PaperJello Reviews: Persona 4 Arena

Written by PaperJello
Persona 4 Arena is Atlus’ latest entry in the popular Shin Megami Tensei subseries. Surprisingly though, it is a fighting game, whereas all the others are RPGs. This is also the first Persona game to hit not just Sony's system but the Xbox 360 too. Developed in collaboration with Arc System Works (of Blazblue fame), the game serves as a direct sequel to PS2’s Persona 4 and takes place a few months after a group of high school students (P4’s main cast) solve a series of murders that threatens the sleepy town of Inaba. Arena pits these students against each other in the P-1 Grand Prix, but what at first seems to be a harmless event hosted by one of their friends turns out to be much more than a simple prank.

TheAssailant Reviews: Borderlands 2

I bought the first Borderlands back in January 2011 when I had the urge to play a Shooter-RPG that would take my mind off of things. I played Borderlands almost everyday with my best friend in split screen co-op for hours at a time, and for even longer on a separate save. To me, playing Borderlands by myself was always a lot more boring and felt more like a chore than the pinnacle of fun it was in co-op. Sadly, since that time my best friend and I are now attending separate Universities, so I had to go through Borderlands 2 alone. However (and luckily for me), Borderlands 2 is just as much fun alone as it is with another person or a group, which should speak volumes to how it has improved over its predecessor.

TheAssailant Reviews: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Dawnguard

Note: This review will be split between the main game and the Dawnguard DLC. For the main game, click here.

After beating a majority of Skyrim, I shelved it because I had lost interest and didn't have much else to do. And so I patiently waited for the Dawnguard DLC, and bought it almost immediately and began to play it. Though it's still Skyrim, this DLC brings a lot of its own flavor, something I'm used to seeing in the Fallout DLCs (I never played the Oblivion DLCs, but I should get around to doing that soon). Unfortunately, it also leaves a lot to be desired.

TheAssailant Reviews: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Note: This review will be split between the main game and the Dawnguard DLC. For the DLC review, click here.

I've played the ever-loving crap out of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. I absolutely love the whole first-person open-world RPG thing, but for whatever reason, playing Oblivion was never something I fancied too well. I borrowed it from a friend and eventually gave it back because I complained it wasn't "as good as Fallout." Luckily, Skyrim is a huge improvement over Oblivion.

What Do I Think?: Nintendo 3DS

When 3D first started making its push with the Worldwide release and acceptance of Avatar; I was one of those few souls that just swept 3D under the rug and called it a fad. So I find it very ironic of myself doing a review/impressions of Nintendo’s new portable system, the 3DS. Mainly, because I actually like the Nintendo 3DS.

One of the main reasons why I have learned to appreciate the 3DS, is that it has a feature that I wish most 3D movies had; the 3D slider that adjusts the 3D or turns it completely off. Most of my time has been spent with the 3D turned completely off, with the exception of Super Mario 3D Land. I really find it a much more pleasant experience just sitting down and playing a game, rather than playing a game and trying to find the sweet spot in order for the 3D to work. It is rather impossible to play a game with the 3D slider on, and not lose the effect while you’re playing it. It is rather underwhelming when it happens, but not as underwhelming as a Virtual Boy purchase. I am happy to say that you will not go blind from the 3DS.

Secondly, I like the 3DS for each interface and interesting online features. Nintendo has brought the much likeable Wii interface over to the 3DS, but improved on it in many ways. Like the inclusion of multitasking(sort of), and menu icons that appear in 3D on the top screen when you cycle through your applications.

Also the biggest feature they added, and in my personal opinion it gave Nintendo’s online a kick in the right direction, and that is the inclusion of Notifications and Spot Pass. Notifications is actually what it sounds like if you are aware of iOS5, Android, or Windows Phone 7, but if you are living under a rock Notifications will notify you when the applications receive new content. This is a feature that I wish the Wii had, because if the Wii shop channel had a feature like this, then we wouldn’t be hearing about Wiiware developers complaining that no one buys their games. I would not be surprised if I see this feature on the Wii U.

