App Review No. 22 Pocket Mine

Strong Points: 

Addictive, simple gameplay

Lots of content

Great music

Nice aesthetic upgrade changes for cards and picks

Chests enable you to get premium content for free (if you spend your time unlocking them, of course)

Characters add even more collectibility
More mines add more variety

Weak points: 

Graphics and animations are a bit boring

You end up getting a lot more chests than the keys needed to unlock them or you can have loads of keys but no chests

Missions can be frustrating

There is no message asking if you want to pay your premium cash (if you press the item accidentally it buys it for you)
You can only ask for artifacts through Facebook and not through Game Centre

Characters cost a lot of rubies

Review No. 62 GTA IV: Episodes of Liberty City: The Ballads of Gay Tony - PS3 18+

Sorry I haven't been doing anything recently, as you may have guessed I am the member of the blog that does the least, but don't worry, I'm still alive, just been very busy going through games to review (i.e. playing video games until the early hours and eating loads of chocolate....)

This is a bit of an outdated game now, as it was released a few years ago. But this was the real revolution of GTA. Now the graphics are still amazing, it is a hugely detailed map, and there are so many interactive parts of the map I can't even count them!

Strong Points:
Very interesting story
Many different vehicles to drive
Loads of new weapons

Weak Points:
Lots of bugs/ glitches
Not much to do when missions aren't available
Character not very customisable (same with vehicles)

First Impressions: Pokémon X and Y

I've played this game for about four hours now and I have to say I'm impressed. From the word go the game introduces you with a cinematic video that starts the game, the closest to a proper cut scene in the Pokémon series yet. Then you see yourself and the room you're in and I actually had to check if I was playing the right game, the graphics were so different. The next change occurred as soon as you stand up, when I moved the circle pad expecting a normal grid based movement, I was greeted with something that was also free movement! OK, it's no Dragon Quest or Skyrim like movement but it's still a huge improvement.

Review No. 61 Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 - DS (3+)

Strong Points:

Even more Pokémon to catch!

Lots of mini games and things to do post-story

Downloadable battles for PWT are challenging.

Nice graphics

Good League

Pokéstar studios are a fun and quite big mini game

Medals to collect and show off

Online infrastructure is good

Join Avenue is a good feature

Weak Points:

Not the best storyline

Linear world

Sprites are pixelated

Musical is awful compared to contests

Not enough high levelled trainers

Some Pokémon are only in certain stores or wi-fi events
Entralink is also bad

Review No. 60 Pokémon Black and White - DS (3+)

Strong Points:

156 new Pokémon

Great gyms

Good soundtrack

Lots to do post story

New pseudo 3D

Two EXP shares makes training a whole lot easier

Weak Points:

No VS Seeker or the ability to re battle trainers at all

The elite four are all the same level

You can't get any old Pokémon until post story

The musical is awful compared to contests

Entralink is terrible
Map is very linear (it's a circle for heaven's sake)
Except for ones given to you, berries are only available on Global Link

Review No. 59 Pokémon Platinum - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
VS Seeker in this game
Berries available to be picked
Pokétch is a good feature with upgrades for extra apps
Large non-linear map
Lots of things to do
Lots of legendries
Good and improved storyline
New trading/battling system is good
Global trade
Resort, survival and fight resorts add more to the game
Contests are back!
Secret bases are also back!
As is the Battle Frontier!
Palkia, Dialga and Giratina are available to capture
A few aesthetic and gameplay changes have been made

Weak Points:
Global trade has quite a few bugs
Rival is rubbish
Too many ubers
Underground isn't too fun without lots of people

Review No. 58 Pokémon Diamond - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
107 new Pokémon
VS Seeker is in the game
Berries available to be picked
Pokétch is a good feature with upgrades for extra apps
Large non-linear map
Lots of things to do
Lots of legendries
Good storyline
New trading/battling system is good
Global trade
Resort, survival and fight resorts add more to the game
Contests are back!
Secret bases are also back!

