Reviews by captainstark
100
Fun
captainstark | Jan. 27, 2013 | Review of Bejeweled 3 (NA) DNSThe best Bejeweled in the series so far - it adds so much more to the game: Zen mode allows for relaxation, whilst playing, Quest Mode allows players to complete several series of minigames and Lightning Mode - the PC game's answer to Bejeweled Blitz for the smartphone and social media platforms - allows for the fast paced action we all know and love. Yet, the game also doesn't drop the Classic Mode just yet, which is just as fun as it always has been. My only improvement is that Facebook integration would have been nice, but seriously, that shouldn't stop you from buying this seriously addictive game!
70
Alright
captainstark | Jan. 27, 2013 | Review of Alice: Madness Returns (NA) dnsI am a huge fan of the original and I loved most aspects of this game. While not photo-realistic the art design was fantastic and the physx effects (such as Alices hair) were amazing. The story was fairly well written, though a bit choppy in places and the game-play was a lot of fun. A worthy sequel, that being said I do have a few complaints. The lack of boss fights bugged me a bit, the end of each chapter felt a bit weak because of it. Some chapters were a bit long, 3 and 5 in particular tended to drag on a be a bit repetitive. The weapons were decent, though I would have liked to see a larger arsenal. The game was reminiscent of Zelda in that you receive new weapons/tools each level but that stops halfway though (instead you get mini-games, which are fun, but not the same). The ending was a mixed bag, while the writing was interesting I felt it was a bit rushed and had a "wait that was it?" feel to it after all the buildup. Still I recommend this game to fans of the original, anyone who loves a good twisted story, and anyone who loves a good adventure. Still hope they make an American McGee movie, the Tim Burton movie was a bit weak and not nearly twisted enough.
70
Alright
captainstark | Jan. 27, 2013 | Review of World of GooI think the game was very entertaining while it lasted, but loses a bit of replayability. The game is short, which I was very sad about. A larger company would have been able to make many more levels/challenge maps, but, sadly, this is not a big company. All in all I enjoyed this, but it would be much more worth the 20 bucks IF there were some extra levels released for people who had purchased the game. (Maybe even another stage or two?) 7/10 for the length and lack of any customization, including resolution. If you are running this on a laptop/widescreen, then you will have to play with everything fatter than normal.
60
Pretty bad
captainstark | Jan. 27, 2013 | Review of Death RallyI was a HUGE fan of the 1996 version of the game. In fact, I install it and play it at least once every year..and after playing this game I think I will continue to do so. Don't get me wrong, this game is pretty fun and if you've never played the original you'll probably like it. I don't want to sound like an old person expecting to stick with the old school ways but this game was missing some key items. More voices, the only ones I heard (which were pretty good) were ''bad scary'' and some screaming. It could have also used more pictures to get to know the characters...maybe even a ladder like the old game. Where is DUKE!? The story also sucked, there were like 5 story races. It needs an update
90
Nice
captainstark | Jan. 27, 2013 | Review of The Book of Unwritten Tales - Standard EditionThis is a fantastic classic adventure number with spectacular presentation and very few flaws. Among these would be a few visual and sound glitches namely desynced audio and animations that don't fit well with the background, and the often mentioned lack of pre-rendered cut-scenes after the beginning. The script is funny throughout, each of the environments are simply marvelous and the characters well-designed with great voice-acting (although they could use better textures and lighting to fit in better). This is a game that you should own and that you should use to try to get new gamers into classic adventure gaming.
90
Great
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Binary DomainI enjoyed this game a lot more than I expected to. Yes, the controls are a little wonky because it was a console port, but the story is fun, the boss fights are amazing, and there's a lot of variety, from your usual shoot-em-up to highway chases, jet skis and all sorts of other stuff. It's like a Michael Bay movie - lots of explosions and over-the-top action sequences. Best of all, I never felt like I was just gunning my way through wave after wave of enemies. They put enough changes in environment and boss fights to break up any monotony.
