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Reviews
Kara no Shojo – The Second Episode: The Kotaku Review
The original Kara no Shojo was one of the most violent and psychologically disturbing games I have ever played. And while the second is also full of brutal murder and complex mysteries, it never quite reaches the soul-crushing despair of the first. [This review spoils much of the original Kara No Shojo. For a non-spoiler…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published November 3, 2015 -
ReviewsThe Snacktaku Caramel Apple Halloween Spooktacular
As snackers around the world prepare for one of the most important holidays of the year—the day after Halloween—Snacktaku celebrates the only flavor combination powerful enough to knock pumpkin spice off the fall charts. While children and sexy versions of non-sexy things around the world may revel in pseudo=pagan ritual on October 31, snack aficionados…
By Mike Fahey Published October 31, 2015 -
Reviews
Halo 5: Guardians: The Kotaku Review
Halo 5: Guardians is the first time I haven’t loved a Halo game. Though, thankfully, the latest chapter in the sci-fi shooter universe has a few things going for it. Development studio 343’s second Halo game since taking on the mantle of responsibility from Bungie three years ago tries to tell the story of a…
By Tina Amini Published October 30, 2015 -
ReviewsSnacktaku Eats Dried Spam Snacks So You Don’t Have To
Not content with selling tins of meat/gelatin hybrid, Hormel is now rolling out new dried Spam Snacks to select U.S. markets, including the Southeast. Guess where I am? If you said oily hell, you’re pretty close. As much flack as I give the world’s most popular meat in a can, Spam and I developed a…
By Mike Fahey Published October 28, 2015 -
Reviews
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes: The Kotaku Review
You might suspect that The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is skippable, an inessential spinoff that is more time-killer than legendary adventure. You would be… correct. The newest Zelda, out now for 3DS, is an unnecessary, forgettable installment in a series that usually maintains way higher standards. Even compared to other weak Zeldas like…
By Jason Schreier Published October 26, 2015 -
ReviewsXbox Elite Wireless Controller: The Kotaku Review
The first thing you’ll see upon cracking open the box containing Microsoft’s new $150 premium modular Xbox One controller is a carrying case. You’re going to want to keep that. The care and handling of video game controllers in the Fahey household generally involves trying not to leave it on the floor. Packaging is torn…
By Mike Fahey Published October 26, 2015 -
Reviews
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: The Kotaku Review
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is—wait for it—an Assassin’s Creed game, with all that that implies. It’s a really good Assassin’s Creed game, mind you, my favorite since Assassin’s Creed II took us to Renaissance Italy way back in 2009. We’re in Victorian London this time, in 1868. As with most games in the series, Syndicate shifts…
By Chris Suellentrop Published October 23, 2015 -
ReviewsGuitar Hero Live: The Kotaku Review
Guitar Hero Live is two separate games united by a single plastic guitar. One is the first game in the series to truly live up to its name. The other is decidedly different. The core idea behind the Guitar Hero series is right there in the name—make the player feel like a rock (or pop…
By Mike Fahey Published October 20, 2015 -
Reviews
Chibi-Robo Zip Lash: The Kotaku Review
If Chibi Robo weren’t so cute, this review would be easier to write. Look at the little guy with his electric plug tail! Look at him dressing up as Link from the Legend of Zelda Look at him meeting new people: Unfortunately, this little scamp’s new game is an oddball mediocrity, a game with an…
By Stephen Totilo Published October 16, 2015 -
Reviews
Yoshi’s Woolly World: The Kotaku Review
Yoshi’s Woolly World has three big things in its favour: it feels fabulous to play, it looks sumptuous and it sometimes makes you feel like a genius. Even amongst the generous array of mega-cute platformers on Wii U, it stands out as especially beautiful, especially sweet and especially eager to please. But it isn’t especially…
Keza MacDonald Published October 16, 2015 -
Reviews
Origin PC EON17-X Gaming Laptop: the Kotaku Review
With a desktop processor and a Nvidia G-Sync display panel, Origin PC’s EON17-X laptop is getting dangerously close to my gaming PC’s spec. That’s no exaggeration. The EON17-X model Origin PC sent me to test out features an Intel Core i7 4790K CPU—newer models of the system released since I received the unit come with…
By Mike Fahey Published October 12, 2015 -
Reviews
Prison Architect: The Kotaku Review
Almost a decade ago, a majority of the Republicans in Congress voted to pass a prison reform bill called the Second Chance Act, and a Republican president signed it—during an election year, no less. As a policy matter, the bill was modest, less than $100 million a year for things like job training, mental health…
By Chris Suellentrop Published October 12, 2015 -
ReviewsTransformers: Devastation: The Kotaku Review
To quote a tiny yellow robot during one of Transformers: Devastation’s many brilliant moments, “I did not see that coming.” Despite the killer cel-shaded look and a cast packed with voice actors from the ‘80s cartoon reprising their roles as the original robots in disguise, all signs pointed towards Transformers: Devastation being a massive disappointment.…
By Mike Fahey Published October 12, 2015 -
ReviewsTo Click Or Not To Click? The Gaming Keyboard Question [Update: Answered]
I’ve got two Razer keyboards to choose from. One is silent and sleek with chicklet-style membrane keys. The other’s mechanical switches click loud and proud. Which is best? I need a little help there. Update: The poll results are in! If you’d asked me five years ago whether I prefer a mechanical or membrane keyboard…
By Mike Fahey Published October 12, 2015 -
ReviewsRock Band 4: The Kotaku Review
It’s a good time for Rock Band 4 (as made famous by Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3, LEGO Rock Band, The Beatles: Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band.) That’s a lot of Rock Band to take in over the span of the four years between the 2007 release of the original…
By Mike Fahey Published October 7, 2015 -
ReviewsBoard Games
Star Wars: Imperial Assault: The Kotaku Review
Imperial Assault is a board game that was released in late 2014. I only got around to playing it over the weekend, and I already count those months between as wasted Having made a ton of money off their excellent X-Wing game before moving onto capital ship battles, Imperial Assault is Fantasy Flight’s shot at…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 7, 2015 -
ReviewsPersona 4 Dancing All Night: The Kotaku Review
If it weren’t a severe breach of protocol I’d just put the giant YES up at the top of the review. But it is. So I won’t. Atlus has Persona 4’d the rhythm game. That completely real, don’t argue with me verb first cropped up with the release of Persona 4 Arena back in 2012.…
By Mike Fahey Published October 5, 2015 -
ReviewsDestiny: The Taken King: The Kotaku Review
For most of last year, Destiny players have been spurred by hope and riled by impatience. We held out hope that this flawed but promising game would draw closer to its potential, despite our impatience with the sluggish pace of improvements. “Why do you even play Destiny?” a friend or acquaintance might ask, setting down…
By Kirk Hamilton Published September 30, 2015 -
ReviewsLEGO Dimensions: The Kotaku Review
Gandalf, Batman and Wildstyle walk into the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Chances are you haven’t, as up until now the only place you could have stumbled upon that particular combination is your wildest imagination (or perhaps the imagination of a fan fiction author.) The LEGO Group is no…
By Mike Fahey Published September 28, 2015 -
ReviewsLaserlife: The Kotaku Review
I felt like I needed a third eye to play Laserlife. That’s a good thing. Laserlife demands that you look at all of the stuff going on inside its searing psychedelic levels but react to only some of it. The giant flowers snatching miniature stars out of the void? Pay them no mind. The undulating…
By Evan Narcisse Published September 24, 2015