Posts By Randy Dankievitch

The biggest change to the Borderlands formula in Pre-Sequel - aside from the game's setting, which affects gameplay and aesthetics in a number of ways - are the game's character classes, all based on characters previously seen in the series. These new classes will still serve familiar roles on the battlefield

Considering that Out of the Park Development's signature Out of the Park Baseball series is a constant time sink in my life, there's no denying I was excited to play their foray into hockey simulation, Franchise Hockey Manager. Not because I was a hockey fan - though I'm a sports nut, I rarely watch hockey - but because I was hoping FHM would allow me to learn the ins and outs of the sport, as OOTP did with the deeper complexities (and constant heartbreak) of ...

For baseball nerds like myself, there's nothing better than spring. Fresh batches of rookies, big stars on new squads, the inevitable, if completely misguided, World Series dream of every player and fan... and of course, the arrival of the latest Out of the Park Baseball award-winning sports simulation series. And this year's edition - the 15th - is undeniably the best yet, despite what initially looks and feels like an incremental improvement over OOTP 14. As ...

Wayward Souls - the latest offering from Rocketcat Games, the minds behind Punch Quest - is the latest of this genre revival, following in the wake of other recent mobile and PC entries like FTL or Rogue Legacy. Players control one of six different character classes (three of which are locked from the start) as they fight through three increasingly difficult, procedurally-generated dungeons, casting spells and unleashing special attacks on the way.

There's a problem with iOS sequels: the phrase "more of the same thing" would be an understatement in describing the 'changes' most games make before attaching a numeral. There are a few bright spots here and there (Fieldrunners 2, Infinity Blade 2, Mikey Hooks), but for the most part, new gameplay mechanics, modes, and improvements (other than graphical) are few and far between. Unfortunately, EPOCH 2 isn't one of these innovative sequels - but despite a few ...

Ambitious, evolutionary, generation-defining: these terms have all been applied to Grand Theft Auto V, most of the time before anybody actually had their hands on the title. And with over $1 billion in sales reported within the first week of release, there's no denying that GTA V will be viewed as an undeniable success. But id it worthy of such descriptors? The answer - like the game itself - is anything but simple.

As one of the larger publishers in the App Store, Gameloft's recent descent into free-to-play monstrosities or thrown-together movie tie-ins been quite disappointing, especially when signature franchises take a turn for the worst (I'm looking at you, Dungeon Hunter 4). So when Gameloft announced Asphalt 8: Airborne a few months back, it was hard not to be hesitant - after all, who wants to install another racing game full of timers, paywalls, and simplistic ...

The combination of endless runner and driving game seems like a natural fit: put someone behind the wheel, and throw them into some gravel-flavored mayhem, upgrading cars and purchasing new rides along the way. It seems so simple: but as Muscle Run proves, a great idea does not a great game make. Despite a few interesting features and an intriguing gameplay design, Muscle Run never quite fills its potential; a fun, but short-lasting mobile experience.

On its surface, the idea of making a 2D car combat game seems.... odd. The beauty of combat racers is the feel of being inside a course, smashing against walls and flying around corners on the way to victory. As a side-scrolling, 2D racer, you'd think Delta-V Racing wouldn't be able to capture the kinetic, drift-induced frenzies that its 3D counterparts are. But thanks to some smart level design and interesting implementation of popular combat mechanics, ...

Upon releasing Mikey Shorts in 2012, BeaverTap Games suddenly found themselves at the forefront of handheld platforming, perfecting the speed run formula with impeccably-designed levels and controls in their debut iOS tit It was hands down one of the best iOS releases of the year - and as I often do these days with games and movies, I prayed the inevitable sequel didn't ruin my fond memories.