Quick Minute Review: What Is It?

Quick Minute Review is a blog focused on pumping out high quality game reviews while keeping them short and sweet. Being as immersed in the gaming lifestyle as I currently am, I want to take my experience with games and share them with those of you who care to read another opinion. What separates this review site from others is the lack of seemingly endless blocks of text packed into each and every review. These reviews are written with one goal in mind: be brief and to the point. Alongside the brevity of the reviews is a unique element known as the Buck Bang. Each review ends with a Buck Bang where I recommend an acceptable price point for those considering adding the game to their library.

With that being said, welcome to Quick Minute Review, where you can find the info you need in all the time you have.

Plants VS. Zombies (PS3 version)

There’s a zombie on your lawn.

Have you ever worried about your house being invaded by zombies? Do you not have a ferocious guard dog or electric fence to protect you? Fear not, for the plants of your garden are here to do more than any guard dog ever could! In Plants VS. Zombies, it is all about building the best defense out of plants to protect your home from being invaded by goofy looking zombie hordes. Yet when it comes down to it, are Peashooters and Walnuts really the best defense against an army of zombies?

Graphics : The cartoony and fun style that PopCap chose to go with suits this game perfectly. Each plant has its own unique personality that can be defined by the way it moves and the facial expression(s) it makes. The Sunflower is cute, Squash is grumpy, and of course you have the oddball, goofy Garlic. The various zombies all carry the same empty facial expression, yet they sport different outfits depending upon their strength and capabilities. Aside from the occasional chugging that may occur during the later waves of Survival Mode, the game looks great and plays very smoothly. (8.5/10)

You see those Peashooters? Ya, they mean business.

Sound : There are very few BGMs in this game. The ones that are present, however, will get stuck in your head. The final battle music is one of the most intense musical pieces I have heard all year. Looking for something that is a bit more tranquil? The Zen Garden’s music can be very relaxing. Outside of this, there is a whole lot of crunchy munching from zombies and the sound of splatters from peas. Oh, and “Braaaaaains…” (8/10)

Enjoyability : This is a very creative take on the Tower Defense genre of gaming. I mean really, let us look at this game and realize exactly what it is. You are using plants to fight brain hungry zombies. It is simply genius! Each level adds a slightly different touch from the one proceeding it, constantly making you wonder if the same plants from two levels ago will be able to get the job done. This game is incredibly addicting. Levels do not take a very long time to complete, making this a great game to pick up and play in short bursts. The learning curve is a very friendly one. You learn how each plant works as soon as you unlock it, and planting them on the battlefield is just as simple. Plants + zombies + simplicity + touch of strategy = a very fun time. (9.5/10)

Replay Value : This game has as many modes as it does types of plants. Okay, it does not have that many modes, but it does have quite a few. Aside from the story, you have the Zen Garden, Survival, Puzzle, Challenge, VS., and Crazy Dave’s shop. Survival pits you against numerous waves of hordes, testing your endurance. Puzzle offers you a series of fun mini-games that add various twists to the game. Challenge requires you to give it your all, as you find yourself up against some obviously challenging situations. If these modes are not enough for you, Story Mode offers a second play-through that tests your skill by restricting your plant choosing freedom. To top it off, you earn coins to spend in Crazy Dave’s shop while playing any of the different modes. These coins can be spent to unlock new plants, house upgrades, etc. After approximately 30 hours of playtime, I still find myself wanting to play this game. (9/10)

Graves can be a pain in the grass.

Overall Grade : (9/10) : This is a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. As cutesy as it is, this game requires your full attention during the later stages. Anyways, go ahead and give this game a try if you already haven’t.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : Online multiplayer is the only feature that I would have enjoyed seeing. A friend of mine would have loved to play VS. mode with me, but he lives many miles away.

*Buck Bang : This game goes for $14.99. Although there is enough content in this game to warrant a purchase of that amount, I will tell you penny pinchers to hold out until you see a price of $9.99 or less. Keep in mind, this game is available on numerous platforms at various prices and different features.

Bloodrayne Betrayal

Make it Rayne.

