By Steven Petite “Is the much vaunted single player worthwhile?” Harold Goldberg asked me this question the other day in regard to Titanfall 2. The original 2014 shooter, as many know, was an Xbox One exclusive that only featured online multiplayer. There were objective, somewhat story-oriented pieces sandwiched into the multiplayer experience, but there was…
By Steven Petite Talk about the very meaning of ‘pulse-pounding’. I want someone to measure my pulse while I’m playing Thumper. I’m certain mine was absolutely off the charts. The new “rhythm horror” game from Drool (former Harmonix employees), is absolutely ridiculous—and I say that as a high-grade compliment. You are a space beetle, and…
By Steven Petite A film splicer is a device that connects physical lengths of film into one. Obviously, the lengths that are normally connected are ones that will form a cohesive unit when matched. Maybe the film canister ran out, and two reels need to be reformed, or maybe an addition to a project was…
By Steven Petite In a game where humans have been mechanically altered with special abilities, where the protagonist is the most advanced augmented individual around, you would expect to have convenient communicative technologies at your disposal, right? A few hours into Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, protagonist Adam Jensen needs to get a hold of David…
By Steven Petite This just in: for the first time in a 3D Zelda game, there’s a sprint button. But wait, there’s more. I never thought this would happen, but Link can jump on command in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Doesn’t sound like much to you? For those who…
By Steven Petite It was too long. Ubisoft’s E3 conference opened with a lengthy and perplexing dance number to unveil the latest iteration of Just Dance. The scene was furnished with a dancing lion, giraffe, and panda bear, and for a moment, I thought I had accidentally redirected by browser to the latest Miley Cyrus…
By Steven Petite I never thought I would see the day when the great English poet, William Blake, is mentioned in a video game. But if I had to pick the most likely creators to do so, Hideo Kojima would be near the top of the list. When Kojima took the stage to announce his…
By Steven Petite Heading into E3, Microsoft was a publisher that seemed to be losing its identity. Perhaps this has been amplified by the growing consensus that, not three years into the current console lifecycle, the Xbox One has already “lost” to the PlayStation 4. Sony’s console is more powerful and user friendly and…
By Steven Petite For the second year in a row, Bethesda demonstrated the right way to showcase current and upcoming products effectively. First impressions are very important, and Bethesda kicked off the show with a clever command prompt reveal of Quake Champions. It was only a short teaser with no actual gameplay footage, but when…
by Steven Petite The scene: the majestic remains of the Shimada Castle in Japan’s Hanamura suburb. Tight lanes and streets are decorated with the occasional lonely vehicle. Numerous open buildings feature spacious rooms at their core, a luxurious staple of Japanese architecture called the “moya.” Rooftops are visually dominating, eaves extending past walls held…