Pac-Pix

Pac-Pix

This game started out life as a tech-demo and while it has been fleshed out a bit it still loses its shine too soon. The gameplay is novel enough, but after a few hours of just drawing Pac-Men you might find yourself yearning for something with a bit more depth.

Gameplay: The novelty factor is high, but the concept soon becomes tiresome.

Graphics: About as good as you can draw Pac-Man.

Sound: The tunes trigger some nostalgia

God of War II

God of War II

After the excellence of the previous game there were a lot of expectations riding on this sequel and gladly it does not disappoint. God Of War 2 is every bit as good as the original and surpasses it in many areas. There are lots of visceral combat sequences and you’ll be cracking just as many tough puzzles as enemy skulls in this epic game.

Gameplay: Brutal and over the top with a nice mixture of puzzles thrown in with the combat.

Graphics: Some of the most epic set pieces seen in a PS2 game.

Sound: Epic orchestral soundtrack and good voice acting

Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon

Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon

Innocent Life is somewhat of a departure for the Harvest Moon series and also has a new art style that sets it apart from the other games in the series. It can be a very relaxing game to play, but is definitely not for impatient gamers. Check it out if farming is your thing.

Gameplay: Somewhat different from previous Harvest Moon games, but still fun.

Graphics: A new art direction for the series.

Sound: Catchy and annoying in equal measures

Fallout 3 – Point Lookout

Fallout 3 – Point Lookout

The spooky swamps of Point Lookout are a welcome break from the dusty wasteland. Infested with mutated hillbillies and crazy cultists there is lots of interesting locations to explore. It is a little lacking in good loot, but the story and location hold up well.

Gameplay: Less linear than previous DLC and a lot creepier.

Graphics: A new location and a few new enemies.

Sound: Still good

Defender

Defender

Defender is a pretty basic castle defense game, but it is fun to play. With the same playing field and a rather limited selection of monsters it can become a bit boring the more you play. While the game is free there is also a cash shop where crystals and cash can be bought unless you prefer to grind for these valuable resources. A nice game to play every once in a while, but it soon grows tiring.

Gameplay: Addictive at first, but the lack of variety can make it a bit boring later on.

Graphics: Very polished, but could have used some more variety.

Sound: The sound effects are good

Bomberman

Bomberman

Even with 100 levels the single player mode is still a breeze to complete. Fortunately, there is a nice meaty multi-player mode for you to sink your teeth into. With up to eight players being able to play from a single cart this is excellent value for money and will keep you playing for quite some time.

Gameplay: You really need to play this in multiplayer to get the most out of it.

Graphics: Bright, colorfull and very retro looking.

Sound: Typical Bomberman stuff

Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet

Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet

With its quirky sense of humor, interesting cast of characters, and plucky protagonist, it is hard not to be charmed by Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet. While the puzzles are somewhat easy, the game always had us smiling and even had a few laugh-out-loud moments. The Monkey Island series has obviously influenced it, but the game has enough unique charm of its own. If you are a genre fan, The Fowl Fleet should definitely be on your wishlist.

Gameplay: Easy enough for newcomers, but even experienced players will enjoy the quirky setting and characters.

Graphics: The blend of 3D characters and 2D backgrounds works well, and the overall art style is very good.

Sound: The soundtrack is nice, but the voice acting steals the show thanks to some great performances

Beat Blades Haruka

Beat Blades Haruka

Nukige titles are not really known for their story or gameplay, but Beat Blades Haruka definitely bucks this trend. As implausible as it is the story is actually quite neat and training the girls to fight in battle is very addictive. Of course, seeing as it is a nukige title there is an enormous amount of H-content as well and fans will be happy to hear that it is all completely uncensored. It is not a game for the easily offended or sensitive, but fans of the genre should definitely add it to their collection.

Gameplay: The stat raising and battles make it a lot more engrossing than a typical nukige title.

Graphics: Excellent character designs and a ton of CGs.

Sound: Good voice acting and lots of music

The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams

The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams

The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams borrows some elements from Bioshock and Abyss, but the underwater complex still makes for an interesting setting. To break up the gloominess of the deserted facility you also get to visit a few dream locations, such as Paris, Prague and the Amazon jungle. So while it doesn’t really break any new ground, it did keep us entertained throughout.

Gameplay: Nice hidden object scenes and interesting puzzles, but nothing truly unique.

Graphics: The setting is rather familiar, but the dream elements do allow for some nice new locations.

Sound: Overall, not too bad

Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed Makes Steam Debut

Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed Makes Steam Debut

The Hyperdimension Neptunia series should be familiar to most PC owners at this point. The previously Playstation exclusive titles have been popping up on Steam for a while now thanks to Idea Factory International. This latest entry, Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed, is a little special though as it is actually a hack ‘n slash spin-off and not a role playing title like the others. It is still set in the Hyperdimension Neptunia universe, but fans can now see their favorite characters take down hordes of enemies using spectacular combos!