Welcome to the bloody piece of art that is Bloodrayne Betrayal. In this game, you play as a Dhampir by the name of Rayne who is hired by an organization that is out to destroy vampires. With your weapons in hand, you take to the castle to kill all that stand in your way. Vampires, demons, and even electric frogs will do their best to stop you from reaching the vampire king. Was this game juicy enough to make one want to sink their fangs into it? Let the blood flow as I break it down for you.

Graphics : What stands out most about Bloodrayne Betrayal is the absolutely beautiful imagery. This is easily one of the best looking 2D sidescrollers on the market. Crisp animations, excellent coloring, and a great amount of shading make for one memorable end result. The environments vary enough to make each level stand out a bit from its prior stage. The HUD suits the game and does not get in the way. Really, there’s not much more to say. It looks damn good. (9.5/10)

As beautiful as this game is, I’m still confused why the vampires look like Englishmen.

Sound : Chances are that you will end up playing through this game without paying much attention to the sound effects and music going on around you. Either way, the sound effects are decent. Explosions, gun shots, chewing, and everything else you would expect to hear in a game like this. The music played throughout the game often carries a heavy-rock vibe, a vibe which is very befitting to the heavy action scenes. The main theme music for this game is played via piano, and it sounds beautiful. Overall, good stuff, but the pictures and action will be what captivates you. (8/10)

Enjoyability : There are two ways that I can talk about the enjoyability of this game. One way is by discussing how this game is your typical move from point A to point B while slashing and shooting enemies scenario, and the other way is by discussing how difficult this game can be. Maybe I am just terrible at this genre of games, but I found myself dying quite a bit. Thankfully, there are checkpoints along the way which make dying more bearable. If you are like me, this game will frustrate you. However, a touch of difficulty should not detract from the overall quality of the game. This game is a prime example of that. Searching for upgrade skulls along the way while decapitating those around you can be rather fun. Once you complete a level, the feeling you get for overcoming those challenges is a great one. Well, until you see that you received an F ranking. Once that screen pops up, you will feel like mere worm chow. (8/10)

This baby makes boom-boom.

Replay Value : Do you enjoy putting yourself through rounds and rounds of failure? If you do, you will enjoy replaying all fifteen stages in an attempt to S-rank all of them. What makes this so incredibly difficult, is the astonishing amount of precision required in order to achieve an S-rank. Not only do you have to pull off a speed run, you need to keep the amount of damage you take to a bare minimum. Other than reaching for those S-ranks and attaining glory on the leaderboard, you may also try to obtain all remaining skulls that you missed. With forty skulls spanning across the fifteen stages, you will more than likely find a reason to replay each stage at least once more. (8/10)

Unless you got an S-rank, there’s no room for resting, Rayne.

Overall Grade: (8.5/10) : Bloodrayne Betrayal offers enough to make this game solid experience. Although it won’t leave much a dent in the history books of gaming, this bloody adventure is one that is worth playing. If you still find yourself wondering whether or not this game will appeal to you, think of Castlevania. Does Castlevania sound fun? What about playing Castlevania as a sexy vampire huntress? If so, you should be giving this game a shot.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : Seeing how there are two different guns, I would have liked to see a second melee weapon. Some of the concept art showed Rayne wielding an axe, but the final product appears to have scrapped that idea. Another interesting feature would have been a series of alternate costumes that could be unlocked by completing various tasks. Her default outfit is fine, but some of the outfits seen in the concept gallery are fairly impressive.

*Buck Bang : I bought this game for $12 when the PlayStation+ sale was active. It’s regular price is $15, which may be a bit too steep. If you would love to get your hands on this game, $12 is an alright price. $10 or below is the price point to be looking out for.

Final Fantasy XIII

Fulfill your destiny.

To fulfill one’s foretold destiny, or to forge a new one, is the dilemma that the six protagonists of Final Fantasy XIII must overcome. Throughout this story, you follow the intertwining paths of Lightning, Sazh, Snow, Hope, Vanille, and Fang, as they struggle to overcome the cursed mark of the l’Cie. Chosen by fal’Cie gods, these six protagonists have been instructed to destroy Cocoon, the continent which floats above Gran Pulse. Many of their loved ones reside on Cocoon, and fulfilling their l’Cie purpose would result in grave results for many unsuspecting innocents. If they should choose to defy their purpose, they become mindless creatures known as Cie’th.

