As always, the Reviews Spotlight collects the community's most perceptive, interesting, and well-written reviews for your reading pleasure. Take notes and enjoy these impressions!
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds review
By Tyrell Stewart
Let's be clear: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 wasn't for everyone. Between the flurry of strobe lights, strange button scheme, and ear-splitting theme music, it was a difficult game to approach. Indeed, Tyrell distanced himself from the franchise once Capcom began to weaken characters and increase movement speed in the hopes of making things even more chaotic.
As Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds begins to crowd store shelves nationwide, can we expect more of the same button-mashing, or has the developer learned some new tricks?
With Deadpool, Dante, and Chris Redfield joining the already colorful cast, Tyrell may have to stow his skepticism away.
First impressions: Pokémon Black and White
By Matt Polen
As Matt explains, reviewing Pokémon games has become a specialized task. With hundreds of new creatures, tactics, and areas revealed in each iteration, it's become a burden to stay on top of the popular franchise. Luckily, this capable Bitmobber is on the case!
Considering Pokémon Black and White represent the series' fifth generation, it would be fair to assume the introduction of new features, right? As is the case with most Pokémon titles, subtle changes have been made — the kind that a layman like myself may not recognize. Allow Matt, a Poké-expert, to explain what's changed, what's stayed the same, and why you should care.
10 things I love and hate about Killzone 3
By Reggie Carolipio
With the Killzone series having spent close to a decade straddling the line between "Halo killer" and "Halo clone," developer Guerrilla Games intended Killzone 3 to recapture the imaginations of science-fiction fans with its breathtaking visuals, 3D support, and online multiplayer. How successful has it been?
Reggie tells us what he liked and hated about Killzone 3. I won't ruin the surprise, but I'll say this much: Jet packs are the bomb!
Three under 300: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Back to the Future Episode One, and Little Big Planet 2
By Mark T. Whitney
The number three has appeared eerily often in this week's Reviews Spotlight. Pushing that eeriness up another level is Mark, who's packed three 300-word reviews into one article!
First up is Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, a game which Isaiah Taylor called "shamefully underappreciated" in a spotlighted review. You fill the nimble shoes of Monkey, a sarcastic resident of dystopian America, as he unfurls the plan of humanity-hating robots. Just don't eat the bananas — they're radioactive.
Next in line: Back to the Future: The Game – Episode One, an attempt by Telltale Games to revive the magic we all felt after watching the original film. Your computer won't need a 1.21 Gigawatt power supply, but you will need $25 to play this downloadable adventure title.
Mark saves the most interesting title for last, LittleBigPlanet 2. Two years have passed since the its predecessor was released, yet LBP2 will elicit the same cries, laughs, and gasps you've come to expect from developer Media Molecule. "More of the same" has never sounded so good.
Radiant Historia won't ask for your clothes
By Reggie Carolipio
With such a perplexing title, it's difficult to avoid Reggie's article. What does it mean? Well, let's back up first.
Radiant Historia is the newest game to capitalize on the time-bending fad established years ago by Prince of Persia and Chrono Cross. However, instead of rewinding mere seconds or skipping through entire centuries, Radiant Historia encourages players to manipulate time within a small period of fictitious history. Stocke, the protagonist, will have to wind back the wheels of time in order to defuse a growing conflict between Alisten and Granorg, two warring kingdoms.
As for Reggie's title, I can't really explain it. Can you? Take a guess in the comments section.
Gaikai is (sort of) live and why you should (kind of) care
By Matthew Anfuso
David Perry (of Earthworm Jim fame) launched his new cloud-based gaming service a few days ago. Perry has managed to differentiate his service, called Gaikai, from the similarly marketed OnLive by only providing demos and timed trials, thereby avoiding licensing issues.
As an example of Gaikai's revolutionary premise, Matthew points to the Mass Effect 2 demo available on the company's website. Not impressed? Well, you can play the demo in your browser. That's right — despite forcing gamers to upgrade their PCs just one year ago, BioWare's Mass Effect 2 is now playable in a pop-up window!
Before you throw out your now-antiquated computer, give Matthew's review a look. Perhaps you may need that 20-pound box after all!