Anthony Gallegos
This author account hasn't been claimed yet. To claim this account, please contact the outlet owner to request access.
Writing For
IGN Latest Reviews
As a huge science-fiction nerd and a fan of shooters, I went in really wanting to like Defiance and its new universe. Thing is, it’s just not very good. Rare well-designed quests are overshadowed by a host of others that feel phoned in, and though the fundamentals of shooting are competent, weak enemy AI makes the PvE combat a bore. Respectable PvP combat goes a long way, but especially when the major performance issues rear their ugly head, it's not far enough to make Defiance a recommendable experience.
Borderlands 2 preserves the best parts of the franchise while also making numerous, much needed improvements to areas like narrative and class skill design. Additional visual customization options would make it better, and the occasional technical issue takes away from the experience, but overall this is an excellent shooter no one even remotely curious should overlook. Prepare to level. Prepare to loot. Prepare to get lost in the hilarious, bizarre and wonderful world of Pandora.
Dustforce easily merits the low, $10 barrier to entry. Some better in-game explanation concerning Dustforce’s content and mechanics would really help, but this addictive platformer succeeds nonetheless. The artful way the characters’ abilities allow you to move through the environment are entrancing, and the meticulously crafted levels create moments that made me look and feel awesome.
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is one of the more unique games to come out of the last generation. It may drag a bit at times and doesn’t do shooting or platforming amazingly well, but it blends the genres together into an almost always fun romp. Annoyances aside, Stranger’s Wrath stands the test of time as a good title and a testament to the love put into creating the Oddworld universe. Anthony Gallegos is an Editor on IGN's PC team. He loves any and all sorts of games and gaming questions. You can reach out to him on Twitter and MyIGN.
Like any review, my feelings on Minecraft are the result of my experience with it. Maybe you don’t thrive off random adventures like I do, or maybe you won’t feel the same sense of accomplishment I did when I completed my first house. If not, then you likely haven’t or won’t enjoy Minecraft in the same way. And that’s OK. Minecraft, more than any other game I know, isn’t about playing it a specific way; it’s an open-world, a blank page just daring you to jump in and do with it what you will. The question, then, isn’t what you need to do to succeed, what’s needed to win, but what are you willing to do to make your dreams come to life?
Despite its flaws, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 takes the fantastic series we’ve come to love over the years and iterates on it with great success. The multiplayer is hands-down the best it has ever been, with more features, more modes and a ton of new levels and ways to interact via Call of Duty Elite. The singleplayer campaign and Spec Ops mode add value to the overall package, creating something that may not be perfect, but is too damn addicting to pass up.
Space Marine may stumble here and there, but manages to remain entertaining from start to finish. For every moment where a character gets stuck on part of the environment, has an animation that breaks, or just randomly pops into the world, I’m left remembering great boss battles and encounters that made me feel like a badass. It may not be the best or most original action game, but it’s a fine first outing for the franchise, and a rare gem for Warhammer fans.
Call of Juarez: The Cartel is a poor change of pace for the franchise. Taking the story into modern times seems to have robbed it of its passion and charm, replacing it with asinine characters and more cuss words than an Al Pacino flick. It’s not the worst shooter I’ve played, but it’s got all the problems of a budget title and few redeeming qualities to make it worth recommending.
Along with its fun multiplayer, Killzone 3 is so enjoyable because it’s not just a shooter, it’s an experience. Guerilla has crafted scene after gorgeous scene that made me feel like you’re a part of a brutal, human war that is somehow fantastic in setting but also eerily reminiscent of the wars we see on TV. Combine this with the superb pacing and you have a campaign that’s totally fun despite its boring characters and uninspired story. This may not be the best game on the PS3, but it’s a fantastic option for shooter fans, and the type of title that non-PS3 owners are sure to envy.
Ultimately, there aren’t all that many good things to say about Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes. Sure, it’s better looking and slightly more entertaining to play than any of the similar games that have come out in recent years, but it’s still painfully formulaic and completely uninspired. This is a genre that desperately needs a makeover to be relevant again, because I think even newcomers to the game would be shocked to learn this was made in 2010, and not at the turn of the millennia. C’mon, Capcom, you’re better than this.