Chaos Code (PSN)

I can make a total ass of myself sometimes. I really can. Last night just so happened to be one of those moments in my life. Before closing for the night last night I got into a somewhat heated conversation with Tenryo, the English community manager for "Chaos Code" through twitter. I complained about how poorly designed the characters were in comparison to some other fighters as well as certain indie games I had played in the past. While the game definitely appeared to be that way to me last night I found that when I continued with my playthrough today the game didn't look all that bad. Sure there were some slight imperfections with character designs, and some stages looked better than others, but for the most part the game wasn't all nearly as bad as I had had made it out to be, especially for a 2002 Japanese arcade release. Seeing the error of my ways I'd like to take the time to apologize to 'Tenryo', and 'Arc System Works' for my accusations earlier. I'm truly sorry, and hope the following review makes up for my mistaken claims.

Blog Update (Sept. 10, 2013) - "PR BS & Blog Progress"

What's up Inferno readers?

I've been quite the busy journalist as of late. I've been dealing with PR who want to see me fail, and other PR who are more than willing to work with me. It's just the way things go in the journalism biz. I'm glad I had the balls to email Kristiana Suess of EA a link to my article "Let's Talk - "Proper PR Etiquette" though. While it may not have helped EA's, or FortySeven's opinion of me it's something I feel they needed to read.

Too many PR agencies, and game developers have poor opinions of us journalists, and think that our jobs pale in comparison to theirs. The fact is that their job which they get paid handsomely for only requires the copying, pasting, and sending of emails along with some phone calls. In the end it is a paying job, and if done correctly it will not only help us journalists help the PRs succeed, but will also help all of us keep the gaming companies we are trying to support afloat in these uncertain economic times.

Kickbeat (PSN/PS VITA)

Out of all of Zen Studios video game creations "Kickbeat" could have easily been the game to outsell, and outdo their famous pinball tables. The key phrase in that statement though is "could have been". While the game looks absolutely stunning, and has an awesome music feature that I'm all for I found the gameplay to be flawed to a point that having fun while playing the game was almost an impossibility. Instead of easing the gamers into the gameplay Zen Studios almost immediately has them hammering out button presses to fast paced songs that honestly should have been used in the much harder difficulty settings. It is these combinations of hard hitting songs, and  extreme challenges that have made the review process frustrating for me.

While I could (barely) complete the first two songs on the 'Normal' difficulty setting in the story mode I found trying to repeatedly get past the first boss battle to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Not being able to get past a boss, because the actions onscreen don't seem to be in sync with the button presses makes the seemingly badass boss encounter a trying experience.Very rarely will I choose to not continue playing a game, but this playthrough has been beyond rage inducing for me. I just don't see myself being able to make it any further any time soon. As much as I hate to I'm going to have to go ahead, and post my review with my limited knowledge of the game. I apologize to my readers, and to Mel of Zen Studios, but a full playthrough of this game is just not possible for me.

DOA 5: Ultimate (PS3/PSN)

As a gamer I have invested countless hours, days, weeks, and years into playing the latest fighting game releases. This includes everything from the classic 2D fighters such as "Street Fighter" to the more modern day 3D genres such as "Tekken". While the classic 2D fighters will always have a special place in my gaming history it's the 3D fighters like DOA that have brought me to the next level of the fighting game genre. DOA, as I recall it started off as classic fighters usually do with humble beginnings, and an innovative concept that had not yet been delved into by other game developers. Even in it's early days as a Playstation title, DOA took fighting games to new heights of stardom with their infamous "Breast Motion" physics, and it's simple yet challenging style of gameplay. If you were to ask any of us fighting game veterans we would all tell you that DOA is likely the most challenging fighter in the history of 3D fighting games. You'll find as we have through the years that the simple control scheme can be quite misleading. Mastering the game, or fighting against a veteran DOA player can definitely prove to be quite the unforgiving experience if you are ill prepared.

Diablo III (PS3)

Like readings ripped from apocalyptic scriptures of old Blizzard, and their team of creative geniuses bring forth the continuing tale about hell's lords, angels, and the people who are unfortunately caught in the midst of an ongoing war between the two factions. The clash between the long dead King Leoric, and the Horadrim who have sought to end the hell lords' reign of terror comes full circle as Horadrim descendant Deckard Cain, and his niece Leah try to make sense of the approaching dark times, and the apocalypse at hand. With Deckard, and Leah being the last of the Horadrim the fate of humanity lies in the balance of their discoveries that are found within the ancient manuscripts which were passed down to them. With the aid of a heavenly being, lost souls, and a select few individuals whose motivations in preventing the end times are each uniquely their own they set forth to rewrite humanity's final chapter.

Killer is Dead (PSN/PS3)

Like a modern day grindhouse film, SUDA51's story about a hired American killer with a mysterious past unfolds in a way that is not unlike Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" movie series, or some of his other more recent films. This game, or interactive experience as I've grown to know it was given the uniquely appropriate title of "Killer is Dead" by it's collaboration of developers, and publishers (XSEED, Grasshopper Manufacture, Kadokawa Games & SUDA51). In the simplest of explanations that I can think of I'd say that  it is an over-the-top hyper stylized gorefest filled with flirtatiously sexy mini-games, epic boss battles, combo based combat, and an interesting cast of individuals who are all a part of a mythology like none other.

Mondo Zappa who just so happens to be the main protagonist of this otherworldly plot is a guy with a mysterious past, an augmented arm, and several unanswered questions. As a hired killer Mondo willingly does the bidding of another gangster looking gentleman who also deals in the profitable business of executions. This employer who looks an awful lot like the gun armed Barrett of FF7 (Final Fantasy VII) goes by the name Bryan. Along with his interest in taking on contracts Bryan also has an odd, and often times unreadable sense of humor about him. With Bryan's guidance, the assistance of a female accountant named Vivienne, and the help of a younger "moe" style female secretary named Mika, Mondo sets forth time, and time again to fulfill contracts as well as earn a living so that he can support his more perverse hobbies.