:: games archives
[Games] I Came, I Saw, I Nuked
: A Review of Empire Earth II (Platform: PC)
by Nick Judin
May 4, 2005
Strategy games are a mixed bag. Some find them impossible to get into, others can’t stand the slow pace, and some just can’t get the tactics down. But when you become good at a well-made strategy game, you’re sure to have fun. One of the first things I noticed about “Empire Earth II” was the steep difficulty. It’s fairly simple to get used to the controls and modes, but the computer AI is unrelenting on any difficulty.
[Games] Not Even A Game: A Review of “Gran Turismo 4”
by Nick Judin
Image Courtesy of Sony
April 6, 2005
I’ve always enjoyed racing games. They’re fast-paced and easy to get into. The environments and cars are often beautiful, and they lack much of the baggage that other games have. But in spite of all this, racing seems to have a worse “good game” to “bad game” ratio than any other genre. And, why is that? No innovation perhaps? What makes “Gran Turismo 4” different from “Gran Turismo 3”? Or “Need for Speed 3” different from “Need for Speed 2”? There are a few graphical updates and a couple new cars. And if that’s really all you need, feel free to shell out $50 left and right for each boring new clone. People tend to buy the newest racing game regardless of what’s been added, so … the developers don’t add anything.
[Geek] Human Nature 101
A Review of "Faces of Mankind"
by Nick Judin
One of the most intriguing yet frustrating games I’ve ever played, "Faces of Mankind" is based on a concept that would crack up most developers: a completely player-run world. There are no admins to enforce the laws. There is no learning curve and helpful NPCs, and unless you have a good buddy or a streak of luck, nobody’s gonna hold your hand. FoM is, as of now, only for the hardcore.
[Geek] Touching Has Never Been So Good: A Review of The Nintendo DS
by Nick Judin
February 2, 2005
Over the years, Nintendo has never failed to deliver a great experience in a hand-held system. The DS is no different. With N64 quality graphics and sound, an inventive stylus control system and more than a few familiar games, the DS will be a force to be reckoned with. It also may become Nintendo’s last hope console-wise, considering the lag in sales for the Gamecube. The main thing that impressed me about the DS is that it really is “revolutionary.”
[Games] (Don’t) Think Like a Sniper
by Nick Judin
December 2, 2004
"JFK Reloaded." You may have heard about this game in the news, on the Internet or in the paper. You probably assumed it’s just another example of a violent video game in extremely bad taste. But it’s worse than that. There’s something very different about "JFK Reloaded," something that makes it bizarrely sinister.
4 [Games] What Went Wrong with Fable?
by Nick Judin
November 4, 2004
Fable. Even if you aren’t in with the video gaming culture, you’ve probably heard of Peter Molyneux’s most ambitious project to date. Years in the making, the idea behind Fable was to have a world that you completely shaped—you kill a man, 10 game-years later, his son returns for your head. Save a kid’s life, and he could return the favor one day. Plant a sapling as a boy, and when you’re a wizened old man, you can see that it’s grown. Unfortunately, Fable doesn’t accomplish this.
[Games] Innovation: A Review of Tales of Symphonia
by Nick Judin
September 30, 2004
When someone thinks of a Role Playing Game, they picture a group of characters with gravity-defying hair standing in a row waiting to take potshots at an equally outrageous group of enemies waiting across from them. Well, Tales of Symphonia includes most of that, but there is some variation on the tried-but-true RPG formula: the “Get-Attacked-While-U-Wait” approach has gone out the window.
But the most important part of an RPG is said to be its story. In ToS you take control of Lloyd Irving, not exactly an “epic” name for a character, who is a young boy with hair reminiscent of Cloud Strife mixed with Elvis Presley. You see, Lloyd is different from his friends. He has a special destiny. He is the … ah, you thought I was going to say the Chosen One, didn’t you? No, of course not. Lloyd isn’t the Chosen One.
[Games] Rap and Basketball
by Nick Judin
August 26, 2004
Have you ever had a really bad idea? I mean, ever had a quick thought and then slapped yourself for thinking it? That’s what those evil Midway executives did—only instead of slapping themselves, they tried to market it. I can see the meeting now.
