Featured Reviews

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, June 7, 2013 - 11:18am

What appears to be another Diablo clone would be dishonest. Neocore’s Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing – featuring mash-ups of gothic, steampunk noir and pop culture innuendos – engages the player more than Diablo III’s world ever could.

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Grid 2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, June 2, 2013 - 5:23am

Does the Grid series overtake the racing genre once more, or is Grid 2 stuck in a blind spot?
 

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Metro: Last Light Review
By: Mason_M - Wednesday, May 29, 2013 - 7:30pm

Metro: Last Light isn't a revolutionary shooter, but its first-class atmosphere and survival-driven scavenging make it a compelling single-player experience.

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Resident Evil: Revelations (X360) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, May 28, 2013 - 10:38am

Resident Evil: Revelations perfectly fit the portable format last year with its brief, digestible chapters and small sensible ambitions. But on the Xbox 360, prior 3DS limitations compromise this viral vacation.

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Robot Unicorn Attack 2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, April 29, 2013 - 2:04am

Screw a proper deck, I am telling you right now: Unless you hate fun, joy, colors, or free games, go download Robot Unicorn Attack 2! 

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God Mode Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 8:16pm

As you fail to find a match for the tenth time – between the game’s constant crashing to your desktop – you may wish God Mode was a little less mortal.

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Sacred Citadel Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, April 22, 2013 - 5:19pm

I expected Sacred Citadel to be another mediocre beat-’em-up, but Southend Interactive (mostly) calls my bluff. A solid evening of gathering loot and tenderizing orcs awaits (provided two friends tag along).

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Evoland Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Thursday, April 18, 2013 - 5:34pm

The application of turn-based combat, dungeon crawling, and visual improvements serve a historical purpose, but as an homage to video game evolution, Evoland remains nothing more.

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BioShock Infinite Review
By: Burchy - Thursday, April 11, 2013 - 7:24am

From dark oceans to bright skies, BioShock Infinite never shies away from pushing racial and religious boundaries, making Columbia as enthralling – if not more so – than its Rapture counterpart.

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Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, April 9, 2013 - 9:51am

City Interactive’s sequel may be one of the most unpleasant titles to launch this year. Though Ghost Warrior 2 aims to beat out the competition, the developers miss every mark.

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Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, April 7, 2013 - 4:11pm

In selling its soul to the Devil, Army of Two finally meets modern shooter standards.

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Slender: The Arrival Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, April 6, 2013 - 1:46pm

You do not have to be a victim of undesirable psychological torment to know Slender: The Arrival surpasses The Eight Pages at every asphyxiating turn.

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Gears of War: Judgment Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 12:10am

While Gears of War: Judgment may be the series’ last hurrah on current consoles, People Can Fly’s gameplay refinements, Smart Spawn System, and Declassified missions mean the franchise is going out with bang. 

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The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct Review
By: christothefirst - Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 2:14pm

Be sure to avoid this game like the plague.

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Dead Space 3: Awakened Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 10:18am

Dead Space 3: Awakened undermines the story laid out by Dead Space 3 proper, with a plot so asinine as to require all suspension of belief before this epilogue begins. Prepare to jump the shark, folks. 

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, March 15, 2013 - 10:42pm

As much as Mirror of Fate wants to live in the limelight, this handheld amalgam of Castlevania titles new and old finds itself hiding in the shadows of its bigger, better console brethren.

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Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Thursday, March 14, 2013 - 3:19pm

Naruto may have abandoned his catchphrase before the Shippuden series began, but does Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 represent the best anime-to-video-game adaptation in existence? “Believe it!”

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The Showdown Effect Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, March 9, 2013 - 6:20pm

Whether you’re diving from Neo Tokyo’s rooftops or slapping opponents with pizza boxes in a seaside fish market, The Showdown Effect breeds a multiplayer-only experience as entertaining as it is competitive. 

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Tomb Raider Review
By: stephenage - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - 2:04pm

Excellent game design ensures that Tomb Raider is one of the best games in its genre, and an experience you shouldn't miss out on.

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Strike Suit Zero Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, March 4, 2013 - 1:51am

Frustrating controls, comatose AI, and problematic checkpoints shoot Strike Suit Zero down before this arcade space sim can take flight.

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Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, March 1, 2013 - 10:48pm

The undead. Real original, right? I nearly wrote off Rebellion’s expansion for Sniper Elite V2 on the name alone, yet outside of Left 4 Dead and Dead Island, I have never had this much fun with a cooperative zombie shooter. 

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Crysis 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - 6:41pm

Welcome back to the jungle, Crysis fans. The Cell corporation still needs stopping and the Ceph need annihilating, but this time you never have to leave your backyard. 

