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raycarter's Reviews

56 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.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North2011

3 out of 5 stars

Foreword: This is my first video game review in eight, long years... Will this piece be any good? Also, I have not tried either local or online co-op, and will review the game on the normal difficulty. Lord of the Rings: War in the North (WITN) a tame Action RPG with little new to offer. It tells a Tolkien story that initially cannot gain separation between itself and the tribulations of the Fellowship, but has…

Read the full review The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

The Last of Us2013

5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful... haunting... The Last of Us in a nutshell. *Know what you're getting into: This is going to be a long piece* This review will only discuss the single-player campaign, as I don't think speculating about the multiplayer is worth your while and this piece is long to begin with. By the time you are reading this review, you most likely have known the existence of The Last of Us , an action adventure,…

Read the full review The Last of Us

The Last of Us2013

5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful... haunting... The Last of Us in a nutshell. *Know what you're getting into: This is going to be a long piece* This review will only discuss the single-player campaign, as I don't think speculating about the multiplayer is worth your while and this piece is long to begin with. By the time you are reading this review, you most likely have known the existence of The Last of Us , an action adventure,…

Read the full review The Last of Us

Remember Me2013

4 out of 5 stars

Is Remember Me worth...remembering? Bah dum tss.... On the surface, the source material for PC's Remember Me come from very familiar territory. I for one already had my share of stories about dystopian futures, evil mega-corporations and amnesiac heroes. But upon reflection in the 13 hours I put in to complete this game, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Here is a video game that takes worn-out tropes…

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Magna Carta 22009

3 out of 5 stars

Do I have your attention now? Good. Magna Carta 2 (MC 2) for the XBox 360 is best summed as a 101-JRPG: Every trope you associate with that genre would most likely be in that game. That isn't to say that the game is bad, as there are some bright spots. The game looks very beautiful and you can get a lot of replay value from the game. But the flashes of brilliance are largely overshadowed by middling or cliched…

Read the full review Magna Carta 2

Fossil Fighters: Champions2011

4 out of 5 stars

The main character attacks the dino with his pickaxe. Not Phi-Beta-Kappa.... The introduction video already indicates that Artdink and company took a serious look at their first Fossil Fighters game and decided that the game needed a graphical upgrade. I admit that for all the cuteness and charm exuded by the first game the graphics weren't exactly a strong suit. In FFC however there seems to be some effort to add…

Read the full review Fossil Fighters: Champions

Chaotic: Shadow Warriors2009

2 out of 5 stars

Take a good look; you won't be seeing average graphics after the box cover. A note to my readers: I do not watch the Chaotic cartoon that this game is based off of. I do not know the basic plot or the underlying stories of the show. I also never played the card game and have virtually no clue about its cards, rules and whatnot. Everything I write is merely based off of what I see in the game, and my judgments of the…

Read the full review Chaotic: Shadow Warriors

Children of Mana2006

4 out of 5 stars

Having a chance to play Children of Mana by Square Enix allows me to play a game from the World of Mana series for the first time. To those unfamiliar with the franchise the "Mana" series is another set of video games from Square Enix revolving around the fictional world of Mana. The second game, Secret of Mana (1993) , is widely praised and placed alongside lofty company such as the Legend of Zelda. But since the…

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Child of Eden2011

4 out of 5 stars

You think this cover looks cool? Wait till you see the game. Let's get the non-essentials out of the way. You are an anonymous protagonist attempting to purify a computer database and save a girl called Lumi (insert "Princess not in this castle joke" now). You do so rails-shooting style, alternating between weapons resembling lock on missiles and a gatling gun. Child of Eden is my first game that has Kinect…

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Fossil Fighters2009

4 out of 5 stars

Ms. Pink and Mr. Vandal don't have a clue of their impending doom lurking behind the title logo. If you have to make a game by ripping off a successful game franchise, Fossil Fighters (FF) for the NDS is the example you want to follow. Certainly many of the things seen in this Artdink product will scream Pocket Monster knockoff, but there are enough features to separate the imitator and the imitated. In fact, there…

