DeathXon

The Simpsons Hit and Run is the Simpsons meet GTA. The missions themselves can become repetitive and sometimes would make me rage as a child. Especially time sensitive missions. The story is ok, typical Simpsons story stuff. The voice acting is good, same voice actors from the show. All the main characters are in it and they each have their own vehicle. Which brings me to the best part of the game. Getting and driving all the different cars. This is the main thing you're gonna end up caring about in the game. Each level has a different Simpsons family member you play as and they all have like 5 outfits for each level. The game is riddled with easter eggs from the show. You'll collect coins throughout the game to purchase new cars and outfits. The graphics still hold up today in my opinion, looks like you're controlling the Simpsons and not blocky knock offs. The controls are solid for the most part but certain vehicles can be a **** to control. The sound design is good, the music doesn't get annoying over time like in the Simpsons Road Rage mainly because they don't play it nonstop. Each level is designed pretty ok, you get the Springfield vibe. If you're looking for a GTA like experience with the Simpsons this is a pretty good choice. Aside from the missions there's lots of collectibles to look out for. If you're looking to add another game to your collection, you'll get alot of enjoyment out of this game.

Thief is a supernatural stealth game from a franchise that has been around for quite some time. I have never played a Thief game before this one and from what I hear old school Thief games are much more difficult. So this is a more modernized and accessible game for people who would like to start trying out older Thief games. Personally, I really enjoyed this game for what it was. The graphics are quite nice but suffer from pop in from time to time and minor clipping issues. The controls for the most part are solid but can be fidgety at times when you're rushed or sometimes may cause you to fall to your death if you're not paying attention. The game has RPG elements with upgrading your gear and abilities with gold you loot from places and Focus points you get from either finding hidden symbols or buying them straight up from the Queen of Beggars (I think is her name). There are about 30 side quests with 8 Chapters in the game. The locations are well designed and look great giving that steampunk look to the City. The sound design is also pretty well done, sometimes making the game feel like you're being watched in certain areas. Now to the voice acting, it's good for the most part except for the damn audio bugs that tend to happen occasionally. Like the infamous "what's a third offense get you?" bug. It's hilarious but very immersion breaking. Another thing I didn't like was the backtracking within the City, I got quite familiar with the loading screens. The combat in the game is doable but I don't recommend it because if you're surrounded by a bunch of enemies you're more than likely to die. That being said, that's why this is pretty much a pure stealth game at it's core. The story is ok for the most part, nothing groundbreaking. I enjoyed the Thief-Taker General's character but ended up not enjoying Erin's character so much. Just found her to be annoying most of the game. There are plenty of collectibles and hidden areas to be found in the game so keep your eyes peeled all the time. Thief is a good game that feels unpolished but holds alot of content for completionists. It's a worthy stealth game to add to your collection.

I used to play this game everyday back when I first got my PS2 in 2002. It's a very fun Crazy Taxi style game with Simpsons characters. The voice acting is done by the actual actors from the show so it's pretty ok. Moe has the funniest lines in the game in my opinion. You can drive as pretty much all the main Simpsons characters including special cars you can get by setting your PS2 date to certain holidays. Driving around is pretty smooth and responsive. The graphics unfortunately do not hold up today. Very low res, blocky graphics. The different areas you can drive around are unique in their own right but there aren't many (only 6 I believe). There's a mission mode where you complete 10 missions and unlock a special vehicle. Then there's sunday drive where you just drive around. Finally, (I forget what the main mode is called) but that's the mode where you drive around to earn money and buy new cars and areas. The sound design is ok too, some of the songs start off as catchy but get repetitive over time. Overall, it's dated but still fun. If you like the Simpsons and Crazy Taxi then you may like this game.

Manhunt is a stealth/action/horror game with tons of gore and vulgarity. The gameplay consists of hiding in the shadows and brutally murdering people that are out to kill you. You can perform melee combat or use guns also. The sound design is superb, delivering that 80's horror movie sound of dark synth ambiance. It has a very snuff film look to it even incorporating static and film grain during certain parts. The voice acting is pretty well done, delivering that creepy feel of each gang as they stalk you. Starkweather, the man behind the reasoning for the entire story of the game, at times becomes excited and even sexually aroused by the violence you're committing via earpiece you're wearing throughout the game. You can also use a headset to say things to enemies and they'll react to it. The graphics are not bad for PS2 standards from 2003. Very gritty and true to that Rockstar game look. The controls may feel dated to some but I don't have a problem with them. The melee can feel stiff sometimes, especially if you get caught by multiple enemies. The environments are all unique and never get boring. The variety of weapons is quite large as well with 3 different kills for each minus the guns and throwables. The story is pretty straightforward for the most part, not the greatest but it's not bad. If you like violent, gritty stealth games then you'll definitely appreciate this game.

I've never played the original Shadow Warrior for the PC from the 90's, but for a modernized version it's a pretty solid FPS. The graphics are very nice and in some parts beautiful. The voice acting is ok. Full of cheesy dirty jokes which are the charm of the game I suppose. The sound design is pretty ok, nothing really stands out though. The combat is nice mixing swordplay with guns and different upgrades and abilities you give Lo Wang. Which brings me to the upgrades and powers. You can upgrade your guns and sword and abilities with in-game currency, karma points for getting new skills, and Ki crystals for getting new powers. So it has RPG elements too. Good news for classic FPS players: health packs instead of regenerating health. The enemy AI for the most part is ok. Sometimes taking cover, other times running head-on at you. The different environments look good but none of them really stood out and made me say "I like this level" except for maybe 2 or 3 of them. Gameplay can become repetitive if you're not mixing up your combat enough. The bosses in the game with the exception for the final boss are very forgettable. They look nice but the environment is practically the same, again not including the final boss. Basically, this a 90's game with nicer graphics. Some like it, others don't. I'm a person that happens to like it for the most part. It's definitely worth playing. A buy for hardcore fans of old school shooters or collector's looking for a solid game to add to their collection. But for everyone else it's probably a rent.