Radiant Silvergun Review

Radiant Silvergun (XBLA)
Published By: Microsoft Game Studios
Developed By: Treasure
Date of Release: September 14, 2011
Price: 1200 MSP

Ah nostalgia... how sweet it can be. The memory of playing a favorite game along with the urge to collect can drive people to spend exorbitant sums of money just to experience those feelings again. Which is likely why the original Sega Saturn version of Radiant Silvergun sells online for prices in the triple digit range. Luckily Treasure has come to rescue their fans with Radiant Silvergun for the Xbox Live Arcade. Priced at a mere 1200 Microsoft Points, the XBLA version has the original arcade mode plus the complete Sega Saturn version, even going so far as to include a cleaned up HD version of the anime intro video for story mode.



This amazing port also boasts some welcome additions, such as the ability to choose between pixel-perfect and smoothed versions of the original graphics, or brand new HD rendered visuals with an option to choose between Saturn style mesh or modern alpha blending for transparencies. Whether you're an oldschool purist or a modern graphics junkie, there is something here to please everyone.

In most games of this genre you start out with one weapon and then collect upgrades to unlock more firepower as you defeat your foes, however that is not the case with Radiant Silvergun. Instead you have your entire arsenal available from the start, and in story mode you actually can improve each weapon's power level by using it, and your progress is saved even if you get a game over. Speaking of which, you can expect to see the game over screen a LOT, as Radiant Silvergun retains it's oldschool style challenge. That's not to say that deaths are cheap, the game will reward you if you learn enemy patterns and play carefully. Thankfully as you accumulate playtime you unlock more and more continues, by the 7th hour of play you should have freeplay enabled, if you choose to use it. One word of warning, if you tinker with the difficulty settings, you cannot upload your scores to Xbox Live.



Radiant Silvergun has a nice bonus for those who also own Treasure's other magnum opus, Ikaruga. Having any achievement from Ikaruga unlocked on your account will give you access to the Ikaruga Mode, which uses the chain scoring system from Ikaruga itself. This adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay, and is something that should please both veterans and newcomers alike. It's time to pack up your dusty old Saturn and download Radiant Silvergun on XBLA.

Serious Sam Double-D Review

Serious Sam Double D (PC)
Published By: Devolver Digital
Developed By: Mommy's Best Games
Date of Release: August 30, 2011
Price: $7.99



Serious Sam Stone is back, and this time he's stacked. Rockstar indie devs Mommy's Best Games are known for such hits as Weapon of Choice, Shoot1Up, and Explosionade. When Devolver Digital announced the Serious Sam Indie Series, MBG stepped up to the plate with Serious Sam Double D, the most wacked out Serious Sam adventure yet. Before we get on with the review I first have to direct you to the hilarious trailer. I almost don't even need to review this title, the trailer sells it so well.



Serious Sam Double D is a run and gun sidescroller harkening back to the days of Contra and Metal Slug, with a few very awesome twists. For starters, it's got the signature brand of Serious Sam humor that we've all come to know and love, except this time it's turned up to 11 by the twisted minds at MBG. The second twist is the art direction. Everything in SSDD is made of insanely detailed hand-drawn sprites, with backgrounds reminiscent of watercolor paintings. The eye candy is incredible to behold. And if your ears are hungry for treats, the crunchy hard rocking riffs of the soundtrack should leave you satisfied as well.

All of Sam's signature arsenal is present and accounted for, although this time you have a special extra at your disposal, the GUNSTACKER. The gunstacker allows you to use connectors that you find hidden in the game's levels to connect your guns together, so you can stick a chainsaw on your shotgun, a grenade launcher on top of that, and then toss on a couple tommy guns for the full effect. You're only limited by the number of guns and connectors in your inventory.

You're gonna need those guns too. All of Sam's foes are back, itching to take him down once and for all. From beheaded kamikaze bombers to vicious gnaars, Sam will have his hands full. That's saying nothign of the new threats however, which include grenade launching jetpack monkeys, giant beetles, and even stacks of pancakes with forks for legs packing vuvuzela horns. You can't make this stuff up!

Serious Sam Double D is a solid and lengthy retro gaming experience, with loads of replayability as you try to find all of the hidden (and hilarious) secrets. Mommy's Best Games should be proud of their accomplishments, not many fan games ever attain this level of quality and polish.

Rock of Ages XBLA Review

Rock of Ages (Xbox 360)
Published By: ATLUS
Developed By: ACE Team
Released on: August 31, 2011
Price: 800 MSP


Throughout history, war has been an ever-changing machine. Battlefield tactics can change at any time, and a strategy that seems utter nonsense today could be the very key to winning tomorrow. ACE Team realized that truth, and it seems they have decided "Well, why not just bowl everything down with a whopping big boulder?".

