and enemies that can move from the background and onto the 2D plane to attack you. While being a pretty short game – 1 hour and 57 minutes was my final time, it does have great moments of…
The early Tony Hawk games have always been fun to play, so when Robomodo, Activision, and the Hawkman himself announced plans to create an HD version of the classics, I was pretty excited. For those who were burned out or disappointed in the last few games, going back to the basics has really made arcade skateboarding gameplay fun again. This version of the game focuses on Pro Skater 1 & 2, with content from THPS3…
Dawnguard is the first expansion for Skyrim, and features the conflict between Vampires and the human hunters after them called the Dawnguard. If you choose to go down the path of aiding the Vampires, you’ll encounter the Vampire Lord Harkon, who seeks to accomplish what would give Vampires dominance over all: Destroy the Sun and create eternal darkness. Siding with the Dawnguard will give you slightly different…
Read the full review Hunt Vampires or Hunt as one and attempt to destroy the sun
The Amazing Spider-Man game brings back the always-fun free-roaming gameplay from past Spider-Man games, and frees itself from the movie in terms of its storyline by taking place after the movie is done. The game is pretty easy to play, both in terms of controls and difficulty – so long as you’re using gained experience to upgrade Spider-Man’s abilities. It has everything going for it, but there we’re still elements…
Jeremy McGrath’s Offroad is an arcade game that features off-road action racing in various vehicles such as Rally Cars, Pro Buggies and Pro LiteTrucks. The game has three modes of play, Arcade, Career, and Multiplayer, with different options available in each mode. For $10 you’ll have a fun racer with 8-player online support, a smooth frame rate at 60fps, and frequent tips given by your assistant driver and Jeremy…
Joy Ride was first announced as a freemium game for Xbox Live arcade, but eventually turned into a Kinect-exclusive title. With Joy Ride Turbo, the controller is back in your hands, and you’ll want it to be there – Turbo is a lot of fun to play. The game features simple pick-up-and-play controls, pleasing visuals, and a nice albeit small collection of cars to use on the tracks. Avatar support is in this game as…
Max Payne is now retired, but has not been able to get over the unfortunate events that plagued his life as a New York detective. He now spends his days in bars, slowly drinking himself into nothingness but soon gains the task of protecting a rich and prominent family in Brazil when an opportunity arrives from a fellow ex-cop. When things go array with his new job, Max must depend on the skills that allowed him to…
Minecraft has been a huge hit for a while now on PC, and the indie block sensation made the stop on Xbox 360 to critical success. With over one million players, you probably already know that this is a game worth playing. The main difference between Minecraft on PC and 360 mainly comes from accessibility and content. Currently, Minecraft for Xbox is based on an earlier version of the game, with Creative mode and the…
Prototype 2 features a new protagonist in James Heller, a military man whose return home finds a rift in his family. Angry at the lost of those he loved, Heller joins up with a Specials Ops groups in the hopes that they’ll encounter Alex Mercer, who he blames for the current state of New York. When he does find Mercer, he is easily overpowered, but Mercer then gives Heller powers of his own, hoping he will join him…
Trials Evolution is the sequel to one of the most popular Xbox Live Arcade titles and it incorporates everything from Trials HD to create a game everyone can enjoy. With an expansive editor, multiplayer, and track sharing, Evolutions has some serious replayability. RedLynx has created a set of great default tracks that slowly ramp up in difficulty, as well as license tests which have two purposes: explain new…
When the Walking Dead game was first announced, you could probably see a general type of gameplay being set for it. After all, taking out zombies is something players have been doing for quite some time. But when it was announced that Telltale would be developing the game, it was clear that this game would be very different from titles such as Left 4 Dead and Dead Rising. After releasing Jurassic Park in a complete…
Silent Hill has had it's ups and downs over the past years – the movie was not a critical success and the recent games have drifted from the main focus of the previous game. While Silent Hill Downpour seems to be getting some good attention, it still seems to lack the classic feel that fans remember, so when the Silent Hill HD collection was announced, many were excited to play Silent Hill 2 & 3 again – games that…
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is a third-person tactical shooter set in the RE world. Around the time that Leon and Claire were uncovering the truth in 1998, a USS Delta team was dispatched to the city to retrieve the T and G-virus alongside HUNK, a veteran of the series. Things of course do not go smoothly, and the team is then directed to cover-up any trace of Umbrella activity. There are some real…
Ninja Gaiden 3 features a more personal story involving Ryu, as well as some gameplay changes that Team Ninja has made with the franchise. After getting cursed when battling a mysterious enemy, Ryu Hayabusa is forced to face the consequences of his actions. This curse causes the souls of his victims to infect his arm and cleanse his Dragon sword, and gives him a countdown before it would affect his entire body and…
Mass Effect 3 follows Commander Shepard and his/her crew as they prepare to seek help for the impending showdown against the Reaper invasion – something that has been in the works ever since the original Mass Effect game. It was difficult enough to defeat Sovereign, one of the first Reapers to return to the current Galaxy, but now there are many Reapers – everywhere – and they seek to once again restart their cycle…
Street Fighter X Tekken is the first in two planned crossovers from Capcom and Namco that focuses on their main fighting games. SFXT utilizes the system built from Street Fighter IV, including the visuals, combat system, and netcode from that game, while still appealing to Tekken fans since moves from Namco’s classic fighter can still be used. There is a fairly balanced roster available for each side, and DLC…
I am Alive has been through quite some changes ever since it's inception from about 2008. It finally arrived this year as part of Microsoft's House Party promotion for Xbox Live Arcade, but it will be making an appearance on the PlayStation 3 sometime in the future. You'll play as Adam, a man who has traveled the world and comes home to find everything changed due to the Event, a series of disasters that have…
Nexuiz is a game developed by Illfonic, and is an Arena FPS, similar to Quake III: Arena and Unreal Tournament. This type of game has always been fun to play due to the fast action and quick matches. What makes Nexuiz unique is it's awesome soundtrack, combination of past games – especially since the original game is an open sourced PC title, and the great visuals it provides, thanks to the use of CryEngine 3. If…
Alan Wake's American Nightmare is a 5-7 hour experience that will satisfy fans for the hopeful release of Alan Wake 2, as well as introduce new players to the Champion of Light. Taking place in Arizona, Alan finds himself battling the Taken and his evil doppelganger, known only as Mr. Scratch. While the game does take place after the original Alan Wake game, starting on American Nightmare would not only introduce…
UFC Undisputed 3 is the third game in the new series, and returns after a two-year break. During that extra time, Yukes had many fighters come into their studio, helping to improve animation and really capture the feel of individual fighters. With more fighters, modes, and options than ever, Undisputed 3 is ready to be the best in MMA games once again. Are you ready? Let's get it on, Cmon! I've enjoyed the past UFC…
Amy is a third-person survival horror game where instead of guns and cover, it's about survival and protection. Lana has been tasked with protecting Amy, the small child who is unable to speak, but possess special abilities which come in handy at specific parts of the game. The game has been critically panned since it's release, and I have to agree with the complaints, but for the $10 price it may be worth a look…