Read the full review Fossil Fighters

Samurai Warriors: State of War2006

3 out of 5 stars

Keiji Maeda and Okuni are the co-cover characters in Samurai Warrior's inaugural PSP game I've talked about two Dynasty Warriors games on the PSP, and now I move to both similar and familiar territory: Samurai Warriors (or SW). For those who don't know, Samurai Warriors is another franchise from KOEI, with the same Dynasty Warriors formula but set in the tumultuous conflicts preceding the rise of the Tokugawa era.…

Read the full review Samurai Warriors: State of War

Dynasty Warriors: Vol. 22006

3 out of 5 stars

Xing Cai takes over as the cover girl in this game I have a bit of a like-dislike relationship with the Dynasty Warriors franchise. On the one hand, it is still really cool to slice up hundreds of thousands of enemies in a battlefield to take control of Han Dynasty China. On the other hand, the simplistic combat system and (most importantly) the lack of meaningful upgrades from game to game bothers me. This…

Read the full review Dynasty Warriors: Vol. 2

Ninja Blade2009

4 out of 5 stars

The cover does no justice to the insanity that is Ninja Blade All the criticisms for Ninja Blade are all legitimate: Yeah, it isn't a great looking package in the XBox360 library. Yeah it story is paper-thin. Yeah, it's gameplay element mimics other series like God of War and some franchise named Gaiden. These portions of the game do not inspire much confidence about the game's quality... until you see the…

Read the full review Ninja Blade

Ninja Gaiden 32012

4 out of 5 stars

Now, when shaking hands, Ryu must only use his left hand for the occasion. *Hello. RayCarter here. This is the final piece of my arranged "Ninja Month", where I look at four games revolving around famous video game practitioners of ninjutsu. I reviewed two Tenchu games and most recently gave an opinion/piece on Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the NDS. Now, with an exhaustive review, I will give my two cents on Team…

Read the full review Ninja Gaiden 3

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword2008

4 out of 5 stars

The titular Dragon Sword is unceremoniously dragged to the side by the protagonist. *Hi, RayCarter again. This is the third and second last installment of Ninja Month, where I review two Tenchu games and two Ninja Gaiden games. With the Tenchu games all wrapped up I am venturing into Itagaki territory, where I play two games from the franchise that stars one of the video game's most beloved ninjas: Ryu Hayabusa.…

Read the full review Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword

A Should-Add

4 out of 5 stars

*Note: This review is, word for word, taken from a longer review about the original game, Dungeon Siege 3. Please note, however, that I wrote that same DS3 review myself and therefore is not a case of plagiarism. Treasure of the Sun, a DLC for Dungeon Siege 3, is an outstanding addition for the game, thanks to its storyline and additions to the gameplay that make it a bit deeper. The DLC starts when you accept a…

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Tenchu: Shadow Assassins2009

3 out of 5 stars

*This is Part 2 of Ninja Month, where I, RayCarter, look at 4 games based off of ninjas (2 from Tenchu, 2 from Ninja Gaiden). I previously wrote a review for Tenchu Z for the XBox360 for Part 1. Hope you can check that out too! Tenchu- Shadow Assassins is another game I’ve played that has terrible gameplay but has everything else well covered (like Sands of Destruction). On the one hand, you have a really good…

Read the full review Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

Tenchu Z2007

3 out of 5 stars

If you look closely, the cover gives a tip for future Tenchu Z players There is just one question you need to ask yourself if you want to pick up this game: Are you fond of sneaking around, staying hidden, observing enemy patterns, then striking out of nowhere at the most opportune time? If you answer yes, then Tenchu Z is a possible candidate for purchase, especially at bargain price, because for at least a dozen…

Read the full review Tenchu Z

Still Holds Up

3 out of 5 stars

You see a similarity between this and a certain JRPG franchise, right? Eternal Legacy for the iPhone or iPad is a game that I have a soft spot for. Its features are not entirely overwhelming save for a couple of bright spots, and from the picture you are already aware that this game borrows heavily from the acclaimed Final Fantasy franchise. But at the same time, the faults are easy to forgive in the grand scheme of…

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Mega Man Maverick Hunter X2006

4 out of 5 stars

Maverick Hunter X (MHX from now on) is a great package for several reasons. It upholds the standards of Megaman games of the past, from controls, to boss battles, and music. But it does so in a very unique fashion. Instead of appealing to just the longtime fans who followed the Blue Bomber since 1987, Capcom did the smart thing and also catered the game to newer players who aren't familiar with the rich history of…

