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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Compromised (XBLIG): "A Shmup That Could Easily Be A Retail Game ... Think Konami"

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if a company with an art style like Konami's decided to make shmups? Well in a roundabout way 'Super Soul (The Developer)' has answered that question. When I first laid eyes on the Youtube trailer for this game it reminded me greatly of games like "Castlevania", and "Contra". The only difference was that the game was a shmup with it's own unique story. I knew This would be the type of game a lot of shmup fans would enjoy, so I contacted the developer early on in hopes of securing a code. I'm definitely glad I got the opportunity to not only play the game, but to also share what I found as I did my playthrough of it. In the following paragraphs I'm going to try my best to relay necessary info on the game without making a mess of things. There's a lot to talk about concerning this title, and it'll be best done in an organized fashion.