Weak Points:
Global trade has quite a few bugs
Rival is rubbish
Too many ubers
Underground isn't too fun without lots of people

Review No. 57 Pokémon Emerald - GBA (3+)

Strong Points:

Brilliant Story

Lots to do

Good gyms

Two bikes

Secret hideouts

Good Enemy Teams

Music is amazing

Pokémon sprites are good

Battle Frontier

Contests are good
Pokécentres and Pokémarts 

Cycling Road
Pokénav is awesome

Weak Points:

Can't level up very quickly

Trading is difficult

Wi-Fi events has finished and were quick to do so

Battle Frontier is overpowered compared to the league

Not much of a rival

Controls are slightly unsensitive
Your animation isn't as good as the Pokémon

Review No. 56 Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
Two regions
16 badges
Lots of things to do
Pokéathlon is amazing
Lots of Pokéballs
Loads of nostalgia
Pokégear is great
The Battle Frontier is still here

Weak points:
The Pokéwalker isn't great
Storyline is weaker than other Pokémon games
The Victory Road is poor
Not the best rival ever

Review No. 55 Pokémon FireRed - GBA (3+)

Strong Points:
Hours of content
A massively updated version of the original games
Pokémon from Kanto to Hoenn
Great music
Lots of legendries
Lots to do after the main game
One of the only good rivals
Habitat mode on Pokédex is nice
Great storyline

Weak Points:
Trading system is terrible
You can't catch any of the Hoenn Pokémon (except Wynut) and many Johto aren't catchable either so a lot of trading is required
There aren't any mini games (that don't require wireless) like contests, Pokéstar studios etc.

Review No. 54 Pokémon Conquest - DS (3+)

Strong Points:

Great story

An amazing crossover

Innovative gameplay

Lots to do (such as final scenario)

Double collection (warriors and Pokémon)

Great abilities and warrior powers
Music and graphics are great

Weak Points:

There are many quests that are wi-fi downloaded and so are not available any more

Not quite as much strategic depth as other strategy games

Not all Pokémon are obtainable in the game

Your own castles are barely attacked
Items and resources are not needed to complete the main game

Review No. 53 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity - 3DS (3+)

Strong Points:
Storyline is good, can be surprising
Variety of buildings
Great music
Nice graphics
Some new mechanics are good

Weak Point:
Not much to compel you to keep playing after completion
Paid DLC to complete Pokémon "friended"
Only 150 Pokémon
Old mechanics like hunger are missing in main dungeons
Easier than other three

No personality test to decide starter Pokémon

Only five starter Pokémon

Review No. 52 Pokémon Mystery Dungeons Explorers of Sky - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
Great music
Huge map
Lots of things to do
Loads of Pokémon to befriend
Lots of legendary battles
Great and slightly darker storyline
Loads of Starters
Personality test is still great
Challenging
A variety of missions
Spinda's Cafe is a great touch
Special Episodes adds more to the game

Weak Points:
Can get frustrating
Music overtakes graphics yet again
Friendship areas are gone

It's much the same as its predecessor

Review No. 51 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
Great music
Huge map
Lots of things to do
Loads of Pokémon to befriend
Lots of legendary battles
Great and slightly darker storyline
Loads of starters
Personality test is still great
Challenging
A variety of missions

Weak Points:
Can get frustrating
Music overtakes graphics yet again
Friendship areas are gone

Review No. 50 Pokémon Mystery Dungeons Blue Rescue Team - DS (3+)

Strong Points:

Amazing storyline

Great music

Brilliant ending

Nice gameplay

Lots of Pokémon

Friend areas are a nice touch

Personality test makes the game different to main series starts

Can be difficult

Lots to do

Weak points:

Wireless play isn't great

Can be frustrating

The music is far better than the graphics

Review No. 49 Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs - DS (3+)

Strong Points:

Brilliant, detailed graphics- for a Pokémon game
Guardian Signs adds more gameplay
Flying is fun if limited
Good story
Capturing is fun
Good controls
Can use Pokémon you capture in battles
Quests are good fun
Multiplayer is great
2 different times

Weak Points:
Only one partner
Not as many quests as the last one
Underwater is good but not as fun as flying
No online multiplayer
World isn't that big