90
Underrated
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Metro 2033Metro 2033 does every thing right. The only fault here is the lack of including a multiplayer experience, but the single player is amongst the best I have ever played in my life. The graphics are top notch. This is as good as it gets, and won't likely be surpassed until Crysis 3 comes out. Even on DX9 this is the prettiest game to date. Sound is amongst the best in a video game ever. Once again top notch. The music is amazingly creepy and depressing which sets the tone great. The voice acting is superb. Gun sounds and bullet deflections are great here as well. I don't want to continue writing things that have already been said so I say buy this game immediately. It is by far the best experience I've had in a long time. I'm on my second play through and its just as great as the first. Cant wait for a sequel. It's like a movie, think Heavy Rain but ten times better.
90
Underrated
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Painkiller: Hell & DamnationI really, really do not understand why people are rating it so low. Painkiller was an amazing game, and this is a great remake. It is intended for hardcore FPS gamers, if you liked Serious Sam, then this is the game for you. The story isn't that good, and it's understandable, since I wasn't really expecting it to be focused on a solid storyline. This game has beautiful graphics, physics and the gameplay is excellent.
90
Awesome
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the YearThis is the single most powerful video game I have ever played.
Let us start with game-play. The stealth, action and gadget aspects are all top notch. The only flaw here is that the combat is somewhat repetitive. This is the only mark against this otherwise perfect game.
Every villain in this game has been realized and used to the utmost effect. In particular Mark Hamill's Joker is a terrifying beast, who's constant chatter over the megaphones is at the same time disturbing and hilarious.
The single most powerful moment in the game, however, is during one of the confrontations with scarecrow. The reliving of the murder of Bruce's parents genuinely affected me, and made Scarecrow's presence more than another another villain spot.
The points above, combined with beautiful graphics and animation and an engaging, dark storyline, make Batman: Arkham Asylum game of the year material for sure. A must play for anyone.
70
It's alright
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Saints Row: The ThirdLet me just start by saying I am a HUGE fan or the Saints Row series, having played and completed 1 and 2 as soon as the third was announced I pre-ordered it without a thought.
The game itself is improved in almost all areas where saints row 2 suffered, but at the same time they ruined all the things that made saints row a durable game, for one let me say that this game is EASY. I let my little sister do one of the missions for me (that's not even a joke) however more entertaining and extravagant the missions may be (which they are)the main aspect that kept me coming back to the saints row series was the famed online co-op, which really sunk I feel in this third instalment.
It's hard to put into words what they've done, Saints Row 2 was a very enjoyable co-op experience I felt because the animations were't set and everything ran with a different outcome each time. An example being now when you jump out of your car in SR3 it is a set animation and you don't go into the rag-doll mode, along with combat and response to being shot or hit or even something as annoying as cheats not working when you want them to. (Not to mention the constant DLC which should have been included in the game in the first place.)
Their main goal in SR3 was to give the player the feeling of being a complete badass, and the top dog. and that's exactly the problem. You don't feel a build up in any sense. Saints row 2 is easily the more enjoyable game for me, with it's street feel, and building a gang from the ground up it is a much more satisfying experience.
SR3 also sucked out a lot of the fun by adding hover jets, now when these were first announced I couldn't contain my excitement. But the truth is it pretty much diminishes all other means of transportation, flying doesn't feel as much of a rush as it did in SR2. Not to mention the horrible new controls which pretty much makes vehicle surfing impossible, and other such little things like being met by an invisible wall when trying to stand in the back of a truck, or blowing the doors off of the back of a Container truck and no longer being allowed to climb inside.
The conclusion being that they added everything a player could want, then sucked out all the fun with limited co-op, easy controls. And a process that feels you're playing the exact same thing over and over.
Overall I'll give SR3 a 7/10 for the missions, but if you want a game that you AND your friends can enjoy, good old saints row 2 is the way to go, with it's brilliantly simple co-op and never ending fun.
