Reviews written by Steven McGehee
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Xbox 360
Metro 2033
| Overall rating: | 8.6 | |
| Gameplay: | 8.0 | |
| Presentation: | 9.0 | |
| Value : | 9.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 9.0 | |
| Tilt: | 8.0 |
Get on board Metro 2033. It's not been heavily advertised but it's a great game, and my early pick for sleeper hit of the year. Hats off to 4A Games on a job well done.
Videogames
| Gameplay | Great atmosphere, setting, characters, and a good story. Perhaps a bit too much of which was crammed into this one experience though, as a lot of story elements don't get explained and questions remain -- something DLC or a sequel will likely take care of. That said, overall a great game, but I did have a few instances of questionable game design (see above). It does manage to combine FPS, RPG, and Survival Horror and even Stealth somewhat -- but by far the most apparent of these is FPS. |
| Presentation | The 4A Engine looks great, I was impressed with technical power and art direction of the game, although there was some minor clipping. The sound department did a good job as well. It's worth pointing out that load times are all very short, especially when you're loading off of a checkpoint (as opposed to loading a new level). |
| Value | Took me about twelve hours, maybe a bit longer on Normal, and being about as thorough in exploring the game world as I could. There is an alternate ending, although it's one that is built up throughout the game and is not as clear cut as choosing option A or B. DLC is surely on the way, as the game was recently patched to add support for it, and there are definitely many more stories to be told in Metro's universe. |
| Fun Factor | Highly enjoyable. It's easy to sit and play for hours at a time, so it may not take you more than two or three sittings to complete, but there's reason to go back and it's a hell of a good time going through. |
PlayStation Portable
Metal Slug XX
| Overall rating: | 6.6 | |
| Gameplay: | 7.0 | |
| Presentation: | 7.0 | |
| Value : | 6.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 6.0 | |
| Tilt: | 7.0 |
Metal Slug XX is a textbook entry to the series. The familiar terrain is nice, but it may leave some unsatisfied. Coupled with the lack of online play, you might not get a lot of mileage out of this one.
Videogames
| Gameplay | Classic Metal Slug -- tough, 2D side scrolling action, best played with a friend. The Main Mission is fun, but short and doesn't offer a great deal of replay value leaving to you to the drills in the Combat School and co-op with a local friend. |
| Presentation | The same art style and sound package the series is known for, no complaints. |
| Value | A good buy for long time fans of the series, but without online enabled play, it definitely hurts the replay value here. |
| Fun Factor | A fun game, sure, but it just doesn't last long. The optional challenge drills can be a decent distraction for a while but this is still ultimately and arcade game -- tough, and short. |
Blu-Ray
Breaking Bad Season 2
| Overall rating: | 8.3 | |
| The Film/Show: | 9.0 | |
| Presentation: | 8.0 | |
| Extra Features: | 8.0 | |
| Tilt: | 8.0 |
Breaking Bad Season 2 on Blu-ray is a good solid release that should please fans.
Movies
| The Film/Show | High intensity drama to be sure. Well written and well acted, but built in such a way that repeated viewings are difficult -- not unlike other popular drama shows, but it may make this a rental other than a purchase for the more casual fan. |
| Presentation | The presentation is good with a crisp picture and good sound. Some areas have grain, but not many, and I believe these were done intentionally by the director. As for the audio, I found it quiet for some reason and I had to turn up the volume more so than other shows. |
| Extra Features | Quite a few extras, most worth just a watch or two. |
PC
Hotel Giant 2
| Overall rating: | 6.0 | |
| Gameplay: | 7.0 | |
| Presentation: | 7.0 | |
| Value : | 6.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 4.0 | |
| Tilt: | 6.0 |
You've got to be a fan of the genre, and even more specifically, the goal of the game (create and maintain hotels) to enjoy this. Otherwise, it's easy to let the weight of so much micro-management and tedious gameplay overwhelm you. If you're into these types of heavy management and sim games, Nobilis has put together a potentially compelling package for you at a good price.
