Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Review

Vivid colors and hyperactive gameplay make for quite a game

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Reviewed on Xbox One

Vibrant, fast-paced and a joy to play, “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” is as fun as its predecessors, despite some over-bloating in its gameplay.

The last time I played “Pac-Man,” it was the black and white Game Boy version and that, like all of the classic Namco Bandai “Pac-Man” games is pure fun, even in its simplicity. The formula was never broke but Pac-Man: Championship Edition (2007) did find a way to make it even better. Its sequel comes packed with plenty of bright colors, fast-moving, frantic gameplay and exciting challenges, making for a solid “Pac-Man” experience for old fans and newcomers alike; however, it is admittedly a bit overwhelming at times. 

God of War 3 Remastered Review

High-octane action makes this PlayStation 3 hit worth a revisit for fans and newcomers alike 

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan 

Reviewed on PlayStation 4 

Hacking and slashing both the most royal of Greek gods and abominable of mythical monsters made “God of War 3” one of the most satisfying games on the PlayStation 3; “God of War 3 Remastered” is just as fun while simultaneously taking advantage of the graphical fidelity of its new home on the PlayStation 4.

“God of War” is a franchise I hold near and dear with PlayStation memories and in conjunction with my favorite action games so picking the remastered version up on the PlayStation 4 was always a no-brainer. For returning fans, if you have the money to dish out, it's hard to deny the exciting thrills the game came with. With gorgeous visuals thanks to the power the remastered version is allotted, “God of War 3” is as much of an exhilarating and over the top hack and slash joyride as ever. Newcomers should put the story aside, despite it being relatively interesting, to still take in the thrill of every screen-encapsulating boss fight and bloody rage-filled combo that few games capture in the vein of “God of War 3.”

Stick it to the Man Review

A comical adventure like no other

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Reviewed on PlayStation 4

“Stick it to the Man” tells an entertaining story filled with charming characters and writing.

My time with “Stick it to the Man” consisted of plenty of laughs and genuine smiles on my face thanks to the adventure game’s solid writing and puzzle platforming design. With ideas like reading minds and moving stickers around to help those around you, I have never played such a bizarre but lovely game. “Stick it to the Man” is overall quite memorable.

Mad Max Review

A post-apocalyptic playground chock full of brutal vehicular and melee combat alike

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Reviewed on Xbox One

Thanks to a beautifully crafted wasteland, violent combat, both in vehicles and on foot and a bevy of vehicles to test your skills in, “Mad Max” is one of the most fun open world games I have spent my time with this console generation.

Thanks to “Mad Max: Fury Road,” the George Miller-directed action film brought the franchise back to relevance. Just a few months after, the developers behind the “Just Cause” series brought another glorious action game to the table. “Mad Max” is an open world game as well. Like their previous work, Avalanche Studios provides many instances of high-octane action and excitement. The combat is brutally satisfying, particularly whilst driving. “Mad Max’s” story is nothing short of interesting, on paper, but it does often take a backseat to the rest of the game’s offerings.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands Review

An ambitious, entertaining world held back by repetition.

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan 

Reviewed on Xbox One

With a massive open world in Bolivia and a seemingly wide array of weapon choice and variety, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands is greatly ambitious; however, thanks to some glitches and repetitive mission structure, it isn't all it could be.

I went into Wildlands with a lot of hope because of the world it was presenting me. The idea of a huge drug cartel being taken down, one by one picking off the drug lords and saving Bolivia sounded like a blast. I did have a good time in the end. The shooting was fun, the levels were open to creativity in execution and the map's size screamed hours on end of entertainment. It unfortunately suffered from a lot of oddly similar levels. They started fresh but grew repetitive too quickly. I also found the story to be awesome on paper but was never told in a compelling manner. This is an extremely enjoyable world to play in, despite some issues.

Contrast Review

A creative, aesthetically pleasing adventure

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Reviewed on PlayStation 4

“Contrast” is an entertaining journey through the vivid imagination of a young girl combined with a fresh take on puzzle platforming.

All presented gorgeously in a uniquely stylish Paris, France, “Contrast’s” visuals make it an instant standout. Thanks to a fresh concept of switching between 2D and 3D, as well as using shadows to your advantage to solve puzzles, “Contrast” is a charming game worth checking out.

Far Cry Primal Review

A prehistoric spin on a modern series

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Reviewed on PlayStation 4

With a unique direction in setting and time period, “Far Cry: Primal” does something fresh for the first person shooter its story predates.

“Far Cry: Primal” couldn’t keep me engaged with its underwhelming plot; however, in the gameplay department, Ubisoft Montreal exceeds in every way. With plenty of new animals, weapons and locations, “Far Cry: Primal” delivers a different but still very familiar experience for the series.