Category Archives: Reviews

Who’s Afraid of the Blair Witch?

When the Blair Witch movie went from a film student’s basement cutting room to Hollywood blockbuster, it was inevitable that many people would be looking to cash in on the project. A video game tie-in was inevitable. Now, as we approach Halloween this week, the lab dims the lights and sets out to review the first of three games based on the Blair Witch legend. The release of this game coincides not only with the spookiest holiday on the books, but also the release of the movie Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows. The three planned games are being released … Continue reading Who’s Afraid of the Blair Witch?

Stay Alone – Stay Alive with Martian Gothic: Unification

"Stay alone, stay alive." As a member of a rescue team to Mars, you have just crashed landed on the Red Planet and as you head for your assigned airlock, these last words from the previous mission ring in your head! TalonSoft’s recent release of Martian Gothic: Unification puts the gamer into a world full of horror and suspense. Set in the year 2019, you are one of three members of a team sent to Mars to find out the fate of the previous mission that had set up Vita Base to see if life really did exist on our … Continue reading Stay Alone – Stay Alive with Martian Gothic: Unification

Vagrant Story is perfection in motion

Well, it finally happened. After over a year of reviewing games for GiN, I found a game worthy of a perfect score – 5 GiN Gems. Playing like a medieval Metal Gear Solid, Vagrant Story delivers a perfect combination of adventure, RPG gameplay and one hell of an awesome story (get it, story — oh, never mind). With graphics rivaling anything seen on a Playstation and a plot nearly equaling Xenogears, Vagrant Story sucks you in from moment numero uno and never lets go. Everything about this game is top-notch and Square couldn’t have picked a better leadoff hitter for … Continue reading Vagrant Story is perfection in motion

Digital Leisure does Laser Disc

I’m sure that everyone knows about the Laser Disc game craze that took place back in the early to mid 80s (before the big crash). When Dragon’s Lair was released to the arcade masses, it took the country by storm, raking in over $30 million in revenue during the first six months. Dragon’s Lair was the creation of former Disney animator Don Bluth, whom you might know as the animator for classics such as The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time, An American Tail, and the recently released Titan A.E., and the game concept was developed by Rick Dyer, … Continue reading Digital Leisure does Laser Disc

Messiah will become your religion

In this game you play Bob, a cherub thrown down from heaven by God. Yes that’s him, the little wimpy guy with the diaper on and a tiny pair of wings. And God says to Bob "…I brought you here, and it’s here you’ll stay until this hell is hell no more and then you can come home. But here you will be mortal, here you can die. And when an angel dies, he is forever lost to nothingness." Your only power is the ability to possess other people and animal’s souls and control their bodies. You start the game … Continue reading Messiah will become your religion

Resident Evil: Code Veronica rocks

Capcom’s Resident Evil series on the PlayStation is one series I could do without. To me, it was just one long tedious trek through flat, boring backdrops, while waiting forever for each stage to load in during that boring "opening door" sequence. And if that isn’t enough, I was not a fan of that God-awful voice acting that many other players would consider fitting for the series. To me it was just cannon fodder for a computer game of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Resident Evil 2 was the only game in the series that I actually sat through in its … Continue reading Resident Evil: Code Veronica rocks

For all you McGuiver wannabes: Nightlong is here

Don’t remember McGuiver? The guy that could break out of any situation with the mere everyday items around him? You might want to check into some of the cable rerun networks to find out just how fantastic this guy was. However, if you like to solve problems, and enjoy a good graphic adventure, perhaps Nightlong, Union City Conspiracy is for you! Nightlong was nominated for a GiN Award this year. And although it did not win, the game is nonetheless impressive. Set in the near future, you take on the persona of Joshua Reev, a close personal friend and former … Continue reading For all you McGuiver wannabes: Nightlong is here

For all you MacGyver wannabes: Nightlong is here

Don’t remember MacGyver? The guy that could break out of any situation with the mere everyday items around him? You might want to check into some of the cable rerun networks to find out just how fantastic this guy was. However, if you like to solve problems, and enjoy a good graphic adventure, perhaps Nightlong, Union City Conspiracy is for you! Nightlong was nominated for a GiN Award this year. And although it did not win, the game is nonetheless impressive. Set in the near future, you take on the persona of Joshua Reev, a close personal friend and former … Continue reading For all you MacGyver wannabes: Nightlong is here

Odium is all about eye candy

Odium may be defined as hate coupled with disgust, but when it comes to the game Odium, my feelings lacked such passion. In fact, I was left with profound indifference. Following the thoroughly playable Septerra Core, Monolith has released TopWare’s Odium — and some unsuspecting gamers might be duped into buying the new title. It’s 2008 and you play for three NATO military commandos known as Group Two, sent into a hot zone where Group One has disappeared. Obviously, Group One has disappeared or been disabled. But for some reason, Group Two doesn’t exactly come well stocked with ammo, weapons … Continue reading Odium is all about eye candy

Wild, Wild West: The Steel Assassin is on target

Anyone who has seen the movie Wild Wild West, or been a fan of the television series, can appreciate the wonderful action-packed nature of this game, and how it couples both humor and puzzle solving to make an excellent package. Those of you who are unfamiliar with either the movie or the show can still enjoy this delightful title, but it may take a few scenes – what the game calls chapters – to get a feel for the game world. The setting for Wild, Wild West: The Steel Assassin takes place a few years after the Civil War and … Continue reading Wild, Wild West: The Steel Assassin is on target