Category: Xbox 360 (Page 4 of 31)

      GAME REVIEW: Sine Mora

      March 29, 2012 /

      One of the great things about Xbox Live Arcade is that it really encourages developers to create games that appeal to the nostalgic gamer in all of us, and you don’t get much more classic than the side-scrolling shoot ‘em up. What separates “Sine Mora” from genre favorites like “Gradius” and “R-Type,” however, is the importance that time plays in the game. Not only can you control time by slowing it down in order to evade fire, but time also acts as your health. You lose a few seconds with each hit you take, gain some back with every enemy you kill, and if your timer runs out, you’re dead. There are also several power-ups you can collect throughout the game that add time to your clock, upgrade your primary weapon or provide a temporary shield.

      The game’s distinctive features are only upstaged by its amazing art design, although you won’t have much time to appreciate the gorgeous backdrops because you’ll be too busy trying to dodge the overwhelming amount of enemy fire that fills the screen at any given time. But while “Sine Mora” is a visually stunning twist on the popular shoot ’em up genre, the fact that Suda51’s Grasshopper Manufacture is behind the game means that it’s also a bit bizarre. Starring a cast of “Star Fox”-like anthropomorphic pilots that speak Hungarian and discuss adult topics like murder and rape, the story jumps back and forth between locations, time periods and characters so often that it’s virtually incomprehensible.

      “Sine Mora” would have been better off just axing the story altogether, because although the game can be a bit frustrating at times, it’s still a lot of fun to play; the multi-tiered boss battles are a particular highlight. Sadly, it all goes by too fast, with a campaign mode that barely lasts two hours on normal difficulty. Those looking for a bigger challenge will find one in the included Arcade mode – which lets you play each mission piecemeal without the story and introduces other abilities like rewinding time and a bullet-deflecting shield – but unless you’re a hardcore shoot ‘em up fan, it’s probably not worth spending $15 on such a niche game.

      Reviews, Xbox 360

      Let the Super Bowl pre-enactments begin

      January 25, 2011 /

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      Football has never been my game. Not in real life, not in video games. I’m just not good at assessing the risk involved in each play, the progression of the game, the fact that the Hail Mary is both fun and stupid, and not just fun. All through college, though, I endured a rivalry between two of my closest friends in whatever Madden game was the most recent.

      It got intense. There was yelling, swearing, controllers were broken, consoles powered off mid-game, shouting matches across bathroom stalls, but the game count usually ended up pretty close. And every year about this time, each friend would pick their Super Bowl favorite and stage the game, complete with an array of beer, snacks, and of course, more yelling. As little interest as I have in football, it was always a good time (it was also easy to talk everyone into some Halo once the game was done).

      It’s strange, but I’ve missed that these past several years. I’m still in touch with my friends, which means I know things I have no business knowing about the sport. I know my friend Brian, a Browns fanatic, might weep like a child if the Steelers win. I’ve heard the Packers are favored over the Steelers (although checking the lines at the BetUS Sportsbook shows the Steelers +110, whatever that means).

      For all that, though, I wish I could sit down, drink some beer, and watch my friends hash things out on Madden. I probably won’t watch the Super Bowl this year, not even for the commercials, but I’d be willing to watch two people play a video game of the same game, because for me, it’s a much more personal rivalry.

      EA, Editorial, PS3, Xbox 360

      My first Kinect experience was underwhelming

      December 12, 2010 /

      Kinect Adventures.As part of this weekend’s festivities, Spike set up a gaming lounge in one of the suites at the Four Seasons with a couple different systems sporting current titles for our enjoyment. It’s a little odd to try to sit down and play some games with people you’ve literally just met, especially on a console. Console gaming, at least locally, is sort of an intimate affair. You’re right next to one another, can immediately see whether your teammate/opponent is doing well.

