It’s easy to write off a sequel, even a big-name one, as just more of the same. And much of the time you’re right to do so. I enjoyed Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood immensely, but it legitimately felt like Assassin’s Creed 2, Part 2. Gears of War 3 certainly feels like a continuation of the story set down in the first two installments, but even taken alone it is a well-polished package full to the brim with well-executed content that, above all else, is fun and engaging to play. READ MORE
Driver is finally exactly what it needs to be – a game that is not trying to be Grand Theft Auto. Between Saint’s Row, Mafia, True Crime, Just Cause, and, well, Grand Theft Auto, the anti-hero sandbox landscape is fairly crowded. Ubisoft Reflections seems to have realized this and made a game that feels similar enough to feel familiar but is different enough that it is its own unique brand of fun. READ MORE
I grew up in a house full of Sierra adventure games. I led Roger Wilco in his quest to defeat the Sariens, I helped the Royal Family of Daventry defeat all manner of mystical creates, and when I got a bit older, I played through thrillers like Gabriel Knight and Phantasmagoria. And as soon as I found the instruction book and the PC moved into my room, I played through Leisure Suit Larry. It was familiar but aimed at an older audience. There was a focus on adult humor instead of adventure, and it was wonderful. Hector: Badge of Carnage carries on in the tradition of Leisure Suit Larry. It’s aimed at adults, the jokes have some raunch to them, and everything feels over-the-top without hurting the overall experience. READ MORE
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 is very obviously a game made for the cross-section of the gaming population that enjoys Gundam anime and Dynasty Warriors games. You’ll take your chosen character from one end of the board to the other, claiming squares along the way. Arrive at an unclaimed square and units loyal to your cause will pour out of it. Arrive at a square claimed by the opposition, however, and you’ll need to clear the area of enemies before claiming it as your own. READ MORE
It must be difficult to create games based on existing properties. If you tell a story that happens alongside the main tale, you end up with a game that feels a bit hollow no matter how fun it is because at the end of the day it’s the main characters who save the world (Lord of the Rings: The Third Age). If you retell a story that your audience already knows, you get criticized for retreading old ground (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith), and if you separate yourself from the main canon too much, your game had may as well be an IP all its own (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic). READ MORE
