Staff reviews, page 131

Dragonica review

Dragonica is a 3D, fantasy, action-oriented, side-scrolling MMORPG developed by Barunson Interactive. Its published by Gpotato in the EU and THQ*ICE in the US. As with most other titles promoted through both of these sites, Dragonica is…

Freelance Writer · August 1, 2009

Staff PlayStation HG exclusive

Vagrant Story review

Every combat action Ashley takes affects a risk meter. As it rises, both good and bad things happen. He can cause much more damage, but his accuracy and defense both suffer. If you gain high risk because you chained a 10-hit combo on some…

Rob Hamilton · July 29, 2009

Staff DS HG exclusive

Flower, Sun, and Rain review

Sumio immediately finds the entire island is stuck in a time loop, though he perceives it as a sort of dream. Every morning he rises with his singular goal in mind, but he always gets sidetracked by an unrelated request. Hell, it takes him…

Benjamin Woodhouse · July 29, 2009

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

Madballs in... BABO: Invasion review

Madballs in... BABO: Invasion isn't the deepest game, but it shouldn't be. Games like this are great because of their simplicity, not in spite of it. Gameplay revolves (get it?) around your chosen circular hero rolling from place to place…

Freelance Writer · July 28, 2009

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

The King of Fighters XII review

The first and most obvious stumble is the limited character roster, which perhaps wouldn't be a problem except that some of the very most important fighters are missing in action. In particular, there's little presence from the female side…

Jason Venter · July 28, 2009

Staff PC HG exclusive

Resident Evil 4 review

Resident Evil 4 might be a carefully balanced, ingeniously designed and admirably self-assured game, but on the PC it's a woeful, miserable, inconceivable mess of code. It's very possibly, depending on your mindset, nestled within the…

Lewis Denby · July 27, 2009

Staff GameCube HG exclusive

Naruto: Clash of Ninja review

There's a reason they say patience is a virtue. Naruto: Clash of Ninja has only 8 distinct characters. In the story mode, you control Naruto as he fights each of these opponents once. It takes about fifteen minutes. After that, what's left?

Benjamin Woodhouse · July 26, 2009

Staff DS HG exclusive

Dawn of Discovery review

What sets Dawn of Discovery apart from many of its peers is the focus on multiple regions. It's never enough to just settle a single island, since certain resources are always out of reach until you expand to another island. This wrinkle…

Jason Venter · July 26, 2009

Staff PC HG exclusive

Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships review

Ransom of the Seven Ships works because it has high ambitions. When you step into Nancy's shoes, you're doing more than clicking through a few lifeless menus. You're arriving at the edge of a hauntingly beautiful island, one that you'll…

Jason Venter · July 26, 2009

Staff Xbox 360 HG exclusive

The Bigs 2 review

TB2 is all spectacle, but it’s well done. Gargantuan sluggers take powerful rips at incoming pitches, practically jumping out of their cleats; pitchers throw fastballs almost exclusively in the triple digits and curveballs with such acute…

K T · July 26, 2009

Staff PSP HG exclusive

Crimson Gem Saga review

Crimson Gem Saga is a game that has all the traditional elements, but is self-aware to make fun of them.

Lassarina Aoibhell · July 24, 2009

Staff NES HG exclusive

Challenge of the Dragon review

Meanwhile, you have "Dragon Style Kung Fu", which consists of flailing about with a tiny sword, tapping foes with your foot and executing an amazingly awkward jumping kick. The ghost of David Carradine is not impressed.

Rob Hamilton · July 22, 2009

Staff PC HG exclusive

Death Sword review

DEATH SWORD! That's the kind of name that would grab any 10-year-old's attention, and it sure grabbed mine. I saw this colorful game full of bloody decapitations and bikini babes running on an Apple at Electronics Boutique (R.I.P.)…

Zigfried · July 19, 2009

Staff PSP HG exclusive

What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!? review

The retro graphics, retro music, and crazy monster-breeding are as charming as any self-proclaimed "hardcore oldschool" gamer could hope. Unfortunately, none of the game modes really let those who persevere run wild with their hard-earned…

Zigfried · July 15, 2009

Staff DS HG exclusive

Metal Slug 7 review

Not the handheld trainwreck you might have been expecting.

Gary Hartley · July 15, 2009

Staff PlayStation 3 HG exclusive

Zuma review

Zuma is a another budget priced puzzle/'casual' title from Popcap Games. Just like Bejewelled, it's all about making groups of the same colour disappear, but this time it's balls that you're popping, not gems. Please note that, throughout…

Gareth Chadwick · July 15, 2009

Staff Game Boy Advance HG exclusive

Gauntlet: Dark Legacy review

In fact, nothing moves quickly. It's hard to be intimidated by enemy generals — gigantic warriors capable of unleashing powerful close-range attacks — when they're plodding towards you with the speed (sans menace) of a George Romero…

Rob Hamilton · July 15, 2009

Staff NES HG exclusive

Operation Secret Storm review

I'm not sure what surprised me more: the fact I only had to deal with seven or eight enemies before encountering the level's boss or that I was fighting the national bird of the United States in Iraq! Perhaps Color Dreams was slyly…

Rob Hamilton · July 13, 2009

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Cocoto Platform Jumper review

Platform Jumper looks like Rayman, plays like a lethargic Sonic and lifts the arcing attacks/temporary platforms from Rainbow Island. Notably, in aping games of actual worth, it manages to hobble together a Frankenstein’s monster of a…

Gary Hartley · July 13, 2009

Staff Wii HG exclusive

Let's Tap review

Let's Tap thinks outside the box. More specifically, right on top of it. The game offers up a hands-free control scheme where you place the Wii remote face-down on a box or flat surface. Tap nearby, and the vibrations travel to the remote…

Benjamin Woodhouse · July 13, 2009