Issue 79: October 2010

EA Sports MMA (PS3, X360)
Developer: EA Tiburon
Publisher: EA
Genre: Fighting/Sports
6/10
Summary: Gorgeous graphics won't save this game. The mechanical gameplay setup feels stiff, boring and repetitive. EA, you can do better than this.



Fallout: New Vegas (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Bethesda
Genre: RPG
8/10
Summary: Fallout: New Vegas is a spinoff that stands on its own legs thanks to some brilliant news gameplay-wise and a really good story. If it weren't for all the small, technical hitches I would've gladly given it a nine.



Medal of Honor (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Danger Close Games
Publisher: EA
Genre: Shooter
7/10
Summary: Gruesome military porno, stunning graphics and remarkable sound saves Medal of Honor from a lower grade. Pale multiplayer mode and short gameplay time keeps it from getting a higher one.



Vanquish (PS3, X360)
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Action/Shooter
8/10
Summary: Vanquish is, without exaggeration, the most action stuffed game I have ever played in my entire life. It's also well balanced, nice looking, varied and extremely addictive.



NBA 2K11 (Multi)
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Games
Genre: Sports
8/10
Summary: NBA 2K11 is an ultrarealistic, tough and very demanding basketball game for the most hardcore. We've yet to see what EA can do with NBA Elite. We won't get the answer until February.



Two Worlds II (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Reality Pump
Publisher: Top Ware Interactive
Genre: RPG
7/10
Summary: This is for RPG- and fantasy-fans that can forgive lacking playability in favor of an almost infinite amount of content.



Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (PS3, X360)
Developer: Mercury Steam
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Action
8/10
Summary: A pace-wise stunning action adventure with great controls, cool design and really awesome graphics. Something for every vampire lover to sink their teeth into.



FIFA 11 (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: EA Sports
Publisher: EA
Genre: Sports
9/10
Summary: With bigger demands and better animations, digital football has never been more alike the real thing. FIFA 11 is the best football game ever. Thank you for that, EA.



Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 (PS3, X360)
Developer: Cyber Connect2
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Genre: Fighting
6/10



Front Mission Evolved (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Double Helix Games
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Action/Shooter
5/10



Quantum Theory (PS3, X360)
Publisher: Tecmo
Genre: Action/Shooter
2/10



Wii Party (Wii)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Party
6/10



WRC 2010 (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Black Bean Games
Genre: Racing
5/10
Summary: I was really, really hoping for great things - even if my gut feeling beforehand was telling me something else. Unfortunately Milestone does not manage to create a believable sense of speed. They also don't succeed with the track layouts, and the default settings are downright stupid.



Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock (PS3, Wii, X360)
Developer: Neversoft
Publisher: Activision
Genre: Music/Rhythm
8/10
Summary: A rocking music game and a worthy finish for Neversoft. What's lacking in ambitions and new thinking is compensated with a great setlist and a playful career mode.



Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (PS3, X360)
Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Namco
Genre: Action
8/10
Summary: A really nice adventure in an original and very well designed game world. Ninja Theory freely mixes intense action with calmer parts and the combination is intriguing.



Final Fantasy XIV (PC)
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: MMORPG
8/10
Summary: If you are tired of World of Warcraft, old graphics and very familiar quests, and want both a gorgeous and fresh alternative, Final Fantasy XIV is probably just what you're looking for.



Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I (PS3, Wii X360)
Developer: Dimps / Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Platformer
6/10
Summary: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is a decent platformer, but far from the brilliant comeback I was hoping for.