User Reviews

All Reviews by lanmandragoran

Contra 4 - DS

Pros Cons
Tight controls Repetitive gameplay
Epic boss fights  
Fantastic multiplayer  
Awesome audio  
Amazing visuals  
Intense action  
runs CONTRAry to most sequels

Contra 4 is like an old high school friend-maybe you went off to separate colleges all those many years ago, but from time to time you were told through a mutual friend of your pal's existence, and occasionally you glimpsed an image of your buddy's current state, all the while thinking, "Hmm. He's changed, and not for the better." But fate intervened, bringing you two together again, at which point you realized that your friend is still that laid-back, fun-loving guy you knew oh-so-long ago. Contra 4, boys and girls, the return of old-school, and it's polished to a sheen.
If you've played either the original Contra, Super C, or Contra: The Alien Wars, then you will immediately be comfortable with Contra's DS incarnation. Your commando counterparts are armed to the teeth with an assortment of powerful, nifty weapons, each of which has two levels of upgradeable power, as well as a handy grappling hook which makes for some intense and frantic action as you (or you and a buddy) navigate enemies and pitfalls on BOTH screens. You will need these armaments, and then some, as Contra 4, true to its roots, is one tough game, even on Normal difficulty. You will perish, over and over at times, and the Continue and Game Over screens will become your close friends, yet the true measure of a game such as this is that defeat only inspires you to persevere, certain in the knowledge that your next attempt will see you emerge victorious.
Aesthetically, the game is pretty, with some really evocative artistic design that perfectly and immediately places you in the Contra universe; the audio is likewise stellar, with new tracks and old remixes that feel perfectly at home in a Contra game.Content-wise, the main quest will keep you busy for awhile; after you best Normal, there's always more insane levels of difficulty to tackle...or perhaps the Challenges, which certainly live up to their moniker. The spoils of success are old-school goodies such as the original Contra game and Museum unlockables, worthy reasons to keep playing.
So, old friend, just when we thought you were balding and putting on a paunch, we realize that you've sipped from the fountain of youth, and we'd like to say simply, "Welcome back."

Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii

Pros Cons
Addictive gameplay  
Tight controls  
Fantastic multiplayer  
Just plain fun  
Loads of content  
Awesome audio  
Amazing visuals  
Intense action  
One Brawl Above All

Every so often, there comes a game that is preceded by untold amounts of hype and, despite the odds, manages to surpass all expectations. Such is the case with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the third iteration in the Nintendo's iconoclastic, melting pot fighter. If you have played the first two games, you know the scoop: Classic Nintendo characters fight it out, four at a time, in item-packed arenas that span the breadth of Big N franchises. If you have not played the first two, you really owe it to yourself to check them out, if for no other reason than to see how revolutionary the N64 classic really was, and to trace the humble beginnings of the franchise. The same features that made the original so, well, original, are found in this Smash Bros. incarnation as well: Gameplay is truly pick-up and play, with standard attacks mapped to the A button, specials to the B button, and a shield with the R trigger. Different attacks are produced depending on the direction you press on the analog stick, and depth is found in Smash attacks among other advanced moves; Smashes are activated when you flick the analog stick and press A in order to send an opponent flying. Of course, the other novelty of Smash. Bros is that, unlike other fighters, you are not so much interested in depleting your opponents' health as you are in removing them bodily from the stage. The fighters themselves are well-done. Have a favorite character? He or she is probably in the game. Have a favorite playing There's probably a character to suit your fancy.
So how does Smash Bros. Brawl compare to its predecessors? Quite simply, it is more of everything-more characters, in fact 30+ more, more levels, some of which are quite imaginative (Pikmin's Lost Planet, Pictochat, and Wario Ware spring immediately to mind), more amazing, fully orchestrated music, more options for fight customization (you can build your own stages this time around!), and more ways to play, including online (which is admittedly laggy, quite a bummer) and The Subspace Emissary mode, which is a fairly enjoyable adventure mode for one or two players that allows you to play as all of your favorites at one time or another. Brawl delivers more unlockable goodies, also-hidden characters, hidden levels (including some from Melee), extra music, stickers, and trophies abound. The visuals in the game are mind-blowing: This is a game that could be done on Gamecube in form only, as the power of the Wii is definitely utilized in stages that teem with activity and never slow down in the least (offline, that is). Speaking of the cube, the ability to play the game with the GCN controller is awesome, as that setup is both the best and the most immediately comfortable to long-time series fans. Which neatly brings us to our conclusion: Brawl is a happy marriage of old and new, retaining the same core Smash Brothers fundamentals that make the game an absolute joy to play, while balancing the gameplay and adding a near-limitless amount of new content that will keep players contentedly Smashing away. In my opinion, this is the finest Wii game available, a gift from Nintendo that shows its long-time faithful that they do care (single tear falls slowly).