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Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, February 23, 2013 - 2:05pm

Who knew that cutting cyborgs into a thousand chunks of blood and metal would lead to the most unapologetically insane Metal Gear spin-off? Raiden fans, “I think it’s time for Jack to LET ‘ER RIP!”

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Fire Emblem: Awakening Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 3:57pm

In this post-XCOM: Enemy Unknown world, every 3DS owner with an affinity for strategy titles needs to play Fire Emblem: Awakening. The series’ penchant for permadeath will haunt your every move, and each character lost will leave you a nervous wreck. 

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Aliens: Colonial Marines Review
By: stephenage - Friday, February 15, 2013 - 4:57pm

Horror is exchanged for boredom in this poor take on the Alien franchise.

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Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time Review
By: christothefirst - Saturday, February 9, 2013 - 2:20pm

Although there has not been a fresh Sly adventure since the PlayStation 2 days, Thieves in Time plays and feels much like the trilogy that came before it, for better and worse.

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Dead Space 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, February 10, 2013 - 11:51am

Heavy on action and light on scares, Dead Space 3’s deviations from the series’ traditions (co-op, weapon crafting) pay off when not being saddled by the absurd fiction, uneven pacing, or repetitive locales. 

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Temple Run 2 (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, February 3, 2013 - 1:03pm

Regardless of the novel power-ups and new setting, Temple Run 2 treads familiar ground too often to be called an evolution of the endless runner concept. 

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Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, February 2, 2013 - 1:51pm

With Clash of Heroes' complex match-three combat, visuals that do the iPad’s Retina display a service, thirty-hour completion time, and asynchronous online battles, any glitches become an afterthought.

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Final Fantasy: All The Bravest (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, January 21, 2013 - 9:22pm

Virtual extortion made manifest, Final Fantasy: All The Bravest exists only to siphon gamers’ wallets and dreams. 

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DmC: Devil May Cry Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, January 20, 2013 - 4:54pm

The sophisticated combat and dynamic level design of Ninja Theory’s Devil May Cry guarantee their reboot stands out as the most presentable DMC available, while the young demon killer Dante returns to rescue humanity in this mature and coherent tale.

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The Grading Game (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - 10:11pm

The App Store’s love of word games continues! Grab your red pen, and get ready to sacrifice the GPAs of others, correcting their grammatical errors to make loan payments as an English professor’s teaching assistant.

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ZombiU Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - 2:11pm

In ZombiU’s efforts to mold the living dead as terrifying once more, Ubisoft showcases the impressive promise of the new Wii U. 

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Hundreds (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, January 9, 2013 - 9:27pm

Spinning saw blades aside, the strategy of Hundreds offers manageable trials whose true brilliances lie in observation and experimentation.

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Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (3DS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, January 6, 2013 - 1:53pm

Both equal parts visual novel and cunning puzzler, Virtue's Last Reward captures the anger, doubt, hope, and paranoia of betting your life against eight random strangers. Who can you trust? Who will you betray?

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn Review
By: stephenage - Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 4:42pm

In spite of its notable faults, Skyrim's Dragonborn DLC capitalizes on what made the core game so spectacular.

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Guardians of Middle-earth Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, December 11, 2012 - 5:48pm

Branding the Lord of the Rings name on anything video game related guarantees I will play it. Should you be willing to take that risk with Guardians of Middle-earth and its minuscule community?

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The Walking Dead: Episode 5 - 'No Time Left' Review
By: stephenage - Thursday, December 6, 2012 - 11:35am

As a finale to the Walking Dead, 'No Time Left' is nothing short of sublime.

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Far Cry 3 Video Review
By: John Tarr - Wednesday, December 5, 2012 - 4:45pm

Our first video review!

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The Walking Dead: Assault (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 10:15pm

The terms “top-down” and “arena shooter” would normally be cause for concern when describing the next Walking Dead game, but Gamagio and Skybound prove the series can be just as palatable without character emotions running high. 

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Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault Review
By: Adam Page - Monday, December 3, 2012 - 4:14am

Whichever way you look at it, Full Frontal Assault is a lackluster entry in a much-loved series that, although competent, lacks a lot of what makes the Ratchet & Clank series great.

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Writer Rumble (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, December 2, 2012 - 5:25pm

Whoever claimed “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” never envisioned heated multiplayer rivalries in Writer Rumble. 

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My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, December 1, 2012 - 4:22pm

Does this mobile app do Hasbro’s brand of animated ponies justice, or has Gameloft trolled the fanbase?

