CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Xbox 360
Video Game Review: Bad Mechanics Leave ‘NeverDead’ Clinging to Life
Submitted by BrianTT on February 7, 2012 - 6:48pmCHICAGO – I was annoyed more often than entertained by “NeverDead,” Konami’s admirable attempt at undead humor action that misses its mark by virtue of repetitive action and poor mechanics. I was hoping for a clever, fun ride with a zombie hero, a relative of the surprisingly-fun “Shadows of the Damned” perhaps. Instead I got a game closer to “Duke Nukem Forever” with bad gameplay, awful writing, and uninteresting storytelling. This is a major disappointment.
Video Game Review: Bloody Journey Into ‘The Darkness II’ Pays Off
Submitted by BrianTT on February 7, 2012 - 4:36pmCHICAGO – “The Darkness II” may not be quite as artistically successful as one would hope but it works for what it is — a gory, violent, extreme journey to Hell through the eyes of a vicious gangster who made a deal with the devil. Visual creativity goes a long way to alleviate gameplay repetition and a lack of interesting storytelling.
Video Game Review: Stellar Fighting Mechanics Elevate ‘SoulCalibur V’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 1, 2012 - 3:31pmCHICAGO – Imagine after a long night of playing one of the many recent “Assassin’s Creed” games that you fall asleep and dream of a world in which Ezio Auditore da Firenze jumps into various game types, including one in which he gets to fight and unleash a series of wicked combo moves on scantily clad and sword-bearing enemies. Welcome to your dreams.
Video Game Review: Amazing ‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ is Gaming Bliss For All Players
Submitted by BrianTT on December 21, 2011 - 3:34pmCHICAGO – “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” passes the ultimate test of the best role-playing games — entertaining tedium. RPG fans have to be willing to spend hours grinding away to upgrade their character or sometimes just trying to get from point A to point B. There’s a fine line between repetition that feels worthwhile and that which feels boring. Even doing the most mundane tasks in “Skyrim,” one knows they’re playing a near-miracle of a game, one of the best RPGs of all time.
Video Game Review: Graphic Updates, Classic Games Make ‘Metal Gear Solid HD Collection’ Worthy Bundle
Submitted by BrianTT on December 2, 2011 - 8:32pmCHICAGO - In 1987, Hideo Kojima brought “Metal Gear” to the video game world. 14 years and over 12 games later, the “Metal Gear” series is one of the most beloved and respected video game franchises ever. A major player in defining the world of stealth video games, Konami has created a bundle pack that brings three classic releases back to players everywhere.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 20 ‘Family Game Night 4’ Video Games; $800 Total Value
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 1, 2011 - 4:39pmCHICAGO – In our latest family video game edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Video Games, we have 20 Nintendo Wii video games up for grabs to the all-new “Family Game Night 4” video game! At $39.99 each, we’re giving away a total of $800 in prizes!
Video Game Review: ‘Need For Speed: The Run’ Drives Rocky Road
Submitted by BrianTT on November 30, 2011 - 4:33pmCHICAGO – EA’s “Need For Speed: The Run” features some adrenalin-pumping moments but they’re undercut by some truly poor mechanics and some awful development decisions. The concept behind the “story” of the game is clever and promising enough to warrant a rental, but the execution is flawed enough to steer clear of a purchase.
Video Game Review: ‘Saints Row the Third’ Gets By on Gleeful Excess
Submitted by BrianTT on November 28, 2011 - 3:52pmCHICAGO – “Saints Row The Third” is to “Grand Theft Auto” as “Machete” is to “No Country For Old Men.” They may feature similar themes but one takes the dramatic edge of the other and turns it into B-movie insanity. And I don’t mean that as a criticism. The third game in the surprisingly robust “Saints Row” franchise is a blast. A goofy, wacky, silly, dumb, crazy blast.
Video Game Review: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’ Stuns With Intense, Refined Action
Submitted by BrianTT on November 22, 2011 - 7:10pmCHICAGO – By now, millions of players have screamed at their television as a screen popped up to reveal how some jerk got the jump on them and damaged their ratio of deaths to kills. And they’ve loved every minute of it. Such is the world of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” a place built around pain.
Video Game Review: Kids Will Enjoy Trip to ‘Disney Universe’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 16, 2011 - 8:06pmCHICAGO – “Disney Universe” plays not unlike the legendary company’s attempt to replicate the customizable success and platforming simplicity of “Little Big Planet” (with a bit of “LEGO” smash-and-collect thrown in). Sony’s amazing franchise works not only because the platform/level design is amazing but because it allows inclined players to spend hours (and lots of cash) on ways to customize their sack boy.