Ghostbusters

Post-Launch Review

Ghostbusters: The Video Game (PC)

Developer: Terminal Reality

Released: June 2009

Played: complete in 7h42m

About

Original Ghostbusters actors Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson reprise their roles in a new story set in the 1991, two years after the events of Ghostbusters II. The Ghostbusters are successful contractors for the City of New York - successful enough to be hiring. You're the new recruit brought on just in time for a major new paranormal event with ties to old foes Gozer and occultist architect Ivo Shandor. 

The Evil Within

Post-Launch Review

The Evil Within (PC)

Developer: Tango Gameworks

Released: October 2014
Played: story complete in 13h

About

During a call to investigate a disturbance at Beacon Hill mental hospital, police detective Castellanos encounters a hostile, badly-burned man with incredible power. Castellanos finds himself trapped in a constantly-changing landscape full of monsters, gore, and dark memories. The detective sets out to find his missing colleagues, escape the twisted world trapping them, and stop the malevolent apparition in the white hood. 

Saints Row IV

Post-Launch Review
Saints Row IV (PC)

Developer: Volition
Released: August 2013

Played: story complete with 96% world progress in 21h

About

Following the successes in Steelport, the leader of the Saints has been elected president of the United States... just in time for an alien invasion. The Saints are abducted and trapped within simulations, at the mercy of the galactic warlord Zinyak. Hacker Kinzie Kensington and vice president Keith David are the first out. They rescue the Boss, who immediately launches a campaign of destruction and revenge to save his/her crew and all of humanity.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

Post-Launch Review

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified (PC)

Developer: 2k Marin / Australia / China
Released: August 2013
Played: story complete in 10h:38min; Hangar 6 complete in 2h:10min

About

It's the height of the Cold War in 1962. A covert American organization known only as the Bureau is investigating a mysterious pathogen when an alien attack destroys a military facility and exposes CIA agent William Carter to an unknown artifact. Recruited into the Bureau, Carter leads a team of field agents investigating and combating the alien threat, hoping to keep the war covered up and discover a vulnerability before the aliens take over the world.

Red Dead Redemption

Post-Launch Review

Red Dead Redemption (X360)

Released: May 2010

(This review took way too long to get done for a few reasons, but hopefully my schedule will get back on track soon.)

About

It's the early 1900s in the American West. Former outlaw John Marston is strongarmed by a government agency into hunting down his old gang across the West and into Mexico and bringing them to justice.

Tomb Raider

Post-Launch Review
Tomb Raider (2013, PC)
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Released: March 2013
Played: story 100% complete in 14 hours

About

In this reboot of the classic series, Lara Croft is a young archaeologist on her first expedition, searching for the lost empire of Yamatai. The ship is struck by a powerful storm and trapped on a mysterious island, where Lara and her friends find themselves hunted by a dangerous cult of an ancient queen...

Vanquish

Post-Launch Review

Vanquish (XBox 360)

Developer: Platinum Games

Released: October 2010

Played: story complete in 6h

About

After a Russian nationalist group seizes control of a space colony and repurposes its microwave power transmitter to boil San Francisco alive, an American military force launches an all-out assault to reclaim the station. Joining the squad is Sam Gideon, outfitted with the DARPA Augmented Reaction Suit, which enhances his reflexes and allows for high-speed jet boosts. Sam and Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Burns are tasked with retaking the station before it fires again on New York City.

The Saboteur

Post-Launch Review

The Saboteur (PC)

Developer: Pandemic Studios

Released: December 2009
Played: story complete in 15h

About

Irish racecar mechanic Sean Devlin is cheated out of a win at the 1940 Saarbrücken Grand Prix by Nazi colonel Kurt Dierker. After an attempt at revenge goes terribly wrong, Sean finds himself in a strip club in Nazi-occupied Paris, where he is approached by a member of the Resistance hoping to capitalize on Sean's grudge...

Advent Rising

Post-Launch Review

Advent Rising (PC)

Developer: GlyphX Games

Released: May 2005

Played: story complete in 6h50min

About

For the first time, humanity meets intelligent alien life - but the Aurelians have arrived to warn of an impending attack by the Seekers, a second race dedicated to wiping out the human race. There is hope: humanity is worshipped across the galaxy, and the Aurelians believe that the human pilot Gideon Wyeth may be able to unlock his mythical power and defeat the Seekers.

The Last Of Us

Post-Launch Review

The Last Of Us

Developer: Naughty Dog

Released: June 2013

Played: story complete in 15 hours

About

Twenty years after a fungal pandemic has wiped out most of the human population, a smuggler named Joel finds himself transporting an unusual cargo: a girl, Ellie, who may be able to fight the disease. Joel and Ellie set out across the United States to find the Fireflies, a rebel group resisting the authority of the quarantine zones.

