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Developer: Stardock
Publisher: Stardock
Price: $29.95
Platform: PC
Category: Turn-based Strategy
ESRB: “RP” for Rating Pending
Release Date: April 30, 2008 (Digital Download through Stardock’s Total Gaming.net)

The fate of the universe is in your hands yet again thanks to the latest expansion in the Galactic Civilizations II series. Twilight of the Arnor continues the excellent tradition established by great turn-based 4X strategy titles like Master of Orion and its predecessor Galactic Civilizations by expanding the options and finishing the story of the Dread Lords.

The addition of a star destroying mobile battle station has nothing to do with just how much fun it is to wipe out your enemies though, nothing at all. (OK, I lie) Especially when the Death Star-like Terror Stars become the key to freeing the galaxy from the influence of the Dread Lords in the game’s lengthy single-player campaign.

It’s hard to top the original Galactic Civilizations II for all the features and options but after two expansions, when considered together Stardock may have single handedly ended the need for any further space strategy games – ever. I’m not one to feel a game is ever absolutely perfect but Stardock’s latest expansion makes the already amazingly comprehensive series about as good as I could ever imagine a turn-based strategy game as good as it can ever hope to be. Why, you might wonder, would I say that? Well Twilight of the Arnor has everything I could possibly want in a game of this type.
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Viking: Battle for Asgard
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: SEGA
Price: $59.99
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Category: Action/Adventure
ESRB: “M” for Mature
Release Date: March 25, 2008

I have always been enthralled with Nordic legends, and anything Viking related. Far be it to call myself a Nordiphile, I am hardly that – I just like mythology of all sorts. I have also thought that Vikings were too often ignored in video games, and I have never understood why they have been largely shunned by the industry, This is why I was so excited about Beowulf until it was announced that it would be a movie tie-in – and in my opinion, both sucked equally.

When Viking: Battle for Asgard was announced a few moths after Beowulf, my love of Nordic mythology took a back seat to the wariness in my brain. I decided it would be rented instead of purchased and while the waiting list for the game was long at my local Blockbuster – I am glad I waited. Whether Viking: Battle for Asgard was worth the wait or not is open to interpretation. On the one hand, I liked the visuals and some of the executions you could pull off, but the game had so many things wrong with it. It was repetitive, contained shallow swordplay, choppy framerates galore and so many other things wrong with it that by the time I was a quarter of the way finished with the game, I wanted my rental fee back. Of course, Blockbuster does not give refunds for unsatisfactory rental purchases.

In Viking: Battle for Asgard, you are Skarin - a warrior on the edge of death who is brought back from the brink by the Goddess Freya. In exchange for this life saving turn of events, you must do her bidding – and no, there are no sexual undertones to this despite the fact that she is a hottie. Her desire for you is only for you to prevent Hel, the Goddess of the Underworld from taking over Midgard. The plotline gives you the impression that the game would be full of hack and slash potential, and that is indeed true. The game was oozing with potential, and when playing I kept waiting for the goods to come to fruition but, alas, they never surfaced – probably because none were present to being with.

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Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Tecmo
Price: $34.99
Platform: Nintendo DS
Category: Action, Adventure
ESRB: “T” for Teen
Release Date: March 25, 2008

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is the first title in the series to appear on the Nintendo DS, and if you think about it, the warning bells should go off in your head. Compound these warning bells with the screeching siren that is the plotline taking place between the game for the original Xbox and the sequel on the 360; most gamers would be pretty wary of playing Team Ninja’s latest foray into one of the most lauded gaming series ever.

I can happily report to you that any feelings of trepidation you may feel when contemplating giving Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword a try is completely unfounded. As a matter of fact, this game made me happy that I actually own a DS – prior to that it has sat on my bookshelf since Phantom Hourglass collecting dust. So, when I received this blessing in the mail, I excitedly recharged the battery and commenced to play.

