Reviews of Recent Games
PC
-
Crysis
My Rating: 7 / 10
This game has excellent graphics along with good game play mechanics. The environment you play in is huge and open, allowing for a variety of actions. Likewise, the AI is more realistic, leading to a variety of tactics that can be employed. However, the story behind the game is just standard Sci-Fi shooter fare, not very interesting, surprising or inspiring. Further, while the environment is open, it is quite repetitive and becomes bland over time. Finally, the weapons tend to be of the same variety (standard projectile), where something like a flamethrower would have been handy, especially given the setting and story.
-
Sim City Societies
My Rating: 4 / 10
The latest in the line of Sim City games, however we have now gone from city planning to 'societal' planning. No longer do we have to worry about land value appreciation, tax rates, C-R-I balance, utilities, etc, but instead need to build up features such as 'Creativity' or 'Authority', to unlock new buildings. While I truly appreciate the graphics and artistry, this game just continues the 'dumbing' down of the series. The ease of the game along with a lack of appreciable end game achievement, such as special unique buildings that actually do something, takes away any sense of accomplishment or uniqueness. If you want to play a good Sim City, find a copy of the first few. Otherwise, this game is decent for people who don't want to think too hard about city design, but still want to build a city.
Xbox 360
-
Mass Effect
My Rating: 9.5 / 10
A spiritual successor to the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series, but also bringing in new and unique elements Instead of a turn based, melee oriented combat system, a more FPS type combat system gives game play a much more fluid feel, along with a sense that skill rather than luck plays an important part. Visuals and character models are stunning, The story is good, not great, but can be forgiven for the rich universe surrounding it along with the multiple narrative paths that can be taken. This makes replay value high, especially given bonuses for achievements and New Game+ option. A few minor complaints. One, all the 'uncharted' planets look basically the same with different color palettes, all rocky and bumpy with high cliffs and mountains. Please, take a look at the Earth, Mars and the Moon, there is as much flat land, rolling hills as is mountainous terrain and they are not all bunched together in small area. Second, a suspension of disbelief issue... how is it that nodding the head means yes and shaking it means no universally?
Wii
-
Super Mario Galaxy
My Rating: 9 / 10
What's to say? It's Mario! The long awaited successor to Mario 64 is the standard Beat Bowser - Save the Princess fare we've come to know and love. All the classics are there, Goombas, Koopas, plus a few new ones. Very much like its predecessor, there are multiple worlds and environments that must be explored and defeated to collect stars, that in turn unlock further worlds until you meet and defeat Bowser. The means for traveling to the different worlds in this instance is much better than before plus the graphics are superb. I know many will say "What do you mean, superb graphics? It's standard Mario!", but they are crisp, clear, smooth and near perfect for what they are meant to be, a fun Mario game. The only flaw is that with some of the convoluted maneuvers one must make plus the controls often changing during mid maneuver, even the nimblest of thumbs may have trouble keeping up.
Current Games I Play
- Halo 3
- Mass Effect
- Super Mario Galaxy
- Crysis
- Gears of War
- Dark Age of Camleot
Gaming ID's
- Xbox LIVE ID: PhillipEinstein
- PC: PhiOmega
- Wii Friend Code: 4415-2227-6995-6025
Perennial Favorites
- Aliens v Predators 2
- Command and Conquer
- Final Fantasy
- Mechwarrior
- Mechcommander
- Might and Magic
- Mario
- Zelda
- Armored Core
- Twisted Metal
- Afterlife