Graphics : Ever since the release of Final Fantasy VII, gamers have known that you can always count on Square Enix to deliver you jaw-dropping graphics. Final Fantasy XIII is one of the best looking video games that I have played on the PlayStation 3. The cinematic scenes are the most beautiful pieces of HD gaming imagery that I have laid eyes on. Everything is extremely crisp and the color palette is vast and beautiful. The battle HUD is simplistic, informative, and it disappears during special attacks and summons, thus giving your eyes that much more room for candy. Players using non-HDTVs will be missing out. (10/10)

Welcome to Square Enix, also known as the makers of eye candy.

Sound : Once again, the composers for the Final Fantasy series went above and beyond. To top it all off, the music transitions are extremely smooth when engaging enemies. At various points throughout the game, the music is what sent me over the top. Whether it be anger, happiness, or sadness, this game’s soundtrack hits an emotional home run. As with most RPGs, the battle music themes come in very few flavors. However, they are enjoyable and do a great job at keeping you on your toes. The sound effects are also very well done. Combat sounds are crisp and menu navigation is quite elegant. When it comes to voice acting, it is easily some of the best that I have heard. Well, except for Vanille’s voice. (10/10)

Enjoyability : Let’s get one thing straight, this game is very linear. There are many Final Fantasy fans who dislike this game for that reason alone. I, however, am not one of them. In my eyes, Square Enix took a risk by changing it up and did a great job with it. The story can be rather confusing and dull at times, but it does have its moments. One area that truly shines is the game’s combat system. It keeps you on your toes and rarely leaves you with no reason to pay attention. If the new paradigm shifting battle system is not enough to fill your newness hunger, your characters do not experience the standard level up system in this game. As pictured in the image below, characters gain Crystogen Points from battle that can then be spent in the Crystarium to increase your stats and increase your role levels. Grinding for CP  is surprisingly addictive. (8/10)

Say goodbye to leveling up, and hello to the Crystarium.

Replay Value : The main story of this game took me approximately 40 hours to complete. Depending on how much grinding you do, the story could probably be finished in about 30 hours. Once the main story is complete, the world of Gran Pulse contains 64 side quests, otherwise known as Cie’th stone missions. Some of these are story related, however, you will be left with a majority of them as endgame material. Varying in difficulty, these missions will often force you to change your strategy, keeping things interesting. Aside from that, maxing out your characters and trophy hunting also helps. There’s no real need to play through the story a second time. (8/10)

Certain enemies will keep you on your toes for the entirety of the battle.

Overall Grade : (9/10) : When it comes down to it, Final Fantasy XIII delivers a solid experience. I found myself thinking that I was watching a movie at numerous points throughout the game. The story may be a bit confusing, but it all wraps up quite nicely near the end. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is coming out in a few months, and this game left me eager for it.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : Many hardcore fans will say that the developers should have implemented more free-roaming capabilities, something that is very common in Final Fantasy games. I will not say so. The overall experience was great and cinematics were beautiful. It would have been nice if they implemented a cinematic replay feature.

*Buck Bang : This game is currently retailing for approximately $20. Yes, it is worth every penny.

Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires

Hack, Slash, Conquer. Rinse and Repeat.

Have you ever had the desire to lead hundreds of troops in a conquest to conquer an entire nation? If so, Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires is right up your alley. In this game, you choose a commanding officer before setting forth on a campaign to unite ancient China via hostile takeovers. A little bit of strategy here, some temporary alliances formed there, and a whole lot of button mashing result in that which is this tactical hack and slash. Is this game as powerful as the mighty Lu Bu, or does it fall into the never-ending depths of repetition that the Dynasty Warriors franchise is known for?

 

Graphics : This game lacks flash in the sense that everything is rather bland and unappealing. This game has several stages, yet many of them fail to stand out. A majority of the main characters look rather decent amongst their simplistic soldiers. The HUD lacks a wide variety of color and contains a lot of red and blue. The special effects from attack animations are not very appealing, either. (5/10)

Lu Bu, a memorable character from a not-so-memorable game.