Read the full review Mega Man Maverick Hunter X

Quantum of Solace2008

3 out of 5 stars

He looks like Bond. He shoots like Bond. But he is not Bond. The remake of Casino Royale is one of my favorite movies of all time. For the first time in a long while people see the man behind the gun and gadgets. Daniel Craig sold Bond to be an ice-cold, capable, and yet vulnerable and inexperienced character. Whenever he was on camera my eyes were glued to the screen because he comes off as interesting and nuanced.…

Read the full review Quantum of Solace

Rayark's Inaugural is a Stunner

5 out of 5 stars

I remember the first time I played the game “Tap Tap” was before a French class, when one of my then-classmates Gustav showed it to me (or was it Sam B.A Chan? I don’t remember but I think it’s Gustav). I was then intrigued because of the game’s novelty: literally pressing on the screen to play a note. Since then, I still like Tap Tap as both a game and franchise, but there is usually a need to find something that…

Read the full review Rayark's Inaugural is a Stunner

Prototype 22012

3 out of 5 stars

Just a note here: I have not played the first Prototype game. I’ve only glanced at its generally favorable reviews and left the game there. Therefore coming into Prototype 2, the sequel, I’ve had some mild expectations, assuming that 2’s foundation is already solid and that there will be some improvements, therefore a better product. But by the time the clock reads 5 hours, I have had a bit of a sinking feeling that…

Read the full review Prototype 2

Mirror's Edge2010

4 out of 5 stars

How many games have you seen transition from a 3D to 2D environment? Usually, it’s the other way around, with Mario and Sonic being the most iconic examples. But the subject of today, Mirror’s Edge, transports the prodigious runner Faith from the 3D urban jungle into a straight 2D (well, 2.5, but still) left-to-right-racecourse. We’re still in the world of Mirror’s Edge… right? In a way, Mirror’s Edge has its soul…

Read the full review Mirror's Edge

Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity2007

3 out of 5 stars

Code Lyoko has never looked this good outside the telly, until now. Code Lyoko for the NDS is the first foothold from the franchise to the video game market. As I’ve noted twice already (one actual review on this site and another re-reevaluation piece), there are some good moments but the package feels average overall. Not very long after, our old friend The Game Factory published another Code Lyoko game: Quest for…

Read the full review Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity

Glory of Heracles2010

3 out of 5 stars

Although some might not know this, but Glory of Heracles (GoH) for the NDS isn't a standalone product; it is in fact the sixth game in a franchise of the same name. Probably the only reason we don't know this is because for quite a while the series resided in Japan. This incarnation of GoH is the very first in its brethren to have a release outside of Japan, and while it doesn't alienate its new western audience, it…

Read the full review Glory of Heracles

The First Templar2011

2 out of 5 stars

The First Templar is an intriguing package from the outset. It is probably the first game that puts a spotlight on the Knights Templar, a prominent religious and military organization from the Medieval Times that was responsible for escorting pilgrims to the Holy Land. As a visual package it looks incredibly dated, given the blocky textures and the character models that looked pulled out of a last generation…

Read the full review The First Templar

The Saboteur2009

3 out of 5 stars

I felt very excited upon the purchase of The Saboteur, given my two full go-arounds in Fable 3 and Saints Row The Third when it came to playing open world games. I was hoping for another fun adventure blowing up, shooting down Nazis. Upon completing the main campaign and participating some side quests and forays into blowing stuff up at my own leisure time, I couldn't help but feel that the game has some unfilled…

Read the full review The Saboteur

Medal of Honor: Heroes 22007

2 out of 5 stars

This cover actually looks pretty damn good. The first Medal of Honor: Heroes wasn't a fantastic FPS. However, it was a great addition for the PSP library because of its ability to adjust to the control limitations of the portable console. Add on a great theme song and Nazi-gunning action, and voila, a product that PSP owners can get behind. With a trial run with MOH 1 over with, you would think that EA would have a…

