Assassin's Creed II

'Assassin's Creed II: Bonfire of the Vanities'
Mike Gonzalez, Crispy Gamer

I had my reservations about this DLC pack after having played through 'Forli's' crass sequence. 'Bonfire' definitively outshines the former though. The core game play is solid and much more refined than its predecessor; 'Bonfire' is reminiscent of the original, uncorrupted memory sequences

 

BioShock 2

BioShock 2
Chase Slaton, Crispy Gamer

BioShock 2 takes place about 10 years after the events in BioShock and you play as the first Big Daddy. The big question that everyone had been asking since this game was announced was, Can you make a true sequel to 'BioShock' without designer Ken Levine? Well, turns out the answer is no. What you do get is a pretty damned good mod for BioShock and that's about it.

6 Video Games That Really Should Have Fighting in Them
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

In the virtual world of videogames, fighting is a very fun thing to do. A scientific survey involving two cats and a phone call to my friend Dave reveals that most people (and cats) would enjoy videogames more if they included fighting. Here are six video games that would greatly benefit from including fighting.

Dungeons & Dragons - Get Your Geek On
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

There's something to be said for Dungeons & Dragons -- a mainstay of geek culture -- that has survived for 35 years as a paragon of something to do in the basement that you can talk about the next day at school without shame. And looking back, it's clear that culture owes something to the old Dungeon Master, too.

 

Ultimate Video Game

Ultimate Video Game of the Decade Showdown
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

What I wanted was a definitive Video Games of the Decade list -- a collection of video game choices that represented a wide range of professional, knowledgeable opinions about the last 10 years of games. I figured such a list wouldn't just pop into existence on its own, so I decided to build it myself

CES 2010: Peripheral Vision
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

Many video gaming hardware makers were showing off their new wares at CES 2010 in Vegas each year. Here are the most noteworthy of the selection shown at the show earlier this month.

10 Videogame Resolutions for 2010
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

When I sat down to mull over my New Year's resolutions for the New Year, I realized that the majority of my 2010 promises to myself were centered around gaming. Here's a list of video gaming resolutions that I'm personally going to try to abide by

 

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Best Video Games of the Year
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

It's finally time to talk about the reason we're all here: the games themselves. Specifically, the best games to come out in 2009. To keep things simple (and to avoid months-long arguments/barroom brawls over which games truly belonged where), we based our game-of-the-year rankings on a secret ballot. Here's our top picks for the year ...

 

'The Saboteur'

'The Saboteur' - PS3
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

I think 'The Saboteur' would have gotten a warmer reception from me if it had gone into a time machine and come out three or four years ago. As it stands, here at the tail end of what has a been a strong release year, it feels like a game that was made in a biosphere by a group of people who were obviously very talented and very gifted, but who were not receiving news, especially game news, from the outside world.

Are You Gaming Literate?
Troy S. Goodfellow, Crispy Gamer

With games now firmly entrenched in the culture, new opportunities have cropped up. From sites devoted to a generation of parents uncertain of where to go for advice to a blog that tracks the gaming adventures of a senior citizen, there is clearly a market ready to accept that games are nothing to be afraid of. But there are still substantial parts of the population unversed in games.

25 Things I Learned From Videogames
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

Thankfully, in the year 2009, aside from that pesky 'Brain Age' series, games no longer have didactic aspirations. But games actually do teach us things. Here are 25 more things that videogames taught me in 2009.

A Trivial Tale: 'how u win' at Xbox Live's 1 vs. 100
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

Despite strong trivia knowledge, I didn't once make it onto the top-10 scorers list. I figured these top scorers must be exploiting a glitch in the game, or using a group of trivia experts and super-fast Google searches to feed them correct answers, or something. There's no way they could do that well without cheating, I thought.

 

'Tony Hawk: Ride' - Wii

'Tony Hawk: Ride'
Russ Fischer, Crispy Gamer

I've fallen off 'Tony Hawk: Ride' 100 times already. This version of the never-ending skateboarding franchise comes packed with a life-size fake skateboard to use as a controller, but it might as well be a bucking bronco.

