Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas! & Blog Update!!!

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all my friends & followers! This morning I was blessed enough to find a very special present from my mother. Before leaving last night she left a PS3 holiday bundle under my humble Christmas tree. I unboxed it this morning, and set everything up in preparation for some long awaited PS3 gaming. I will have to wait until I download the massive amounts of PSN games & PSN Minis before I can enjoy the system properly though. This will no doubt take a full day, or more to do. In the meantime I will visit with family, and enjoy the Christmas holiday to it's fullest. Even with all this good news though there is still the looming threat of incoming severe weather, and possible tornadoes for my area today. Hopefully things will go by smoothly for me, and my family with no disasters resulting from the weather onslaught.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Holiday Greetings From Some Devs!!!

As I've been browsing Twitter, and all the other social sites today I've noticed that for the most part everyone is in good spirits. People are spreading the cheer through their tweets, and even their youtube videos. In fact this morning during my routine Youtube channel surfing I found that my good friend from overseas, Dragon had uploaded such a video. It was something that added a small amount of joy to my gloomy day. As most of you who follow me know I live in an area that's plagued by the worst sort of weather. This Christmas we are supposed to have some severe weather which could bring destruction along with it. It's a scary, and very real concern for me that my Christmas might not turn out to be so great as a result. Regardless of this dreadful future friends, followers, and game developers continue to wish me the best, and I sincerely appreciate it. I wanted to take the time, and share the three digital greeting cards that I got from "Firebase Industries (@FirebaseIND)", "NeocoreGames" & "Gentlemen Squid Studio". I hope that you all enjoy this holiday to it's fullest. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all & a Happy New Year!!!

Friday, December 21, 2012

OtakuDante's "Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2012"

This year has been a virtual roller coaster ride for the video game industry. Some developers hit home runs with their games while others failed miserably at their attempts to impress the gamers. I'm here today to give much deserved praise to the games that have truly impressed me this year. With each game nominated (by me, in somewhat numerical order) I will also give you (the reader) my thoughts as to why I think the game in question deserves a spot on my "Top 10" list. The games will range from retail Xbox 360 games to XBLIG titles. There will definitely be credit given across the Xbox 360 gaming spectrum in that respect. I hope that you gain some knowledge as to what was good & what was not this year through my list. Keep in mind though that my opinions are my own, and that opinions are like a**holes. Everybody's got one. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all of you reading this article! May the coming year be a blessed one for you!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Black Knight Sword (XBLA): "SUDA 51's Masterful Fairy Tale"

When it comes to vivid, and disturbing video games no one quite does it like SUDA 51. In the past this master of the macabre has given us such titles as the strange yet intriguing "Shadows of the Damned". I never in my life fathomed that this game developer would contribute to the XBLA library though. The fact that he did proves that he is out to impress the world with his talents, and in my honest opinion I think "Black Knight Sword" does exactly that. I spent hours sitting in front of the television mesmerized by the oddities, and WTF!? moments that populated the screen. Looking back I think I will definitely have a difficult time putting into words what I witnessed during my playthrough, but I will give it my best shot.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Pinball FX2 (XBLA): "Zen Classics"

In the early next-gen days of gaming, before I even thought of doing gaming reviews, I was a serious PS3 gamer. Among my collection of PSN game titles there was a pinball game you may have heard of before. This pinball game was none other than "Zen Pinball". It was basically the same thing as "Pinball FX2", but unlike 'Pinball FX2' though 'Zen Pinball' came with it's own unique starter set. There were four tables included that each presented to the gamer an entirely unique pinball gaming experience. The tables included in the set were "El Dorado", "Shaman", "V12", and "Tesla". As Zen Studios would have it these four challenging tables were kept from the Xbox 360 version of the game for a while. It wasn't until recently that the pinball wizards of 'Zen Studios' decided to grant us Xbox 360 owners access to these early tables. In the end Zen Studios not only revived them for us, but also remastered them with amazingly enhanced graphics, and sounds. Today my friends I bring to you my breakdown of what each table has to offer the player as well as some basic stategies to achieve that highest score. Without further adieu, "Let the games begin!" ....

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Donations For A Friend

Most of you who follow me know of my friend @IRGRL's situation. She, and her family were directly impacted by the the recent hurricane that hit the northeastern United States. While they are making it fairly well at the moment they could still use some donations if you are up for it. Heating fuel is the highest priority, but donations for repairs, and necessities in the form of gift cards (True Value Hardware, Lowes, Home Depot, Target) would also be welcome as well. If you wish to donate towards the heating fuel it would be best done with something like a Visa gift card. I will leave you @IRGRL's address in case you are interested in donating. Any amount is welcome. Thanks for any support you offer my friend!

Heating Fuel - Visa Gift Card ...

Repair Donations - True Value Hardware Gift Card, Lowes Gift Card, Home Depot Gift Card, Target Gift Card

Mailing Address:

S. Vivian
12 1st avenue
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Aeternum (XBLIG): "A Challenging Yet Impressive Anime Shmup"

Recently I talked/chatted with indie game developer Brook Bishop (WastedBrilliance) about doing a video review on his latest XBLIG title, "Aeternum". He gladly agreed to my proposal, but before I could even think about doing it my PC monitor overheated, and left me with a dilemma. Thankfully I was able to get the monitor working well enough to upload, and post my video review though. In the following gameplay video I will go over all the modes, and options that the game has to offer. I'll also demonstrate each mode, but only to a certain extent as the game proved too challenging for my shmup (shoot'em up) skill level. Along with these technical aspects of the game I'll also provide my opinions on how good, or not-so-good the game is. I believe a gamer should know how well a game performs before they invest their hard earned money in it. I hope you enjoy the video review, and that it provides enough insight to help you decide on whether, or not to purchase it. Please keep in mind that my commentary is a little random since I do not do video reviews too often. Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Racedrome City (XBLIG): "Quality Online & Offline Racing FTW!!!"

In the XBLIG marketplace you'll find many aspiring game developers as well as some game developers that produce near XBLA content. Rendercode Games just so happens to be one of the better developers who are known for consistently good game releases. In the past I've reviewed a variety of sports, and racing related games that were developed by them, and enjoyed each playthrough equally. I was always impressed by the rendering, and the overall professional look/feel of the games. In their latest release, Racedrome City the developer continues their trend of quality with possibly one of the best racing games to grace the XBLIG marketplace. With new features, and next-gen graphics this affordable racer might just be what you've been looking for ...

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

STRACO Episode 1 (XBLIG): "A Retro Tower Defense Game With Shmup Action"

It has become quite obvious to me over the past few years that the newer generations of video games are only bringing with them more problems. Things like annoying online gameplay, and poor presentation overshadow the possibility of any fun to be had. As a result I often find myself thinking about the times when games were actually fun, and worthwhile. Those days of course are long gone, but thanks to some classic XBLIG game developers they are not entirely lost. NVO (Not Very Original) for example has taken their time to develop a well balanced tower defense game that harkens back to the days when games were actually fun, and challenging. This game I speak of is none other than STRACO Episode 1.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Three Dead Zed (XBLIG): "Possibly the Most Unique Zombie Game This Year!!!"

Gentleman Squid Studio has created an amazing one of a kind zombie platformer that is both next-gen in quality, and old school at the same time. It's not often that I've seen a 2D platforming game that features zombies as the main protagonists along with puzzle solving themes all in the same package. Somehow the developer managed to create this game in exactly that way though. In the end I think the things that really drew me to this XBLIG title were the art style, and the fact that it was a platformer. I absolutely love platformers, and have been a fan of them since the days of the NES. Seeing 'Three Dead Zed' in the youtube trailer a month earlier really made me smile. It was filled with blood, and gore which made me more than excited about getting my hands on it. When I was contacted by 'Gentlemen Squids Studios' I played it cool, but I was honestly like a kid tearing into a really cool Christmas present.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Pinball FX2/Marvel Pinball: "Civil War"

In 2006 there began an epic Marvel mini-series that was unlike anything the fans of the longstanding comic book franchise had ever seen. This series was none other than Marvel's "Civil War". The event lasted through seven epic drama filled issues that involved many of Marvels best known superheroes, and supervillains. Standing their ground at the core of the conflict was Iron Man, and Captain America. The two popular Marvel superheroes found themselves on opposing sides of a newly proposed "Super Hero Registration Act (SHRA)" which was created after a deadly clash that resulted in the loss of many innocent lives. On one hand Iron Man was all for the proposed act, and on the other hand Captain America was very much against it. What spawned from this massive civil unrest was several instances of bloodshed, and the division of the Marvel Universe as we (the readers) had come to realize it.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Trailer Park King 3DD (XBLIG): "Zombies, Aliens & Porn!!! Oh My!!!"

In a true sequel fashion Freelance Games, the developers behind the XBLIG hit "Trailer Park King" series starts this newest chapter of King's adventure off with a brief flashback detailing what went on in the previous episode. When we last left King he was in the midst of a dilemma concerning Truck's "condition". The entire trailer park had deemed Truck as a zombie since he hadn't been acting like himself, and were insistent about finding out the truth. With the aid of his interesting lady friends (and a couple of redneck men) King has made it his priority to find out whether, or not Truck is really a zombie. Using Skinny's guide to zombies King sets out to free his nemesis from the hamster ball cage he is currently imprisoned in, so that he can regain access to his precious porn. Will we ever get to see the porn on King's tv? Will Truck be cleared of his inhuman label? What about the aliens? It's all up to you to find out. Be wary though as all is not as it seems in the good old trailer park ...

Monday, November 19, 2012

OtakuDante's Black Ops 2 Custom Emblems!!!

