Published Review – Portal 2 (PC)

http://www.purdueexponent.org/opinion/article_e7009a90-6bb3-11e0-8361-001a4bcf6878.html

“Portal 2″ is a much larger game than the original, eschewing the latter’s densely packed rooms and corridors for sprawling, wide-open areas. Puzzle-solving is extremely satisfying, as the puzzles tend to be delightfully difficult and follow simple rules. Even when new mechanics, such as gels that coat walls and change how the player interacts with the environment, are introduced, the game ramps up the difficulty slowly by starting with simple tutorial puzzles and iterating on these concepts.

A Blog Spin-off

I haven’t been updating this blog as much as I should. I created this WordPress blog so I would have a place to write more long-form articles that didn’t fit anywhere else. Unfortunately, I have been pretty busy with “school” and “work” that I haven’t been able to give it the attention it deserves.

I still don’t have that time. In fact, it seems I have less time than ever! I still want to write, though.

So, I created one of those Tumblr microblogs so I could post very short entries about copy editing or journalism in general (and probably video games sometimes).

www.corywoodrum.tumblr.com

Twitter was serving this purpose, but the 140 character limit was a tad too constraining for when I want to specifically highlight something.

See you there!

Published Review – Halo: Reach (360)

http://expoweb.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=22530

To Bungie’s immense credit, there are enough fantastic set pieces that players won’t have any trouble finding the motivation to set aside eight hours to beat the game despite the flat narrative. The tried and true Halo combat has returned; one of the game’s strengths is how physical and weighty gunfire and melee attacks feel, making every combat situation dynamic, difficult and immensely satisfying. There’s a stunning amount of variety throughout the ten or so missions, and just when an event starts to overstay its welcome, the game shunts the player off to do something new.

Video Review:

Published Review – God of War 3 (PS3)

http://archive.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=21194

“God of War 3” is competent, but it will leave many players unhappy. The hackneyed ending will disappoint fans invested in Kratos’ story, and the developers’ slavish devotion to stale game mechanics won’t appeal to new players experienced in similar games that have more depth.

Review – Beat Hazard (PC)

Beat Hazard is a flashy dual-stick shooter that uses music tracks to generate levels, resembling a fusion of Geometry Wars and Audiosurf. The $10 price tag and promise of unlimited user-generated tracks is appealing, but this independently developed game suffers from problems that will limit players’ long-term interest in this quirky title.

Published Review – Mega Man 10 (XBLA)

Mega Man 10

http://archive.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=20937

“Mega Man 10” is a loving tribute to classic gaming. Gamers who grew up on the series will embrace the game’s retro difficulty, but players who lack that nostalgia will likely find only frustration or boredom. For most, the game will serve better as a history lesson – a glimpse into what video games used to be, faults and all.

 

Published Review – Heavy Rain (PS3)

Heavy Rain

http://purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=20667

Few people will play “Heavy Rain” and have the same experience, which is the game’s greatest strength. The ending is a collection of countless variables based on a player’s successes, failures and snap decisions. Because of this, “Heavy Rain” is intimately personal in a way other mediums could never hope to emulate.

Analysis – The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

(This is an assignment I did for my Writing in Virtual Worlds and Games class, posted on my personal blog with permission. I have made minor changes to the text and images.)

Review – Borderlands (360)

Borderlands

It’s hard not to enjoy Borderlands.

How Rock Band has affected how I listen to music

Rock Band 2

(EDIT: This article was featured on Bitmob at http://bitmob.com/articles/how-rock-band-has-affected-how-i-listen-to-music )

I am a huge fan of Rock Band. I play it almost daily, but not as a social function like many who play the game; for me, it’s a solitary experience that I find both relaxing and stress relieving. I do some of my best thinking with a plastic fake guitar in my hands.

It was during one particularly long session of Rock Band late into the night that I came to a pretty shocking realization: not only have I not purposely listened to music outside of the various music rhythm video games for several months, I also hadn’t even realized this fact until that moment.

Rock Band and its ilk have completely changed how I purchase, consume, and think about music.