—Game Review— Bastion

I've known about this indie game for a while but it wasn't until Steam had a sale that I finally opted to give it a chance. I'm really, really glad I did.

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***Bastion***

Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developed by Supergiant Games

Released 2011 | Action, RPG

For Xbox 360, PS4, PS Vita, PC | Review: PC

*Rated E10 for Everyone 10+*

Animated Blood | Fantasy Violence

Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
(Click HERE for more ESRB rating details.)

HGG Score: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 9/10

—Game Review— Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

I already had the first two FFXIII games, so getting the third was kind of a no-brainer. 

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***Lightning Returns***
Final Fantasy XIII

Published and developed by Square Enix

Released 2014 | JRPG

For Xbox 360, PS3, PC | Review: Xbox 360, PC

*Rated T for Teen*

Blood | Mild Language | Violence

Suggestive Themes | Use of Alcohol
(Click HERE for more ESRB rating details.)

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Bayonetta

I can't remember now what made me want to play Bayonetta. I ended up buying it, though, and actually enjoyed it. For the most part.

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***Bayonetta***

Published by SEGA
Developed by Platinum Games / Nex Entertainment

Released 2009 | Action

For Xbox 360, PS3 | Review: Xbox 360

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Blood and Gore | Intense Violence | Partial Nudity

Strong Language | Suggestive Themes
(Click HERE for ESRB rating details.)

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 6/10

—Game Review— Final Fantasy Record Keeper

I'm not really into mobile games; I've always pretty much considered them throwaway games. The kids go through them like hot dinners. I've only had one or two I played for any length of time. The following is probably one I'll like for a while. 

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***Final Fantasy***
Record Keeper

Published by Square Enix | Developed by DeNA

Released 2014 (Japan)/2015 (US) | JRPG

For iOS, Android | Review: Android

*Rated E10 for Everyone 10+*

Alcohol Reference | Fantasy Violence

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Mobius Final Fantasy

In an effort to expand my gaming horizons, I've been grabbing mobile games. Well, the free ones. The following was one I had heard about before it was released here in the US and I was really excited to get my hands on it. I am not disappointed.

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***Mobius Final Fantasy***

Published and developed by Square Enix

Released 2015 (Japan)/2016 (NA) | JRPG

For iOS, Android | Review: Android

*Rated T for Teen*

Fantasy Violence | Suggestive Themes | Partial Nudity

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 9/10

—Game Review— Devil May Cry 4

I bought the standard edition of this game for a measly $5 one day in a huge sale Microsoft was having on Xbox Live. I liked the demo well enough to spend $5 to try the full game. Dang, I'm so glad I did! It's now in my Top 12 games.

Since I have both, I'll review the standard and special editions. They are very, very similar, especially gameplay-wise. The biggest difference is the extra playable characters you get with the SE.

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***Devil May Cry 4***

Published and developed by Capcom

Released 2008/2015 | Action

For Xbox 360, PS3, PC (2008); Xbox One, PS4, PC (2015)

Review: Xbox 360 (Standard), PC (Special Edition)

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Blood | Violence | Language 

HGG Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 9/10

—Game Review— Final Fantasy Type-0 HD

I'm a Final Fantasy fan and this was one I was really looking forward to. Other than the graphics, I think it lived up to my expectations. 

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***Final Fantasy Type-0 HD***

Published and developed by Square Enix

Published 2015 | JRPG

For PS4, Xbox One, PC | Review: PS4

(Originally released for PSP in 2011)

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Blood | Drug Reference

Suggestive Themes | Violence
(Click HERE to see the ESRB rating details.)

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Final Fantasy All The Bravest

I recently discovered there are free-to-play Final Fantasy mobile apps. Being a fan of FF, I immediately downloaded all the free ones. All The Bravest is the first to get reviewed. In a word, meh.

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***Final Fantasy***
All The Bravest

Published by Square Enix | Developed by BitGroove

Released 2013 | Role-playing

For iOS, Android | Review: Android

*Rated E for Everyone*

Mild Fantasy Violence

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 3/10

—Game Review— Fable III

I loved Fable II and could hardly wait for the release of Fable III. The hype, the promises, my own eagerness to have a game that lived up to all of it... Alas, these were not to be.

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***Fable III***

Published by Microsoft Game Studios
Developed by Lionhead Studios

Released 2010 | Action, Role-Playing

For Xbox 360/One, PC | Review: Xbox 360

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Blood | Language | Sexual Content

Use of Alcohol | Violence
(Click HERE for more ESRB rating details.)

HGG Score: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 6/10

—Game Review— A World of Keflings

Grabbed this one free one month for being a Gold Xbox Live Member. Figured the kids would enjoy it. I was right.

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***A World of Keflings***

Published by Microsoft | Developed by NinjaBee

Released 2010 | City-building/Strategy

Xbox Exclusive | Review: Specifically 360

*Rated E10 for Everyone 10+*

Comic Mischief | Mild Cartoon Violence

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Final Fantasy XIII-2

They made a sequel to Final Fantasy XIII?!? 

That was my reaction when I first heard (years ago now) and I gotta say, it wasn't in a "WTF?" kinda way. There were things about FFXIII that I loved, but a bunch of stuff I hated, so the news that there would be a sequel got me hoping for an improvement over FF13. 

