Video Game Reviews


Mercenary Kings

Tribute Games

Reviewed on: PC

Also on: PS4, OSX

Street: 03.25

At first, Mercenary Kings looks and feels like a blatant ripoff of SNK’s Metal Slug series.  Upon closer examination, Tribute’s retro run-and-gun platformer actually brings a lot of originality to the 2D action genre.  Since Mercenary Kings isn’t gunning for quarters in an arcade like its predecessor, the developers have had some time to add some nifty bells and whistles to the traditional side-scrolling gameplay and graphics that we grew to love with Metal Slug.  As the game is about mercenaries, the action comes from a wide variety of missions that the player is allowed to choose.  Each mission varies in its objective, which adds some complexity to the run-and-gun gameplay.  One of the most addictive aspects of the game is the ability to use the money that you make after each mission to customize and upgrade your character’s gun.  The developers put a surprising amount of detail into this mechanic, which allows the player to manufacture the perfect weapon for their gaming experience.  With its retro feel and endless opportunities for customization, Mercenary Kings offers an experience that starts out in a familiar place and grows to include a surprising amount of depth.  –Alex Springer



Pokemon Battle Trozei

Genius Sonority/ Nintendo

Reviewed on: 3DS (Exclusive)

Street: 03.20

There are multiple games released per generation of Pokémon—not just the main games where you go on a grand Pokémon adventure. Pokémon Battle Trozei is one of those weird off-shoots, and is a sequel of sorts to the Pokémon Trozei game that was released March 2008 on the DS. Pokémon are reduced to cutesy, rounder versions of themselves, and then corralled into an eight by six box for matching. You still “catch” wild Pokémon, but instead of using one Pokémon, you need to match at least three to attack the wild Pokémon. You can set up your own combos by simply moving the Pokémon into position so they fall right into place to get the Trozei chance—where you only need a pair of Pokémon to make a match to do some major damage. The wild Pokémon don’t just sit there and take it—they fight back, knocking your health down as well. Pokémon types are also at play here (fire beats grass, lightning beats water), but Trozei doesn’t tell what Pokémon are which type—good luck experimenting. The graphics aren’t bad, and it can be fairly challenging, but it should’ve been a three or four dollar mobile game. –Ashley Lippert

Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut

Born Ready Games/ Born Ready Games

Reviewed on: Xbox One

Also on: PC, OSX, Linux, Playstation 4

Street: 03.02

“Space combat simulators” is a genre of game you don’t see much anymore. It had its heyday in the 80’s and 90’s, with games like Elite, Wing Commander, and the classic FreeSpace games. But lately, these niche games are becoming fewer and farther between. Strike Suit Zero, the latest from the genre, is an independent, Kickstarter funded game that was released in January on PC and Playstation 4, and was the first offering to come from Microsoft’s new independent publishing service, ID@Xbox. The story follows a fighter pilot for Earth in a struggle against the invading forces of the space colonies … or something. The game never really lets you in on that, or maybe I missed it. Regardless, this is a game for people who want to hearken back to this genre’s glory days. The art and music are engrossing, the gameplay is dizzying and difficult—in a good way—but the problem comes in repetition. After one hour, I felt myself having to force myself to continue to play. Not a great sign. But for those who yearn for epic space battles, this game is more than sufficient.  -Blake Leszczynski