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Far Cry 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, November 28, 2012 - 7:05pm

Rook Island’s psychotic locals, diverse fauna, and dozens of side quests make for one of the most incredible campaigns this year, even if they make Jason Brody’s life a living hell. Come credits, players will know a very surreal definition of insanity. 

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New Super Mario Bros. U Review
By: MarioDragon - Sunday, November 25, 2012 - 10:47pm

One might have high expectations now that Nintendo's displayed its famous plumber in stunning high-definition on the brand new Wii U. You'll not disappointed with Mario's HD adventure, even if it is the third game of his to be released this year.

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PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Review
By: christothefirst - Thursday, November 22, 2012 - 9:00pm

Despite what seems to be a Sony-themed Super Smash Bros. clone at first glance, All-Stars delivers an enjoyable experience and shows potential for sequel greatness.

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Spy Hunter (PS Vita) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, November 25, 2012 - 4:37pm

Spy Hunter’s two-hour completion time, inexact controls, generic storyline, and decade-old visuals will have players wishing they had been run over by the G-6155 Interceptor instead of sitting behind the wheel.  

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Borderlands Legends HD (iPad) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, November 24, 2012 - 11:29pm

This iOS adaptation of Gearbox's beloved series goes horribly wrong by removing the randomized loot, quotable humor, and all the other elements that make the console versions of Borderlands fundamentally enjoyable. 

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Call of Duty: Black Ops II Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, November 24, 2012 - 3:05am

The challenges laid upon Treyarch as the ‘B’ team of Call of Duty are unenviable no doubt, yet the developers return fire with a decision-driven narrative that reacts subtly to player actions, and a multiplayer Pick 10 system that presents more class freedom than any FPS to have come before.

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Hitman: Absolution Review
By: stephenage - Friday, November 23, 2012 - 12:25pm

Agent 47's latest outing offers some excellent sandbox missions to fulfill all your assassination needs, but Absolution is let down by multiple deviations from this solid formula and an overbearing feeling that nothing quite matches up to the heights of previous installments.

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Paper Mario: Sticker Star Review
By: christothefirst - Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 12:55pm

The papercraft Mushroom Kingdom hits the 3DS. Is the series too worn out to stick?

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LEGO Lord of the Rings Review
By: MarioDragon - Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 7:39pm

Any fan of the Tolkien universe should wonder if Lego Lord of the Rings holds up to the standards that many expect, and it actually comes close.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Review
By: christothefirst - Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 7:02pm

Call of Duty finally hits the PlayStation Vita. Does it fair well in the light of day, or should it stay hidden?

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Angry Birds Star Wars Review
By: christothefirst - Thursday, November 8, 2012 - 1:10pm

The popular mobile franchise flies to a galaxy far, far away.

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Halo 4 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, November 9, 2012 - 4:20pm

Halo 4 has earned initial criticism as being a “safe” sequel, but that statement does not have to be taken as derogatory. In this case, 343 Industries' safe practices crown Halo 4 as the best shooter of 2012 thus far.  

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Assassin's Creed III Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - 5:32pm

Ezio steps out of the spotlight to let protagonist Connor have a turn executing Templars and Redcoats alike, but eighteenth-century Boston harbors many conspiracies and technical bugs to impede the Native American hero. 

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Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Review
By: christothefirst - Saturday, November 3, 2012 - 1:46am

Does the Assassin's Creed franchise blend in with the Vita, or will it stab you in the back?

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Medal of Honor: Warfighter Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, October 29, 2012 - 11:16am

Warfighter’s generic qualities burn with a lack of innovation that already crowds the FPS genre. 

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XCOM: Enemy Unknown Review
By: stephenage - Sunday, October 28, 2012 - 1:28pm

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a sublime and completely addictive strategy game that will will keep you entertained for dozens of hours.

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Finger Tied Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 10:12pm

Like cartoon characters often do, prepare to entangle your fingers in this deceptively difficult puzzle game exclusive to the iPad.

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NeoMech Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, October 26, 2012 - 10:23am

A progress-blocking glitch hampers this retro mech-versus-all side-scroller. 

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Doom 3: BFG Edition Review
By: christothefirst - Monday, October 22, 2012 - 4:27pm

Is this return to Mars a good investment, or has Hell not aged well?

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Of Orcs and Men Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, October 22, 2012 - 8:02pm

This fantasy collaboration between Cyanide Studios and Spiders may have nothing to do with mice or gods, but at least players get to swing around massive orc clubs in this European RPG.

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Bad Piggies Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 5:27pm

Get the glue and rubber bands ready: The Piggies need your help building makeshift transports on their quest for delicious omelets.