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***Final Fantasy XIII-2***

Published and developed by Square Enix

Released 2012 | JRPG

For Xbox 360, PS3, PC | Review: Xbox 360, PC

*Rated T for Teen*

Drug Reference | Mild Language

Mild Suggestive Themes | Simulated Gambling | Violence

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Fable II

This is a game that I probably wouldn't have played if it wasn't for my brother's recommendation. He's the real gamer in the family, though I think I'm finally giving him a run for his money. ;)

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***Fable II***

Published by Microsoft | Developed by Lionhead Studios

Released 2009 | Action RPG
Xbox 360 Exclusive

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Blood | Language | Sexual Content

Use of Alcohol | Violence

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

Hubby and I downloaded the demo for this game and it sat on the 360 for a while before either one of us decided to try it out. He tried it and found it a bit frustrating, platformer that it is and hardcore gamer that he's not. I took over and got through the demo. We were both impressed with the graphics. I mean, damn. Seriously, DAMN. He sent me off to look for the game on Amazon. 

I bought it. I played it. More than once. I loved it. I even bought the PC edition, just so I could have the little extras I couldn't get with the console edition. Um, yeah. Love. SO. MUCH. LOVE.

Let's break this all down.

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***Enslaved: Odyssey to the West***

Published by Bandai Namco | Developed by Ninja Theory

Released 2010 | Action, Platformer

For Xbox 360, PS3, PC | Review: Xbox 360, PC

*Rated T for Teen*

Blood | Language

Suggestive Themes | Violence

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 9.8/10

—Game Review— Borderlands 2

My brother got hubby and I into Borderlands 2. It was funny, 'cause none of us in a million years would have given this game a chance. Wanna know why?

The cover art.

We're not shoot-'em-up gamers, not really, so the image of a human-like creature blowing his brains out was not appealing. We assumed it was not a game for us. In fact, I never even gave the game a second glance and had no idea what game my brother was talking about when he mentioned it. (He opted to try it out 'cause Microsoft had it pretty cheap in the Xbox Live Marketplace.) 

Needless to say, we were hooked. The humor is stupid enough to please our redneck personalities. But I'll get more into that in the review itself. ☺

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***Borderlands 2***

Published by 2K Games | Developed by Gearbox Software

Released 2012/2015 | FPS/RPG

Available for all platforms | Review: Xbox 360, PC, PS4

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Blood and Gore | Intense Violence

Language | Sexual Themes | Use of Alcohol

HGG's rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 9/10

—Game Review— DmC Devil May Cry

I've played through this game several times on the 360 and now I've treated myself to the PC edition, because...well, why not? ☺ Having the PC version means screencaps and new impressions, though the gameplay itself isn't any different from the console version. (Yes, I PC game using a 360 controller.) I've also bought myself the Definitive Edition for PS4, 'cause....again, why not? Might as well own them all. LOL

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***DmC: Devil May Cry***
Standard/Definitive Editions

Published by Capcom | Developed by Ninja Theory

Released 2013 | Action

For all platforms | Review: Xbox 360, PC, PS4

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Blood and gore | Drug reference

Intense violence | Nudity

Sexual content | Strong language

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Lost Odyssey

A JRPG written by someone who used to work on Final Fantasy games for Squeenix? Yes, please. Don't remember where I heard that, it's been so long, but this game definitely has that feel. Sooooo worth buying! 

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***Lost Odyssey***

Published by Microsoft | Developed by Mistwalker

Released 2008 | JRPG | Xbox 360 exclusive

*Rated T for Teen*

Language | Suggestive Themes

Use of Alcohol | Violence

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

—Game Review— Borderlands

Ah, Borderlands. The game of a million lame—and not so lame—jests. My brother got my hubby into Borderlands 2, who in turn got me into B2 and naturally, we wanted to check out the original. Hubby, of course, opted to buy the Game of the Year Edition and get all the DLC. Yay him. Then I went and bought it for PC, 'cause...REASONS.☺

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***Borderlands***

Published by 2K Games | Developed by Gearbox Software

Released 2009 | FPS/RPG
Available for all platforms | Review: Xbox 360, PC

*Rated M for Mature 17+* 

Blood and Gore | Intense Violence

Mature Humor| Strong Language

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥  7/10

—Game Review— Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

This was offered free for gold subscribers in the Xbox Live Marketplace some time ago. I grabbed it based on my brother's recommendation. It's a clever little game of puzzle-style battles. I enjoyed it enough to grab the PC edition when it went on sale on Steam for only $5. 

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***Clash of Heroes***
Might & Magic

Published by Ubisoft | Developed by Capybara Games

Released 2011 | Puzzle

For Xbox 360, PS3, PC | Review: Xbox 360, PC
(Originally released for Nintendo DS in 2009;
released for Android/iOS in 2013)

*Rated E10 for Everyone 10+*

Mild Fantasy Violence | Mild Language

Mild Suggestive Themes
HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 9/10

—Game Review— Tales of Vesperia

My brother told me this was part of a Namco sale in the Xbox Live Marketplace so I grabbed it. After only an hour or so of gameplay, I realized it was well worth the $4 price tag. I even went so far as to buy the disc from Amazon, 'cause... well, I like to have a physical backup of my favorite games. ☺

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***Tales of Vesperia***

Published by Namco Bandai Games

Developed by Namco Bandai

Released 2008
JRPG
Xbox 360

*Rated T for Teen*

Alcohol Reference 

Fantasy Violence 

Mild Blood 

Mild Language 

Suggestive Themes 

—Game Review— Resonance of Fate

I admit, I wasn't initially interested in this game. The gun thing turned me off. Hubby didn't know that, however, so he bought it for me at the local used game store after the employee there recommended the game based on my joy of JRPGs.

...and that employee was spot on. 

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***Resonance of Fate***

Published by Sega

Developed by tri-Ace 

Released 2010

Role Playing

*Rated T for Teen*

Blood

Sexual Themes

Use of Alcohol

Violence

Mild Language