The Reviewist - Videogames

Dante's Inferno (XBOX 360)

2010-02-12T01:31:00.000Z

Bad Dante!

The poet goes all Medieval on the asses of the Hellish legions in this new Visceral Games title.
SquareGo made me journey into the belly of the beast to bring back this review.

East India Company - Designer's Cut (PC)

2010-01-21T01:28:00.000Z

We're at sea!
Yes good old colonial era madness as we take to the waves in the HMS Reviewist boldly selling Tiger Skins and Ivory all over europe, africa and india in this game.

Read my SquareGo review here.

Singstar - Take That (PS3)

2009-11-26T14:30:00.002Z

Does anyone remember Take That? You know that boyband that robbie Williams was in? No
Robbie who? I'm not sure, times have moved on so they say.

Anyway The latest Singstar is filled with their music and I had to suffer it and now so do you.
Read these words from my head over at SquareGo

Fatale: Exploring Salome (PC)

2009-11-16T22:20:00.000Z

The Biblical tale of Salome, a harsh and worrysome story, rendered into gaming form through the eyes of Oscar Wilde.

Yep it's as weird as it sounds, but is it good? Find out in my review at Square-Go

Azada: Ancient Magic (PC)

2009-11-11T22:25:00.000Z

I wanted a game, and for my sins they gave me one. It was Azada: Ancient Magic, a hidden object adventure.

I've seen things, no one should see, You can see them as well here.

Eyepet (PS3)

2009-10-28T22:22:00.000Z

What's small, cute, furry and inordinately creepy? A Sony Eyepet that's what!

Square Go gave me the task of rearing one of these curious creatures and reviewing the results.
Find out about my inexpert animal/child wrangling skills here.

Singstar Motown (PS3)

2009-10-22T17:57:00.001+01:00

Karaoke! the joy of the masses strikes again.

This time in motown stylee, you can see my reveiw over at Square Go Magazine

Crane Simulator 2009 (PC)

2009-10-12T12:37:00.001+01:00

Cranes, lift things and put them down. Occasionally turn, yet they fascinate even a child
But in practice is this really all that much fun?

Read my Acegamez review here.

IL2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (XBOX 360)

2009-09-21T15:56:00.003+01:00

*DAKKA DAKKA*

ACTUNG SPITFIRE! MEIN GOTT IM HIMMEL!
DAS REVIEW IST AUT SQUARE GO.

This message brought to you by Vaguely Racist Stereotypical German WWII Quotes™

Blood Bowl (PSP)

2009-09-17T16:01:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Games Workshopers!

For your pleasure the folks at Acegamez have asked my to review the PSP edition of the popular boardgame Blood Bowl!
Enjoy my thoughts over here

ArmA II (PC)

2009-08-01T11:32:00.001+01:00

War is Hell!
My review of ArmA ii over at Acegamez, however is not.
Read it Here.

Bargains and Bins (PS2)

2009-07-30T10:40:00.000+01:00

I recently got together with fellow Square-Go writer Phil Harris to look through the blasted wastes of Gamings last bastion of wrong, the Bargain Bins.

Read the results here.

Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection (PC)

2009-07-12T15:19:00.003+01:00

Space.... a place of silence and death, an occasionally big explosions and sinister aliens.
We all wish we could explore and colonize it, but only games let us facilitate this petty dream.

Sword of the Stars is one such game, and its collected pack has just been reviewed by yours truly for the guys at Acegamez. Read my review at ONCE!

Resistance: Retribution (PSP)

2009-05-19T13:29:00.000+01:00

The alternate timeline WWII adventures continue with the mutant Chimera being driven out of Europe this time.
A darker tone and a change of perspective make this PSP entry to the series a change from before.
Is it up to scratch? Read my review at Square Go magazine.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Athena (XBOX 360)

2009-05-07T13:25:00.000+01:00

Richard B Riddick returns to the gaming universe in this semi-remake prequel of Escape from Butcher Bay.
Is it any good? Read my Square Go Review and find out.

The Path (PC)

2009-04-29T13:20:00.000+01:00

At what point does gaming become art? I asked this question and the answer came in the form of the new Tale of Tales game The Path.
Read my brain words over at Square Go

The History of Gaming - 3rd Generation

2009-04-27T13:22:00.000+01:00

The folks at Square Go Magazine have summed up the history of gaming in a few concise articles.
Read my contribution over here.

You Have to Burn the Rope (PC)

2009-04-17T13:18:00.000+01:00

What else can be done with a platformer?
I reviewed this comedy gem over at Square Go to find out.