When it comes to video game customization options there's nothing I like better than something that allows me to express my artistic talent. Games like the original 'Black Ops', and 'Soul Calibur V' rank among the best customizable games. In the original 'Black Ops' they introduced a truly awesome emblem customization menu that allowed the gamer to create almost anything they could imagine. The emblem designs that spawned from this customization mode ranged from the mundane to the truly awe-inspiring. The feature added a more personal touch to the less than personal gameplay. In the case of 'Soul Calibur V' the character customization was just as detailed, if not more so. You could design some amazing custom characters that were each brought to life right before your eyes. Not only that, but you were also able to use the newly created characters in offline, and online gameplay. In retrospect it's features like these that really make a good game stand out even more.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Neocore Games Has Finally Found Their New Hero!!!

I posted an article not too long ago giving you guys & gals the opportunity to vote on Neocore Game's hero for the upcoming action RPG, "The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing". It turns out that everyone who voted felt pretty much the same way I did, and thought that the 'Mysterious Stranger' was badass enough to take on the lead role. In the end this masked monster slayer won the right through your votes to become Neocore's hero. I would like to thank everyone who voted. Be sure to keep an eye on my blog as I'm sure more screenshots, and videos will be released before the game is. I will definitely keep you informed on the latest news concerning this amazing game. Be sure to save some microsoft points as I'm sure this XBLA title will be worth it. If you'd like to wait on my review that is fine as well though. Until next time I bid you farewell ladies & gents!

- Brad (OtakuDante) -

Saturday, November 10, 2012

RocketGirl (XBLIG): "Prepare Yourself For Full-on Sensory Overload!!!"

W ... T ... F!? WTF!!! ... Okay let me compose myself a bit ...

I'm not exactly sure what Software By Eugene was thinking when creating this game but it most definitely warrants a warning label. When I first laid eyes on the game I thought "Cool!!!". This is a shmup I could definitely get into. It featured a voluptuous girl riding a rocket. What's not to like there??? I have to say before I go any further though that I was dead wrong about the whole shmup (shoot 'em up) thing. This game is definitely not a shmup. Instead what we have here is one of those intense sensory overload survival games where the point is to make it to the end without crashing into objects. As you can probably guess you pilot a scantily clad girl riding a large rocket (obvious sexual innuendo!!!) through the course of these lengthy adventures. With the application of a single button press (A) you control the ascent, and descent of this buxom young lady as she flies through what could be best described as some sort of sexually drug induced fantasy trip. Often times the screen flashes with possible seizure inducing light shows, and half naked ladies flying through the air all over the place as you fly onward on the larger than life rocket that's between your legs. Logic is definitely not present here.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Compromised (XBLIG) Coming To PC!!!

Earlier this year I did a review on the XBLIG shmup "Compromised". It was developed by Super Soul Studios/Games, and offered a new take on the shmup genre. While it wasn't you're traditional shmup (shoot 'em up) game it did have traditional elements, and played a little like Metroidvania style platformers. Recently Richie of Super Soul contacted me through email letting me know about his future plans for the game. On November 16th of this year a Beta PC version will be released for purchase on Desura, and IndieCity for $3.99. Richie also informed me that the changes applied to this new PC version may be implemented on the XBLIG version as well. From what I understand the graphics will be updated, and new modes made possible. Accompanying this good news is equally impressive news about the developer's work on a multiplayer beta for the XBLIG version of the game. The update is currently in the works, and will hopefully be presented soon. Before I close I should also mention that "Compromised" is currently on Steam Greenlight. I will leave a link to it in case you are interested in checking it out.

Compromised (Steam Greenlight): http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=93016033

Monday, November 5, 2012

Demon House: FPS (XBLIG): "Something Borrowed, Something New ..."

Photonic Games brings to the indie marketplace an FPS (First Person Shooter) title that seems to incorporate familiar gameplay features which have been used in well known FPS games throughout the years. At the heart of Demon House: FPS you'll find vague yet noticeable similarities to games like 'BioShock', 'Doom', and even 'Quake' giving the game a retrospective atmosphere. The story, or plot at the core of this game is unique however, and seems to be derived from the scfi/fantasy genre of steam-punk fiction using necromancy as it's driving factor. As the game's protagonist, an unnamed scientist you (the gamer) find that it is your duty to put an end to one of the greatest necromancers the world has ever seen. Your target, the evil scientist of the story has willingly unlocked the secrets of life, and death and has used his knowledge to raise a soul driven army of mechanical soldiers. Seeing this as a potential hazard the powers that be have summoned you to dispatch the creator, and his unholy creations through classic weapon based combat. As you venture into the domain of the dead you'll find plenty of aggressive oddities that are hellbent on your demise. With your steam-punk weaponry in hand your task is simple. Destroy the creations, set the souls free, and put a stop to the madness. Are you up for the challenge?

Neocore Games is Looking For The New Hero of "The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing"!!!

Earlier this year (October I think?) I tweeted links to a poll/survey concerning Neocore Game's search for their new protagonist/hero. They offered the fans three distinct interview-like videos featuring animations of each character detailing the characters' views on why they should be the main star of the game. You had the Chevalier who was somewhat arrogant in nature, the fabled Van Helsing himself, and a mysterious masked stranger (my personal favorite) who seemed to be the most badass one of all. As of now there is only one week left to get your votes in. I will leave you a link to the videos as well as a link to the poll/survey in hopes that you will partake of this unique opportunity provided by the developer of the game. I have high hopes for this upcoming XBLA title, and if the screenshots, and gameplay videos are a direct portrayal of things to come then we are definitely in for a treat!

Link to the funny casting video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekz5j_UqbJ4

Link to the original announcement: http://press.neocoregames.com/newsletter/43

Link to the voting: "CLOSED"


- Brad (OtakuDante) -

Monday, October 29, 2012

Null Battles (XBLIG): "A Retro Gravity Based FPS Title"

In my time as an XBLIG reviewer I can't recall any developer taking on the gravity based FPS sub-genre. With that being said though the XBLA game "Hybrid" did an excellent job of bringing this new sub-genre to light earlier on this year. Regardless of that fact Techno Hermit Game's 'Null Battles' brings back the arcade goodness of the old 90's era 3D geometrical based games, and blends it with today's online/multiplayer gaming capabilities. In a simple yet vastly complex way the developer delivers an indie game that not only has significant replay value, but one that also allows the gamer to create their own arenas for online/multiplayer combat. The setting adjustments are definitely plentiful, and the possibilities nearly endless. Innovation is definitely not dead as this developer has once again proved with their unique take on this FPS sub-genre.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Halloween Scream (XBLIG): "Classy Interactive Storytelling At It's Finest"

Sometimes I find that I'm guilty of pre-judging a game before I even play it myself. I'll often times take a look at the XBL marketplace screenshots in order to get a glimpse at what I'd be reviewing if I took on the task of reviewing a requested game. I know I shouldn't judge games simply on screenshots, but heaven forbid I get stuck reviewing some half-assed game that had little thought applied to it's design. In the case of Bandana Game's newly released XBLIG title, "Halloween Scream" I went in thinking that it was going to be some sort of mediocre digital story that might as well be a part of the Amazon Kindle digital book library. I didn't think that perhaps the developer had created something amazing, beyond what a digital novel could offer. In retrospect I'm sorry for my pre-game judgement, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to experience this intriguing Halloween tale from the talented developer, Bandana Games. They did an outstanding job with their well versed tale of horror.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Lucky (XBLIG): "A Twist-ed Look At The Meaning Of Life, Death & Luck"

Out of all the XBLIG developers I've come to know none have created such intriguing, and detailed stories as the ones Guy Galer (Twist-ed Games) has done. I've followed his story of Bureau Agent Kendal as she thwarts criminals with her decisive interrogations, and crime solving tactics. With every episode released I always found something special to brag about in my reviews, and Guy Galer's latest game "Lucky" is no exception to that. As most of you know through the videos I have provided with each Twist-ed Game review the developer has a very unique animation style that seems to improve in quality with each game release. In "Lucky" Guy Galer delivers his most visually appealing game yet, and keeps true to his risque semi-nude scenes as he does so. As I did my playthrough I enjoyed every moment of the interactive point-and-click story. The atmospheric, and mellow soundtrack added to the game's overall ambiance, and as such made for a truly noteworthy playthrough.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Zombie Driver HD (XBLA): "Zombie Carnage & Vehicular Combat"

Zombies seem to be a hot topic these days. Whether it's in the form of entertainment, or rumors spreading about a possible zombie apocalypse you have no doubt probably witnessed the bloody carnage that these undead denizens can cause. While I think a zombie apocalypse is the least of our worries I do partake in the grim goodness that the zombie entertainment genre has to offer. From time to time I'll pop a zombie oriented movie into my dvd player, or even partake of the ever-popular zombie video game genre via my Xbox 360. There is honestly no lack of available content when it comes to zombie horror, and as such a horror fan like my self can be entertained until the zombie apocalypse finally arrives, if it even does.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Happy Wars (XBLA): "Chaotic Warfare With A Comical Twist"

There is no doubt these days that war is truly one of the hottest, and most debated topics around. Often times you'll see news of the war in the middle east, and find that things in life are not always as pleasant as they seem. Even the video game industry seems to take their own stance on the subject of war with military based shooters that are all the craze these days. These more serious peeks into what is happening in the world can become somewhat disheartening at times if we dwell on it too long. Even so I'm glad to see that some game producers, and developers such as Toylogic are bringing us a lighter side of the topic of warfare.