While fans of the series may notice some of the same characters and locations in Dragon Sword, it merely gives you a since of familiarity instead of receptiveness. The storyline is very interesting as it tells the tale of a time when Dragons and Humans coexisted in harmony until the Dark Dragon decided to take over the world. The dragons that sided with the humans forged a sword from their fangs and bestowed what became known as the Dragon Sword upon them. While the name of the sword may seem a bit unoriginal, it does not matter – they could have called it the “pointy thing made of teeth” and it would still have the same effect because that awesome sword slew the Dark Dragon and restored peace to the land.
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Sam and Max Season Two
Developer: TellTale Games
Publisher: TellTale Games, GameTap
Price: $34.95 (free for GameTap subscribers)
Platform: PC
Category: Adventure
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Release Date: April 11, 2008

I actually wrote up my impressions of the first two episodes of Sam and Max Season Two when the games first started coming out regularly again. Eventually though, I realized that there were only so many ways I could say “if you liked the previous games, you’ll like this one.” So I decided to wait until the full second season was out and give it a full rundown then. The fifth and final episode in Sam and Max Season Two was released last week to a hungry audience, so how does the second season stack up to the first? Well, er, if you liked the previous Sam and Max games, you’ll definitely like these. Read the full article

Dark Sector
Developer: Digital Extremes
Publisher: D3 Publisher of America
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Category: Action
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence)
Release Date: March 25, 2008

Dark Sector unfortunately suffers from a gaming ailment that I’ve begun referring to as “Gears of War Syndrome.” You see, Gears of War really nailed the whole “third-person, cover-based shooter” genre over a year ago; so much so that any title with similar gameplay since can be labeled as being “good…but not as good as Gears of War.” Army of Two has this problem, Kane and Lynch has this problem (among many others), and Dark Sector also has this problem. Even while playing the game, I found myself trying to pull off some moves from Gears of War — like blind fire — and was disappointed when I couldn’t. That’s not to say Dark sector is a bad game; it’s just mostly all been done before and better.

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Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core

Developer: Square Enix

Publisher: Square Enix

Price: $39.99

Platform: PSP

Category: Action RPG

ESRB Rating: T for Teen (Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence)

Release Date: March 25

Of all the people that have written about Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, I think I’m one of the few with a very unique perspective on it: I’ve never played the original FFVII. I was never much of a Final Fantasy fan up until last year when I began trucking through the old games that had been ported to PSP, and as Crisis Core is a prequel, I’m getting to enjoy a fantastic game that simultaneously holds up well as a standalone game and also manages to flesh out the story of the classic PlayStation RPG. (Or so I’m told.)

Crisis Core is in almost every way unlike any Final Fantasy game you’ve ever played. There’s no party, the action isn’t the strictly turn-based affair you normally get, and the cutscenes rarely run on for too long. In other words, it’s a game perfectly adapted to the platform it’s on. Among its many achievements, that is perhaps one of its greatest accomplishments.

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Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
Developer: A.C.R.O.N.Y.M Games
Publisher: Capcom
Price: $9.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
Category: Arcade Shooter
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone Ages 10 and older (Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes)
Release Date: March 5, 2008

One of the highlights of last years E3 for me was my trip to visit and interview the folks at Capcom about their upcoming games. I was jazzed about the upcoming Harvey Birdman game, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles looked like it was going to resurrect the arcade rail-shooter on the last platform I’d have expected and the Street Fighter II ultimate hand-drawn coolness edition was in the works. One of the titles that flew somewhat under the radar at the time was the Xbox Live! arcade game Rocketmen : Axis of Evil. I even wrote a quick preview of it during our E3 coverage.

Even the PR guy who politely showed me around did not have any clue what the game was based on so I guess he was surprised when I mentioned that the title was an interesting choice for a license built around a constructible card game where ship-to-ship combat was the main focus. Instead of the Star Control-like  melee I would have expected instead I was watching someone grind through a swarm of burly Martians in a Smash TV-like top down shooter.

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Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath
Developer: EA LA
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Price: $29.99
Platform: PC, Xbox 360 (June 2008)
Category: Real-Time Strategy
ESRB Rating: T for Teen (Animated Blood, Mild Language, Violence)
Release Date: March 24, 2008

Command and Conquer or get the hell out of my way! The Tiberium wars may be over and the mysterious Kane returned but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a story left to tell. Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, the first expansion to last years popular C&C 3, does something not many expansions attempt - it fills in backstory and expands continuity for the Command & Conquer universe while attempting to hint at things to come.

I’ve always been a fan of C&C, way back to the days when it was a game based on Frank Herbert’s Dune series. (Yeah I’m that old.. Dune 2 was groundbreaking I recommend every fan of RTS games try and find a DosBox playable copy!) The series is all about fast build and rushing. There is a balls to the wall pace that many games of its ilk have tried to replicate with varied success, but aside from a few missteps along the road to C&C 3 the series is a perennial favorite.

