I won’t lie. Seeing the phrase "free to play" associated with a game will prompt me to run for the hills more often than not. This is a little odd, as usually the word free draws me in like an ice cream truck to a Weight Watchers convention. In the world of video games, however, [...]

Like a bout of flu in the office, God of War style gaming seems to be going around the development community.  This isn’t anything unusual – when a game gets it right and has great success, it spawns a lot of imitators.  Eventually they become so pervasive (see Mario style platforming, for instance) that [...]

“Derivative” is a term that’s perhaps used too often in reviews. I would argue that a good 90% or more of modern day video games are derivative of something that came before. Rare is the truly original title, and rarer still is the truly original title that’s any fun to play. When it comes to [...]

It can be hard to live up to expectations. Heck, just imagine being little Suri Cruise, you’re expected to be both good looking and certifiably insane. Rough. Video game sequels, however, are quite often superior to their predecessors. Developers are able to improve upon what came before, with better controls, more intricate level designs, [...]

Every video game generation has at least a few titles that push the graphics envelope – the kind of visual experience that makes non-gamers stand up and take notice. Games like Shenmue on the Dreamcast, or the Gran Turismo series, for instance. The problem is this: developers can sometimes focus so much on the look [...]

When I decided to pick up the PS3 Slim bundle from Wal-Mart on Black Friday, it was because I had heard great things about Batman: Arkham Asylum (which is getting well-deserved praise as one of the best games of the past year).  I honestly knew very little about the “other” game that came packed in [...]

Licensed games are a sorry lot, generally speaking. Maybe it’s because they are often rushed out the door to meet a release date to coincide with a movie. Perhaps it’s due to the second- or third-rate studios that churn them out. Whatever the reason, they show a history of suckage that dates back to E.T. [...]

Nostalgia is an odd thing.  Sometimes it can deceive you, cloud your judgment and cause you to mistake trash for treasure.  I used to love the TV show “Land of the Lost” as a kid.  I saw it again recently, excited at first, but then I couldn’t believe I ever enjoyed it.  At all.  It [...]