In their latest free to play game, "Happy Wars" we find that war games do not always have to be the overly violent display that most of us have come to call normal. With a whimsical cast of customizable light, and dark armies this simplistic tower defense title comes to life with all the charm of a children's fairytale. Keeping true to the theme of war though, Toylogic pokes hints at the serious topic of warfare that is imbeded within the game. As such they bring to our attention the troubling nature that plagues all of mankind. Maybe one day we as humans will see our mistakes, and end our quarrels in a civilized manner. Until that time though when have fun games like this one to keep us entertained, and make the horrific reality that is war seem like it's only a bad dream.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

KontrolFreek (Xbox 360): "FPS Freek Havoc & FPS Freek Infinity"

Sometimes the greatest things come in the smallest packages. This is a quote that definitely applies to KontrolFreek's latest controller enhancements. When the two sets of KontrolFreeks arrived at my house I was a little surprised to see how simple they were, and how small the package was that they were in. Initially I wasn't seeing the reason for the price, but as I tested them out I soon realized that they definitely warranted the cost. After reading the postcard explaining what the "FPS HAVOC", and "FPS INFINITY" were all about I set out to give them a proper testing. For about a week I spent hours in "MW3", and "HALO REACH" trying out the various modes within each game, so I could get optimal results for my final verdict. In the following paragraphs I'll go over the technical details, and descriptions of each set of KontrolFreeks.

The Fall of the Video Gaming Industry: "Fighting Games"

There is no doubt that times are hard for most Americans, and for many people abroad. As such we find that money is tight, and budgeting is a must if we hope to stay afloat in this dwindling economy. Gamers such as myself are finding it harder, and harder to afford the hobby that we have come to love and support all these years. I've had to cut back seriously on my own spending, and I only buy games with the extra money I make doing one of my side jobs. Considering these tough times you would think that game developers would have their customers' best interest in mind, but it seems they have grown money hungry, and could care less about the products they produce. This mentality is a growing concern of mine. If companies such as those who produce video games begin to sacrifice quality for the sake of earning money, then the gaming industry (or any other entertainment industry) as we know it will ultimately fail. Who will pay the price in the end? The consumers. Those who spend their hard earned cash to support their gaming habits will eventually lose all their money to such companies, and in the end the gaming/entertainment empires will be set to last for the long haul leaving us with nothing to do but live a life of poverty.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Eclipse Magazine's "JAM Live Music Arcade" Contest!!!

Earlier this year I agreed to review an interesting XBLA music title called "JAM Live Music Arcade". The game basically gave the player control over all the various instruments that make up a band, and allowed them to control the mixes via a DJ style setup. Well, I'm back again telling you about this game, because there's a pretty awesome contest going on in relation to it. Those who enter could possibly win $1,000 worth of actual band equipment!!! If you have the XBLA title, and aren't scared to get in front of the camera and record some footage of yourself performing a mix then you have a chance at winning. I will say that the game is best played with a guitar peripheral, and that it does require some skill. I'm sure the contest holders want to hear a good mix, so if you are interested in the prizes then get practicing. I'll provide all the details below for you in case you're up to the challenge.

Worms Revolution (XBLA): "Wacky Worm Hijinks Displayed in Brilliant 2.5D!!!"

Your favorite bunch of segmented cephalopods return in all their humorous glory as a fellow British nature enthusiast guides them to their ultimate doom, or perhaps their glorious destiny. Equipped with a wide array  of one liners, and wacky weaponry these creepy crawlies and their negative narrator are prepared for a battle of the fittest. There is no doubt there will be plenty of cartoon-like casualties as the worms blast, beat, and dragon ball their way to victory. This time around the usual crew of worms are joined by some new teammates further swaying the possible outcome of the fray at hand. Through hard training, and mayhem induced puzzle solving the new recruits will be able to dish out proper demise, or at least die trying.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

MTG 2013 DLC Expansion Pack (XBLA)

Stainless Games, and Wizards of the Coast continue to bless us with more downloadable content for the "MTG: Duels of the Planeswalkers" series. While it took a while to arrive this latest expansion set is chock full of worthy additions to the core set. Straying a little from the path of the 2013 core set these new decks involve cards from an upcoming expansion release titled "Return to Ravnica". Luckily for diehard MTG (Magic the Gathering) fans these new cards can be experienced in their entirety through the 5 new decks that the DLC expansion pack offers. The new decks each feature dual color, and dual effect mana properties allowing for more in-depth strategies, and more involved gameplay. You will face five very ruthless duelists including Selesnya, Azorius, Rakdos, Izzet, and Golgari. Accompying the five new decks are 10 new campaigns, and 5 new challenges to familiarize you with the gameplay mechanics.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Double Dragon Neon (XBLA): "The 80's Reborn"

The 80's were a magical time in history when the entertainment industry was at it's best, and most original. There were all sorts of awesome movies being released, the music was arguably the coolest, and video games were truly awe-inspiring. I grew up in the 80's myself, and was able to partake of the greatness that it had offered. Those who were as lucky as me will often tell you that they miss such days, because everything seemed so much simpler. As a gamer I spent most of my spare time in the 80's playing on my family's NES with my brothers. We played what seemed like hundreds of games, and never grew tired of doing so. We would revisit some games on a constant basis while certain others we would just conquer, and move on. One game we often revisited was "Double Dragon". I remember getting in fights with my brothers over the game, but looking back we did have our fun moments as well. It's memories like these that I cherish so dearly. Being able to do a review on the latest installment of the 'Double Dragon' series gave me a trip of nostalgia that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Snops Attack! Zombie Defense (XBLIG): "The One XBLIG Shmup That Could Have Easily Been A Retail Game!"

DUDE!!! I'm so psyched to do this review! I've been waiting for what seems like an eternity to get my hands on this game! Ever since I watched the Mike Walz's/SnopsGames (The Developer) Youtube videos I knew this game was special, and in the end it did not disappoint. For those of you who are clueless as to what this game is about it's basically a bullet hell shooter, but a bullet hell shooter that is presented in the most grand fashion you could possibly fathom. What sets this gem apart from most XBLIG shmup titles is the breathtaking visuals, amazing character animations, and the superb soundtrack that each compliment the onscreen action in some truly awe-inspiring ways. This game, in all honesty could easily be marketed as a retail game if Mike just added some more features, and bonus material. It's seriously that good.

Download The "Double Dragon: Neon" Official Soundtrack For Free!!!

Most of you who now know me understand what sort of a music fanatic I am. I love all kinds of music, and listen to songs on a frequent basis. If you were allowed to hang with me at my place you'd likely hear an odd mixture of music ranging from classical music such as that Beethoven provides to more hardcore German Industrial bands that are anything but kid friendly. Aside from my vast, and unsual taste in music genres you'll also find that I also enjoy gaming soundtracks as well. In my collection I have a 4-Disc KOF compilation, "The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings" soundtrack, and the "Dark Souls" Artbook + Soundtrack combo. Video game music is quite frankly one of the best genres that one can find in the world. Some game soundtracks include epic symphonies befitting of royalty while others have a more hardcore sound. Video games arouse such a wide spectrum of emotions that all sort of music genres can be applied to them.

Without beating around the bush too much longer though, I'm here to let you (my readers) know about the "Double Dragon: Neon" soundtrack that is currently available for download at no cost. You heard me right. The soundtrack is free, and can be downloaded via a website which Ben has provided. If you are into 80's tunes, and want to partake of this one of a kind hand out then simply click on the link/s included in the following email.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Dogfight 1942 (XBLA): "WWII Aerial Combat With A Somewhat Realistic Design"

I have played only a handful of war based aerial combat titles in my time as a gamer, and as such doing this review was in many ways a first for me. As a gamer, and person in general my knowledge of the wars is honestly limited. Being able to play a game such as "Dogfight 1942" sort of allowed me to broaden my horizons in that area though. The realistic nature of the character interactions along with the well played historical battles shed some light on the subject for me.With their latest creation City Interactive has delivered a gaming experience that is both interesting, and somewhat engaging. While I cannot confirm it, I believe that they actually went out of their way to recreate significant details with their campaign reenactments. Some of it I'm sure is probably more on the side of fiction, but at least the game is based on real events though.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Face-Plant Adventures (XBLIG): "The World Through The Eyes Of A Piranha Plant ... Not Really Though"

When I first laid eyes on Face-Plant Adventures a couple of thoughts came to mind. The first thing to pop into my mind was the main character looks like a mix between a Piranha Plant (Super Mario Bros.), and the man-eating venus flytrap from "Little Shop of Horrors". Secondly, as I watched the trailer I began to think of the "Sonic the Hedgehog" video game series because of the rail systems, and the checkpoints. Even with similarities such as these though it seems that the developer, oddworm games has decided to make the game like those of the "impossible game" genre. It was an odd choice to say the least, and one that could easily be this games undoing. I've complained numerous times about "impossible games" in the past, because they leave no room for error making it a frustrating experience that no one in their right mind would revisit. After choosing not to complete my playthrough due to difficulties in the HARD setting I decided to go ahead with my review.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Mark of the Ninja (XBLA): "A Hands-On Ninja Experience"

Ninjas are one of the most revered of all assassins. Hollywood, toy makers, and even game designers have all delved into the mystical world of the ninja. Over the years I myself have enjoyed such entertainment fantasies, and even once pretended as a child that I was a ninja. When it comes to the world of gaming Ninjitsu is just as fantastical as the delusions of grandeur that a child such as myself has entertained. I've seen a wide array of game titles in my time that encompass the many aspects of the ninja genre. During the NES days I spent long hours trying my best to master all of the "Ninja Gaiden" games. As I grew up I spent even more time, and money on game releases that also surrounded the mythology including RPGs, and fighting games. As gaming has evolved so has the portrayal of these historic figures. It seems that even passing time cannot dull the god-like mystique that these shadowy death dealers have become so famous for.