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I come bearing a warning for anyone with an Xbox Live account. Do not, I repeat, do NOT under any circumstances purchase the newest XBLA title, Mr. Driller Online. Normally I might call this sort of article my “impressions” of a game. But due to the severe awfulness of Mr. Driller Online, I’m calling this a “Public Service Announcement.” I honestly feel that this sort of warning goes right up there with “Only you can prevent forest fires” and “This is your brain on drugs.” Some of you may think that piece of advice is fairly obvious, but I wish someone had warned me before I plopped down 800 Microsoft points for possibly the worst XBLA title I have ever experienced. Read on as I explain why Mr. Driller Online should only be sold under the counter in back alleys and dingy fast food places.

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Rainbow Six Vegas 2
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC (in April)
Category: Action
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood, Strong Language, Intense Violence)
Release Date: March 21, 2008

Someone once said “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” (and an advertising firm soon trademarked it). I doubt whoever said that was talking about terrorist cells and international conspiracies, but man those seem to flock to Sin City in the new Rainbow Six Vegas 2. This being the sequel to the smash hit Tom Clancy title, expectations are understandably high for this follow-up. Even more so since the team behind this game has said this is their final excursion, because they’re tired of working with Vegas. Well frankly their apathy shows through at times, particularly since this feels like the same old Rainbow Six Vegas, just with a few changes. But still, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. My full impressions after the break. Read the full article

Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Developer: Monolith
Publisher: SEGA
Price: $59.99
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Category: Action/Adventure, Psychological Horror
ESRB: “M” for Mature
Release Date: 3/12/2008

When I first heard that the folks over at Monolith were making a sequel to Condemned: Criminal Origins, I was both excited and leery at the same time, because let’s face it, sequels are not usually up to par with the original. Granted, the God of War titles seem to do justice to our favorite Spartan, but that cannot be said of the majority of sequels sitting on shelves. My initial disquiet over another offering of Ethan Thomas and the maimed world in which he resides seemed to mitigate slightly when I viewed the first set of screenshots from the game, and the more I saw, better I felt. The trailers looked great, the weapon selection was both pacifying and hilarious at the same time, and the overall ambiance the trailers portrayed finally allowed me to let my guard down completely for Condemned 2: Bloodshot. However, before I get too far ahead of myself, I would like to point out that while this was indeed a very fun and entertaining game, it was far from perfect. So far, to be quite honest, that afterwards when I had played through it a second time, I started to feel extremely let down.

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God of War: Chains of Olympus
Developer: Ready at Dawn Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Price: $49.99
Platform: PlayStation Portable
Category: Action/Adventure
ESRB: “M” for Mature
Release Date: 3/04/2008

Kratos the Spartan has a really bad life. Sure he’s a marauding, enemy eviscerating unstoppable war machine all by himself; but it’s got to suck to be “the cleaner” for the Olympian Gods.

Chains of Olympus is the first title in the God of War series to grace Sony’s portable gaming system the PSP but the game actually serves not as a continuation of the Playstation 2 series, but as a prequel that details his existence pre-God of War as he moves from battlefield to battlefield cleaning up after the messes made by his deific masters.

You push Kratos through hordes of foes all the while whipping your trademark Blades of Chaos – a gift from patron god Ares – and popping their cherries until they sprout fountains of red, green and white orbs. Fans of the series will find nothing unexpected here and while this game was obviously created to take advantage of the handheld’s graphics and controls it does not alter the gameplay into one that is more conducive to pick-up and put-down play. This is a good thing though because once I started playing I found myself glued to the PSP and tethered to my power outlet lest my battery die on me mid blood orgy. Chains of Olympus feels like a God of War game through and through.
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Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Developer: SquareEnix
Publisher: SquareEnix
Price: $49.99
Platform: Wii
Category: Action/Adventure, FP/RPG
ESRB: “T” for Teen
Release Date: 2/19/2008

Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors takes place in a town that lies at the foot of Avalonia Castle. There, a young man enjoys a peaceful life with his lecherous father until his sixteenth birthday approaches and he must take the Walk of the Worthy. This is a trial of strength, which all young Avalonian males must undergo upon coming of age. As the main character, you will need to put all of your training in the ways of the sword into practice if you are to pass the test, and take your rightful place amongst Avalonia’s warriors. Sounds like your typical RPG doesn’t it? Unfortunately the storyline is the only thing typical about Dragon Quest Swords.

