DHGF Review: Project Spark (Xbox One)

Project Spark
Microsoft Xbox One

"Project Spark is an incredibly ambitious idea that Microsoft released. It’s one part game creation studio, one part online community project and a little bit of a game here. The one thing that is heavily push is the idea of creating worlds that you share with friends and other people around the world. It’s bold move for Microsoft especially after they just bought the Mojang games, makers of the insanely popular Minecraft. However does this concept of one part game creation studio and other part interactive game translate well? To be honest my feelings regarding Project Spark are mixed"

DHGF Review: Project Spark

DHGF Review - Divinity: Original Sin (PC)

Larian Studios did something I never expected; they went far beyond the expectations for Divinity: Original Sin, the latest game in the Divinity franchise. After the fans spoke out and helped Larian reach their Kickstarter goal, the company did everything they can to prove to their supporters they were out to make one of the best games possible. Divinity: Original Sin is an incredible game that heralds back to the heyday of classic point and click RPG’s, and in many ways surpasses many of the greats like Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights. Larian Studios managed to set new standards in the realm of role playing with it’s unique approach to storytelling and highly addicting gameplay. Granted, it’s not a perfect experience, but the pros of playing Divinity: Original Sin heavily outweigh the issues that arise during your time playing.

DHGF Review: Divinity: Original Sin (PC)

DHGF Review: R-Type Dimensions (PS3)

"I LOVE R-Type. It has been one of my favorite space sidescroller shoot-em up franchise for decades. I played it in the arcades, on my Commodore Amiga, Sega Master System, the Super Nintendo, and on Playstation. Irem, the company that created the franchise, was able to create new games in the franchise and somehow keep the series from going stagnant as the years went by. In 2009, we were graced with the release of R-Type Dimensions on the Xbox 360, but I never got around to buying it. R-Type Dimensions is a remake of the first two games in the series, following in the vein of other upgraded classics like Bionic Commando."

DHGF Review: R-Type Dimensions

The moment you've all been waiting for. My interview with the legendary game developer, Al Lowe, along with fellow Diehard GameFAN members Mark B and Sean Madson, .

http://diehardgamefan.com/2014/02/10/diehard-gamecast-episode-45-al-lowe-interview/

DHGF Review: Nidhogg (PC)

 

 

"The saying, “Looks can be deceiving” definitely applies to Nidhogg, an indie game from developers Messhof. Nidhogg has the graphical style of a classic Atari 2600 game, but underneath the deceptive simple graphics is an exciting, action driven and addictive multiplayer game. Nidhogg is an arena fencing game that pits two players against one another. The goal is simple: each player must reach their exit goal to win the match. All you have to do is kill your opponent that stands before you. Sounds simple but it’s anything but."

 

Diehard GameFan review: Nidhogg

DHGF Review: Blood of the Werewolf (PC)

"I have played some wonderful platformers these past couple of years. Among my recent favorites are the indie titles Fly’n, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and the Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures. I can say without a doubt that Blood of the Werewolf is now among them. Blood of the Werewolf is a phenomenal action platformer that has a great balance of difficulty, gameplay variance, precision, artistic style and atmosphere. Aside from a couple of minor complaints, Blood of the Werewolf is a solid gaming experience, and Scientifically Proven did a wonderful job with the first game in what I can hopefully call a promising franchise."

DHGF Review: Blood of the Werewolf

DHGF Review: Gas Guzzlers Extreme (PC)

Gas Guzzlers Extreme

"Gas Guzzlers Extreme. The name alone should be warning enough that you are about to play a mediocre combat racing game trying to shove tons of the attitude and edgy-ness down your throat. Every kind of cliché you can image for an “extreme” racing game is here. Heavy metal music, lots of explosions, insane weaponry, ludicrously named tracks, inane one liners, and more. Despite all the cheesiness, Gas Guzzlers Extreme does offer you a decent worthwhile experience as a racing combat game but it just screams average in just about every other way imaginable."

Diehard Gamefan Review: Gas Guzzlers Extreme

DHGF Review: The Chaos Engine (PC)

"The Chaos Engine was one of the big hits released for Commodore Amiga computers back in 1993. It was quite a popular game and found itself being ported to various computers and consoles. For Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis gamers in the USA, the game was renamed to Soldier of Fortune. The Chaos Engine was a steampunk themed action game that centered on Co-op play with either a friend or a CPU controlled ally."

Diehard Gamefan Review: The Chaos Engine

GVN Radio will be returning this month

Towards the end of the summer, I took a small hiatus with GVN radio because of some scheduling conflicts preventing me and my co-hosts from having our bi-weekly podcast sessions.  There was also a lot going on in terms of my main job, Summer Jam and my wedding anniversary that I'd rather spend more time focusing on.  However all that has past and I will bring back GVN Radio.  Hopefully, I can manage two episodes this month, if not at least one and resume out bi-monthly releases from then on.

