If I needed a refresher course on why Alan Wake is one of my favorite games of the year, I just got it. The Writer, the second (and final) downloadable episode, spirals further down into the darkness that envelops Bright Falls. Will this be the last we’ll ever see of the flashlight-wielding novelist or will Mr. Wake survive to see a sequel? (Pssst… laying down seven dollars for this DLC certainly wouldn’t hurt the latter).

Unlike the combat-heavy previous chapter, The Writer strikes a better balance between suspenseful environmental traversal and letting your little light shine on possessed woodsy folk. In fact, a great deal of the ninety-minute episode can be completed without even firing a bullet into the axe-wielding psychos. This is accomplished by several clever means of manipulating the environment to indirectly take down the Taken. I won’t spoil any of them here because the uniqueness of the gameplay makes this episode great, but I will say that the locales...

As the sixth headlining act in the series, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock tries to keep the aging music game’s edge by focusing on an epic quest of beastly-altered rockers and metal demigods. This turn towards rock ‘n roll lore may be a ball for headbangers and the black shirted masses, but can this new direction still resonate with gamers looking to kick back and have a good time with their easygoing friends?

Although touted as being the first story-driven Guitar Hero title, the Quest Mode plays nearly identically to past career modes. You are given a selection of songs to choose from and once you earn enough stars, you play an encore, and then you can continue to the next group of songs. In between each set, Gene Simmons narrates the forgettable story about rockers unlocking their warriors within to rescue the Demigod of Rock. The focus on the Guitar Hero branded characters is the primary difference this time around, so there aren’t any cameos from the likes of...

Once the premier console military shooter, the Medal of Honor series has lost some of its luster this generation with a couple of less-than-inspiring offerings. Hoping to battle their way back to the frontlines, Electronic Arts has enlisted two development squads (Danger Close for the campaign and DICE for the multiplayer) to help completely reboot the franchise. Can this representation of the current war against the Taliban bring Medal of Honor into the modern era of first-person shooters, or is the game still struggling to get to higher ground?

Since the game isn’t in stores until today, the majority of this review will focus on the single player campaign. Starting up the game I was greeted by a military quote and then found myself riding inside a helicopter. That’s pretty familiar territory for this genre, but the chopper ride does a good job showing off how much work has been spent on recreating the Afghan countryside. In particular, the lighting and particle...

When it comes to superheroes, Spider-Man has been my unwavering favorite ever since I donned his Underoos and slept in blue and red one-piece pajamas with built in arm-pit webbing, non-slip footsies, and back-side flap for quick deployment. Sadly, I no longer fit into those old comforts, but my house is still cluttered with Spidey memorabilia that I’ve accumulated over the past thirty years. Among these treasures are no less than twenty-three Spider-Man videogames spanning twelve platforms. So how does his latest endeavor, Shattered Dimensions, stack up against the rest?

Frankly, I’d rank this as the third-best Spider-Man game ever, right behind the fantastic Spider-Man (circa 2000 for Dreamcast, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PC) and Spider-Man 2 (circa 2004 Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PC). In fact, Shattered Dimensions reminds me a lot of that 2000 masterpiece with its linear levels, hidden collectibles, large cast of characters, and overall campy Spider-Man nature....

At its highest level, Enslaved seems to be a game determined to make me actively dislike it. Let’s start with the concept: you play as a rippling, shirtless, tribally-tattooed, spiky-haired “brutish loner” named of all things Monkey, and escort a girl named Trip across a post-apocalyptic jungle version of New York City ravaged by futuristic robot overlords. I can only assume that the monkey reference is an attempt to painfully spell out the sensitive-meathead-hunk angle the writers were working with, but I generally prefer my main characters to be more James Bond than Tarzan. The whole concept sounds like a big ol’ “yuck” in my book. So how did this game free me of my strong preconceptions and emerge as one of my favorite games of the year?

Enslaved won me over due to its well-thought-out script (a reimagining of the literary classic Journey to the West) featuring believable characters, and by wrapping that story in gameplay reminiscent of some of my all-time favorite...

