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(11/13/12 3:00am)
In the inaugural Daily Cardinal Artcast Jorge Estrada and Adam Paris discuss one of the fall's most anticipated video game releases, "Halo 4." This new installment returns to the franchise's roots as players take control of Master Chief once again in 343 Studio's first major release in the "Halo" saga. As longtime "Halo" fans, Jorge and Adam examine how 343 did in their first crack at the series, wax poetic about the return of the Battle Rifle and contemplate where this game ranks in the series as a whole. Listen to or download the podcast in it's entirety here or on our SoundCloud page, and keep an eye out for more Artcasts in the future!
(11/09/12 6:05am)
(11/06/12 3:43am)
Few entertainment franchises enjoy the widespread recognition that “Halo” has achieved. The latest installment, “Halo 4,” marks a new era for the series as the first release from 343 Studios, the company charged with taking over for the legendary development studio Bungie. With this impending transition, it seemed like the perfect time to reflect on the history of this incredibly influential video game series.
(10/23/12 3:33am)
The idea of combining satisfying first-person melee combat with extensive player choice to accomplish objectives sounds superlative on paper. Yet these two core tenets synthesize the essence of Arkane Studio’s recent release,“Dishonored.” No one ever doubted Arkane’s game had all the elements for a potentially fantastic new intellectual property, all that was left to be seen of these lofty promises was whether they could execute them or not.
(10/10/12 1:54am)
As my friend and I were pondering the idea of great video game characters the other night, we both failed to come up with many convincing arguments for any persona in the medium that has absorbed countless hours of our lives. Despite the comparable lengths between television and games, the former has created a multitude of compelling figures while the latter is mired in mediocrity and stale archetypes.
(10/03/12 4:48am)
As far as games have advanced in storytelling and acutely/creepily detailed facial animations, there’s an implicit joy in shooting hordes of enemies that will probably never fade away. The first “Borderlands” was built around this almost carnal activity, but its success depended on the utilization of an intuitive co-op system and the addicting search for superior loot.
(09/20/12 12:30pm)
As with most beloved series, Transformers’ continued popularity depends primarily on the devotion of its initial fan base that emerged with the inception of the series.
(05/07/12 3:11am)
Almost everyone in the world recognizes “Call of Duty,” but far fewer know that Raven Software, a game development studio based right here in Madison, was an integral part of the franchise’s most recent releases. However, Raven’s history far predates “Call of Duty” as they have been developing acclaimed titles since their inception in the early 1990s.
(05/01/12 1:49am)
Like the zombies that populate its universe, “The Walking Dead” franchise has slowly consumed all facets of our culture. From the original comic series to the hit AMC show and now video games, it’s hard to escape the clutches of Robert Kirkman’s creation.
(04/16/12 2:39am)
More often than not, a game with a troubled development cycle is destined for mediocrity. Since its announcement nearly five years ago, “Fez” has gone through several iterations as its creator, Phil Fish, sought perfection from his deeply personal product.
(04/11/12 5:41am)
Surrounded by an endless expanse of sand, you wake up in a foreign world with only a shimmering mountaintop looming ominously in the distance. Devoid of options, you begin your journey towards a goal that could mark either a sanctuary or a false hope. Suddenly, a bright figure appears in the distance.
(03/22/12 1:34am)
When BioWare first introduced the “Mass Effect” series, they set out to create a franchise where meaningful decisions were carried over from one game to the next. There had been similar promises before by other titles, but none were able to do so successfully. “Mass Effect 3” delivers on everything BioWare has promised from the beginning, giving players an explosive finale to their grand space opera and in the process, crafting one of the most personal gaming experiences possible.
(02/09/12 4:19am)
As much as I love the exploration and discovery in massive
open-world role-playing games (RPGs), their unintuitive combat
systems have always tempered my enthusiasm. Intense, fluid combat
and large scale RPGs always seemed mutually exclusive, but
"Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" successfully bridges this gap.
While sticking closely to typical RPG conventions, the dynamic
action of "Reckoning" sets it apart from other role-playing
games.
(01/30/12 5:21am)
2011 will forever go down as one of the best years in gaming
history. Fantastic titles such as "Arkham City," "Skyrim" and
"Portal 2" all brought amazing experiences into gamers' lives, but
that's no reason to scoff at the promising lineup coming in 2012.
Here are my ten most anticipated titles of the year:
(12/28/11 7:22pm)
Ubisoft's popular limbless mascot has been MIA on consoles since
his previous entry, "Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc" from last generation.
"Rayman Origins" marks his valiant return and offers one of the
best 2D platformers on consoles. The manic gameplay perfectly
complements the stunning visuals and has effectively brought a
long-dormant franchise back into relevancy.
(12/02/11 2:00pm)
"The Legend of Zelda" series is one of the most beloved gaming
franchises of all time-each entry has built on Zelda's classic
formula by adding its own innovative new wrinkles.
(11/09/11 4:36am)
Nintendo's decision to return to their classic 2-D roots
beginning with "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" has produced some of the
most enjoyable titles of the console's life cycle. After last
year's stylistic "Kirby's Epic Yarn," "Kirby's Return to Dreamland"
returns the franchise to its traditional roots. Sucking up enemies
and exploring all of Kirby's expansive powers is a great mechanic
still today and this game continues Nintendo's successful 2-D trend
adding another impressive addition to their library of titles.
(10/17/11 6:00am)
While many may compare ""Just Dance"" to the other hit dancing game
on the market, ""Dance Central,"" they are two vastly different
experiences. ""Just Dance 3"" is a party title first and foremost,
the infectious visual design and varied soundtrack will make this
game an immediate hit for any gathering. This third game sticks to
the fundamentals that made the prior two games so popular while
adding several new features that enhance the overall
experience.
(05/03/11 6:00am)
This past weekend I took a brief trip to the Twin Cities to look
for housing for next year. It's bittersweet, but as they say, I am
moving on to the next chapter in my life. Specifically, I'm moving
to a state that apparently has a few more lakes than our dear ol'
Wisconsin. But, I'm calling shenanigans on the ""Land of 10,000
Lakes"" slogan; I was there for four days and the only water I saw
was the puddle I clumsily stepped in on my way to a business
conference. Ewww—business conference. Those adult sounding words
have never been in my vocabulary, and now, shit, they are going to
be part of my reality.
(04/11/11 6:00am)
Sometimes when judging a piece of art, you have to put effort above
actual success. Joe Wright's new film ""Hanna"" doesn't work most
of the time. However, it's admirable that it's aiming for something
special and going at it with full force. You combine that with the
few scenes that do work very well and you've actually got a movie
worth seeing.