Also on the agenda, I am working on a review of the Bitmap Brothers classic, Chaos Engine for Diehard Gamefan.  I will have this review turned in hopefully by weeks end in time for next week's schedule.  Aside from that I am looking forward to the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 and maybe even pick up Diablo 3 on Xbox 360 at some point.  I also picked up the recently released Chaos Code and I might consider reviewing this unique anime fighting game.

Anyways, take care and keep on gaming.

-Robert Hubbs

Diehard Gamefan Review: Disney Planes (Wii)

Well tickle me surprised; I did not expect Disney Planes to actually be a good game. I have seen the movie with my son recently, and I walked away with the impression that it was an okay underdog family movie. Definitely not one of Disney’s best efforts, honestly, because they were trying to cash in on the overwhelming success of the Cars franchise with this spinoff. Now, as most cash-in game properties go with Disney these days, they tend to range from below average to horrible. So you can imagine my surprise when I popped in Disney Planes for the Nintendo Wii and found an experience that I think would be worthwhile for the entire family to play.

Diehard Gamefan Review: Disney Planes

Diehard Gamefan Review: Company Of Heroes 2

Here's my latest review over at Diehard Gamefan. Company of Heroes 2 for the pc.

DHGF Review: Company Of Heroes 2

"After I finally played the original StarCraft to death, I finally went out of my way to play many other types of RTS games. Some of the games I went through included Command And Conquer Generals, WarCraft 3, Rise Of Nations: Rise of Legends, and the first Company of Heroes. The first Company Of Heroes came out way back in 2005 and at the time, was a breathe of fresh air from the huge amount of RTS that were being released. It mostly focused more on commanding platoons of troops of using cover based tactics for the majority of the game along with use of infantry weapons, vehicles and the like. It was a fun and different experience from all the sci-fi and fantasy strategy games that were everywhere in the mid 2000′s."

Diehard Gamefan Review: Evoland (PC)

My latest review is live over at Diehard Gamefan for the nostalgia trip, Evoland.  How is the game that tries to make you play through the evolution of the genre?

"Evoland is a little indie title that chronicles the evolution of the Japanese RPG genre from the monochrome days of the Gameboy to the high resolution days of today.  To call it a game is slightly misleading, as the game is more of an experience of how games have advanced in the last 25 years.  Evoland‘s beginning is rather odd to begin with.  Unlike games like 3D Dot Game Heroes or Half Minute Hero, which provide a full gaming experience in the guise of a retro themed game, Evoland merely provides us with an incredibly short trip that plays strongly to nostalgia."

http://diehardgamefan.com/2013/04/22/review-evoland-pc/

GVN Radio returns! Episode 34 is live!

Hubbs returns to his hosting duties and is joined by Mark B and Aaron Sirois of Diehard Gamefan and Jason Axelrod of 8wayrun. In this podcast we talk about what we've been playing lately, the PAX harassment issue, and if JRPG's can survive in this day and age.

*Warning - contains explicit language*

Download Episode 34

Diehard Gamefan Review: Vampire Crystals

Finally got another review up for Diehard Gamefan. This time for a little WiiWare arcade title called Vampire Crystals. Check it out.

 

"Vampire Crystals is a little gem that came out just before Christmas, at a time when many people were pouring their bank accounts into the annual Steam sale. This is a shame because Vampire Crystals is definitely a fun little romp for your Nintendo Wii. Vampire Crystals is a small WiiWare title from the minds at Shanblue Interactive that doesn’t hide its heavy influences from Smash TV. It’s a straight forward run and gun action arcade title that up to four people can play together and provide a good chunk of fun even with its flaws."

Review Diehard Gamefan: Vampire Crystals

Diehard Gamefan Review: Primordia (PC)

I wrote a brand new review over at diehard gamefan.  This time its a point and click adventure game by the name of Primordia.  Check it out.

http://diehardgamefan.com/2012/12/31/review-primordia-pc/

"I am excited about the resurgence of the Point and Click adventure genre. The genre seemed to have died off at the end of the 1990′s and was apparently no longer relevant in PC gaming, but thanks to a strong catalog of games and several studious, both big company and independent, this has allowed the light to be shined upon them once again. Great games like the new Sam and Max, Machinarium and Back to the Future have reignited interested in the long dormant genre. Now, we have a new entry in Primordia, which is brought to us by the indie company Wormwood Studios."

GVN Radio Live episode 22

In case you missed last night's live broadcast, well here ya go. Enjoy. It was a great episode as we had a crossover with Mark B. from fellow gaming site, Diehard Gamefan.
Watch live video from Gaming Vision Network on TwitchTV