Mass Effect 3

Post-Launch Review
Mass Effect 3 (PC)
Developer: BioWare
Released: March 2012
Played: best ending and all DLC in 38 hours; 2 hours multiplayer

About

The Reapers have arrived and no one is ready. After an initial assault on Earth, the Reapers quickly spread across the galaxy, laying siege to the homeworlds of the strongest species to begin their harvest. Facing impossible odds and fighting against a cycle that's lasted millions of years, Commander Shepard must unite the galaxy for a desperate, all-out offensive against the overwhelming force of the Reapers.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Post-Launch Review
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Developer: Naughty Dog
Released: November 2011
Played: story complete in 8h38min; no multiplayer

About

Nathan Drake and Victor Sullivan take on an old grudge, competing with an enemy from their past. This time they're on the trail of a lost city deep in the Rub' al Khali desert, discovered by Sir Francis Drake, who for some reason erased all evidence of his search. Along with the hazards of the desert, Drake's allegiances will be tested as the enemy dredges up secrets of his history and identity.

Dead Space 3

Post-Launch Review

Dead Space 3 (PC)

Developer:Visceral Games
Released: February 2013
Played: story complete in 13h20min; Awakened DLC complete in1h15min

About

Some time after the events of Dead Space 2, the Unitologists are inciting rebellions all over the colonies to free the markers and start necromorph infestations. Isaac Clarke is pulled from an outbreak by Earthgov's last military unit, and they set out to find Ellie Langford's research team on Tau Volantis, an ice planet which appears to be the source of the marker signal and which may offer a way to end the necromorph threat for good.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Post-Launch Review

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Developer: Naughty Dog

Released: October 2009

Played: story complete in 9h45m

No screenshots. Sigh, PS3.

About

Following clues left by Marco Polo, treasure hunter Nathan Drake is on the trail of the fabled city of Shambhala and the Cintamani Stone, a legendary sapphire said to be bigger around than a man's armspan. But a ruthless warlord also wants the Stone for its mythical powers. Racing against the warlord and faced with betrayal, Drake hops around the globe to find the secret of Shambhala.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Post-Launch Review

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Developer: Naughty Dog

Released: November 2007

Played: story complete in 7:45

Sorry for the lack of screenshots. It'll be nice to eventually have a PS4 so I can include screenshots in those reviews.

About

Treasure hunter Nathan Drake, his friend and mentor Victor Sullivan, and documentary journalist Elena Fisher are on the trail of Sir Francis Drake, an explorer who supposedly found El Dorado four hundred years ago. The search for the treasure is a race against time as other, more violently competitive fortune hunters join the chase.

Stranglehold

Post-Launch Review

Stranglehold (PC)

Developer: Midway Chicago, Tiger Hill Entertainment

Released: September 2007

Played: complete in 4.5 hours

About

The sequel to the 1992 action movie Hard Boiled, and a collaboration between director John Woo and actor Chow Yun-fat, Stranglehold follows Inspector Tequila as he gets caught in a war between the Golden Kane and Dragon Claw gangs, and Tequila must fight for justice and his estranged family.

Dark Void

Post-Launch Review

Dark Void (PC)

Developer: Airtight Games

Released: January 2010

About

A third-person shooter set just before World War 2, Dark Void follows Will Grey, a pilot thrown into another world by the Bermuda Triangle. In the Void, Will encounters an alien race known as the Watchers, who are in constant conflict with a ragged group of humans, the survivors of accidents and disappearances similar to Will's. With the help of inventor Nikola Tesla, Will dons a jetpack and joins the survivors in the hope of escaping the Void.

Max Payne 3

Post-Launch Review

Max Payne 3

Developer: Rockstar Vancouver

Released: May 2012

Note: this is a review of the story mode. I didn't touch multiplayer.

About

Rockstar takes over from Remedy for the third entry in the series, several years after Max Payne 2. After the events of the first two games, Max is now working private security for a family in São Paulo. Since this is Max Payne, everything goes straight to hell, and the people he's supposed to protect get into some serious trouble with the wrong people. The full story, including how Max got himself into the current mess, is told through investigation and flashbacks as Max begins to realize that the stakes are higher than they seem.

Spec Ops: The Line

Post-Launch Review

Spec Ops: The Line

Developer: Yager Development (single player) / Darkside Game Studios (multiplayer)

Released: June 2012

About

Dubai has been destroyed by massive sandstorms, and the elite US military unit sent to help has been assumed lost. Recently a transmission was received indicating that the unit is still alive, so a squad is sent to investigate. Captain Walker's reconnaissance mission quickly turns into a manhunt through hostile territory when the squad discovers survivors who aren't what they appear.

I Am Alive

Post-Launch Review
I Am Alive
Developer: Ubisoft Shanghai
Released: March 7 2012 (XBLA) / April 2012 (PSN) / September 6 2012 (PC)

About

One year after a devastating earthquake that destroyed most of the US, a survivor finally arrives back in the city of Haventon to search for his wife and daughter. He must climb and fight through the devastated, dust-choked city, encountering survivors and bandits along the way.