Video Game Reviews

Strider

Double Helix/Capcom

Reviewed on: Xbox 360

Also on: Xbox One, PS4, PS3, PC

Street: 02.18

Double Helix’s reimagining of Strider—a side-scrolling action title that became a sleeper hit in the late ’80s—raises some questions. First, is it worth ushering a platformer that was built with obsolete technology into the age of HD? If so, will it be any good? After spending some time with Strider, it’s safe to say “yes” to both questions. Most reboots tend to feel like stale versions of their predecessors. In rare instances, developers have managed to isolate the core of what made the subject cool in the first place and add just enough bells and whistles to make it fresh and entertaining. Double Helix has managed to achieve this rare alchemy with Strider. It maintains its side-scroller roots, but the enhanced control scheme makes performing acrobatic flips and mid-air Cypher-slashes seem effortless. This version also allows players a more open world to explore once they upgrade their character with certain enhancements, and there’s plenty of world to explore. Players can expect a good eight to 10 hours of gameplay, depending on how obsessive they are about finding each hidden powerup. Thanks to the right mixture of nostalgia and innovation, Strider should not be missed. –Alex Springer

 

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles

Namco Bandai Games

Reviewed on: PS3 (Exclusive)

Street: 02.25

The Tales games have always held a special place in gamers’ hearts—with good reason. This HD re-release of the critically acclaimed Tales of Symphonia and Dawn of the New World is a great opportunity to hit up a classic action RPG. This game series has a crisply written story and fun characters, bundled with hours of gameplay across gorgeous scenery and challenging puzzles. Combat is more involved than your standard JRPG, with moves being controlled by the direction buttons, while you still have the option of using skills via a menu system when combat is paused. If you are stealthy and quick enough, you can move in and out of monsters’ attack range, or use the block button to reduce damage. For someone who is accustomed to menu-based RPGs, this adds an intellectual challenge, and forces you to use gels (potions) faster than you would anticipate. This beautiful series definitely deserved the HD treatment and is worth $39.99 for two titles. While you’re at it, dress your characters up as if they were from Tales of the Abyss. You won’t regret it.  –Thomas Winkley

 

Titanfall

Respawn Entertainment/ Electronic Arts

Reviewed on: Xbox One

Also on: PC, Xbox 360

Street: 03.11

In an age when video games are researched, discussed, consumed and hyped to the point that there is almost no reason to play them anymore, it takes a special experience to really blow gamers away. Titanfall is not quite that experience. Look, it’s a fantastic game. I love the speed of the whole thing and the epic feel that multi-Titan battles inspire. But a sign of a good game is that when you have time to sit down and play, there shouldn’t even be a thought—that is the game you will play. To be fair, I’m not a huge first-person shooter fan—I just can’t get into action games like this without some sort of strong-ish story, and Titanfall’s is especially thin. It’s some tale about a rebel militia force fighting off the greedy Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation from destroying more of their land. The online-only campaign mode feels more tacked on than Titanfall’s peers do, which is saying something. With all of that said, between the beta in February, and now, in general release, this game has held my attention for many hours. It’s one of the best out for the Xbox One.  –Blake Leszczynski