The first thing that struck me about Namco’s seminal fighting game is its simplicity. Tekken does not allow you to move around your opponent, nor do over the top specials. There are no ring outs nor superfluous game modes, no cut-scenes nor dialogue – no razzmatazz of any sort. There is a distinct lack of [...]
The Donkey Kong Country series, like many of its platforming contemporaries, is not shy about its influences. Unlike its contemporaries it actually holds its own under comparative scrutiny with its plumbing progenitor. They share similar ways to dispatch enemies, an over-world that rewards exploration, a wealth of secrets and buckets of charm. Keza MacDonald wrote: For a publisher as [...]
Just before Christmas, Octopus books released a book entitled 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die to generally favourable reviews. Pushing aside the age old “ZOMG where is Super Mario Land it is teh awesomezz!!!!1″ fanboy criticisms for a moment, intelligent gamers had some legitimate concerns.
Picture the scene: I’m about fifteen hours into Mass Effect 2, Miranda’s getting pissy again, no matter what I try I can’t get Yeoman Chambers to lap-dance for me and my crew’s constant need for me to sort out their lives before I get them all killed in a suitably heroic epic finale is beginning to wear [...]
Last year I noticed a trend in a number of games offering old school gameplay mechanics. Trials HD, Super Meat Boy and VVVVVV all offer expertly crafted difficulty curves that slowly ramp up the challenge to levels that could result in bald patches, high blood pressure and a propensity to sit in corners and gibber. [...]
