CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
HollywoodChicago.com Video Games
Video Game Review: Stunning Graphics, Addictive Combat Elevate ‘Final Fantasy XIII-2’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 16, 2012 - 12:27pmCHICAGO – “Final Fantasy XIII-2” takes an adjustment. It’s not that distinct an experience from other “FF” games but gamers currently handling “Modern Warfare 3” or “Skyrim” addictions will have to get accustomed to a very different gaming style. The first couple hours, heavy on cut scenes and with a first level that seems frustratingly juvenile and pedestrian, disappointed me.
Video Game Review: ‘Gotham City Imposters’ is Great Shooter
Submitted by BrianTT on February 15, 2012 - 12:38pmCHICAGO – It’s been some time since there was an exciting downloadable title after a wave of them a few years ago that included the incredible “Braid,” “Limbo,” and even “Joe Danger.” Since then, it’s been a bit dire, seemingly hitting bottom with the horrendous “Amy” last month (a game that you should avoid at all costs).
Video Game Review: ‘Jak and Daxter Collection’ Shows Incredible Influence
Submitted by BrianTT on February 14, 2012 - 11:07amCHICAGO – Hey kiddies, before Naughty Dog won all of your personal Game of the Year Awards for the amazing “Uncharted” franchise, they developed an incredible and influential series of games with the wonderful characters of Jak and Daxter. In fact, if you took an informal poll of the characters still stuck in the last generation that fans would most want to see given a next-gen upgrade, they would probably come close to the top of the list (another might be another ND property, “Crash Bandicoot”).
Video Game Feature: Hands-On With the Sony PlayStation Vita
Submitted by BrianTT on February 8, 2012 - 3:31pmCHICAGO – It feels like there’s a new must-have electronic toy every quarter. Do you have an iPad 2? iPhone 4S? Nintendo 3DS? Whatever that obnoxious SuperBowl commercial with The Darkness was shilling? It can get exhausting, especially if you don’t have the expendable income to get them all. So why should you buy a Sony PlayStation Vita?
Video Game Review: Bad Mechanics Leave ‘NeverDead’ Clinging to Life
Submitted by BrianTT on February 7, 2012 - 6:48pmCHICAGO – I was annoyed more often than entertained by “NeverDead,” Konami’s admirable attempt at undead humor action that misses its mark by virtue of repetitive action and poor mechanics. I was hoping for a clever, fun ride with a zombie hero, a relative of the surprisingly-fun “Shadows of the Damned” perhaps. Instead I got a game closer to “Duke Nukem Forever” with bad gameplay, awful writing, and uninteresting storytelling. This is a major disappointment.
Video Game Review: Bloody Journey Into ‘The Darkness II’ Pays Off
Submitted by BrianTT on February 7, 2012 - 4:36pmCHICAGO – “The Darkness II” may not be quite as artistically successful as one would hope but it works for what it is — a gory, violent, extreme journey to Hell through the eyes of a vicious gangster who made a deal with the devil. Visual creativity goes a long way to alleviate gameplay repetition and a lack of interesting storytelling.
Video Game Review: Stellar Fighting Mechanics Elevate ‘SoulCalibur V’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 1, 2012 - 3:31pmCHICAGO – Imagine after a long night of playing one of the many recent “Assassin’s Creed” games that you fall asleep and dream of a world in which Ezio Auditore da Firenze jumps into various game types, including one in which he gets to fight and unleash a series of wicked combo moves on scantily clad and sword-bearing enemies. Welcome to your dreams.
Video Game Feature: The 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2012
Submitted by BrianTT on January 18, 2012 - 4:59pmCHICAGO – Last week, we gave you a list of the top ten video games of 2011. With a list that included “Arkham City,” “Dead Space 2,” “Portal 2,” “Skyrim,” and “Uncarted 3” 2011 definitely had some highlights, but, as mentioned in the previous article, 2011 will not go down as one of the greatest years in game history. There were some very fine games, but overall, games seemed to be lacking a bit…at least compared to 2010.
Video Game Review: The Force is Strong Within Massive ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 12, 2012 - 4:23pmCHICAGO – Set an even longer time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Bioware, Electronic Arts, and LucasArts brings us “Star Wars: The Old Republic;” a fascinating blend of deeper Star Wars lore and a very entertaining and addictive MMORPG. Like many MMOs before it, “The Old Republic” world is incredibly vast with tons and tons to do.
Video Game Feature: The 10 Best Video Games of 2011
Submitted by BrianTT on January 11, 2012 - 2:20pmCHICAGO – We may already be planning our 2012 gaming experience (and watch for a piece next week on HC’s most-anticipated games), but there’s still time (before “Mass Effect 3” takes over our lives) to look back at the year that was and ask the key questions — Was 2011 a good year for gamers? What were the highlights? Let us guide the way with our ten favorite games of last year (and ten runner-ups).
