Released May 17, 2011 for 360, May 18, 2011 for PC, June 5, 2011 for PS3
"A war away from war."
Zion, a valley plagued, not by nuclear fallout, but by man, religion, and war. Utah's Zion National Park is now home to barely civilized tribes of which can only speak fragments of English. It's here that the courier finds himself amidst a brutal tribal war in Fallout: New Vegas' latest expansion; Honest Hearts.
Joshua Graham, who is repeatedly mentioned in New Vegas as a proverbial boogeyman of the wastes, tells of the imminent war between his tribe, the Dead Horses, and the savage White Legs. It's a war Graham must help the Dead Horses fight in order to atone for his sins against God, sins committed as Ceasar's once trusted legate. It's up to the courier to decide how he will deal with the battles within Zion to not only preserve the well-being of the tribes but to make it safely back to the Mojave and consummate his own war at Hoover Dam.
Honest Hearts is an intriguing look into how a part of the Fallout world, seemingly insignificant, mimics the war, greed, and pride displayed everywhere else in the wastes. It tells a great story and brings dynamic characters such as the God-willed Joshua Graham to life.
If New Vegas players passed up Dead Money because of its linearity, be content as Honest Hearts brings back much of the unhindered exploration omitted by the last add-on. New areas, weapons, armor, allies, and quests lie in wait in the heart of Zion. (Not to mention every major NPC's weapons and armor will be given to the courier upon departure of the valley.)
There are to two things that impede this otherwise brilliant add-on. Unlike Dead Money, Honest Hearts suffers major slow down and freezes as the main game does. Honest Hearts is also rather short. It can be completed in just about two hours. (although the gameplay will definitely vary as to how much exploration of Zion the player actually does.)
Honest Hearts is a definite improvement on Dead Money and while the experience may not last too long, those looking to recreate their New Vegas experience under a more solemn semblance; Zion awaits.
Details -
Genre: First Person Shooter, RPG, Third Person Shooter
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs)
Released December 21, 2010 for the Xbox 360, February 22, 2011 for the Playstation 3 & PC
"Should we even 'begin' at all?"
Dead Money is the first of five DLC add-ons coming to New Vegas which will broaden the adventures of the Courier and expand on the lore of both the Mojave Wasteland and the Fallout universe. Dead Money offers the player a couple more hours of gameplay, an increased level cap, and an intriguing back story but falls short in actual gameplay.
A few seconds after downloading the add-on, a mysterious radio signal is picked and a provocative female voice describes a luxurious casino where people can "Begin Again". The player will head to an abandoned Brotherhood of Steel bunker where you will be wisped away to the Sierra Madre. You will then be forced to perform a heist of the century as you team up with three other unfortunate souls as you attempt to open the doors of the Sierre Madre casino or else die in the process.
The first thing you will notice about Dead Money is that the hue filter has been switched from the New Vegas orange to a blood red haze. At first it's a cool effect but soon the red cloud will impair your vision making it harder to see traps and enemies even when you aren't in the middle of the health deteriorating red fog. The graphics and animations retain the same mediocre look as they did back in the Mojave.
The sound on the other hand works perfectly in Dead Money. The music is appropriately eerie and sad which gave me chills when venturing through the equally eerie Villa. The song "Begin Again" performed by in-game character Vera Keyes is incredibly heart felt and leaves the player with a mournful disposition considering her fate within the Sierre Madre.
The voice acting is top notch especially from the performances of the greedy and prideful Dean Domino and the self-embattled Dog. The sound effects of the holograms' hostility turn is dreadful and will send you running off for cover.
Compared to New Vegas, Dead Money is very linear and doesn't offer or even encourage any exploration whatsoever. The missions consist of b-lines to one area then back then to another area then back and repeat. There aren't even much items to discover or scavenge throughout your journey. The lack of exploration is a shame seeing as how the Villa and Sierra Madre are such fantastic and story driven areas and once the add-on is over returning is an impossibility.
Dead Money consists of traps, traps, and even more traps. It's not likely you'll spend much time fighting but rather crouching on the ground disengaging bear traps or trying to eliminate a deadly signal that could trigger your premature death. It is fun for awhile but the lack of gameplay variety and the great amount of time you'll be spending looking out for traps just becomes much too tedious to remain fun.
If it weren't for the multiple endings, Dead Money would have absolutely no replay value. The endings still pale in comparison to New Vegas as the endings depend on how well you cooperated with your allies. However, with one strategically placed save file, one could see both endings if they don't want to start their New Vegas game all over again.
