Reviews

  • Choose Sort Option(s)
  • Type Keyword / Game Title
  • Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories
  • Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories posted on 12/1/2008
  • When Square Enix re-releases RPG games, they often tread a fine line between creating thoughtful remakes or hatred-inspiring rehashes. I'm happy to report that Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, a PS2 port of a GBA game, falls in the former category-it's a worthy addition to the much beloved franchise as well as a compelling choice for diehard fans as it sheds some much needed light on events from past entries in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Series noobs, however, might find themselves a little lost in the intricate plot that Kingdom Hearts has spawned thus far.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: For people new to this title, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories takes place during the timeskip between Kingdom Hearts and KHII. More importantly, the story sheds some light on the origins of Namine, Organization XIII, and why the heck Sora, Donald, and Goofy were encased inside of weird bubble capsules prior to the events of Kingdom Hearts II. If you only played the PlayStation 2 KH titles, KH Re:COM ties everything together in one nice big (if slightly convoluted) package.
  • Monster Lab
  • Monster Lab - DS posted on 12/1/2008
  • "It's alive... Alive!" Dr. Frankenstein's famous quote has never been more prevalant in a title than Monster Lab, a new role-playing title that puts you in the shoes of a like-minded mad scientist looking to create life. Much like Frankenstein himself, Eidos' Monster Lab allows you to construct various forms of monstrous life through a combination of limbs, parts, and special attributes. With so many options, what will you end up creating?

    THE BOTTOM LINE: A charming detour, Monster Lab is a fantastically tongue-in-cheek adventure that has just enough charm in its gameplay to overshadow some lackluster controls.
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 posted on 12/1/2008
  • An enormous fan of the past installments in the Persona franchise, I'll be the first to admit that I was a tad skeptical when I heard that Persona 4 was dropping as soon as the end of 2008. Wrapping up my fourth run-through of Persona 3: FES, I was starting to feel like there wasn't anything else the series could throw at me that I hadn't seen before - and certainly not in such a short time span With the announcement that P4 would also be releasing on the Playstation 2, I couldn't help but worry; would this just be Persona 3 with a fresh coat of paint and a new cast of cookie-cutter characters? I'm happy to report that while Persona 4 does hold quite a few similarities to its predecessor, it proves itself as a brand new experience from the ground up with unprecedented levels of innovation, character, and outright charisma. Persona 4 may very well prove to be the shot in the arm that the RPG genre is in such dire need of.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: An expansive and engaging experience, Persona 4 is quirky, original, and innovative enough to set it apart from an army of mediocre RPGs. With an amazing cast of characters and fantastical game world, P4 is an experience any role playing aficionado shouldn't miss!
  • Prince of Persia
  • Prince of Persia - PS3 posted on 12/2/2008
  • I was never a huge fan of the original Prince of Persia games, but when the series was reborn in 2003's The Sands of Time, I quickly became a fanboy. The ensuing trilogy on the PS2 and Xbox took the Prince's plaforming roots and turned them into full-scale displays of acrobatics and dazzling swordplay. But the Prince's ability to reverse time became the core of the three aforementioned games-and it's mysteriously absent in the franchise's debut on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
    But it's not the end of the world because the new Prince of Persia represents a fresh start for the series. Not only is the time control mechanic gone but the visual style has been completely overhauled, placing the Prince in a colorful yet gritty cel-shaded world. Fans of the series will be relieved to hear, though, that stunning leaps and wall-runs still form the basis of the gameplay. There's also a new sword-based combat system and abundant environmental puzzles to solve. The new foundation proves to be a boon for the Prince because the old formula was starting to smell stale. In my opinion, the new storyline, visual update and improved gameplay mechanics are just what the doctor ordered-it culminates in a game that is much more fun than its close cousin, Assassin's Creed.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: A much-needed and welcome reboot for the series, Prince of Persia integrates wonderfully fun acrobatics with often-tricky swordplay, presented in a beautiful new, cel-shaded art style; it's an excellent debut for the franchise on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
  • Prince of Persia
  • Prince of Persia - 360 posted on 12/2/2008
  • I was never a huge fan of the original Prince of Persia games, but when the series was reborn in 2003's The Sands of Time, I quickly became a fanboy. The ensuing trilogy on the PS2 and Xbox took the Prince's plaforming roots and turned them into full-scale displays of acrobatics and dazzling swordplay. But the Prince's ability to reverse time became the core of the three aforementioned games-and it's mysteriously absent in the franchise's debut on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
    But it's not the end of the world because the new Prince of Persia represents a fresh start for the series. Not only is the time control mechanic gone but the visual style has been completely overhauled, placing the Prince in a colorful yet gritty cel-shaded world. Fans of the series will be relieved to hear, though, that stunning leaps and wall-runs still form the basis of the gameplay. There's also a new sword-based combat system and abundant environmental puzzles to solve. The new foundation proves to be a boon for the Prince because the old formula was starting to smell stale. In my opinion, the new storyline, visual update and improved gameplay mechanics are just what the doctor ordered-it culminates in a game that is much more fun than its close cousin, Assassin's Creed.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: A much-needed and welcome reboot for the series, Prince of Persia integrates wonderfully fun acrobatics with often-tricky swordplay, presented in a beautiful new, cel-shaded art style; it's an excellent debut for the franchise on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
  • Skate It
  • Skate It posted on 11/25/2008
  • Electronic Arts brings their slick skate sim to the Wii with intuitive Wii-mote controls, gnarly Balance Board support, and a bag of tricks that'd make Tony Hawk take notice.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: Not as good as last year's 360 and PS3 versions, but still an excellent effort for the Wii, with surprisingly good "flick-it" controls. Finicky but fun Balance Board support will have you dusting off the rarely used peripheral.
  • Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
  • Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix - PS3 posted on 11/25/2008
  • There's no doubt about it -- this is the best version of Street Fighter II that fighting game fans are ever going to get. Everything from the graphics to the tweaks in each character's moveset makes Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix feel like a completely new fighter rather than an updated version of previous SFII titles. Capcom's efforts really stand out in this remake, and after all these years, it's worth both the wait and the price.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: I can't say it any clearer -- this is the best version of Street Fighter II that fighting game fans are ever going to get.
  • Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
  • Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix - 360 posted on 11/25/2008
  • There's no doubt about it -- this is the best version of Street Fighter II that fighting game fans are ever going to get. Everything from the graphics to the tweaks in each character's moveset makes Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix feel like a completely new fighter rather than an updated version of previous SFII titles. Capcom's efforts really stand out in this remake, and after all these years, it's worth both the wait and the price.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: I can't say it any clearer -- this is the best version of Street Fighter II that fighting game fans are ever going to get.
  • Chrono Trigger
  • Chrono Trigger posted on 11/25/2008
  • Normally, when I hear that a classic game is being ported to a handheld, I become skeptical because the usual result is a no-frills port meant to cash in on gamers' nostalgia. But thankfully, Square Enix isn't that kind of company. They put a lot of care into their ports and I'm incredibly happy to report that they truly went the extra mile with Chrono Trigger DS. They've kept the magic of the original intact while adding subtle improvements and innovative features that truly enhance the classic experience. It is without a doubt one of the best releases of 2008.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: Square Enix knocks one out of the park with this superb re-release of the one of the most influential games in role playing history!

Download the GamePro Toolbar

Download GamePro Toolbar Now!