Mini Ninjas Adventures review

But now we have Mini Ninjas Adventures, a spin-off of sorts that works exclusively with the Kinect.  Our heroic ninja once again returns, along with his band of misfits, as they do battle with an evil warlord who awakens just for the sake of being a nuisance.  He’s got various renegade ninjas at his disposal, but thanks to your powerful skills, you stand a chance at pushing them back.

As you might expect, you play the game by doing movements in front of the Kinect device.  You’ll jump from side to side by stepping to the left and right, putting you directly in line of sight with enemies or, in some situations, avoiding their incoming strikes.  You’ll start out with a sword attack, which you can use for a quick swipe or a strong full-circle swing.  But over the course of the game, you’ll pick up new weapons and abilities, including a bow and arrow set and shuriken throwing stars.  And just like the original, when you defeat enemies, they turn into harmless creatures.  Humanity wins again!

In addition to your techniques for attacking, you can also call upon defensive skills to keep enemies at bay.  You can call in your non-playable cohorts to strike enemies from a distance, or use a helpful little field goal kick to knock them back, giving you a little room to regroup and formulate a battle plan.

Like most Kinect games, Mini Ninjas Adventures does tend to get repetitive, and there are times you’ll need to recalibrate depending on where you’re standing by the sensor.  But in the outset, this experience isn’t that bad at all.  You’ll keep pushing yourself to see what lies around the corner as you go through a series of stages, eventually reaching a showdown with the warlord.  There’s hardly any replay value here, but this gives someone the ample opportunity to be a ninja without the need to go through that pesky training.  Or, for that matter, donning a unitard.

While Mini Ninjas Adventures doesn’t look as good as the original game that came out a while back, the developers at Side-Kick did a noteworthy job with the game’s backgrounds, making you feel like you’re dwelling in the middle of a fantasy world.  The animations are pretty good too, and the outfit designs easily let you know who the good and bad guys are.  However, the game could’ve eased up a bit on loading times.  Getting to a stage can easily take well over one minute – a huge no-no for a downloadable title that’s right on your hard drive.

The audio is okay, too.  The voiceovers that tell the story of the game don’t overdo it, not do they dwell into corny Saturday night kung fu territory.  The sound effects and music are also good, though they sound like leftovers from the original game.

There aren’t too many Kinect Arcade games that are worth their asking price, as most of them sail by on the basics of motion without really involving you in an experience.  But, outside of Fruit Ninja Kinect, Mini Ninjas Adventures is probably the most fun you’ll have with a blade in your hands.  Though the loading is a bit strenuous and the lack of replay value is noticeable, the game still cuts fairly deep.  And that's just what the Kinect Arcade market needs...

Via: Mini Ninjas Adventures review

NCAA Football 13 review

The first thing you’ll notice is the gameplay.  The quarterback has some new step-off animations – 20, in fact – that make passing feel a little more fluid.  There’s also indicators to let you know how your receivers are positioned, though I felt there were instances where the defense reads them just a little too closely.  (Thankfully, the “blind swats” that were such a pain in previous versions are gone – the defender now has to see the ball to take a shot at it.)  The running game shows some signs of improvement as well, with better read-outs of hot routes and the ability to change it on the fly if you deem it necessary.

While most of it does lean on the same old stuff we’ve seen in previous years, NCAA 13 as a whole operates like a great sports sim.  Very rarely will you find an instance where something didn’t go as planned – save for user error or simply playing as a low-level, stat-drained team.  You can adjust sliders however you please in the game, should you feel you need work on your passing game or how you run on the field.

And as always, NCAA 13 packs on the modes for players to try out.  The newest of the bunch is Heisman mode, where you can take one of a dozen past winners – including cover star Barry Sanders – and run them through their paces for a superstar season.  While lacking in overall innovation, it’s nice to see these achievers get the recognition they deserve in game form.  And, hey, you can shut your friends up about who can do more in a Heisman season.