      Kinect augments this experience tenfold, because suddenly you’re doing these really foolish things in order to control the game. I started on a game called “Kinect Adventures,” which had me jumping up and down and leaning left and right to control a small raft. The camera had a hard time nailing me down at times, and even when it did find me it was a little sluggish. The worst part, though, was that it took pictures of me in these ridiculous poses and then showed them to the room when I finished a run. I’m not a particularly bashful person, but literally no one was willing to give the game a shot after seeing that.

      It seems like Kinect could be very cool for a young family or maybe in the right dorm room, but it’s definitely not something you should do with people you don’t know.

      Editorial, Xbox 360

      Xbox LIVE Summer of Arcade Review: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

      August 20, 2010 /

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      It may no longer carry the “Tomb Raider” name in its title, but “Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light” is still very much a “Tomb Raider” game, although a very different one from what fans of the treasure-hunting archaeologist are used to. Square Enix has not only rebranded the series in name, but in presentation as well, shedding its trademark third-person viewpoint for an isometric fixed camera reminiscent of the dungeon crawler genre. It’s also the first time that a “Tomb Raider” game has been released as a digital download, but if this is the future of Lara Croft, then count me in, because while “The Guardian of Light” might be a little too easy for hardcore gamers, there’s more than enough content here to guarantee that you’ll be back for seconds.

      The story is as follows: After accidentally unleashing the evil spirit Xolotl from a cursed artifact called the Mirror of Smoke, Lara must team up with a 2000-year-old Mayan warrior named Totec (the titular Guardian of Light) in order to imprison him in it once again. The combat system is slick and simple, with twin-stick controls that allow you to shoot and move in a fluid 360 degrees, while accessories like bombs, a grapple hook, and a golden spear keep the game feeling fresh as you explore each level to find shortcuts, hidden artifacts and relics that act as power-ups, and unique challenges that come with their own rewards. Though co-op mode is even more fun with the addition of Totec as a playable character, Square Enix really dropped the ball by failing to support online play. (An upcoming patch will fix that, but it should have been ready on Day One.) Still, while it may not be Lara Croft’s finest hour, between the replay value of co-op and the promise of additional content in the form of new maps and characters coming soon, it’s a bright start to the series’ latest chapter and a fitting finale to the Summer of Arcade.

      Reviews, Xbox 360

      Xbox LIVE Summer of Arcade Review: Hydro Thunder Hurricane

      July 27, 2010 /

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      It’s been ten years since Midway’s powerboat racer, “Hydro Thunder,” became a staple in arcades all across the world, and if you’ve been inside a Dave & Buster’s since then, you’ll find that it’s just as popular as ever. This undoubtedly played a major role in Microsoft’s decision to develop a sequel for Xbox LIVE Arcade, but while “Hydro Thunder Hurricane” is definitely similar in spirit, it loses some of its appeal with a regular controller. The game still consists of racing, boosting and jumping your way through a series of themed water courses while riding tricked-out powerboats, but since that alone isn’t worth the $15 price tag, the game has been outfitted with a few extra modes.

      Along with the basic Race option, there’s also a frustrating slalom mode (Ring Master), a time trial mode littered with exploding barrels (Gauntlet), and multi-event tournaments combining all three. Additionally, you can play with up to four players locally or eight players online, and there’s even a multiplayer-only event called Rubber Ducky that pits two teams against one another in a race to push their rubber duck across the finish line first. Though the single-player mode offers enough to keep you busy for an afternoon or two, it’s in multiplayer where the game really shines. Not only do the races feel faster, but you can also rack up points (used to unlock new tracks, difficulties, boats and skins) a heck of a lot easier. It’s still not an incredibly deep racer, but you get what you pay for.

      Want more Summer of Arcade? Be sure to come back every Wednesday through August 18th for a first-hand look at Microsoft’s newest XBLA exclusive. Next week: break out your whip, stakes and holy water when Dracula returns in Konami’s “Castlevania: Harmony of Despair.”

      Reviews, Xbox 360

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