Orcs Must Die! 2 Review (@GameSpot)

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Nathan Meunier

“The original Orcs Must Die! certainly lived up to its delightfully murderous name. Stemming the tide of marauding orcish hordes by laying out a complex network of spring-loaded spikes, arrow traps, and other deadly hazards proved a titillating pursuit punctuated by flying limbs and snappy one-liners. The third-person perspective and hands-on approach to grinding up insane numbers of charging foes set Orcs Must Die! apart from most games in the tower defense genre, but a lack of multiplayer held it back from true greatness. It’s good to see that this flaw has been remedied in Orcs Must Die! 2. Tons of crafty traps primed for maximum orc slaughter and an all-new co-op mode featuring a saucy sorceress companion add some serious weight to this rowdy sequel.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition Review (@GameSpot)

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Nathan Meunier

“It’s immediately apparent after digging into Minecraft on the Xbox 360 that the platform is well suited for Mojang’s first-person sandbox-style building adventure. From comfortable controls and the effortlessness of jumping into multiplayer co-op over Xbox Live, to detailed in-game tutorials and a more user-friendly crafting system, this updated yet scaled-down port of the indie hit is deliciously accessible. Total newcomers to the game will no doubt find themselves blissfully swept away by the many opportunities for open-ended creativity found throughout the Xbox 360 edition. While coming to this version after spending lots of time playing Minecraft on PC is a jarring and disappointing experience, the joy of free-form exploring, building, and adventuring in randomly generated blocky worlds is nicely reproduced here.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Alan Wake PC Review (@GameSpot)

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Nathan Meunier

“Darkness is a powerful force. Not knowing what lies beyond the safety of the light can be absolutely terrifying to those with an overactive imagination. But fearful fantasy turns deadly in the bucolic town of Bright Falls, Washington, where the whispering shadows hold untold horrors that reach out from the darkness. Alan Wake spins into an intensely atmospheric psychological thriller that bends the barrier between reality and fiction until it snaps, delivering a chilling story-driven experience without leaning too heavily on schlocky gore. With a beautifully updated graphics engine and free pack-in downloadable content that fills in some of the gaps left by the original’s cliff-hanger ending, the PC version is worth the long wait.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Rhythm Heaven Fever Review (@GameSpot)

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Nathan Meunier

“When Rhythm Heaven was first launched, it opened up a Pandora’s box of musical minigame mania that tipped the weirdness scale with its goofy rhythm challenges and cartoony antics. Tapping out complex rhythms while harvesting beets in the garden or juggling scientific beakers filled with dangerous substances offered some refreshingly oddball ways to get your groove on, and for the series’ console debut, Rhythm Heaven Fever brings even more creative craziness to the table. It’s easily as bizarre as its portable predecessors, and it’s just as challenging. But the ever-rotating array of charming activities keeps the sometimes frustrating difficulty curve at bay long enough for the addictive gameplay and infectious tunes to take hold.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword Review (@GameSpot)

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Nathan Meunier

“When so many sword-swinging games seem to readily devolve into frantic button pounding where you slice and dice foes into itty bits, it’s refreshing to stumble across one that takes a more strategic, thoughtful approach to bladed combat. Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword doesn’t skimp on the ol’ stabby-stabby, but it favors precision and split-second timing over chaos and flying limbs. There’s a cool sense of honor that comes from dueling foes one-on-one, even when you’re fighting a large group. It’s also easy to get sucked into the campaign, thanks to the rhythmic nature of each battle and the rewarding progression system.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Review: Mighty Switch Force

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Nathan Meunier

“Considering the Nintendo eShop was restructured around the 3DS, it’s disappointing to see that it still has a pitiful selection of new 3D games available. As one of the few non-retro downloadable games designed to make specific use of the handheld’s 3D capabilities, Mighty Switch Force makes a lasting impression with its creative switch mechanic. The ability to swap blocks between the foreground and the background turns basic platforming action into brain-bending puzzle chaos, and that’s a good thing–while it lasts.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Review: Minecraft

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Nathan Meunier

“Minecraft is dangerous. You can sit down to a new randomly generated world for a quick session only to snap out of the creative haze many hours later to realize you’ve forgotten to eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom. There’s always just one more tunnel to carve, one more resource to harvest, one more tool to forge, or one more to-scale replica of the Star Trek Enterprise to re-create block by block. The ability to exercise limitless freedom and mold the game’s retro fantasy world to your liking is powerfully addictive, and this indie-developed sandbox phenomenon holds a staggering level of depth. Some of the game’s elements still feel rough and unfinished, but nevertheless, once Minecraft sinks its hooks into you, it won’t let go. ”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot, and also be sure to scope out the very cool video review too.

Review: Kirby’s Return To Dream Land

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Nathan Meunier

“Nintendo’s popular pink protagonist has been on some wild rides of late. Journeying into lush yarn-filled worlds and splitting into a tiny horde of cute little ankle biters have offered some neat new ways to hang with Kirby and his pals. But after spending the past few games shaking up the status quo with off-the-wall concepts, HAL Laboratory returns to the series’ roots with Kirby’s Return to Dreamland. While innovation has pushed the series forward in interesting ways, the return to basics is no bad thing. New screen-annihilating super abilities and bubbly multiplayer co-op liven up this ever-charming romp through Kirby’s old stomping grounds. This is classic Kirby with a few minor twists.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Review: Rocksmith

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Nathan Meunier

“With the oversaturated and ailing rhythm game genre in a state of decline, it seems ill-timed to launch a new guitar-focused music franchise. But Ubisoft has pulled one out of left field with Rocksmith–a guitar game that successfully bridges the gap between musical gaming and actual rocking. It’s advanced enough to give seasoned guitar players a more realistic challenge than Rock Band or Guitar Hero, yet accessible enough to teach inexperienced guitarists the ropes of rock and roll. ”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Review: Kirby Mass Attack

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Nathan Meunier

“One of the great things about the Kirby series is that over the years, it has stuck to its adorable roots with such an upbeat vibe and familiar presentation while trying out new gameplay mechanics to keep things fresh. Kirby: Mass Attack continues that forward trend. This touch-only adventure stars not just one but a whole gaggle of the lovable pink puffs that must be herded through colorful stages in creative ways. Tight controls mingle with a steady stream of clever new ideas to make this one of Kirby’s best handheld outings.”