Dead Money doesn't offer any new gameplay that can't already be experienced in New Vegas. The backstory, however, is incredibly deep and the unearthly atmosphere is a must experience for any Fallout fan. It's also important to note that the entire add-on embraces a stealthy and diplomatic approach to completing the missions as you'll spend the entire time sifting the ground for any traps and running away from seemingly immortal enemies. If you're looking forward to an impressive story and a lot of stealth then Dead Money is for you but I predict even diehard fans of New Vegas will find themselves limited with this premiere add-on.
Details -
Genre: First Person Shooter, RPG, Third Person Shooter
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs)
for the WiiWare, Playstation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade
Released October 11th, 2010
Sonic's back! . . . kind of:
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is Sega's attempt to wipeout Sonic's tarnished reputation as a video game character and bring him back to his glory days back on the Genesis. While I cannot say that they have truly brought the glory back to Sonic, I can say that Sega has succeeded in making a Sonic game that isn't terrible.
Graphics:
The graphics are appropriate for a game that is trying to blend the old with the new. The graphics are definitely not bad but nothing really stands out either. The background scenery, enemies, and Robotnik's ship are designed to bring nostalgia back to the player and it indeed does.
Sound:
The old Genesis Sonic sounds are back! The rings, the tv boxes, and the chimes of the intro theme all bring the player back to the good ol' days. The music is cheesy at best. The tunes that seem catchy at first quickly wear out their welcome. It makes me wish Michael Jackson were still alive in hopes of creating a soundtrack on par with Sonic 3 but alas one can only dream.
Controls:
Controls are simple. Running fast. Very fast. Jumping. Spin dashing. They're all included once again. A homing attack has been added which takes nothing away from the game but rather helps out in certain situations and to rack up points.
Lasting Appeal:
The games is very short. Just going through and beating the levels shouldn't take you much more than 3 hours. Collecting the chaos emeralds perhaps brings the total time to about 5 hours. Once you've done everything there isn't much else to do except to try to beat each level as fast as you can in hopes of making the leaderboards but the absent of any extras or minigames makes the replaying Sonic 4 pointless.
Final Cutter:
Underneath the heavy critique lies the same platforming game that I fell in love with almost 20 years ago. The game isn't "party out with all my friends" fun. It's the same sort of fun that you had sitting front of your tv, making a chubby blue hedgehog run as fast he can, collecting as many rings as you can, earning as many chaos emeralds as you can, and and thwarting Dr. Robotnik's master plan as awesome as you can. Sonic 4 isn't just a sequel it's a blast to the past. It may not live up to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and it may not be the greatest platformer ever but it's good enough to be considered a true sequel to all those Genesis games that helped create an icon.
Details -
Genre: Side-Scroller, Platformer
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone (Comic Mischief)
Player Options: 1-Player
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Curve: Pick-Up-And-Go
Stats -
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 3 /5
Controls: 4/5
Lasting Appeal: 1/5
Fun: 4/5
24 Hit-Combo
Decent
Quick Review:
Kirby's Epic Yarn
Developed by Hal Laboratory and Good-Feel
Published by Nintendo
for the Nintendo Wii
Released October 17th, 2010
As great as it is adorable:
Kirby's back in a brand new adventure that's as fun as it is adorable. If great platforming and co-op are what you're looking for, look no further than one of the Wii's best game of 2010.
Graphics:
The thread style graphics of Epic Yarn are beautiful. Adorable is probably a word I'm going to use a lot in this review but it's appropriate. Epic Yarn is an example of creativity and innovation making up for a lack in graphical power.
Sound:
Kirby and Prince Fluff's grunts are overly cute as is the narrator who tells the story of the game as if he's reading a bedtime story to his young daughter. The music is cheery. While there are a few good songs in the game, a lot of it will be forgotten.
Controls:
Nothing about this game sucks especially Kirby. Kirby's signature sucking move is absent only to be replaced with a whip that you use to destroy your enemies (or your partner, however, you decide to play). You and your partner, during certain parts, turn into ufos, tanks, and other machines or gadgets to rack up as many jewels as possible. Speaking of jewels, the entire goal isn't to beat the level, but to beat it with as many jewels as possible. You can't die, you can only lose the jewels you feverishly collected (which could end up with some colorful commentary between you and your partner).
Lasting Appeal:
It'll take you perhaps six to eight hours to beat the game but getting 100% will take you a little longer. Besides getting 100%, you can take pictures, and decorate your apartment to your liking. None of these really add much to the experience but they are pretty fun time wasters.
Final Cutter:
If you play with a friend, Kirby's Epic Yarn is a cooperative gem. You're guaranteed a great run every time you put in the game. If you're a Wii owner and don't have Epic Yarn in your library, you ought to be ashamed
Details -
Genre: Side-Scroller, Platformer
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone (Mild Cartoon Violence)
Player Options: 1-Player, 2-Player (recommended)
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Curve: Pick-Up-And-Go
Stats -
Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 4/5
Controls: 5/5
Lasting Appeal: 4/5
Fun: 5/5
33 Hit-Combo!!!
Amazing!!