WraptorSkinz (Xbox 360)

As an Xbox 360 reviewer it is my ultimate goal to become "mainstream", and start reviewing what the big time reviewers review. I know that in order to do this I need to start off covering simple products/games, and eventually work my way up to the more expensive ones. This is one of the reasons I began requesting controller add-ons earlier last month. Surprisingly in my quest to gain contributors I found a few product designers including WraptorSkinz that were willing to give my reviews a shot. I had not expected such a welcome response considering I've been turned down, or ignored for nearly every controller review request I've made. I suppose skins, and grips aren't as much of a hassle to send as controllers would be though.

Mark of the Ninja (XBLA) - Never Before Seen Trailer & Ninja Gaiden Tribute Art!!!

If you've been paying attention to my "future reviews" section then you'll know that I've had Klei Entertainment's new XBLA game "Mark of the Ninja" listed for quite some time now. As usual I've gotten the game ahead of the release date, and have been working hard at completing it so that I can deliver a proper review. My playthrough is currently still an ongoing process, but I promise that I'll deliver my review soon. Until that time I have a very special Never-Before-Seen video to share with you that showcases bonus costumes, and new ninja tools. I also have a Twitter link that shows of some "Ninja Gaiden" mash-up/tribute art. You'll find links to both below. If your interested in getting the game it will cost 1200 msp, and will be released on the XBL marketplace today. I suggest that you at least give the game a chance by sampling the trial.

Mark of the Ninja - Costume & Tool Trailer

Mark of the Ninja - Twitter Ninja Gaiden Mash-Up Art

- Brad (OtakuDante) -

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior's Rise (XBLA)

When I first watched the preview trailer to Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior's Rise months ago I couldn't really make heads, or tails of it. To me it looked like a an old school 3D brawler with slightly dated graphics. Regardless of my obvious biased opinions of the game I went forth with my request, and 7Sixty accepted it. I'm definitely grateful that they gave me the opportunity to review their game. As a reviewer there's nothing more exciting than venturing into uncharted territory such as a pre-release game offers. After getting the game, and doing as much of the playthrough as I could I found myself stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wanted so much to like the game, but there were some issues that aggravated me to no end. As a result this review will likely reflect some of that frustration, but in a calm manner. Before I get into those details though, please allow me to tell you more about this game.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: "Rooftop Mayhem Gameplay Trailer"

Rooftop Mayhem Trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Released

BUDAPEST – September 5, 2012 – Independent developer NeocoreGames presents a new gameplay trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, leading the young monster hunter high above the cobbled streets of Borgova, where strange creatures creep and crawl. Helping out a scientist in need and battling a horde of nightmarish creatures, Van Helsing fights his way through the rusty walkways, majestic terraces and the crumbling chimneys of the rooftop world! You may prepare yourself for a whole array of fantastic foes: the Strongmen, former circus performers; Igors, the once obedient servants of the mad scientists; Stitchfiends, created to annihilate monsters; and the succubus-like Rusalkas!

Pinball FX2: "Plants Vs. Zombies"

Who needs a George A. Romero zombie survival strategy when you have a garden full of combative plant life that would make the man-eating venus flytrap from Little Shop of Horrors green with envy. Now that I've got your attention with that college level wordplay let me shed some light on the subject of this review. Most of you, by now have either played or heard of PopCap Game's unique horror-survival strategy game, "Plants Vs. Zombies". The game's title pretty much explains it all for those who haven't though. You grow a garden of living/organic plant weapons that act as an at-home defense against the incoming brain hungry zombie invaders. The Pinball FX2 table of the same name follows this simplistic yet oddly complicated plot with it's own take on the core game title. Staying true to the "Pinball FX2", and "Plants Vs. Zombies" experience Zen Studios, and PopCap Games collaborate to bring you a pinball experience like no other.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

March to the Moon (XBLIG): "A Retro Shmup/RPG Hybrid""

I'm a reviewer, and gamer who values true creativity. Truly creative games have sadly become kind of rare in the XBLIG marketplace these days though. You'll notice games that seem to borrow ideas from other's, and near clones of games that have recently been released. As a result of this trend developers of indie games often times flock to simple gaming genres in order to make a name for themselves. You will often see me tweet, or talk about the declining situation of the gaming industry, because of things like these. Regardless of my disgust the marketplace's current creative status I'm still grateful that there are some developers out there who actually produce noteworthy games. Califer Games just so happens to be one of the handful of noteworthy indie game developers that I'm speaking of. They recently contacted me, requesting that I review their latest release of "March to the Moon". I was a little hesitant at first, but it looked interesting enough to review. After playing it for a good while I was glad that I gave it a proper chance.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Death Closet (XBLIG): "A Hardcore Meme Death Frenzy"

I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm a reviewer who likes to buy from the XBLIG marketplace from time to time. If it weren't for the XBLIG indie developers I wouldn't be where I'm at today with this blog. As such I decided to buy a 'Stegersaurus' game that was recently released called "Death Closet". The name was definitely catchy, and the ghastly little dude on the cover art was begging me to buy the game (not really ^.^), so I could not resist. I read the description as usual, and despite that it was obviously one of those "impossible" game titles I ventured forward with my purchase. After downloading the game, and sampling all that it had to offer. I found that this simple game was the first "impossible" title that I actually enjoyed playing.

Friday, August 31, 2012

The State of Gaming & The Entertainment Industry

I've decided that it's time I voiced my thoughts on the state of the entertainment, and gaming industry. I have invested over 20 years of my life in video games, and various other forms of entertainment. As time has passed I've seen many changes concerning the quality, and motivations behind various video game, and entertainment releases. Some changes have been for the good of things while others haven't helped the declining situation at all. In these current hard times things definitely seem to have taken a turn for the worse resulting in a marketplace that is anything but consumer friendly. Greed is now the motivation that leads developers, and companies to release half-assed products to people who have trusted them for years. As a result I'm left wondering if the gaming, and entertainment industry will last much longer. If they bleed us of our last hard earned penny this world will no doubt become a chaotic mess very reminiscent of the apocalyptic scriptures of old. In retrospect our entertainment will become like that of the days when gladiator events were held. I'm not kidding.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Blog Update 8/30/2012

Hello Everyone!!!,

I'm glad to see that people are still visiting the blog even with the lack of reviews. As you probably noticed by now I've hit a sort of dry spell. The XBLIG marketplace isn't producing anything noteworthy, and my contacts for the latest XBLA releases are busy at PAX. I should be getting "The Walking Dead ep.3" when that contact returns, so at least you'll have something to look forward too. In the meantime I've contacted a couple of websites who offer skins, and products for controllers and consoles. One of the companies is called "WraptorSkinz". They offer some really cool stick-on graphics for your Xbox 360 controllers as well as other products. I will be receiving a couple of samples from them, and will give you my reviews on the products. As usual I'll be posting photos along with the reviews.

Monday, August 27, 2012

SquidGrips (Xbox 360)

When it comes to products in general I'm always glad to see things that are actually made here in the USA. Sadly it's becoming more, and more evident that our jobs are being outsourced to other countries. Before you get all riled up about what I just said, I'm glad that we are getting some products from other countries. I'd just like the United States to be more self sustaining if you know what I mean? Without rambling on too much further ... SquidGrips are a high quality product that are made here in the USA which is totally awesome in my book. Aside from that fact the packaging of the product is environmentally friendly. It even has a label stating that the product was made using environmentally friendly methods (100% wind power). It's a "win-win" situation if you ask me.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

RocketGrips: "Xbox 360 Controller Skins With Griptile"

Most of you know of my inquiries about modded game controllers, and even controller skins due to my tweets on Twitter. I'm not one to shy from requests simply, because they are out in public view. I've always been one to get results using any means necessary, and Twitter has been an awesome gateway for me to be able to do such things. As a reviewer it definitely helps to be bold sometimes. If you don't ask, you'll never know. I live by that motto, and as such I'm able bring to the table reviews that most reviewers avoid or don't think are possible. It all boils down to whether or not you want to advance as a reviewer, or to stay stuck in a rut. I think my request for the RocketGrips was the only logical next step in the evolution of my blog. In that sense I have decided to advance with what I do.

I'm thankful that the creator behind "RocketGrips" was more than willing to give me a chance to review his product. It might not be the custom controller I'd initially hoped for, but it's a small step in the right direction. If all goes well with the following review then I might just be able to bring you guys & gals reviews on even more Xbox 360 related products. I hope you enjoy the following review, and that you gain the necessary knowledge about the product after reading it. I will do my best to be thorough. Enjoy the read!

Music Spotlight: "e-dubble"

Recently I stumbled upon a hiphop song, and artist/musician that I just could not forget. The lyrics, and the chorus are stuck in my head even to this day. The song of course is none other than "Robot's Can't Drink". The song in question originally debuted as a "Freestyle  Friday #53" tribute song on e-dubble's (the artist) youtube channel as well as a free downloadable song on his own website. I initially found out about "Robots Can't Dance" after watching a "Straight Up Knives" MW3 montage as most of you have probably also done. After doing some research I found that e-dubble has an impressive amount of tracks available, and that each song has lyrics that would put a lot of rappers out there to shame. Aside from offering free mp3 downloads on his site, e-dubble also is trying to keep his hard work afloat by offering songs on familiar mobile media platforms such as Napster, and itunes.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Spyleaks (XBLIG): "A Retro Espionage Story Featuring Two Classic Game Genres"

This is one of those indie games that I would have likely passed up if it weren't for the developer (HeartBit Interactive/The Benjamin Ficus) requesting a review. After receiving the developer's request I watched the youtube trailer that was attached in hopes of better understanding what I'd be getting myself into. I was surprised to see that the game had an oddly familiar style of puzzle solving gameplay to it. It was a style of puzzle gameplay that I haven't seen in what seems like ages. If you've ever played the Nintendo game "The Adventures of Lolo" then you'll know what I'm talking about (Be sure to check out the video attached to this review for reference to that). After noticing this similarity along with the fact that there was actual shmup (shoot'em up) levels in the game I was totally hyped! Needless to say I agreed to the request, and did my playthrough so I could give you guys the inside scoop on this Espionage driven puzzle/shmup hybrid.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Evil Controllers: "Custom Controllers"

As a reviewer I'm always looking to expand on what I feature here on this blog. In my search for new review subject matter I contacted 'Evil Controllers', who are known for their amazing custom console controllers. I put in my request to review an actual controller from them, and they told me it might be a possibility in the near future. This is definitely good news even though it isn't certain. Anyways I'm here to bring you the latest scoop on something new that 'Evil Controllers' is offering their customers. In the details of the press release you'll find info on the special custom design process as well as info on a sale, and even details about a contest. Enjoy!

