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Revolutionary Round-Up

Posted on Friday, October 1 @ 15:06:53 Eastern by danielrbischoff

The holidays are here and there has been work all week long. GR's got your back, and until you can comment directly on reviews and previews, why not discuss the ones that were published this week here? I can guarantee I'll talk back.

Don't worry, we're not getting lazy, but there was a lot of new stuff on the front page this week and we want to make sure you're up to date. The holidays are upon us, what with all the shit I've been seeing in Target lately. We won't steer you wrong when it comes to what games to spend your hard earned cash on.

Josh said of Atelier Rorona: "So after all is said and done, is this a good game? Tough question. Atelier Rorona has a pretty small target audience (at least in the US). If you like Harvest Moon, but like making stuff instead of farming it, this is your cup of tea. Gust didn't attempt to broaden the game's appeal to a wider audience, and I commend them for it. But that still makes it difficult to recommend to the general gaming populace. Still, one man's lump of lead might be another man's lump of gold."

Chris previewed Yakuza: Of the End and said "Zombies, bars, guns, gangsters, girls, and neon; if there were only pirates, they'd have to call it 'Of the Game Revolution'. You bet your ass you're gonna hear more about this one."

I said that Dead Rising 2 has "so much to do, so much to see, and so many zombies to kill, all with a satisfyingly challenging player-vs.-clock set up. With multiple playthroughs in mind, Dead Rising 2 may provide all the gaming you need this holiday season. There's no way you'll be able to do everything in one shot.

Kuulei remarked that "Even though the combat is weakened by the controls, it is the best part of the game. Whether it be fighting off three trolls at once or charging through goblins on your steed, it’s just pure frolic." But that The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest's "biggest flaw is its story, which is ironic due to the fact that the Lord of the Rings trilogy is all about its story."

Ben noted that Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions "is easily the best Spidey game since the Spider-Man 2 game from '04. The levels and bosses are varied so gameplay never feels stale, there are tons of things to unlock, it's accessible enough for the uninitiated but still full of enough references that the diehards won't feel left out."

Kevin said that Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep's "only notable downside is the constant loading times. The worlds are large and beautiful, but every time you reach a new point that needs a disc spin – which seems to be VERY often – it can break some of the flow of the game," but that the game will keep you "busy for quite a while."

I played a ton of Space Invaders: Infinity Gene and thought that the "immediate, pressing visual and audio effects can be a shock to the player's system. Immediate reactions will register on the 'what the hell' scale, but with a little time, gamers will have a fluid, evolving experience that's got them on the tips of their thumbs."

Nick stopped himself short of handing out his number to Deathspank and said that Thongs of Virtue "is not as cohesive nor as innovative as its predecessor. But it feels overbearing to criticize an unflinchingly goofy 15-hour adventure that couldn't take itself any less seriously if it tried."

Finally, Blake took Blade Kitten for a spin and said that the game was best suited for "girlfriends who don't really play games, but maybe grew up with a SNES and have fond memories of their cute little loot-collecting excursions. If you are trying to ween a GF (or BF, never let it be said GR isn't progressive) on to modern consoles, this could be a great stepping stone, as the gameplay and graphics are just as simple as they were back in the day."