Reviews Spotlight: Vasquez, Vanquish, and Vegas

Despite the absence of VVVVVV, this week's Reviews Spotlight includes a lot of Vs. And why not? After all, I can think of quite a few Halloween-themed words that start with that letter: vampires, villains, violence. And hey, I am dressing up as Alan Moore's V for the 31st.

With that out of the way, here's the skinny: this week's edition of the Spotlight directs public attention toward Suriel Vasquez's body of work. For too long has this writer's work gone without total and utter public devoltion. This week, we fix that problem.

Oh, and we also take a look at some games.

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Vanquish: Throttling Your Throttlers
By Suriel Vasquez
When a game boasts the design talent of Shinji Mikami, it doesn't have to invest too much into advertisement. Courtesy of word of mouth, Vanquish has stolen the imagination of the industry — but the unfortunate reality has slowly settled among gamers. A game with this kind of hype can only go in one of two directions: disappointing failure or outstanding success.

Which is it?

Here to respond to that difficult question is Suriel Vasquez, Bitmob's one-of-a-kind maverick. In astounding detail, Suriel details the dangerous territory hype has led Vanquish into. Can we expect a heart-pounding, non-stop tour de force, or will Vanquish be the type of game you regret having bought?

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How is Comic Jumper?
By Jeffrey Sandlin
Jeffrey won one of the free downloadable codes we had set aside for our community writers, and as a result, he wrote up this review of Comic Jumper for Bitmob readers. His headline is simple enough…but the actual story breaks down all aspects of this game in great detail. He wasn't impressed with the developer's last outing, Splosion Man. Do they redeem themselves with Comic Jumper?

 

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Fallout: New Vegas — Musings of a Radioactive Cowboy
By Doug Otto
Having just completed my odyssey through New Vegas' wasteland, I don't feel like "radioactive cowboy" is an entirely appropriate moniker. I would have chosen "sadistic, woman-hating sociopath" — it's apparent Doug and I made different choices in-game.

At this point in the review cycle, Fallout: New Vegas' quality is beyond debate. The only reason to read a review at this point is to determine whether the game is suited for you. Luckily, Doug does that exactly. Do you prefer tactic-oriented combat, or would you rather charge in, guns blazing? Is dialogue and narrative important to you or do explosions and giblets take priority? Whatever type of gamer you are, I'm sure Doug can determine whether New Vegas is your type of game.

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Costume Quest: The Best Kind of Do-Over
By Suriel Vasquez
Closing in on a hat-trick, Suriel provides his impressions of Costume Quest. What's Costume Quest, you ask? Well, close your eyes and try and imagine the last time you went trick-or-treating. Try to remember your costume, the autumn chill, and the thrill of receiving candy from strangers. Costume Quest capitalizes on that sensation, revolving around a band of kids who fight off the demons who threaten to ruin Halloween!

Prepare yourself for a few doses of Double Fine Production's patented humor, coupled with some traditional RPG mechanics. Will you spend the 31st playing Costume Quest or out trick-or-treating? Allow Suriel to predict your evening.

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Super Meat Boy — Perfecting the Art of Swearing
By Jack Wilde
After having your soul and will destroyed by a video game, you're given very few options beyond depression or anger. After being overwhelmed by both emotions, Jack channelled his feelings in order to write the "Eight Stages of Super Meat Boy." The list moves from enjoyment, to hysteria, and all the way to zen.

Less than a review of the game, Jack charts the myriad of emotions Meat Boy will drive you to feel. After having read this article, I suggest you find some tissues, a punching bag, and a paper bag before you play Super Meat Boy.

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Kirby's Epic Yarn: Tourning the Fabric Countryside
By Suriel Vasquez
Every once in a while, a novel idea takes hold of the industry's artists. Cel-shading and cover mechanics are two recent innovations, but they're in danger of being overshadowed by fabric. Kirby's Epic Yarn isn't hedging its success on its gameplay, but on the aesthetic and creative appeal of its world.

As you can see from the picture above, Kirby's Epic Yarn takes place in a tapestry of interactive enemies and stationary platforms. Kirby can unweave threads, unzip zippers, and jump off of buttons. While Suriel can't guarantee this game to satiate your urge to knit, he can promise a genuinely fun time. Care to take a stroll through Kirby's newest kingdom? Suriel knows the way.