Read the full review Medal of Honor: Heroes 2

Medal of Honor: Heroes2006

3 out of 5 stars

We are back to the late 1930s, early 1940s in Europe. You're holding a Thompson MG, a pistol, and several grenades for good measure. When you realized that a grenade just blew up in your face and shoddied your vision, you immediately activate a Med-kit off screen and continue the fight. Ladies and gentlemen et les autres, this is Medal of Honor Heroes (aka MOHH), one of two first person shooters for the Medal of…

Read the full review Medal of Honor: Heroes

Sands of Destruction2008

3 out of 5 stars

Two teenagers with attitude will take the world to hell. Unlike some of my GiantBomb colleagues (unless they updated or something), I'm actually coming into this review with the distinction of actually beating this game, from start to finish : ) All kidding aside, I can see why people are down on this game. The gameplay was a HUGE issue with many, resulting with many low scores and opinions. But that's where I…

Read the full review Sands of Destruction

Mega Man Star Force 22007

3 out of 5 stars

Before I go on and talk about the game, I would like to discuss sequels. From a story perspective, there are some games that reset the entire cast and settings, but more often than not sequels are meant to expand the universe of the original game. More importantly, however, a sequel is meant to fix, improve and mature the core gameplay elements of its predecessors to produce a more enjoyable package. In short, for a…

Read the full review Mega Man Star Force 2

Dungeon Siege III2011

4 out of 5 stars

As a former high school basketball player, I understand the value of the "glue guy" role: A solid, dependable contributor who isn't exactly on par with the team's superstars, but whose performances are nevertheless valuable to the squad. If I assemble a list of RPGs on the XBox 360, Dungeon Siege 3 will be the "glue game". It's a game that has few glaring weaknesses, coupled with enough strengths to make it stand…

Read the full review Dungeon Siege III

I Kid Thee Not: Tin Tin for the iPad is Gold

5 out of 5 stars

We often hear the following about movie games: Some person who made Movie X wants a game. Person hires Company A to make one. Company A either has too little time to make Game B or just takes an existing formula from another game and calls it a day. Some games do better than what I've mentioned above, and there are others that are go above and beyond to the point of excellence. The Adventures of Tin Tin (which will…

Read the full review I Kid Thee Not: Tin Tin for the iPad is Gold

Dead to Rights: Retribution2010

3 out of 5 stars

In Dead to Rights: Retribution, you play as Jack Slate, a hard-nosed, uncompromising Grant City cop, who intends to shove justice down the throats of criminals by doing things like: a) urging on his malamute/wolf hybrid Shadow to rip off enemy scrotum b) Brtually kicking the enemy in the stomach twice. Then when the crook doesn't get the message, Jack will do it one more time. c) Shooting both kneecaps off of a…

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Again2009

3 out of 5 stars

To say that Again: Eye of Providence is a unique game for is a bit of an understatement. I've never seen a game that has marketed itself as an interactive crime novel before, and the concept of seeing both the past and the present to solve a mystery is intriguing in its own right. Therefore, despite lackluster reviews from Gamespot and Gametrailers, and of course the funny QL (quick look) from the Giantbomb staff, I…

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Tron: Evolution2010

3 out of 5 stars

If we remove the secondary features of a game (read: story and graphics), and put ourselves in the eyes of a video gamer/customer, the value of a game will depend on two things: a) The game's ability to give its players a control scheme that is precise and varied enough to overcome challenges given by the game. b) The game's ability to employ unique, creative and ultimately fun ways for players to exploit or utilize…

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A Compromised Version of DW4 on the PSP

3 out of 5 stars

Before I go on with this review, I need to get a little autobiographical here. (Please scroll to the fiftth paragraph, if uninterested). Dynasty Warriors on the PSP was my first purchased game and my third game overall for the PSP. But besides that, it was the very first game that I reviewed ever. Back then, Giantbomb didn't exist, so I posted my thoughts on gamefaqs.com. And guess what? I gave the game a 10 out of…

Read the full review A Compromised Version of DW4 on the PSP

Mario Hoops 3 on 32006

4 out of 5 stars

There is a reason why Mario Hoops 3 on 3 is not called Mario Basketball or something like that. While the sport does include a basketball and a pair of nets, there are fundamental rule changes in this game. For example: - Instead of scoring 1,2, or 3 points, players can score between 20 to about 150 points. - Characters are allowed to jump on, slap, and create magical pillars to knock another character off his or…

