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Exclusive Interview: Lumo Game Developer Gareth Noyce

One of the great things about the current and previous generations of video games is that you can not only get tons of old games for new systems, but you can also get new games in old genres. Case in point: Lumo, an isometric arcade adventure being made by Triple Eh? Ltd., which Rising Star Games will release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Vita, and PC this April. To find out how it fully embraces the spirit of those ’80s games, but with modern tenets, I spoke to Game Director Gareth Noyce as he played his way through the opening rooms.

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PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games

Hitman GO Definitive Edition Review

In theory, Hitman GO (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) — a strategic puzzle game inspired by the stealth action series — shouldn’t have worked. Though because it employed increasingly clever mechanics, and both embraced and ejected the Hitman games’ tenet where necessary, it managed to be a rather impressive spin-off that was as fun for puzzle fans as it was for those who like the regular Hitman games. But while the new Hitman GO Definitive Edition (PlayStation 4, Vita) doesn’t add anything new, those who skipped the mobile version finally have their chance to get smart and sneaky.

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PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Video Games

Exclusive Interview: Rocketbirds 2 Evolution Creator Sian Yue Tan

No matter how much people may love your game, there’s always things they wish were better. But while good game developers listen to this critiques, Sian Yue Tan — the creator of the 2D, side-scrolling, bird-brained shooter Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken — actually made a list. And checked it twice. And then proceeded to fix everything on it. The result? Rocketbirds 2 Evolution (coming soon to PlayStation 4, Vita) which, from the way Tan explains it, sounds less like a sequel and more like a rebirth.

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PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Video Games

Exclusive Interview: Rocketbirds 2 Evolution Executive Producer Ted Lange

The last thing you’d ever say to John Rambo is that he’s a chicken. But in the side-scrolling shooter Rocketbirds Evolution, a sequel to the similar Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken, the lead character is actually a Rambo-like chicken. Well, rooster, actually, but I ain’t going to call his a cock. With the game coming soon to the PlayStation 4 and Vita, both of which will support both cross-buy and cloud saves, I sat down with Ted Lange, Executive Producer at Reverb Triple XP, to play the game and to talk about how this sequel improves upon the original.

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7 More Tables I’d Like To See For Pinball FX 2 & Zen Pinball 2 (But Probably Never Will)

Last year I put together a story about all the pinball tables I really wanted to see for Pinball FX 2 and Zen Pinball 2 — including Indiana Jones, Robot Chicken, Resident Evil, Game Of Thrones, and the BioShock games — and why none of them will ever be made…probably. And wouldn’t you know it, I was right. So far, none of these have been made into pinball tables. So I thought it would be fun to think about what other tables I’d like to play…and why I’ll probably never have the chance to play them, either.

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Movies PC PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

Star Wars The Force Awakens Pinball Review

Though it was clearly delayed to avoid spoiling the film — what, Han Solo has turned into a silver metal ball!?! — Zen Studios have finally released their Star Wars The Force Awakens Pack for Zen Pinball 2 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Vita), Pinball FX 2 (Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC), Zen Pinball (iOS), and Zen Pinball HD (Android, Amazon), which includes two tables inspired by the titular film. Though it may be a spoiler for the next movie that the better table is the one that embraces the Dark Side.

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PC PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

Worst Games Of 2015

While there were some great games in 2015, there were also a bunch that weren’t so great.

And then there was the following bunch of crap that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, even if they stepped on my foot and didn’t say “Sorry.”

Here now, in no particular order, are the worst games of 2015.

 

The Order 1886 02

The Order: 1886

Developers: Ready At Dawn

Publisher: Sony

Systems: PlayStation 4

While much was made about this game’s length, or lack there of, the real issue was how it wasted that time with dated mechanics and way too many cutscenes. But my biggest problem with The Order: 1886 was that it took a cool idea — a Gears Of War-style shooter set in a proto-steampunk London — and squandered it.

SCORE: 4.0/10 (read my full review here)

 

Helldivers 03

Helldivers

Developers: Arrowhead Game Studios

Publisher: Sony

Systems: PlayStation 4PlayStation 3Vita

What should’ve been a fun and frantic arcadey, top-down, sci-fi shooter was instead a frustrating slog thanks to a lot of little problems that included, but were not limited to, pointless mechanics (I mean, seriously, what kind of a trained soldier doesn’t know to reload their weapon), bad graphical choices, and a wildly inconsistent difficulty.

SCORE: 3.5/10 (read my full review here)

 

Godzilla 01

Godzilla

Developers: Natsume

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Systems: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3

Caught somewhere between low-budget and low-rent, this game is not only overly simplistic and repetitive, but it also has counter-intuitive movement that makes this more frustrating than fun.

SCORE: 6.5/10 (read my full review here)

 

Resident Evil 01

Resident Evil (HD remake)

Developers: Capcom

Publisher: Capcom

Systems: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC

This game isn’t so much bad as it is a waste of your money. I would’ve loved a new version of this classic 1996 game with upgraded graphics and better controls. I can even understand why someone would want a faithful recreation of the original game with the original controls and the original graphics. But what we got instead was the 2002 remake of the game that Capcom put out on the GameCube, but with that game’s awkward controls and the original graphics in HD. And why would I want that? Oh, right, I don’t.

SCORE: 3.0/10 (read my full review here)

 

Onechanbara Z2 Chaos 02

Onechanbara Z2 Chaos

Developers: Tamsoft

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Systems: PlayStation 4

While it would be easy to condemn this game for being overtly sexual but not all that sexy, it actually has bigger problems than just being potentially offensive. It’s terribly redundant, which makes it rather tiresome after a while, and I say that as someone who really likes hack & slash games you can just button mash to victory.

SCORE: 6.5/10 (read my full review here)

 

Afro Samurai 2 Revenge Of Kuma Volume 1 02

Afro Samurai 2: Revenge Of Kuma: Volume 1

Developers: Redacted Software

Publisher: Versus Evil

Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

As someone who liked, but still saw the flaws in, the original Afro Samurai game, I was encouraged when the people behind this sequel said they weren’t happy with the original either, and we’re striving to make something better. Which makes it even more sad that they failed. Miserably. Not only was it a bad game, but it was so flawed and buggy that the publisher gave everyone refunds and cancelled the other two volumes.

SCORE: 2.0/10 (read my full review here)

 

So, what were your least favorite games of 2015. Let me know in the comments below.

 

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Best Games Of 2015

 

While 2015 wasn’t the best year for video games, there were a bunch that I had a lot of fun playing.

Here now, in no particular order, are the best games I played in 2015.

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PC PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

“Pinball Arcade” Season Four Tables Review

 

Since its release in 2012, FarSight Studio’s Pinball Arcade (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, iOS, Android, PC, Mac) has consistently added new recreations of classic pinball tables from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and even the ’00s.

Here’s a critical look at the ten tables they’ve released for Season Four.