Video game franchises come and go all of the time. To think, just three years ago the Guitar Hero brand was one of the biggest in the industry. In five years, even Call of Duty may not be as prominent as it used to be. We all expect the Marios and the Final Fantasys of the world to be around as long as video games are, but what about those franchises that don’t make it? It’s always nice to see them return, but is it always for the best? READ MORE
Every now and again, a little indie game comes along that grabs everyone’s attention thanks to unique design choices and brilliant immersive gameplay. Games like Braid, Limbo, and Super Meat Boy, just to name a select few, are all fantastic examples of this. These are the games that define gaming today, and we continue to see more of them as time goes on. Sadly, Scarygirl is not one of those games, despite how much it might want to be. It certainly has a lot going for it, but actually playing it is not one of those things. READ MORE
Freebird Games’ To the Moon is a game that has had me thinking for quite a while. It explores themes in way I’ve never seen done in a game before, and does it in a highly original way. I would love to further discuss the game’s themes and story bits in greater detail, but I want to avoid discussing spoilers when so many people have yet to play To the Moon. Instead, I’m going to focus on the more general themes that drive this game and how other games could benefit from using similar concepts. READ MORE
The original Trine came out of nowhere, providing players with the closest thing to a Lost Vikings sequel they could imagine. Or maybe that’s just my interpretation of it. Nevertheless, Trine succeeded because of its three character dynamic, fun puzzles and mostly-enjoyable platforming. Although it doesn’t change things up too much, Trine 2 manages to keep that winning formula fresh with plenty of new and interesting levels and puzzles. READ MORE
10. L.A. Noire
Rockstar and Team Bondi have crafted something pretty incredible with L.A. Noire. The facial motion-capture technology is amazing and the story is pretty great, but what is most fascinating about L.A. Noire is how it turns your typical point-and-click adventure title into a blockbuster hit. This game is far from perfect, but it’s one where I’m able to look at the package and a whole and say, “Yeah, that turned out pretty great, didn’t it?” READ MORE