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Don't Look Back (iOS) Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, October 20, 2012 - 10:19am

Terry Cavanagh continues his trend of mobile development with Don’t Look Back, a free platformer that ponders the death of a loved one in Atari 2600 attire.

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Dishonored Review
By: stephenage - Friday, October 19, 2012 - 8:17am

Open-ended gameplay and superb level design cement Dishonored as one of the year's best games.

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Pokémon Black/White Version 2 Review
By: christothefirst - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 11:29am

Pokémon Black/White Version 2 mark the series' first sequels in nearly twenty years. Has the franchise finally run out of color?

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Super Hexagon Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, October 14, 2012 - 4:15pm

What do you get when you mix geometry and chiptunes? No, not a math party. I’m talking about Terry Cavanagh’s masterpiece.

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The Walking Dead: Episode 4 - Around Every Corner Review
By: stephenage - Sunday, October 14, 2012 - 3:24pm

Contrived storytelling and nonsensical moments hinder what could have been a great episode, establishing Around Every Corner as the weakest episode yet.

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Polara Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, October 14, 2012 - 11:44am

Boasting the endless runner qualities of Rayman Jungle Run, and a color-swapping challenge comparable to Ikaruga, Polara is one bargain worth chasing.

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Retro City Rampage Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 8:32pm

Brian Provinciano's recreation of annoyances akin to 8-bit video games mars Retro City Rampage's otherwise remarkable abundance of parodies.

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Apocalypse Max: Better Dead Than Undead Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 9:59am

Apocalypse Max exudes a degree of polish uncommon on iOS platforms. Grotesque zombies, hand-drawn art, and accessible touch controls bring together an exceptional iPad time sink. 

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Total War Battles: Shogun Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, October 8, 2012 - 11:41pm

Total War Battles, a humble RTS of iOS origin, joins the core franchise on PCs despite the absence of gameplay improvements for mouse and keyboard users.

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Resident Evil 6 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, October 7, 2012 - 4:40pm

How does this year's most polarizing experience fare in the eyes of an impartial Resident Evil fan?

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Torchlight II Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, October 1, 2012 - 10:02pm

Torchlight II innovates on the first Torchlight’s formula without spoiling the fun of a refined co-op dungeon crawler.

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LittleBigPlanet Vita Review
By: christothefirst - Monday, September 24, 2012 - 2:20pm

How does Sackboy's newest adventure stack up against the rest?

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Borderlands 2 Review
By: stephenage - Thursday, September 27, 2012 - 8:52am

Superb writing and various improvements make Borderlands 2 just as fun as the first, even if it isn't as original.

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Machinarium Review
By: Burchy - Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 3:12pm

Ingeniously challenging and exquisitely charming, Machinarium is a mind-boggling point-and-click adventure. 

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Intrusion 2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 10:20pm

If side-scrollers have drained all of your hard-earned paychecks lately, start skipping a few meals. Intrusion 2’s nutty physics, irrational set pieces, and simplistic joys demand your lunch money. 

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Fractured Soul Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, September 16, 2012 - 10:46am

Did Endgame Studios learn nothing from Voldemort? Splitting one’s soul just leaves the body lifeless – like their latest IP.

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Mutant Mudds Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, September 14, 2012 - 2:01pm

Strap on your galoshes and get your Super Soakers ready. Alien mud monsters are invading in Renegade Kid’s PC port of Mutant Mudds. 

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To The Moon Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - 8:02pm

“They’ll give you a second chance, and they’ll let you relive your life. All the way…from the very beginning. Change one thing, fulfill one wish. You know what you’d wish for, don’t you?” 

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The Walking Dead: Episode 3 - Long Road Ahead Review
By: stephenage - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - 5:50am

The emotional toils continue for Lee and Clementine as your judgments begin to fracture the already splintered group.

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Mark of the Ninja Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, September 10, 2012 - 6:12pm

Facial tattoos and stealth rarely mingle, but you'll surprised how well both suit Mark of the Ninja's protagonist. 

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The Basement Collection Review
By: Mason_M - Saturday, September 8, 2012 - 7:40pm

The Basement Collection compiles a list of games and extras from indie superstar Edmund McMillen. Does it contain more indie gold or is it simply a corporate cash-in?

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Trine 2: Goblin Menace Review
By: MarioDragon - Friday, September 7, 2012 - 11:18pm

Trine 2 was a magical experience and one of my all time favorite games. Does the expansion live up to this reviewer's expectations?

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Hero Academy Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, September 7, 2012 - 4:38pm

The PC version of Hero Academy matches the splendor of its iOS counterpart with big-headed heroes, substantial depth, and cross-platform support. Who said chess was for nerds? (Also, water analogies.)

