andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

This review marks a number of firsts for andPOP. It’s the first time I’m reviewing a Disney title, it’s the first game I get to play and write about before the official launch date, and it’s the first game I’ve ever reviewed… in 3D! That’s right, today I’ll be reviewing, nay, PREVIEWING Disney’s G-Force video game on the PlayStation 3; talking about what I liked, what bugged me, and all the interesting cute little things guinea pigs do that now freak me out when I see them in real life. With the movie comes out this Wednesday on July 22^nd, and the game being released July 24, this is your first look into the inner workings of a super secret group of spy rodents. READ MORE »

After Guitar Hero: Aerosmith fell as a bust, I was extremely hesitant to pick and try a guitar hero title based on one of my favourite metal bands, but through my loyalty of both the game and the band, I figured I’d give it a shot, after all, Metallica would never sell out, right? (that was a joke). Guitar Hero: Metallica (GH:M) delivers everything it promised. Open for the band, play with the band, be the band. While presentation, music, graphics, and extras are all phenomenal (and all that are important to the Guitar Hero brand); I still felt a little off about GH: M, more the vibe I get from the band itself than anything else. GH:M promised us three things. A kick ass sound track, a real feel for what the band does almost nightly while on tour, and visuals that rival a live concert. In all three sections, GH:M meets expectations and does it with flair.

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Let’s just clear the air right now. This game is not about crossing the street, it’s not about cross-roads, it’s not even about cross-breeding animals (you sick gamer you). Animal Crossing is a game all about life, starting a-new, and making new friends. You start off on a bus with your new narrator buddy, starting a new life in a new small town. Why are you going there? What did you do in the past that forced you to run away and start again in anonymity? Will anyone miss you in your old life? Questions such as these are not asked in this children’s life simulator, just as questions being raised as to why you’re the only human in town, and a little child living on your own to boot aren’t addressed.

With the help of a very special partner more in tune with this game’s target demographic, we set off to explore Animal Crossing: City Folk. The first problem we encountered with this title was the tutorial and explanation of the game. It’s hard to explain how to live a virtual life, it’s even hard to try and explain it to a child. With so many things to do, rules, and mechanics, the high level of complexity doesn’t translate well to younger audiences. In fact, it gets so convoluted that even grown adults have a hard time following the objectives laid out before you (at least I had a hard time).

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Crash Bandicoot: Mind over mutant is extremely similar to its predecessor, Crash Bandicoot: Crash of the titans. The features are the same, locales similar, mechanics of game play identical, one could even say Mind over mutant is more of a continuation or expansion than a sequel… which I guess makes sense because in general isn’t that what a sequel should usually be? I mean, aside from improved graphics, gameplay or features that is… which Mind over mutant lacks over Crash of the titans. With Mind over mutant being released October 7th, 2008 and Crash of the titans being released only a year earlier, I can’t help but feel this was more of a cash grab than anything else.

The story starts off with an amusing little cut scene continuing from the end of Crash of the titans and continues with an average day in the life of Crash. The female bandicoot wants to fix your TV and left her tools strewn all across the level, of course this is the exact same first map as Crash of the titans (which makes sense as it is still the same home you lived in, in past games. You go through the tutorial levels, learning how to play and gathering the pieces only to come back and see a commercial. In this commercial two shady looking characters are promoting virtual headgear being released around the land free of charge. Female bandicoot gets one, buff bandicoot gets one (characters from past games) and Crash gets one… but for some reason, Crash’s fries him at the touch and he cannot wear it. Characters get mesmerized and all of a sudden turn into rampaging mutants, it’s up to crash to save them and everyone else that has transformed.

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