PC - Darkspore Review

I have a conundrum; I have absolutely no idea how to talk about Darkspore in relation to Spore. Labelling Darkspore as a sequel to Will Wright’s Spore does not feel apt, but spin-off doesn’t sit right either. Spiritual Successor perhaps? No. The best way to describe Darkspore is to consider how an idea forms. Darkspore and Spore essentially come from the same spark of innovation, but the final outcomes play as if that initial idea had been developed in a parallel universe. Brief reminders exist; the creature creation and the aesthetics of the creatures for example, but it is an entirely different gaming experience. Can going to the dark-side ever result in success? — Find out in our review after the break!

iPad - Pulse Review

Rhythm games are a dime a dozen nowadays, but in the past they were all about the catchiest tunes, precise que’s, and not necessarily the most recognizable artists. Pulse, by Cipher Prime, is an all original game with ideas that haven’t been done before in this sort of space. Sure, we have Tap Tap Revenge on iOS, but it’s child’s play in comparison to the style and class that Pulse oozes every second you spend with it. The iPad has never sounded so good. — Our thoughts on it after the break!

Browser (Free) - Thor's 16-bit adventure is full of retro win

You don’t need to go far or even spend any money to get a good gaming experience nowadays. No, I’m not talking about pirating old NES roms or that sorta business (shame on you). What I am alluding to though are games that you can play right from inside your own internet browser; like Thor: Bring the Thunder, an official, retro side-scroller made by Marvel to pump up hype for the newly released film, which was “marvel-ous” btw, and so is this game. — More after the break!

iOS - Superbrothers: Swords & Sworcery EP Review

There aren’t a whole lot of games that come off as strong as Swords & Sworcery. What makes it different from the pack? Well, if you watch the game’s trailer you’ll get what I’m saying, but for those who just want it straight; the game is self-aware, knowing that there’s someone behind the virtual controller. But it also knows that its quality and presentation is heads and shoulders above the rest. And we like that. We like it a lot. — Find out why after the break! 

XBLA - Outland Review

Back in the 90’s we were treated to all sorts of sidescrolling adventures, but that eventually dwindled when 3D modeled worlds and characters changed the way we looked at games. Now only on rare occasions do we even see a side-scroller, and let alone one that tries to change the mold of how we preceived them in the past. That is, until Outland, which draws upon the light and dark, polarity mechanic made famous in the insanely difficulty sh’mup, Ikaruga. How’s it translate onto a 2D plane? Flawlessly. — Our review after the break!

PC - Hector: Badge of Carnage Episode 1 Review

Hector: Badge of Carnage released earlier this year as an Iphone exclusive title by Straandlooper Animation, and now Telltale has picked it up in order to publish it on a wider variety of platforms. It’s hit PC’s this week and radiates some great ideas, namely the art style and mature premise as well as some fairly good voice acting and dialogue. Though its gameplay isn’t always exciting, I also feel like the objectives aren’t always clearly laid out, which essentially breaks the flow of these games in an instant. If you can overcome these, then Hector is an enjoyable experience but it feels like it’s overshadowed by Telltale’s previous games. — Our review after the break!

Xbox 360 - Mortal Kombat Review

It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen a serious entry into the Mortal Kombat franchise. While Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe was a great game in it’s own way, it suffered from the lack of ridiculous fatalities and visuals as well as being on a 3D plane, which hampered the fighting in annoying ways. Billed as a reboot of the franchise, Mortal Kombat is back and it’s one of the best fighters out there, with it’s excellent gameplay, surprisingly excellent story and all of the gruesome, over the top fatalities you’ve come to expect from the series. — Our full review after the break!