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Daniel Barron - Column Archives

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Mar 11, 2010

Raining on this parade
'Heavy Rain' isn't so much a video game as it is an interactive movie. It's obvious that developer Quantic Dream is attempting to break down, in one fell swoop, the idea of what exactly a video game is and can be.

G4 - Canada

 

Mar 5, 2010

New 'Zelda' game lacks real spirit
It's not easy being a game in the 'Zelda' canon. Gamers quite simply expect nothing more than utter excellence while playing as that sword-wielding boy in the green outfit.

G4 - Canada

 

Feb 5, 2010

'Dark Void' needs a little more filling
It doesn't matter what industry you can think of, there's simply no denying the fact that consumers are in general a fickle bunch, and tend to latch onto whatever's popular.

G4 - Canada

 

Jan 22, 2010

New 'Army of Two' has split personality
It's difficult to argue the immense popularity of co-operative gameplay these days. It's being added to seemingly every other title, spanning what feels like every genre there is.

G4 - Canada

 

Jan 14, 2010

Not your everyday assassin
Finally! An open-world third person action game set in Italy during the Renaissance, with a storyline that involves everything from the ancient group known as the Knights Templar, to travelling through centuries-old memories using a machine that would fit perfectly in a movie like The Matrix.

G4 - Canada

 

Dec 16, 2009

OMGOW - what a collection!
Subtlety has never been a strong suit of the God of War series, so we'll just come right out and say it - the God of War Collection for PlayStation 3 is pound-for-pound one of the best deals you can find on any current-generation hardware.

G4 - Canada

 

Nov 27, 2009

Bros. slip in new mini-RPG
As lighthearted as most games featuring the famous Mario and Luigi are, the handheld RPG games featuring the two Italian plumbers are especially known for their sense of humour, ludicrous plots and memorable characters.

G4 - Canada

 

Nov 11, 2009

'Borderlands' wicked in more ways than one
Fire up your high-definition console of choice, let Borderlands load, and as the slide guitar from Cage the Elephant's groovy track 'Ain't No Rest for the Wicked' emanates from your speakers, it'll be instantly apparant that this game is going to be quite the departure for Gearbox Software, developers of the sombre Brothers in Arms series.

G4 - Canada

 

Oct 26, 2009

'Uncharted 2' a spectacle like every other
In a year where holiday gaming blockbusters are surprisingly few and far between, Naughty Dog's 'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' is most certainly a standout. You may not remember it quite so easily once Santa comes around next year, but it's still a game that should make your wish list if you're a PS3 owner.

G4 - Canada

 

Oct 13, 2009

Bizarre 'Muramasa' has a certain edge
The quirky Wii exclusive 'Muramasa: The Demon Blade' has no right being as addictive as it is. Made by Japanese developer Vanillaware, the game is full of odd characters, nonsensical dialogue, and boss fights that are just plain weird. The combat isn't terribly deep and the RPG elements are shallow.

G4 - Canada

 

Sept 15, 2009

Batman flies high in 'Arkham Asylum'
The story takes us to the insane asylum from the game's title, where Batman is helping Gotham police escort the Joker after an apparently all-too-easy arrest. Batman is wary from the get-go, wondering why the Joker seemed so easy to capture. It's not long at all before the guano hits the fan and the Joker has escaped deep into Arkham Asylum. It's up to Batman to find him and take him in.

G4 - Canada

 

Sept 1, 2009

A retro gaming Complex
'Shadow Complex' comes to the Xbox 360 courtesy of developer Chair Entertainment (makers of 'Undertow') and Gears of War creator Epic Games (which produced the title). Though at first glance it looks like a lot more than a basic run-jump-shoot-collect side-scroller, that's in essence exactly what it is. Think Super Metroid with an extremely glossy coat of paint.

G4 - Canada

 

Aug 19, 2009

'Dark Corners' worth exploring
Epic Games has done something a little different with its newest downloadable add-on pack for its Xbox 360-exclusive hit 'Gears of War 2'. The 'Dark Corners' DLC doesn't just include new maps (seven, to be exact), it also includes a deleted scene from the campaign mode.

G4 - Canada

 

July 14, 2009

Handheld 'Guitar Hero' loses lustre
Before the current Battle of the Peripherals being waged in living rooms across the world, music games were a lot more simple. Before drums and turntables, gamers would rock out with one instrument and one instrument only - the guitar.