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Home Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, September 3, 2012 - 7:01pm

There's no place like Home. There's no place like Home. There's no place like Home. 

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Ratchet & Clank HD Collection Review
By: christothefirst - Saturday, September 1, 2012 - 2:29am

Insomniac's first three titles in its smash hit franchise are finally available in the form of an HD collection.

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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, September 2, 2012 - 1:45pm

For reasons both good and bad, Counter-Strike remains the same infuriating lesson in patience after a decade. 

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Persona 4 Arena Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, August 31, 2012 - 9:02am

From the lengthy storytelling to the accessible combos to the anime-style presentation, Persona 4 Arena transcends genre barriers to bring JRPG and fighting game fans a title they simply must own. 

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Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, August 26, 2012 - 7:07pm

Does High Moon's sequel roll with the punches, or do these Transformers belong in a chop shop?

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Darksiders II Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - 8:23pm

The first Darksiders’ cross-platform mash-up of Nintendo and Sony exclusives treated buyers to a surprising, underappreciated delicacy. Will Death reap the rewards in this sequel?

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New Super Mario Bros. 2 Review
By: christothefirst - Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - 7:11pm

Can Mario continue his jumps to success, or is he munched by the Piranha Plant of failure?

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Dust: An Elysian Tail Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, August 18, 2012 - 8:14am

Dust: An Elysian Tail comes to us from the one-man team of Humble Hearts. Does Dean Dodrill’s stylish brainchild featuring a furry protagonist and talking sword redeem the worst Summer of Arcade event yet?

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Sound Shapes Review
By: christothefirst - Saturday, August 11, 2012 - 9:51pm

After the change from exclusive launch title to multi-platform release, Sound Shapes has finally hit the PS3 and the Vita.

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Nexuiz Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, August 11, 2012 - 2:25pm

Steam’s Play For Free Weekend gave me the opportunity to try Nexuiz, a Quake-inspired FPS that garnered little press after a weak console release. Have three months of patches been kind to this arena shooter?

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Awesomenauts Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, August 10, 2012 - 2:27am

As Ronimo’s 2D MOBA platformer weathers the leap to Steam, will League of Legends continue to reign supreme?

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Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, August 7, 2012 - 11:35am

Does this partial sequel to Kingdom Hearts II go the distance or find itself falling through everlasting nightmares?

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Deadlight Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, August 3, 2012 - 3:53am

This Cold War era, zombie-survival platformer promises eerie aesthetics, but gameplay miscues impale the action on its own booby traps. Repeatedly.

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Orcs Must Die! 2 Review
By: MarioDragon - Thursday, August 2, 2012 - 1:23pm

Most tower defense games aren't very exciting, but throw in third-person combat, two masters of the arcane, and you get an adrenaline-pumping mess of Orc guts.

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Heroes of Ruin Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, July 29, 2012 - 2:40am

Does Heroes of Ruin stave off the Diablo comparisons? Of course not, but you should read this review anyway.

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Battleship Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, July 9, 2012 - 9:08am

Just try to shake that sinking feeling in a late-to-the-party review featuring the lackluster Battleship. 

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Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, July 7, 2012 - 7:33pm

Does this musical compilation celebrate the better part of Final Fantasy’s 25th Anniversary, or is this symphony playing off-key? 

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Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, July 7, 2012 - 4:04am

Does Test Drive Ferrari secure a podium finish or stall at the starting line?

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard Review
By: stephenage - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - 2:13pm

There's a lot of fun to be had in Dawnguard, but Skyrim's first DLC doesn't manage to quite capture what is so brilliant about the main game.

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Spec Ops: The Line Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, July 1, 2012 - 7:59am

If you can sift through The Line's granular blunders, you’ll find a gripping narrative that demands revisiting.

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The Walking Dead: Episode 2 - Starved for Help Review
By: stephenage - Thursday, June 28, 2012 - 8:31am

Difficult choices and a dark story make Starved for Help another great entry in the Walking Dead series (despite its minor flaws).

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On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Episode 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Thursday, June 28, 2012 - 6:16pm

Only the most lexicon-heavy of role-playing games justifies a review this verbose.

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The Amazing Spider-Man Review
By: christothefirst - Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - 6:23am

Can this movie tie-in swing its way to greatness?

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LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Review
By: MarioDragon - Monday, June 25, 2012 - 2:14pm

The Lego series has seen great to mild success. With Lego Batman having sold the most copies at over 11 million, it’s hardly a surprise that a lot of people want Lego Batman 2.

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Pokémon Conquest Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, June 22, 2012 - 9:16pm

Do you want to be the very best, like no one ever was in feudal Japan?