Starting out with a Monty-Python style cinematic, Rock of Ages tells the story of Sisyphus, eternally bound to push a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down the hill every time (after being speared in the tush by an imp each time, no less). He grows tired of this constant repetitive torture, and decides to storm the gates of Hades with his boulder.

Rock of ages is a real-time strategy/action/bowling/tower-defense game where the objective is to roll your boulder down a long and winding path through enemy defenses, and impact their castle gate with enough force to shatter it. After each crack at it (excuse the pun) a new boulder must be built, which gives you time to set up your own defenses, because (surprise!) your enemy has a boulder of his own, and he will stop at nothing to destroy YOUR gates as well.

Defenses in rock of ages include guard towers, catapults, villages, and roaming herds of cattle, with many more surprises to find along the way. You also have a massive catapult that you can use to attack the enemy boulder directly, however you must lead your target and time the shot just right. A few good hits and your foe will be gravel at your feet. Don't get too comfy though, as your enemy can rebuild just as fast as you can.

Multiplayer in Rock of Ages can be played either in two-player splitscreen, or over Xbox Live. Two players can go boulder-to-boulder in War mode, or face off in Skeeball, where the objective is to race down an obstacle-filled course, and land your ball in one of the target holes, earning points depending on which one you land in. A point bonus goes to the player who scores first as well.

Rock of ages is a well-rounded title which can provide plenty of action and laughs in single player, and it certainly gathers no moss in multiplayer. Whether you are facing off against your friends or trying to beat your best times in Time Trial, you're in for a rolling good time.

Chantelise Review

Chantelise PC
Published By: Carpe Fulgur
Developed By: EasyGameStation
Date of Release: July 29th, 2011
Price: $9.99

In September 2010, indie game dev EasyGameStation, with the help of the excellent localization team at Carpe Fulgur, exploded into the North American gaming scene with the steam launch of Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale. Released to rave reviews and massive popularity, Recettear has sold well over 100,000 copies, paving the way for the localization of their earlier work, Chantelise.

In Chantelise, you play a young girl named Elise, who's older sister has been cursed by a witch and turned into a fairy. The game starts out with the simple goal of finding said witch, and reversing the spell, but things can never be too simple.

The combat system is standard action-rpg hack and slash, with enemies dropping magic crystals you can use to chain together magic spells. Where Chantelise differs from the average RPG is the lack of any sort of leveling/experience system, instead you collect loot and grow stronger by upgrading your equipment.

One warning: this game is HARD. Expect to die multiple times as you save up enough cash for the next equipment upgrade. Thankfully, you won't be punished for dying, you are merely returned to town, where you can plan your assault anew. If you like grinding in rpg's, this is your game.

All in all, Chantelise is a wonderful game with a heartwarming aesthetic, with gorgeous hand drawn sprites populating a vibrant colorful world, and the soundtrack is top notch. With all this content at hand you can expect to spend about 14-15 hours playing.

E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy Review

E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy PC
Published By: Streum On Studio
Developed By: Streum On Studio
Date of Release: July 29, 2011
Price:$19.99



Well ladies and gentlemen, I must admit that I am stumped. I'm not sure how to review indie dev Streum On Studio's latest title, E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy. so instead I will describe the experience I have had while playing it.

E.Y.E starts out by asking you to chose gene sequences to define your character's traits. After you have decided on your character's attributes you start out in some sort of dream sequence/trance. After exiting the door in said dream/trance, you are immediately thrust into a combat situation against rival factions, and this is where I admittedly lost track of the plot. That's quite alright though, because at that point I got to experience the wonderful combat system.

Combat and inventory management in E.Y.E is a little bit Deus EX, a little bit System Shock. You are limited by what weapons/ammo/items you can fit into your inventory grid. I was able to carry a minigun, dual handguns, and a lovely katana into battle, along with plenty of ammo. The minigun just chews through your foes like nothing else, and at 500 rounds per clip, reloads are few and far between. Successfully dispatching enemies earn you "Brouzof" points, I'm still not sure what they do however.

Once you get past the initial missions in the game, and start to get your bearings, that is when you start to realize the vast scope of the developer's vision. It may not make a whole lot of sense, however you can still appreciate the intense Matrix on LSD vibe they have going. E.Y.E is a surreal experience that is not for everyone, but if you have a taste for a deep world with plenty of secrets to unravel, this may just be the game you have been looking for.