Fallout 3: The Pitt (XBOX 360)

2009-04-15T17:18:00.003+01:00

Finished Fallout 3? Well even if you haven't, the chums at Bethesda have churned out the second add-on pack. The Pitt.
What did I think? Find out over at Acegamez

Eternal Sonata (PS3)

2009-04-06T17:22:00.000+01:00

Frederick Chopin, musician, genius and now character in a JRPG.

Now that it has arrived on the PS3, I was asked to review it for Square Go.
Read my uncanny thinks here.

Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP)

2009-03-11T17:20:00.001Z

The gaming world quakes again!!! not really, but there is some interest in this old Square Enix title vamped up for the PSP and the modern market.
Read my review of it over at Square-Go

Halo Wars (Xbox 360)

2009-03-02T23:28:00.001Z

The Master-Chief is back.... oh no wait, he isn't because this is 20 years earlier, and in full on RTS stylee.
Can Ensemble Studios recapture the magic of the epic Halo series? Find out in my Square Go review.

Rendevouz with Resident Evil 2

2009-02-19T23:31:00.002Z

Ever played the resident evil series? no? Well the team at Square Go have decided to let you in on the plots onf these classic games, to keep newcomers up to speed before the release of the fantastic-looking (possibly final) installment Resident Evil 5
I got down and dirty with Resident Evil 2 over in A précis of peril.

JFK Reloaded (PC)

2009-01-23T19:55:00.002Z

This month, I managed by wit and Pluck and hopefully writing skills to win the reader review of the month in PC Gamer (UK)'s Uncensored section. My review goes as follows:

When the motorcade comes round that corner; I level off my aim, account for the corealis effect, measure the distance to the target in my head, and wait...

My goal is simple, my target is not so easy. It's easy deciding to make the world a better place, easy to let out a breath and gently squeeze the trigger of this old bolt action Italian rifle and oh, oh so easy to miss.

Timing is all important, a second to early and it's all going wrong, I need to zero, to get those critical hits on the man whose three initials are symbolic of so much. Too early, too late, too high or low, and there's a risk. His wife is so close, she isn't the target, the car is full of bobbling bodies all eager to soak up a cutting piece of lead. So i wait, and I breathe...

As I get ready I fire a shot, which goes wide. Like the car backfiring, as it goes off I begin to speak the letters and as I fire again two more times, once through his throat, once in his head I say out-loud the death sentence that can free the world from horrors and death.

L B J.

Oswald should have waited.
JFK reloaded - 85%

Singstar Volume 3 (PS3)

2009-01-12T23:17:00.001Z

You Mother F**kers Sing Something!

What is this? lots of karaoke madness from Sony? No surprise there then.
Read my review over at Square-Go

Mirror's Edge - PS3

2008-12-12T07:44:00.003Z

Parkour, the french art of running around outside.
Who'd have thought it would make a good game idea? Well Dice and EA obviously.

You can find out whether I think they managed it over in my review at Acegamez.

Europa Universalis: Rome - Vae Victus (PC)

2008-12-01T16:46:00.002Z

Lend my your thumbs! Or eyes as you read my amazing review of the expansion for Acegamez.

Imperium Romanum: Gold Edition - PC

2008-11-24T22:31:00.003Z

What meat doth Mighty caesar eat? Probably pork if IR:G is anything to go by.

But what great feats lie in store for those who want to buy such a game?
Find out in my review for the lads at Acegamez.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 2 - PC

2008-11-19T22:39:00.001Z

What is this? More Lovecraftian mayhem and giant robots in the land of new Arcadia?
Read my review of the latest installment of the adventures of Gabe and Tycho over at Square Go.

Geon - PS3

2008-11-07T00:22:00.002Z

Puzzlers are odd.
Geon is no different.
Find out quite how odd, and also if odd can be good at my Acegamez review.

LittleBigPlanet - PS3

2008-10-29T00:20:00.001Z

I've been tasked with looking at the absolutely insane new game out on the PS3.
Is a revelation? a new start for Sony? or is it just another platformer with pretentions to brilliance?
Read my Square Go review and see for youself.

PDC World Championship Darts 2008 - Various

2008-10-29T00:17:00.000Z

Darts, everyone line up to play darts!
What too busy drinking to play? how about you play it...at home on the console!
This semi-meta-stupid concept was offered me to review by the lads at Square Go.
Here are my beer-gut fuelled thinks.