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Gravity Rush Review
By: christothefirst - Thursday, June 21, 2012 - 1:39pm

Can Gravity Rush flip the Vita's fortunes, or does this gravity-shifting title leave the system free falling?

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Dirt Showdown Review
By: Mason_M - Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 1:30pm

Dirt Showdown represents a change in direction for the veteran rally racing series. Does it ride with the big boys or does it crash and burn?

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Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, June 16, 2012 - 12:55pm

Does Ubisoft's franchise retain its former glory, or should they retire this future before it even begins?

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Lollipop Chainsaw Review
By: christothefirst - Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 11:53pm

From the mind of Suda51 comes one of the best games of the summer.

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Dragon's Dogma Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 4:23pm

Does Capcom's continent-spanning RPG have its heart in the right place?

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Resistance: Burning Skies Review
By: christothefirst - Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - 9:55pm

Does the PS Vita's first console-esque FPS do the honor justice?

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Inversion Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, June 8, 2012 - 7:16pm

Gravity gimmicks bring this third-person, vengeful dad story to its knees.

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Max Payne 3 Review
By: Adam Page - Saturday, May 26, 2012 - 1:02pm

If you can stomach the fact that Max Payne 3 is a Rockstar game, rather than a Max Payne game, then Max Payne 3 will deliver a fantastic action experience with all the bullet time acrobatics you could wish for.

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Diablo III Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, May 21, 2012 - 4:13am

Get your mouse and key bindings ready; the Lord of Terror has returned.

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Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition Review
By: PigheadedBobobo - Friday, May 18, 2012 - 7:40pm

Does the indie mega-hit survive the jump to the Xbox 360, or does the Creeper win this battle?

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Orion: Dino Beatdown Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 6:38pm

Is this wave-based arena shooter a blast from the past?

6
Sniper Elite V2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, May 6, 2012 - 3:02pm

Do Rebellion's efforts revitalize this World War II shooter, or should Sniper Elite V2 be put out of its misery?

7
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Review
By: explicit_baron - Friday, April 27, 2012 - 11:01pm

Enslaved got buried in the massive holiday season as an overlooked treasure. Should it stay buried?

7
The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition Review
By: The Jew - Saturday, April 28, 2012 - 1:59am

One of last year's most highly praised RPGs comes to the 360. How does it hold up?

2
The Walking Dead: Episode 1 - A New Day Review
By: stephenage - Saturday, April 28, 2012 - 9:52am

Telltale's latest adventure game is full of emotional moments and hard choices, making for their finest release to date.

12
Lone Survivor Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, April 28, 2012 - 11:04am

This indie gem provides psychological thrills at a bargain price.

5
Risen 2: Dark Waters Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, April 23, 2012 - 10:40pm

Trouble brews in open waters while this swashbuckler finds its sea legs.

8
Fez Review
By: christothefirst - Monday, April 16, 2012 - 8:39pm

Fez, the long awaited title from Polytron, will leave players in awe. Your brain will hurt, but in a good way.

2
Asura's Wrath Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, April 16, 2012 - 1:53pm

A demigod's unhinged anger provides one of this year's biggest and most welcome surprises.

5
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, April 15, 2012 - 12:57pm

Does this unabashedly insane anime brawler contest its way to fighter glory?

6
Silent Hill HD Collection Review
By: christothefirst - Sunday, April 8, 2012 - 4:04am

Does returning to the heyday of survival horror prove to be a boon for the wayward Silent Hill series?

2
Journey Review
By: Mason_M - Friday, April 6, 2012 - 3:33pm

Journey represents thatgamecompany's last obligated game as per their contract with Sony. Are they going out with a bang?

8
Sonic Generations Review
By: Covalant101 - Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 4:12pm

Is Sonic still unstoppable after twenty years?

1
Ninja Gaiden 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, April 2, 2012 - 11:20am

Does Ninja Gaiden 3 hold fast as the definitive ninja experience, or have management changes at developer Team Ninja brought shame and dishonor to their franchise?

7
Saints Row: The Third - The Trouble With Clones Review
By: stephenage - Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 11:28am

A few good laughs and entertaining gameplay provide just enough reason to make this the best DLC Saints Row: The Third has to offer.

2
TrackMania 2: Canyon Review
By: Mason_M - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 7:20pm

TrackMania 2: Canyon is one of the most incomplete yet oddly compelling games to come along in a while. Read on to find out why.

4
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, March 23, 2012 - 2:24pm

Does this alternate history tale of Raccoon City's outbreak bring new light to the franchise, or were these untold events better off dead?

7
Mass Effect 3 Review
By: stephenage - Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - 3:48pm

Mass Effect 3 provides the player with an emotional experience filled with standout moments, well-realized characters, and entertaining gameplay, making it a fitting end to a fantastic trilogy.

