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Ratings and Comments about Games

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story,DS

(8.75) I’ve always loved this series’ comedic brand of action/role-playing, and Bowser’s Inside Story is the finest entry yet. The game’s inspired main gimmick – shrinking Mario & Luigi to pea size and letting them loose in Bowser’s guts – makes for a game that literally operates on two different levels at once. Alpha Dream also innovates in a number of small but significant ways, utilizing the touch screen and microphone to add new depth to the familiar gameplay. It’s quite impressive; the developers keep throwing in new tricks long past the point you feel like you’ve seen it all in. Topping it off is the excellent script. It’s been a long time since a game made me laugh out loud this often (at least on ­purpose). Is what "Matt Helgeson" had to say about the game

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days,DS

(8.00) Most companies only get to use the art it created for a game once. Square has recycled nearly every environment in 358/2 from Kingdom Hearts II. What’s more surprising than this bold move is the fact that I didn’t really mind it. Not only is it impressive to see these PS2 levels running on the DS, the reused environments are appropriately framed to a story about Roxas’ first year with Organization XIII. Gameplay-wise 358/2 also feels a lot like KH II, and while I could have done without the one-hour tutorial, the action is fun. Even the new Panel leveling system adds a unique puzzle quality to upgrading your character. Kingdom Hearts fans won’t want to miss this portable romp through the Magic Kingdom. Is what "Ben Reeves" had commented about this game.

Guitar Hero on Tour: Decades,DS

(7.00) As the second Guitar Hero DS title released in less than six months, you might expect that Decades is fairly similar to the original On Tour. Mostly, you'd be right. However, Vicarious Visions deserves praise for improving this game in a couple of areas. Firstly, the soundtrack is much more appealing to fans of the ''big boy'' version, featuring some dynamic rock songs new and old. Secondly, the new song-sharing feature allows you to stream songs off a friend's copy of the original (and vice versa) for multiplayer. However, the sad fact remains that I don't think there's really anything that the developers can do to fix the game's true problems: the frustratingly inexact touchscreen strumming and the fact that playing this game is an ergonomic nightmare, especially for those with larger hands. Ultimately, what I remember most about this game is the wrist and neck pain. That is the comment "Matt Helgeson" had to say.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars,DS

(9.00) Dealing drugs is dangerous business, even in the cesspool of Liberty City. The risks may be amped, but so is the payoff. Play your cards right and you can generate thousands of dollars in a matter of minutes. In Chinatown Wars, the drug trade is a central new tenet of the GTA experience. Your pay for plugging rival gang members is paltry, so you need to find other ways to keep your SMG supplied with bullets. Rockstar has shoved a full GTA experience onto the DS' two small screens; the city sprawls for miles, the cars handle well, and clever minigames make use of the touch screen for stealing cars, giving tattoos, and playing the lotto. The only gameplay mechanic that takes a significant step back is the combat, which is plagued by a sketchy aim mechanic. The story doesn't hold up as well as the rest of the game, since the unlikable cast of characters makes it hard to give a damn about the plot, and the humor often falls flat. Chinatown Wars may lack a loveable anti-hero like Niko Bellic, but Rockstar's technical accomplishment on the DS makes this a must-play.That is the comment "Matt Bertz" had to say.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves,PS3

(10.00)Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a stunning, gorgeous adventure that will likely stand as the defining game of the PlayStation 3. Nearly every flaw of the original game has been corrected. The spotty gunplay is polished to a military shine, with accurate and smooth targeting. Platforming is more fluid, but at the same time more challenging due to the more complex level designs. But the real impact of this game comes from the story and characters. The gripping plot, snappy dialogue, and fantastic voice acting serve to create the most cinematic experience in gaming history. It’s like playing a brilliant summer action movie, right down to the most memorable explosive set pieces you may ever see. I was also pleasantly surprised by the excellent multiplayer, which offers unique spins on both co-op and competitive online play. From beginning to end, Uncharted 2 is a masterpiece, and a new standard in the action genre.That is the comment "Matt Helgeson" had to say.

