Xbox Game Review: Demon Stone

Release Date: November 16, 2004
MSRP: 19.99 USD
T for Teen: Blood, Violence
Genre: Third-Person Action
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Stormfront Studios

In Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone, the player directs a party of three characters: Fighter, Sorcerer and Rogue. The player controls one party member at a time -- switching between them on the fly -- while the other party members are AI-controlled. For example, when the player controls the Fighter, the Sorcerer and Rogue will continue to engage in combat, cast spells and assist the player in defeating all challengers. In many situations, the characters will be able to divide and conquer difficult objectives. The player participates seamlessly in each critical moment as they are cinematically switched from one perspective to another. Players are continually tasked with choosing the best character for each challenge as well as using each character's gameplay specialty to maximum effect.

Read More

Xbox Game Review: Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex

Release Date: April 16, 2002
MSRP: 19.99 USD
E for Everyone: Mild Realistic Violence
Genre: Platformer
Publisher: Universal Interactive
Developer: Traveller's Tales

Everyone's favorite marsupial makes his GameCube debut in his biggest adventure yet. This time Neo-Cortex has had enough. Having been defeated one too many times, Cortex has developed a Super Secret weapon to finally rid himself of his arch-nemesis, Crash Bandicoot. Cortex has been busy building Crunch, a genetically engineered super-creature designed for one thing only, to defeat Crash Bandicoot once and for all!

There is just one thing missing? a power source for the new diabolical creation. Uka Uka, Cortex's master, calls upon the powers of the slumbering "Elementals." These four ancient masks harness the powers of earth, fire, water and air. If Cortex's super weapon wears these masks, he will then hold the power of the elements! However, to power this weapon, Cortex has set up bases around the planet, sucking the earth dry of its valuable elemental resources.

It's up to Crash Bandicoot and his sister Coco to defeat Cortex and his monstrous creation before they take over the world!

This is just like any other Crash Bandicoot game I have ever played. Only better, because it's not a psx controller or emulated on PC. BAM, right on your xbox console. I am a huge fan of Crash and so is Amanda. If this game has the Amanda seal of approval, it has to be good (game snob).

Read More

Xbox Game Review: Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness

Release Date: November 1, 2005
MSRP: 29.99 USD
M for Mature: Blood, Violence
Genre: Third-Person Action
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami TYO

An action-packed tale of betrayal and revenge, featuring a brand new character outside of the Belmont clan -- Hector, a Devil Forgemaster, and former Lieutenant of Dracula. Armed with the unique new abilities of Devil Forgery, gamers will be able to call upon trusty allies -– "Innocent Devils" –- who will help defeat a variety of powerful enemies. More than 30 evolving allies will develop unique abilities, with powers such as the ability to open heavy doors or help Hector fly. They will aid players in conquering various enemies, avoiding perilous traps and solving challenging puzzles. As players progress through the game and gain experience points, their character's strength will increase.

I was playing this one morning, just started a new game. Amanda had just woken up and was in the kitchen making coffee. I got up to use the restroom and when I came back she had taken the controller and gave me a look like "You Snooze, you loose". She played for HOURS, while I sat there sulking. I felt like yelling "MOOOOOOM, She took my game away!!!!!". From what I played and from what I saw Amanda play, this game is pretty epic. I don't know why, but since that day, I haven't gone back and played. I'll have to make a point to do that someday really soon... Like when she is at work and can't steal my controller.

Read More

Xbox Game Review: Bloodrayne

Release Date: October 20, 2002
MSRP: 9.99 USD
M for Mature: Realistic Violence
Genre: Third-Person Adventure
Publisher: Majesco
Developer: Terminal Reality

As the vampiric agent BloodRayne, you'll travel through the eerie swamps of Louisiana, to Argentina and Germany in this battle-heavy, third-person thriller. The game features non-linear gameplay in more than 40 levels and three massive worlds, the ability to suck blood for health, and to use slow-motion, zoom and aura visions to aid in death dealing. Pull off fantastic acrobatic moves to bend the environment to your will and dispatch enemies with BloodRayne's blades and kicks for awesome in-your-face combat. BloodRayne can use and carry any weapon her enemy uses including guns, explosives and rocket launchers -- all in all there are more than 40 weapons in game. Fill the Bloodlust meter to activate Blood Rage for damaging over-the-top attacks to defeat Nazis, mutants, swamp creatures, ancient parasitic monsters and blood-sucking beasts.

This game reminds me of a SEXY female version of Blood Omen: Legacy Of Kain. Nuff said... Good story, good graphics, good control's... Good Game.

Read More

Xbox Game Review: Beyond Good And Evil

Release Date: November 11, 2003
MSRP: 17.99 USD
T for Teen: Comic Mischief, Violence
Genre: Third-Person Action
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft

Meet Jade. She's a brunette beauty with an eye for mystery and a camera to uncover it. When the would-be heroine's futuristic planet is threatened by aliens, Jade finds herself thrust into the heart of a vicious conspiracy that could stretch to the very top of her government. This stylized, extremely gorgeous third-person action-adventure plays very much like a Zelda game.

Jade can explore a huge, water-covered world by hovercraft or take to a variety of islands and interact with merchants, or tackle assignments to earn money and advance the surprisingly deep and intriguing storyline that surrounds her quest. She can also gain a number of items and weapons that are integral to advancing and a lot of fun to wield. Packed full of twists and turns and even a talking man-pig, Ubisoft has crafted yet another big adventure series.

This game is weird. It seems to me like Dora The Explorer had a baby with Pokemon Snap... to some extent. You have a humanoid pig like creature, you're wearing a backpack, have a Spanish speaking "friend" and youre going around taking pictures of the wild-life. I played this game for few minutes one day just to check it out and see what it's all about. All I can say is "weird". Amanda, on the other hand, played it last night for about an hour and she liked it for what it was but ended up turning it off to play The Hobbit instead. Personally, I want to play through to the end to see exactly how weird it actually is.

Read More

Xbox Game Review: Batman Vengance

Release Date: December 10, 2001
MSRP: 9.99 USD
T for Teen: Mild Animated Violence, Mild Realistic Violence
Genre: Action
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Batman Vengeance, developed by Ubi Soft Montreal, is a 3D action-adventure based on the animated television series. The game pits players as the Dark Knight himself on a quest to stop a mysterious crime wave in Gotham City. Batman has full freedom of movement to go anywhere within wide-open, sprawling 3D environments -- some that stretch up and up and up. The caped crusader can walk, run, sneak against walls, climb, glide through the air with his cape and engage in hand-to-hand combat. The game features 19 stages, 40 minutes of rendered cinematics, and plenty of Bat gadgets, like batarangs, batgrapples, flash bombs, remote charges, batcuffs, nets, the batlauncher, batscope and more.

We have this game on 2 xbox's in the house. I like to play it once in a while. I have not beaten it so I can not say if this is a "good" game of not. The graphics seem "washed out" and a little pixelated. However, considering the release date of this game, that's to be expected to some degree.

Read More