Quick Review:
Vanquish
Developed by Platinum Games
Published by Sega
for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3
Released October 19th, 2010
A linear adrenaline rush:
From the mind of Shinji Mikami, the man who brought the world Resident Evil and Viewtiful Joe, and the team that responsible for Bayonetta comes an extreme-paced sci-fi shooter that gives the player mass amounts of animated testosterone.
Graphics:
The fast paced action flows well and looks great. It's amazing how much stuff can be on the screen at the same time without the game stalling.
Sound:
The voice acting is pulled off pretty well and the sound of firing weapons and exploding robots are satisfying. The music is generic and forgettable and often gives way to the sfx of the battle field.
Controls:
The controls work well and allow you to quickly maneuver Sam Gideon through hordes of evil Russian robots. The main complaint here is that it's hard to aim while boosting across the battlefield. If the camera isn't positioned in the right place, boosting forward while aiming backwards will make you slide in the opposite direction of where you're headed.
Lasting Appeal:
The game is fairly short and there is not much to do after you beat it. You can beat your old scores in each mission, complete challenges, or play on God Hard mode. It isn't anything special from what other games offer and it shouldn't take too long to complete.
Final Cutter:
After playing Bayonetta and MadWorld, Vanquish seems pretty tame. It may not be fair to compare it to these games but I feel it should have been more outrageous. Vanquish seems very linear in its gameplay and offers little on-screen button command scenes. It's a fun game but you'll soon find the it gets repetive after a few acts. Vanquish is an example of game holding back, not with its visuals, but with its gameplay.
Details -
Genre: Third Person Shooter
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language)
Player Options: 1-Player
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Curve: 30 Minutes
Stats -
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 3/5
Controls: 4/5
Lasting Appeal: 2/5
Fun: 3/5
24 Hit-Combo
Decent
Quick Review:
Fallout: New Vegas
Developed by Obsidian Entertainment
Published by Bethesda Softworks
for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC
Released October 19th, 2010
A new skin for Fallout 3 has arrived:
Fallout 3 is one of the greatest games of this generation which quickly made New Vegas one of the most anticipated games of 2010. Despite all the accolades, Fallout 3 did have its fair share of flaws and New Vegas is no exception. New Vegas is covered in glitches and flaws that at times overshadow this otherwise solid and massive rpg.
Graphics:
New Vegas isn't the most visually appealing games out there. The scenery looks great from afar but up close everything appears blurry and outdated. The animations are hilariously and unrealisticly awful. Due to the sheer mass of New Vegas, the graphics were unfortunately compromised.
Sound:
New Vegas has a better variety of voice acting than F3 did but it still sounds very monotone and uninspired. Gunshots sound like gunshots and footsteps sound like footsteps. The background music is eerie which suits the post-apocalypse Mojave desert. The music played on the different radio stations further emphasized the futuristic-vintage theme of the game. There's nothing cooler than taking the head off a raider with Marty Robbin's Big Iron blasting through your Pip-Boy.
Controls:
The controls feel pretty smooth. There's nothing horribly confusing about the set-up without a little getting used to. You may find some trouble jumping and trying to get out of awkward places such as being stuck between some debris. At times, the VATS won't work. A quick fix is to simply reload the file. However, this appears to be more of a glitch problem than a control issue.
Lasting Appeal:
New Vegas is bigger than Fallout 3 as there are more missions to complete, more areas to discover, and more factions to befriend or massacre. Completing everything in New Vegas is a task that will keep you traversing the Mojave Wasteland for months to come.
Final Cutter:
A definite gamebreaker for New Vegas are the incredible number of glitches you will undoubtedly encounter throughout your journey. Some of these are harmless but annoying mishaps such as one of your allies disappearing. But some of these glitches can greatly damage the player's experience. These include the disabling of buttons, NPCs who are vital to a quest suddenly getting buried underground, and the constant freezing of the game. The game is definitely good as there's just so much to get into but there's a limit to how much glitches will stop being annoying and actuality force you to put down the controller and rethink playing again.
Details -
Genre: First Person Shooter, RPG, Third Person Shooter
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs)
Player Options: 1-Player
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Curve: 30 Minutes
Stats -
Graphics: 2/5
Sound: 3/5
Controls: 4/5
Lasting Appeal: 5/5
Fun: 3/5
25 Hit-Combo!
Solid
Quick Review:
DJ Hero 2
Developed by FreeStyle Games
Published by Activision
for the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3
Released October 19th, 2010
Play it again, Mr. DJ!:
After a year, DJ Hero is back with improved gameplay mechanics, more in-depth multiplayer, and a plethora of ear-pleasing new remixes that will keep you scratching and mixing for awhile.