Dead Space preview

2008-10-21T20:27:00.003+01:00

*bzzzt*
-MESSAGE INCOMING-
**
***
****
-MESSAGE FOLLOWS-

Readers of the blog. I have written a preview of the upcoming Survival Horror title Dead Space.. due to the horrors I have uploaded it to the Square-Go information repository, find it there, and learn about what awaits you...

-MESSAGE ENDS-
*bzzzt*

Yakuza 2 - PS2

2008-10-15T23:39:00.004+01:00

Things are hotting up down Tokyo way, in a sequel to the epic Yakuza on PS2.
Did it live up to its name? Find out in my Acegamez review.

SNK Arcade Classics vol.1 - PS2

2008-10-09T23:37:00.000+01:00

I hit it Old Skool, apparently with my review of a medley of Neo Geo games all lovingly compiled onto the PS2 in DVD discy format.
Read all about it at Square Go.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky - pc

2008-10-01T18:09:00.001+01:00

I've recently scribed up a review of GSC Game World's return to Chernobyl for Square Go.
You can read my weighty and mindful thoughts here.

Spore - PC

2008-09-25T18:06:00.003+01:00

Will Wright has made a game. again.
I reviewed it for Acegamez.
Read my Evolutionary thoughts here.

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise - XBOX 360

2008-09-06T21:41:00.000+01:00

Scotland's only independant All-Format Games Magazine asked me to review the second visit to the land of sweetie-filled animal husbandry.
Check out what I thought over at Square Go.

Hellboy The Science of Evil - PSP

2008-08-24T21:38:00.000+01:00

Big Red and chums beating the sense out of nazis? It can only be Hellboy.
Is it worth spending your lunchbreaks and bus journeys playing it? Read the review over at Square Go (which is the official launch title of what was previously Fidget Magazine)

Preview: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky - PC

2008-07-28T00:51:00.002+01:00

The Lads at Fidget decided that we needed to take a deeper look into the Russian game revoilution with a quick sneak peek at the Prequel to last years epic post-apocalyptic RPG S.T.A.L.K.E.R..
The article is over at Square Go for your perusal.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - PSP

2008-07-25T23:38:00.001+01:00

Square Enix have YET AGAIN returned to Midgar to fill our heads with stories of Cloud and Septiroth and Aerith. I lend my thoughts towards it gladly...
Read my review over at Square Go

Unreal Tournament 3 - XBOX 360

2008-07-22T13:43:00.000+01:00

It's nearly 10 years since UT brought competative fragging to the masses in it;s first installment. Now after several months the 3rd rendition is now out on the 360.
Read my Fidget review here to see how it plays.

Nascar 09 - PS3

2008-07-22T13:39:00.000+01:00

This month I went speeding down the track with EA's Nascar 09.
See the result in my review over at Fidget.

City of Heroes & City of Villains - PC

2008-07-15T12:59:00.003+01:00

In this time of continual media harking back to comics in many forms, and with movies of practically every graphic novel and Superhero being made this year; I've taken a look at NCsoft's Comic-book style MMO City of Heroes and it's sister-game City of Villains.
Take a look at my article over at The Skinny Magazine.

Spore preview

2008-07-12T14:53:00.002+01:00

Acegamez asked me to knock a few words together about the upcoming uber-sim Spore.
The result is over here.

Samurai Warriors 2 - PC

2008-07-12T14:50:00.004+01:00

Koei have yet again taken Japanese culture al heretidge and turned it into a fest of swinging blades, ham-acting and cheese. Having ported across the old PS2 game Samurai Warriors 2.
You can read my review over at Acegamez

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - PS3

2008-07-07T20:03:00.000+01:00

Solid Snake returns, again.
Does he sneak past undetected or did the alarums of greatness go off?
Find out in my review over at Fidget.

Alone in the Dark - XBOX 360

2008-07-07T20:02:00.002+01:00

It's back into the dim and wretched depths of wrongness and evil in this long time coming remake cum sequel to the classic series.
Read my Fidget magazine review here.

Terrorist Takedown: Conflict in Mogadishu - PC

2008-06-28T19:51:00.001+01:00

Like any red-blooded male, I like a good war. Apparently what passes for it these days is shooting at random peoples under the banner of 'killing terrorists'.

So it's back to Magadishu in a Black Hawk to kill innocent black peop....ahem I mean Terrorists obviously.....

ream my review for Acegamez here.