Wolfenstein,PS3

(7.00) At its heart, Wolfenstein is a classic corridor shooter with a few candy weapons and goofy powers mixed in. That’s about as far as it goes. Everything else, from level design to enemy AI and story, is as vanilla as can be. Wolf’s few half-hearted attempts to break out of its mold fall short. The city of Isenstadt, which consists of three connected hub zones where players must get past increasing Nazi patrols to jump into actual missions, is little more than irritating tedium delaying your progress through the story. The Veil, which Activision sold as the game’s defining feature, pretty much just turns the world green and lets you move a little faster. The game’s upgrade system consists of nothing more than hidden collectibles, which is flow-breaking, lazy design in a fast-paced action game like this. Players should be rewarded for performing well within the game’s context (see: Devil May Cry’s ranking system), not how OCD they are about searching every square inch of a map. In the end, Wolfenstein takes few chances and ends up being a well-worn, if comfortable, blanket for FPS fans like me.That is the comment "Adam Biessener" had to say.

Need for Speed: Shift,PS3

(8.50) The Need for Speed franchise has had its wheels stuck in the mud as of late. With Shift, EA abandons the arcade racing of the series in favor of a solid racing sim in the vein of Forza that offers a lot of content, from fast cars to great track variety. The core driving experience is a drastic change from previous titles, moving the series away from easy arcade play to a gritty challenge. While the presentation is clean and modern, the simplistic career structure basically mimics Gran Turismo. However, the Driver Profile progression uses a clever, real-time experience system that shows everything the player does as it’s happening. While these changes to the franchise may not be extraordinary, they result in a great racing experience.That is the comment "Nick Ahrens" had to say.

Demon's Souls,PS3

(9.00)Demon’s Souls has received a lot of hype for being monstrously difficult, and while it’s clearly not the kind of game you can pass in a weekend, its finer points shouldn’t be lost in all the fear. This game is tough, but also rewarding, interesting, evocative, and, in its own special way, brilliant. Add in extensive new game-plus options and the strangely compelling multiplayer, and Demon’s Souls is one of the first truly great Japanese RPGs of this generation, and certainly the most remarkable.That is the comment " Phil Kollar " had to say.

Borderlands,PS3

(9.50) Gearbox's first stab at a role-playing shooter is a resounding success. Borderlands takes the best gameplay aspects of RPGs (leveling up your character, unlocking new skills, and amassing endless mountains of loot) and marries them with spot-on FPS controls. The ridiculous arsenal cache is everything you want it to be (save for customization), and taking down overly powerful enemies has never been more gratifying. Some players will hate the grind Borderlands occasionally requires, but when grinding involves torching enemies with incendiary ammo, gibbing them with bazooka shotguns, and an endless string of headshots, I ain't complaining. My only criticism is that despite all of its great RPG elements, your interaction with the characters and world of Borderlands is still as shallow as a generic FPS. I would've liked more options for sorting weapons too, but these small gripes don't change the facts: This RPS is heaven for fans of FPS and RPGs.That is the comment " Jeff Marchiafava " had to say.

Metroid Prime Trilogy,Wii

(9.00) The original Metroid Prime is one of the best games of the previous generation, and its sequels are competent at the very least. This collection would be a great deal if it added anything at all to the original titles, but its sole innovation is grafting Corruption’s Wii interface onto the two earlier games. Aiming and panning your view with the remote is inferior in every way to the traditional scheme from the GameCube titles. Since there is no way to play with a classic or GameCube controller, you’re stuck playing good last-gen games with a gimpy waggle interface. The Metroid Prime series is still strong, but even new players who never picked up the originals would be better served tracking them down in bargain bins than struggling through this subpar collection.That is the comment " Adam Biessener " had to say.

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