Puzzle

Gamer moms and gamer dads, assemble! The mighty Aaron of the GameEnthus Podcast joins us for a lengthy conversation about the joys and challenges of integrating our parenting and gaming lives. How did we introduce games to our kids? How do we deal with M-rated content? How do we decide when to take the controller away? We also offer some unique kid's game recommendations you won't find anywhere else. Plus: Our take on a game your kids should definitely NOT play: Catherine. With Chi Kong Lui, Brad Gallaway, Mike Bracken, Richard Naik, and Tim "The Master Thespian" Spaeth.

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Please send feedback and mailbag questions to podcast (at) gamecritics (dot) com.

Now I really hate Angry Birds!

Story. Gaming on the Side

HIGH The character animation on-display here is phenomenal.

LOW Me: "Oh great, is that the 30th character or the 40th?"

WTF The only way to the truth is with the help of a dead Pomeranian.

Was the ending to Portal not very satisfying? Did it leave more questions than it answered? Need to see more of Chell? If you answered yes to these questioned, then maybe you will enjoy this short film by Eeisen Feuer and starring Nicole Leigh as Chell.

Who are we kidding? Even if you answered no to these questions, this is such a well-made short film that anyone, Portal fan or not, should give a look-see.

The Return of the Orange and Blue

HIGH Wheatley's voiceovers.

LOW The frustration from a particular puzzle at the end of the underground area.

WTF Who knew the turrets had such heavenly singing voices?

She has a Medical Degree. In fashion. From France.

HIGH My co-op partner's reaction to me falling onto a springboard and being flung to my death.

LOW If I think of one I'll you'll be the first to know.

WTF Has anyone ever seen Chell and Zoey from Left 4 Dead in the same room at the same time?

While I still have it fresh in my mind I want to put down my thoughts about the single-player campaign in Portal 2. I haven't played any of the co-op, primarily because of the mysterious, ongoing problem with the PSN. However, I completed the solo campaign, and while I agree with many of the criticisms Michael Barnes made in his review at No High Scores, I greatly enjoyed Portal 2. I don't think it's a 10/10 masterpiece, but it is a very good game.

Lost in a Crowd

HIGH Making a tower of shoulder-standin' buddies is as cute as a kitten sandwich.

LOW Dealing with the scoring system saps a lot of joy from the game.

WTF The "Mama" character is pretty amazing.  Why can't more mothers be enormous, gelatinous blobs who spew bipedal underlings?

We're back! Again! Join us for captivating spoiler-free discussions of Portal 2 and Dead Space 2. Plus: the merits of silent protagonists, PSN madness, Chi buys a 3DS, Mike subscribes to Final Fantasy XIV, Tim loses it over Dante's Inferno, and so much more. We were just so happy to hear each other's voices, we couldn't stop gabbing. With Chi Kong Lui, Brad Gallaway, Mike Bracken, Richard Naik, and Tim "Chance" Spaeth.

Download: Right click here and select "Save Target As..."
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | RSS

Links:

• Dead Space 2 Review
• Portal Review
• Portal 2 Review
• Dante's Inferno Review

Please send feedback and mailbag questions to podcast (at) gamecritics (dot) com.

The most difficult part of reviewing a game is reviewing the difficulty. A few games—Super Meat Boy, I Wanna be the Guy—can uncontroversially be called hard, but the essential question is actually whether they are too hard. Since that level of difficulty depends not only on the individual player's skills and experience, but also on his values, it can be difficult to state what goes over the line. It is even harder to accurately say whether a game is too easy, primarily because most reviewers are skilled and experienced gamers, many of them drawn to the hobby during its early days when challenge was practically all a game could offer in terms of fun.