Review No. 48 Pokémon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
60 side quests to do
Capture arena is fun
Story is all right
Lots of partners
Good graphic style
Nice controls
Four different styluses
Can level up stylus
Charging
Great Music

Weak Points:
Long tutorial- not good for returning fans
Not many new features
Feels like the same game but with a new control system
Frustrating
Not as challenging as the first game

Review No. 47 Pokémon Ranger - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
Nice gameplay mechanics
Brilliant music.
Nice art style
Good story
Fun missions
Challenging
Need to get Manaphy in Diamond and Pearl

Weak Points:
Can't use Pokémon in battle only their powers
Capturing is frustrating
Not that much to do post-story

Review No. 46 Pokémon Battle Revolution - Wii (7+)

Strong Points:
Amazing graphics and animations!
Great music
Different gameplay for different coliseums
Transfer Pokémon from 4th gen enabled
Lots of content- do not take this game at face value!

Weak Points:
No storyline
No mini games
Pokémon after 4th gen are not transferable

Review No. 45 PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure - Wii (3+)

Strong Points:

3D Pokémon

Good attractions

Nice soundtrack

Fun, colourful graphics

Weak Points:

Very short

Easy to complete
Besides the attractions, the rest of it isn't great

Review No. 44 Pokémon Rumble - WiiWare (3+)

Strong Points:

Loads of Pokémon

Great bosses

Different battling system to the main series

Weak Points:

Rubbish storyline

Very repetitive

The same levels are repeated each time

Very hack n' slash

Review No. 43 Pokémon Link! - DS (3+)

Strong Points:

All right storyline

Challenging

Nice gameplay mechanics

Good art style
Nice sprites

Addictive

Lots of modes
Cool Music

Weak Points:

Difficulty spikes

Some modes are not as good as the others

Frustrating

Repetitive

Review No. 42 Pokémon Dash - DS (3+)

Strong Points:
All right controls
Nice clear menu where you can also play with Pikachu
Good multiplayer
All right terrain physics
Nice sound effects
Good tutorial
Lapras is fun
GBA levels are all right

Weak Points:
Repetitive
Slightly confusing with the hot air balloons
Graphics are bad
Boring
Can be completed easily
Power ups are unimaginative
Hot air balloons are boring
Music isn't great
Map is confusing
Insane difficulty spikes

Review No. 41 Pokémon Dream Radar - 3DS eShop (3+)

Strong Points:

Boss Battles are fun

Lots of exclusive Pokémon to catch

Music is great

AR effects are alright

Good add-on to the main series

Weak Points:

Long wait/ recharge times

Except for Boss Battles, Pokémon are not shown

Gets boring, slow and repetitive after a while

Upgrades are useless 

No challenge

Review No. 40 My Pokémon Ranch - WiiWare (3+)

Strong Points:

Great storage for your Pokémon

Lots of upgrades and Pokémon allowed

Exclusive legendries available

Nice graphics style

Good music

Weak Points: 

You can only take 20 pictures

You can't return to club look see members

Only Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are compatible

Review No. 39 Pokédex 3D - 3DS eShop (3+)

Strong Points:
Great 3D graphics
Evolutions, stats, matchup, type and description are all listed
FREE

Weak points:
No area listings
You don't start with all Pokémon
Only Unova Pokémon listed

App Review No. 21 Pokédex for iOS

Strong Points:

Great 3D graphics

A move and Pokémon Dex

Evolutions, stats, matchup, type and description are all listed

Weak Points:

You have to pay real money to get the different regions

The area where you can find Pokémon is not shown

Video Game Character of the Month - October 2013 - Steve - Minecraft

Video Game Character of the Month

October 2013

Steve
Minecraft

Overview

What do I think of Steve, the genderless cube person with a male name? Well I suppose the answer is that, I'm not really sure. You could suppose that a character who can change his/ her/ it's skin has no personality or feeling and so shouldn't be awarded the coveted title of Video Game Character of the Month. Well, I am afraid that you would be, at least, partly, wrong, as will be covered in the following paragraphs.

A quick bit of info on Steve: