Tomb Raider Review

Title: Tomb Raider
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
System: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action Adventure, 3^rd person thriller
Rating: M

 

Like any worthy hidden treasure you’d have to be under a very big rock not to know about the new reboot of one of gamings' most iconic characters. Between the controversy involving a probable rape scenario that was later debunked to the countless ads and showcasings, “Tomb Raider” is a triple-A title has had gamers of all sorts eagerly awaiting its release.  Promising a fresh new look, an engrossing origin story, and a much darker tone, did Crystal Dynamics create a glorious interactive gem or will this be another artifact cursed by the same problems that historically stuck with the franchise.

Amber Alert Review

 

 

TITLE: Amber Alert

DIRECTOR:  Kerry Bellessa

STARS: Summer Bellessa, Chris Hill, Caleb Thompson

PUBLISHER: Wrekin Hill Entertainment

RATING: R

GENRE: Thriller, Found Footage

 

 

We’ve all witnessed those warning signs on the highway warning fellow motorists to be on the lookout for a suspicious vehicle that’s on the run. It’s just a sad reminder of the many bad things that do happen in society but at the same time serves as a beacon of hope that someone’s turmoil has the possibility of ending on a happy note. Most of us admit however, that when we see these amber alerts we just shrug it off and go on with our lives because lets face it; what are the odds that anyone would stumble across that vehicle in question. “Amber Alert” is an independent found footage thriller that documents the events of three average people who are thrown into this very scenario and shows how one’s actions could mean the life or death of an innocent victim. Does this film bring an awe inspiring story home or is a perversion of the subject that should’ve remained missing? 

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time Review

Title: Sly Cooper Thieves in Time.

Developer: Sanzaru Games

System: Playstation 3

Genre: Platformer

Rating: E

 

It’s been over seven years since the gaming world last saw Sly and his pals in an all new adventure but fans can now rejoice as their favorite ring tailed caper has finally arrived on the PS3. With a new developer backing them now that Sucker Punch has moved on to other projects, Sanzaru games have some pretty big shoes to fill. And while a relatively new company, they already have a less than favorable history in dealing with beloved Sony characters; I’m looking at you Secret Agent Clank. My suspicions were once again even more enforced when word spread that the game would be forty dollars on the day of release. When a gap between sequels is this long and the price is that low, one should always proceed with caution. It certainly looked like gamble but were odds in my favor or was this a crap shoot where fans should cut their losses?

Ratchet and Clank Full Frontal Assault Review

 Title: Ratchet and Clank
           Full Frontal Assault          
Platform: Playstation 3
Developer: Insomniac Games
Genre: Tower Defense
Rating: E

 

When Insomniac suddenly announced the release of an all new Ratchet and Clank game, two emotions overtook me. First like any fan I was excited and then I unexpectedly began to feel really old because FFA was in fact a celebration title dedicated to the tenth anniversary of everyone’s favorite lombax and his mechanic sidekick. The price was also a pleasant reveal being only twenty dollars. That’s a bargain no matter how you look at it now in days right? Insomniac has really catered to their fans by releasing the HD collection of the first three PS2 titles and FFA was to be the icing on the cake. However, one can’t help but wonder if that cheap price tag is a representation in terms of quality. Did Insomniac go for a quick cash grab or is this another adventure fans will cherish for years to come? Well it turns out it’s kind of a mixed bag.

DMC Devil May Cry Review

 

Title: DMC Devil May Cry
Platform: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action Hack & Slash
Rating: M

 

 OMFG what happened to Dante’s hair? As much as it shames me, I must admit that I was one of 'those guys' completely turned off by Capcom’s rebooted franchise the moment the first images were released. I was convinced that Ninja Theory was trying to cash in on the Twilight craze and that one of my favorite characters was going to be ruined.  This punkish emo kid wasn’t the Dante I knew. Hell he didn’t even sport the red jacket-Blasphemy I shouted.  I didn’t even bother to try the free demo on sheer principle. Well now that the game is now out, I decided to stop being a whiney fan boy and give it a shot. Were my prejudices justified or did I walk away satisfied feeling juvenile thanks to my previous attitude towards it?

Death Race 3 Inferno Review

TITLE: Death Race Inferno

DIRECTOR: Roel Reiné

STAR: Luke Goss, Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames

PUBLISHER: Universal

RATING: R, Unrated

GENRE: Action

I’ll get my biases out in the open right away. I loved the 2008 release of Death Race that was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. It was a movie specifically made for my tastes. It had guns, cars, plenty of action, and a hero I could actually root for. The fact that it reminded me of Twisted Metal; a game I hold close to my childhood instantly sealed the deal when the original trailer came out and luckily the film did not disappoint. Then the 2010 prequel came out falling a bit behind in terms of story quality. Now in 2013 the third installment has been released to continue the adventures of the original Frankenstein and his crew as they struggle to survive in the world’s most popular blood sport. But will this be a high octane thrill ride like the first film, or end up as a watered down mess leaving its audience stranded and wanting more?

Shadows of the Damned Review

 

One hell of a road trip.

Title: Shadows of the Damned

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3

Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture

Genre: Psychological Horror

Rating: M




     Please take a moment and look at the graphic at the top right. What vibe does this image give off to your psyche? If you’re like me, you most likely thought this was some half ass effort title that EA put out from japan in an effort to make a quick buck off of any poor sucker, who desperately wanted an all action shooter. He’s looking all tough and serious in his purple leather jacket pointing his gun that has a skull on it in a sad attempt to make him more extreme. I bet he has a stereotypical jock mentality and a filthy vocabulary overall. Well what would you say if I told you your thoughts were misguided and that this is honestly one of the best titles I’ve played in a long time? “Shadows of the damned”, is a title that from what I can tell has slipped under the radar in the gaming world. It’s not new. Heck it came out in September 2011 but this is the first game in a long while that I truly felt was worth every penny I paid for.