 

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game

'Avatar: The Game'
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer

Unlike many tie-in games, 'James Cameron's Avatar: The Game' doesn't transpose the movie's plot into game form. What it does do is offer up the same core themes with different characters

 

Modern Warfare 2

'Modern Warfare 2' - Xbox 360
Tom Chick, Crispy Gamer

The mission is an unmitigated success! 'Modern Warfare 2' is probably going to be the biggest game of 2009. The mission is also reprehensible trash, all the more reprehensible for how poorly it serves the narrative, not to mention how implausible it is.

 

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010

'WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010' - Xbox 360
James Fudge, Crispy Gamer

'SmackDown vs. Raw 2010' really makes you feel like you're taking part in pro wrestling. When a match ends in a serious mode like Road to WrestleMania, it's like the show -- complete with commentary that fits with what is going on, and the logo flashing on the screen. The characters also look more realistic than in years prior

 

NCAA Basketball 10

NCAA Basketball 10 - PS3
Harold Goldberg, Crispy Gamer

There's something, well, extraordinarily familiar about 'NCAA Basketball 10.' Is it that it's like last year's model? Did they do nothing to change the roundball this year? I blew the dust off 'NCAA Basketball 09.' That wasn't exactly it: There have been upgrades made, subtle ones. Then, I realized what had happened ...

 

Assassin's Creed II

Assassin's Creed II - Xbox 360
Tom Chick, Crispy Gamer

There's a certain lack of dramatic tension in 'Assassin's Creed II' when it comes to these battles, and that's OK. This is not a fighting game. This is no 'Devil May Cry,' built to frustrate you and hone your skills. It's no 'Batman: Arkham Asylum,' where you have to carefully judge threat levels and make tactical choices. It's not even an 'Assassin's Creed.'

Disney Jonas - DS
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

The last Jonas Brothers song I heard -- well, the first Jonas Brothers song I heard -- was when I loaded 'Disney Jonas' on my DS. While three creepy cartoon teens stared at me from the screen, an able up-tempo pop ditty asked me if I was 'ready to rock and roll.' Apparently I was supposed to 'bust my move' because everyone was 'in the groove.'

'God of War' Collection - PS3
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

Having replayed both games in Sony's repackaged 'God of War' Collection, I sat here in my apartment, jaw-hanging open for hours at a time, as I revisited the first and second games' magnificence.

How to Beat the Hydra in 'God of War' - PS3
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

Hydras have nine heads. Instead of fighting all nine heads in the opening moments of 2005's God of War (available via the 'God of War' Collection on the PlayStation 3), you fight only about six of the heads. Oh wait; it's only five of the heads. Yes, five. That's it.

'Left 4 Dead 2' - Xbox 360
Gus Mastrapa, Crispy Gamer

The brilliant thing about 'Left 4 Dead 2' is that the story isn't segregated from gameplay by long cut scenes or being tucked into books or audio files or other cheap videogame gimmicks. The plot of 'Left 4 Dead 2' actually happens. And in this game it isn't all just about getting from point 'A' to point 'B'

 

Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins - Xbox 360
Russ Fischer, Crispy Gamer

It's rare that I spend this much time on a game with as many problems as 'Dragon Age: Origins.' It's even more rare that I'm enthralled enough, despite many issues, to want to keep playing for a great deal longer.

 

Shaun White Snowboarding

Shaun White Gets Snowed - Wii
Harold Goldberg, Crispy Gamer

Sometimes, to understand a game, you need to know more about the person who inspired it -- especially if that person is an Olympic gold medalist. Sure, in this wide-ranging and candid interview, Shaun White talks about his new 'Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage,' the follow-up to the 20th-bestselling game in the U.S. last year.

 

Game On: Are Video Games Harmful
Harvard Health Letter

Violent and possibly addictive, video games have become a major part of American childhood. What should parents do?

 

DJ Hero Video Game Review

'DJ Hero' - Xbox 360
Ryan Kuo, Crispy Gamer

'DJ Hero' might inspire newcomers to the culture to pick up a turntable or two. But it's really a love letter to those of us who did grow up idolizing the DJ in the booth rather than the musician in the band. In 'DJ Hero' you have a turntable and mixer, not a guitar and drums

 

Brutal Legend

The Questionable Ethics of 'Brutal Legend' - Xbox 360
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

The cancer in the flesh of 'Brutal Legend's' ethics is the cultural phenomenon that game genuflects toward. You got it. The moral conundrum in 'Brutal Legend' is nothing less obvious than metal itself.