Videogames
| Gameplay | Hotel management from the ground up. I thought Nobilis did a nice job with all of the available cities, hotel types, facilities and objects, as well as giving the player a variety of options to learn about the business and their success via reports and other detail. A fifteen scenario campaign and random game mode will keep players busy for a long time, if they can get into the gameplay (the biggest hurdle). |
| Presentation | Graphically, not bad and the sounds are fine. You don't go into this type of game expecting an outstanding presentation, but you do expect a competent, technically sound and satisfying presentation and that's what I found here. |
| Value | $20 is a fair price, but only assuming you're into the game. If you like The Sims, that's a step in the right direction, but if you don't like what Hotel Giant 2 has to offer, you'll be done in no time. Sure, the same can be said for any game, but Hotel Giant 2 is particularly niche -- it's all about building and maintaining the best hotel you can, and lets face it, that is tedious work. |
| Fun Factor | I just couldn't get into and found it really hard to play for more than half hour spurts of play. I just thought there was too much micromangement going on and to be frank, I didn't really feel attached or captivated by the crux of the game -- making my hotel the best it could be. |
PlayStation 3
Last Rebellion
| Overall rating: | 7.4 | |
| Gameplay: | 7.0 | |
| Presentation: | 7.0 | |
| Value : | 7.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 8.0 | |
| Tilt: | 8.0 |
Last Rebellion doesn't raise the bar for JRPGs, but it does what it does very well. I had a lot of fun playing through it and I can happily recommend that anyone interested in JRPGs, hardcore or newcomer alike, should give it a look.
Videogames
| Gameplay | A good JRPG. I thought the characters and story were interesting, I liked the battle system, and there are a bunch of spells and items to find. It is however a linear game, although you can free roam to level grind if you want. There also aren't that many NPCs and no side quests. And -- some where around the halfway point of the game I found it got too easy and I thought the difficulty could have been stepped up a notch or two. |
| Presentation | The graphics aren't going to blow you away, but there are some nice animations and a lot of good color use throughout the game world. Voice overs, the score, and effects get the job done. |
| Value | I got a solid thirteen to fourteen hours of play out of this one and had a lot of fun throughout. There is no reason to play through again or any kind of online mode (nor any indications of DLC support), but it was fun. You can get this brand new for less than $50 too, so keep that in mind. |
| Fun Factor | Last Rebellion was fun and I found myself playing for hours at a time. I don't plan to re-play it, but it was very enjoyable. |
Blu-Ray
Ninja
| Overall rating: | 5.3 | |
| The Film/Show: | 6.0 | |
| Presentation: | 8.0 | |
| Extra Features: | 2.0 | |
| Tilt: | 5.0 |
Ninja is worth a rent, but it's hard to recommend an outright purchase. Action film fans and anyone who likes ninjas (just about every dude out there, right?) should give it a look.
Movies
| The Film/Show | A decent action film with some good fight scenes but only a mediocre story to support it. Acting is okay, but you'll find yourself rolling your eyes at a lot of the script and at the numerous cliched themes. If not for the well choreographed fight scenes, Ninja would be far, far worse. |
| Presentation | Solid image and sound quality from a technical standpoint, but I had some issues with the direction of the film in regards to the visuals. Did I mention I like the box art? |
| Extra Features | None really, unless you count three trailers in SD. |
Xbox 360
Borderlands DLC #3: The Secret Armory of General K
| Overall rating: | 8.4 | |
| Gameplay: | 8.0 | |
| Presentation: | 8.0 | |
| Value : | 9.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 8.0 | |
| Tilt: | 9.0 |
No Borderlands fan should be without The Secret Armory of General Knoxx.
Videogames
| Gameplay | Picks up from the end of original game and includes a lot of new features like an increased level cap, some new weapons, new enemies, a few dozen new quests, and new vehicles. |
| Presentation | Has the same slick look and sound we've come to know from Borderlands. |
| Value | For $9.99, veteran Borderlands players will find a lot to enjoy here. |
| Fun Factor | Better with friends of course, but fun regardless. |
| Tilt | The best DLC for this game yet. |
Xbox 360
Greed Corp
| Overall rating: | 8.2 | |
| Gameplay: | 8.0 | |
| Presentation: | 7.0 | |
| Value : | 9.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 8.0 | |
| Tilt: | 9.0 |
W!Games has a fantastic turn based title on their hands that I'd recommend to casual and hardcore fans of the genre alike.