Sins of a Solar Empire - PC

2008-06-15T19:48:00.001+01:00

Out in the depths of space, no-one can read an Acegamez review

Haze - PS3

2008-06-10T19:59:00.001+01:00

In a bleak totalitarian future, all games will be reviewed at Fidget Magazine.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness - XBOX Live

2008-06-04T19:56:00.000+01:00

Hot Damn. I've been an avid reader of the genius that is Penny Arcade for many years now, and finally, their crackpot Lovecraftian RPG is upon us.
read my twisted thoughts at Fidget Magazine before the madness takes you...

flOw - PC

2008-06-04T19:54:00.001+01:00

We are a Plankton.....
We have reviewed flOw
We write it at Fidget.

Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis - PC

2008-06-02T15:23:00.004+01:00

"What is it Holmes?"

"It is, dear Watson, a review of a game featuring our good selves, pitting our wits against the nefarious French cat burglar Arsène Lupin!"

"But how can we find out if it is any good?"

"Elementary dear Watson, read the review at Ace Gamez."

God of War: Chains of Olympus - PSP

2008-06-02T15:20:00.001+01:00

Kronos returns to ancient Greece, earlier.... in this prequel to the PS2 classics.
Is it any good? find out over at Fidget, in my review.

Iron Man - Xbox 360 & PS3

2008-05-19T21:56:00.003+01:00

Tony Stark takes to the skies! In comic, on film, and now via the medium of video-game.
Read my Fidget review here.

Europa Universalis : Rome - PC

2008-05-11T23:19:00.003+01:00

In a break from my usual frenetic shooting and madness, I look instead at a quieter more tactical offering in Paradox Entertainment's 4th offering in the Europa Universalis series.
Read the Ace Gamez review Here.

The Spiderwick Chronicles - XBOX 360

2008-04-28T13:25:00.002+01:00

More children's games. I will withold my vitriol, perhaps.
Read the full review over at Ace Gamez

Condemned 2: Bloodshot - PS3

2008-04-14T13:11:00.000+01:00

Continuing the dark and grimy adventures of Ethan Thomas, I reviewed Condemned 2 for the boys at Fidget.
Check it out here.

Universe At War: Earth Assault - PC

2008-04-01T13:03:00.002+01:00

Across the void of....Hull, thence came critters from the stars.
Petroglyph dish up some RTS mayhem for our delights.
Read the Review over at Fidget

Devil May Cry 4 - XBOX 360

2008-03-30T13:14:00.000+01:00

I got sent a copy of DMC4 for criticism and fun from the Fidget Guys.
Read the full review here

Uplink - PC

2008-02-15T13:22:00.000Z

I've churned out a retro-review for Ace Gamez, an online-only mag, which just does straight-up solid reviews. Seeing as I've loved Uplink for years, I figured it was probably the best excuse I'd get to fritter away a few days on it.
Read my full review over at their site

REALPLAY Golf - PS2

2008-02-04T20:35:00.000Z

I tried out the wirelessly tastic Golf game from In2Games for The Skinny Magazine.
Read my review here.

REALPLAY Puzzlesphere - PS2

2008-01-06T13:09:00.001Z

IN2Games continues their Wireless fun with this strange reverse-monkeyball game.
Is it good?
Find out the Skinny here

Chegger's Party Quiz - Wii

2008-01-06T12:58:00.000Z

It's time to get down and silly with TV's most cringe inducing celebrity.
Will I have to eat my own head in shame after playing this?
See for yourself in my review

Blacksite - XBOX 360

2008-01-06T12:53:00.000Z

Following in the footsteps of other modern-day FPS games, can Midway's new Man vs Aliens romp hold it's own against heavyweights like HALO 3?
Read my review here

Patapon - PSP

2007-12-20T15:18:00.003Z

Sony Japanstudio have given the world a now piece of cartoon madness, where tribes of cyclops obey the mad drumbeats of yours truly.
Read my Fidget Review here

Thrillville: Off The Rails - XBOX 360

2007-12-07T13:01:00.000Z

Why do you never review kid's games? I hear you ask.
See for yourself!

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights - Xbox 360

2007-11-19T11:47:00.001Z

Took a change of pace, by trying out a new genre.
Racing games have never been a massive lure to me, but I think they might start to grow on me.
Read the Review Here.

Medal of Honor: Airborne - Xbox 360

2007-10-02T11:49:00.001+01:00

Back in the world of First Person Shooters during the second world war.
This time with the ability to paint yourself into a corner withing the first 10 seconds.
Read The Review Here

Armored Core 4 - Xbox 360

2007-08-04T11:43:00.001+01:00

Mech rampage ahoy!
Read the review here.

