GameFocus

6 days ago -

(XBLA) Sacred Citadel - 7.0
Sacred. Arguably one of the most underappreciated of the various RPG universes. Starting out on PC, the 3rd person isometric view and action-centered gameplay put it in a precarious position: Filling 2004’s Diablo void while many games moved away from PCs altogether. Fortunately, it had just the right amount of personality for it to stand apart from the Diablo-clone crowd, gaining a cult following from enthusiasts. This led to a proper expansion, as well as a full on sequel (one that...

1 week ago -

Injustice: Gods Among Us - 8.5
NetherRealm Studios, led by creative director Ed Boon, has taken a slight break from the chaotic and gruesome action that is featured within the Mortal Kombat franchise and has instead worked diligently on bringing the DC Comics Universe to the forefront with Injustice: Gods Among Us. The story of Injustice features an alternate reality where Joker has done the unthinkable. He tricked Superman into killing his own wife and unborn child, which also resulted in the destruction of...

1 week ago -

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 - 8.0
My mouth was dry as I began the back nine on the hallowed grounds of golf’s most iconic course. I hitched up my knickerbockers, approached the tee, and drilled the ball dead center of the fairway with my Brassie. It would be a difficult approach to the hole so I debated my club selection. Do I go with the Jigger for its better spin or the Mashie Niblick for its superior distance. I settled on a Pitching Niblick, adjusted the knot on my tie and knocked the golf ball onto the sepia...

2 weeks ago -

BioShock Infinite - 8.7
The third game in the BioShock series, and the second developed by Irrational Games, seeks to take the series to new heights, literally. Exchanging the watery depths of Rapture for the sunny skies of Columbia, Irrational presents us with a doorway to the past and entrenches us in a world of intrigue, mystery, and emotion. Although, it is not without its flaws... Players assume the role of Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton agent with a not-so-pleasant past. Up to his neck in debts, Booker...

4 weeks ago -

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 - 8.0
By Jacob Mertens If you haven’t heard of Naruto over the last several years, you may be living a sheltered life. The popular Japanese manga and anime series has permeated into Western culture, bringing with it Cartoon Network syndication, bound comic novels that strangle the aisles of Barnes and Noble, and video game adaptations both well crafted and hastily put together. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 follows in the footsteps of the well received Ninja Storm series, and...

4 weeks ago -

(PSN) Fuel Overdose - 5.9
The top down racer holds a special place in my heart. As a kid I would gravitate to the likes of Super Sprint and Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off Road at the arcade to watch those blessed with more quarters than me literally take the wheel in racing action. I think the top down view has always been ideally suited to racing because gamers have a much larger field of vision and can simultaneously view what is occurring several car lengths ahead and behind them. In fact,...

4 weeks ago -

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - 8.4
3 years ago, Capcom reinvigorated its immensely popular Monster Hunter series with the arrival of Monster Hunter Tri on the Nintendo Wii. The game was met with lots of enthusiasm by fans and critics alike, but it wasn’t perfect. Crippled by a couple of annoying flaws, the game frustrated many players by coming so close to perfection. Here we are, 3 years later, and Capcom is finally ready to bring this perfected remastered version of its game in the form of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate to...

4 weeks ago -

Gears of War Judgment - 7.8
With 3 installments over the course of this console cycle, Gears of War has established itself as the ultimate embodiment of third person shooters. Many have tried to replicate its winning formula, but few have managed to offer the same blend of skull-crushing awesomeness that Epic has concocted with the series. Now that the fourth chapter has switched developers, People Can Fly has decided to attempt to freshen up the formula. Is the new approach a breath of fresh air or should you breeze...

4 weeks ago -

(PSN) Darkstalkers Resurrection - 7.1
By Jacob Mertens Ah, the hallowed days of the arcade-console crossover, when gamers traded restless hours jamming quarters into a towering machine, taking pride in the nimble flip of a joystick, for a box nestled against their television and a chance to master the same game without scrounging for loose change. Few crossover titles caught fire on the new console platforms like the arcade fighter. Gamers revelled at the chance to perfect a character’s set of moves, or to unleash a...

1 month ago -

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - 8.9
It all began in 2001 with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. After playing the game’s opening chapter, gamers were shockingly met with one of the most famous (or infamous) baton switches in video game history. He wasn’t as cool, badass, or popular as Snake, but most importantly: he wasn’t Snake. Series character Raiden made his debut in Metal Gear Solid 2 with some harsh fan reaction, and it only took him seven years to redeem himself in the most amazing way possible....

