June 2013

disneyinfinity

Ah, the toy box. It’s a magical swirl of figures and play sets, brought together by the power of your imagination. Wild stories are told, unheard-of rivalries are tested and logic is thrown out of the window. Disney Infinity tries to recreate this special place in the virtual space, while still giving you the physical pieces you need to clutter up your house. READ MORE

goodbyedeponia

Daedalic Entertainment released a number of point-and-click adventure games over the last couple years. By and large, they’ve all been well-received, though the premiere series to this point has been Deponia. Now, with Goodbye Deponia, the saga of noted anti-hero Rufus will come to an end. READ MORE

ngp_animalcrossing

I have a somewhat complex relationship with the Animal Crossing series. The GameCube title, simply known as Animal Crossing, remains one of my favorite games on that particular console. I even went back to it fairly recently and started a brand new town, to see just how far we’ve come with the franchise. It was still just as charming and deviously addictive as I remember it being, and before I knew it I had spent a good two weeks playing a game that, by all accounts, was completely outdated. I have a strong desire to call the experience magical, although doing so would result in me needing to slap myself across the face.

Instead, I’ll just say there’s something about Animal Crossing that inspires the need to keep going, even if I know the conclusion I will inevitably reach seems fruitless. It’s just a daily grind of sorts, something I find myself both loving and hating at the same time. It made me realize it’s one of the most mechanically perfect gaming experiences Nintendo has ever made.

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alcatraz1

1954 Alcatraz is more mature and “American” than most of Daedalic’s work; the game explores and embraces the social diversity of San Francisco, as well as the brutal, fight-ridden despair of prison. It has its whimsical moments, but it definitely shows its film noir influences.
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gu_identik1

A lot of party games ask players to test their artistic prowess while trying to get others to identify a word or phrase. From classic titles like Win, Lose or Draw and Pictionary to slightly more modern fare like Cranium variants, none of them endear themselves to those whose skills at putting words into images might be somewhat lacking. This hole is where Identik (originally known as Portrayal in its 2005 release) thrives. READ MORE