Reviews: Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

Don’t let the sun rise just yet, this night is just too much fun.
by Patrick McNamara

When it comes to the Castlevania series, it has been tested and proven time and time again. Well, at least when it comes to the 2D stage, Castlevania is a series worth noting for its overall polish and quality. We’ve already seen two titles come to the DS without a problem, both quality additions that continue the great legacy. Still, one could argue that while they were fantastic games, they offered little when it came to straying off the Metroid-vania path. With Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, we have a title that not only continues the great tradition of the series, but innovates in ways that make hunting those ghoulies and ghosties a refreshing and wonderful experience.

Reviews: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

*Insert “The Force is _____ with this one.” Saying Here*

by Patrick McNamara

First off and foremost, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is an enjoyable action title. I want to get that out of the way because that’s one of the few generic positive comments I can afford to give it. Underneath the hood is something much less desirable, and in the end there’s not much to warrant something greater than it is. The Force Unleashed has carried the pedigree of greatness and high expectations with it along the development cycle. After all, you have the pleasure of connecting the post “Revenge of the Sith” dots as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. What’s not to love about that? Well… once we delve into the nuts and bolts of this title, we’ll find that there’s too much going against this to ensure a great game.

Reviews – Mega Man 9

The Blue Bomber Is Back.
Is his return to roots one to celebrate, or should you skip his newest mission?
By Raul Navarro

When Capcom revealed that their newest Mega Man title would skip retail and go directly into consumer’s consoles via Digital Distribution, fans were ecstatic about the idea, but a bigger surprise was yet to come. The title would be an actual return to form for the ‘Blue Bomber’ … and quite literally too. The game was being developed as an 8bit piece of software. That meant that everything in presentation and gameplay values were going to be almost identical to that of an NES game. Of course, gamers were split about the decision and it was to be decided if it was the right way to go for Capcom.

Reviews: Okami

Stunning, Epic, and Awe Inspiring — Okami is the stuff of legends.
by Patrick McNamara