Geek Culture Reviews

In the golden age of PlayStation horror when fixed camera angles and clunky controls were just part of the charm, Parasite Eve II stood out as something… stranger. It wasn’t just horror. It wasn’t just an RPG. It wasn’t even a clean sequel, it was a pivot - an evolution in more ways than one. Released in 1999 in Japan and 2000 elsewhere, Parasite Eve II followed up Square’s first attempt at fusing a horror-RPG hybrid. While the original blended cinematic storytelling with turn-based combat inspired by JRPGs, the sequel leaned heavily into real-time action and survival horror. Think Resident Evil, but with psychic powers, genetic horror, and a protagonist who could light enemies on fire with her mind. The World After Manhattan If you never played the first Parasite Eve, here’s the short version: mitochondria - energy-producing organelles in your cells are sentient, mutating, and really mad at humans. Aya Brea, a young New York cop with her own mysterious cellular gifts, ends up at the...

Over the last couple of months I’ve been playing through Death Stranding as it’s finally made its long awaited release on the Xbox Series X. I’ve been a fan of Hideo Kojima’s work for quite a while and it all started back in middle school when I got my hands on Metal Gear Solid. While I could have experienced Death Stranding on the PlayStation 5, those who know me will already know that my Xbox is my go to console. So while the epic journey of Sam Bridges has been seen by numerous people in the years since its initial release, much like Sam - I was treading new ground within a very unique world. When Death Stranding was released in November 2019, it was heralded as one of the most ambitious and divisive games in recent memory. Directed by Hideo Kojima, the legendary creator of the Metal Gear series, it was the first project from his independent studio, Kojima Productions, following his high-profile split from Konami. Promising to redefine the boundaries of what games could achieve, Dea...

Terrible gameplay, poor CGI , and even worse acting, Rebel Assault II has it all… Welcome to episode #5 of Re:Play, a series where I look back at a video game or comic book that I have fond memories of to see if it holds up to my past experiences. So far we’ve dived into Alien Vs. Predator: War, Xenoblade Chrioncles, Star fox, and Rogue Trooper, with each being a mixed bag of nostalgic-filled fun.  This time I’m heading to that galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire . I first experienced Rebel Assault II back in the days of the original PlayStation. My middle brother still lived at home and while he was at work, his PlayStation console and game library was mine to control. While we didn’t actually own Rebel Assault II, my now defunct local video rental store did. Thankfully during one weekend visit the game was in stock and for £1.99 it was mine for two nights! As I raced home on my imitation BMX I couldn’t wait to dive into the world of X-Wings, R...

Re:Play Episode #4 - Rogue Trooper Redux: Reviving a Classic Sci-Fi Shooter… During the last console generation there were quite a few HD remasters, remakes, and rereleases. While some of these were held in high regard (Resident Evil 2), others fell to the wayside (Resident Evil 3), and even more were just plain unexpected. Rogue Trooper is one of these unexpected ones, and back in 2017 Rebellion sent us back to NU-Earth.  In this episode of Re:Play, we explore the resurrection of this beloved game and delve into the reasons behind its enduring popularity. Rogue Trooper Redux brings back the thrilling adventures of the titular Rogue, a genetically enhanced super soldier fighting in the distant future on the war-ravaged planet of NU-Earth. Set against the backdrop of a sprawling intergalactic conflict between the Norts and Southers, the game combines intense action with a compelling narrative, that draws you into a richly detailed sci-fi universe that’s straight out of the long run...

Re:play - Episode #2 - Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition... Xenoblade Chronicles originally came out on the Nintendo Wii way back in 2011. This humble open-world JRPG pushed the Wii to its limits and made great use of the consoles motion controls. Fast-forward to 2015 and the title was re-released onto the Nintendo New 3DS as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D . Not willing to let sleeping God's lie, Nintendo has ported the game once again. This time onto its hybrid handheld as  Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition.  What makes this version of the game different is that it runs at a higher resolution than the Wii and 3DS could ever handle, and also features an extra campaign that takes place after the main story. The core experience of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition  is identical to the Wii and 3DS versions in terms of story and gameplay. The story is of two warring races fighting on the bodies of two gigantic beings – locked in place after their ba...