Zenonia 2: Old School on the Go

The good: graphics; hardcore gameplay; light-hearted story (could be a turn-off to some, though); plethora of abilities to learn; player vs player will appeal to a lot of people.

The bad: sometimes the d-pad hated me, as did the quick slots for abilities; enemies could attack me across cliffs (OMG! WTF?!); dialogue gets a little too silly at times for my taste.

The verdict: if you game on the iPhone or iPod Touch, you should check this title out. It’s a fun, addicting RPG experience that is pretty polished but doesn’t take itself too seriously. For five bucks, you get a huge game and a player-vs-player experience. Not too shabby.

Mobile Review: Zenonia 2

If you’re looking to get your rpg fix on the go, you can’t go wrong with Zenonia 2. You have all the looting, leveling up and action you would want in a full console rpg. This game definitely belongs on par with most of the ds rpgs to date. So when you think of it like that and then realize this game will only set you back $5 bucks, you’d be a jerk not to download it.

FPS+RPG=4EVA?

This week, Neutrally Chaotic talks about the blending of videogame genres, particularly the first-person shooter, and the roleplaying game.

Mass Effect 2: A Breakup Letter

The Good: each squad member’s story is better told and more interesting than most stories in other games; the revamped combat system is fast-paced and exciting; enjoyed the carry-over elements when playing as an imported Mass Effect 1 character (they weren’t game changing, but they certainly added interesting elements); actually felt a desire to see my squad survive the final mission.

The Bad: no loot and a very boring upgrade system; streamlined RPG system takes away some of the customization; completely gets rid of an inventory; sense of scale diminished from the last game as most planets are unable to be visited; overarching story feels like a middle story—I didn’t feel like this game added much to the canon of Mass Effect other than stringing together the beginning and the upcoming conclusion (Mass Effect 3) to the trilogy.

The Verdict: Buy. It is well crafted, a smooth experience, and the stories of your squad members are perhaps the most memorable in video game history. Just know that this game really plays more like an action game (more so than the first Mass Effect) and barely feels like an RPG. If you want that traditional RPG experience—building up characters, equipping the weapons you want, etc—I honestly can’t recommend this to you. If you’re not a fan of third-person shooters, I also can’t recommend this to you. To everyone else, buy this game or borrow it if you’re nervous about it.