Videogames
| Gameplay | Wonderfully designed turn based strategy game that's accessible (after a brief learning curve), addictive, and fun. A good campaign is complimented by custom local and online matches and tons of maps. |
| Presentation | I thought the tutorial could have been a little better as far as that goes, but graphically it features some nice animations, smooth framerates, and an overall pleasant look. The HUD is nicely laid out and informative. Good sound effects and a surprising, but ultimately agreeable, soundtrack. |
| Value | There's an awful lot of gameplay here for $10. A strong campaign plus online and local play on a variety of maps packs a punch that will last many hours, assuming of course you can get into W!Games' turn based vision (which I think even casual turn based fans like me will). |
| Fun Factor | There's nothing quite like losing in the final moments to keep your attitude in check, but then again pulling out an unlikely victory is very satisfying and rewarding. But generally speaking, the pacing and the addictive power of Greed Corp says a lot about how fun it is to play. |
General Accessories
AblePlanet NC300B
| Overall rating: | 8.5 | |
| Design: | 9.0 | |
| Functionality: | 8.0 | |
| Value: | 9.0 | |
| Tilt: | 8.0 |
I've enjoyed using the NC300B headphones from AblePlanet and recommend them for anyone looking to get some good active noise canceling headphones without breaking the bank.
Accessories
| Design | Well built, very comfortable, and they look great. I love the detachable cord, the include airline adapter, and the sturdy shell case. |
| Functionality | They're not the best at noise cancellation, but they do pretty darn good for the price. Being used to non-noise cancelling headphones, these were definitely a step up in terms of keeping unwanted noises out, but these do leak a significant amount of audio out from the ear cups. Depending on your needs and usage, it's a consideration to keep in mind in that these can readily disturb others if the environment is quiet enough. |
| Value | These list for about $130, they're apparently $99 on the manufacturer's website, and Amazon has them even cheaper than that. The price is very reasonable for what you get. |
PlayStation 3
Aliens Vs Predator
| Overall rating: | 7.0 | |
| Gameplay: | 7.0 | |
| Presentation: | 7.0 | |
| Value : | 7.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 7.0 | |
| Tilt: | 7.0 |
It's good to see the franchise back and I like that Rebellion is at the helm. Overall, the multiplayer takes center stage here and what's left is a mediocre campaign at best. My recommendation is a weekend rental -- get through the campaign in a sitting or two and then spend several hours with multiplayer to see if this one is worth your gaming dollar.
Videogames
| Gameplay | Three campaigns with the different species is nice (and expected), but all three campaigns are short and ultimately a letdown due to a variety of design choices and lackluster execution. Of course, the multiplayer component is the meat of this game and I thought Rebellion did pretty well with it. Some cool modes, support for 16+ players, and a handful of fun maps gets things going. While it's still fairly new and I've only put a few hours into online play, I have had no technical issues and haven't had any significant trouble finding people to play with. |
| Presentation | Rebellion captured the look and sound from the films, but I still felt largely uninspired by what I experienced. In other words, what you'll see and hear is okay, good even, but I was never truly impressed. On the other hand, certain elements of the presentation were disagreeable, like the repetitive dialogue from NPCs. |
| Value | You'll blow through the entire campaign on Normal is under ten hours, with only other difficulty levels and a collectible item per species to find if you really want to explore every nook of the game world. It's up to the multiplayer to really hold your attention. The multiplayer itself isn't bad, but five maps may burn out some players pretty quickly. You can bet DLC is on the way, but it's unlikely to be free. |
| Fun Factor | The campaigns are quick, relatively painless, and moderately enjoyable. To me, they didn't out do what Monolith did back several years ago with AvP 2. The multiplayer on the other hand is fun. When I tire of one mode, there's usually at least one or two other game modes I'm interested in playing, so it works out well. |
PlayStation 3
Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce
| Overall rating: | 7.0 | |
| Gameplay: | 7.0 | |
| Presentation: | 6.0 | |
| Value : | 8.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 7.0 | |
| Tilt: | 7.0 |
I've had more fun with Strikeforce on the PS3 than I've ever had with the Dynasty Warriors franchise. To me, the series was stale until now, and while not without its problems, Strikeforce moves Dynasty Warriors back into the realm of relevance.
