Author: FM Contributor
If there’s one thing that the developer commentary on the HALF-LIFE games has taught me, almost every design is meticulously crafted and planned at Valve Corporation. HALF-LIFE 2: EPISODE TWO is no exception. It is a complimentary follow up to HALF-LIFE 2: EPISODE ONE, bringing back the familiar mechanics, gameplay, and atmosphere you’d expect from the HALF-LIFE 2 universe. And yet, it is the yang to EPISODE ONE‘s yin. Whereas the first episode was a throw back to the first game’s emphasis on smart puzzles, EPISODE TWO leans heavier towards the FPS aspects of the series. Still being part of…
War. War never changes. Neither does Bethesda’s FALLOUT. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. I remember my first memorable journey into the wasteland with FALLOUT 3 (and subsequent journeys with FALLOUT, FALLOUT 2, and FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS). And while I had done plenty of playthroughs with the previous games, I was itching for a new journey back to the retro future. Since it’s been seven years since Bethesda rewrote FALLOUT and broke ground with the third iteration, I was extremely eager to see what they had in store. If you’ve played FALLOUT 3 or FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS, you’ll know what to expect here. Play a (now voiced) protagonist who leaves…
Based solely on the title of Lucky McKee’s (MAY, THE WOODS) ALL CHEERLEADERS DIE, I had a kind of preternatural premonition that I would be enjoying this one. Hell, based on that title, I can’t believe ol’ Lucky himself didn’t call yours cruelly and have him introduce the film like some sort of sexy William Castle (which totally could have happened if I was available, but of course, my duties to the House that Fearsome Forry built have kept me too busy to make cameos). So was my uncanny ability to completely judge whether I’ll like a movie or not…
If Famous Monsters were a video game, we would definitely be CASTLEVANIA. We both have a love for classic movie monsters (especially the Universal and Hammer ones), both got our starts in the silver age of our respective mediums, and both have gone through several iterations (though I do hope our current magazine is of better quality than CASTLEVANIA‘s newest series). With that all being said, welcome to the Classic Castlevania Marathon. We’ll be going through all of the bit-era games of the CASTLEVANIA legacy. I would plow through the entire series, but with so many games, I’d be saying “Happy…
As a kid, I used to envy Japan, and looking back on it, I was right. When it came to video games in the 90s, Japan was where it was at. Or as Marty McFly once said, “What do you mean, Doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan.” Major games and systems used to be released earlier in Japan, and there were even amazing games that didn’t get released in North America and Europe. Case in point: CASTLEVANIA: RONDO OF BLOOD, a true classic that didn’t see the light of day here until the remake (plus original included)…
Holy cats, creeps, I can hardly believe my putrid peepers! None other than the diabolical duo Jen and Sylvia Soska have dropped by the ol’ Crypt o’ XIII to chew the fat and give us a look into what it’s like bein’ two of the most talented die-rectors in the horror biz! Famous Monsters. We all know that you are rulin’ the fright flick universe these days from within the ebony walls of the Twisted Time Mansion™, but let’s cast our minds back across the aether of time and jaw a bit about how you got all entangled in the…
When Lon Chaney Sr. drove by a tall, thin contract actor waiting for a bus one night in the pouring rain, the famous movie star did more than just offer this unassuming Englishman a ride home; he gave his passenger some acting tips that would forever change his life: “Find something that no one else is doing or willing to do, and do it better than anyone else; leave your mark.” The unassuming passenger, of course, was Boris Karloff. From its 1910 screen debut to the recent I, FRANKENSTEIN and upcoming Whale/Karloff remake, Mary Shelley’s “man playing God” tale has…
Whether we were on Mars, in a time machine, wandering a realm, or raising the dead, Rod Serling‘s (THE TWILIGHT ZONE) messages on morals and social justice maneuvered their way into our homes, our hearts, our minds, and our conscience via the vessels of sci-fi and fantasy. Yet more admirable than Serling’s artistry and convictions was his love for his family, extolling the very same warmth and compassion that many of us felt from his stories and films onto his wife and children. And for his youngest daughter, Anne Serling, a unique father/daughter bond was forged between them, as timeless…
Reviving a 2.5D shooter franchise into the modern day is difficult. Making a comedic game with humor that doesn’t get stale is even more difficult. SHADOW WARRIOR, a remake of 3D Realms DUKE NUKEM 3D protege, manages to succeed where other remakes have failed. Both the gameplay and premise are simple enough to quickly grasp. Play-wise, it’s similar to Flying Wild Hog’s HARD RESET and other strafe and shoot games like SERIOUS SAM and PAINKILLER. Rather than your ducking for cover and waiting to restore health like so many other games, SHADOW WARRIOR has the classic run and gun affair with…
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S, with Freddy Fazbear being an obvious homage to Chuck E. Cheese, is perhaps the most effective horror game I’ve played so far. If nothing else, it rigorously follows the three golden rules of horror: 1. Less is more. 2. Gore does not equate to horror. 3. The more nervous the audience gets, the greater the payoff becomes. Rather than having lots of gore, giant set pieces, and an elaborate story, FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S eschews all of these and goes straight for the gut with simplicity. Just as Stephen King inherently understood children’s fear of clowns…