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Eric Van Allen


Favorite Games:
  • The World Ends With You
  • Final Fantasy X
  • Mass Effect 2

150 games reviewed
78.9 average score
80 median score
65.7% of games recommended
Jun 23, 2016

Zero Time Dilemma takes some bold strides to tell the series’ final chapters, but even when it falters, it’s never slow to catch back up and deliver. Through well-designed escape rooms, brilliant writing and narrative decisions, and a more relatable cast than ever, Zero Time Dilemma puts the most deserving and exceptional final touches on this excellent trilogy.

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Jun 11, 2016

Kirby: Planet Robobot isn’t too deep, but it doesn’t need to be. It captures the fun, jovial nature of its titular character, and breathes some life into an otherwise tepid formula. It’s brief and hardly earth-shatteringly unique, but it’s fun in the way a Kirby game ought to be.

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Jun 7, 2016

Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is the remake this story justly deserves, marred only by slight signs of age, and a time capsule that perfectly preserves the magic of Odin Sphere, for the many years it's lost and the many years to come.

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Jun 7, 2016

Marrakesh is a much different beast, and while it lacks the nuanced complexity of Sapienza or the gaudy flash of Paris, it has a flavor all its own that highlights aspects of Hitman in challenging ways. Another solid entry in this series.

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95 / 100 - Overwatch
May 27, 2016

A sublime execution on nearly every front, Overwatch turns a world in need of heroes into one of the best arena shooters since their heyday, and stands alongside Blizzard's finest as some of the most necessary playing in its respective genre.

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May 23, 2016

Total War: Warhammer mixes computer and tabletop effortlessly into a fantasy bloodbath. With four diverse races, plenty of character and a promise of much to come, it's hard to not recommend this to anyone who's ever dreamed of playing armchair general in the High Fantasy realm.

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80 / 100 - Stellaris
May 11, 2016

Stellaris captures the wonder of exploring space and colonizing the stars, but gets bogged down when the borders freeze and negotiations start. A solid foundation of things to come and an excellent entry-level grand strategy game, this will hopefully be a good start for a greater experience to come.

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90 / 100 - Battleborn
May 4, 2016

Battleborn merges cooperative and competitive, hero and shooter, loot and shoot into an excellent melting pot and symbol of the times. Charismatic characters, clever intricacies, and compelling gameplay make this one of the best multiplayer experiences of the generation yet.

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70 / 100 - Ray Gigant
Apr 29, 2016

Ray Gigant sacrifices complexity for accessibility, and while the final experience is a little rote, the style and streamlining make the most compelling case for a non-fan of RPG dungeon crawling to finally get interested.

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Apr 12, 2016

Stories: The Path of Destinies mixes looping narratives, engaging brawler combat, and beautiful scenery to create a compelling indie adventure that should not be overlooked. Not wholly without fault, but even in the imperfections it's easy to find a lot to love in Stories.

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80 / 100 - TrackMania Turbo
Mar 24, 2016

Trackmania Turbo lacks some of the series' standards, but still offers a polished and engaging time-trial racer for those looking for a rush of speed. With tons of options for play and the constant chase for a better time, Turbo gets under your skin, and once it's in there, it doesn't let go for a long time.

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Mar 24, 2016

Trillion: God of Destruction has wonderful characterization and compelling moments, but gets bogged down in a series of unintuitive design decisions and a lack of engaging main story content. Come for the concept, but don’t be surprised when it doesn’t hold for long.

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Mar 15, 2016

When The Division fires on all cylinders, it's really something; a solid loot-shooter, with engaging mechanics and the perfect set-up for co-op online. What bogs it down, between a lack of variety and a mix of technical hitches, keeps it from reaching those heights. For now, it's a serviceable squad-based shooter effective at eating up a couple hours a night with friends.

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85 / 100 - Lost Dimension
Mar 13, 2016

Lost Dimension is a unique, innovative RPG that can pride itself on fantastic characters and an engaging combat system. While the narrative isn’t fantastic, the NG+ features and intricate Gift skills will likely have you coming back for seconds. A fantastic addition to the Vita library.

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75 / 100 - SUPERHOT
Mar 11, 2016

Superhot is short but full of style and substance, taking an inventive mechanic to its furthest and providing a unique shooter experience. The current offering is slim, but unlike anything else around.

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60 / 100 - Project X Zone 2
Mar 11, 2016

Project X-Zone 2 is a dream crossover on paper that falters in execution, failing to excel in any area beyond unabashed novelty. The quality of the cast and engaging juggling mechanic are the most you'll likely get out of this crossover RPG.

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Feb 17, 2016

Fire Emblem: Fates is easily one of the biggest and most intimidating entries in the series, but the refined systems and sheer breadth of content, mixed with a colorful and memorable cast of characters, makes this a grand offering for both Fire Emblem faithful and newcomers alike.

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Feb 17, 2016

Fire Emblem: Fates is easily one of the biggest and most intimidating entries in the series, but the refined systems and sheer breadth of content, mixed with a colorful and memorable cast of characters, makes this a grand offering for both Fire Emblem faithful and newcomers alike.

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8 / 10.0 - Street Fighter V
Feb 15, 2016

As a competitive title and platform, though, Street Fighter V excels above most. The new design, excellent roster of fighters and re-vamp of the overall fighting landscape sets the stage for even more growth, and even more players to get involved in the sweet science. If you've been wanting a new title to sate the need for fighting and bragging rights, this is a solid entry, with a promise of even brighter things to come.

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90 / 100 - The Witness
Feb 9, 2016

The Witness is a profound experience, unlike any other and certainly intimidating in its refusal to give away its secrets for free. However, those with the inclination to buy-in and delve deep will find a trove of excellence, in the way it utilizes simple mechanics to convey greater themes. One of the most cohesive and intricate releases you can find, but not for the faint of heart.

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