Monday, August 13, 2012

DUST: An Elysian Tail (XBLA): "A Visually Stunning Masterpiece!!!"

Last year during my rise to reviewer fame I found a youtube video featuring a future XBLA game release that attracted my undivided attention. This game of course was none other than Humble Hearts (The Developer) debut title "DUST: An Elysian Tail". I put in my request for the game immediately after watching the teaser trailer. I knew this game was going to be something special, and I could not wait to get it even if I had to pay for it out of my own pocket. Thankfully the developer spared me the expense, and kept true to their word giving me early access to this totally amazing fantasy rpg/platformer. Today I bring to you my review of this breathtaking masterpiece that could very well be the best "Summer of Arcade" title this year!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Street Fighter x Tekken (Xbox 360): "Revisited"

I never thought in my wildest imagination that I would be so bold as to give "Street Fighter x Tekken" another shot. The game just isn't that great to be honest, but I figured I'd give it a second chance since it was rather cheap with all the discounts I got from Gamestop. Most of you know where I stand on the matter of SFxT. You probably also know of my rant, and review that are here on this blog. You've likely even read them. As harsh, and unrelenting as both articles were they were quite true at the time of posting. To sum things up the two articles detailed my complaints about how terrible the online was as well has how money hungry it made Capcom seem. While most of my opinions concerning those issues have somewhat changed since my recent playthrough of the game parts of those complaints are still very valid.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

HYBRID (XBLA): "A 3rd Person Hybrid Shooter"

If a developer were to apply similar gameplay concepts as those from games like "Killzone", and "Gears of War" they'd most definitely wind up with a game like "HYBRID". Staying true to it's title, "HYBRID" seems to borrow a little something from such games as the before mentioned titles. In that sense it's a lot like a hybrid itself. This 3rd person tactical shooter revolves around the scenario of an intergalactic fight for resources that includes an invading alien (Variant) army, and the humans (Paladins) who were thrust into a fight for survival as a result of the invasion. Alongside this reminiscent "War of the Worlds" plot is a unique online 3rd person multiplayer that combines cover-to-cover combat, and territorial domination strategies.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Rock, Paper, Lazers (XBLIG): "A Whimsical Shmup With A Unique Twist"

When it comes down to reviewing XBLIG titles there are certain things that I look for. The most significant thing of all though is originality. As we all have noticed by now there are copies  upon copies of indie games plaguing the XBLIG marketplace. Very rarely do I see an entirely unique, and well developed game on there. It's a sad situation that has become more prevalent as time has passed. Thankfully all is not lost. There are some indie developers such as Cubegg who try to at least put a new spin on an old genre. With their newly released title "Rock, Paper, Lazers" they have added some spice to the dull appetizer that is the XBLIG marketplace.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Murder For Dinner (XBLIG): "A CLUE-like Murder Mystery"

Indie games seemed to have once again picked up in popularity among aspiring game developers. I'm not only seeing more unique XBLIG titles coming to light, but kickstarter programs have also spawned featuring entirely unique video game creations by never-before-known developers. Recently a new XBLIG developer called Detroit Game Studio contacted me about reviewing their latest creation, "Murder for Dinner". In their email they told me a little about the game, and described it as an Agatha Christie/Clue style murder mystery. Needless to say the idea of the game definitely caught my attention. As a reviewer I try to cover games that are truly "unique", and this game fit the bill. I set out to see what the fuss was all about, and find out why it warranted a 240 msp price tag.

Pinball Arcade (XBLA): "Update"

Well it seems that the developers over at 'Farsight Studios' may have actually been listening to reviewers such as myself. This morning during my routine browsing of the Xbox Marketplace I found a fairly significant update for the "Pinball Arcade" game. This update was 88+ MB in size, and included fixes for the game's visuals, and other things that plagued the quality of the game. After downloading the update I set out to see just how much had changed since the last time I played the game.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Obsessive Collecting Disorder (XBLIG): "A Stylish & Challenging Indie Game With a Parody Twist"

As a reviewer I sometimes go above, and beyond the call of duty to bring you guys the latest reviews. In some instances this includes enduring extreme video game challenges that are darn near impossible to complete. This time around the developers at Super Smith Bros. kindly asked me to review their new indie game Obsessive Collecting Disorder. I actually knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to review their game. There was something about it that screamed quality to me though. As I did my playthrough of OCD I found it somewhat fun in a "Glutton for Punishment" sort of way. In the end the game not only tried my patience in numerous ways, but it also made me laugh which is definitely a plus in my book.

Monday, July 30, 2012

"Help Jeremy McGrath Out With His Efforts & Gain An Awesome XBLA Racing Game"

I would like to add my thoughts to the previously posted article ...

Cancer is a scary thing that is unfortunately affecting more, and more people every day. I've had relatives who survived their fight with Cancer for the long haul, so I know what Jeremy McGrath is going through. It think it's very kind of him to offer up his sales money to show support for the organization that helped find a bone marrow match for his wife. In turn I believe his efforts can help others who are looking for a match as well. As far a the game goes it's definitely worth every cent/point. I reviewed the game a while back, and it recieved some much deserved praise from me. If you haven't got the game yet definitely get it. You'll not only be supporting a great cause, but you'll also be gaining a very fun game.

- Brad (OtakuDante) -

"Jeremy McGrath Donates Proceeds From Video Game Sales"

 
 JEREMY MCGRATH TO DONATE VIDEO GAME PROCEEDS TO BETHEMATCH.ORG AS WIFE KIM FINDS A BONE MARROW MATCH

Los Angeles, CA - August 30, 2012 – Last week, Jeremy McGrath announced that his wife Kim has found a much-needed marrow donor as a treatment for her recent Leukemia diagnosis thanks to the efforts of Bethematch.org. In response, Jeremy has pledged to donate his profits from the new video game, Jeremy McGrath's Offroad available now for Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, to Bethematch.org.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Blog Update 7/28/2012

I'm just stopping by to fill you in on the details of my vacation, and the upcoming "Resident Evil: ORC - End of Days" tournament I'm training for ...

First things first. I'm taking a much deserved vacation to recover from some muscle, and hand injuries I sustained while moving furniture to my father's 2nd story apartment. Muscles don't exactly heal that quickly, so I'll be taking it easy for a while. As for my hands I'm actually beginning to be able to close them into a fist again. After August 8th I'll return to my regular reviewing schedule.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Ninja Exorcist Ep.1 (XBLIG): Art Contest (CLOSED)

Awesome news readers!!! I have another great contest for you. This time around the indie game that I gave so much praise to is up for grabs. All you have to do is send in your best work of art/drawing that relates to "Ninja Exorcist Episode 1". You can draw your own rendition of Daigo (the lead ninja), his unearthly wife Miya, any of the enemies/bosses, or even epic battles between Daigo and his demonic adversaries. The interpretation is up to you, but in the end there will only be 3 winners. Submit your best artistic representation, and your art may become part of the official website fan art gallery. The developer also mentioned to me that special edition of the game may be released with an in-game gallery, so it's definitely something to look forward to.

Ninja Exorcist Ep.1 (XBLIG): "Press Release"



Ninja Exorcist Ep.1 Available Now On Xbox 360 Indie Games
Ninja Exorcist sets sight on re-igniting dwindling software quality on XBLIG platform and provide XBLA style for a fraction of the price

Vancouver B.C. 2012/07/26 – Humble ninja, today marks the beginning of an epic descent into demon slaying and bloodletting, as Nebula Game Studios is excited to announce the release of the beautiful new action-stealth 2D adventure, Ninja Exorcist. Out now on the Xbox 360 Indie Games channel on Xbox live for the ridiculously low price of $1. Join us, and take control of Ninja prodigy Daigo, as he slashes, and stealth kills his way through hordes of demon enemies in the beginning of a journey inspired by Buddhist and Shinto mythology. Ninja Exorcist features hours of gameplay, 19 large stages, including awesome boss fights and many cool features.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Interview with Robb Rinard, Creative Director Behind "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad"

A while back I reviewed an impressive XBLA racing game called "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad". I actually gave the game some much deserved praise. I had definitely enjoyed my playthrough of the game. Everything from the HD visuals to the actual gameplay were all brilliantly designed. Not long after the review I had talked with my PR contact about an interview he wanted done. I typed it up, and sent it to him. I had almost given up hope on ever getting the interview back, until I just checked my email. I'm definitely glad to be able to bring you this interview between me, and the creative director of 2XL Games. Hopefully the interview will spark your interest enough to at least give the demo a try. Without further adieu though here is the interview ...

Monday, July 23, 2012

Ninja Exorcist Episode 1 (XBLIG): "An Oriental 2D Side-Scrolling Masterpiece!