Aside from that, most of the modes from the series make a return.  The mascot football mode is a bit ludicrous, but well worth trying out if only to silence your buddies by dominating them with dudes in Air Force Falcon uniforms.  Road To Glory is once again back, where you can create a player from scratch and run them through a high school-college career, earning XP and making them a better-rounded player.  The addition of extra goals and Reaction Time (a cool little slowdown feature) are nice here.  Finally, Online Dynasty lets you make the run for records through either Xbox Live or PlayStation Network, setting up conferences and changing around staff to see if you can perform better in your league.

Though not all the schools made the cut in this game (which is a bit weird, considering it’s the “ultimate” NCAA package), we did see plenty of our favorite universities represented with mascots, authentic fields and player celebrations in the game.  And even if actual player names aren’t included (NCAA rules, I guess), it’s still a decent overall experience.

That said, the graphics can lack a bit in certain areas.  From a distance, the crowds don’t really look that much different, even if your team is romping and stomping a long-time rival.  Also, some of the environmental effects and camera angles don’t change much, even with extreme weather conditions.  Just something for EA to keep in mind with next year’s go-around.  Otherwise, the game looks marvelous.  Especially the menus and the replay system.  Talk about ESPN inspired.

As for audio, Brad Nessler and Kirk Herbstreit once again return for audio commentary, and though there are times they sound slightly disjointed (especially when meshed with Erin Andrews’ sideline reports), they offer some good rapport as your team marches forward.  The crowd noises are quite enthusiastic and fun to listen to, and the authentic themes for each school are a blast.  More cannon fire would’ve been nice, though.  (Yes, some schools still use cannons.)

Though not quite as trend-setting as last year’s rendition, NCAA Football 13 is still a good game of pigskin, packed with features and a strong presentation that fans of the sport will happily embrace.  At the very least, it’ll tide you over until you see if Madden NFL 13 can make the grade or not.  That’s a month and a half of Online Dynasty domination.  See you on the field.

[Reviewed on Xbox 360]

Via: NCAA Football 13 review

Bellator: MMA Onslaught review

In a sport that’s as technical as MMA, Onslaught sets itself apart from other similar titles by ramping up the action and pace. The best way to describe this formula would be to call it a Mortal Kombat meets MMA cross. You’re still setting up moves to counteract your opponent’s movements, but the focus isn’t detracted by complex button sequences. Indeed, most of the time will be spent button mashing to break blocks and to expose takedown opportunities – not pacing around the ring to find that one viable chance to score. This style of play coexists well with the introduction of a stamina bar. Like most fighters, you have your health bar that depletes after every hit, but you also have a stamina bar that keeps strategy vital in Onslaught. As you throw punches, kicks, and takedowns, your stamina bar will drop lower and lower; as it does, you run a greater risk of being knocked-out easier by a “flash KO.” This feature can be used against your opponents, thankfully, and will keep you on your toes throughout your matches.

Whereas some downloadable titles fall short in terms of graphics, Onslaught surprisingly impresses. The game ships with a number of well-known MMA fighters that are detailed from head to toe, or beard to chest hair. Though the game focuses less on surroundings, Onslaught’s slew of fighting locations are detailed enough to satisfy, as your focus won’t be on the setting. Onslaught also captures fighting in all its gory glory. As you and your enemy duke it out through three rounds, gashes become wider and your body more bloody. It’s always satisfying when you land a killer blow on an opponent and it’s then complimented with blood flying from his mouth onto the matt.

Onslaught does have some hindrances that detract from the overall experience, though. Unlike UFC Undisputed 3, Onslaught’s fight presentation is little to none. Apart from a nod to fighting games (Ready, ready, FIGHT!), you won’t be treated with play-by-play commentary or thrilling intros that show the fighters have come to pound each other into a pulp. There are also some hiccups in the fighting engine that makes the action pause for a moment, though some of them are absolutely hilarious. One time we were knocked out and our opponent began jumping and running around our body and pushed it around the ring.