Psychonauts - Xbox
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

Psychonauts tells the story of Raz -- short for Razputin -- a child psychic who wears goggles on his head and a scarf around his neck that make him look like he's dressed as a biplane pilot for Halloween. Raz desperately wants to become a government agent who uses his psychic abilities to defeat evil-doers, aka a psychonaut.

 

Machinarium

Machinarium - PC
Ryan Kuo, Crispy Gamer

'Machinarium' nearly always works -- rivaling the classic 'Day of the Tentacle' in striking a delicate balance between information and intuition. The game gives you the pieces, people and places; and if you pay attention, you will eventually pick up on what to do with them.

 

FIFA Soccer 10

FIFA Soccer 10 - Xbox 360
William Abner, Crispy Gamer

EA Sports' incredibly strong fall lineup continues with the release of FIFA Soccer 10, a game that builds upon the strengths of last year's stellar version just enough to make a new purchase worthwhile.

 

Guitar Hero 5 Video Game Review

Guitar Hero 5 - Xbox 360
Tom Chick, Crispy Gamer

In terms of copies sold, 'Guitar Hero' may have come out ahead, based on name recognition. But among aficionados, 'Rock Band' is the game of choice. Now 'Guitar Hero 5' changes that, bringing the franchise out of the closet. It might not knock 'Rock Band' out of its place in the living room, but it's earned a place alongside it

 

The Beatles: Rock Band Video Game Review

The Beatles: Rock Band - Xbox 360
Harold Goldberg, Crispy Gamer

I wasn't sure The Beatles were the best fit for a music game. Would 'The Beatles: Rock Band' sully the name of the most iconic of rock groups? How on earth could Harmonix do it right? Is it sacrilege that the Beatles: Rock Band commercial is everywhere -- that Viacom channels, from MTV to Comedy Central to Country Music Television, are scheduled to show it simultaneously?

 

Nine Songs We Want as 'The Beatles: Rock Band' DLC and Four We Don't
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

MTV Games could easily code every single Beatles song for the game, letting players purchase and play through the complete Beatles catalog. If it falls short of that ideal, though, which songs make the cut is going to be a matter of some debate. Here are our humble suggestions for nine songs that we really, really want to see as 'The Beatles: Rock Band' downloads, and four that we could easily do without.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade - Wii
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

The game stars a pair of ninja named Momohime and Kisuke. At the start, you select your character: Momohime is the woman-girl and Kisuke is the man-boy. Both are clearly descended from a clan of people who all have eyes that are far too large for their onion-sized skulls.

NHL 10 - Xbox 360
William Abner, Crispy Gamer

'NHL 10' is almost the perfect hockey game. It's loaded with options and sports great graphics, fabulous player control and realistic gameplay. It has just one ridiculous flaw.

Halo 3: ODST - Xbox 360
Gus Mastrapa, Crispy Gamer

Sure, the game comes with a single-player campaign and an extra disc that gives players access to all of 'Halo 3's' multiplayer content (including all of those map packs). But, truly, 'Halo 3: ODST' is a delivery method for Firefight, a four-player co-op mode that echoes the innovative 'Horde' battles in 'Gears of War 2.'

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 - Xbox 360
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer

'Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2' does show incremental improvement from the last entry in the series. A larger number of characters, deeper strategies and the ability to switch heroes on the fly in-game all make the experience feel more flexible. This time around, you can allot experience points to teamwork, so that tandem attacks and artificial-intelligence support work better.

 

Wolfenstein - Xbox 360

Wolfenstein - Xbox 360
Tom Chick, Crispy Gamer

Wolfenstein is all execution and no inspiration, played safe and flat and without a hint of creativity. It is as lifeless and plodding as its Nazi zombies, which is saying a lot since it doesn't even really have Nazi zombies. This is a classic example of a big-budget opportunity gone to waste, cranked out with all the care that goes into a mass-produced widget and mechanically stamped from an old mold.

Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim - PC
Troy S. Goodfellow, Crispy Gamer

"Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim's" fidelity to the first game will be more than enough for that aging cohort that fondly remembers the original. Newcomers to the series will experience the same thrill that comes when you have to rely on persuasion instead of orders. But it's not long before continuing seems more a matter of obligation than delight.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 - PS3 Video Game Review

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 - PS3
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

I'm a big "Ninja Gaiden" fan. I don't know why, but all the zipping around and hacking up ninja-demons makes me feel great. And I like the fact that the 'Ninja Gaiden' games are notoriously difficult. I think all gamers find one pain-in-the-neck series to call their own, and then proceed to finish all the games on Expert, just to prove that they can do it. It's like that one semester of college that I made the dean's list.

Champions Online - PC
James Fudge, Crispy Gamer

The best thing about this massively multiplayer online game? The character creator. The options are mind-blowing, and make 'City of Heroes' seem shameful for the way it makes you earn things like wings and capes. Most importantly, the character creator allows you to create (or recreate) exactly the kind of hero you want.

Dead Space Extraction - Wii
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

Maybe if 'Extraction' had shipped before 'Dead Space'' I'd feel more generous toward it. Mostly all 'Extraction' did was make me want to take another jaunt through 'Dead Space.'

'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra' - Xbox 360
Tom Chick, Crispy Gamer

Let's cut to the chase: 'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra' is terrible. It's a typical tie-in that intends to sell copies solely because the name on the box coincides with a recently released movie. The game inside is entirely irrelevant and colossally mediocre. This is that special brand of terrible game that's just competent enough to be forgettable

Eight Toys That Should Never Be Turned Into Videogames
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer

We are full-time gamers, but we're also part-time activists. We want to protect the past from being exploited by the future alcohol quaffers. Thus, here's a list of toys we have declared totally off-limits, and shipped to an undisclosed location in New Jersey so that the world never has to endure their inevitable videogame tie-ins

'Diablo III' is Totally '90s - PC
Gus Mastrapa, Crispy Gamer

Let's just get this out of the way. The people worried about the look of 'Diablo III' being too colorful are idiots. They're straight-up wrong. The last thing we need is Blizzard taking these people seriously. Because if there's a problem at all with 'Diablo III' (and I'm not sure that there is), it's that the game isn't straying far enough from the grim geek aesthetics of the '90s

Madden NFL Videogame Phenomenon

Observing 'Madden' Experts and Living to Tell the Tale
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

By any measure, the 'Madden NFL' series is a bona fide videogame phenomenon. Since its start on the Apple II way back in 1989, the series has consistently been at or near the top of the year-end videogame sales charts, generating over $2 billion in cumulative sales for publisher EA Sports.

 

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Batman: Arkham Asylum
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer

"Batman: Arkham Asylum," the latest attempt to capture Batman in a videogame, comes to us from Rocksteady Studios. This videogame is a wonderfully moody experience that skillfully exploits the most iconic elements of the Dark Knight: near-total stealth, martial prowess, cool gadgets and deductive skills.

 

Al Ries

Marketing Guru Al Ries Predicts the Next Big Thing in Videogames
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

I've always thought of marketing expert Al Ries as a sort of Nostradamus of product markets. But unlike that famous 16th-century French seer, Ries doesn't bother with obscure quatrains and references to owls ripping out the guts of hoary beasties. Nope. Ries studies why products succeed and fail, and summarizes his findings in an ongoing series of books as amusing to read as a consumer as they are important for people in the business world to digest.

Heroes and Villains: Alter Egos
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer

There already may be lots of superhero games in the world, but the genre could still broaden its horizons in terms of what is on offer. Keep reading for a list of things I think are missing from the superhero genre, and the characters who could fill those voids.

 

AI War: Fleet Command

'Rush, Boom, Turtle': And Now for Something Completely Different
Tom Chick, Crispy Gamer

Anytime someone tells you that real-time strategy games are creatively stagnant, you can assume he doesn't know real-time strategy games. As long as I've been playing RTSes, there have been at least one or two exciting innovations every year. 2009 has already seen its share. Crispy Gamer's Tom Chick thinks he's stumbled across this year's Really New Thing: a real-time strategy game called "AI War: Fleet Command.

 

Ninja Gaiden

Eight Enemies Who Are Just Jerks
John Teti, Crispy Gamer

There are enemies that are tough to defeat, and enemies that are easy. And then there is a special, separate group of bad guys that are just plain jerks. They're not so hard; they don't have a bunch of hit points. But for whatever reason, they seem to exist solely to annoy the freaking soul out of you. Below are a few of the greatest jerks of all time, but this is far from all of them. Nominate your own classic jerks in the comments.