I’m usually not one to play many PC (or in my case Mac) games, but three things caught my eye with QuickHit Football (www.quickhit.com). First, it has the NFL license. Second, it runs in a browser window and requires low hardware specs. And third, it’s free. It’s the perfect storm of “why the Hell not?”.

After spending a couple weeks with the game, I can honestly say this is my favorite math-based football game since Fraction Football on the Apple II. And, unlike the noodle-busting Fraction Football, this game does the math for you! Rather than controlling the individual players, QuickHit Football is a coaching simulator in which you handle the play calling and let the behind the scenes mathematical equations and dice rolls determine the rest. Prior to each down, each play is rated on its likelihood of success based upon the down, distance, and the individual statistics of the players on the field. While it’s beneficial to have a highly skilled quarterback and...

Motion-controlled mini games might not be the most original concept at this stage in the game, but if you want to get your new platform started quickly and on the right foot, a wee bit of wacky waggling is a necessity. Start the Party aims the PlayStation Eye squarely at the family as Mommy, Daddy, Sarah, and Billy all ham it up on some of the most eyeball-mauling box art of this generation. But even though mini game compilations are a sure-thing with any new platform, releasing them in a quality title isn’t. Does Start the Party get the party started, or does the fun end quicker than you’d expect?

Start the Party will feel right at home to people who have played any of the PlayStation 2 EyeToy mini-game compilations. Basically, you see yourself on-screen and exaggeratedly swing, chop, poke, and wave your arm at all the brightly colored objects that venture your way. What sets this apart from the EyeToy games is the added precision that the Move controller affords....

I’ve never doubted Nintendo as a maker of quality hardware. All my original Wiimotes still work great, and the Wii MotionPlus I have works fine as well. What’s become annoying to me, however, is all the extra stuff I have to take off or plug in to play whatever game I feel like playing. First, there are the afterthought silicon sleeves that I really dislike and are atrocious for playing games with the controller turned sideways. Then comes the MotionPlus, confined in yet a separate rubber sleeve that just looks terrible if you free the dongle from its polymer prison. Nyko’s Wand+ tries to make the situation more streamlined by sticking the entire MotionPlus addition into a Wiimote-sized controller. Minimizing the form factor is certainly attractive, but was Nyko able to replicate the same level of precision as the first party controller?

Included in the purchase price are a Wand+, Wrist Strap, 2 AA batteries, and a rubber sleeve. While including batteries is great...

Every good motion-controlled videogame platform needs a sports compilation to champion its capabilities, and the aptly named Sports Champions aims to be that game for PlayStation Move. Sony picked this game to bundle with their hardware, so they must have a good bit of confidence that the six included events show off the Move’s moves. As I hit the carpeted playing field of my living room, did Sports Champions emerge victorious?

Before I speak of my experience with the events themselves, I want to touch on the overall framework of the game. Each event has three tiers of Champions Cups (bronze, silver, and gold) in which you take on the game’s roster of ten uber-extreme characters. Defeat these opponents handily enough and you unlock new outfits, equipment, and additional athletes. Altogether there is a beefy amount of content that’s supplemented by separate training challenges as well. And of course, the sports can be played in local multiplayer supporting up to...

Looking at the PlayStation Move launch lineup, the one title that really stood out from the pack for me was Kung Fu Rider. I mean, it’s a game about a nerdy guy, Toby (or his perky female assistant Karin), frantically rolling about the streets of Hong Kong on an office chair while trying to escape from the mafia. The premise is completely ludicrous, and the game looked to incorporate a combo and grinding system that made me yearn for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Jet Set Radio games of yore. Does Kung Fu Rider ergonomically roll with its quirky premise, or should OSHA shut Toby’s joyride down?

Starting off, I’m not 100% sure why this is a game exclusive to Move. The controls are generally responsive, but Kung Fu Rider could just have easily been pulled off with a standard controller and the game would have been better off for it. In addition to there being motions for kicking to build speed, jumping, steering, and barreling through objects, the game also uses every...

