Author Bio
Caley RoarkHome Town: Lancaster, PA
Sports: Football, Baseball
Games: NFL 2K5, MVP 05, NBA 2k series, Civilization
Teams: Phillies, Eagles, Sixers
OS Username: CPRoark
Tags: Live: Mr Rockit
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
12:08 PM - November 26, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Though there are a number of arcade titles available in the iOS app store, I tend to gravitate toward the more “thinky” style of game when playing on my phone/iPad. Perhaps it’s the small screen size, the ambiguity of touch controls, or my increasingly slow reflexes.
The same is true of sports games. There are a lot of action-oriented sports titles, but the ones I like most exchange action for strategy: iOOTP Baseball or Blood Bowl, for instance. Pro Strategy Football 2014 falls perfectly into this category, and is one of the best “thinking man’s” football titles available, though it's not without its issues.
Read More - Pro Strategy Football 2014 Review (iOS)
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
10:30 AM - November 25, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
NBA All Net is a new online-based management game for iOS and Android. Like most games in the free-to-play sports game genre, you’ll be collecting cards and bumping stats in order to (hopefully) win games. Also similar are the strong social networking integration, timers as a way to elongate play, and numerous micro-transactions. So, what sets NBA All Net apart?
Read More - NBA All Net Impressions (iOS)
Saturday, November 1, 2014
10:26 AM - November 1, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
WWE games have always represented an odd disconnect for me. On one hand, you have a “sport” which is relatively difficult to represent virtually, since it is really more entertainment than actual competition. On the other hand, these games, while not exactly recreating their sport, are typically very fun to play.
Since acquiring the WWE license, it seems 2K Sports has strived to fix that separation, with modes that capture the history of the sport and a quicker paced product. We may see this effort come to fruition when the PS4/Xbox One versions release in a few weeks. Unfortunately, this year’s last-gen offering seems less historical and fun; worse, it seems like a less valuable use of your money.
Read More - WWE 2K15 Is Almost Too Familiar on Past-Gen Consoles (360/PS3 Review)
Sunday, October 26, 2014
03:57 PM - October 26, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
But other times it doesn’t. When a game puts all of its eggs into the online basket, there’s room for a huge debacle, leaving gamers with nothing but a shell of a $60 game (see SimCity, 2013).
Driveclub isn’t quite as bad as EA’s City Builder, but inconsistent online functionality have plagued the first “serious” racing game on PS4 and left some users feeling cheated. Unfortunately, looking at just the single player options won’t inspire additional confidence.
Read More - Driveclub's Online Issues, Average Gameplay A Forgettable Experience (PS4 Review)
Monday, October 13, 2014
12:18 PM - October 13, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Earlier, I took a look at EA’s mobile version of Madden 15 for iOS devices, and criticized some of its free-to-play mechanics and lack of any real challenge. I’m happy to say that FIFA 15, while not a great game, is a much more enjoyable experience.
Read More - FIFA 15 Ultimate Team Mobile Review: A Decent Option on the Go
Friday, October 10, 2014
12:44 PM - October 10, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
As the sun sets on another MLB season (and rises on nearly everything else), you may be tempted to trade in one of the best sports titles of the year for a shiny new game. And, really, who could blame you? There’s a wealth of new and seemingly quality titles that have released or will release before the World Series ends.
But before you do, I’d like to sing the praises of an overlooked mode in MLB: The Show 14. The Postseason Mode is a recent and simple addition, but one that captures some of the best playoff atmosphere in sports.
Read More - In Praise of MLB 14: The Show's Playoff Mode
Thursday, October 2, 2014
10:23 AM - October 2, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
The mobile game market seems to be suffering from a great divide: either you pay an upfront premium for a high-quality experience, or you get a “free” title that encourages money to trickle from your wallet over the long term.
Unfortunately, it seems that major sports titles are falling on the “freemium” side of that line. And, as is the case with all things, you often get what you pay for.
That’s true for this year’s version of iOS Madden 15, a decent playing game that’s been watered down due to the use of pay-to-play tactics and artificial limitations.
