Double Dragon: Neon Review

Double Dragon: Neon shows that things that you loved as a kid don't necessarily hold up when you go back to them. Neon just like the original game has Billy and Jimmy Lee going to rescue Marion, this time taken by the evil Skullmagadeon.

In your quest to get Marion back you will punch and kick your way through 16 frustratingly old school levels. which is the biggest detriment to the game the fact that Wayforward refused to bring Double Dragon to the modern era of game design. This game is so firmly stuck in its roots that they didn't include a bevy of things that people have come to expect such as checkpoints. Which means that every time you die you will start at the beginning of the level and fight your way through the same 3 lame enemy types over and over again. Also the 3D character models look incredibly low quality.

Neon once in combat becomes even more frustrating where you will consistently struggle to line up attacks. Making combat even more frustrating however is that whenever a new enemy is introduced a massive name bar pops up blocking a good portion of the screen.

This game isn't all horrible though one positive is that the game has a wonderful soundtrack that captures the tone of the 80s incredibly well. Plus the multiplayer makes the game slightly more entertaining, because beating the same generic enemies up is always more fun with a friend. Although not including online is a big let down.

But even with the great soundtrack and enjoyable co-op this game still has no reason to exist other than to grab money from those who have incredible nostalgia for the 80s.

5/10           

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time preview

As a long time fan of the Sly Cooper trilogy, I was ecstatic when I heard about Thieves in Time during E3 2011. Now seven years since the release of Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, another installment of the franchise is well past due, and fans are eager to continue adventures with their favorite band of thieves. Because Sucker Punch has moved on to games such as the Infamous franchise, developer Sanzaru Games is taking point for Sly 4, and has big shoes to fill. Set for release in early 2013, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is highly anticipated by fans and other members of the gaming community.
    A demo for Thieves in Time has been released exclusively for owners of the Ratchet and Clank collection, and I took a look to see what Sanzaru had to offer for the game. The first thing I noticed was the new art style and graphic quality utilized by this game. The character model for Sly is the same model used for PlayStation Move Heroes and the upcoming PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale. The game play begins in a massive circus tent, where Sly can truly put his tightrope-walking skills to use. But first the player is expected to use a new ability: a Robin Hood costume with which Sly can fire roped arrows into the next platform and tight walk over. Throughout the next 2-5 minutes, the player faces fire traps, trapeze swings, and some witty banter between Sly and Bentley. When the player reaches the far side of the tent, they meet Sir Galeth Cooper, Sly's ancestor in Medieval England. Galeth has been imprisoned and forced to become a performer for the circus, and when Sly rescues him, Galeth seems eager for vengeance. The demo ends with Sly and Galeth walking out of the tent side by side.
    This demo has only raised my interest in the game. Though the art style leaves me a bit weary, I understand that the jump between systems will cause a remodel, and it didn't really seem to effect the game's dynamic. All in all, I look forward to the return of the Thievius Raccoonus in the upcoming year.