G4 - Canada

 

June 22, 2009

'inFAMOUS' is exCELLENT
inFamous starts mysteriously enough. Set inside the fictional Empire City, the game begins with a massive explosion that levels the entire city. The main character, Cole, wakes up with electrical powers that he has no idea how he got.

G4 - Canada

 

June 11, 2009

'ExciteBots' equals excellence
For those who may have missed that gem, fret not. 'ExciteBots: Trick Racing', the spiritual successor to Excite Truck, has been released for the Wii, and is developed by Monster Games, the developer of the original.

G4 - Canada

 

May 26, 2009

'Pikmin' as stunning as it ever was
It's not shocking to find a select number of games every year that are completely underrated. These releases aren't usually given a lot of fanfare compared to other AAA games, but are critically acclaimed and loved by the relatively small number of people who end up playing them.

G4 - Canada

 

May 8, 2009

'Riddick' assaults a new generation of gamers
With such an intriguing video game alter ego, it's a mystery why Vin Diesel would ever want to go back to the big screen and rehash his character in the 'Fast and Furious' franchise, or any other for that matter.

G4 - Canada

 

April 8, 2009

'Killzone 2' is a beast with beauty
If it's one video game genre that seems to get more attention than any other, it's the first person shooter genre. It seems every developer on the planet is looking for the next big FPS.

G4 - Canada

 

March 16, 2009

The good, the bad, and the Evil
There's a lot of talk about how the Resident Evil series has moved away from its 'survival horror' roots. The games in the series are now less about hoarding what little ammo you can find, taking out slow, plodding zombies, and solving strange environmental puzzles, and more about bigger weapons, epic battles and extremely smart enemies.

G4 - Canada

 

March 3, 2009

Damned good
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is without a doubt some of the best downloadable content to come out in a long time and definitely worth the price of admission.

G4 - Canada

 

Dec 15, 2008

Nothing new to see with 'City Folk'
LittleBigPlanet begins simply enough. You're introduced to the game's protagonist - the endlessly adorable Sackboy - and then whisked off to the first of several levels. The first few act as training, teaching you how to do things like jump, grab, and fly, but you're quickly thrust into the real levels, where you begin amassing stickers, costumes, vehicles and other items.

G4 - Canada

 

Nov 17, 2008

LittleBigPlanet is just heavenly
LittleBigPlanet begins simply enough. You're introduced to the game's protagonist - the endlessly adorable Sackboy - and then whisked off to the first of several levels. The first few act as training, teaching you how to do things like jump, grab, and fly, but you're quickly thrust into the real levels, where you begin amassing stickers, costumes, vehicles and other items.

G4 - Canada

 

Nov 7, 2008

War rages; 'Gears 2' reigns supreme
To say that the original Gears of War was important for the Xbox 360 would be an understatement the size of a Brumak. 'Gears' was going head-to-head not just with other AAA games that year, but with two brand new consoles from Sony and Nintendo, the Playstation 3 and Wii, respectively.

G4 - Canada

 

Nov 3, 2008

'Fable 2' an extraordinary tale
Is the Xbox 360-exclusive Fable 2 worthy of being one of those games that you spend your hard-earned money on this holiday, or can it wait until a much slower time in the gaming world? Or should it be skipped altogether? We'll try to answer that right now.

G4 - Canada

 

Oct 9, 2008

Pure racing bliss
In an industry where sequels are usually king and many publishers prefer to stick with what's safe, it's good to know that gamers can still be treated to a real sleeper hit every once in a while.

G4 - Canada

 

Oct 3, 2008

LittleBigPlanet a masterpiece in the making; SOCOM only so-so
It's always a treat to walk into a grocery store and spy a 'free samples' table set up. You get to try something for free, pretend you're interested in buying some of whatever it is and walk away with no further commitment.

G4 - Canada

 

Sept 15, 2008

Two remakes and an original
For gamers, summer usually means several months of lackluster titles, or a complete lack of games altogether. Thankfully, with every major home console currently embracing inexpensive downloadable games, and plenty of developers eager to take advantage of this opportunity to show their wares, gamers are the biggest winners.

