Portal 2

Garrett 10/10

Oh man, this game was amazing! I absolutely loved the first Portal, but this went above and beyond in every aspect. There is no other game like it that I have ever played before. The graphics were great, there was actually a storyline, and it was hilarious! Valve added a ton of new features to make the game and puzzles a lot more interesting and harder. The main problem I had with the first one was the length, because I could finish it in under an hour. Portal 2 fixed this by making the campaign 3 times as long, and adding a co-op mode that is just as long! Another thing this game added was better characters and character development. There are really only 3 characters in the game, and they had real personalities that changed throughout the game, which made the whole experience enjoyable. From the moment I was sucked in I was challenged, and I loved it. This game is one of, if not my favorite game of all time. This game is a must play.

Landon 9/10

Yes, the rumors are true. "Portal 2" is better than the original in virtually every way. The original game had consisted of clever puzzles and witty dialogue, but it was such a small game, making an overall experience of 2-3 hours. What Valve did was not only improved what had already been great, but added more backbone to the storyline, an addictive style of gameplay, and a co-op mode that is an absolute blast to play. If there are any gripes to pick with this game, it's that the loading times can be a tad tedious, and there's a section of the game that dragged, because of puzzles that, while fun, tended to be more of the same. But this is nothing to worry about, for what you get with the overall picture is the ultimate adventure / puzzle game. A must own for almost anyone.

Logan 9/10

After playing through the first Portal, I felt like it wasn't enough, mainly because it was too short, fortunately that's not a problem here. Portal 2 is a major improvement to the first game in every possible way. First there's the storyline, clever, twisted, and hilarious, then there's the puzzles, they are more well-thought out and clever. The co-op also adds a lot to the game too, it also has more clever puzzles and hilarious dialogue. Character development in the game is top notch as the plot is filled with twists in almost every turn, and the visuals is top notch with fun sound effects to listen to. One flaw with this game was while the music was good and it set the mood of the atmospheres, they tend to be forgettable, also the loading times in both single player and co-op can be a bit annoying. Nevertheless, Portal 2 is a complete joy to play and it should not be missed out.

Best of 2010

2010 has come and gone like that. And it turned out to be a pretty good year for gaming. This year has snatched a couple of 10's from a couple of our reviewers here at Casual Review. We decided to close the year by unveiling our Top 5 Games of 2010. Please take note that this list isn't official meaning we could be playing more games released that year, so this list might change. But we digress. Enjoy!

5. Just Cause 2

This game was unlike any other game I have played. Basically, the main character is part of a resistance to a country. He is equipped with some of the coolest gadgets i've seen in a game, an automatic grappel and parachute. You can grab onto a building or pole yards away, and it will pull you there really fast. Then, you can pull out your parachute, and go flying wherever you want. This combined with the fun vehicles, awesome fights, stunts (including fighiting while standing on top of moving cars and helicopters), makes the game a really fun experience.

-Garrett

4. Starcraft II: Wings Of Liberty

This sequel is much better than the original Starcraft. The story line is gripping, and will suck you in until you finish it. Blizzard introduced a ton of new units, which make the gameplay really fun. Both the campaign and multiplayer were very well done, making this game one of the best I've ever played. The entire game was very well done.

-Garrett

3. Halo Reach

I like most people was sick of the Halo series. But then Halo Reach came out and I was surprised at how awesome this game was. This game had everything a fan of the Halo series had and some new things that people like me like in sequels...or in this case a prequel. Amazing graphics, overall great storyline, extremely fun game play and stupendous music are just a few things that this game has to offer.

-Steve

2. Super Mario Galaxy 2

Even thought Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a sequel that really doesn't stray far off from the first one, but is still incredibly fun and is a blast to play through. It has a fresh look to it and the gameplay is still near perfect. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a must-own for the Wii. Nintendo, you have done it again!

-Logan

1. Mass Effect 2

This didn't come as a surprise to any of us. Mass Effect 2 was our game of the year by a mile. And why wouldn't it be? This is everything a sequel to a game should be like. Great graphics, exciting combat, gripping storyline, awesome characters, incredibly well-written script; the list goes on! The RPG genius' at Bioware have done it again. This is an experience not to be missed, even if you're not a fan of RPG's. Ladies and gentlemen: The Game of the Year.

