This week in Reviews Spotlight, we’re featuring a few more reviews of Halo 3: ODST (we asked for them, and you keep delivering some great points). And in honor of IndieCade 2009 we have an XBLI Trial Rundown featuring some upcoming indie titles, and impressions of Spelunky. We’ve also got an iPhone game about a serial killer, Boom Blox Bash Party, and one more look at the best Batman title in years.
Halo 3 ODST: Mistranslation of an interesting premise
by Thilina Bandara
Some of the Halo series’ overarching story can seem a little like packing material. So Thilina was happy to hear that the new Halo would shy away from the operatic storyline of Master Chief. Were the results positive? “While the gameplay constanly reminded me of the innovation that the Halo legacy has brought to video games, the story reminded me why I don’t take its fiction very seriously. It’s just poorly executed.” Ouch. Read on for in-depth analysis.
Halo 3: ODST Review
by Sage Knox
It seems to be a common theme that the story of ODST leaves a little to be desired. How about gameplay and graphics, then? Sage says “Visually, Bungie Studios’ latest outing looks great on the Xbox 360.” That’s more like it. And the gameplay? “These normal soldiers can take considerably less punishment than their super human superior and players need to compensate for that fact.” Sounds like you have to use more strategy this time around. Isn’t that a good thing?
Shooter Evaluation: Halo 3 ODST Review
by Juan Letona
Juan’s take is a little different. Yes, ODST is familiar from the gameplay to the storyline but if that’s what you enjoy, he claims that “Playing Halo 3 ODST is akin to reading a favorite genre novel of the same author or watching a movie from the same auteur.” But if you want to advance that story, you’ll have to put your ife on the line to find hidden “logs.” “The issue I ran into was that the story was quirky and a bit intriguing, but risking death to continue became a chore rather than being entertaining.”
A Crime Drama… In Space! (Halo 3: ODST Review)
by Jon Cole
ODST does try to alter some of the series’ core gameplay mechanics, from shying away from Master Chief as a main character to focusing the story on a squad as opposed to one (super)man. Another tweak many of our reviewers noted: the emphasis on exploration. In Jon’s words, “The most immediate change a player might recognize as The Rookie drops out of his pod onto the pavement of a city street is that there’s a city to explore.” Jon also likes that you aren’t that one seemingly invincible man. “Hopefully, ODST marks a change in the franchise that will set future titles on a more believable footing.”
XBLI Trial Rundown – 9/15/09
by Joe Donato
Joe gives us a slew of new indie titles to take a look at in his regular Trial Rundown series. This week he looks at stand out titles such as Bailout!, Filler, and his Indie game of the week, Green Island. Joe says Bailout! “looks and plays like an Atari 2600 game, but smartly adds a modern day economy and advancement system.” while Green Island has “A great mix of bizarre, old school graphics and just enough English to be completely decipherable.” Sounds promising. Read about these titles and more right here.
Indie Game Review: Spelunky
by Ben Prunty
At first glance, Derek Yu’s (from Aquaria fame) newest title might seem like standard action-platformer fare. As Ben explains, though “the genius of this game is much more subtle than its surface features. Every level is randomly generated. You never quite know what you’re going to encounter.” Definitely sounds like it’s worth a look.
Does Boom Blox Bash Party make a good birthday present?
by Spencer Gregory
As Spencer puts it, “Bash Party is marketed flawlessly to parents buying a game for someone else, but how does it fare once it passes from the givers’ hands to the recipient’s?” Good question. He has several gripes about the game itself, but by the end of his review he admits “I…appreciate the game for what it does well”. For a better idea of what the game does well and could have done better, read on.
Touch Tuesday: Dexter the Game
by Matthew Erazo
Matthew’s first words in this review pretty much sums it up for all of us: “I’m very wary of licensed games.” For every Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (a game that was far superior to the Riddick movie believe it or not) or GoldenEye 007, dozens of movie or TV-related titles disappoint.. How does Dexter for the iPhone measure up? “It’s a curiosity then, that Dexter…falls somewhere in-between the two camps.” Read on to see if the gameplay and graphics are worthy of the outstanding Showtime series.
The Problem(s) I Have With Batman: Arkham Asylum
by Isaiah Taylor
The reviews for Batman’s newest outing have been almost universially positive. Isaiah agrees that the game is great–so what is it about Arkham Asylum that has him so hot and bothered? Well for one, the ridiculously-ripped dudes and tarted up ladies. Isaiah’s also not so thrilled about the CG acting. In his words, “You stare into those characters eyes, and it feels as if a mannequin is staring back at you.” He admits he’s just nitpicking a great game, but he does have some valid points.