Take a quick glance at TerRover’s clean art style and loveable robot lead, and most people will assume this title is aimed at young kids. Make that assumption and you’d be very, very wrong - unless of course you know kids that like to play physics-based platformers with a masochistic level of challenge. Reminiscent of gaming groundwork laid by last year’s Trials HD, Creat Studios has created forty levels of seemingly insurmountable terrain for their spunky little rover to navigate. Do you have the patience and aptitude to adeptly maneuver him to victory, or will you join me in repeatedly murdering a hapless robot?

TerRover spans five different eye-pleasing environments ranging from large mechanical contraptions to flowing plant life and pits of lava. No matter the scenery, the intricate physics of the game remain consistent. Everything has a slight springiness to it, and this takes some getting used to. Jumping is more akin to popping into the air and becomes particularly...

Shipwreck’s Take: When the original Mafia took to the streets eight years ago, the game was lauded for its cinematic take on 1930’s made men. It excelled at delivering memorable moments and charismatic characters well before other open-world games scratched that level of storytelling. Even with as much critical acclaim as the game received, most everyone acknowledged that puttering about town in prohibition-era horseless carriages was far from enthralling. 2K Czech is donning the development mantle for a second whack at the series, but were they able to create another intense family outing or are there still too many bumps in the road?

Mafia II is set in the 1940s and 1950s and for better or for worse, doesn’t veer far from the path the previous game established. Like in its predecessor, there is a lot of driving in this game. Conservatively, I’d say at least 60% of Mafia II is spent behind the wheel wobbling on the super springy shocks of period piece cars. You...

Shipwreck’s Take:

If there’s one genre in which the Wii has completely dominated over its high definition competitors, it’s light gun shooters. I’m a sucker for mindless on-rail action and SEGA alone has contributed three previous shooting galleries to my Wii collection (Ghost Squad, The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return, and The House of the Dead: Overkill). Is their newest compilation worthy of being added into the mix?

Gunblade NY: Special Air Assault Force is the older of the two games, hitting arcades in 1995. The bright polygonal graphics instantly transported me back to the early days of 3D and they are lovingly ported in all their blocky lack of detail. As one of two gunners on the titular Gunblade helicopter, you are incomprehensively whipped about violently as if the game is testing your aversion to motion sickness. One second you are soaring high in the air, seconds later you are turned completely around and are inches from the ground. This...

Samus Aran has been blasting and balling her way through the depths of space defending the Galactic Federation from Space Pirates for close to a quarter of a century now. Like our shape-shifting heroine, Metroid games have succeeded in two forms: originally as a 2D action-platformer and more recently as a first-person shooter-adventure. Metroid: Other M aims to morph the best of both game types into a single entity. To tackle such an ambitious goal, Nintendo contracted a development studio well known for producing intense action… and for having an unwavering appreciation for the female form: Team Ninja. Is it a forgone conclusion that I’d love a Metroid game from the house responsible for Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, or is this a prime example of change corrupting a proven formula?

In addition to combining gameplay styles, Other M explores a much more narrative-driven structure than in past Metroids. This is immediately noticeable as cut-scenes are plentiful...

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is now in theatres (you should go see it, it’s quite entertaining), and in a confusing turn of events we get a video game based on a movie, which is based on a comic book, which is structured like a video game. I’ve recently read the first two graphic novels (there’re six in total), so I come into the game with a little bit of back story. For those not as familiar, the books involve a lot of soap opera-style interactions of early twenty-something nerds and hipsters living in Toronto. Most importantly, they revolve about the budding romance of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers. In order for Scott to date Ramona, he must deal with her past baggage by defeating her seven evil exes in video game style boss battles. Canada is a strange place, eh?

While the drama is barely discernable in the game, the brawling homage to River City Ransom is unmistakable. From the retro inspired character models to stat-boosting fast food to a secret shop hidden...