Hacking is an interesting feature in E.Y.E, it works out like a realtime battle whener you have to apply hacks and counterhacks, and stay one step forward of what it is that you are trying to gain access to, because every hackable item in the game, be it a door or a computer, can hack you back. In the case this happens, you are infected with a virus that you have to deal with before you can continue.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have spent in the trippy world of E.Y.E, and my only real complaint is that you cannot save anytime/anywhere, instead the game saves your progress at predetermined checkpoints, and also when you enter a main hub. One of the devs assured me that this is so you have to consider your actions carefully, instead of just rushing in guns blazing.

Brink Review

Brink PC
Published By: Bethesda
Developed By: Splash Damage
Released on May 12, 2011
Price: $49.99


It has often been said that in today's stale gaming scene, overcrowded by cookie-cutter clones of Call of Duty, gamers need a breath of fresh air. Enter Brink.

Brink is the latest masterpiece from UK developer Splash Damage, famous for their work on the Enemy Territory series. Running on the id Tech 4 engine that was made famous by such gems as Doom 3, Quake 4, and PREY, Brink sets off on a completely different tangent from it's forebearers. Brink is an online team-based multiplayer shooter which mixes up class based teamplay, free running acrobatics, and an online campaign which manages to include impressive cinematics rendered in-engine that drive the story forward. The very same campaign can be played offline, with a host of friendly AI bots on your team.

The gameplay in Brink is somewhat reminiscent of Team Fortress 2, in the sense that you have a set of classes to pick from, however Brink gives you a plethora of upgrades and options to customize your play style, not to mention for changing your look. As you earn XP and level up, you will gain new outfits, tattoos, and the like for making sure that your character's looks suit your style.

Back to the topic of gameplay, the missions in brink are laid out in an objective based fashion, one team on defense, and the opposing team completing the objectives as they go. A great emphasis is placed on working as a team, going it alone will only get you killed. Changing classes to suit your situation is definitely a must if you want to survive for very long.

There are a good variety of maps in Brink, each one sprawling beyond the size of the average game, with lots of nooks and crannies to explore. This is where two interesting factors come into play: body size and SMART. Your body size dictates how agile you are, a large body can't jump as high as a medium or small, and is slower, and small bodies can move faster and duck through low clearance areas with ease. The other factor is SMART (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain). Using the assigned SMART button allows your character to seamlessly traverse the varied terrain, quite similar to free running. It can really help you get away from your adversaries in a pinch.

The PC version of Brink doesn't suffer from the so called "consolitis" that afflicts many recent titles. It truly feels built from the ground up for the platform, with a wealth of customization for the graphics and controls, and also dedicated servers for the online mode. An excellent server browser rounds out the package, making it easy to search for the match you want to join. Shooter fans defniately can't go wrong with Brink.

Bastion Review

Bastion (Steam)
Developer: SuperGiant Games
Publisher: Warner Brothers
Released: August 16, 2011
MSRP: $14.99 USD

So I recently had the pleasure of playing Bastion by indie dev SuperGiant Games, and boy was it ever a sweet one. I also had the opportunity to observe the dev's interactions with the fans on the Steam forums, and color me impressed, they listened to what the fans wanted. From adding new features to squashing bugs, SuperGiant Games have gone above and beyond the levels of support that I have witnessed with other companies. But enough about the developers, time to talk about the game!

Bastion starts out with you taking control of the game's silent protagonist, The Kid, deep asleep in his bed, oblivious to the calamity that has befallen his world leaving only his bedroom floating in the void. As the smooth-talking Stranger narrates your every move, he sets out on his journey. As The Kid makes his way through the world, the ground constantly rises up from the void to make new paths for you to explore. It should be noted that everything in the game from the backgrounds to the Kid and his foes are watercolor paintings, superbly rendered in 1080p. The production values for the art alone is staggering, and the same can be said about the soundtrack, which ranges from twangy western numbers to haunting ambiance.

As for the gameplay, Bastion is an action rpg akin to such titles as Secret of Mana and The Legend of Zelda. Anyone who has played either of those titles will feel right at home with the combat system, which features a bountiful variety of ranged and melee weapons, all of which are upgradable with crystals that you find throughout the world. You can also find tonics (known as Spirits) to unlock passive abilities that will help you on your way, and special attacks to devastate your foes. In the end. the game boils down to crawling through gorgeous dungeons looking for cores to use in the game's main hub, the titular Bastion, these cores allow you to rebuild the world in the way you see fit.

Altogether you can expect to spend about 8-10 hours playing bastion, though you can expect to spend a lot more time wandering around, there are secrets aplenty. RPG Fans will find a lot to like here.