February should have been one of the strongest months of recent memory, thanks to the release of a number of high-profile sequels to established IP. However, a quick butcher’s at the myriad of reviews doing the rounds on the net will show that many folk were somewhat underwhelmed with the majority of this month’s triple-A software landslide. Of course, opinions are just that; opinions, and where others were disappointed, PSU.com came away thoroughly impressed. And then there was Aliens: Colonial Marines.
Still, let’s not dwell on disappointment too long. February saw two massive sequels in the shape of Dead Space 3 and Crysis 3, both from publishing powerhouse Electronic Arts. The former is noted for incorporating co-op for the first time in the Visceral horror series, while Crysis 3 turned heads thanks to its sumptuous visuals. Elsewhere, Platinum Games proved once again it is the dog’s bollocks when it comes to crafting addictive hack-‘n-slash affairs with Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, while the aforementioned Colonial Marines finally arrived on the scene after its 2006 reveal – and sadly, suffered the same fate as Gearbox stable mate, Duke Nukem Forever.
Also on the table for February includes Assassin’s Creed III’s first chunk of DLC, namely the alternate-reality Tyranny of King Washington. Finally, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time saw the return of the sneaky, anthropomorphic raccoon and chums in the PlayStation-exclusive platformer, which also forms part of Sony’s cross-buy initiative.
Still, it was ultimately Platinum’s Metal Gear Rising that impressed the most, although given a few crushing disappointments last month it shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Featuring smooth-as-silk, visceral combat, massive bosses, and high-octane cut-scenes, Raiden’s slasher adventure is every bit as compelling as its contemporaries Bayonetta and Devil May Cry, while offering all the idiosyncrasies of the Metal Gear franchise to make for quite the impressive package.
Check out a snippet from our review below, and be sure to read the full article here.
"Though Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance isn’t quite going to reach the heady praise of some of the past games in the series in terms of storyline, there’s plenty to love about this new direction. The action is always exciting and absorbing while the sword-play is refreshing, innovative and dynamic. The cut-scenes are brilliantly produced and the boss battles tense and engaging. Overall, we’ve played through a large part of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance beaming from ear to ear. No doubt about it: Platinum Games is a brilliant developer and yet again we have another amazing game to thank them for."
If you’re still not convinced, Managing Editor Timothy Nunes created a video on why even MGS fans can enjoy this new take on the series.