4
Vessel Review
By: Adam Page - Friday, March 9, 2012 - 10:04am

Vessel brings new ideas and concepts to the table and executes them well, but irksome controls and design issues mar an otherwise compelling puzzle-platformer. 

3
Binary Domain Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, March 3, 2012 - 3:06pm

Does this Terminator-esque shooter conquer the challengers of its genre or rest on the laurels of established conventions?

5
Syndicate Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Monday, February 27, 2012 - 11:25am

Is this cyberpunk franchise a reboot goldmine?

8
Saints Row: The Third - Gangstas in Space Review
By: stephenage - Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 9:25am

Despite its great premise, Gangstas in Space is a disappointing addition to Saints Row: The Third, held back by its short length and bland gameplay. 

5
Dear Esther Review
By: Adam Page - Saturday, February 18, 2012 - 12:23pm

Despite going out of its way to both intrigue and confuse you, Dear Esther is an original and memorable experience, if not really a 'game' as we have come to understand the word.

5
The Darkness II Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, February 12, 2012 - 6:56pm

A teenage melodrama offsets a symphony of gore and savagery.

7
Resident Evil: Revelations Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, February 11, 2012 - 2:29pm

Does Resident Evil: Revelations justify the purchase of a Nintendo 3DS and Circle Pad Pro?

3
Dustforce Review
By: Adam Page - Friday, February 10, 2012 - 9:05pm

Though Dustforce is the unequivocal definition of "not for everyone" and accepts nothing but absolute perfection, it's worth the time and effort of any hardcore platforming fan. 

2
Quarrel Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 1:10pm

Quarrel's frustratingly fast AI and lack of an online community mean your money would be better spent elsewhere. 

3
Infamous: Festival of Blood Review
By: Adam Page - Friday, February 3, 2012 - 8:14am

Infamous: Festival of Blood delivers on its promises of a dark re-imagining of the last game's unique setting while failing to recreate what Infamous 2 did well. 

4
Renegade Ops Review
By: Adam Page - Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 10:38am

If dumb fun is your thing, Renegade Ops delivers all the explosive goods in Avalanche Studio's tightest game to date. 

2
Waves Review
By: Adam Page - Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 7:13am

Balls roll, hexagons explode in showers of light, and a true twin-stick shooter fan will appreciate every moment. 

3
Modern Warfare 3 Review
By: Adam Page - Friday, January 6, 2012 - 12:30am

Although Modern Warfare 3 depicts the conclusion(?) of Infinity Ward's illustrious trilogy, you couldn't tell by looking at it.

2
Rayman: Origins Review
By: Adam Page - Monday, December 5, 2011 - 6:22am

Rayman returns to two-dimensions for better and for worse. Happily, the end result is still sublime.

2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review
By: iWINuFAIL - Friday, December 2, 2011 - 9:57pm

The year's biggest game deserves my biggest review.

11
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 Review
By: MarioDragon - Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 12:17am

Another installment of the LEGO series: Is it good, or is it bad, or somewhere in between? For the most part, all of the above.

2
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, November 5, 2011 - 3:51pm

Does Nathan Drake’s latest adventure surpass its predecessors? 

4
Battlefield 3 Review
By: iWINuFAIL - Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 7:19pm

DICE throws down the gauntlet big time.

3
Batman: Arkham City Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, October 21, 2011 - 3:20pm

Read why Batman: Arkham City is a perfect Game of the Year candidate.

2
Dark Souls Review
By: iWINuFAIL - Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - 7:10pm

A dark horse Game of the Year candidate rides.

2
Rage Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 10:17pm

Does id Software's newest intellectual property live up to current generation standards?

3
Resident Evil 4 HD Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, September 24, 2011 - 7:43pm

If I had a nickel for every time Capcom re-released Resident Evil 4, I’d still be a poor college student, but that won’t stop Capcom from porting their masterpiece to every console known to man. 

19
Gears of War 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, September 23, 2011 - 3:40pm

With a talented studio and a respectable community backing Delta Squad’s grandiose return, does Gears of War 3 cement its seat as Microsoft’s killer exclusive?

5
Dead Island Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - 9:03pm

From its inception, Dead Island was pegged as the most ambitious survival horror, open world, action RPG to date. Does the video game market have enough room for another zombie-filled heavy hitter?

2
Resistance 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 11:36am

Does Resistance 3 atone for its predecessor's missteps, or will Capelli's journey come to a hopeless conclusion?

12
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review
By: iWINuFAIL - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 11:48am

Is Human Revolution a sterling entry in the Deus Ex universe? Find out.