50
Overhyped
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition (NA)I absolutely do not understand the hype around this game, except the fact that most games have become to easy these days and it has become hard to find a challenge, But when you make a game this hard and this unforgiving, you have to makes sure it doesn't glitch, and this game glitches like crazy, the worst being the lock on, which we can barely play the game without, and is one of the worst lock on systems i have seen, many many times i am looking directly at an enemy (relatively close) and it won't lock on.. or it locks on to a creature to my far left, ( which had me walk off quite a few ledges) or even to another creature that's not even in the same room!! And it's impossible to aim a spell without the lock on, then there is the item use, many many times i tried to use a potion (which take a few seconds to drink and get you killed if ill timed) press the button.. nothing happens.. no time to try it again, need to avoid the boss, and wait for another opportunity, but after running a bit or dodging, THEN, the system reacts, my character drinks a potion, no way out, i'm dead.... again!! In this game, any of these glitches usually means instant death, and with few save points, it gets extremely frustrating, dying to a challenging boss is one thing, but to glitches over and over, is unacceptable, and this game has virtually no story,or animations, the graphics are decent, but extremely monotone and dull... extremely over-hyped game in my opinion.
90
Great for WoW Players
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Guild Wars 2: Digital Edition (NA)Having recently canceled my WoW subscription, and have been anticipating this game for over a year, GW2 has finally launched. All the hype surrounding this game, and the posts saying that this is a revolutionary entry to the MMORPG genre are true. Guild Wars 2 takes all the questing, grinding, Looting boredom out, and replaces it with a fast paced fun experience. I'm playing a Charr Warrior and am still at Level 23 and still wanting more. I will probably be playing this game for more than a couple of years. In summary if you've been playing WoW or other MMO's and are freaking sick and tired of them, give this game a try its free to play and will have you hooked for a very long time.
100
The best
captainstark | Jan. 26, 2013 | Review of Batman Arkham City: Game of the YearSo I am a huge Batman villain fan. More so than is probably good for my health. So when I saw all the villain trailers that were being released, I got super amp. And once I saw all the perfect scores it was getting, I was even more excited. And did it live up to all the hype? 99.9% yes. The possible only flaw was that the campaign seems a bit too quick (took me around 12 hours to beat, without side missions). Other than that, it's more Batman butt kicking, and mind blowing plot lines. If you thought Inception played mind games, then this will blow you away. Not buying this would be a disservice to yourself. It's that good. And although I called the ending, it's like I said: I'm a freak. I was playing with my friend online when he got to the end, and he was freaking out and not knowing what was happening. It's. That. Big.
90
Fun
captainstark | Jan. 24, 2013 | Review of The CaveI did my first play through in about three hours. I am now working on an additional play through to see the other levels since there appears to be common levels plus one unique level per character. So you'll have to play three times total to see all the levels as far as I am concerned. Some of the puzzles are definitely hard. I was stuck in the Adventurers puzzle for a while but managed to do it eventually. I like trying to beat these games as fast as possible though since it's really hard to search for answers online because it's still a new game. There's been a few puzzles I've almost given up on but I made it through, but when you do, boy does it feel great! I'd estimate you can beat all the levels in about eight hours (repeat levels on a successive play through are easier) unless you get really stuck somewhere.
75
Great
captainstark | Jan. 24, 2013 | Review of Condemned: Criminal OriginsThis game is like one of those games you have probably never heard of, but its a fun game in my opinion, and I do like the 2nd cause it continues the crazy storyline and the fighting game play is even more fun too, I always loved finishing moves in the first and 2nd
I highly recommend this to horror movie fans, anyone who watched highly rated serial murderer films such as Silence of the Lambs, Se7en. You'll have a blast but watch out for shadows. This isn't remembered as a scary game but is a funny game, like the FEAR series, who were made by the same developers.
80
Good
captainstark | Jan. 24, 2013 | Review of Space Channel 5: Part 2They made a port of the previous game over to the GBA. It is called Ulala's Cosmic Attack. Boths of these games are good, except this is the same game in 3D and much better graphics.
The controls are a bit bad but you can remap the keys under options. Once you do that it is fine.
It is more fun when you are playing with someone else in local multi player, but you can have just as much fun in single player.
The game has a nice soundtrack and is the best part of the game in my opinion. It fits the space theme in a sixties like setting.