PixlBit

Witness the original arcade Donkey Kong get beaten into the dirt.

Please note that this review will not cover 3DS Virtual Console or Super Game Boy features.

I have a confession to make: I hate the original arcade Donkey Kong. Yes, sneer at me all you want, but I have good reasons for disliking it so much. While I have been very spoiled by Mario platforming adventures, his first battle with Donkey Kong is not something I eagerly replay. Note that this is coming from someone who enjoys games like Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, and Dig Dug (notice a pattern here?); I will admit that the original DK arcade game has some sound elements that would set a benchmark for Mario’s debut, but with those awful jumping mechanics Donkey Kong isn’t a game I rate highly.

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Pretty sure it's pronounced "Blaze Blue."

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II is a PSP Port (hence the “II”) of Continuum Shift, which was released first for arcade and then for PS3 and Xbox 360. The port differs slightly from the original: it includes all the DLC characters from the start, and it features a new Abyss mode (more on that later). Like the other titles in the series, this game is outrageously complicated. It’s clearly made for a niche audience (“hardcore” fighting game enthusiasts) of which I am not a part. But, complexity aside, the battles are fun and nice to look at, so it seems they’ve struck enough of a balance that even those who don’t really know what they’re looking at can enjoy the view.

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This metroidvania game puts an extremely compelling spin on the tried-and-true formula.

Metroidvania games are unquestionably some of my favorites. While there aren’t too many produced outside of the titles from where the subgenre name is lifted, they are often a treat when they become available. Outland is no exception to this rule, offering up a 2D platformer that places a far greater focus on its action elements, requiring players to master movement, attacking, and timely switching between a light/dark mechanic.

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Traveller's Tales delivers a great LEGO experience featuring everyone's favorite rum-swilling captain.

I grew up on LEGOs, making submarines and castles, creating stories out of blocks. This is my first experience with a LEGO game, and though it’s not the same, I still had an incredible amount of fun.

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Easily the best work of Suda51 thus far, but it’s still rough around the edges.

Shadows of the Damned is clearly Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture’s most polished game yet. Whether it’s due to the influence of Shinji Mikami as the creative producer or due to some maturation of Suda51’s style and execution is unclear, but the 10 hour romp through hell is chock full of style, humor, and solid gameplay that trips only slightly along the way. While Suda51’s previous titles can be a bit tough to get into for the average player, Shadows of the Damned is much more accessible and will likely appeal to a much greater audience – assuming they can tolerate the never ending onslaught of penis jokes.

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