Thankfully, these rough spots can be mostly overlooked thanks to the amount of content within Onslaught. Along with your standard exhibition, ladder, and multiplayer modes, the game features an extensive create-a-fighter mode that’s a breath of fresh air in sports games. You’ll have four spots available to create fighters that can be leveled up to 64, though no one fighter is the “ultimate, unbeatable fighter.” You can make your character as serious or silly as you want and can then level him up through any of the game’s modes. As you rank up, you’ll earn points that are used to improve your fighter’s skills across several horizons: strikes, takedowns, submissions, and technical. 345 Games has also promised future DLC, some free, that’ll extend your play time.

From a normal standpoint, Onslaught may not be much, especially in comparison to similar triple-A titles. The fact of the matter is, though, that the game is a fifteen-dollar downloadable title that offers more playability than any MMA/UFC game on the market. It’s also considerably unique in its gameplay style that is definitely a homage to fighting games. Simply put, 345 Games’ Bellator: MMA Onslaught is a great addition to the ever-growing digital marketplace and compliments the ever-growing sport that is Bellator. 

[Reviewed on Xbox 360]

Via: Bellator: MMA Onslaught review

The Walking Dead Episode 2: Starved For Help review

Following up on the events of A New Day, the first chapter that was released at the beginning of the summer gaming season, Starved For Help once again puts you in the shoes of Lee Everett, a felon who escapes police custody and finds himself as the leader of a group of survivors in a ramshackled fortress that used to be a motel.  Several of these folks are dependent on your decisions, such as how you’ll ration out food or who you’ll play “favorites” with.  Among these are Clementine, a young child who you stuck with throughout the first chapter of the series, as well as others, including the militant Lilly.

Episode 1 really paved the way when it came to decision-making, forcing you to make harsh choices and side with certain characters, while turning a cold shoulder to others in your hopes of surviving the onslaught of the undead.   But in Episode 2, you really see how these decisions shape the course of your adventure, as some of your fellow survivors opt to take matters into their own hands.  It’s here where you really learn what it takes to survive such an event.

Leave it to Telltale Games’ team to once again shape a truly nerve-racking zombie experience, right up there with Robert Kirkman’s comic book novel.  You’ll have your fair share of undead encounters, but the real twist of the knife here comes in the drama that unfolds between survivors, and the consequences behind some of your actions.  Someone who you put your trust into could easily be the worst person possible, while someone you were counting on can easily turn their back to save their own hide.  It’s mesmerizing watching how your choices go down.

That said, there is a slight bit less gameplay and puzzle solving in this chapter, as Telltale wanted to focus more on the decision-making this time around.  So if you’re expecting plenty of zombie-shredding moments, you might have to go back to Episode 1 to get your fill.  That doesn’t mean this isn’t a compelling game experience, because it is, but this isn’t one of those games where you’ll want to mash buttons just to see where it goes.  You’ll miss the point of it that way.

Though the general gameplay time is roughly just over a couple of hours, you can go through the experience again and see where your decisions take you.  You might even be tempted to go back to Episode 1 just to see how things shape up.  Very rarely do you run into a game that gives you a reason to revisit its roots.

As far as presentation goes, Episode 2 has some slight blemishes with character design and lip-synching, but the surroundings are still quite stirring, and the zombies look more haunting than ever before.  Some of the human reactions are a bit startling as well, especially if you catch some poor sap off guard with food rations.  Likewise, the audio is top quality, with a strong voice cast and ideal musical cues working in the right instances.

We won’t have to wait long to see where the third chapter of this series, Long Road Ahead, takes us, as it’s due for an August release.  That’ll give you enough time to explore Episode 2, though.  Starved For Help is the best episode to date, one filled with multiple options and choices that show you just how harrowing a zombie apocalypse can be – and all without continuously wielding a shotgun, at that.  We can’t wait to see how the rest of this series shapes up...even if we're not entirely prepared for it emotionally.  (Hey, that's a good thing.)