 

Apple Gaming Console

The Apple Gaming Console: An Idea So Crazy It Just Might Work, Maybe
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

Take note as the Jobsian Cupertino Cult starts to cast its roving eye toward gaming, videogames, the land of electronic entertainment -- the big one. Rumors range from a new Apple tablet computer's possible support for gaming (obviously) to talks about an EA acquisition (not likely), all the way up to the central speculation that Apple might just launch its own console in the coming years.Take note as the Jobsian Cupertino Cult starts to cast its roving eye toward gaming, videogames, the land of electronic entertainment -- the big one. Rumors range from a new Apple tablet computer's possible support for gaming (obviously) to talks about an EA acquisition (not likely), all the way up to the central speculation that Apple might just launch its own console in the coming years.

Hearts of Iron III
Troy S. Goodfellow, Crispy Gamer

Historical strategy games pull on two contradictory impulses. First, they depend on the desire of the audience to relive the past, to put itself in the shoes of Napoleon or Jefferson Davis. Second, they embrace the Time Lord in all of us, challenging players to undo history, to write a past that will never be. Bring Britain to its knees. Win independence for the Confederacy. Take Moscow before winter comes.

Personal Trainer: Walking - DS
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

In case you missed this oddball trifle from Nintendo, the basic idea is that you walk around with a small digital pedometer in your pocket or clipped to your purse, and every day you sync the little doodad with your Nintendo DS. A creepy Mii then gives you fitness advice, shows you a graph of how many steps you have taken, and describes your walking pattern in terms of an animal.

 

The Battle for 'Wii Sports Resort'

The Battle for 'Wii Sports Resort'
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

When I got done writing my 'Wii Sports Resort' review last week, I looked around at some of the other reviews out there to see how my opinion matched up with the consensus. I wasn't that surprised to see other critics give the game generally good but not spectacular reviews. What did surprise me, however, waWorld

 

Tekken 6

'Tekken 6'
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Time was, the only place you'd be able to play a Tekken game was on one of Sony's PlayStation platforms. That all changes this fall, as the series makes its debut on the Xbox 360 with 'Tekken 6.'

 

Star Wars: Republic Heroes

'Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes'
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

"Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" reinvigorated those who had their faith shaken by the prequel trilogy, and BioWare's massively-multiplayer "Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes" looks to deliver the kind of vibrant universe 'Star Wars' fans expect. On television, the animated 'The Clone Wars' has kept the Force fires burning, and LucasArts is bringing the wartime series to consoles.

 

Willie Nelson

10 Best Songs in 'Rock Band: Country Track Pack'
Gus Mastrapa, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Music games have the power to turn people on to new music.

And what genre needs more rehabilitation than country music?

More people hate on Nashville's music than live in the entire state of Tennessee. Gus Mastrapa has been playing 'Rock Band: Country Track Pack.'

 

Fat Princess - PS3

'Fat Princess' -- PS3
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

"At first, I didn't know what to make of "Fat Princess," Evan Narcisse declares. "I'd seen her sizable assets a few times and wondered if she'd know how to work those curves. But after playing around with her a bit, I've decided she"s cheeky."

 

Five Reasons Why My iPod Is My Favorite Game System
Ryan Kuo, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

The App Store provides a vibrant, inexpensive and ever-growing library of some of the most inspiring games I have played in years," Ryan Kuo writes. "Actually, I like gaming on my iPod better than my Nintendo DS, my PC and my Xbox 360.

Social Games: The Industry's New Wild West
Troy S. Goodfellow, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Social gaming is taking advantage of the Internet's unique ability to accumulate social connections in order to encourage greater investment in what have been, to this point, very casual games.

How to Play PC Games On Your Mac
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

I use Macs. I've messed around with Windows, but I've never let it into my home. But, in the name of science, dear Crispy Readers, I'm sacrificing the virginity of my month-old 13-inch MacBook Pro to the Crispy How-To Lab. By following a few simple steps, it's possible to run PC games on a Macintosh. Here's what I did...

Planet of the Apps: Apple iPhone's Top 25 Free Games
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

iPhone owners can download any one of thousands of free games the moment they find themselves with some free gaming time.

