Review: Tails Adventure (3DS)

Review by Clark A.

As much as I enjoy Sonic’s 2D platforming outings, they all share a particular similitude. If Tails Adventure (and please note, this isn't a grammar fail on our part, the game really isn't called "Tales' Adventure" like it should be - ed) is any indicator, though, that sameness may be a lynchpin upholding their general level of quality. Tails Adventure tosses many Sonic clichés and design choices to the wolves seemingly to be more alluring to fans of more methodical exploration.

Unconventional or not though, its take on the 2D platformer falls flat enough that fans of either gameplay style won’t find much left to appreciate.

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Review: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse HD (iPad)

Review by Matt S. 

I would never have thought that the developers and publishers of this game would have thought to release it on a platform with virtual controls. As a remake of a early-era game, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse HD is the kind of platformer that requires precision skill across small and often rickety areas. And for many that kind of platforming is a no-go without physical buttons. 

But it works. It really works. Castle of Illusion is without a doubt the finest platformer available on the iPad, and the perfect experience to have sitting on your iPad for play on the go. It might not be the longest game, but for its price point, it's genuine quality.

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Review: Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics (Wii U)

Review by Matt S.

With each new release, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic (or Winter Olympic) Games takes one more step towards becoming a generic and soulless minigame compilation. There's still fun to be had from these games, but it's easy to tell that budgets are getting smaller and ideas are running thin.

I still remember the Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games on the DS from the last Games. That one was a lot of fun with minigames that had a measure of depth to them. But then the last Summer Olympics game on the 3DS featured very few games that were worth playing more than once. Having not played one of these games on the home console before I'm happy to say the Wii U game is better than the 3DS Summer Olympics release, but can't match that DS game that I enjoyed so much as a single player experience.

But that being said the great difference between the handheld versions of these games, and the console versions, is that the console versions are that much better for multiplayer, and that makes all the difference.

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Sega's not just acquiring Atlus, it's getting all of Index

Oh look. I was right. Nintendo was never going to acquire Atlus. That was a silly rumour perpetuated by one dude with a poorly-informed opinion putting digital pen to digital paper.

(In fairness, I didn't quite guess which company would make the acquisition either, but I was on the right track!)

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Review: Sonic Generations (3DS)

Sonic Generations on home consoles far exceeded the standards of the average anniversary game. Ironing out the kinks of Sega’s past efforts such as Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colours, the game seamlessly rotated between 2D and 3D mechanics and transcended what could have been a cash-in nostalgia gimmick. Backed up by gorgeous visuals and one of the finest soundtracks in the entire franchise, it’s no wonder fans see the once-troubled hedgehog as on the rise.

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Review: Sonic Labyrinth (3DS)

Calling Sonic Labyrinth one of the less beloved titles in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is something of an understatement. A frequent contender for worst game in the series during fan discussions, Sonic Labyrinth makes its debut on the 3DS to virtually zero applause. Yet in some perverse way, it actually managed to captivate me.

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Review: Sonic Blast (3DS)

Sonic Blast was one of the more ambitious outings for the blue blur when it initially released on the Game Gear. Though a handful of other titles such as Donkey Kong Land previously attempted to bring pre-rendered visuals to underpowered portable handhelds, Blast did so with actual color at its disposal. Aspect and Sega deserve some credit for attempting to add a twist to the comparatively routine aesthetics of Sonic’s other outings on the handheld.

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Bidding for Atlus has begun; 20 companies bid, SEGA only known one to date

The bidding war for Atlus has begun. 20 companies have thrown their chips into the ring and it seems that the acquisition is going to be a big deal. While there's only one known bidder so far, SEGA, the bid is ¥20 billion (approximately $200 million USD).

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Review: Sonic Drift 2 (3DS)

Think about all the things that make a great racing game; an intense sensation of speed, well-balanced racing lines and track design, and for party racers, a nice set of characters and unlockable weapons.

That's my list of requirements; you probably have your own. I think, however, we can all agree that one thing we most definately were not thinking about was "hey, a good racer should have turns that pop in so quickly that if you're not already turning, then you're going to go off the track."

Bam. Now you know why Sonic Drift 2 is one of the worst games I've ever played.

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