[Reviewed on Xbox 360]

Via: The Walking Dead Episode 2: Starved For Help review

Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition review

Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition follows in the footsteps of other revamped arcade classics, such as Namco’s Galaga Legions DX and Pac-Man Championship Edition, by returning to the classic gameplay many folks grew up with, and adding extra modes that actually serve a purpose, and don’t just serve as décor.  While the game’s still missing out on certain things that will make it a party favorite (like online play), there’s undeniably no question it ended up being better than expected.

First off, Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition features the original arcade classic – well, an “inspired” version, anyway – with different settings to choose from, including a retro 8-bit design.  There are various other modes you can check out as well, each one using old-school gameplay as its focal point.  These include Paint, Twin Frogger (one of our favorites, as you control two frogs at the same time), Frogger Freak Out, Battle Royale, Tile Capture and Lady Frog Rescue.  Up to four players can take part in these games, and the more the merrier, as the competition just isn’t the same against AI opponents.  Tile Capture and Frogger Freak Out are easily our favorites, thanks to their unpredictable nature.  Twin Frogger is worth a try as well – and quite challenging.

Zombie Studios sweetened the deal by letting you choose whatever visual and audio style you want for each round.  You can go with classic inspired tunes, which aren’t half bad and a visual grid layout similar to a Tron-like world, or go with the retro 8-bit look with “Froggy’s Lament” – yes, it’s here – in the background.  For some odd reason, Konami also added some Castlevania and Contra-inspired sprites and tunes as well, and they mesh better than you might expect.

As a party game, Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition delivers lots of fun, as there isn’t a dull mode in the bunch (save for Paint – could’ve been less predictable), and up to four local players can join in at any time.  It’s also fairly balanced, so kids and adults alike stand a chance to win each round.  Trophies and Achievements can also be unlocked, and additional backgrounds and tunes are also opened up as you hop along through the game.

While Pac-Man Championship Edition still has the edge with online leaderboards and additional modes, Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition still makes it home without getting squashed.  This is easily one of the better games in the series to date, reminding us how excellent the classic game was while, at the same time, coming through with new challenges aplenty.  Jump on this game when you get a chance.

[Reviewed on Xbox 360]

Via: Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition review

Deadlight review

The game takes place in 1984, in the midst of the Big Brother days.  You’re Randall Wayne, an ex-park ranger who gets separated from his family in the midst of a zombie outbreak, which overtakes most of his home state of Washington.  Randall must fight the odds and use whatever resources he can to stay alive, in the hopes of reuniting with his loved ones.

Deadlight opens splendidly.  When you first start out, you find yourself scrambling to get from place to place, while the undead keep in pursuit of you.  Sometimes you’ll be able to take them out with smarts, luring them into a pit or crushing them with a car.  Other times, you’ll have to be more visceral, using a fire axe that you’ve found in a corpse to put them out of their misery.  The game also introduces a great new tactic with the pistol, as it forces you to physically load and shoot your gun one shot at a time.  That can be tight in a pinch, but that’s Tequila Works’ way of introducing tension.

However, despite the developer’s best efforts, Deadlight doesn’t entirely keep that momentum.  First off, the story kind of fades the further you get into it, thanks to the less-than-sensible dialogue (think a Michael Bay-produced horror film, someone along those lines) and the fact that the game doesn’t give you too many reasons to care about the characters – not even Randall.

Secondly, the momentum also shifts, going from outrunning zombies to solving puzzles left behind by someone called The Rat.  These are deadly traps that you have to disarm or get around in order to survive the stage.  While these do present an interesting challenge, having them in the first place kind of negates the point.  This guy is supposed to be helping you, and instead of disarming these and doing so, you have to strenuously go through his “test”.

Some people may like this set-up, but a real problem comes with the gameplay.  On the one hand, the controls are a little sloppy in parts, such as grabbing onto a ledge after a huge jump – or trying to, anyway, as it’s real easy to fall to your death – or outrunning zombies, only to have to mash a button like crazy when one surprisingly grabs you.  They’re not completely broken controls, mind you, but the little problems will force you to try sections more often than you might expect.  And this is bound to get tiring for some of you.

