I Am Alive 7.5 out of 10

This year is 2012, and I'm not one of the people who believe in the whole world ending, but what would you do to survive a post apocalyptic event?  Would you only fend for yourself or would help others in need?  Will you be able to use your resources efficiently to survive?  Well, to get a good idea you can always play I Am Alive. 

Story - We don't get to much information on the main character or the catastrophic even that took place in I Am Alive.  The only things that were divuldged to us is that he was on the other side of the country when disaster hit, whether that be natural or foriegn, we can't really say.  The main character is burdened with guilt and is looking for forgivness from his family.  After walking for nearly a year, cross country, he finds that his family is missing from the apartment with no clue as to where they might have gone.

Gameplay -  To quickly break it down this game revolves around Survival, Climbing, Fighting.  When I say survival I am referring to your limited supplies, especially if you play on survival difficulty.  You have a Stamina Bar and a Health bar, by using certain items it will replenish one or the other, sometimes both.  Burning stamina is the worst thing you can do in this game, as it will surely cripple your abilities to perform anything that requires physical energy.  Which climbing is the next biggest part of the game.  You'll probably find yourself climbing through the city, A LOT!  Luckily for you it seems that every building has pipes on the outside that you can use to scale them.  If you don't use the items that replenish your stamina efficiently, you can find youself in a lot of trouble, even if you do make it to your next platform, if you don't have enough stamina to effectively fight off the thugs of the apocalyptic world, you're as good as dead!  Fighting off thugs is no easy task, most of the time you'll find yourself out numbered, 1 against 5.  If you play your cards right, you'll have more than enough resources to take all of them out with out breaking a sweat.  When you first start the game you'll be equipped with a pistol, which if you don't use your bullets wisely you'll have a much harder time, but early in the game you also obtain a machete ( which you'll notice everyone has one in the post apocalyptic world ).  You can't swing the machete freely though, it is a button activated right trigger button mashing event that you cause when performing a type of kill.  Later in the game you'll also obtain a bow and arrow which can immediately become your favorite.  Because you can pick up your arrow, you'll be able to kill and repeat, but don't think the arrow can bail you out of trouble as fast as a gun though, which everyone respects the gun!

Visuals - For an XBLA game priced at $15 they made sure this game looked great!  Now I'm not saying its the best, but seriously I can't get the fact out of my head that $15 gets you a detailed look into a post apocalyptic world.  From the desolate city streets barely visible due to the dust clouds, to the views you get from scaling tall buildings, the developers have done a great job.  Once you start the game you'll have a map that shows you different locations, you'll actually be traveling through that part of town and only that part which I found to be quite nice being able to navigate through familiar areas.

Problems -  The climbing can be a bit tideous at times, not to mention a little frustrating when you have to be exact at certain points.  Sometimes I'll have my character climb to the side when I just wanted to climb down!  And I'm not sure if this is a deal break and please tell me if I should never post this as a negative again, but the ending was horrible!  Mind you, that is just my opinion only!  They could have also added more ways to dispose of the enemies, maybe animation wise at least!

So overall I would definitely recommend this game, which I should mention that there is a demo out for it as well.  It offers some tense moments, satisfying visuals, and satisfying gameplay.  This game took me about a week to play through the whole game with out saving / helping most of the survivors scatter around the city. 

Well, do you think you have what it takes to survive?  I Am Alive gets a score of: 7.5 out of 10

seanizL

Lumines - PS Vita

Did you like tetris? or Bust A Move? Well you should check out Lumines for the Playstation Vita.

Story - None

Gameplay - Its very simple, match the colors into cubes and get as high of a score as you can or survive!  As you play you unlock power ups which can be used to help you out by changing colors of squares or if your playing Ad HOC you can play against others and have power ups which you use against your opponent!  This game is very simple and its what I call a time killer.  The game is simple yet fun and passes the time.

Visuals - This game has a lot of color in it, mix that in with some great music and you have, great visuals and music?  As you connect blocks together it adds sounds to the music as well as some color effects.

So for some simple game play, good visuals, and amazing music you get a great time killing experience.  Although I would recommend to wait until this game gets a little cheaper, or download it off the PSN store to get it a little cheaper.  It's not because it isn't great, but because it offers a small amount of greatness which can be picked up at a later time. 

With that said! Lumines gets a score of:  7 out of 10

seanizL

Asura's Wrath Review

Do you like anime?  Do you like button mashing?  How about some repetitive hack and slash gameplay?  If you said yes to any of those, then maybe you need to check out Asura's Wrath either on the Xbox 360 or PS3.

The story behind Asura's Wrath has you playing as, well of course, Asura!  You are a demi god with super powers that come from an energy source called Mantra a.k.a. human souls.  As a demi god you lead a force to fight the impure known as Ghoma.  To reward you with your services though, your leader betrays you killing your wife and kidnapping your daughter.  And that is where Asura's Wrath starts!