-Landon

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Steve 6/10

So first off I would just like to say I don't see the hype. It was a fun game but not at all what I thought it was going to be. I didn't really like the way the story was told. It could have been a cool idea but the way it was presented had a lackluster quality about it. They did add some surprises that were really fun, and they did try to at least stray a little bit from the original formula. The multi-player is, as always the case with the Call of Duty Franchise, very enjoyable. The only thing I didn't like about it is some of the weapons you can use in multi-player don't even make an appearance in the campaign. All in all it's an okay game, but I don't think it has very much replay value. If you're looking for just a fun mind numbing game this is definitely one you should pick up, other than that I wouldn't give it a third thought, a second thought maybe but not a third one.

Landon 6/10

I was quite disappointed. "Call of Duty: Black Ops" is one of the most critically acclaimed games this year. But how could it be more acclaimed than such games like "Halo: Reach" or even "GoldenEye." Let's start with the pros. It still maintained great graphics, some pretty cool moments, and a multiplayer that's still a ton of fun. But then it has a story that feels like it wasn't very well thought out and characters that are tasteless and boring. And it doesn't help that the A.I. in the campaign is incredibly stupid. I wouldn't say this is a bad game at all, but I am disappointed in Infinity Ward. Come on guys. You can do better than that.

GoldenEye 007

Landon 8/10

This remake of the classic N64 first-person shooter doesn't even feel like a remake. Unlike most games of the series, this one ignores the sexy cars and super models and focuses on pure action. And that's awesome. GoldenEye brings incredibly fun gunplay, epic fist fights, cool sneaking missions; the list keeps going! Although aiming can be a little tedious sometimes, and one or two objectives are a little frustrating, it's still a great addition to the library of Wii games. This is definitely one worth buying, especially if you loved the original like I did.

Kirby's Epic Yarn

Landon 8/10

At first, "Kirby's Epic Yarn" is so cute, it's honestly a little intimidating. But it's just something you have to get used to. When you do get used to it though, it becomes a ton of fun. Epic Yarn brings a new world called Patch Land which has been torn apart, and you have to travel with Prince Fluff to stitch it back together. This game brings awesome, creative levels, a new way of playing as Kirby, and graphics that are so good, they can compete for the best of the year. Don't let the cuteness get in your way of playing what is a truly great game. It's a ton of fun.

Logan 8/10

Like what Landon said, it takes a while before you get used to playing this game, but once your past that, you'll experience some gaming goodness. Kirby's Epic Yarn is a pretty daring game to Nintendo because Kirby had never looked so good before...or cute. This game has very cool gameplay with great music that I like to hum to sometimes, but the story seems too bizarre for my taste. Kirby's Epic Yarn has amazing visuals that are probably the best of the year and I highly recommend you get this game despite its adorableness.

Rock Band 3

Landon 7/10

Harmonix really wanted to up the anty with the next Rock Band game. Keyboard, pro guitar, pro drums, karaoke mode; they pulled out their biggest guns to make the experience more realistic. And they actually do a very impressive job with it. The keyboard is complex, but ultimately fun. If there is any problem to be had with any of the Rock Band games, it's always the music taste of the player. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't quite so impressed with the song choices. While classics such as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Fly Like an Eagle," and "Roundabout" made their appearances, I just wasn't satisfied with the overall selection. Still though, if you happen to like most of the songs put into this game, you should have no problem having a great time with it.

Logan 8/10

Rock Band 3 isn't really my kind of idea for "the perfect music game," but Harmonix really tried to make it be. What I like about this game, unlike the Guitar Hero series nowadays, is that they strive to be different. Rock Band 3 now has a keyboard that adds to the multiplayer, and pro mode that teaches the players how to play all the songs on real instruments (not all downloadable songs though). Although that's about all that Rock Band 3 differs from all the other games in the series, it is now the ultimate party game on the block.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep

Logan 7/10

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep is an interesting game for me to review, that's because, yet again, it's a side game to the Kingdom Hearts series. While it didn't get my attention that much, I admire that the gameplay is different from the other games. You play as three characters. They are companions who go on seperate journeys to new Disney worlds to defeat the evil that has spread to other worlds. It's the best side Kingdom Hearts game, but nowhere near as good as the main ones. Though I did beat the game, the only thoughts that came to my mind were: "Give me Kingdom Hearts III!"