Sound : As with most Dynasty Warriors games, you can expect to hear a lot of Chinese music. These tracks bring out the atmosphere, as well as demonstrate the beauty of ancient China. Not all BGMs consist of Chinese bells and whistles. You can expect to hear a handful of hard rock music during some of the stages and morale boosting cut-scenes. The sound effects, whether they be the swinging of your sword or selecting an option on the menu, are mediocre and easily forgotten. Prepare yourself for some cheesy voice acting, as many of the characters’ voices are very lackluster. (7/10)

Enjoyability : The main roster of characters have quite a few memorable names in the lineup. Characters like Cao Cao, Zhao Thai, and the mighty Lu Bu are only a handful of the noteworthy ones. As with most games, you will most likely find your favorite(s) and stick with them. This game does not take very long to become repetitive. Missions do not vary enough to keep things interesting. When it comes down to it, feeling like a powerhouse while slaying hundreds of weaklings is the only feature that I found myself enjoying. Well, that and the easy achievements. (5/10)

Need a partner for this repetitious journey? Bring a friend!

Replay Value : As with most Dynasty Warriors games, the game gets extremely repetitive very quickly. After running through a few missions, you will begin to pick up on the quickest and easiest ways to complete each stage. When I first started playing this game, missions took me around fifteen minutes to complete. Once I figured out how to breeze through them, three minutes was often the most amount of time necessary to finish the stage. Changing which character you use may help keep things interesting, but it is still the same routine regardless of who you are playing as. (5/10)

Overall Grade : (5.5/10) : If you are able to get past the repetitiveness within Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires, you will find yourself a decent way to kill some time and thousands of underpowered enemy troops. Assuming you have little to no Dynasty Warriors experience, be sure to note that this is far from the best that the franchise has to offer.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : KOEI should have made this game less repetitive. Alright, I’m done. In all seriousness, changing up the mission objectives a bit more could have helped. An online mode where you can VS a friend would have been fun.

*Buck Bang : Unless you’re an achievement hunter or Dynasty Warriors fan, I’d drop no more than $5 on this title.

Burnout Paradise

Drive ‘em, Race ‘em, Wreck ‘em.

Welcome to Paradise City, where the grass is green, the girls are pretty, and home of the road raging fun that is Burnout Paradise. This tricked out ride of a game takes place on Paradise Island, home of the car man’s (or woman’s) fantasy land where a driver can go from racing to jumping through billboards in a matter of seconds. From trucks to vans, motorcycles to racers, this game comes in many automotive flavors. Without further ado… Prepare to burn some rubber, and not the kind that prevents unplanned pregnancy.

Graphics : Shiny cars, vivid lighting, and detailed vehicle collisions all in high-definition. Burnout Paradise may not be the best looking car game on the market, but it definitely gets the job done when it comes to eye candy. Zipping through downtown has never looked so good when going over 120 MPH. Your vehicle even displays damage based on where your car has collided with something, whether it be another vehicle or a traffic pole. The HUD is extremely simple and takes up little room on the screen. It tells you where you are, how much burnout meter you currently have, and ocassionally some instructions regarding your current mission’s objective. In sum, your eyes will enjoy it. (8/10)

The simplistic HUD leaves more room for you to enjoy the game’s beautiful lighting.

Sound : Paradise Island’s radio spans across numerous genres such as rock and classical orchestra. If the many tracks included in the game are not enough to please you, fear not, for Burnout Paradise allows you to listen to your own custom soundtracks while cruising through Paradise Island. The game falls short when it comes to music made specifically for this game, yet the overall experience remains unaffected. (7.5/10)

Enjoyability : There is something about driving through busy streets at insanely high speeds while dodging traffic that makes it enjoyable. If you own a real car, you run many risks by driving in the wrong lane at over 90MPH. In Burnout Paradise, crashing your car results in nothing more than a brief slow-mo cinematic and car reset. With no insurance rate spikes or law enforcement to worry about, you are free to own the road in whatever style you deem fit. Whether it is by jumping off of ramps, racing through the mountains, or literally smashing up the competition, Burnout Paradise offers several events to tickle your car-fancy. (8/10)

This game does an excellent job at making crashing cars fun.

Replay Value : With 75 different cars and 120 events at your fingertips, Burnout Paradise offers quite a bit to keep players from getting bored. If you should actually find yourself not being entertained by the numerous single-player events, online multiplayer brings about loads of fun. Aside from the multiplayer specific missions, such as jumping over 3 other players’ vehicles, people using a USB webcam can send photos of themselves whenever they are wrecked by another player. These antics really enhance the fun factor as you can only imagine how hilarious the possibilities are with what to do when the camera decides to snap a shot. (7.5/10)

I dare you to try and find nothing to do in Paradise City.