It's not often that I get psyched about a game to the point that I immediately recommend it before posting my review. In this particular instance I did though . It just so happens that Nebula Game Studio's presented one heck of a game with their own original release of "Ninja Exorcist Episode 1". Immediately when starting up the game I noticed the in-depth attention to detail that the developer had incorporated into the title. Everything from the prologue to the actual gameplay screamed high quality (1080p to be exact). With that being said I did get some errors while playing the game, and had to cut my playthrough short. The good news on that situation though is that the developer has already issued a patch for the game, and it should be coming out soon. This lets me know that the developer actually cares about their product, and the consumer which is always a plus.

Dead Sea (XBLIG): "Horror-Survival At Sea"

When I got Brave Men Game's request to do a review early this morning I was very curious as to what they had in store. I think it was earlier this year that I had reviewed their game "Hell's House", so I was expecting something similar. What exactly that was going to be I wasn't sure though. For some reason I expected some sort of apocalyptic game, but I was very wrong with that guess. After viewing the teaser trailer I had some serious doubts about the game, as you too will likely have. Even so I decided to do the review. Without further adieu I give you my two cents worth on this oddly interesting indie game ...

Pro Basketball Shooter (XBLIG): "A Single Button Arcade Style Basketball Simulation Game"

When I was a young fellow growing up video games had not really overtaken my life. I would often times play outside sports with my brothers, and sisters such as baseball, basketball, and even some tennis. It may be hard to believe, but I was actually a fairly active person back then. As I grew up though priorities changed, and I found myself enthralled by the world of gaming. I became so obsessed with the interactive technology that I spent many hours of my life playing video games, and continue to do so to this day. I eventually ended up becoming the video game journalist I am today as a result of my choices. With that being said it is nice to be able to play sports games even if it is just a simulator like the one I'm reviewing here. It brings back memories, and actually makes me want to get back outside and play. Maybe one day I will ...

Blog Update 7/23/2012

Hi Guys & Gals!,

I know things have quieted down recently here on "The Oni Xpress", but I assure you they'll pick back up very soon. I got caught up on a backlog of dvd reviews on my other blog which complicated things a good bit. The good news is though that I just picked up two XBLIG titles for review. One of them is an arcade style basketball shooter called "Pro Basketball Shooter". It was created by 'Rendercode Games' who are known for their previous XBLIG racing titles. The other game "Dead Sea" is by "Hell's House" creator 'Brave Men Games'. It features some CG animation, and a horror/survival tale that will most likely feature some intense gameplay. I only saw the teaser trailer though, so I don't really know much about it yet.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sushi Castle (XBLIG): "Milkstone's Answer To 'The Binding of Isaac'"

Milkstone has answered my gaming prayers! Ever since I laid eyes on gameplay footage of 'The Binding of Isaac' I have longed to play the game. This was unfortunately impossible for me since my outdated PC can't handle even the simplest of Steam game titles. I was extremely psyched when I happened upon a tweet recently where @milkstone discussed what this game was all about. I replied by tweeting a message to the developer saying they could count me in for a review. I know that Milkstone has a good reputation for releasing some of the best quality titles on the XBLIG platform, so I knew "Sushi Castle" had huge potential. Needless to say the game did not disappoint. As I did my routine playthrough of the game I found nothing, but pure enjoyment from the experience.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Dungeon Fighter LIVE: Fall of Hendon Myre (XBLA)

When I hear the word NEXON I immediately think of mmorpgs. Not only do mmorpg based games pop into mind, but images of anime style characters and fantasy realms also come to thought. In all honesty I've never really followed PC games such as the Dungeon Fighter series too closely, but as an artist and anime fanatic I couldn't help but notice the ads that were placed on the gaming sites I frequent. I've always secretly longed to have a decent gaming PC so I could enjoy such games as the ones NEXON has produced. Even though my desire to game on a PC remains I'm truly glad that NEXON decided to bring one of their free-to-play rpgs to the Xbox 360 console. It allowed me, along with many other non-PC gamers to enjoy the delightful gameplay that the developer has been producing for years.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Zuma's Revenge (XBLA): "Amphibious Retribution PopCap Style"

When it comes down to delivering quality, and family friendly arcade style games no one quite does it like PopCap Games. Over the years I have spent countless hours with my parents, and siblings playing PopCap titles on the family PC. We have enjoyed a variety of different titles from the PopCap universe including games from the Bejeweled series, Plants vs Zombies, the Bookworm series, and even the Zuma series. My family will no doubt continue this trend as more games are released. In retrospect PopCap games have been a huge part of my gaming history. They are one of the few types of games that I will actually play on the PC, and are about the only types of games that my basic computer can handle. With that being said I'm definitely glad that the developer/s of these titles have brought them to gaming consoles such as the Xbox 360. While they were great on the PC, they are many times better on the Xbox 360.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Frogger Hyper Arcade Edition (XBLA): "Konami Revitalizes A Classic & Does It Right!"

If you're an oldschool gamer like myself then you've most likely spent at least some of your time playing the classic Frogger game. The first time I actually played Frogger was on one of those ancient PCs that are now as obsolete as obsolete can get. I recall playing Frogger at a school my Mother was teaching at during my childhood days. It was one of those fond gaming memories I'll likely never forget. I think that encounter with Frogger was actually the first time I had ever gamed on a computer, and is part of the reason I got interested in computers in the first place.

Anyways in a haphazard sort of way my point is that some games, regardless of their retro beginnings still have a flicker of life left in them. This is definitely the case with Konami's re-imagining of the classic Frogger game. They have once again breathed life into this almost forgotten classic. Not only did Konami revive Frogger, but they also did it the right way. Aside from the classic Frogger goodness that most of us know you'll find some additions to the game that make it many times better than it was to begin with.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Blog Update 7/8/2012

Greetings all my loyal readers! By now you've likely noticed the header/title change on my blog. While I've always been partial to my original blog name of "OtakuDante's Gaming Inferno" it seemed a little cliche to me. I wanted an blog title that was both catchy, and innovative without necessarily using my username as a part of it. My plans are to stick with the new title of "The Oni Xpress". It has an epic oriental ring to it that implies what I'm all about, hardcore press coverage. The header you currently see will most likely not be the final product. I have asked a good friend of mine (@MasterBlud) to design a more professional banner/header for me. I'm confident he'll make something worthy for my blog.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Spelunky (XBLA): "Spelunky Goodness With a Next-Gen Presentation""

First, and foremost I would like to thank Derek Yu for the code. ("Thank you so much!") He endured my persistent hounding, which I now feel very sorry for. He seems to be a very nice guy, and was unfortunately put into a situation where fake reviewers were spamming him with code requests. Thankfully though he saw through my simple minded request, and gave me the opportunity to review his deeply impressive game. This game of course is none other than 'Spelunky'. Many reviewers have sought it as well as many gaming fans. I'm definitely grateful to have the chance to feature my review of this game on "OtakuDante's Gaming Inferno". Without further adieu though I present to you my review of 'Spelunky'!!!

Go Gimbal Go (XBLIG): "A challenging 2D platformer fit for all ages"

When I first saw 'Go Gimbal Go' I didn't know what to expect. I passed up the opportunity to request it for review on many occasions simply, because I thought it was some childish game that wouldn't be fit for my audience of readers. I'm glad that the developer (Gimbal Lock Studios) decided to contact me though, because otherwise I would have missed out on this interesting title. In the email I received from the developer he told me what the game was all about, and from his descriptions I could tell a lot of thought went into the making of this game. While I did not see the game comparisons he saw (Super Mario Sunshine ...) I did notice some similarities to other classic video games. After spending significant time with the game I decided to post my review, and this here is that review.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

First Gameplay Trailer For NeoCore's Upcoming "The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing"

First-ever Gameplay Trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Released

BUDAPEST – July 3, 2012 – Independent developer NeocoreGames presents the first-ever gameplay trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, giving soon-to-be monster hunters their first glimpse of an impressive, larger-than-life clash with monsters, a fundamental element of this upcoming action-RPG. Set in a gothic-noir universe and wrought with wry humor and snappy dialogue, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, loosely based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula, is currently in development for PC and XBLA. 

Sunday, July 1, 2012

A-Band (XBLIG): "An Artistic Jam Session With New Rock Bands"

Sometimes I get myself in some of the worst situations when it comes to reviews. Either I'm juggling a bunch of reviews on my two blogs at one time, or I'm doing reviews on games/dvds that I'm not really into. Sadly this is the case with the game I'm about to review here. Against my better judgement I promised the developer (Flammable Games) I'd do a review on their game knowing ahead of time that the game was better played with the drum peripheral/controller. It's the kind of circumstance that makes me want to beat my head against the wall. Regardless of my struggle I was able to play enough of the game to give you guys a decent review.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

The Walking Dead Ep.2: "Starving For Help"

Once again TellTale Games has delivered a horror masterpiece that pushes the boundaries on moral content, and decisions. Lee the hero of the first encounter returns with his handful of acquaintances along with Clementine, a girl who he has sworn to protect. The game itself literally picks up where you left off with the choices you made concerning the various characters still very much intact. Whomever you hurt emotionally, or even whoever you chose to save during certain circumstances will maintain the same feelings that they had since your last encounter. As the title suggests food has become scarce, and the stability of the group of survivors has been put to the test as a result. Trust is truly tested in this horrific tale that will no doubt have the player on the edge of their seats from beginning until the end. You'll find that Lee has to not only deal with new people that come into the picture this time around, but that he also has to try to keep the peace among his comrades. It's a difficult task that will have Lee (The Player) second guessing their decisions on a regular basis.

Pig & Bullet (XBLIG) Poetry Contest Winner!!!