G4 - Canada

 

Aug 26, 2008

'Too Human' too addictive
The following is a game review for the new Xbox 360-exclusive action game 'Too Human'. It isn't a review of the development cycle of the game. It isn't a review of the developers who made the game at Silicon Knights, and it most certainly isn't a review of Silicon Knights' president and current whipping boy of gamers the world over, Denis Dyack.

G4 - Canada

 

July 31, 2008

Patience a virtue with stellar 'Ninja Gaiden II'
For anyone who has ever played a Ninja Gaiden game (yes, even the ones released on the NES years ago), it's no secret that they're difficult. Very, very difficult. But that's not a bad thing. It's almost a badge of honour players wear when they manage to complete one of these bad boys.

G4 - Canada

 

July 16, 2008

A Solid contender for game of the year
Solid, Otacon, Meryl, and the rest of the gang in the Metal Gear series all make it out one last time for the epic finale on the Playstation 3, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

G4 - Canada

 

April 30, 2008

A Prologue to greatness on PS3
It's not surprising that Gran Turismo 5 Prologue had plenty of detractors before it was released. From a typical gamer's perspective, it looked like they were being asked to pay a good chunk of change for what sounded like a demo, which are typically released every week free of charge.

G4 - Canada

 

April 25, 2008

One for the ages, one for the aged on 360's Arcade
There's no need to dance around the fact that Ikaruga is quite possibly the best game on Xbox Live Arcade, as well as the most difficult. This gem first appeared in 1995 on the Dreamcast and later appeared on the GameCube.

G4 - Canada

 

March 25, 2008

New 'Rainbow' is sinfully good
What could have been a simple expansion pack for the latest Rainbow Six adventure has turned out to be a full-blown sequel, and instead of feeling like we're just getting a rehash of what happened in Vegas back in 2006, it feels like a whole new game.

G4 - Canada

 

March 12, 2008

'Rainbow' rocks Vegas again
The way the developers of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 talk, you'd think the upcoming sequel to last year's hit would be taking place in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.

G4 - Canada

 

February 16, 2008

Turok makes a thundering return
The new Turok is simplicity at its finest, right down to its name. If you enjoy A) shooting guns or B) dinosaurs, then you owe it to yourself to give this game a try.

G4 - Canada

 

February 15, 2008

Doomed to the bargain bin
It's rare for a game sequel to get things so wrong as in Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom. Whereas previous entries in the series had you controlling several troops in a real-time strategy setting, 'CoD' has you controlling one character in a hack n' slash (and I use that term loosely) free-for-all, with some role-playing elements scattered here and there.

G4 - Canada

 

February 12, 2008

Wii ready to host a massive Brawl
The brawl to end them all? A video game tagline may never be so fitting.

G4 Tech TV Canada had a chance to sit down and play a near-final build of Nintendo's 'Super Smash Bros. Brawl', the latest in the series of uber-popular fighters, and it's shaping up to be an insanely fun, mind-bogglingly huge title.

G4 - Canada

 

February 06, 2008

The List's 4 surefire Xbox Live Arcade games
G4 TechTV Canada had a chance to sit down with a a number of newly- or soon-to-be-released Xbox Live Arcade games recently and came away so thoroughly impressed, we had to list 'em all off for you. Here are four games that are sure to be hits in 2008.

 

January 18, 2008

The List's Most Anticipated Games of 2008
It was a banner year for video games in 2007, but 2008 could easily give it a run for its money with some of the most anticipated games in recent memory. But besides the blockbusters that everyone that doesn't live on the moon is aware of, there are plenty of smaller games that should gain a lot of attention in the next 12 months.

 

January 09, 2008

G4 Canada’s Game of the Year Awards
So there was quite a lot to plow through in 2007 and the holiday period especially had game reviewers pulling their hair out when their hands weren't attached to their controllers, but G4 Canada's John Powell and Daniel Barron have crowned winners in several Game-of-the-Year categories

 

December 02, 2007

Zombies and crossbows and wars, oh my!
Well, this Christmas, it looks like shooter fans will be going into overdrive with all kinds of choices on the Wii. Here is a quick run through of three of the most high profile shooters you'll find for the holidays.