The feature that I haven’t used all that much of however, mainly because of where I live, is the Spot Pass feature. This is quite an interesting concept that many developers are really taking advantage of. The feeling of receiving stuff in a game when you are not playing the game is just quite fascinating, and it makes me want to actually try this when I am in a crowded area of people all using their 3DS systems. This is a feature however I see skyrocketing in Japan, because everyone there rides the public transportation in Japan. 

Overall I really do like the Nintendo 3DS, and I see the potential of this system. Now that the 3DS has stumbled out of the shaky launch window with barely any games. We are beginning to see some great titles like Kid Icarus: Uprising, Super Mario 3D Land, Ocarina of Time 3D, and Resident Evil: Revelations. Can the 3DS keep this lead over the Playstation Vita, or more important Apple? We will see.

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Gears of War 3

Buy Gears of War 3 on Amazon
I remember when I first beat Gears 2. I thought "Meh, it was alright." It was cool and all, but like most games in the middle of a trilogy, it just wasn't all there. I was quite pleased when I discovered about 10 minutes into Gears of War 3 that this was, indeed, the Gears I was waiting for. So much work was poured into making this last installment of the Gears series the best it could be, and Epic Games was able to deliver with what could very well be the greatest shooter I have ever played (so far).

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Borderlands

Borderlands on Amazon.com
Pre-order Borderlands 2 on Amazon.com

For the past 9 months I have been playing Borderlands. After acquainting myself with its niches and quirks, playing through all of the Downloadable content, searching for the best guns, grenade mods, shields, abilities, fighting through every boss, and doing the best I can to defeat the single most difficult enemy in the entire game (it's impossible to do it on your own), I can now comfortably review Borderlands in its entirety. Though it can be played as a single-player game, Borderlands is best enjoyed with at least one other person. Playing by yourself is the least interesting way to play Borderlands and is not recommended at all. Part of the fun of the game comes with dicking around with teammates and making wise cracks at your friends about how much they suck at the game. I'm serious.

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Grow for Android

Android Market - $1.99

Amazon App Store - $1.99

Grow is an Android game with a simple enough premise: eat smaller fish, grow in size, and eat the larger fish until you're the last fish. It could've been an original idea if it wasn't ripped right out of Spore. It also could've been a good idea, if it were executed properly. Perhaps Grow's problem is an identity crisis. It attempts to have simplicity, and implies simplicity with its title, but tries to do too much with a mission structure like Angry Birds, and horrid touch screen controls which detract from the game experience.

TheAssailant6661 (P)reviews: Minecraft (Beta 1.6.6)

(Any color you like, so long as it's red)

Note: Minecraft is still currently in its Beta stage. A full and complete review will be made upon the game's final release on November 11, 2011. Please note that there is a discount on the game while it's still in its Beta stage.

As far as I can remember I've spent countless hours over the past 5 months toiling away with the world of Minecraft, and I still manage to find new stuff to do. I've built a fortress in the sky, a castle with a huge mine, a railway system, the cover of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and even an Egyptian pyramid. I've played around with the Bordercraft texture pack, created various circuits (with the help of Minecraft Wiki of course), had fun blowing random things up with A LOT of TNT thanks to inventory editors, and even installed the flying mod to make creating pixel art easier. If I ever find something missing from the game, it's added in a few updates. Maps, for example were something I wanted to emulate the discovery aspects of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Lo' and behold, Maps got added into the game with update 1.6.

Wiinewd Reviews Conduit 2 (Video)

Conduit 2 Review

The adventure began in 2009 and now it continues, The Conduit was first realized in 2009 as the first big shooter for Wii. The game came out of nowhere and surprised gamers everywhere with its unique story telling, perfect fps console controls and a tailored game engine. The Conduit changed a lot for Wii introducing the likes of amazing tech never before seen on the system and a bold online approach that worked. This game did not go without fault though as the game suffered from deja vu level design mediocre voice acting and a Holst of online bugs. The Conduit came and gone and as many people loved or hated it there still was anticipation for the sequel. The desire to see a sequel to fix a the grips with the first game that would make The Conduit a true epic Wii franchise; So how does Conduit 2 excel?

Golden Eye Review

When it comes to first person shooters on the wii, they can be pretty big headache. Sure there are plenty of gems in the Wii library, but until now Golden Eye blows all the attempts of making a Wii first person shooter out of the water.