I have to say that I'm disappointed with the result of this contest. I try my best to do contests that are both fun, and easy. The sad thing is I had three codes to giveaway, and only got one entry within a one week span of time. I tried my best to get people to join in, but in the end was unable to do so. As a result I will not be holding another contest/giveaway for a while. This is not the first time I've had a contest with little to no entries. Moving on though ...

I'm glad to say that at least one person was willing to submit a poem. This person was none other than DJ SBZ from (http://allkore.com). I actually checked out their site this morning, and I have to say their music looks pretty interesting. You may want to take a look for yourself. DJ SBZ submitted a Haiku which was one of the methods you could have chosen to use to enter this contest. Since he was the only one to enter he wins a code. As for the other codes I may give one to my nieces & nephews, and giveaway the other code to a person of my choosing.

WINNING HAIKU

If you meet a pig
Don't try to feed him bacon
That is just plain rude

by SBZ

Friday, June 29, 2012

Jeremy McGrath's Offroad (XBLA)

I'm going to be honest with you guys. I had initially intended to skip this game, because of a youtube video I watched. I usually do not watch any videos, or read any reviews before taking on a game. It's a big no-no for reviewers to do so especially if they wish to begin the review of a game with an unbiased opinion. Fortunately I was still able to maintain a proper perspective of the game regardless of the circumstances. What I found as I did my playthrough of 2XL Game's (the developer) racing title was an extremely fun game that excelled in ways I did not think were possible. This goes to show that you should not judge a game solely based on how it looks in videos, or even on what you hear from others.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Pig & Bullet Contest FTW!!! - Compliments of Spiceworx & GHXYK2 [CLOSED!!!]

I have some very awesome news readers!!! After doing my review on 'Pig & Bullet' I was able to get some extra codes for giveaway purposes from the developer (Spiceworx). In fact the developer was so generous that they ended up giving me a total of three codes! This means there will be three winners for my contest!!!

Now it's time to get down to business. I'm sure you guys, and gals have been wondering what type of contest I dreamed up with this time, well the answer is that it's a fun one! In the past I have done some first come first serve giveaways, and even a highscore giveaway. This time around I thought I'd do something a little more interesting though. After thinking about it during the night last night I thought to myself "Why don't I have a poetry contest?". I'm a published poet myself, and enjoy writing my own poetry so I figured it would be nice to see some other peoples' poetic talents for a change. With that being said there are some rules that must be followed. Those rules are as follows:

Blog Update 6/24/2012

Reviewing has become a full time job for me. While I enjoy doing what I do I also need a break/vacation from time to time. I will be taking a week long "vacation" starting today, and ending next Friday. This will give me the opportunity to catch up on some personal game time, and spend some quality time with the family. Do not be worried though, because I will return to bring you the latest reviews on the Xbox 360 games you're curious about. Another thing I need to mention is that at this moment there is a strong hurricane brewing just below the state I live in. The hurricane's path is questionable at the current time, and may eventually hit my area. This is one thing that could permanently end my career as a reviewer, or even my life. I take these storms very seriously, because the weather in my area has been no joke. We have had many close calls this year, and I'm sure there's more to come. If for some reason I'm ever unable to join you on any of the social media sites I frequent, or even here on my blog I want you all to know I have greatly appreciated your support and that you all mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say concerning video games. I hope to chat with all of you in the days, months, and years to come.

- Brad (OtakuDante) -

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Pig & Bullet (XBLIG)

I was browsing the Xbox marketplace recently when I stumbled upon a very interesting XBLIG title. The title of course was none other than 'Pig & Bullet'. The cover art immediately caught my attention as well as the name of the game. It was enough to warrant some further investigation. I went to the description as I usually do when checking out a new game, and found something really interesting. The soundtrack to 'Pig & Bullet' was composed by Yasushi Kaminishi who formerly composed soundtracks for Capcom, and Takumi. After seeing that little bit of info I definitely had to get the game. I purchased 'Pig & Bullet' for a cheap 80 msp, and set out to see what it was all about.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 (XBLA)

In my earlier days as a video game journalist for this blog I was able to secure, and post a review of 'MTG: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012". Through my knowledge of the game I was ultimately able to convince the PR of 'Wizards of the Coast' to allow me to review their game. It was a huge step for me to take at the time, and one I definitely enjoyed venturing into. I've been a fan of the MTG card game for a long time, so being able to post a hands-on review of the Xbox 360 version was sort of a dream job for me. When news of the latest edition of the Planeswalkers game was announced I was seriously psyched! I had to try my best to get the game for review so I could see for myself the changes that had been made, and the new additions that were talked about. I also wanted to share what I found with you guys, and gals. Through some persistence, and determination I was able to score a review code close to the release date of the game. If it weren't for my contact I wouldn't be able to do this review, so my thanks goes out to 'Whitney S.'. Thank you for not getting annoyed by my persistent begging, and for getting me the code. I hope you like the following review.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Pinball FX2 (XBLA): "MARVEL PINBALL: The Avengers Chronicles"

Out of all the available XBLA titles I'd have to say 'Pinball FX2' is my absolute favorite. I have spent numerous hours trying to best my friends top scores, and have even entered several of 'Zen Studios' tournaments in the process. Pinball FX2 is the kind of arcade game that never gets old, and is always fun to play. It is a game that I highly recommend every Xbox 360 owner buy. You will definitely not regret it. You'll find that each, and every table/set that has been released has been of top quality. While some tables are better than others none of them are horrible. This is also true for the latest set of 'MARVEL PINBALL' tables ("The Avengers Chronicles").

As a reviewer I have been very fortunate to gain the support of the developer of Pinball FX2. To be able to review each and every table set that has been released has been one of the best highlights of my job. With that being said I would like to take a moment to thank Mel Kirk for his support. "Thanks Mel!". Getting back on track ... This latest set of tables features various tales from the 'Avengers' universe, and also includes new table designs and innovations that have never been seen in an arcade style pinball game. Out of all the 'MARVEL PINBALL' sets I think Zen Studios has outdone themselves this time around with "The Avengers Chronicles' pinball set. Each table in the set is not only unique, but is extremely well made. I found that I absolutely loved three out of the four available tables, and that the fourth one wasn't that bad. Without further adieu though allow me to share with you what 'MARVEL PINBALL: The Avengers Chronicles' is all about.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Cherry Poke Prison (XBLIG): "Welcome To Skankatraz!!!"

There aren't many indie games that have made me laugh as much as the 'Trailer Park King' series has. While some gamers may be offended by the redneck humor I find it to be quite hilarious. I come from the south, and redneck jokes are commonplace in my area. When it comes to said humor 'Freelance Games' definitely knows how to dish out the dialogue. All of the characters in the 'Trailer Park Series' have been given a unique personality, and voice of their own making the humor even more laughable. A lot of the jokes are centered around porn references which I easily understand, because I actually review adult dvds. Some of the adult humor is over your head kind of stuff while other things are pretty much in your face. It's a good idea to keep this in mind if you ever want to check the series out.

After reviewing 'Trailer Park King' episode 2 I found that it finished with an open ending leading me to believe a sequel was in the makes. While browsing the Xbox marketplace one day recently I was surprised to find that there was indeed a sequel. At first I was seriously puzzled by the game's title, but when I read the description it all made sense. Freelance Games ended up giving me a code without me even asking. It was a truly pleasant surprise. I definitely wanted to see what was new in the world of the "King", and having the code in my possession I set out to do just that.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Shooting Chicken Brutal Suckers (XBLIG): "Kohei Gallery's Anime Hijinks Continue"

Out of all the Japanese based XBLIG developers 'Kohei Gallery' definitely outdoes the rest. During my time as an XBLIG reviewer I have covered two of their games on my blog. The first one I encountered was a racy anime puzzle game with "Moe" girls in it. While the images were a tad bit on the sexy side the puzzle mechanics of that game were very impressive. I had never played another game like it in my life. The second "Kohei Gallery" game I reviewed was "Houchi Play" which was a pervy sort of game where the goal was to inch the old guy ever closer down a bench to the cosplay ladies at the end without being noticed. Once again I found the game to have a unique design, and concept. As a result "Houchi Play" has become one of my all time favorite anime XBLIG titles. Not many games can make you laugh, and have fun like that game does.

After a short absence from the XBLIG marketplace "Kohei Gallery" has returned with a sequel to a game that was created two years ago. I had actually purchased the first game which was called "Shooting Chicken Revenge". The difficulty was honestly a little to serious for my tastes, but it seemed to be well designed. I had never seen a game like it though. The aim of the first game was to survive a never ending onslaught of what looked like stiff rubber chickens. It was a wacky concept, and something I would have enjoyed if it weren't for the extreme difficulty of the game. I have to say that I never thought "Kohei Gallery" would revisit the series, and make a sequel but I think it's a cool concept ... So, here we are about to dive into my review of "Shooting Chicken Brutal Suckers". You'll need to prepare yourself for some wacky word play cause I've got a lot to say about this odd indie game.

Interview with @unthrown of EpTic Gaming

As a gamer my online friends definitely mean a lot to me. Whether I'm tweeting with them via Twitter, or enjoying some game time with them it always brightens my day. One such friend goes by the Twitter alias @unthrown. Me, and @unthrown have been friends for a while now, and through Twitter I have found that we have a lot in common. Not only are both of us serious gamers, but we also work as video game journalists. During one of our Twitter chats I talked with @unthrown about doing an interview. He ended up accepting the offer without hesitation. Shortly afterwards I worked on coming up with an interview to share with you guys, and gals. The interview has been in the works for a while, but today I got the interview answers back from him. I hope you enjoy this interview, and get to know my friend a little better as a result.