Read more - Madden NFL 15 on iOS: Even At Free, It Still Isn't Worth Your Money
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
11:01 AM - September 23, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
While Blood Bowl is based on a table-top game from the 80s, 1st & Goal is based on a much more recent card game. Using hand management, shrewd card play, and lucky dice rolls, 1st & Goal nicely recreates football in a captivatingly simple way.
Read More - 1st & Goal is a Fun Football Game Alternative on iOS (Review)
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
11:16 AM - September 17, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
More than four years ago, I had the opportunity to review Blood Bowl on the Xbox 360. Since then, multiple versions of this digital board game have been released on numerous platforms, from Nintendo DS to the PC. Now the franchsie arrives on yet another platform: mobile devices.
Read More - Blood Bowl Is a Compelling But Also Very Familiar Mobile Experience (Review)
Monday, September 15, 2014
02:24 PM - September 15, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
If you are brand new to Madden Ultimate Team (MUT), it’s essentially a trading card game, fantasy football, and Madden all rolled into one crazy-addicting mess. Open virtual packs, build a team, and ten play. Your results, along with other tasks, earn you coins to buy more packs. It's a continuous cycle that gives you the thrill of having the chance to pull that card. Of course, there’s the option to spend real money on those virtual packs as well.
This year, the process has been streamlined and the single-player offline mode has been given a lot more content. But, as always, the impulse to buy new packs and upgrade your team is at the core of MUT.
Read More - How Madden NFL 15's Ultimate Team Mode Has Arrived at the Next-Level
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
10:54 AM - September 2, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
So to step back and objectively look at Madden 15 on “last-gen” consoles can be tough. For whatever reasons, this version of the game lacks many of the new, innovative and fun additions touted all summer. Things that I consider literally game-changing -- like the ability to switch between cameras on the fly -- are nowhere to be found on older consoles.
If you only own a 360 or PS3, this may come as a disappointment. However, instead of bemoaning these features’ absences, let's look at what the game actually does on its own. Then you can decide if it warrants a purchase, or if you are safe simply upgrading Madden 25’s roster.
Read More - Madden NFL 15 Review (360/PS3)
Thursday, August 28, 2014
04:38 PM - August 28, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
When I first saw the trailers for The Gauntlet, I was a little skeptical; it looked too much like another Madden gimmick. But having played it, my opinion was immediately swayed.
Read More - Madden NFL 15: Skills Trainer and Gauntlet Mode More Important Than Ever
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
01:17 PM - July 30, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
MLB: The Show gets high praise around here, and usually for good reason. Despite being the only true console baseball title available, the developers haven’t become complacent. Every year, we see some nice innovations and revisions that demonstrate that the title isn’t taking its sole status for granted.
However, if there’s one area (outside online gameplay) that gets a bulk of the criticism, it’s The Show’s presentation. I try to emphasize in my review each year that The Show’s presentation (including commentary, camera angles, replays, etc.) isn’t bad, per se. Developments like authentic broadcast angles and real-time camera shots have revolutionized how virtual baseball looks. And in terms of replays and on-screen stats, no one does it better.
Read More - MLB 14 The Show: How to Improve the Presentation
Monday, July 21, 2014
03:52 PM - July 21, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Upon throwing it in my old console, I was surprised by this ancient arcade game's depth. While its on the field gameplay is pure arcade action, there’s a simulation at Slugfest’s core. Backed by the Baseball Mogul "sim engine", its franchise mode featured a loaded roster, realistic contracts and a wealth of stats.
Read More - RBI Baseball 14: Is It Worth It on Next-Gen Consoles?
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
11:02 AM - July 15, 2014. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
But what if things had happened slightly differently? Perhaps, with a few lucky breaks and bounces, your favorite player is in the MVP discussion and not the trade rumor mill. Or maybe a key injury has limited your team's ascent in the standings.
Using the stellar Out of the Park 15, we’ve simulated this “alternate reality” through July 1st. See how things could have gone, or better yet, report your own version of 2014 in the comments below.
Read More - OOTP Baseball Sims the First Half of the 2014 Season
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