1 month ago -

(Kinect) The Hip Hop Dance Experience - 6.8
I don’t think that I am necessarily the target audience for the Xbox Kinect dance title, “The Hip Hop Dance Experience”. I’m likely more hipster than hip hop, and my personal playlist consists of more Ramones and Rancid than Rihanna or RUN DMC. That being said, I figured that if I was going to venture into the world of dance games, I best cut a rug to one styled on a musical genre synonymous with smooth moves and backbeats that get your feet moving. Love it or hate...

1 month ago -

Tomb Raider - 9.2
Step aside Nathan Drake, and get ready to meet your maker! No, Lara Croft did not give birth to Nathan Drake, that’s not what I meant...(though that would be an interesting twist). The Uncharted series is often referred to as "Tomb Raider with a guy" for a reason. Back in the PS1 days, the gaming world was hit by storm with Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft; an English archaeologist who’s as skillfully adventurous as she is beautiful. With the first six games developed by...

1 month ago -

(PSN) Alien Breed - 7.6
Who remembers the days of top down shooters, running wild through GTA 2, watching bullets leave your pistol as tiny dots begging for pixelated destruction? In the spirit of nostalgia, developer Team 17 has re-released their own top down shooter Alien Breed, a sci-fi survival horror game with all the hallmarks of an arcade classic. Originally released in 1991, the game featured two lone officers of the fictional agency I.P.C., or Interplanetary Corps. While investigating a potentially hostile...

1 month ago -

Crysis 3 - 7.0
By Ryan Foster and Vince Deshaies The first person shooter genre is riddled with the good, the bad, and the awful. Franchises like Call of Duty and Halo dominate sales because overall, they excel at their own identity. Many have tried to copy them, but few have managed to get the formula just right. Therefore, it’s important for other titles in the genre to do their own thing rather than try to compete and intentionally copy games that are already fulfilling those same goals so...

2 months ago -

DmC Devil May Cry - 8.5
It was a bold move to reboot the popular Devil May Cry series, but it was a risk worth taking as Ninja Theory so evidently showed us with DmC: Devil May Cry. While Dante’s physical characteristics have changed, he retains his badass attitude, showing no fear towards the demonic threat that is unleashed upon him. Fans and newcomers alike will be delighted as they thrust their weapon, or rain fury, upon the demons that stand before them... “There have always been angels, demons,...

2 months ago -

(XBLA) Serious Sam Double D XXL - 6.3
A change in the core format can spell disaster for an IP, or it can breathe new life into an established character. Most Halo fans were less than jubilant to see the Spartan army battling the Covenant in a real time strategy game instead of the acclaimed FPS perspective. Previous attempts to bring Pac-Man to the third dimension have been critical flops, and heresy in the minds of many gamers. On the other hand, putting Mario behind the wheel for some Kart racing or moving GTA from a top...

2 months ago -

(XBLA) Special Forces Team X - 7.0
You sneak up on an enemy camp seemingly left abandoned. As you approach a blue buzzing satellite, prepared to hack your way in, you notice the screen flash red. Before you can turn to take cover, your body goes limp and you fall to the ground. Only after your untimely death do you see the two soldiers hiding in the rafters, reveling in their kill. If Special Forces: Team X has one major drawback, it is that gamers have been here before. Whether they have busied away hours playing Modern...

3 months ago -

Dead Space 3 - 8.8
After a disappointing Resident Evil 6 and a surprisingly great ZombiU, I was just as confused about the future of horror games as you might be. On one side of the spectrum, you see franchises becoming more action oriented and losing the essence of what made their games so special in the first place. On the other hand, certain developers seem to be trying to revive the survival horror genre and hearken back to its roots. Considering how the Dead Space franchise was always firmly rooted in...

3 months ago -

(iOS) Into The Dead - 9.3
The developers over at Pik Pok did something brilliant with the endless runner genre. They added zombies! The undead creatures have their own first person endless runner now. How does the endless runner fair when zombies are added? Into The Dead starts out with your character waking up - in first person - and you see a crashed helicopter with some dead folk lying about with a horde of zombies coming your way. Naturally, you turn the other way and run. The further you run, the higher your...

3 months ago -

Rabbids Land - 5.8
Spinning out of the Rayman series, the various games bearing the Rabbids characters have been built around a multiplayer atmosphere. The first Rabbids game to hit the Wii U, Rabbids Land, is no exception. Taking inspiration from the Mario Party franchise, Rabbids Land is a board game video game that pits players against one another in competitive games in an effort to win the overall game. Unfortunately, where the Mario Party series features an incredible amount of variation both in playing...

