A blinding blue blur, collecting tons of rings, spouting witty catch phrases, and defeating Dr. Eggman (or Dr. Robotnic depending on the version) are all things you think of when you hear the name Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic is one of the most recognizable faces of the console generation in the 90’s. The franchise has spawned everything from cartoons to comic books. It has also spawned a list of atrocities sequels and spin off games. “Sonic Adventure 2 HD” is a reminder of when Sonic stopped being about speed, and stopped being fun. 

There is an old saying that goes “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” What many people do not know is this famous quote has been paraphrased.  It originally went “If it ain’t broke, or Double Dragon, don’t fix it.” Okay, maybe it didn’t originally go like that, but it’s too bad, because Double Dragon Neon is a reboot to a franchise that should have been left alone.

The Sega Saturn was home to a rather whimsical set of releases, many of which strayed from the norm in ways the general public probably wasn't ready for. Knowing gamers, Sega's bizarre, colorful, and surreal NiGHTS into Dreams was a member of the strange game camp, attracting players with a purple-clad protagonist and the promise of navigating dreams.

Rovio has returned to once again dominate your mobile screens with the newest follow up to the “Angry Birds” franchise. With a new focus and new gameplay mechanics, does “Bad Piggies” measure up to “Angry Birds”? Let’s find out as we review "Bad Piggies" on the iPhone. 

Dungeon crawling games are definitely coming out of the woodwork as of late.  Diablo III no doubt has its fans, and I'm pretty sure Torchlight II has a huge following as well, judging by game sales.  And let's not forget the titles that are still fun to play on Xbox Live Arcade, including the original Torchlight and the sleeper hit Crimson Alliance, which is even better playing alongside a friend.  So, with that, we're trying to figure out what made Focus Home Interactive think that R.A.W.: Realms of Ancient War would stand out, especially considering the problems it possesses.

Stuntman and Evel Knievel protege Joe Danger made a splash with 2010's extreme racer of the same name. The titular daredevil jetted across some tumultuous terrain and warmed the hearts of fast and furious thrillseekers everywhere with its hilarious main character, tricky stunts, and addictive challenges to complete. The then-fledgling trickster was relegated to challenges and exhibitions across the USA to show off his skills while still rising through the ranks, but now he's back and ready for the big screen in Joe Danger 2: The Movie.

Inquisitor by Czech developer Cinemax has quite an interesting history. It originally started development around the early 2000’s and was just released a few years ago in Czech and just now has been translated into english. It’s really strange that Cinemax decided to stay with this style of game for so long. Let me explain.

It's not a bad premise. What would happen if all the world's power ceased to exist? No cars, no electricity, no mechanics, no technology, no medicine. Basic necessities (like clean water and food) define life or death and basic amenities (like toilet paper) become a thing in the past. It really is a cool idea: Bows and arrows, horse drawn pick up trucks, the word "Google" being spoken in awed whispers. And it's got some excellent names on its roster: JJ Abrams (Lost, Star Trek 09) and Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Cowboys and Aliens). All and all, it looks like it could be a winner. But then again, so did Terra Nova. So while I was generally impressed with the pilot, and really want to see the show do well, I think it needs to step it up a notch if it wants to last more than a Terra Novan season.

In all of my gaming years, I’ve never enjoyed a hearty chuckle while holding back the urge to throw my keyboard at the wall in frustration. That is until Bust-N-Rush, the first title by Techtonic Games, was released. Currently only available for Windows, Bust-N-Rush is a straightforward ‘runner’ game, similar to another famous indie game Audiosurf. You play as a juggernaut-like hero named Kovo who was forced out of retirement early by the untimely destruction of his plastic flamingo lawn ornament named Paco. With a shake of his mighty fist, Kovo sets out to exact revenge on Paco’s killer, the monstrous Satellite of Wub.

There are a number of great beat-em-ups to choose from on Xbox Live Arcade, including X-Men The Arcade Game, The Simpsons Arcade and, of course, the always favorable Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  But folks out there might be seeking something a little more contemporary when it comes to beating people to a pulp, and that's where QOOC Soft's Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior's Rise comes in.  The idea is still the same – beat down a bunch of thugs and be the last man standing – but it takes place inside enclosed 3D arenas, and adds some gameplay gimmicks to be a bit more diversifying.  There's more satisfaction to it than we first expected, but it isn't quite the noble warrior it could've been.

Sometimes I suspect that game designers don’t have a lot of respect for me. Though they’ve never met me, I think they tend to assume I’m not a very smart person, and that I’m insecure about it. I feel vaguely uneasy when I breeze through a level and I’m profusely congratulated with items and experience points. The rewards feel hollow. Did I even really earn them? If that last section wasn’t challenging, do I need or want them? A lot of modern game design is focused on accommodating the player: Scale the difficulty; make every play style equally viable in every situation; don’t punish failure.