StarDrone Extreme is yet another PlayStation 3/PSN title to get a slight makeover for the PlayStation Vita, with included touch controls to take advantage of the handheld’s unique feature set. But is this version of StarDrone, extreme-ly pleasing?
Developer Demiurge has now released its first entirely original game called Shoot Many Robots for downloadable platforms. So has the studio that helped on titles like BioShock and Borderlands made something fun and exciting all on their own?
Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention continues the series’ trend of appearing first on consoles and later on portables, with its jump from PS3 to Vita. The praiseworthy port is good for first-time Disgaea players as well as fans who skipped its first PS3 entry (where it was subtitled Absence of Justice). With the Vita version packing in all of the downloadable content from the PS3 version as unlockable additions, Absence of Detention even has something to offer those who’ve already beaten this game.
From Software’s Armored Core series has been a console mainstay since the original game was released back in 1997 for the PS1. But don’t worry if you haven’t been keeping up to date, From Software decided that rather than continuing the story from AC4 that they would reboot the series and take the mecha franchise back to its roots.
Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted is yet another console fighting game that’s been ported to the PlayStation Vita. But unlike Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 or BlazBlue, Supremacy MMA takes a more technical, realistic approach to fighting in the form of Mixed Martial Arts. But is your Vita game money better spent on those arcadey fighters, or can Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted make then submit?
Do you like puzzles? How about perception based puzzles? Now I have your attention. Closure is a puzzle game that was originally developed for the website Newgrounds. Recently, the indie developer, Eyebrow Interactive, has created a version for release on the PSN with a bunch more levels. Is Closure just some cheap, internet time waster, or will it shine bright on the PSN? Find out after the jump.
The world of Naruto and his fellow ninjas is an expansive one, with over 800 episodes and chapters between the manga and anime. With its unique cast of characters and out of this world moves, the series has translated very well to video games. Enter developer CyberConnect2′s latest effort, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations. While the game does carry over a lot of what has made the series great, especially the Ninja Storm part of the series, there are some big changes in store this time around.
The Rayman series has always been noted for its traditionally strong gameplay design. From the original 2D Rayman, to the classic 3D platformer Rayman 2, to the return to its roots with Rayman Origins, the series has always stood out for its notable platforming and difficulty. Rayman 3, though, experimented with some different elements that didn’t work out as well as they could have for the game. A number of changes were made to the Rayman formula that differed far too much from the series’ approach to the genre and resulted in a platforming title that ended up being a solid game, but not quite as polished as other installments.
It’s been a few years since gamers last saw Raccoon City. The tables have turned, though, as instead of battling Umbrella, players will take to the battlefield as members of the infamous organization. With this new take on the series and changes behind the helm, this could have been a great change of pace for the series, yet sadly falls extremely short.
As I sit here and reflect on the time that I have spent with Ninja Gaiden 3, one word immediately comes to mind, disappointment. When Itagaki and the rest of Team Ninja rebooted the franchise for the original Xbox, I was blown away by the addictive combat and tight controls. Now I’m here, eight years later, left wishing they had stopped while they were ahead. Could Itagaki’s departure from Team Ninja be part of the reason Ninja Gaiden 3 has failed to live up to expectations? Possibly, but in the end it doesn’t change the fact that NG3 is an utter disappointment, delivering an incredibly unsatisfying experience that feels far too shallow and redundant.
You know that pro athlete who’s a real dynamo in the minor leagues, but only stays up with the big club for about a quarter of the season, cumulatively? Make that guy a video game, and he’s Sumioni. As a smartphone or tablet game, this would be some good stuff, but next to the Vita’s launch window, it’s hard to recommend this. Read More »
There have been 42 LEGO-based video games over the years, with 15 of those released or upcoming based outside the universe of LEGO, such as Batman or Pirates of the Caribbean. Whoever thought up the idea to combine the iconic children’s building blocks with equally iconic franchises such as these was a stroke of pure genius, as the games have largely been successful. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5 – 7 was released on current consoles last November, before the Vita was officially available in the states, and it has now made its way to the launch window of the veritable handheld. Is this a port worth your time, or should Harry and friends await a better game? We have the verdict in our review.
For gamers outside of Japan, it has been almost seven years since Namco Bandai last gave us a Tales game on a PlayStation console.. That has now changed with the release of Tales of Graces F, a port of a Wii game released back in 2009. Things haven’t changed much over the years in the Tales series, and that turns out to be both a blessing and a curse. Will a blast from the past be just what the doctor ordered? Or is this series in desperate need of a make-over?
When it comes to baseball games, your choices are limited. There’s the venerable The Show series (take a look at our PS3 and Vita reviews), and the long-running 2K series. While The Show is generally considered the superior game, MLB 2K was the first baseball series to introduce the innovative analog pitching system, and may have a few more tricks up its sleeves. But can this multiplatform game from 2K Sports dethrone longstanding King of the Diamond MLB: The Show? Let’s find out in this review.
Ridge Racer was one of the few games we reviewed as an import version, and my colleague Heath Hindman was not at all impressed with what the game offered. But with the US version having an extra four months of dev time, even missing the PlayStation Vita launch, I was hoping that Namco-Bandai went back to the drawing board, even for just a few minutes, to make some much needed improvements…
