16 public written 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.
From Software has an interesting fascination with death. Every game they’ve ever made seems to relish in making sure the player dies as much as possible before reaching the end. They also have a fascination with leaving you in the dark when it comes to plot details. This was the case with the action-RPG Demon’s Souls and its spiritual successor Dark Souls. With the release of Bloodborne – yet another spiritual…
There are many kinds of ways to do a dystopian sci-fi story, but few tell it in a way where the environments, you interactions with it, and the people you encounter mean more than any of the backstory or lore that can possibly be introduced. The Half-Life universe tends to do this more so than any other, and Half-Life 2 attempts to continue the success of this narrative method. While its intentions are admirable and…
When Demon’s Souls first arrived back in 2009, few expected it to be such a surprise hit. Aside from its appealing aesthetics, ingenious level design, methodical combat, and numerous customization options, it boasted a brutal yet rewarding difficulty level the likes of which haven’t been seen since the days of the NES, and never did a game feel it did so as fairly as Demon’s Souls . Now, Dark Souls , its spiritual…
The security created by the smart phones and computers we have don’t necessarily make us safe. Every day, we lose our information to those willing to exploit it for secret purposes. Do you truly feel safe knowing that cameras are watching your every move? That everything is connected, thus making your privacy a mere myth? This is the concept Watch Dogs toys with. Being given the ability to hack into this type of…
Bring up South Park to people, and you’ll get a pretty mixed response. On the one hand, it’s one of the most irreverent, disgusting, most insulting TV shows ever to disgrace the small screen. On the other hand—which is the side I’m on—it’s a wonderfully written satire that refuses to pull punches or take sides on modern issues, instead allowing people to see just how ridiculous their actions are, and in doing so…
The world of the post-apocalypse is one that video games have tried to sell for as long as anyone can remember. Many games have their own twists and ideas about how it will happen, and Metro: Last Light tries to make things more interesting with a new setting, lore, and monsters. However, this is the only part of the game that feels like a true effort, as the rest of the game tries its best to ruin whatever fun you…
Pirates are awesome, and don’t let anybody tell you differently. From movies to books and now to video games, pirates will forever be that representation of a free spirit taking their own lives and making something of them by any means necessary. So it’s no wonder that the Assassin’s Creed franchise wanted to make use of them and add them to their impressive repertoire of historical figures. And you know what? It…
This is the most difficult game I’ve ever had to review. How do you classify it by genre when there’s not much to the actual “game” element? How do you classify a linear narrative that involves the input of the player in order to make difficult choices? These are the things I’m struggling with in Beyond: Two Souls , Quantic Dream’s latest gaming effort. In the traditional sense, it barely feels like a fun,…
The Sonic the Hedgehog series has been known for two things: it’s innovative speedy platforming, and it’s almost hypocritical fanbase. Most fans decry the faults of many Sonic games after the release of Sonic Adventure for the Sega Dreamcast. Most of the time, it’s with good reason. In this case, I’m giving the first reason. Shadow the Hedgehog, a game based around the character of Shadow from Sonic Adventure 2:…
I’m not a big fan of the Grand Theft Auto series, I’ll admit. I always found it too focused on expanding the open sandbox elements when clearly they’re trying to create memorable stories. While none of the games are necessarily bad, they suffer greatly with both the lack of true narrative focus and a dissonance between redemptive characters and the player’s lust for destruction. Well, leave it to the fifth main…
Knowing the dangers, how far would you go to save the one you love? This is the question raised in Shadow of the Colossus: a video game that critics and enthusiasts claim to be a work of art. In terms are visual arts, video games are almost akin to some of the best canvas paintings out there. However, there’s a moral depth beyond the great visuals Shadow of the Colossus brings, and it could not have been presented…
Redemption: it’s difficult to come by, and even more difficult to accept when it happens. But what if redemption made you a monster? What if your past sins were replaced with twice as many new ones? Can a society function once its inner demons are revealed? These are the questions and themes explored in BioShock Infinite. This game shows how actions have consequences, and how far off the ideal is from the reality.…
The Mega Man and Mega Man X series is the prime example of a hit-or-miss deal. Games like Mega Man 1 and 2, and Mega Man X through X4 are fantastic examples of what great gameplay and story can do for a series. However, the gimmick got old quick, with Capcom never learning its lesson on how to be ambitious and give an aging series the proper upgrades needed to keep fan interest alive. That’s when they decided try…
Getting revenge is a tricky business. Do you serve it bloody and cold regardless of who gets in your way, or in the sneakiest undercover way possible? In Dishonored, the choice is yours. This original action-stealth game IP from Arkane Studios is something fantastic to behold. Sure, not everything can be perfect (it’s their first game), but the end product is definitely something not to pass up. From its great…
In the Final Fantasy series, certain rules of gameplay must be applied. The action must always take place on a separate battlefield. The characters must level up according to their established class. The world map must be empty except for invisible enemies that appear at random. Well, what if there was a Final Fantasy game that took these established formulas…and tossed them out the window? What you get is Final…
The year is 2033. The human race is slowly being wiped out. A savage fungal infection rots its victims’ minds within two days, changing them from reasonable human beings into homicidal monsters. Nature has begun to reclaim its territory, taking over buildings and roads without prejudice. The military has forced quarantines in major cities, and a rebel group struggles to return the original order back into society.…