Graphics:
The characters models are much less impressive than the environments. Activision has been known for creating hideous looking characters in the Guitar Hero series and the ugly has certainly transferred over to the DJ Hero series. The venues, on the other hand, are gorgeous. The lighting and camera movements dance in perfect sync with the music. The animations of the DJ track board, although subtle, also look good.
Sound:
Needless to say, the sound is great. As in the first game, you will find mixes never before heard. While the quality of the mixes vary from person to person, I find that there are much more good ones than awful ones. Glad to say there are no DJ Yoda Tutti Frutti/Beats caliber of noise mess mixes as in the first game. The addition of the freestyle crossfading sections are a welcomed addition. The random sample sets given to you at the beginning of each song in the first DJ Hero have been replaced with sample sets from the actual song for a more authentic sound. So no longer will we be forced to hear "YEEEEAAAAAAH BOOOOOYYYY!" every twenty seconds in a mix.
Controls:
The game plays the same as DJ Hero did with the exception of a few minor tweaks. We now have freestyle crossfader sections, and stream button sustains. These add much more variety and difficulty to an already complex gameplay style. DJ Hero 2, however, does not suffer from the complexity of the gameplay but rather offers a great and unique experience in exchange for a high learning curve.
Lasting Appeal:
The most dissappointing aspect of DJ Hero 2 is the fact that you cannot transfer the songs from the first game into the second game much like how Rock Band offers. The game does offer the player to play any downloadable content that was purchased before the release of DJ Hero 2 (although the player must download a free add-on to do so). The multiplayer offers different modes to enjoy with friends and family. Battle modes such as Checkpoint and score battling are entertaining. The replacement of guitars with vocal modes are much more appropriate and allows for a much more casual experience.
Final Cutter:
DJ Hero 2 is an addicting game that reminds me of how I felt a the beginning of the Guitar Hero era. It's something fresh and new. By playing through Empire mode you wonder what awesome mixes are coming up, what new items for your avatar will be unlocked, or which famous or fictional DJ will you have to go up against. The game is a blast by yourself or with friends and is surely enough to keep anyone content until the next DJ Hero hits shelves.
Details -
Genre: Music/Rhythm
ESRB: Rating: T for Teen (Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes)
Player Options: 1-Player (recommended), 2-Player
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Curve: Harsh
Stats -
Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 5/5
Controls: 4/5
Lasting Appeal: 4/5
Fun: 5/5
30 Hit-Combo!!
Superb!
Quick Review:
Rock Band 3
Developed by Harmonix
Published by MTV Games
for the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3
Released October 26th, 2010
Innovation at its musical finest:
Harmonix, the leader of musical innovation, brings the third installment of the Rock Band series. Rock Band 3 gives the same great gameplay experience that fans have come to love but also gives wannabe rockers the opportunity to learn how to play a real instrument with its new peripherals and game modes.
Graphics:
The graphics are miles beyond Rock Band 2 but lacking compared to The Beatles: Rock Band. The colorful claymation rockers look awesome performing on venues that range from vibrant to murky. Crowd animations along with animations of the drummer appear robotic and awkward. It's a shame they couldn't replicate the cutscene animated style as presented in The Beatles: Rock Band.
Sound:
The variety of music seems to be more on the pop side of things but gives the game a balance of instrument playablity. It wouldn't be a Rock Band game without the music. The create-a-character and some other menu screens play odd jingles but its nothing that anybody would really pay more attention to than the songs.
Controls:
Everything is as it should be. The guitars and drums play great as usual. Depending on how you're holding the keyboard it may be difficult to go into overdrive. It goes without saying that the pro instruments have an extremely difficult learning and are sensitive to the touch. But as far as the pro instruments go, they make learning how to play a much more entertaining experience.
Lasting Appeal:
You'll be playing for months trying to complete all the career challenges, master every instrument, learning a new one, getting 5 stars on every song, and purchasing all the dlc songs you're heart desires.
Final Cutter:
Rock Band 3 brings another great multiplayer experience but this time turns it up a notch by adding a fifth player and the option to perform harmonies. The keyboard is a fun new instrument that gives the player another peripheral to master. The keyboard is the best investment to make for the game if you aren't a rich fat cat. The Mustang pro-guitar controller is ridiculous. You're better off waiting until Spring to purchase the actual guitar that they plan to release (with real strings, pick-ups and everything!) so you can play Rock Band 3 and then go out and play in a real band without looking like an idiot. Otherwise, Rock Band 3 is perhaps the funnest game you'll play with a group of friends and family this year.
Details -
Genre: Music/Rhythm
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone (Language, Mild Lyrics, Suggestive Themes)
Player Options: 1-Player, 2 - 5 [potentially 7] Player (recommended), online multiplayer
Quick Review:
