The Wrath, the Witch, and the Male Fairy Shizuku

There are few games in this world that can match the charm, wit, beauty, and grand scale that a game like Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch can offer us.  For those of you who read my preview, you probably remember that this game paints a beautifully stylized picture of a world that looks and feels like a Studio Ghibli movie (otherwise known as Miyazaki films).  This game is a port from Japan of a game originally released on the Nintendo DS back in 2009, so remember that while you are in awe of the design and presentation of this invigorating title.  So if you haven't heard of this game before, or haven't decided whether or not this JRPG would be worth a damn, read on and hear what I have to say about the game that charms the world over.

Anarchy Reigns Down On Me

Something struck me as odd from this sort of surprise title.  I had heard nothing of the game until I saw a box for it on the shelf of my local game shack and thought to look it up based on it's art design and colorful cast of characters.  What I found was a game that is half beat-em up and half bullshit.  If you have ever desired a chance to play a forgettable single player campaign and unforgiving online multiplayer modes, then strap yourself in and welcome to the super stylized world of Anarchy Reigns.

FTL: 2012 A Space Oddysey

So far, I've logged about forty five hours on FTL and I have to say, I have loved my time with the game.

FTL operates as a time filler and a comprehensive adventure all in one package for a very reasonable price. This game is best described as Star Trek meets tactical adventure. It occupies much of the same space as games like Binding of Isaac and Don't Starve, so if you've played those games you have a general gist of what this game's philosophy is, even though it has radically different game play. What they share in common is infinite replay value and endearingly addicting game play.

"Braking" the Event Horizon

As a gamer, I know that I must subscribe to a lot of different genres.  Action, puzzle, adventure, platformer, fighting, but one genre that I almost exclusively ignore is sports games.  It is no surprise, sports games are known for being extremely generic and they usually suck.  Also, I normally like to play games that allow me to do something that I am otherwise incapable of doing in the real world.  I mean I am certainly capable of playing football or basket ball, not so much slaying dragons with swords or shooting people in the face without risk of being shot myself.  There are a few sports games however that do intrigue me a bit more.  Racing games in particular definitely have things I cannot perform in reality (like drifting without fear).  Racing games also tend to suck apart from the party style of Mario Kart or the crazy arcade antics of Burnout.  Luckily, Forza Horizon has something much more to offer than simple realistic racing.

Haloes Aren't Always Divine

I have never been a huge Halo fan.  I liked the first game, it was a fun and interesting title for the first Xbox (didn't really shine until it's PC release later on).  Many gamers considered it a crowning accomplishment for the platform and some would dare say it revolutionized the FPS genre for console gaming.  I cannot say the same for its sequels.  I basically hated Halo 2, it wasn't as fun despite the addition of duel wielding.  I couldn't deny the online multiplayer, but I did not enjoy playing it and the story was not something I had been craving.  Halo 3 had even less of an impact on my appreciation for the franchise.  The multiplayer felt stale, and the story meant nothing to me already so I wasn't surprised by the flop ending.  Halo had always cast a dim shadow for me as a gamer.  Even after the 73 spin-off titles released ranging from RTS to squad-based shooters, I never felt myself interested in what the universe had to offer.

There is a Wha? Since When?

I cannot say for certain, but I feel as if I have been asleep for a decade and awoke to some unsettling news.  I guess I should not be as surprised as I am to discover that there is a 3rd game in the Final Fantasy XIII series that ISN'T FFXIIIVersus.  But...why?  I had heard nothing of this title (not that i was looking very deep into the information) and yet even now knowing that there is an impending conclusion to the FFXIII trilogy, I still cannot possibly imagine them finishing the game before Versus.  I mean, I want that god damned game way more than I want to see what happens to Lightning.  I get it, Lightning is hot, and probably the only damn reason half of the players stuck it out in FFXIII in the first place...and probably the same reason those people didn't stick it out for FFXIII-2.  But just because she is the focus on this title doesn't mean that it'll be any better.  But then...what will this game be like anyway?  All I have to go off of for now is this trailer.