Review: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Did Tomb Raider really need a ‘Definitive Edition’? This was my first thought upon announcement, but I went out and bought it, so maybe it did. “But what makes this version ‘Definitive’?”, I hear you ask. Well Lara has a nicer face and a better ponytail, that’s what makes it definitive.
Review: Ys: Memories of Celceta
Ys: Memories of Celceta reminded me why I love RPGs, and how well suited they are to handheld consoles. It’s a genre that thrived on the PSP, but is still picking up pace on the Vita. Yet whilst Sony’s last handheld had four Ys games (maybe more depending how many games you consider Ys I & II Chronicles to be), Memories of Celceta proves that quality is more important than quantity, and combines refined gameplay with addictive mechanics to create quite possibly the best game in the series yet.
Review: Shenmue
Back in 1999 Sega spent $47 million making Shenmue, and looking back this was arguably money well spent. It’s a shame we don’t currently see that amount of cash being funnelled into games that are equally ambitious and innovative, but Shenmue walks a dangerous line and I can see why others have been unwilling to follow. It’s too advanced for it’s own good, and because of this remains an utterly unique and compelling experience today.
Review: Dead Rising 3
I’ll be perfectly honest, if Dead Rising 3 hadn’t been a launch game for Xbox One then I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it. But as one of only three exclusives (unless you want to be pedantic and include Crimson Dragon et al) I figured it would be a better option than only having Forza 5 to play on my new console. And I must say I’m more that a little surprised; Dead Rising 3 is an immensely fun and addictive game that pushes the series to new heights.
Review: Forza Motorsport 5
Forza 5 was the game that got me excited about Xbox One. The series had already established an incredible level of simulation, and the possibilities enabled by a new, more powerful console looked very promising. The end result is technically spectacular, yet whilst Forza succeeds as a masterpiece in certain areas, it lacks the depth and content that defined previous entries in the series.
Review: Ratchet & Clank: Nexus
Insomniac Games have tried to break away from the classic Ratchet & Clank formula on a number of occasions. They experimented on the PlayStation 2 with the combat focused Ratchet: Gladiator (or Deadlock), and tried out a number of strange ideas with the more recent entries on the PlayStation 3. This technically means it’s taken four years for Ratchet & Clank to return to form, and whilst Nexus might offer familiar gameplay, it’s the most fun I’ve had with the series in a long time.
Review: Call of Duty: Ghosts
The premise of Call of Duty: Ghosts is a lot like that of 24 Season 6; the calamity isn’t prevented, the nuke goes off, and a load of people are blown up, although in the case of Ghosts it’s technically a giant space laser used to fry California. Think the Hammer of Dawn but bigger and you’re halfway there. Infinity Ward’s latest game combines a grim future with familiar gameplay, and takes the series in an interesting, if slightly confused, new direction.
Review: Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition
Back in 1993 SEGA released the original Daytona USA, the first title to utilise their new SEGA Model 2 hardware. Whilst the mid 90s are now generally remembered for SEGA’s clumsy add-ons, overpriced peripherals, and the commercial failings of the Saturn, it’s easy to forget that at the same time the company was dominating the arcade market. The Model 2 was incredibly advanced, and at the time Daytona USA was perhaps the most impressive looking game ever made. Two years later and SEGA was porting their arcade hits to the Saturn, a system not exactly famous for its 3D processing power. The home console version of Daytona is a far from perfect port, but it’s still a unique conversion of this classic game.
Review: BlazBlue: Chronophantasma (Import)
The first time I played BlazBlue I was impressed by the game’s immense visual look and style. Few fighting games look this good, sound this good, and play this good. BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger was not only an immense game, but one that proved itself to be a worthy successor to the, also excellent, Guilty Gear series. But Ark System Works’ ‘if it isn’t broke’ attitude has resulted in several subsequent releases many have hailed as nothing more than expansion packs disguised as new games. Chronophantasma is the third main entry in the BlazBlue series, and proves to be slightly more of a step forwards than Continuum Shift was. We’re still taking about minor enhancements, tweaks, and additions, but the result is still arguably the best BlazBlue game ever created.
Review: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed IV is the fifth Assassin’s Creed game in five years, pretty crazy right? But whilst some of the past entries gained notoriety for offering little variation in character and setting, Black Flag takes to the seas with astounding ambition, and proves to be as much of a step forward for the series as Assassin’s Creed III was last year. This latest title removes a few of the previous game’s most notable flaws, keeps a few, and adds a couple of new ones, all whilst retaining the signature Assassin’s Creed gameplay.
About Dracula’s Cave
Donate
Dracula's Cave 
Recent Comments