HollywoodChicago.com Video Games

Video Game Review: ‘Driver: San Francisco’ Offers New Twist on Racing Games

Driver: San Francisco

CHICAGO – How do you make an open-world racing game? “Burnout Paradise” made a reasonable effort by presenting a city in which stop lights led to races, but the developers of “Driver: San Francisco” take it a step further with one of the most unique driving game dynamics in the history of the subgenre. The result is an original twist on an old favorite that gives it a little bit of juice even if it can’t quite win the race.

Video Game Review: ‘God of War: Origins Collection’ Transfers Timeless PSP Hits

God of War: Origins Collection

CHICAGO – If you ask ten people to name the best game ever produced for the Sony PSP, nine of them will name one of the two highly-acclaimed and beloved “God of War” games, the award-winning “God of War: Ghost of Sparta” and “God of War: Chains of Olympus.”

Video Game Review: Apocalyptic ‘Rage’ Goes For Straight Adrenalin

CHICAGO – I’d love to be in a meeting when video game companies are trying to come up with the titles for their latest shooters. What’s something that strikes a chord in the guts of men who want to spend their free time shooting mutants or upgrading their rocket-powered vehicles? “Adrenalin”? “Power”? “Aaaarrrgggghhhh!”?

Video Game Review: Bring Fight Home With Stellar ‘Resistance 3’

Resistance 3

CHICAGO – Sony’s “Resistance 3” is as adrenalin-pumping an experience Playstation 3 players could possibly have this year and the perfect way to kick off what could be the most-crowded and beloved gaming seasons in the history of the console. Some generic level design is disappointing but your heart will be pumping too hard to care or complain.

Video Game Review: Poor Execution Leaves ‘Bodycount’ in the Dust

Bodycount

CHICAGO – The shooter genre has become not just immensely popular but critically adored as well, making it even more difficult for sub-par fare to pass as viable entertainment. I remember the years following the breakthrough of “Doom II” as a cavalcade of mediocrity disguised as competition. For every great shooter title, there are a handful of near-misses or even complete failures.

Video Game News: ‘Dead Island’ Ships More Than 1 Million in Opening Week

Dead Island

CHICAGO – The newest action/horror zombie slaughter game, “Dead Island,” has debuted with a bang. The video game, published by Deep Silver, has already shipped out more than a million copies in North America alone. Additionally, the game will have sold 2 million copies globally by the end of this week.

Video Game Review: Smash ‘Madden NFL 12’ Returns For New Season

CHICAGO – Maybe you’re still shaking off the hangover of an amazing first week of NFL football that saw the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens successfully start their run at another post-season, but you should know about a video game that a vast majority of pigskin fans have probably already plunked more time into than Jay Cutler does his practice.

Video Game Review: Gory, Gruesome ‘Dead Island’ is Nearly Great

CHICAGO – Video games have an amazing way of suppressing critical thought. Like a great action sequence can allow the movie goer to ignore stupid dialogue and cliched characters, if a game can provide adrenalin-pumping, visceral thrills then complaints become easier to forget. Such is the case with “Dead Island,” a clever zombie game with some serious flaws that really don’t matter in light of how damn enjoyable the game can be.

Video Game Review: Goofy, Bizarre ‘No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise’

CHICAGO – Games don’t get much weirder than “No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise.” This import of the Nintendo Wii hit that has now been repurposed for both the standard wireless controller and the Playstation Move is such a unique, bizarre game that it almost warrants playing it purely for the copious personality on display. It’s too bad that said personality can’t overcome frustrating gameplay and repetitive action but this is a modest success that could work for the right player.

Video Game Review: Incredible Gaming Experience of ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’

CHICAGO – Rarely has an action game given me the same sense of accomplishment as “Deus Ex: Human Revolution.” While we’ve come a long way in the genre over the last few years, most shooters are still based on predetermined patterns. Enemies pop up in the same place. The same doors must be opened. Precise paths must be taken.

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TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    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+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

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