Overall Grade : (8/10) : Burnout Paradise is an enjoyable game for everyone, not just car fanatics. It’s an easy pick-up-and-play game that can have you turning it off before work with ease, or keeping your attention for a few hours as you race some of your closest buddies online.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : This game does what it can and does it well, but for those of us who want the cherry on top of the already delicious cake, a few seemingly simple treats were left out. Features that could have been added include customizable rims, sticker decals, and a create your own race course mode. Even though the races allow you to go wherever you want, heading to the same eight destinations may become slightly repetitive.

*Buck Bang : $20 and below is more than a fair price for this title. If you’re pinching pennies, I’d hold out for $15 or less.

Pokémon Black/White Version

Pikachu, I’ve A Feeling That We’re Not In Kanto Anymore.

Welcome to the Unova region. As a young Pokémon trainer, you set out to become a Pokémon master. In order to do so, one must challenge and defeat eight gym leaders and receive their respective badges. With eight badges in hand, trainers are allowed access into the Pokémon League where their toughest challenges await them. Of course, getting there is no easy feat. The evil Team Plasma is out and about trying to liberate Pokémon from their so called human oppressors. Do you have what it takes to stop them and become Unova’s next greatest trainer? It is time to pick your starting Pokémon. Do you choose the Grass-type Snivy, Fire-type Tepig, or Water-type Oshawott? While you think that one over, let’s go through this quick rundown.

Graphics : Stepping away from the basic 2D overhead look that previous games have used, Black & White bring out the DS’ potential by adding some 3D to the game play. Whether you are walking through a major city, forest, or electric cave, the world has tons of personality and it all looks great, making for the most visually appealing journey a portable Pokémon game has had thus far. Battles continue to sport the 2D sprites with a few new additions and tweaks from prior games. The most significant tweak is that the sprites now move during battle. Now, when I say move, I mean bounce around as if they are breathing. It may not be the 3D that some continue to hope for, but it does add some liveliness to the battlefield. (8/10)

The environments vary quite a bit in Unova. From deserts to mountains, it has it all.

Sound : With nearly every city and route having its own unique background music, your ears will never grow tired of hearing the same stuff for hours on end. The one exception to this statement would be if  you choose to have an online or subway battle marathon where the battle music is always the same. Although the main battle theme is enjoyable, it can get rather repetitive after hearing it a few hundred times. Important story-related battles carry unique musical tracks, whether it be a gym leader or a Team Plasma grunt, the adrenaline pumping beats help keep you on your toes. Oh, and they added an upbeat BGM for when your Pokémon’s HP is low in battle. (9/10)

Enjoyability : Compared to the previous portable Pokémon games, Black & White take the cake when it comes to storytelling. Characters have more personality and involvement than ever before. Not only is it enjoyable, it’s rather long. It will take approximately forty-hours to complete, not counting the side-story content. Three new battle types were introduced in these games: Triple, Rotation, and Launcher. Triple & Rotational both have a 3v3 aspect going on, while Launcher battles allow trainers to use items via a point system. In the end, what’s not to like about raising little monsters into forces to be reckoned with? (10/10)

As cluttered as the screen may be, Triple battles are both frantic and fun.

Replay Value : As do most Pokémon games, Black and White offer many reasons to keep coming back to the game once the story is completed. With the introduction of random match-ups via Nintendo WiFi, players are able to hop online and face a new challenger in a matter of seconds. With six different battle formats ranging from singles to triples, trainers need to know their team inside and out. Although this game looks somewhat childish, Pokémon battles can be extremely difficult when playing against someone who knows the competitive ropes. If battling is not your forte, there is always the time consuming challenge of completing your Pokédex. If that is still not enough for you, you can connect your game to the internet thus allowing you to play various mini-games in the Pokémon Dream World. (9.5/10)

Welcome to the Pokémon Dream World, where all your Pokédreams come true.

Take these 154 new additions and add them to the previous 493 for one massive monster library.

