Video Game Reviews

Dishonored combines elements of many AAA titles while sneaking in some of its own tricks to weave an interesting tale of revenge and political uprising. Its art style and world are very reminiscent of Bioshock: in the Victorian era—when gentlemen were still gentlemen, etc.  The tutorial is intent on reminding you that this is an RPG by following the cliché framed-for-murder, jailed, and then escaped-through-the-sewers scenario. The combat is really solid for a first-person RPG, and the characters are intensely interesting. Players are also allowed to complete missions in an any-way-they-see-fit direction, affecting the end of the game. For example, if you have the skill and eye for platforming, you can make complicated jumps and avoid almost all combat while sneaking in to assassinate various dignitaries. While this element makes the game incredibly open, it also makes the game overly simple at times. Parts that were built for length became short, and this solution became repetitive quickly. The beauty of Dishonored is that you choose how repetitive the game is by choosing how you complete missions. This is a steal at $39.99 with its DLC included—go forth and play. –Thomas Winkley

Disney Infinity takes the formula already proven by the less well-branded Skylanders—wherein the purchase of expensive, real-world figures translates directly into new content for the game—and includes characters and content from the much-adored Disney roster to sweeten the pot. Bringing your figures to life rarely gets old, and the free-roam and level editor–based Toy Box modes allow you to switch characters at will. The controls are solid, the art style is a gorgeous, whimsical toy-themed wonderland, and it’s a brainless blast to play. I’d recommend it wholeheartedly to any parent or child-at-heart gamer, aside from one significant caveat: This game is expensive. Starter Packs are already a significant investment, but so is every other content pack, and don’t get me started on the necessary booster pack “Power Discs.” You get quality figurines, but it’s designed from the ground up to suck cash out of your wallet at the speed of light. Easily addicted collectors beware—Disney is coming for you. –Matt Brunk

To prepare for the release of The Elder Scrolls Online next year, Bethesda has packaged all five of the previous Elder Scrolls games, along with their respective downloadable content, into a hefty box set.  It’s a brilliant marketing move, as the task of finishing each game will ensure that fans are playing nothing else until The Elder Scrolls Online’s 2014 release date.  As a fairly new inductee into the Elder Scrolls universe, it was fascinating to go back in time and see how such a dense video game franchise got its start.  As I launched Arena, I was surprised to see that the focus on character customization was still there, though the options were obviously more limited.  I made a dude named Bilius the Swordmage, who vaguely resembled John Oates, and prepared for glory. However, my first gameplay experience with both Arena and Daggerfall was laughably short.  As I struggled with the clunky and outdated controls, a bunch of rats proved to be too much for Bilius the Swordmage.  Though the prize of this anthology is Skyrim, complete with its three expansions, it’s nerdy fun to revisit the roots of one of the most expansive game franchises ever created.  –Alex Springer