Videogames are childish (and so they should be)

Videogames are childish (and so they should be)

Dec 16, 2011

A criticism often aimed at videogames is that they’re childish. This description is a ball of contempt flung at the industry as a whole by those who know little of it, and understand even less. It’s also a common criticism within certain areas of the videogames fanbase, with some games – Super Mario titles, for example – often dismissed with a...

Critical Gamer’s Game of the Year 2011

Critical Gamer’s Game of the Year 2011

Dec 10, 2011

It’s nearly Christmas. Again. The bad news is that this means you’re even poorer than usual by now, and you’ll soon have to pretend to be much more interested in what distant relatives have to say than you actually are. The good news, however, is that it’s once again time to find out what Critical Gamer’s favourite games of the...

Videogames as a defence against depression

Videogames as a defence against depression

Jul 27, 2011

Everybody needs to hold onto a dream in order to function. That dream could be anything from being a rock star to becoming a mother or father; a published author, the owner of a small business, a surgeon, an actor or actress, a politician, a sports star. Sometimes, it’s the possibility – however large or small – of realising that dream that drives you....

Is Bulletstorm really a hardcore shooter?

Is Bulletstorm really a hardcore shooter?

Mar 1, 2011

Whenever an article uses a question as a title, it’s fair to assume that the author has an answer in mind, which they wish to spend some time (perhaps too long) explaining and justifying. Said answer is usually negative where possible. It’s human nature; for example, if you ask a friend ‘What does she think she looks like?’, the...

Deconstruction of a JRPG Hero

Deconstruction of a JRPG Hero

Feb 14, 2011

The phrase ‘JRPG hero’ conjures up a certain image in your mind and, whilst I may not have every last detail, I have a pretty good idea of what you’re seeing in your mind’s eye right now. Young, male, probably blonde, sharp hair, almost certainly holding some sort of sword. It’s like I’ve ripped your head open and I’m...