4 months ago -

DragonBall Z Budokai HD Collection - 4.5
Editor’s Note: The reviewer makes note below that the game does not have a widescreeen setting. Following submission, he discovered it indeed DOES have a widescreen presentation. We apologize for any inconvenience this inconsistency may have created, although this will not impact the final score. The Dragon Ball series has been one of the most popular animes for the 80’s and 90’s kids. Bunch of superhuman beings with powers that can destroy whole planets...what’s not...

4 months ago -

Far Cry 3 - 9.8
Anyone planning a skydiving trip over an island in the Pacific may want to reconsider after playing Far Cry 3. What is insanity? That question that is repeatedly issued throughout the game defines every component that is featured. Characters, weapons, environments, narrative, gameplay, and the sound all create an engaging experience that must be played by everyone. What is insanity? Anyone who has yet to experience the thrill that Far Cry 3 has to provide. Far Cry 3 begins with the...

4 months ago -

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 - 8.1
I finally have an answer to the age old question of who would win if a man with a leopard’s head teamed with a giant panda and fought a boxing glove clad dinosaur and an ogre. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 answers this and other burning questions in the latest installment of the fighter series. The series has always had its moments of absurdity, but beneath the playful exterior it is a tight fighting game acclaimed on both sides of the Pacific. Unlike some of its competitors such as Street...

4 months ago -

Funky Barn - 3.5
Rollercoaster Tycoon. That used to be one of my favorite games. I spent hours upon hours building a theme park, managing resources, building up a loyal base of customers, and creating cool rides for them to try out. The simple yet addictive mechanics of a resource management game are just flat out appealing to me, and while I’m aware that Funky Barn on the Wii U is aimed at a younger audience, I still wanted to give it a try. If I could describe my experience with Funky Barn in one...

4 months ago -

LEGO Lord of the Rings - 4.0
EDITOR’S NOTE: As both the console and handheld versions carry a tremendous amount of similarities, this review is similar to the console review, only with some tweaks added to address the handheld entry... The Lego video game franchise has seen its highs and lows in the past. It was kicked off at a good start with the well received Lego Star Wars games, but continued onward with other licenses garnering a relatively unbalanced reception. Lego Indiana Jones and Lego Star Wars III: The...

5 months ago -

LEGO Lord of the Rings - 8.8
The Lego video game franchise has seen its highs and lows in the past. It was kicked off at a good start with the well received Lego Star Wars games, but continued onward with other licenses garnering a relatively unbalanced reception. Lego Indiana Jones and Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars were arguably the low points of the franchise, but both Lego Batman and Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes had the advantage of original stories and even voice acting to boost the series to new heights....

5 months ago -

F1 Race Stars - 6.9
Codemasters set out with hopes of delivering a charming and less realistic take on the popular F1 racing franchise that would leave a lasting appeal to those who enjoy kart racing titles. While F1 Race Stars does not offer any innovative gameplay that sets it apart from others in the genre, it does offer an overall simplistic, yet enjoyable, experience that will keep you entertained as you wreak havoc with an assortment of colored bubbles throughout eleven circuits that encompass a global...

5 months ago -

(iOS) Doomsday Preppers - 1.0
Some of the human race get very creative when thinking how the world will end. Zombies, a Mayan prediction, nuclear destruction, the list goes on and on. Doomsday Preppers is a new documentary show on National Geographic with each episode featuring different people and families, how they believe the end will happen, and how they prepare for it. Now the App Store has a free game based on the show. Movie to video game adaptions (and vice versa) don’t usually get the love they deserve, a...

5 months ago -

Polara - 8.9
The App Store has become a minefield of running games. Temple Run is the one of the biggest runners on the platform, and it is one of the first to cross my mind when tasked with naming them off at first thought. However, now we need to bring in Polara, Hope This Works Games newest title. A 2D auto-runner with glowing visuals, is it worth a spot on your iDevice or Android? Polara’s story puts you in the shoes of Agent Lara, who has been given a color-changing suit to test out and soon...

5 months ago -

(iOS) Stan Lee's Verticus - 4.0
Stan “The Man” Lee, the creator and co-creator of some of the world’s most beloved comic book superheroes, such as Spider-Man, the Avengers and the X-Men. Stan Lee has seen his comic creations come to life in many different formats, from movies to video games, but Verticus - an original hero - is his first iOS creation. Verticus is an endless free-falling game, so the question is, can The Man give new life to the genre? Verticus does have very nice animated-style visuals....