Golden Eye is a weird game, because it has so much nostalgia behind it but most of that nostalgia is not even about the game; it is about the times you shared with your friends in the intense and creative multi-player back then. So how does a company like Eurocom and Activision create Golden Eye without upsetting all the fans of the previous games. Well the number one thing you have to do is dump a lot of money into the project, and Activision did invest a lot into this game, but that is besides the point. What Eurocom(developers of Dead Space: Extraction) decided to do was to bring Golden Eye into the modern by updating the controls, and making the story much more convincing, because if you ever went back to play Golden Eye 64 today, the controls don't hold up at all; who wants to aim with the C-buttons, anyone, anyone...No I didn't think so. Eurocom not only updated the controls to dual analog, they also planted Daniel Craig into the plot to modernize the story, because honestly we all know that Daniel Craig is a way better Bond than Pierce Brosnan(Please send your hate mail to Hatemail@gmail.com). So the story is exactly the same as the original Golden Eye with a modernize twist.

Snoopy Flying Ace Review

Let me start off by telling you that I am a huge Peanut’s fan boy. I watched all the television episodes, read all the comics, and I even make an effort to re-watch all the holiday special episodes on ABC. However when I saw Snoopy Flying Ace sitting in the Xbox Live Marketplace; I had a tiny negative feeling sitting inside of me, because I thought it was a game for children. This is the last time I judge a game by its cover, because this game is certainly not a game for children.

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Scribblenauts

Scribblenauts is a new IP from 5th Cell, the developers of Drawn to Life on the DS. Scribblenauts allows you to let your imagination go wild, by letting you do almost anything (provided it fits within the borders of the E 10+ rating). You'll love the game, and yet hate it at the same time. An amazing game with glaring flaws.

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Mirror's Edge

Mirror's Edge is a First Person Platforming game for 360 and PC. It is developed by EA DICE, the same creators of the Battlefield series of games. The game bases its gameplay off of Parkour (Pronounced Park-or), which is a form of discipline of moving from one place to another as quickly and efficiently as possible. The game takes place in a dystopian city where the totalitarian government monitors all information which forces people to use runners to deliver information from rooftop to rooftop.

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Crysis Maximum Edition

Note: I don't own Crysis: Maximum Edition. I bought the games individually. Crysis: Maximum Edition can be picked up for only $40.

In 2002, Crytek debuted their CryEngine to the world. Crytek developed the original Far Cry for PC using the engine. They however didn't develop any of the spin-offs & sequels, Ubisoft did. While Ubisoft was releasing spin-offs and a spiritual sequel to Far Cry (because Jack Carver's not even in it), Crytek worked on their next engine, CryEngine 2. The flagship title for this new engine was Crysis, which boasted the world's best graphics and could barely run on high-end systems. To this day, nothing has been able to compare to Crysis' level of graphical detail.

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Dead Space Extraction

In the latest installment of Visceral Games' hit Dead Space series, Dead Space: Extraction has you playing through the events leading up to Isaac Clarke's arrival on the USG Ishimura in the original, but trades in the third person view point for a more cinematic on-rails experience EA refers to as a “guided shooter”.

Storm's Adventure with Super Mario Galaxy

Back in the days of Wii.tv, I made a video called Storm Reviews Super Mario Galaxy. Four microphones, three monitors, eight portable drives, two capture devices and a PC later, Super Mario Galaxy resurfaces as GISHAOTYA Part 7. Have I improved my entertainment value any?

Take a look back what made the Wii's first year so great.

TheAssailant6661 Reviews: Lux-Pain

Lux-Pain
ルクス・ペイン

Lux-Pain is a visual novel style game from the relatively unknown developer Killaware. Although it was released in early 2009, therefore considered “old”. You cannot expect much gameplay-wise. Lux-Pain isn't much of a game but more of a traditional Japanese “visual novel”. There are some gameplay elements here and there, but overall it's still more of a book to read.

Storm's Adventure with Dewy's Adventure

The title "Storm's Adventure" has reached a logical closure point.

Anyway, I just got an email from YouTube that asked if I wanted to enable revenue sharing on this video...to which I will reply "ef-no".