posted by Qais on February 11, 2008 8:54 PM in Games, Video Game Review
The Weekly Geek would like to introduce Hampson Bonerman, guest writer and No More Heroes enthusiast. If you have a review you'd like to share with The Weekly Geek, email us at mailbag@weeklygeekshow.com.
No More Heroes should belong to every Wii owner who considers themselves a gamer. I wasn't aware of who Suda 51 was when I bought it, having skipped the Gamecube and subsequently Killer7, so I didn't really have that good of an idea what I was in for.
You play as Travis Touchdown; slacker, otaku, and wrestling fan. Having won a used beam katana in an internet auction, you find yourself strapped for cash. What's an almost-Kaneda's bike driving, morally bankrupt, moe loving guy supposed to do? I hear the assassination business pays pretty well.
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posted by Mack on November 14, 2007 8:45 PM in Video Game Review
As I sit down to write the review for Switchball, I've been trying to remember what the normal criteria for reviews are here at the Weekly Geek. But for the life of me, I can't remember what they are so I'm just going to wing it and make up my own. Also there will probably be a lot of references to "balls" and statements that might seem funny taken out of context, but I urge you to rise above it.
Synopsis: In Switchball you guide a ball through 36 levels up puzzles. The game gets its name from the little stations throughout the game that allow you to change your ball into another form in order to solve tasks. The majority of the game involves having the right ball for the job and most puzzles involve several different balls.
Neophyte Friendliness: Switchball has an integrated tutorial feature that whisks you through the first couple of levels with frequent hints about all the new objects that your balls will run in to. After a while the messages peter out, but make brief appearances as more things are introduced. The game has plenty of new contraptions to torment you but it doesn't throw them at you faster than you can it. By the time you reach the final stages you should be able to keep your balls away from the various traps and tricks.
Responsiveness: The controls handle pretty well, and are very simple. The left analog moves the ball, the right analog moves the camera, and A is your action button. That's it. Sometimes the heavier balls can feel less responsive, but this is to be expected.
Shininess: Here the game excels. Everything has a nice feel to it. I played the majority of the game zoomed out as far as I could but when I needed to get in close to my balls for more tricky maneuvers, I was not disappointed. However this added graphical detail had a downside...
Frustratingness: Honestly this is one of the more frustrating games I've played this year, but it was never the level design. Unfortunately it was mainly due to the art design. Although beautiful, ornamental polygons caused more than a couple careens off in to the abyss. It's very disheartening to pull off a tricky and complex puzzle only to have to start completely over because your ball took a bad bounce off a little nubby thing on a moving platform near the end. Several times I put the game down for the day because little bits of geometry were making it impossible to progress. Near the end of the game the puzzles become incredibly long, time sensitive ordeals that involve essentially completing the entire level in one go. At one point the game refused to recognize checkpoints that I have to admit that I didn't not complete the last two levels because after my 10th or so try in the second to last I just gave up on it.
Multiplayerosity: I could never connect to a multiplayer game so I can't comment on that portion of it.
Replayability: The game kept me pretty entranced for most of it, but the later levels sapped my energy with the constant restarting of puzzles. I can't say that I would play it often, but it kept me entertained for a few hours.
Worthiness: If you love puzzles and you don't mind a challenge, you can have a lot of fun with Switchball. If you're easily frustrated or low on brainpower I'd save your money.
And remember, if you notice a sudden change in your ball, please see a physician immediately.
Okay, that one was a bit gratuitous.
Score: 3/5 Check out the demo, and if you like it snap it up. Also snap into a Slim Jim™.
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posted by Grant on March 15, 2007 12:08 PM in Video Game Review
Overview: HOW CAN THIS BE? HIS POWER LEVEL IS OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAAAAAAAAND! Yep, the primal growling is back once again in the latest DBZ game to hit the stands. It's pretty simple on the face. Over the top fighting with craptons of characters in the Dragonball Z universe. But like the previous Tenkaichi game, it goes a bit further beyond your standard 3D fighter and expands your battle arena into giant sweeping landscapes. Plus, since it's on the Wii, you've got some unique controls to get a handle on. DBZ is a guilty pleasure of mine. You have to go into it knowing that it's hokey, campy, and basically the Japanese version of He-Man. I never tried the previous Tenkaichi game because the lack of traditional fighterness turned me off. But I've been interested in DBZBT2 ever since I heard about the Wii controls making you actually do the proper hand moves to fire of a Kamehameha. So how does the game stack up? Read on and find out. I'm not gonna tell you here in the opening part, duh!
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posted by Grant on October 4, 2006 6:38 PM in Video Game Review
Today's review of DEFCON comes from Monkeybomb! Class, please give him your undivided attention.
Click here to learn how to submit your own Freelance Review.
Overview:
DEFCON is a stylish global thermonuclear war simulator. I can't say it any more simply than that. So I'll try to say it more complicated-like. Take the movie WarGames, blend in just a little Tron, pour into a strategy skillet, cook on high until you can hear the screams of the dying and you get DEFCON. Starting with just a map of the world as your template and, indeed, only interface, you take the role of supreme commander of any one of 6 global superpowers. Gameplay is simple but addictive - deploy radar, silos, airbases and ships, scan for your enemies and then wait for someone to push the button.
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posted by Chris on October 16, 2005 5:29 PM in Video Game Review
Title: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
System: Nintendo DS
Developer: Konami
Overview: Finally we see a turn in the tide for the Nintendo DS. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is one of the first in a long string of very strong titles this season, and it certainly lives up to the franchise name. DoS is one of the "Metroid-vania" Castlevania games, which started with Symphony of the Night on the PlayStation, and is heavily influenced by Super Metroid. Basically it is a 2d adventure game where you collect items to become stronger, learn new abilities, and access new areas. You are Soma Cruz, Dracula reincarnated, and you must fight a spooky cult trying to turn you to the side of evil. You fight through their castle full of spooky creatures in order to save your own soul. DoS features dual screens (do I even have to say it?), a stunning soundtrack and impressive gameplay. Read on...
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