Top Ten Unexplained Themes in RPGs

Why do people just stand still, looking solemnly into your eyes with a cold gaze of death?
Or how about explaining why sleeping outside on the ground can miraculously heal any and all wounds, no matter the severity?
And what about no one seeming to care that there are people carrying around weapons and ammunition to initiate a small war at any given second?

These are the questions that are never asked when playing a Role-Playing Game, yet they are always there in the back of your head, eating away at your thoughts long after the console has been turned off. Most of these issues are just components of the RPG itself, but some of them simply don’t make any damn sense. Here are ten unexplained, bizarre, and truly peculiar themes in RPGs.

 

Review: Grand Slam Tennis 2

With successful franchises in just about every other sport, EA has decided to step on Centre Court and see if they can serve up an ace in the form of Grand Slam Tennis 2. In a complete 180 from the first title on the Wii, Grand Slam Tennis 2 has HD graphics, every grand slam venue to play on, solid online modes, and tennis’ current stars as well as the legends of the past as playable characters. With plenty of other tennis games out there, does this one have what it takes to become the world number one in tennis video games?

 

 

Sunday Roundup: 2/26/12

One game this week, but one hell of a long game at that.

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Tekken 3D Prime Edition

The King of Iron Fist Tournament has returned to a Nintendo console after a decade long absence in the form of Tekken 3D Prime Edition for the 3DS. The entire ensemble of characters from Tekken 6 is playable and the game is a visual feast of gorgeous graphics that can fit in your pocket.  Local and online multiplayer, as well as the inclusion of the feature film Tekken: Blood Vengeance, round out the package. Few gameplay options and rough controls, however, make what could have been a flawless portable fighter another title that loses much of its quality in the console-to-handheld transition.

 

Now Playing: Grand Slam Tennis 2

I know I’m not the only one who enjoys a game of tennis, video or otherwise, but amongst my friends I’m pretty sure no one else likes tennis. For this reason or that, I find games like Grand Slam Tennis 2 to be wholly and intriguingly enthralling. Grand Slam Tennis 2 is EA’s newest addition to the tennis sim, and after Top Spin 4 it’s got big shoes to fill in terms of quality, depth, and playability. With John McEnroe’s gorgeous 80’s mug on the front cover, things are starting out fine already. Tennis, anyone?

 

 

Sunday Roundup: 2/19/12

Back to form after a month of only two games (one of which was just a download). This week has a good variety of titles, and for a few different systems as well, just the way I like it! And what’s more, I’ve already played a handful of them and they’re fun. Go figure!

 

 

 

Review: Super Mario 3D Land (or Why You’ve Already Played This Game and Didn’t Even Know It)

You know what, I really don’t have to tell you why this game is good and deserves to be part of your 3DS library. Mario has hammered down the platforming genre all the way back to his original outings on the NES two and a half decades ago. And this game continues the tradition of innovative level design and genre elements.

Or does it?

Super Mario 3D Land is more of a throwback to older games than an entirely new title. Instead of giving you a review on why the game is great, I am going to point out everything I can remember about why this game is like many other Mario games in the past.

 

Review: NeverDead

Don’t you hate it when you’re walking down a hallway, minding your own business, and then you brush up against someone else and your limbs go flying off in every possible direction? Such is the pain of Bryce Boltzmann, the protagonist of the new videogame NeverDead, cursed with immortality and charged with defending the world from an onslaught of demons. You’d think controlling a hero incapable of dying and who can re-grow limbs would make for a halfway decent game, but you’d be sorely, sorely wrong.

 

 

Review: The Simpsons Arcade Game

Konami has kept the retro-train chugging first with the release of the classic brawler X-Men Arcade, and now more recently with The Simpsons Arcade Game. Initially released in 1991, The Simpsons Arcade Game allows up to four players to take control of Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa in a quest to recover Maggie from the clutches of (who else) Mr. Burns. This is the first port of the arcade version to be released on home consoles. After more than 20 years in arcade obscurity, The Simpsons Arcade Game is finally here to let gamers relive one of the best games of the past.

 

 

Worth Playing vol. 3: Puzzle Game Madness

I did it for one of my favorite genres (the fighter) and I’ve got to do it for another genre close to my heart, the puzzle game. Whether you’re connecting colored gems, filling in gaps, solving brain teaser, or shooting shiny balls at other shiny balls, the puzzle game is a staple to the video game community that isn’t going anywhere. And with so many excellent games to sink your teeth into it can be hard to determine which games offer the best challenge, the most addictive gameplay, and the most satisfaction upon completion. Vol 3 of Worth Playing is here, so let’s get this underway.