God of War 2 - PS2

Pros Cons
Tight controls  
Just plain fun  
Epic boss fights  
Engaging story  
Awesome audio  
Amazing visuals  
Intense action  
Whack-a-Deity

If you are familiar with Kratos' first outing on the PS2, then you'll feel right at home with this one: God of War 2 hooks you during an amazing opening level and doesn't let up until you finish the game some 20-30 hours later. The most impressive aspect of this game, as was true of the first God of War, is the scale on which battles take place. Using the opening level as a reference point, you fight a giant animated statue which is literally the size of a small building, then later in the level you actually ascend the giant from the inside, finally reaching the exit much later. The story is truly what reels you in, as Kratos' penchant for doing violence to those who have wronged him (or to whom he perceives as having wronged him) is legendary: You will want to keep playing just to see which deity Kratos offs next. Technically, the game is amazing, and you will shudder to think that this game is actually running on a PS2. The artistic design is awe-inspiring, and the graphics are nothing short of beautiful. Audio and voice acting are top-notch, especially during cutscenes. The gameplay is second to none, as Kratos controls flawlessly, and the combos and assorted brutalities all feel good to perform. The best thing that can be said about Kratos' latest adventure is that it is left unfinished; when you reach the game's conclusion, you will be driven by a single thought: Kill Zeus...to be continued.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith - Xbox 360

Pros Cons
Addictive gameplay Doesn't live up to expectations
Tight controls Not enough content
Just plain fun It's boooring
Money Train Keeps On Rollin'

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is a mixed bag...on one hand, it's classic Guitar Hero, which means you know that the controls will be well done and the experience enjoyable, but on the other hand, you also know deep down that this is a cash-in title, as evidenced by the paucity of tracks and the odd selection of ballads from among Aerosmith's vast library. The story is, of course, filler, but it is a bit cool to trace the band's roots, and the idea to include artists closely associated with Aerosmith does break up the monotony of an otherwise one-trick pony. I consider myself a fairly big Aerosmith fan, and as such was looking forward to this game with great anticipation, but I must say that it feels like a hollow package, worth the price of an expansion or add-on, say, $20-$30 bucks, but at $50+, it simply does not justify your purchase. Wait a few months for World Tour to drop and then pick up GH: Aerosmith on the cheap.

Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword - DS

Pros Cons
Addictive gameplay Repetitive gameplay
Tight controls  
Engaging story  
Amazing visuals  
Intense action  
Awesome audio  
Innovative concepts  
Enter the Dragon...Sword

If you consider yourself the least bit old-school, you will have fond memories of Ryu Hayabusa slicing and dicing everything in his path for the better part of two decades, with only a brief rest to unwind before doing it all over again. The DS entry in the "Legend of Ryu" series is more in line with the newer Xbox titles rather than a throwback to the glory days of the NES. As such, you are a deadly ninja in a 3D (on DS!!!) world, armed with a slew of ultra-cool ninja slashes and magic. The game's real hook is that the action is entirely stylus-controlled, no small feat for a game that moves this fast. The controls are amazing, but there is a learning curve associated with stylus-driven action, and sometimes your inputs will not be registered correctly; all things considered, though, Team Ninja's ambition pays off in spades, as it is a joy to control our Master Ninja hero through his travails against the Spider Clan and denizens of the netherworld. The visuals are superb, though Team Ninja plays some neat tricks by having 3D characters roam through pre-rendered environments. Audio is crystal-clear and worth turning up your DS's volume to hear. The story is well-done, with the comic book effect giving Dragon Sword its own identity in the pantheon of Ninja Gaiden games. If you crave action on your DS, and yearn secretly to be a ninja of the caliber of Mr. Hayabusa, then this is most certainly your game.