Overall Grade : (9/10) : There is a reason why Pokémon has remained a powerhouse franchise for fifteen-years and counting. With a huge library of monsters, numerous battle types, lively character roster and several other neat features, Pokémon Black/White Version is one for the history books.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : There is not much lacking from these games other than a Battle Frontier. Although the Battle Subway is great, it lacks the variety that a Battle Frontier possesses. Battle Frontiers often hold numerous facilities, each one hosting battles with unique rules. As many Pokémon fans know, a Battle Frontier is often added when a generation’s third installment is released. Here’s to hoping that the next version will follow through with this routine.

*Buck Bang : There is enough content in these games to legitimize a full price purchase of $34.99. If you are not already a Pokémon fan and are curious enough to try one of these out, I would say a price point of $24.99 or lower would be the number to look for.

After Burner Climax

Fly High. Fly Fast. Climax.

Feeling the need to cruise the skies in an F-14D Super Tomcat at insanely fast speeds? Look no further. After Burner Climax is an arcade game where players pilot one of three fighter jets through a series of different environments while gunning down enemy pilots. Constant missile barrages, barrel rolls, and anti-air fire will have you fastening your seat belt at all times. With little to no expected turbulence, you are free to sit back and enjoy the review.

Graphics : The environments for this game are all very well done. Even when cruising the skies at max speed, the frame rate is able to provide a smooth ride through the skies at all times. Although the environments are the most captivating visual aspects within the game, the HUD does not fall short of being easy on the eyes. Being as ambient and colorful as it is, it does an excellent job of keeping the player informed on details such as health and ammunition. The aircraft you control is also not too shabby in the looks department. (8/10)

From an aurora borealis to a nuclear war base, After Burner Climax has the eye candy.

Sound : Before you take to the air, you are able to choose between two different sets of BGMs. They are both similar to one another, as well as enjoyable. The music is nothing too memorable, but it fits just right. Regardless of which BGM set you choose, each stage has its own musical piece, smoothly transitioning from one stage’s set to the next. (8/10)

Enjoyability : This game is a great way to burn fifteen or so minutes of your time. The difficulty level of this game only gets easier as you become more aware of where the enemies come from and how to effectively dodge enemy fire. If you are into aiming for high scores, pulling off large combos can be quite the satisfying feat. Taking down tens of enemies in a matter of seconds while zipping over a volcanic mountain range is a nice way to blow off some steam, especially if done via Climax mode. Over time, your Climax bar will begin to fill. Once it is at 100%, you enter a slow-mo state of combat where locking on becomes extremely easily and your missile count is infinite. Such power is not to be taken lightly. (7/10)

Climax mode will have you climaxing out of game, too.

Replay Value : One play-through of this title will take you approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. It is possible to 100% this game’s achievements in just three play-throughs. If you are having a difficult time getting certain achievements, fear not. Several reward options exist within the game to help make gameplay easier for players once certain milestones are met. There is also a score attack mode which will keep you coming back in attempts to obtain a higher score for the leaderboard. If you are not much of a high score gamer, this game has little reason to come back to it after obtaining the 100% completion mark. (7/10)

Different paths help change things up for multiple play-throughs.

Overall Grade : (7.5/10) : A fun game with enough being offered to make you believe that it was a worthy purchase. If you love aerial combat games, this is about as fun-sized as you can get. Simple, short, and enjoyable.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : Seeing how this is an arcade classic, tweaking it too much could end up doing more harm than good for fans. If anything, I suppose a few more alternate pathways or BGM sets would have been nice.

*Buck Bang : With this game taking such a short amount of time to complete, $10.00 is a fairly steep price to pay. If you are able to grab this game for $5.00 or less, go for it.

Terminator Salvation

The Era of Man VS Machine

Terminator Salvation is one of those take it or leave it games. If you never play it, very few will tell you that you are missing out on an unforgettable experience. If you do end up spending a few hours on this movie-based video game, you will find yourself noticing how lackluster it truly is. In this adventure, you play as John Connor, one of mankind’s last hopes in the war against the machines. The game starts off in the midst of the war, throwing you right into it. Your goal is quite simple: Take down Skynet, the master computer controlling the mechanical killers. Does the battle of John Connor VS the machines result in a victory for mankind, or a mechanical disaster?