TMNT - Xbox 360

2007-05-01T11:42:00.000+01:00

Heroes in a 250 word review!
Read it Here.

Battlestations: Midway - Xbox 360

2007-02-23T11:40:00.001Z

Second World War Pacific fleet action.
Brought to you in living color! See the adventures of our fine reviewer.
Only on Skinny Magazine News....
Read It Here!

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition - Xbox 360

2007-01-31T19:42:00.001Z

I reviewed Capcom's latest offering, a snow based, 3rd person alien shooter. With Mechs.
A few too many genres?
Read it here.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent

2006-11-26T12:42:00.001Z

The 4th game in the classic Splinter Cell, sneak 'em up game series. Also the first on the New Generation of consoles.
Read the review here.

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri - Retro Review

2006-11-26T11:30:00.001Z

I was asked to pick one of my favourite old games to review.
I chose SMAC. Disagreement is foolish!
Read it Here.

Saints Row - Xbox 360

2006-11-26T11:26:00.001Z

The Skinny Magazine asked me to review Microsoft's flagship GTA wannabee.
I said No problemo homes...(or some such generic comment)
Get it Here

What's Your MMO?

2006-10-30T11:23:00.000Z

My post-Festival discourse on the future of Massively multiplayer gaming.
Get it Here

Student Gaming On a Budget

2006-10-08T11:18:00.000+01:00

A rant about Cheap and free ways to game. Published in The Skinny Magazine:
see it here

Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival

2006-07-30T12:38:00.000+01:00

A short piece for The Skinny Magazine, about the EIEF. Hopefully inspiring others to attend.
Read it here

Console us...

2006-05-09T09:17:00.000+01:00

The Next-Gen console war is already here with us. Its been raging for quite some time. For those of us not quite up to speed, here's a short and vapid history of the last major capatalist melee, affectionately known as the 6th-Generation era console war.

The Contenders:
Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony (with Sega's Dreamcast playing the Italians..)

There was never going to be a clear winner from the outset; Sony had seen resounding success with the original Playstation console, having marketed it at a new dynamic. The 18-25 year old male. Common sense we say? Hindsight is always 20-20, but the move was a far different step fom the previously releases from giants Sega and Nintendo. With this firm fanbase already in place, the release of the Playstation 2 was met with great anticipation. It also featured a variety of groundbreaking technological innovations to bring it more functionality to the modern user. It was cd and dvd compatible and featured force-feedback controllers. Thus it was the PS2 was released across the world during the first year of this century.

Nintendo's offering, the Gamecube was to follow next, taking a radically different approach, Nintendo released a console featuring ergonomically designed control-pads, 4-player ability and compatibility with their handheld unit, the GameBoy Advance. Surprisingly, Nintendo decided to forgoe the burgeoning DVD craze and had the GC run from 8cm optical discs.They also released the console with a flurry of kid-lite games, with cartoonish graphics which led to it being considered as a children's game machine.
It was released worldwide in 2001.

Microsoft entered the Console market the next year with their pc-based technological heavy-weight. As with the PS2 it featured both DVD functionality and force-feedback, but with the added bonus of a built in online system and a dedicated system to run it through (X-box Live). It was released between 2001 and 2002 segmentally.

The War

The PS2 took the world by storm upon its release, headed up by games, with a more mature aiming, such as the GTA and Metal Gear: Solid series'. Nintendo's launch was also successful, with the higher quality in graphics and sound being heralded by the existing Nintendo fan-base and new users alike. However the lack in variety of games and the 'cartoonish' nature of some led it to being disregarded against the PS2's full backward compatibility and despite being cheaper, sales fell. Then the xbox hit the scene, and on the back of its hyped release title Halo, made a name for itself.

Arguably the loser of the war was the Gamecube; which despite outselling the X-box in Japan, never managed this level of popularity in the west. Its lack of a dvd drive lessened sales further, and with dropping sales came the retraction of games from 3rd party games companies. Leaving the console as an interesting footnote, with many titles currently being released, and a still-loyal fanbase of users who proclaim it above the others of the 6th generation, it has become the budget console of choice.Ultimately the PS2 has won hands-down both finacially and per units sold. Its lead on the X-box has never been caught up, in addition, the X-box has since its first release, invariably been sold at a loss, its first profits not turned over till 4 years after its initial release. However both consoles still run strong, with many units sold and the current average-prices resting comfortably around the £100 mark.

So, until the next war....