Hardcore Gamer

• PS3
• X360
• PC
• 3.75 / 5
• États-Unis

Now, let me be clear, that’s not all to say F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin isn’t fun or that it’s not well-made. It is certainly both, but I defy anyone to remember anything other than a few moments of this game in 6 months time (and I’m not talking about the abrupt, WTF ending). Sure, there’s fun to be had shooting baddies in the face for 10-12 hours over the course of the 14 missions, but sadly F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin isn’t nearly as remarkable as the original.

• WII
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

All things considered, Mario Power Tennis Wii is a stripped down version of a five year old game. It alienates the hardcore by implementing an overly simplistic control scheme and offers nothing new by way of mini games or additional content to make it worthwhile. It’s essentially Wii Sports Tennis with a fresh coat of Mario-themed paint, which at this point is just not enough to warrant a purchase.

• X360
• 2.5 / 5
• États-Unis

RACE Pro has compelling racing mechanics when it is just you versus the track, but it has more than a few rough patches elsewhere. The credit system lacks any real point past acting as a progression mechanic, and cosmetic issues like the ever-present and always grating engine noises do their best to detract from the overall experience. When you are piloting a sleek roadster and take a corner just right without relying on driving assists the core gameplay shines through, but the game doesn’t have much in the way of compelling reasons to stick with it past claiming a few podiums.

• WII
• 2 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS3
• X360
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Though there are issues, and Soulcalibur IV was tough competition this year, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is truly the best thing to come from this franchise in many years. It’s rough around the edges and a little bare bones in features but the fighting, at its core, is solid and that’s what counts. It’s good to see that new life, by means of bizarre franchise combination, can be breathed into a nearly dead game series.

• PS3
• X360
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Sonic Unleashed is a glorious return to true console form for Sonic. It is most certainly not the return that its most vocal fanbase was clamoring for, but oddly enough, it ends up being something better than that. Instead of the same old same old, Unleashed treads new, refreshing ground while respecting Sonic’s roots at best, and being mostly harmless at worst. Best of all, instead of making you think only of what Sonic should be, this title makes you wonder what Sonic can be. The sky’s officially the limit now—and as many fans know, Sonic can easily get there provided he’s got a nice steep incline to launch himself off of. Toot, toot.

• X360
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Namco Museum Virtual Arcade is an impressive release from Namco Bandai that could have been even better. There is a lot of fun to be had here for the low price of $29.99. If you don’t have any of these games and would like to experience them, it’s a great buy. There may be problems with the controls and the load times, but there are so many good games in here for the price that they don’t detract from the game.

• PS3
• X360
• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Fallout 3 is the biggest accomplishment in adventure gaming since Oblivion. It’s incredible how fun and deep this game is. Everything in the game, from the graphics to the sound, is very well done. With a ton a quests and a huge world to explore, Fallout 3 will keep you busy until the next Bethesda release.

• X360
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

While the ability to injure the other team by ripping a guy’s helmet off and beating him with it is attractive, it comes at the expense of the core gameplay. Clash dictates the flow of the game to the point that ultimately it doesn’t matter what play you pick, route you take, or if you are throwing into quadruple coverage; the result will be in the favor of who uses Clash more effectively. No one should come into Blitz expecting anything near a traditional football game, but at the same time it is hard to ignore that even what little football-oriented gameplay exists is completely broken.

• PS3
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

With each passing year, the San Diego developer seems to focus more on the casual (mini-games) and less on the actual NBA experience. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it is defiantly disappointing. Except for a few barely noticeable tweaks, the core gameplay remains unchanged for yet another year. Franchise mode, though nice to have, feels very shallow. This game still lacks create-a-player and “The Life” mode, and for a second straight year a “Dunk Contest” is not a part of the All-Star festivities. Where NBA 09: The Inside shines is in its library of mini-games, more than making up for the lackluster core gameplay. The new ticket-dispensing, mini-games give incentive to keep playing, and it’s definitely time well wasted.

• PS3
• X360
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

With the horror muted, Silent Hill: Homecoming has to rely on combat to get by, but there are plenty of games out there with a better fighting engine. The monster variety is good but too many are reruns from previous games, which is a letdown when you think of what could arise from the twisted depths of the psyche of a soldier suffering family issues. The adequate story, decent combat, and lost opportunities don’t make this a bad game, but rather a weak entry in a series held to a high standard. It’s decent survival horror, but Silent Hill fans will be disappointed.

• PS3
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Anyone who owned or played the first MotorStorm and dug it will love MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. It’s as every bit as good as the first, and surpasses it in many areas, such as the tracks and music. MotorStorm is definitely one of the leading racing series in this generation of gaming. Any racing fan with a PS3 should consider Pacific Rift a must-buy. This is a series that is here to stay.

• DS
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

As a whole package, Rhapsody delivers a charming and entertaining tale about love and finding one’s happy ending. It falls short on replay value and extras; the oversimplified battle system may bore some fans from even finishing the game though others may find the easy navigation and menu system to be inviting. It’s an easy, relaxing adventure, full of song and dance for fans.

• DS
• 3.75 / 5
• États-Unis

You’ll never regret the time you spend playing Kirby. It’s so charming that you may notice how fast you’re plowing through it, but you’ll enjoy it. The low challenge means the title has a relatively low lifespan, but you can get a solid week or so out of chasing down all the treasures and playing the minigames. I’m not sure it’s quite worth a purchase, but it’s definitely fun.

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

For those that haven’t had the chance to check out the original title, though, Battle March is a well-rounded RTS set in the Warhammer universe. The expansion content does flesh out the multiplayer more fully, despite it not doing the same for the campaign mode. The engine may be aging and looking a bit ragged around the edges, but the game’s heavy emphasis on strategy and the persistent units in the campaign make for hours of scaling castle walls and slaying your foes.

• X360
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• DS
• PSP
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

N+ is a huge but minimalist game, focusing strictly on its platforming mechanics. The controls are simple, the levels are grey with gold highlights, and the storyline is nonexistent. These could be limitations in another game but here they free N+ to be a fantastic challenge about precise, graceful movement. N+ is almost completely free of distracting bells and whistles, and I’m going to give it the best compliment I can for this type of game: it would have made an excellent ’80s arcade game.