Neocore Games - The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing (Screenshots)



I learned about Neocore Game's upcoming RPG title "The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing" a few months ago. The game definitely caught my attention with it's unique art style. I'm a fan of RPGs, and anything to do with vampires/monsters. After contacting the developer about doing a review they gladly accepted my request, and added me on their mailing list for info on the upcoming XBLA title. I'm here today to share with you some of the first screenshots that were made available to the media/press. I hope you enjoy the look at this truly amazing game that is set to grace the XBLA library later this year!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Silver Dollar Games - "One Finger Death Punch (Work In Progress)"

Silver Dollar Games is one of my all time favorite XBLIG developers. While some reviewers heckle them over meaningless stuff I find some very intelligent game design in what they produce. I have enjoyed playing many hours on such games as "The Jump Hero", and "Ranger". Their one of a kind shmup called "sins of the Flesh" even held my undivided attention. Not many game developers would continue on after getting bad feedback such as 'Silver Dollar Games' has. I tip my hat off to Jon, and David for their persistence in the face of adversity. I hope they continue to produce many more games in the months to come!

If you have been keeping a watch on Jon, and David Flook's work then you'll likely know of their upcoming game "One Finger Death Punch". I actually featured an article about the game here on my blog some months ago. I am totally psyched about this game! The devs have really outdone themselves this time around, and by the looks of things the game is going to contain their signature simple control layout, and scored based gameplay. I'm absolutely thrilled just thinking about it. My point for bringing up all of this though is that I received an email giving specific details on what's going to be included with the game. I would like to take the time to share the email with you so that 'Silver Dollar Games' hard efforts will not be in vain.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Bang Bang Racing (XBLA): "A Flashy Arcade Racing Game"

There are only a handful of XBLA game developers out there that really grab, and hold my attention with what they release. Digital Reality just so happens to be one of those said developers. While I've actually only played, and reviewed two of there titles (Skydrift & Sine Mora) those two games were so impressive that I ended up recommending them to my readers. When I caught word of "Bang Bang Racing", their latest XBLA title I hoped that the trend of excellence would continue. What I ended up finding was a flashy arcade racer that didn't play as well as I'd hoped. There were some elements that just didn't seem to work in the game's favor, and as a result kept me from enjoying the game to it's fullest. As I give the details of the game in my review I will try my best to explain what I mean, so sit back, relax, and prepare for the truth as told by yours truly ...

Friday, June 8, 2012

Blog Update June 8, 2012

I know you guys, and gals are probably wondering why my production of reviews has slowed down to a crawl. The easiest way to put it is that I'm currently caught up in reviewers limbo. I'm not only juggling two blogs now, but I'm also "patiently" awaiting a review code, and retail game. Some of you have probably seen me tweet about reviewing the new XBLA game "Bang Bang Racing". The delay behind that is due to Digital Reality's, and the PR's involvement in the E3 event. Hopefully I'll receive my copy soon though. In a slightly more depressing turn of events 7Sixty, the developers behind the upcoming "Phantom Breaker" fighting game have pushed back the release date yet again. Last time I checked Gamestop had the release date set as 8/1/2012. I'm not sure what's up with the game, but obviously something significant is going on to keep causing delays. I know from previous chats with the PR that they were making sure all of the bugs were fixed before the release. I honestly don't think there could be that many more bugs to fix, and that the developer/publisher is likely waiting for more pre-orders of the game. That of course is my opinion though. That's my update for now. I will strive to bring you more coverage of all things related to Xbox in the days, weeks, and months to come. Until next time feel free to browse my blog for any reviews that peak your interest!

- Brad (OtakuDante) -

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Heroes of Hat (XBLIG): "A University Project Well Done"

I have been extremely fortunate to have the support that I've gotten from my readers, and game developers. Like I mentioned in my "Special Thanks" section this blog would not be as successful as it is without the support I have received. Between being able to convince retail developers that I can post a proper review, and the several requests I've gotten from XBLIG developers about doing reviews things have really started to improve for "OtakuDante's Gaming Inferno". In all honesty I never dreamed my blog would take off so well. It makes me really happy to know that game developers such as "Utah Game Forge" are interested in what I have to say about their game. While I don't review every game that is requested of me though I do my best to pick ones that I think have something special about them. I try my best to stay away from the clones though, because I believe that even an indie game developer can create original games if they are serious about what they do. In this review I'll be covering my thoughts on "Utah Game Forge's" "Heroes of Hat". I tried my best to do a full playthrough of the game, but ultimately I fell short due to the game's co-op requirements. As the game suggests this is a (Up To) 4 player co-op game, and it is best suited for multiple players.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Bureau - Shattered Slipper (XBLIG): "Sequel to Twist-Ed Game's Sexy FBI Thriller"

Guy Galer of 'Twist-Ed Games' is one of the more unique indie game developers to grace the XBLIG marketplace. If memory serves me well he has created four beautifully rendered titles including 'Colonies: NeoCiv', and 'Bureau - Agent Kendall'. It was by mere chance that I happened upon a Youtube trailer of Guy's game 'Bureau - Agent Kendall' late last year. My initial thoughts were that the game look interesting, and that there was a sexy quality about it, specifically some semi-nude sequences. It sparked my interest enough to request the game for review. During my playthrough of 'Bureau - Agent Kendall' I found it to be a very involved game. It utilized realistic FBI tactics including suspect interrogations, relationship building with various persons involved in the given cases, and action packed interactive sequences where the Bureau agents involved had to fight for their very survival. The game ultimately ended with a cliffhanger that was reminiscent of the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho". Months have passed since the first game was released, but finally the sequel is here. I was very anxious to see how/if Agent Kendall got out of her dire situation, and if the gameplay was similar to that of the previous title.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

PDP Versus Fighting Pad (Xbox 360)

As a fighting game enthusiast who is used to playing with a standard controller I have found some serious issues gaming competitively on the Xbox 360. Microsoft's game controllers just don't cut it when it comes down to owning other players in online fighting games. The DPad does not function as well as it should. As a former PS3 gamer I was able to actually pull off some cool wins simply, because the PS3's controller functions much better with fighting games. It's a sad fact, and Microsoft definitely needs to fix on future controllers if they hope to win over more customers. There are third party developers out there who produce better functioning controllers, and as a result gain more buyers.

Throughout this year I've been observing the various types of fightpads available at the local GameStop, but none of them really looked that impressive to me. It wasn't until my friend @MasterBlud told me how awesome PDP's versus fightpad was that I truly became interested in getting such a controller. I honestly believe @MasterBlud knows his stuff when it comes to video games, and I trusted his judgement. After a recent trip to GameStop I picked up PDP Gaming's Versus Fighting Pad for a cheap $14.99. When I got home, and tried it out I found out exactly how good it was.

Friday, June 1, 2012

SEGA Vintage Collection: Monster World (XBLA): "A Retro Platforming Series That Withstood The Tests Of Time!"

Once again I find myself diving head first into a collection of retro game titles that were produced by the gaming giant, Sega. Growing up in the 80's, and 90's I did hear of the "Monster World" games, and I distinctly recall seeing an image from "Monster World IV" on one of my GameFan magazine covers. Yes I did buy those gaming magazines. I just couldn't help myself. It gave me a window into the gaming universe allowing me to see such games as "Monster World IV" even though I knew I'd likely never play them in my lifetime. The awesome thing is I finally did get my chance to play "Monster World IV" along with two of the earlier titles in the series. I count myself lucky that the Sega PR was willing to give me the opportunity to review their game. As a reviewer I do get some enjoyment out of my job, but ultimately my main goal is to inform my readers about the games I play. I like sharing my hands-on knowledge as well as giving my honest opinion on whether, or not  a game is worth spending your hard earned money on. You can't be too careful these days with games being released half-arsed.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

SEGA Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co. (XBLA): "A Trip Down Memory Lane"

If you grew up in the 80's, or 90's it's likely that you have enjoyed some of the classic video games that are now classified as "Retro". These pixelated titles sparked an entertainment industry that has grown beyond anyone's wildest dreams. The innovations in game design seem to be forever changing, and evolving on a constant basis. While there will always be a demand for newer video game titles there will also be a demand for the classic titles as well. As gamers of the 80's/90's most of us like to revisit the classic game titles that got us interested in the entertainment genre in the first place. I definitely have a special place in my heart for the classic games that I played as a child. Being able to afford, and experience all that the wonderful world of gaming had to offer has shaped me into the video game enthusiast, and video game player I am today. Without babbling on to much further It's pretty much a fact that there were certain game companies that dominated this era of gaming. Among those classic, and still functioning companies was SEGA. Sega released several different consoles throughout the years including the 'Sega Genesis', and 'Sega Master System'. It was inevitable that they would eventually go back to their roots after producing games, and consoles for as long as they have. This is definitely good news for gamers like me who enjoy taking a trip of nostalgia back to the days when we were young.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Akai Katana (Xbox360): "The Shmup Genre At It's Finest!!!"

Those of you who follow me on the various social sites that I frequent will likely have heard of my quest to obtain a review copy of 'Akai Katana'. It was by mere chance that I happened upon a trailer to this game while doing my routine search for review material earlier this year. Unknown to some of you I have actually been trying my best to secure retail games for review, and for the most part that venture has been a failure. It wasn't until I contacted 'Rising Star Games (The Developer Behind Akai Katana)' that a small glimmer of hope began to shine for me. Rising Star Games was more than glad to send me a copy of the game, and I'm truly grateful for that. While I do admit I was a little bit impatient in my wait for it's arrival I'm definitely glad I finally got it. If you guys don't have a clue what 'Akai Katana' is then allow me to enlighten you with my review of the game.