Filippo’s Top 5 Games of 2017
2017 has been great for games–a little less so for me playing them. Still, I’ve managed to play a few I rather enjoyed.
Posts by Filippo Dinolfo [ 84 ]
“Forza Motorsport 7” Review
This review is not going to be what you expect. We have a format on SmashPad that we usually follow. For this game though, we decided to run with an idea I had. Many reviews and pundits talk about the bad practices in the gaming industry in a cut-and-dry way, ignoring the fact that on the other end of the screen is a real person. I decided to approach this review from that angle, and just write a letter to […]
“NASCAR Heat 2” Review
While the NASCAR license has had a long and hard road behind it in the video games industry with its highs and lows, it’s still a racing franchise that people want to play. Monster Games is the latest developer to take a shot at this property and it’s remarkably solid for a second outing. What Is It? NASCAR Heat 2 is a sequel to last year’s NASCAR Heat Evolution. It builds on the groundwork laid by that game and greatly […]
“Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Episode 1: Tangled Up in Blue” Review
Telltale’s narrative driven adventure games have been making a name for themselves by allowing players to step into their favorite worlds and get more than a cursory glimpse into its inhabitants. Be it Game of Thrones, Batman, or The Walking Dead, character development and decisions that carry over from one episode to another are what have made them popular. Now Telltale has taken a crack at Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. I’m happy to say that they’ve done another excellent […]
“Double Dragon IV” Review
As I sit here playing Double Dragon IV, I can’t help but look over at the calendar to make sure it is in fact the year 2017. I may be playing this game on the PlayStation 4, but it certainly feels like I could be playing it on my old CRT TV in my bedroom back in 1989. Double Dragon IV is a throwback game, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Filippo’s Top 5 Games of 2016
2016 was a great year for games in general, but not so great for me. As I look back at the games I’ve played and reviewed this year, it was hard for me to pick ten that really stood out. I didn’t want to just pick the games I gave the highest scores to, as I wanted to make this list about the games that I truly enjoyed and continue to enjoy. I ended up settling on five games that […]
“Rock Band Rivals” Review
When Rock Band 4 launched last year, it was met with mixed reviews. Most of the criticism was centered around the lack of modes and content. A lot of the features from Rock Band 3 didn’t make it into the new game, and players felt that they were being charged full price for a Beta. Harmonix kept on working on the game, releasing numerous updates which added in much of what was missing initially. With the Rivals expansion pack, they […]
“Zenith” Review
Folks, we’ve got to face the facts. As we get older, we get progressively crankier. Things that used to bring us joy now grate on our nerves. We wonder about the ‘the kids these days’ and lament about how things were better when we were younger. Well, Zenith is a game that speaks directly to us old farts.
“The King of Fighters XIV” Review
I have to admit that when I first saw the teaser trailer for The King of Fighters XIV (KOFXIV), I was highly skeptical. It gave a brief glimpse of a now fully 3D-modeled game, but promised traditional 2D gameplay. These things generally either go very poorly or serve as a reset for the franchise. KOFXIV is the first game from the newly restored SNK. It’s an important title, since it will set the tone for the company and either reestablish […]
“Brut@l” Review
I can still remember it like it was yesterday. There I was, running away from some pretty nasty ogres. My HP was really low and I was all out of healing items. I make a last stand in a room where I have room to maneuver. I manage to take out the ogres, but my HP is dangerously low. Oh look, a potion? I hadn’t found the healing variety yet, I was relying on food to bring my HP back […]
“Lumo” Review
If you’re a gamer of the 80’s, chances are you remember playing an isometric puzzle platformer. For me, it was Knight Lore, a game that perplexed me, but also rewarded my patience. Making my way through the numerous rooms of the game led me to figure out the way the game was designed. It was a small window into the minds of the Stamper Brothers, and one that I never forgot. Here we are now, in 2016 and I’m playing […]
“Audio-Technica AT-LP60” Long-Term Review
If you’ve been following gaming for the past year or so, you’ve noticed that there have been several soundtrack releases coming out on vinyl. Everything from classic chiptunes to contemporary releases like Supergiant’s Transistor soundtrack. Some games are even shipping with vinyl records as part of their limited Collector’s Editions. Getting into vinyl can be a confusing and costly quagmire, with numerous choices for entry-level turntables and all-in-one record players. Many of these aren’t worth your time or money, but […]