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Turok
Developer: Propaganda Games
Publisher: Touchstone
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Category: FPS
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language)
Release Date: February 5

Fighting dinosaurs might not be the most original concept anymore – it’s been a long time since the first Turok game saw the light of day. So it seems only fair to expect the surrounding game elements in Turok to compensate for that and help differentiate the game from the extremely bloated FPS market. And yet everything about the game screams, “Generic!” and manages to only surprise you with how it manages to be derivative in every fashion imaginable.

Perhaps its unoriginality could be forgiven if technical flaws didn’t further hinder the game, but the combination really manages to ruin any fun that might be had. And it’s really a shame, because there’s definitely a fun game under Turok’s skin.

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Army of Two
Developer: EA Montreal
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Category: Action
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood, Strong Language, Intense Violence)
Release Date: March 4, 2008

Before I really get into talking about Army of Two, I think it’s only fair to point out that I love co-op games. As such, the news that this game would be built around a co-op campaign was very exciting to me. If I had the time back that I’ve spent playing co-op games like Vietcong, I could probably retire on it. I’d also like to mention that I ended up getting Army of Two for the PlayStation 3. I had actually intended to pick the game up for Xbox 360 so I could play online with a friend of mine; however, the news that we’d both have to have a Gold account to play online ended that fantasy fairly quickly. Instead, I went with the PS3 version for the free online play.

Right out of the box, I got a good vibe from Army of Two. The game starts you and your partner (AI controlled if you’re playing alone) off in basic training. Basic is the keyword here, as you receive a quick run-through of the skills you need to survive, and you’re whisked away to your first mission.

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Lost: Via Domus
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Category: Adventure
ESRB Rating: T for Teen (Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Violence)
Release Date: February 26, 2008

I am a complete sucker when it comes to video games based on my favorite TV shows. It’s for that reason that I’ve suffered through both The Sopranos: Road to Respect and 24: The Game. So when I heard that there was going to be a game coming out based on Lost, I already knew I would be playing it. It didn’t matter how the developers approached the title or even if it were declared unanimously to be the worst video game adaptation ever, I’d still be drawn to it like a mosquito to a bug zapper. Thankfully, this is probably the best game based on a TV show that I have ever played. Of course, that’s not saying much. Full review after the break.

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Puchi Puchi Virus
Developer: Jaleco
Publisher: NIS America
Price: N/A (Expected to be $19.99 or $29.99)
Platform: Nintendo DS
Category: Puzzle Action
ESRB Rating: E
Release Date: 5/20/2008

If you know anything about NIS America, you know the majority of their titles up until now have been mostly RPG-style games on Sony systems. Late last year though, NIS America revealed they were working on a puzzle game for the Nintendo DS which pretty much are two things they aren’t known for. If you’re a fan of NIS America’s humorous Disgaea series and love simple, yet complex puzzle games, then check out my impressions of Puchi Puchi Virus after the break.

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Bomberman Land
Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Price: $29.99
Platform: Wii
Category: Action, Arcade
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone (Cartoon Violence)
Release Date: January 29, 2008

These days, I approach anything dealing with the “Bomberman” franchise with apprehension. As far as I’m concerned, the more recent games have been kind of “hit or miss,” and few have really stacked up to the ones from the NES days. I tend to approach collections of mini-games for the Wii in much the same manner. So basically, before I even sat down to play it, the new Wii game, Bomberman Land, already had two strikes against it. Is there anything to redeem this latest adventure involving Bomberpeople? My full impressions after the break. Read the full article

The Club
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Sega
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Category: Action
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood, Strong Language, Violence)
Release Date: February 19, 2008

When I first heard about The Club and it’s concept of combo-fueled killing, I was actually a little refreshed. In these times where video games are seemingly under constant scrutiny by the public for their violent content, here was a game that decided to ignore all that and make the gameplay about nothing but the killing. It sounded like a great way to take the third-person shooter genre back to basics and focus on nothing but the action. Unfortunately, I soon realized just why few games these days take such a simple approach. My full impressions after the break.

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Devil May Cry 4
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Category: Action
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence)
Release Date: February 5, 2008

The last time I thoroughly enjoyed Devil May Cry was when the first game was released in 2001. There were few things that could compare to the game’s trifecta of graphics, controls, and action. Both subsequent follow-ups, DMC2 and DMC3: Dante’s Awakening, while important to the backstory, didn’t do much to push the series forward. DMC2 felt like a rehash, and DMC3 was far too hard for its own good. Devil May Cry 4 is the series’ first shot on the current generation of platforms and it both succeeds and fails in many regards.

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