The Ethics of Computer Video Games
Troy Goodfellow, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

The Ethics of Computer Video Games

Videogames are different from other forms of mass media. They require player input and, therefore, some level of player reflection. This interactivity, some argue, makes games a superior form of entertainment. You can give players choice; you can give players immediate feedback about the consequences of their decisions.

But what if we understand ethics and games in a different way?

In his new book 'The Ethics of Computer Games,' philosopher Miguel Sicart argues that player control makes games 'ethical objects' ...

 

'Fight Night Round 4'
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Fight Night Round 4

"Fight Night Round 4" is not the leap forward that "Round 3" was for the series, or for the medium of videogames. How could it be? "Round 3" was a ridiculously impressive technical achievement back in 2006.

What you will find in 'Fight Night Round 4' are around 45 licensed boxers to fool with, some tweaked right-stick controls, and the same fetishistic attention to detail — the spray of sweat, the rippling facial muscles

 

'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Tranformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn't an entirely terrible game. The varied abilities of the various Transformers do mix things up in interesting ways and you'll be able to upgrade your whole faction's abilities at the same time.

However, as Crispy Gamer's Evan Narcisse played it, he kept feeling you can get this stuff — driving, combat, large-scale giant robot mayhem — done better elsewhere.

 

'The Punisher: No Mercy'
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer

'The Punisher: No Mercy'

'The Punisher: No Mercy' happens as a first-person shooter, seemingly a natural fit for a Punisher game. Players earn new weapons and abilities as they play.

The frenetic pace of the action resembles that of the Unreal Tournament series, and the emphasis on scrambling across the map and scavenging weapons and mods also feels very Unreal.

 

'ArmA II' Falls Apart Just as it's Starting To Get Good
Tom Chick, Crispy Gamer

ArmA II

Unmade in Manhattan: How 'ArmA II' Falls Apart Just as it's Starting To Get Good 'ArmA II' is a tremendously exciting, ambitious game that you cannot possibly expect to be so bad for all the terrible bugs and glitches and unfinished bits and systems that just simply don't work.

But it is that bad -- and will make sure you know it.

 

 

Midseason Videogame All-Stars: Top Picks for 2009
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer

Plants vs. Zombies

It's a good time to take a look at videogaming's all-star performers for the first half of 2009.

These are the games that brought something new and interesting to the table, the games we keep coming back to when we should be working, the games that we don't want to forget about when it comes time for the year-end lists

 

 

'Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood'
Russ Fischer, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

Italian and Japanese influences helped revitalize the film Western. Now, as the genre lays fallow on game consoles, Polish development team Techland is trying to bring the Wild West back to life.

Its resuscitation plan is ripped not so much from the Western canon, but from Quentin Tarantino -- as Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood tries to inject a load of adrenaline into the stagnant genre.

 

'Tales of Monkey Island
Launch of the Screaming Narwhal'
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Tales of Monkey Island's puzzles fall squarely in the mind-numbingly easy camp or the mind-numbingly frustrating camp, resulting in a game that's passable but not extraordinary.

 

Why Most Video Games are Really Boring After Opening Hour
Scott Jones, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

The gist of my video gaming experience: I did some things that were exciting and novel. Then I did some more things that were exciting and novel. And then I kind of did the same thing over and over again for a very, very long time. This is a condition from which approximately 99 percent of all games suffer.

 

'Electric Jesus' vs. 'Super-Cannibal'
('Infamous' vs. 'Prototype')
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer

Prototype

First, people joked about not being able to tell them apart. Then there was the fact that their release dates were separated by mere weeks. But even though most were comparing them, there seemed to be a sense that people didn't want to declare one game better than the other. I'll say it outright: I like "Infamous" a lot more than I do "Prototype."

 

 

Nine Videogame Characters Never Heard From Again
John Teti, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

The video gaming industry tends to celebrate the 'franchise' characters -- the Marios, the Sonics, the Solid Snakes -- who sell video games by virtue of having their faces on the box. These towering icons have plenty of fans, and bully for them. I find more fascination, though, in the misfits who played a plum role in a popular series and then disappeared from the public eye forever.

'New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat'
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

'New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat' isn't quite the same without the bongos, but it's not exactly worse, either. Any excuse to revisit this classic is a good one, though.

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