6
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Review
By: Mason_M - Friday, August 5, 2011 - 5:04pm

The third 2011 Summer of Arcade release is upon us, bringing back “Metroidvania” style gameplay to Microsoft’s downloadable party. Does it need to use nostalgia as a crutch, or does it stand up on its own?

2
Bastion Review
By: Mason_M - Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:20am

Bastion is the first release in Microsoft's Summer of Arcade for the Xbox 360. Does it earn that coveted title, or does it fall prey to the typical indie game problems?

4
F.E.A.R. 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, July 3, 2011 - 4:22pm

Monolith Productions stepped down to let Day 1 Studios helm the production of F.E.A.R. 3 (or F.3.A.R. if you enjoy incorrect acronyms). Will Alma's return keep the lights on?

3
Duke Nukem Forever Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 1:22pm

Fourteen years coming, spanning three console generations, numerous video game engines, and four separate developer studios: Is Duke Nukem Forever worth the wait?

9
Infamous 2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, June 15, 2011 - 6:45pm

Cole and his brand of blue/red lightning-fueled powers return for a second iteration. Does Infamous 2 provide a shocking good time? Read on to find out.

4
Red Faction: Armageddon Review
By: Mason_M - Monday, June 13, 2011 - 7:05pm

Despite being a Red Faction game, the most destruction in this game is of my expectations.

2
Hunted: The Demon Forge's Review
By: Ravyn - Thursday, June 9, 2011 - 8:27am

Who is this demon, and what is he forging?

3
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Review
By: Ravyn - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - 12:43am

The Witcher 2: A must have for every hardcore RPG gamer!

10
Dirt 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, May 29, 2011 - 11:44am

Codemasters’ franchise returns for a third iteration this summer. Does Dirt 3 find itself ahead of the pack or trailing in last place?

1
Brink Review
By: Johnny Lightning - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - 11:34am

Brink, the latest game to challenge Team Fortress 2 for class-based, FPS supremacy, was released recently, so I took it upon myself to take the plunge and immerse myself in the world of Brink to see what all the fuss was about. 

3
L.A. Noire Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 12:51am

L.A. Noire is a fascinating journey through the morally corrupt heart of 1940s Los Angeles, but will this criminal caper leave you clueless?

5
The First Templar Review
By: Ravyn - Thursday, May 19, 2011 - 9:27pm

Can The First Templar live up to Assassin's Creed standards?

3
Mortal Kombat Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Saturday, April 23, 2011 - 4:29pm

Mortal Kombat finally returns to its roots. Has NetherRealm Studios crafted a worthy rebirth of the legendary fighting series?

3
Portal 2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, April 22, 2011 - 2:33pm

The adventures of Chell continue as she is put through her paces once again by a reawakened GLaDOS. Does Valve live up to its reputation?

5
Crysis 2 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, March 25, 2011 - 2:38pm

Crysis 2 is Crytek's first attempt at bringing their beloved franchise to 360 and PS3 owners. Do the console versions cope with the graphical benchmarks or succumb to the virtual stress?

4
Homefront Review
By: Mason_M - Monday, March 21, 2011 - 1:39pm

Homefront, (supposedly) written by John Milius (Red Dawn), touts a unique single-player story and involving multiplayer experience. Does it perform or fall flat on its face?

3
Total War: Shogun 2 Review
By: iWINuFAIL - Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 7:14pm

Never has stepping backwards meant such a huge step forwards.

5
Dragon Age II Review
By: iWINuFAIL - Sunday, March 13, 2011 - 3:40pm

BioWare delivers a strong narrative yet again that is occasionally hindered by signs of dungeon repetition.

6
Dead Space 2: Severed DLC Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - 10:55pm

Should fans pony up the $7 for the first Dead Space 2 story-related DLC? Read on to find out.

1
Bulletstorm Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Sunday, February 27, 2011 - 12:50am

Bulletstorm is People Can Fly's second attempt to bring the fun in shooters back to the gaming community (their first being Painkiller). With the added help of Epic Games, have they provided a mature experience worthy of your $60? 

4
Killzone 3 Review
By: Josh Kowbel - Friday, February 25, 2011 - 9:29am

Two years ago, Guerrilla Games released Killzone 2 to the masses. Unfortunately, many gamers cried foul over the terrible controls and lackluster AI. Have the developers finally given fans what they wanted? 

8
Dead Space 2 Review
By: iWINuFAIL - Saturday, January 29, 2011 - 10:03pm

Visceral Games is back with the sequel to one of 2008's sleeper titles. Can Dead Space 2 repeat the success, or have the scares grown stale?

7

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