5 months ago -

Call of Duty: Black Ops II - 8.3
The Call of Duty franchise has come a long way since its inception in 2003. At the time, its depiction of 1940s warfare was revolutionary for video games, and much critical praise was heaped on developer Infinity Ward. The Russian campaign of that game, where players were put in the boots of a foot soldier during the siege of Stalingrad, remains one of gaming’s most memorable moments. Since that time, the franchise has gone through two re-imaginings with the introduction of the Modern...

5 months ago -

ESPN Sports Connection - 3.0
Here we are! Wii U has arrived! What does that mean? It means we can all enjoy a new dose of Wii Sports with the family, of course! Wait. What’s that? What do you mean Wii Sports U isn’t bundled with the console? That’s right, folks, no Wii Sports for us this year. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy another cartoony and friendly sports compilation for our brand new systems. Ubisoft has decided to release ESPN Sports Connection to show off Wii U’s...

5 months ago -

(iOS) Sonic Jump - 8.2
Sonic has been around for a number of years and he’s had a few different jobs, such as Olympic athlete, runner, racer, etc... Now he has a new item to add to his resume: jumping. Sega has given mobile gamers a Doodle Jump clone featuring their blue hedgehog mascot (based on the old 2006 mobile game of the same name). How does Sonic Jump fare against other jumper games? Sonic Jump has two modes, Story and Arcade. The Story mode features three different worlds with over thirty...

5 months ago -

Assassin's Creed III - 9.1
*Note: Given the nature of the Wii U port, this review is the same as it was for the PS3 version, with two added paragraphs about the Wii U-exclusive features. If that’s what you’re looking for, scroll down to the end of this review. Maybe it’s just me, but when I hear the words “three years of development” coming from a developer, I usually take it as a good early sign of quality. There’s something about it that feels just right. While one year or less...

5 months ago -

(Kinect) Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth - 8.0
Though there are plenty of enjoyable Kinect games already on the market, one genre the Xbox 360 motion peripheral has sorely lacked is fighting games. While it’s true there have been a few brawlers to make use of Kinect, the current library available could definitely use a solid fighter to mix things up. With the release of Ubisoft’s Avengers: Battle for Earth, comic book-loving Kinect owners now have a fighting game to call their own. It doesn’t quite reach the highs of...

5 months ago -

The Walking Dead Episode Five: No Time Left - 9.0
Before Telltale Games brought The Walking Dead franchise to PCs and consoles, the adventure genre had fallen on hard times. Big budget shooters, third person action games and a smattering of photo realistic sports and driving simulators seemed to be the flavor of the day. The thought of basing a game largely on exploration and character development seemed almost old fashioned and quaint, like Grandma churning her own butter. As unlikely as it seemed at the time, the episodic adventures that...

5 months ago -

Medal of Honor Warfighter - 6.2
The cinematic portrayal of soldiers crossing the globe to thwart acts of terrorism is what Medal of Honor: Warfighter illustrates throughout each mission. The military sequences depicted in the game have a feeling of validity as US Navy Seals offered their consultation throughout the development process. Warfighter possesses a visual design that will warrant our thanks, but the lack of an immersive experience, linear gameplay, and sufferable artificial intelligence might hamper its overall...

5 months ago -

Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition - 8.0
After winning a few awards for Best RPG, and even being awarded with GameFocus’s “Editor’s Choice” award, it is no surprise that Dark Souls has been re-released and ported to the PC. I am guilty of not playing the previous iteration on the Xbox 360 or PS3, so what better way to give it a try on the PC. Dark Souls delivers an experience unlike no other, while providing a very difficult but fair challenge to players. Simply put, If you like blasting your way through...

5 months ago -

(Kinect) Zumba Fitness Core - 7.6
Since the release of Kinect for Xbox 360, there have been numerous attempts at creating a competent workout video game capable of replicating the gym experience. Already having delivered one entry for the Kinect home gym library, Zumba Fitness now introduces Zumba Fitness Core to those hoping to keep shaping up in the living room. Providing a lot of challenge along with a ton of variation, Zumba Fitness Core is a decent way to burn some calories as long as you can keep up. No two bones...

5 months ago -

Angry Birds Star Wars - 9.5
What happens when you put two massive franchises in a blender? Take one of the world’s hottest games; a physics puzzler featuring ticked off colorful birds and green pigs. Now add in one of the world’s most beloved franchises, Star Wars. The result is the best Angry Birds title of the entire franchise. Angry Birds Star Wars is like any other Angry Birds title. It begins with a comic cutscene, with multiple panels kicking off the story, here loosely following the tale of Star...