Gameplay - The gameplay in this game is very simple.  You have about 3 different attacks in which you will either be shooting, light combo punching, heavy punching, and then you have the special trigger attacks which happen when either countering, hitting the enemy on the ground, or its scripted.  You'll be fighting on ground, god of war style, or in the air ( don't know what to compare it to, but your shooting only ).  So other than those 2 things, the only other big part of the game is all the quick time events you have to play through.

Visuals - The game has its own visual art style, combining science fiction and Japanese mytholigy ( i think thats what they said ).  But it really works! the game looks very unique and good. The boss fights here are the highlight of the game, putting you against enemeies bigger than the planet, weapons bigger than 2 planets, and of course a girl with HUGE.. well yeah!  They really went for an Anime style game which for you anime fans, I'm sure you've noticed from the start of the game to the end.

So this game is very appealing at first, but with repetitive action, it makes me wish that it could have just been an Anime instead!  If the story doesn't do it for you guys, then the game has little hope past the half way point.  I should add that some of the quick time events are very cool!

So with its anime like over the top gameplay Asura's Wrath gets a score of: 6 out of 10

seanizL

PS Vita 3G / Wi-Fi Review

Are you on the fence on buying your own Playstation Vita?  It's been out for a while now and I can't be any happier with my purchase.  Before I get started on my own personal opinion let me get some of the details for you

The Vita Has:

5"OLED display featuring 960X544 resolution
Powered by the ARM Cortex-A9 CPU processor
multitouch front screen / multitouch touch pad in back
SixAxis motion sensing
Dual Analog Sticks
Front Face Camera / Rear Camera to enable Augmented Reality
PS Vita / PS3 Compatible Games
Get online using 3G / Wi-Fi connectivity
Chat with your friends and enemies with the built in Microphone or Bluetooth headset with 2.1+EDR
Built in Speakers

Ok so now you guys have idea of what the vita is equipped with let me tell you why I think it is worth buying.

OLED screen -  This screen looks sexy!  And with the power of the Vita to work with that, games all look amazing!  Although the screen is highly reflective at times, you'll be to distracted by the awesome images flashing all over your screen to really care.

Dual Thumb Sticks - It is about time a handheld puts on 2 sticks!  If you've had a PSP and played a shooter game, it was very annoying using the shoulder buttons for the camera angles.  Anyways another thumb sticks solves that problem and brings the feeling of console gaming to your handheld.

Ok so to be honest those 2 were the biggest reasons that I got the vita! Mind you, I was going to pass, but once I got it in my hands, I instantly changed my mind.  I'm sure it was the screen, I'm sure it was the dual sticks, but don't forget about the games.  Uncharted Golden Abyss, Lumines, Wipeout, UMvC, Shinobido, and so on!  Also take note that a lot of remakes or HD editions will be coming to the vita as well, bringing more console games to go ( some PS3 games are cross platform titles, letting PS Vita play against PS3 users, and letting you bring your PS3 saves into your vita ).

Another cool feature is the Near feature.  Adding a sense of social networking to your gaming.  When getting on Near, you can see people around you and what they're playing ( don't worry guys / girls there is a privacy setting )  Any way some games have "gifts" for the players to drop, this is for the 3G people, you can bring a gift to a location and drop it there.  If some one were to go Near that location they can pick it up! Gifts vary depending on what game your playing.  There is also cross game Chatting, just like the Xbox! 

So! That is why I love the PS Vita, I'm not sure if that changes your mind, but I hope it helped you make a decision.  One game I am really waiting for is called Gravity Rush! which to me will be the first GREAT vita game! I know there is Uncharted: GA, but we've already seen that before! don't hate me for saying that! I still like the game if that makes it any better!

Unlike game reviews guys I will do a Worth or Buy it Final Decision and of course reflects my own personal opinion! Any questions? Feel free to ask, but I have the say the Vita is Definitely A

BUY IT!

Final Fantasy XIII-2

I'm sure that I am one of the few people out there that enjoyed the first Final Fantasy XIII.  When the game came out, a lot of people had negative things to say about it such as the story, the linear gameplay, no NPC's, and no towns.  But honestly, I enjoyed it for what it was, the story wasn't the best but it kept me interested, there were no NPC's or stores to put my adventure on hold as I talk to folks or shop around, and I loved the next generation visuals as it was the first Final Fantasy to come to the new consoles.  Ok sorry guys this isn't a Final Fantasy XIII review, but since mentioning those which others may say was a flaw Final Fantasy XIII-2 wanted to address them and correct them.

Story - Final Fantasy XIII-2 takes place right after the events of Final Fantasy XIII where our heroes save Cocoon from destruction.  For some unknown reason Lightning has disappeared and know one seems to remember her making it thorugh the conflict except for her sister, Serah.  This sets up the adventure for FF13-2 as you take control of Serah, in which you must find the answers to Lightnings disappearance.  While on your quest you'll meet new and familiar faces as well as time travel with your new companions Noel and Mog.

