Ryan Clements
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Writing For
IGNLatest Reviews
NieR
Nier is ugly and it can get really repetitive, forcing players to backtrack multiple times across familiar locations. But for every frustration I encountered in Nier, there were surprising gameplay twists, unsettling aesthetics and intriguing characters to meet. The ideas that Nier was built on are extremely solid -- the...
Just Cause 2
I haven't had this much fun with an open-world game in years. Just Cause 2 is over-the-top and insanely fun. There are some issues in the game's presentation and the checkpoint system is far from perfect, but Just Cause 2 is otherwise a must-play for adrenaline junkies. Rico Rodriguez might...
Metro 2033
The game's atmosphere and unique design choices will make it a worthwhile experience for some, but Metro 2033 suffers from a number of issues (poor implementation of stealth, recurring glitches, etc.). Fans of post-apocalyptic stories should consider giving this a shot, if they can tolerate the aforementioned setbacks.
But hardcore Final Fantasy fans might be disappointed by the game's abandonment of franchise traditions like open worlds, town exploration and complex mini-games. The game is still worth buying, but it doesn't quite feel as complete as its well-loved predecessors.
Bayonetta
Although Bayonetta has more than a few similarities to Devil May Cry, I wholeheartedly believe that this game is a must-play. Buyers beware, however: the 360 version is vastly superior to the PS3 version on a technical level, so PS3 owners fortunate enough to own a 360 should absolutely avoid...
Braid
When Braid -- developed by indie designer -- Jonathon Blow, first arrived as a downloadable on Xbox 360, it was extremely well received. Our own Hilary Goldstein rated it highly and described it as being "imaginative, innovative and engrossing." Blow's surreal platformer combined an evocative story with some of the...
Although the combat is fun and grows as the game progresses, Mini Ninjas is still a little on the simple side and that will throw some gamers off (also, the boss fights are giant quick time events/button prompts, which is disappointing). With that said, this is the perfect game to...
Despite Warriors Orochi 2's massive roster and Ad-Hoc multiplayer (which runs fairly well, though it does suffer from slowdown), I just can't give this a recommendation. You've undoubtedly played this game before (and I'm not just talking about the console version) and I find it frustrating that so little effort...
Although non-Final Fantasy fans might be uninterested in this title, I still recommend it to every PSP owner out there. Knowledge of the franchise is fairly unimportant (though it does enhance the in-jokes and series references) and the characters stand on their own as enjoyable members of a solid fighting...
Eternal Sonata
Although sometimes awkwardly paced and linear, Eternal Sonata is an RPG that everyone should consider checking out, especially for the unique premise and touching music. The battle system is rewarding and evolves throughout the game and seeing the characters interact is a lot of fun. Especially with the added features,...
If you don't have a huge budget and you need to get a lot of play time out of a single title, Disgaea 3 is certainly a great option, as you'll be playing it for months -- even years. But having to sacrifice so much in terms of graphics and...
SoulCalibur IV
Despite the aforementioned concerns, Soulcalibur IV is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it, especially -- as I said before -- to fans of the series. The game runs well, looks beautiful, sports great music and obviously has enjoyable combat. The PS3 and 360 versions are just about...