5 months ago -

Bad Piggies - 8.0
The company who brought the world the hit Angry Birds franchise, its sequels, Amazing Alex, and the newly released Angry Birds Star Wars, also brings us a spin-off to Angry Birds, Bad Piggies. The spin-off features the titular Pigs in favor of the birds, but the gameplay is not the same as the bird swinging puzzler. Is Bad Piggies as good as Angry Birds or should you leave this bacon alone? Bad Piggies starts out with a comic book style intro, like any Angry Birds title, showing the green...

5 months ago -

F1 2012 - 8.9
Simulators in general are not for the faint of heart. If you expect to breeze through the learning curve of a game designed to challenge you in a more realistic fashion, you are sorely mistaken. Fortunately for experienced gamers, we know what we’re up against. We know the difficulty to endure when perfecting our skills with simulators, especially racing simulators. However, the key to steep difficulty is satisfaction. Dedicating hours of practice is only justified if you know you will...

5 months ago -

Assassin's Creed III: Liberation - 8.0
I know what you’re thinking. Another dumbed down console port for a Sony handheld? When are they finally going to learn? Well, dear friend, you may want to rethink that statement, as Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation offers anything but. In fact, the game is completely separate from its home console counterpart, instead offering an entirely exclusive campaign adapted to the young Vita. The question remains: Is it any good? For this portable adventure, Ubisoft Sofia has decided...

5 months ago -

Assassin's Creed III - 9.1
Maybe it’s just me, but when I hear the words “three years of development” coming from a developer, I usually take it as a good early sign of quality. There’s just something about it that feels just right. While one year or less usually spells out a “more of the same” situation, and four years or more implies an impending cancellation or the thought that they may have needed to go back to the drawing board, 3 years feels like the perfect balance. Maybe...

6 months ago -

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare - 8.9
The excitement of engaging in continuous violent melee encounters with the possible result of decapitating your enemy is the addictive and intense gameplay that lies within Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. As a whole, the game has a solid footing on its own, but it is the finer details that truly make it a medieval first person combat game worth owning. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare introduces us to the conflict between the knights of Agatha and the Mason Order as they battle for dominion over the...

6 months ago -

(Kinect) Just Dance 4 - 9.0
In a world filled with music games, it seems like every developer wants to jump on the BANDwagon (bad pun) and start creating masterpieces like Rock Band with their own little twist. However, Ubisoft did something right with Just Dance, winning “Best Music game” awards as well as becoming the biggest selling franchise on the Wii platform for a couple years. With 11 different versions of the game released in North America, it was time for me to dive into it to see what the all...

6 months ago -

(XBLA) Pool Nation - 9.5
I find pool to be a calm game with an occasional adrenaline rush. You have to take your time, keep your cool, and hope that you don’t scratch on the 8 ball. Most pool games stick to the basics and turn out lackluster; they don’t capture the atmosphere. Pool Nation corrects these flaws and sets a new standard for first time developers. Pool Nation is the first game by Manchester based studio CherryPop Games and it is obvious they are looking to make good first impressions. A...

6 months ago -

Gravity Rush - 7.1
If one was to look at the available titles for the PS Vita, the ones that could be counted as a “must own” are few and far between. Rayman Origins, Mortal Kombat, LittleBigPlanet, Lumines, Uncharted, and a handful of others is all that owners of the fancy new piece of tech can brag about...at least until this holiday season. One title that made the list is Gravity Rush, which is why, even though I was a bit late to the party, I was still very excited to finally pop it into my...

6 months ago -

Forza Horizon - 8.9
With Forza Motorsport, Microsoft offered fans a great racing simulator franchise. With Project Gotham Racing, they offered them a fantastic arcade-style experience that was accessible to all. Now that the PGR series is dead and buried, it was time for MS to change things up. This is where Forza Horizon comes into play… Horizon puts you behind the wheel at a ginormous fictional racing event in the state of Colorado: The Horizon Festival. Thanks to your high-tech GPS equipment, you...

6 months ago -

FIFA Soccer 13 - 8.4
As the old adage goes, “Another day, another dollar. Another year, another FIFA.” The annual release of EA’s highly-touted soccer franchise brings out the football fans in droves, and over the course of this generation, EA has managed to create both a commercially successful and critically acclaimed FIFA franchise. After FIFA 12’s release, it didn’t seem as if EA could take the franchise much higher. Unfortunately, that’s what’s happened with FIFA 13,...

PS3 :: (PSN) Fuel Overdose

WIIU :: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

X360 :: Gears of War Judgment

PS3 :: (PSN) Darkstalkers Resurrection

PS3 :: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

X360 :: (Kinect) The Hip Hop Dance Experience

X360 :: Tomb Raider

PS3 :: (PSN) Alien Breed

X360 :: Crysis 3