Executive: Sir, I have a great idea. We’ll make a really crappy one-on-one basketball game, then give it a hip-hop theme and have it hosted by an MC with really bad teeth.
CEO: Brilliant! Make sure it’s done as shoddily as possible. Complete it by next we-
Secretary: Sir, we have Satan on line 2.
CEO: Has he completed the plan to resurrect Hitler, yet?
Secretary: No sir.
CEO: Then tell him not to call me back until he has!
[Games] Just Killing Time
A Review of "Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Game of the Year Editon" Platform: Xbox/PC
by Nick Judin
August 5, 2004
I usually review newer games, but after picking up a copy of “Morrowind: Game of the Year Edition,” I had to review it. I love this game. It’s in-depth, creative and innovative, and most of all, it’s totally freeform. You can go anywhere at any time. You are given specific missions, but the world is open to you. There are three “continents.” Each one contains a core quest, which the player is pushed towards constantly, and hundreds of varied quests, which have to be discovered and explored. The missions range from delivering a letter to killing a god. Likewise, the difficulty fluctuates greatly. Replay value is almost obsolete. You will be totally content without replaying anything.
[Games] More Fun Than a Barrel of Spiders
by Nick Judin
July 22, 2004
Let’s be honest—we’ve all wanted to be Spider-Man at some point or the other. Who wouldn’t want to be able to swing around New York and beat up thugs? Well, now you can. “Spider-Man 2” allows you to traverse the whole of Manhattan, as well as Roosevelt, Ellis and Liberty Islands. The buildings are all detailed to the bone, and there are NO loading times for simply exploring the map. The combat system allows several enemies to be fought at the same time, and features a wide variety of attacks and skills to be used. As an added bonus, Bruce Campbell, star of "The Evil Dead," plays the narrator.
[Games] A Third-Person Shooter
A Review of "Red Dead Revolver"
by Nick Judin
July 1, 2004
Never again will I laugh at the clichéd spaghetti westerns my uncle likes to watch. After playing "Red Dead Revolver," I think I might even start watching them myself. You take control of the bounty hunter Red, whose family was murdered by a group of outlaws. The game starts out as Red travels to a small town, somewhere in the West. He’s ambushed by a murderous group of banditos, though they soon realize what a mistake they’ve made. A few days later, all that’s left of the unfortunate marauders is being dragged in a cart to the local sheriff. From there out, the real story begins.
[Games] Where’s the Monk?
by Nick Judin
June 17, 2004
“Van Helsing—The Game” looks and feels like a medieval “Enter the Matrix” and plays like “Devil May Cry 2”—both of which flopped. Fortunately, it also manages to combine the good parts of the two (well-planned shooting sprees and superhuman powers) without the bad parts (glitches and monotony). Oh, and the graphics make me happy. All main enemies are well thought out, the areas are spooky and original, and the expressions on the faces of the characters are groundbreaking. Still, while the graphics are excellent, the sound leaves something to be desired. There is little music, and most of it is a bit bland.
::games recent comments
Sep 02, 2008Disaster: A Growth Industry
Walt: I bought the book Ronni. I haven't read it yet though.
Sep 02, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
Ronni M: Michael, Problem, reaction, solution is one thing; problems redefined as capitalist opportunities, solved by tearing out the guts of the very…
Sep 01, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
ladd: I have no idea what your first sentence is supposed to mean, but no matter.
Otherwise, it seems like…
Sep 01, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
Striker: @ladd, I wasn't going to bother answering this, but a 2nd nuisance e told me "enuf"! So I've unchecked the Notify box.
Sep 01, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
ladd: How do you know if you haven't read it, Striker?
Actually, Naomi Klein has an impressive track record with…
Sep 01, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
Striker: Another altruist on a campaign. Mostly opinion presented as fact. Not on my list.
Aug 31, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
Michael Harvill: This looks to be an amazingly educational read. Some have another phrase for it - Problem - Reaction - Solution.
Aug 29, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
gwilly: I haven't read the book but your review, Ronni, makes it sound like a must read. While I am not ready to…
Aug 28, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
Ronni M: Walt, surreal is an excellent description. This book is scary, mostly because it makes such good sense. You might not agree…
Aug 28, 2008
Disaster: A Growth Industry
Walt: I gotta buy and read this, too. Sounds surreal, though!