Graphics : A boring HUD and menu screen give this game a very dusty feel, as if it has been sitting around for ages. The character models are decent, yet very plain. This is expected, seeing how the machines are all chrome. I noticed several patches of solid black ground throughout the campaign as if they forgot to add terrain. A silly oversight on their end if you ask me. The loading screen is of the same terminator face and lasts for over ten seconds. Does anyone really want to stare at the same creepy robot skull as often as the game forces you to? To sum it up, the game does not look terrible, but it sure could have used a bit more polish. (6/10)

Nothing like a dry color palette and an overly simplistic HUD to help captivate people.

Sound : “Wasps!” “Skynet!” Your NPC partners will repeat a handful of phrases throughout your adventure, making them come across as nothing more than simplistic AI. The music is nothing memorable, either. Of course, it would not be Terminator if it did not include the well-known Terminator theme music. Although they only play it a few times throughout the entire game, it helps make you feel like you are in the middle of something epic. (5/10)

Enjoyability : If I remember correctly, this game took me somewhere between seven and nine hours to complete on hard mode. There are a few battles which will frustrate you ever so slightly, but they are far from impossible. If you have a friend who is willing to play alongside you, co-op mode takes away from the small amount of challenge present in the game. With a mere five or so weapon types at your disposal, combat can get rather boring. The variety of enemies is just as poor, consisting of two aerial enemies and three land roamers. The fighting in this game is all about taking cover behind walls and other objects to protect yourself from enemy fire. Once it is safe, you pop out and unload.  All in all, it makes for a monotonous experience. (6/10)

Even an RPG isn’t enough to destroy a T-600 in one shot.

Replay Value : Honestly, there is no reason to play through this game a second time. There are no collectibles, unlockables, or competitive multiplayer of any kind. I’ll not be back. (2/10)

Overall Grade : (5/10) : I can see someone wanting to play this game for two reasons: They are a die-hard Terminator fan, or they want some extremely easy achievements/trophies. If you play through this game on Hard, you will have a crisp 1000G/Platinum trophy by the end of your adventure.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : The main problem with this game is the lack of replay value. If they would have included a competitive multiplayer mode or some unlockables, I could see this game being more than a rental for some. Aside from adding reasons to come back to the game, the programmers should have polished this game up a bit more before releasing it. Black chunks of empty space on the ground? That is just sloppy work.

*Buck Bang : This game was a rental for me, and I advise that it be nothing more than a rental for you. If you are a collector of sorts, I recommend that you spend $5 or less on this title.

Phantasy Star Portable 2

An Entire Universe In the Palm of Your Hand

In Phantasy Star Portable 2, you create a character who becomes the newest recruit in a mercenary group known as Little Wing. As a member of Little Wing, you will encounter numerous missions which will have you defeating difficult bosses, completing goals within the allotted time, and performing various other requests. There are four separate race types as well as job classes, each one bringing unique abilities to the battlefield. The four job classes are Hunter, Ranger, Force, and Braver. These classes focus on melee, ranged, magic, and universal combat in their respective order. Seeing how this game is all about customization, your job class does not limit you to what weapons you can wield. For example, a Ranger will be able to wield an axe if the player chooses to do so. Not only can you mix-and-match weapons, but abilities as well. With so many different combinations spanning race, class, clothing, body, weapons, and even a customizable room, the amount of possible results seem endless. This game has a lot going for it, and the fact that it is on a portable gaming system makes it that much more impressive. Is this vast amount of content enough to suck you into its portable universe? Sit back, level up, and enjoy the breakdown.

Graphics : For a PSP game, they’re quite alright. When I play this game on my HDTV through the PSP connector cable, the graphics remind me of the PS2 version of Phantasy Star Universe. Nothing too special, nothing too terrible. The few cinematic sequences within the game look good, yet the gameplay graphics are nothing to go around boasting about. (7/10)

A Challenge stage where you have access to nothing more than shields.

