The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard Review

The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard
Developed by: Bethesda Game Studios
Published by: Bethesda Softworks
Date of Release: August 2, 2012
Price: $19.99 (Steam)

Back in November of 2011 when The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim launched, it did so to great critical acclaim. Despite a few bugs here and there, it was quite a favorable experience and left many fans wanting more. Well the wait is over, the first expansion for Skyrim is here! Titled Dawnguard, it chronicles the long-fought struggle between mankind and the oh so recently over-popular children of the night: vampires. Though you may cringe in fear of angsty teen supernatural romance, this is an epic tale worthy of the Elder Scrolls name, not Twilight. These vampires do NOT sparkle.




When I first started playing Skyrim again after installing Dawnguard I took an hour or so to tie up some loose ends and finish some of the extra quests in my journal. I heard rumors of vampires and the return of the Dawnguard, however i decided to take my time and see to my own matters first. I was NOT prepared for a full-fledged vampire assault on my own hometown of Whiterun, (which sadly left Adrianne Avenicci dead). Choking back tears as the courier delivered my inheritance, I vowed to see this undead scourge wiped from the land.




I would imagine that the motives for each player's journey through Dawnguard will differ in how they first encounter the vampiric scourge, and whether they wish to side with them, or fight them. I for one immediately sought out the fortress of the dawnguard, and was quick to join their ranks. I really missed the antics of my glitchy npc blacksmith neighbor, and those undead bastards were gonna pay for her death.




However enough about me, let's talk upgrades! Three new blessings, four new shouts, and nine new spells! You want more friends and foes? Try 80 new NPC characters split between factions! Still not enough? Fine, have a werewolf skill tree, and the ability ro transform into a vampire lord! But wait, there's more! New areas to discover! 40 more quests! Crossbows! Sexy undead princesses! And ABSOLUTELY NO EMO TEENAGE VAMPIRES WHO SPARKLE IN THE SUN! You know we can't keep doing this all day folks, so place your order now! Just one easy payment of $19.99, OR your eternal soul. All major credit cards and PayPal accepted!

Dust: An Elysian Tail Review

Dust: An Elysian Tail
Developed By: Humble Hearts
Published By: Microsoft Game Studios
Date of Release: August 15, 2012
Price: 1200 MSP

As I sit here after finishing Dust: An Elysian Tail, I find myself having to fight back tears while thinking of the revelation-packed ending. It is not often that a game presents such a profound and gripping narrative, in this world of rushed to market cookie-cutter shooters and overblown RPGS. And yet here is a game, built in less than four years by a single driven individual. Dean "Noogy" Dodrill himself handled the programming, visuals, writing and animation, and only reached out for help with the music and voiceovers. And yet this seemingly simple metroidvania-style XBLA title manages to surpass the production values of nearly any recent big budget blockbuster that can be named.



The gameplay in Dust is fast paced and compelling, with a combat system that takes the best parts of games like Castlevania SOTN and Devil May Cry. As in DMC, you can rack up insane combos for extra experience points (my personal best was just over 3500 hits). Upgradable abilities earned along the way keeps everything feeling fresh, and will open the way to previously inaccessible areas, a la Metroid. A continuously updating automap will keep you from ever getting lost in the game's vast world.



Dust certainly has a lot of stuff to do, with a number of sidequests nearly bordering on the excessive. There are countless secrets to be found, so be sure to explore every nook and cranny for destructible walls. If nothing else you will be rewarded with a Mysterious Wall Chicken. Noogy definitely packed the game to the brim with tributes to many classic games, both old and new (to get the "wall chicken" joke one simply needs to play Castlevania). Add to all that a blueprint-based crafting system, and Dust's adventure just keeps getting deeper and deeper.



When it comes down to the quality of the narrative and voice acting, Dust: An Elysian Tail is definitely no slouch. It is near impossible not to fall in love with the varied cast of characters and their often wacky hijinks (Dust's companion Fidget is one of the most endearing characters I have seen in years, and does well to break the "Navi" stereotype). That's not to say the whole game is a barrel of laughs, it gets incredibly serious towards the end with a major plot twist that will leave player's heads spinning. With an epic plotline that will last the average player at least 8 hours and with sidequests out the wazoo, players will definitely get their 1200 MSP worth with this game. Dust: An Elysian Tail is simply too good to pass up!