At least Tequila Works has its heart in the right place with the game’s graphics.  The 2D engine is absolutely amazing at times, with exquisite lighting effects both in indoor and outdoor environments.  The animation is smooth, and never loses any piece of its creepiness, especially when zombies start lumbering after you.  It’s definitely a step up from what we’ve seen from previous 2D style games.  In fact, it can even hold its own against Chair Entertainment’s Shadow Complex, even if it isn’t as interactive. 

Now, if only the dialogue kept up.  On the bright side, at least the in-game music is very good, with ominous tones that settle in at just the right times.  

Finally, we couldn’t help but be disappointed with Deadlight’s conclusion.  There is a twist here that some of you won’t see coming, but rather than wrapping up this flawed tale the right way, it’ll leave you scratching your head, wondering if that’s it.

While Deadlight can’t quite hold the same recommendation as the previously released Limbo (due to its gameplay and story flaws), it still gets a mild thumbs up.  Tequila Works did a lot with the atmosphere, and there are parts of the game that do send chills down your spine, flawed gameplay and all.  Check out the Trial Game and see if the fear sinks in with you as it did with us. 

Via: Deadlight review

London 2012: The Olympic Games review

The game consists of 40+ activities, all based on the actual Olympic events, though playing through them mostly involves tapping buttons like crazy, holding the analog stick in a certain direction, or completing a quick-time event.  While that’s hardly as involving as what EA’s doing with its sports sims, it does make for a strong approach in the casual market, as anyone can literally pick up and play these games.  Plus, Sega Australia has put a certain sense of timing into each event.  With running, for instance, you have to tap the button enough so that you maintain a certain level of stamina, but you don’t want to mash like crazy, as too much can tire your runner out.

There are some events that truly stand out here.  Archery is very well done, giving you not only the trajectory on a shot, but also letting wind play a factor – something we haven’t seen that often in other archery games.  Table tennis has an interesting new spin – literally – with analog controls, rather than the usual button-tapping set-up.  And there’s even some first person shooting with the pistol events, something you don’t normally see in the Olympics.  Though not all the events are home runs, at least Sega made them interesting enough where you won’t automatically skip them.

Sega also outdid itself in the presentation department.  While not every athlete looks convincing going for Olympic gold, these athletes actually look closer to realistic than we expected, and their surroundings, based around official Olympic locations in London, are fascinating and life-like.  Furthermore, the camera never becomes a problem, as Sega has set up each angle so that it aids the player, rather than holding them back.  The sound is authentic too, with crowds and announcers applauding your performance.  Could’ve been better music, though.

London 2012 does give you the option to customize your athletes however you see fit, so you can add favorites from the past – or yourself – to your official team.  However, Sega cut the roster dramatically short with only 36 of the 200+ of the countries represented, for some inexplicable reason.  So if you’re a fan of Cuba or Egypt, we’ve got some bad news.

As for the other options London 2012 provides, they’re pretty good.  Motion play is included in the Party Play events, including Kinect and Move support, and though not every event can be played this way, the ones that were selected are moderately fun.  The game also comes with online support, so you can compete with other players around the world through leaderboards.  We’ll bust those world records yet…

Though London 2012 likely won’t be remembered like a year or so from now, it fares much better than Sega’s usual glut of Olympic-licensed flutter.  Though some of the activities are lacking (how do you screw up women’s volleyball?!) and a lot of representing countries are missing, most of the activities are fun with regular and motion play, and the online interaction is better than expected.  The presentation is good too, for what it is.  If you have to fulfill your fix of Olympic fever and the billion-plus hours of NBC coverage isn’t enough for you, step up to this podium and claim your medals.

[Reviewed on Xbox 360]

Via: London 2012: The Olympic Games review