Read the full review Mario Hoops 3 on 3

The 3rd Birthday2010

4 out of 5 stars

WARNING AND APOLOGY: IN AN EFFORT TO EXPLAIN THINGS CLEARLY THIS REVIEW WILL BE VERY, VERY LONG, EXHAUSTIVE AND WILL BE ORGANIZED INTO HEADERS. IF YOU WANT A QUICK BREAKDOWN ON THE SCORE SCROLL DOWN NOW TO "THE BOTTOM LINE". ALSO, SPOILERS APLENTY!! Have you seen the Gamespot review about the 3rd Birthday on YouTube? As I write this review, more reviewers DISLIKE the review then liking it. Except for some…

Read the full review The 3rd Birthday

A Unique and Well-done game for the Cyber Blue Bomber

4 out of 5 stars

The Megaman EXE franchise is a major series in the GBA, spanning over 6 installations that follow the story of Megaman, Lan and friends hunting down bullies, conquerors and everything else in between. However, the overwhelming majority of those games follow an Action-RPG blueprint. Only one game was truly from a TCG genre: Megaman Battle Chip Challenge (for the sake of convenience I'll be using BCC to abbreviate the…

Read the full review A Unique and Well-done game for the Cyber Blue Bomber

Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Tournament 20042004

3 out of 5 stars

I think there should be a new genre for games: Garage games. The sole focus of these games is to get stuff, run them through a couple of tests, get more stuff, do more tests, rinse and repeat. In addition, these games tend to avoid any sort of storytelling, causing players to worry more about the game flow and process than anything else. Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2004 (I'll call it YGO WC04 for conveniency) is a…

Read the full review Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Tournament 2004

Mega Man Zero2002

5 out of 5 stars

It was said that the Megaman X series originally wanted Zero to be the protagonist. But fearing the fan's potentially negative response to the new character, this idea was scrapped... or at least postponed, and Zero was instead put as a partner-in-crime to Megaman X. But in 2002, Zero was given the individual spotlight in a remote outpost of a game in the Gameboy Advance. So how did Zero handle the job of being…

Read the full review Mega Man Zero

Untold Legends: The Warrior's Code2006

4 out of 5 stars

Foreword: I've already wrote a review of this game. But it didn't show up in the site even after I posted it. This is the second attempt to write a review for this game. Hopefully this one goes through. Untold Legends: The Warriors Code is a sequel but not a sequel. Sony essentially removed everything from the first game except for its core gameplay mechanics. The result is a game set in a different universe and…

Read the full review Untold Legends: The Warrior's Code

Haze2008

3 out of 5 stars

Let's put this out straight away: Haze is not a GREAT game. Shooter fans obviously needed to feel a little ticked and (quite frankly) disappointed that this hyped-up PS3 exclusive hosts a generic arsenal of guns, along with a bordering-to-mundane storyline, and some really outdated graphics. On the other hand, however, Haze does do a couple of things right. Not super, beyond-duty right, but right enough to avoid…

Read the full review Haze

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra2009

2 out of 5 stars

Note: To be clear, this story is NOT TRUE. It's just fictional. It is August 13, 2009. Developers of GI Joe: The Rise or Cobra were accused of "License Abuse in the First Degree", with many haters stating that the game GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is "a get-rich scheme which injures the integrity of electronic entertainment and is an insult to the videogame community." Millions of bucks were at stake, and the court…

Read the full review G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Pokémon Crystal2000

5 out of 5 stars

There are games that are forgettable, and games that are OK. Then there are those that are in a complete class of their own. Pokemon Crystal is one of those games. Even to this day, I still lament that I've lost the game card from a trip to Japan. It's not just the basics done right in Crystal, but it's also the other little things that helped to set the standards for other Pokemon games to come. Crystal is a remake…

Read the full review Pokémon Crystal

Dynasty Warriors 62007

4 out of 5 stars

We are off to Ancient China, circa 180 in Dynasty Warriors 6. The object is simple, just like the previous installments: Lay waste to the opposition, and help your side conquer all of China. There are different character designs and a new Renbu system to spice things up, but it's still Dynasty Warriors game to the very core. Which could be a good and bad thing . Warriors 6 takes place in Ancient China around…

Read the full review Dynasty Warriors 6