 

November 30, 2007

The Lists guide to holiday game shopping
As a gamer who spent many Christmases and birthdays trying to explain the nuances of why the Xbox is good and the N-Gage is bad to a less-than-informed mother, I understand that it isn't easy for a non-gamer to simply walk into a store and know the difference between a good game and a bad one. Which is why I have decided to write a very simple and very specific guide to what is a good bet for your gaming daughter or son, and what to avoid at all costs.

 

November 30, 2007

'Contra 4' one of the best DS games yet
Contra 4 is a return to the side-scrolling style of the first three games in the series. It's pure 2D shoot-'em-up fun from beginning to end, and it barely lets up for even a moment through its nine levels.

 

November 24, 2007

Super Mario Galaxy' flies high
Super Mario Galaxy is not perfect. In fact, it's not Game of the Year. Nonetheless, it dishes out massive doses of platforming fun, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who owns a Wii and knows a thing or two about gaming.

 

November 20, 2007

A LoLo for the 21st century
Third party developers take notice: it is possible to make games for Nintendo's Wii that aren't A) pathetic ports with even more pathetic controls or B) mindless minigame collections.

 

November 14, 2007

Where to now, Mega Man?
It's the 20th anniversary of the Mega Man series this year, and it seems ironic that the game to celebrate this milestone does nothing new to add to the series.

 

October 25, 2007

A web-slingingly good time
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is easy. Some may say a little too easy. In fact, I'm still not sure if it's actually possible to die and end your game in 'FoF', but it really doesn't matter. Because this game is all about non-stop action, awesome, high-flying moves and one-liners that will have you laughing out loud.

 

October 17, 2007

The Top 5 Zelda games
With the release of the latest Legend of Zelda game - Phantom Hourglass for Nintendo DS - I thought it was the perfect time to rate the top Zelda games ever made. I'll tell you right now that you'll notice a glaring omission here, that being Ocarina of Time. I'll tell you now that I never did finish that game, though for what it's worth I have had more fun with a lot of the other titles in the series on my list.

 

October 12, 2007

Mini-Zelda a fun little romp
In true Nintendo fashion, the company waited quite a long time for a brand new Zelda title to appear on the DS. With the exception of Twilight Princess, fans have always been forced to wait patiently for Zelda games to appear on new Nintendo systems. But is Phantom Hourglass worth the wait?

 

October 05, 2007

Three best and worst things about Halo 3
With Halo 3 finally getting released, I thought I'd take some time to look back at the three best and three worst things about this year's biggest gaming release. It's not the best game to be released (and there's a lot more competition coming in the months before January), but there's always plenty to say about the Halo world.

 

October 03, 2007

‘Halo 3’ a powerful online force
Halo 3 is finally here, and the fight is far finished, folks.

 

October 01, 2007

The sky’s the limit in ‘Warhawk’
It seems the open skies are where it's at for online gaming. Warhawk is the Playstation 3's first big online-only game, and the first game to truly show how robust Sony's Playstation Network can be.

 

September 21, 2007

Top five video game movies
Movies and games. Games and movies. History tells us they don't go together quite as well as peanut butter and jelly or Mario and Luigi, but that won't stop film studios from making 'em, though.

 

September 14, 2007

'Lair' nothing more than a four-letter word
Lair is not an epic. More accurately, it is a failure of epic proportions. What was supposed to be one of the first huge Playstation 3 exclusives to prove that this mammoth system was worth its weight in pixels, instead has become easily one of the worst games that the 'next generation' of games has to offer.

 

September 10, 2007

NHL 2K8 sticks it to the pros
The NHL is going through all kinds of changes. New superstars like Crosby, Ovechkin and the Staal brothers are quickly making their mark on the ice. New features like the shootout, and the dropping of old rules like the two-line pass are changing the way the game is played. And new uniforms are popping up faster than Leafs haters in Ottawa.

 

September 06, 2007

The Top 5 Offline Multiplayer Games of All Time
With the release of Halo 3 inching ever-closer, I thought it would make sense to write a 'Best Of' list of the top multiplayer games of all-time. To switch things up a bit, though, I wanted to list the best games that DIDN'T have any online capabilities. Just a split screen or link cable seperating the men from the boys (and girls from the women).

 
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About G4 in Canada
G4 Canada (formerly TechTV Canada) launched in September 2001. G4 is the one and only television station that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. Owned Rogers Media Inc., the channel airs more than 24 original series. G4 is available on digital cable and satellite. For more information, see www.g4tv.ca.