Posts tagged @reviews 
Infamous: Second Son review: Thank you for smoking
There's a stark duality at the heart of the Infamous series. The original Infamous was built on a solid foundation, putting players in the role of a modern-day superhero with a repertoire that expanded gameplay in satisfying, meaningful ways throughout its campaign. Its sequel boasted a number of...
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z Review: Entrails from the crypt
It's a shame that words and phrases like "gnarly," "radical" and "totally tubular, dude" aren't considered common these days. If they were, I'd know exactly how to describe Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. I'd know just how to highlight the game's ludicrous, over-the-top tone and obscene jokes. I'd have a...
Luftrausers Review: Aerial Ace
Question: When is a plane not a plane? Answer: When it's a UFO firing a laser, or a kamikaze ballerina, or a floating brick propelled by bullets, or a nuclear-equipped mecha-dolphin, or, or, or. Shorter answer: When it's in Luftrausers, where a sense of acrobatic grace and colossal amounts of...
Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes review: Naked snack
It's a pleasure being lost in the universe of Metal Gear. With every game, and with every return of director Hideo Kojima, the fascinating stealth series redraws the boundaries of its dense military fiction, pushing them back to include more and more characters and conspiracies. We feel like...
Dark Souls 2 review: Death becomes you
While others punish mistakes with a wagged finger, the Souls games punch you in the ribs, rob you of your clothes and scamper cackling into the darkness. Making progress only to have it snatched from you, dying over and over, and a world teeming with despair and hopelessness – these are the...
Yoshi's New Island review: Not quite dino-might
Mario games, the good ones, anyway, are a gestalt, rising above their sundry components to become something truly special. Yoshi's New Island is no such beast. It is exactly the sum of its expertly-hewn parts, offering a platforming experience that is impressive in its intricacy, nonetheless...
TowerFall: Ascension review: Exploding corpses
TowerFall: Ascension is deceiving. It appears to be cute, pixelated and friendly, and it looks like something you would have played between rounds of Contra and Super Mario Bros on the NES as a kid. In reality, TowerFall is a brutal bow-and-arrow brawler with vicious enemies that materialize...
Introducing State of Service reviews on Joystiq
Online experiences are one of the most rewarding and entertaining aspects of video games. Who doesn't love teaming up with friends to blast the opposition? What's more thrilling than proving your skill against another human being, or joining them on a meaningful journey? Online play is a joy...
Titanfall review: Prime delivery
Titanfall is strictly coiled around the player. You couldn't excise even one piece without slackening it like a ruined kidnapper's rope. The serpentine level design, the liberating sense of movement, the flawless controls and yes, the enormous bipedal tanks dropping from the sky, are equally...
Magus review: Best worst game
Magus is the worst game I've played this year, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. Bad games typically fall into one of two categories. Many are bad because they're mechanically awkward or otherwise deeply flawed in terms of controls, making them frustrating to play. The second...
The Joystiq Podcast
Super Joystiq Podcast 088: Titanfall, Dark Souls 2, State of Service reviews
Latest episode: Friday, March 14th, 2014