Author: Brad Bortone

Shadow Warrior 2 (XBO) Review

Many Highs. One Big Lo.

HIGH Hilarious, breakneck gameplay that continually offers new variety.

LOW Player models pale in comparison to the effects and environments.

WTF Lo Wang begins to get a little grating by the ten-hour mark.


The Golf Club 2 Review

A Diamond In Some Deep Rough

HIGH A limitless amount of user-generated content, a very reasonable price point.

LOW Extremely steep learning curve for those accustomed to EA’s golf titles.

WTF Unforgivable graphical stutter on backswings that turns drives into crashes.


Disney Afternoon Collection Review

A Throwback To A Not-So-Simple Time

HIGH The rewind functionality spared more than one controller.

LOW Realizing how worthless and weak I am without tutorial levels.

WTF Remapping the buttons frustrated me more than the games did.


Voodoo Vince Remastered Review

Cursed By Missed Opportunities

HIGH Humorous self-mutilation is fun. (Now there’s a sentence I’ve never written before.)

LOW Visuals from 2003. Innovation from 1903.

WTF Are there really this many bottomless pits in New Orleans?


Soda Drinker Pro Review

Gamers Will Need A Drink, Alright…

HIGH  Graphics that evoke warm memories of screensavers.

LOW   This “game” does nothing to advance the cause for independent Xbox game development.

WTF  Why didn’t the devs have more confidence in Vivian Clark?


This Is Not A Review: Astroneer

Welcome to This is Not a Review. In these articles we discuss general impressions, ideas and thoughts on any given game, but as the title implies, it’s not a review. Instead, it’s an exercise in offering a quick recommendation (or dismissal) after spending enough time to grasp the ideas and gameplay of a thing without necessarily playing it from A to Z.

The subject of this installment: Astroneer, developed and published by System Era Softworks, and available in early access on both PC and Xbox One.


Gas Guzzlers Extreme Review

Extremely… Generic, Shallow And Disappointing

HIGH Drive cars and blow things up in digital wastelands. What’s not to love?

LOW For gamers who long to play deathmatch and capture the flag solo, their dream game has arrived.

WTF The only thing “extreme” about this title are the loadtimes.


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Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection Review

Nothing Is Good. Everything Is Permitted.

HIGH  These three titles represent the most memorable story development in the series.

LOW  These three titles represent the laziest upgrade package on modern consoles.

WTF  Assassin’s Creed II’s gameplay has aged as well as dollar-store parmesan.