Video Game Reviews

EA’s disturbing trend of monetizing popular franchises continues with Plants vs. Zombies 2, a game that drunkenly tightropes the line between ‘free-to-play game’ and ‘microtransaction nightmare’ with every system in the game. Like the original, players progress through a series of increasingly difficult challenges, unlocking new plants with each successful tower defense against an onslaught of deadly-but-somehow-cute zombies. PvZ2 adds the concept of time into the formula, splitting its campaign up into various historical time periods with Egyptian zombies and the pirating undead (all very predictable, cliché choices, I might add), a fun twist on the original: and unfortunately, the only enjoyable one. Upgrades, unique plants and often, progression through the game’s story are hidden behind a paywall, forcing players to either pay up or grind to get the stars and keys necessary to progress to new scenarios (objects only awarded through in-app purchase, or “random drops” during scenarios). Sure, the game can be played without paying any money, but how far is too far? PvZ2 is all about testing a gamer’s patience, and not through challenge, a thoroughly disappointing turn for one of the most addictive tower defense games in recent memory. – Randy Dankievitch

Project X Zone
Banpresto/Monolith Soft
Reviewed On: 3DS
Street: 06.25

In an attempt to snag fans of every game they’ve ever made, some of Japan’s gaming greats have put together yet another mash-up RPG. The amalgamate of my fighting game addiction with my uncontrollable pull to JRPGs had me picking this up the second the store opened, and only partially regretting it a few days later. Project X Zone takes characters from Sega, Capcom and, Namco Bandai franchises and places them into the main storyline as either playable or ancillary. This game ties everybody together with terribly written circumstances involving time travel and inter-dimensional rifts. Generally each level begins with the sentence, “Character X from game Y?!?! What are you doing here?!?! We’re trapped in time too!! Let’s figure it out together!! Holy shit! Monsters! Let’s fight!” Once you’ve survived the aforementioned dialogue laced with innuendo and overly voluptuous anime damsels, you are treated to an incredibly fun combat system, utilizing tactics and chain combos with your prospective teams. If you can groan your way through the storyline, the combat almost makes up for the pain. Don’t say I didn’t warn you: If you’re not ready for every gaming stereotype being thrown at you, leave this one be. –Thomas Winkley

Rogue Legacy
Cellar Door Games
Reviewed On: PC
Also On: PS4, Vita, OnLive
Street: 06.27

Now that Rogue Legacy has taken 11 hours of my life from me, it’s safe to say that what began as mild curiosity has mutated into full-blown addiction. The story begins with a noble knight seeking fortune and glory within the dreaded Castle Hamson. During my first playthrough—as I was getting used to the controls while simultaneously dodging fireballs and skeletons—I didn’t last too long. This is where the game gets interesting. Each time you die, it’s up to one of your three children to take up your sword and assault the castle again. It’s a tricky situation because each child is born with physical and psychological traits that can make your castle run more challenging. For example, my next character was dyslexic, which caused every word that came on screen to show up scrambled. Once you’ve earned enough gold, you’re taken to a customization screen where your character’s family tree can be upgraded, different weapons can be purchased and different classes can be unlocked. The ability to choose between making a run as a character with vertigo or one with dwarfism along with a constantly shifting battleground gives this game a ridiculous amount of replay value. –Alex Springer