Videogames
| Gameplay | The freshest Dynasty Warriors in years; a lot of new gameplay elements that should please long time fans and attract newcomers. The online cooperative play is especially compelling, although not perfect. I'm impressed with the amount of Officer customization too. Despite the new, positive features, the game still suffers from some old issues including camera problems and repetition, amongst others. |
| Presentation | I really didn't care for the techno music soundtrack and the graphics aren't compelling at all. A variety of technical issues combined with mostly unappealing level design and textures left me uninspired. |
| Value | There's a whole lot of gameplay here for $50 or less. Some 200 quests and forty playable characters, not to mention three separate campaigns and online play means that you could be playing this one for a long time. |
| Fun Factor | Not a game I can play for long stretches, but, it's fun for an hour or two at a time. It's interesting and rewarding enough to keep coming back. |
Blu-Ray
Halo Legends
| Overall rating: | 7.5 | |
| The Film/Show: | 8.0 | |
| Presentation: | 8.0 | |
| Extra Features: | 7.0 | |
| Tilt: | 7.0 |
Halo Legends is a solid release that even casual fans of Halo should check out.
Movies
| The Film/Show | Japanese animation studios take on the Halo universe and provide some great looking episodes, most of which have interesting stories, too. For someone who isn't all that into Halo, these episodes explained a lot and they were entertaining. |
| Presentation | From the box art to the menus to the quality and variety of the animation styles, great stuff. The audio is good as well. |
| Extra Features | Several extra features, in HD, give Halo fans more to chew on. |
iPhone
Space Miner: Space Ore Bust
| Overall rating: | 8.2 | |
| Gameplay: | 8.0 | |
| Presentation: | 8.0 | |
| Value : | 8.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 8.0 | |
| Tilt: | 9.0 |
Venan Arcade has struck gold with Space Miner: Space Ore Bust. I really enjoyed it and would love to see a sequel in the future.
Videogames
| Gameplay | A simple, funny story with neat characters set against an arcade space shooter with an accessible RPG element. It's a potent blend and I think Venan did well with it. The RPG and difficulty are on the lite side, but on the iPhone it works well. |
| Presentation | Smooth graphics with a variety of asteroids and enemy drones and colors and so forth. The soundtrack and effects are very good too. |
| Value | I got eight or nine hours out of this game. I didn't earn all of the in game achievements, but I did 100% every sector and had a great time doing it. Well worth the money. |
| Fun Factor | It's hard to put down once you get going. The game is very accessible and is also addictive and rewarding enough to keep you going. |
Blu-Ray
The Running Man
| Overall rating: | 6.3 | |
| The Film/Show: | 7.0 | |
| Presentation: | 7.0 | |
| Extra Features: | 4.0 | |
| Tilt: | 7.0 |
The Running Man on Blu-ray is an overall good release that's available at a great price online currently. It's worth a rental at least, if not outright purchase.
Movies
| The Film/Show | Good Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi action film with replay value. It's a bit cheesy, but it's an entertaining film. |
| Presentation | Surprisingly good video quality and a solid DTS-HD 7.1 audio track. |
| Extra Features | The audio commentaries are welcomed, but the other two features have little to nothing to do with the movie and are forgettable. |
Blu-Ray
Universal Soldier: The Return
| Overall rating: | 4.5 | |
| The Film/Show: | 2.0 | |
| Presentation: | 7.0 | |
| Extra Features: | 5.0 | |
| Tilt: | 4.0 |
For hardcore JCVD or Universal Soldier fans only.
Movies
| The Film/Show | Easily the worst of the Universal Soldier series, and just a really bad action sci-fi film in general. |
| Presentation | Not bad; good video and audio quality. Nothing outstanding, but clearly HD. |
| Extra Features | The same features from the previous DVD release. Worth a once over at best. |
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