The original Kane & Lynch attempted to break new ground in the way a crime story was presented to gamers. It featured two difficult-to-like characters and put them into an unfortunate series of events. The sequel, Dog Days, sticks to that basic formula but adds online co-op and a unique graphical appearance. Is this a caper worth signing up for, or should you wait for a better score?

Since the first thing you’re going to notice about Dog Days is its visual style, let’s start there. The game intends to portray a gritty realism, and to accomplish this all of the action is presented as if filmed by a handheld camcorder. This gives everything a very YouTube-ish look as the screen shakes unsteadily about, edges struggle to come into focus, and fluorescent lights refract into large amounts of lens flare. On top of that, nudity and gore are pixelated out as they would be if you were watching an episode of Cops. Do all of these cinematic tricks succeed in upping the realism?...

The sun is setting on the Summer of Arcade, but you have one more chance to flaunt your killer tan and don your favorite baby blue tank top and Nair-approved short shorts. Through the years, I've spent a lot of time raiding tombs with Ms. Croft, going all the way back to the days of the Sega Saturn. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light finds the titular character once again tromping through ancient ruins, but from a new overhead isometric view. She's got an adventuring partner this time around in Totec (Spoiler alert: he's the aforementioned Guardian of Light). Is this a fun summertime romp or should Lara have been left in the dust with the other relics?

Tomb Raider games aren't usually known for their combat, but Guardian of Light brings it to the forefront. Playing much like a twin-stick shooter, the game spews forth a healthy amount of skeletons, spiders, statue monsters and other Tomb Raider-y enemies that likely begin with "s"�. Repeatedly gunning down these...

“Welcome to the Jungle� blares from Paul Brown Stadium’s speakers as drunken cornholers populate the adjacent parking lot. This can signal only one thing: it’s time for my beloved Bengals to win their yearly Super Bowl… in Madden. This season’s championship game lands on my birthday, so while I wait for Palmer, Benson, Ochocinco, T.O., Pac-Man, & Tank to deliver me the perfect present, I decided to see how well Madden NFL 11 could simulate the inevitable upcoming events. Who Dey!

I’m a pretty avid NFL fan, but I consider myself a casual Madden fan. I don’t delve into all the managerial details of the Franchise Mode or study the massive playbooks or play in online leagues. I play through a Bengals’ season every couple of years and maybe get my butt kicked a time or two online. That’s pretty much the extent of it. Knowing that, I might not notice the minor differences yearly Maddenites will find as they explore all the massive menu system has...

Blacklight: Tango Down has been out for about a month now, trying to win the war against a gaming market that is saturated with military shooters. I figured now, would be a good time to drop into it and see how it was holding up and see if it was gaining a community. Developer Zombie Games has a history of making tactical shooters (Spec Ops, Delta Force), so they’re no greenhorns on the battlefield. Will Blacklight’s gameplay be enough to cause loyal COD players to defect, or will this game just be another casualty of war?

Tango Down will feel natural to anyone who’s played any of the Call of Duty series, as it incorporates the same type of peer-down-the-sights gameplay. The action moves at a little brisker pace, but kills still only take a couple of direct hits rather than requiring you to unload clip after clip. All the usual modes you’ve come to expect are included, so you get variations of deathmatch, capture the flag, domination, and last man standing....

Ages before Kratos slaughtered every creature and citizen of Greek Mythology, Perseus blazed a strikingly similar murderous trail along the Greek countryside. There’s no doubt that the classic 1981 film Clash of the Titans provided much of the inspiration for God of War, so it’s only fitting that the recent theatrical release is accompanied by a videogame of its own. Developed by Japanese studio Game Republic (of Genji: Days of the Blade and Folklore fame), can this developer put a successful eastern spin on a classic tale, or should this Kraken have been left unreleased?

Clash of the Titans relies on the familiar combat system of combos built upon weak and strong attacks performed with Perseus’ sword. While not that inspiring, the fighting is borderline satisfying and players should have little trouble dodging, blocking, and hacking their way through the waves of skeletons and centaurs that materialize out of thin air. Clash of the Titans tries to actually...