Visuals - Since Final Fantasy XIII-2 is in the same universe as its predecessor, it only makes sense that they'll be using the same design in terms of both characters and the world itself.  And that is talking from an in game stand point, but if I were tell you about the CGI portions of the game where everything is pre-rendered for cinematic events, well those are just flat out amazing!  I should also mention that they have added town areas where NPC's roam freely, and yes, you will be able to talk to them!

Gameplay -  If your familiar with the FFXIII, then you'll definitely feel at home.  If not, lets start with the battle system.  The battles are live action in way, if you don't attack your enemies will still continue to attack you, you have a bar in which fills up and you'll be able to either select which ability to use or let the auto command choose whats best for the situation.  You'll also have different abilities depending on what class you pick, so finding the right balance for the current situation is essential especially when your able to switch during battles.  The big difference in FFXIII-2 is the fact that you'll have your 3rd party member as monsters that you can have join your party after defeating them in battle, which I wish they added more characters to fight along side you. Enemies appear randomly giving you time to get a preemptive strike, and there are a lot of Live action events in which you must press certain buttons correctly to get a better out come in battle.  Also take note that when certain parts in conversations between characters come up, you'll be given the choice of what to say, which can sometimes have an effect on things.  They have also added puzzles for you to solve which have you running around connecting dots, or grabbing crystals without stepping on the same square twice.

Over All - Final Fantasy XIII-2 makes up for what the first one lacked, and if you give it a chance, you'll find an engaging story line in which you'll find interesting, especially if you played the first one.  I've always known Final Fantasy for its great story, amazing visuals, and fun gameplay. And for me, Final Fantasy XIII-2 continues that trend.  Give FFXIII-2 a shot, even if your just checking it out because your still waiting for Final Fantasy XIII-Versus.



Love the collectors Edition



Final Fantasy XIII-2 travels through time for a score of:  7.5 out of 10

seanizL

Soul Calibur 5

It seems fighting games will be making a big return this year starting with the January 31 release of Soul Calibur 5.  If you were looking for a game to test your weaponry skill, this will be the fighting game you may want to check out.  Several characters make a return  including Maxi, Siegfried, and Nightmare.  There will also be new fighters thrown into the ring, but many of the weapons except for the Magic Ball / Claw combo will be similar to what you have seen in past titles.

As before there is several options that you can choose from when starting the game.  You can hop online and face other people from around the world or go offline in the regular arcade facing the CPU or others sitting right next to you.  There is also a story mode in which you guys will follow certain characters as you learn more about the battles that take place in the Soul Calibur universe.  When you guys play through the game you can also unlock things for the Character Creation Mode, which I'm sure some of you have the creative mind to create some weird looking fox tailed characters.  The main game play of Soul Calibur 5 remains the same at its core, but one BIG addition the the fighting mechanics are the special moves.  There is now a Gauge in which you build up while attacking, getting hit, or blocking and as it fills up, you unleash a devastating attack which can be a big game changer just like in all the other fighting games out there.  I should also take note that the visuals in this game are noticeably better than that of its predecessor especially  when it comes the rings you fight in.  For example, in one ring you and another character fight it out while there is an apparent war going on in the background.

With Soul Calibur's return in the Fighting Genre with part 5, a lot of returning players should feel at home, and possibly enjoy some of the new additions of flashy moves.  For anyone just checking out Soul Calibur for the first time, I think now is the best time to be jumping in.




With smooth fighting action, testing weapon against weapon, and great visuals. Soul Calibur 5 returns to the fighting game genre with a score of:
 7.5 out of 10 - seanizL

AMY

Main Characters

Amy is the new survival horror game, out now for both Xbox 360 and Playstation.  The game starts you out on the train with out much to go on except for the fact that you have taken Amy away from some place called the Phoenix Center.  You and Amy must find your way to safety, running and hiding from both monsters and soldiers alike.






Don't expect to much from this game when it comes to visuals, You'll run into a couple spots where things get real choppy, not to mention the gliding shadow figure that I came across,  wasn't sure if I was surprised by the figure or the fact that it was horribly done.  The look and feel of the game really reminds me of the past survival horror games ranging from Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but I think it is safe to say that both those games had better game play control.  The movement and control of both your character and camera are simple enough, but they feel a little stiff in this game, although you will get use to it after playing a few minutes, I can't help but make mistakes like walking into an obvious electrical fence.

When your not Running and Hiding you have Puzzles!

Unlike the other survival horror games that I have mentioned above, you won't be getting much weaponry here.  You'll get your occasional melee weapon, but the main attraction is the ability to use Amy's psychic powers in which can either help you sneak your way through, or force push anything and everything out of your way.  Who knew a little girl can help you so much right?  Another important aspect in the game is watching your infection meter which will be displayed on your back by a light       ( like dead space ).  When you fall into the red zone, you will turn into a zombie unless you find Amy who's psychic powers eliminates the infection.

Overall Amy has its fair share of scares and heart pounding moments that will satisfy anyone looking for a survival horror game.  Although this game has some stiff controls and not so amazing visuals, this game does pretty well for an Arcade title.

AMY scares people on the Xbox Live and PSN with its gliding shadow figures
getting a score of: 6 out of 10