Articles by Joel Spencer || Square-Go.com

Avatar Boogie by Joel Spencer | 12-03-10

Xbox 360

Review

Ever since the introduction of Avatars - no don't get excited we're not talking about James Cameron's nausea inducing blockbuster in late 2008 (try sitting on the front row of the cinema if you don't understand), developers have been attempting to justify the existence of these misshapen representations with a plethora of other similar ideas. Joining this pointless quest is developer Danimal with Avatar Boogie.

PC | Mac | iPhone

Review

Shooting Gallery Review by Joel Spencer | 04-03-10

Edgar Vigdal, founder of EMV software has a penchant for revitalising arcade classics, he did it with Galaga, Pacman and even Qix. His games capture the essence of what Square Go was created to comment on: fun. They may not have epic stories, groundbreaking cinematic vistas or Hollywood level voice talent but they are always fun and addictive. Like many independent developers he has turned his attention recently to the iPhone and Shooting Gallery is another retake on a familiar classic.

Xbox 360 | PS3 | PC

Review

Resident Evil 5 DLC: Lost in Nightmares by Joel Spencer | 01-03-10

Fans of the original games have often lamented the change in pacing and direction taken by Capcom since Resident Evil 4. For them then, Lost in Nightmares, the first of two substantial sets of downloadable content (DLC), seems to be a throwback to the classic survival horror routes of the franchise and features not a small amount of fan pandering.

Xbox 360 | PS3 | PC

Review

Just Cause 2: Preview by Joel Spencer | 04-01-10

It's hardly a surprise that sandbox games continue to be very popular with developers given the high sales of franchises such as Grand Theft Auto, Assassin's Creed and The Elder Scrolls, to name but a few. But the subtle balance of exploration potential and gameplay still seems to be elusive which brings us to Avalanche Studios and the Just Cause Intellectual Property. Whilst 2006's Just Cause was beautiful and instantly gratifying it was ultimately unfulfilling as missions were unvaried and repetitive and each session of play rarely captured your attention for more than an hour.

Xbox 360 | PC

Review

Zeno Clash by Joel Spencer | 23-11-09

Developers have been trying to get melee combat right in first person games for years, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic tried to step up and deliver a visceral experience but found itself bogged down in a generic fantasy setting and lackluster level design. The same could certainly not be said about the aesthetic style in Zeno Clash, the debut project from ACE Team, which is filled with bizarre environments and creatures. Prehistoric Whales, Giraffe/ant-eater hybrids, pig-men and many more all inhabit the fantasy world of Zenozoik.