Sound : The music throughout the various areas within the game are all enjoyable. Whether it’s within the main city, a jungle area, or an ancient castle, the music suits the location. Sound effects are also well-done and include numerous throwbacks from the days of Phantasy Star Online. If I were rating the Japanese version, the sound score would be a perfect 10, seeing how nearly every piece of character dialogue has excellent voice acting alongside it. However, the English version of the game lacks this. Because of that, it doesn’t shine as much as its Japanese counterpart. (8/10)

Enjoyability : This game is all about creating a character, leveling him or her up to 200, completing various challenges along the way, and hunting down the hundreds upon hundreds of unique items. The ability to customize your character is almost limitless within this game. Not only can you customize your appearance through body proportion, clothing, face, etc, you can also customize your character’s abilities. With four classes in this game, you can mix and match the various class abilities as well as what weapon types you want your character to be able to use. The story and side-stories are also quite enjoyable. Oh, and how can I almost forget to mention the inclusion of infrastructure multiplayer? Yes, that’s right, you and three others can team up to play through wireless online mode from around the globe. This makes for plenty of good times to be had. (10/10)

Online play is not always about tackling missions. R&R is necessary every now and then.

Replay Value : With eight character slots, four races and type classes to choose from, more than twenty weapon types, an abundance of clothing, 250 in-game achievements and well over forty different missions, this game has enough content to keep you occupied for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours. (10/10)

The customization options for your character include even the smallest of details, such as eyelash length.

Overall Grade : (9/10) : This game has enough content in it to keep one grinding their character for a couple hundred hours. It’s fun, has an easy learning curve, and can be played with others both locally and online.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : My main complaint with this game is that there is an obvious imbalance amongst the four class types. After trying all four of the classes, the order of best to worst is quite clear. Vanguard and Hunter make the game enjoyable and are capable of soloing nearly every mission. Ranger is adequate and can be challenging unless playing with others, while Force is extremely difficult to play as when soloing outside of a group. Character imbalance is one of my biggest peeves, and this game has a decent amount of it.

*Buck Bang : This title has already offered me more than 100 hours of playtime. I still have Hard Mode to play through, countless items to collect, and a level cap to reach. I paid $40 for this game on the date of launch and have enjoyed it ever since. You can currently find this game for $19.99 at various retailers. If you ask me, $19.99 is a steal.

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

Mario Kart, SEGA style.

Are you a fan of the Mario Kart series? Do you enjoy many of the SEGA franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Crazy Taxi, and Space Channel 5? If so, you will find much enjoyment within Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing. Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is your typical party-style racing game. As you and your opponents race to the finish line, various weapons are at your fingertips to help give you an advantage in attaining first place. Aside from the various race campaigns, this game also offers a challenge mode where players are given various tasks to complete under the allotted time. How well did Sonic and friends place in their debut Grand Prix? Hold on to your monkey balls, the race is about to start.

Graphics : The graphics for this game are very crisp and colorful on my 1080p HDTV. For a game of this type, the graphics are spot-on. The racers look good and the courses they drive on match in quality. (9/10)

Shiny cars and crisp landscapes make for an enjoyable ride.

Sound : The commentator in this game CAN be turned off if you begin to find him annoying. However, he does have some humorous lines every now-and-then. Aside from that, each race course has approximately three or four soundtracks to choose from once you unlock them all. The music in this game is amazing, and contains many SEGA BGM classics. (9/10)

Enjoyability : Shooting Sonic and Beat down with bombs as I race through a pinball machine with my four chuchu mice in a hovering rocket is something else. Although this game shows a strong resemblance to the Mario Kart series, SEGA is able to offer a semi-unique feel with its own cast of characters, vehicles and courses. Each racer has different stats, resulting in some fun experimentation. If the variety of courses and characters is not enough for you, local and online multiplayer also add to the fun. (8/10)

Splitscreen racing at its finest.

Replay Value : Approximately 24 courses, 22 or so racers and a handful of doable achievements over time give players a good amount of replay material. (8/10)

Unfortunately, Nights is nothing more than the flag waver.

Overall Grade : (8.5/10) : It’s fun and easy to pick-up-and-play making it a great game for friends and family alike.

*Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda : As far as improvements go, I would have liked to see multiple vehicles for each racer to choose from. The game does not heavily suffer from any overpowered racers, but adding multiple vehicles with different racing stats would have been a nice touch.

*Buck Bang : How much bang should your bucks make for this game? $29.99 is a decent price, but I personally would not pay any more than $19.99 for this title. I bought it for $14.99 and have no regrets. $19.99 is a fair price to pay for this game, yet if you have a decent backlog of titles already built-up, hold out for $14.99 or lower.