Wizorb PS minis Review

Wizorb (PS minis)
Developed By: Tribute Games
Published By: Beatshapers
Date of Release: July 24, 2012
Price: $3.99

Back in the good old days of arcade gaming there was one interesting game that stood out from the crowd, with its colorful graphics, addictive gameplay, and unique control style provided by a modest spinning knob. This blockbuster (pun intended) was known as Arkanoid. Now in the year 2012 we have a game that takes a similar approach to the genre gameplay wise, but throws everything else out the window and reinvents itself as something amazing.



Wizorb is an epic fantasy adventure seemingly haling from the golden years of gaming, however with a major twist. Rather than charge you with the task of smiting your foes through the normal means of combat, say through turn based or action gameplay, Wizorb first checks if you have the balls to take on the challenge. Cyrus, the wizardly main character, transforms himself into a mystical orb and proceeds to use his staff as a paddle to knock him into his foes. Aside from your enemies, you can also break bricks, chests, barrels, and other items strewn through the playfield, with plenty of powerups to collect as a reward.



There are also various spells at your disposal which you should master if you wish to win the day. You can for instance launch fireballs, or use a gust of wind to change the direction of your orb. If you use your magic sparingly and at the right time, you can drastically alter the flow of the game. Wizorb definitely takes a fair bit more thinking to overcome it's challenges than the games that inspired it.



With all these interesting additions to the genre, and wonderful pixel art by Paul Robertson, Wizorb is truely a wonderful experience which can be enjoyed by veterans and newcomers to the genre alike. A $3.99 asking price also sweetens the deal, considering you get 5 worlds, 60 levels, plenty of items to buy with your gold, and EPIC boss fights. The only minor issues in my opinion is that when it comes right down to it, an analog stick and D-pad just aren't as accurate as a mouse for playing this game, and there is some frequent slowdown that was not present in the PC version. But at any rate, Wizorb is is still a must buy for anyone who ever enjoyed breaking blocks with their balls.

Death Rally Review

Death Rally (Steam)
Developed By: Mountain Sheep Inc., Cornfox & Brothers Ltd.
Published By: Remedy Entertainment
Date of Release: August 3, 2012
Price: $9.99

Back in September of 1996 Remedy Entertainment took the PC racing world by storm with their smash hit destruction derby styled racer Death Rally. Featuring an overhead view similar to games such as Micro Machines and RC Pro AM, this balls-to-the-wall racer also had intense combat mechanics previously unseen in the genre. Fans were pleased by the high-octane carnage they were able to wreak with their gloriously upgradable death machines. Now fast forward to the present day. Hot on the heels of an impressive iOS remake, Remedy Entertainment has released a majorly overhauled version of Death Rally on Steam with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a PC title!



The first thing that stands out form the original Death Rally is the revamped control scheme. I'm not one to normally toss about tired and cliche terms such as "intuitive control", however Death Rally fits that description perfectly. Rather than having a gas button, and steering with the stick/keys, your car moves in the direction you press/hold on the stick. Between the keyboard and my Xbox 360 pad, I preferred the pad. Any joystick you connect to your PC will do however. The game also takes care of firing your primary weapon, leaving you free to handle the steering, and the decision of when to fire your secondary weapons, boost, or drop mines. At first you may feel like you have been robbed of a certain degree of interaction, however you are going to need every bit of concentration you can muster. So truth be told the new control scheme is a definite blessing.



Of course it wouldn't be Death Rally without customization, would it? Thankfully Remedy has seen to it that the full stable of customizable powerhouses have returned from the classic title, with a few nice surprises thrown in for good measure. Just as in the classic Death Rally your hard earned prize money can be used for repairs, and to upgrade your weapons, armor, speed, and more. As you race along the tracks be sure to pick up upgrade parts and tokens to unlock new tracks. Speaking of tracks, most of the original tracks make an appearance, so if you've memorized those twists and turns then you have an advantage right out of the gate. The new content included is definitely up to the quality of the original game, and doesn't feel tacked on at all.



The original Death Rally was famous for it's solid multiplayer, despite being limited to IPX networking. Of course as the remake is a modern title, the clunky network interface has been abolished, and the internet reigns supreme! All the classic gametypes are here such as racing and deathmatch, so get ready to reach out and frag someone. Online leaderboards will soon be added, so you will be able to try and beat your friends scores, while bragging about your own. With all these additions, not to mention the upgraded visuals and soundtrack, Death Rally really stands above all recent vehicular combat games. It definitely is worth buying at it's current price of $9.99.