Bob Mackey (Page 4)

Article

Virtual Spotlight: Harvest Moon Hits a High Point with Friends of Mineral Town

This 2003 Game Boy Advance release feels like a fitting end to Harvest Moon's first act—one that's still intensely playable today.

June 11, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

XCOM: Enemy Within PC Review: Same Game, More Pain

Bob Mackey checks out the new expansion to the perfect digital board game.

June 11, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Sunset PC Review: Decline and Fall

Tale of Tales' environmental storytelling game definitely offers an experience you've never had before—even if it takes a bit too long to make its point.

June 6, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Welcome to the Jam: The Making of Super Street Harassment RPG

Critic becomes creator as USgamer's Bob Mackey puts his skills to the test throughout a grueling, game-making weekend.

June 2, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains 3DS Review: The Harder They Fall

Spike Chunsoft's all-too-literal adaptation fails to make anything worthwhile out of the source material's irresistibly great premise.

May 19, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

A Brief History of Video Game Violence, Part 1: Death Race to Mortal Kombat

Check out the most notable moments that turned heads and stomachs throughout the history of video games.

April 24, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Westerado: Double Barreled PC Review: Red Dead Low-Resolution

Don't let the throwback visuals fool you—Ostrich Banditos' Old West take on Zelda packs ten gallons of ambitious fun into a varmint-sized package.

April 23, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

What Are the Best Uses of Time Travel in Video Games?

Great Scott! Check out the games that play nicest with the always-shaky rules of leaping through time.

April 22, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Lakeview Cabin Collection Mixes Friday the 13th and Maniac Mansion in a Scary, Silly Sandbox

Lay traps for unspeakable horrors or throw a bong-fueled orgy in this slasher-inspired survival game.

April 17, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Story of Seasons' Producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto Sheds Light on His Laid-Back Farming Sim: "You can think of it as enjoying bonsai."

The visionary behind Harvest Moon's newest form talks about why the joy of raising virtual chickens hasn't faded over the past 20 years.

April 16, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin Xbox One Review: Return of the King

From Software raises the standard for next-gen re-releases with a thoughtful remix of their critically acclaimed 2014 RPG.

April 10, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USstreamer: Bob Instructs Jaz in the Ways of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin Today at 3:00pm PT/6:00pm ET

Souls greenhorn Jaz Rignall joins our resident expert for a journey through From Software's remix of their 2014 hit RPG.

April 7, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Box Boy 3DS Review: It's Hip to be Square

HAL Laboratory puts an unexpectedly fresh spin on block-based puzzles in this quirky 3DS eShop release.

April 7, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Retronauts Micro Goes from Myth to Laughter with a Look at Parodius

Return to the Golden Age of Konami for a bite-sized examination of their goofiest series.

April 6, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

What Are the Best New Game Plusses?

Finishing off the final boss doesn't always mean the party's over. Here are some games that put a worthwhile spin on things the second time around.

April 2, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USstreamer Archive: Bob Takes to the Skies in Super Mario World

You've heard the latest Retronauts—now take another trip back to Super Mario World via the magic of streaming.

April 1, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Five Things You Should Know About Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.

Learn about this steampunk strategy game's paper origins and unexpected inspirations straight from the developers themselves.

March 31, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

This Week's Retronauts Takes on the (Super Mario) World

Nintendo's 16-bit debut celebrates its 25th birthday this year—listen in as we rediscover the magic behind this classic platformer.

March 30, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Bloodborne Review: Into the Nightmare

Does FromSoftware's latest measure up to the high standard set by Dark Souls? Bob shares his final thoughts on this vast and challenging adventure.

March 27, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USstreamer: Bob Takes on Bloodborne [Update: Archived!]

Watch as our resident Souls expert gives you a guided tour of FromSoftware's newest RPG.

March 25, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Comfort Food Games: Dark Souls

Bob explains why, more than three years later, he just can't let this seminal action-RPG go.

March 23, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USgamer Club Live: Bayonetta 2 Part 4 — Bob and Kat Reach Armageddon at 3pm PT / 6pm ET

Join Kat and Bob as they wrap up their longplay of Bayonetta 2 on Twitch!

March 18, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number PC Review: Redial

Dennaton's remix of their 2013 indie smash may not feel like a true sequel, but it still offers an interesting take on the original.

March 14, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

This Week's Retronauts Micro Takes a Brief-But-Befuddled Look at Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures

How did Namco's yellow ball go from a maze-muncher to an interactive cartoon in just 14 short years? Your favorite classic gaming podcast investigates!

March 10, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USgamer Club: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Part 3 — The Final Countdown

Our Majora's Mask playthrough comes to a close as Bob goes from Ikana Canyon to the moon. Join in on the discussion!

March 10, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USgamer Club: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Part 2 — Face/Off

This week, Bob plumbs the depths of the Snowhead and Great Bay Temples. Join in on the discussion!

March 10, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

This Week on Retronauts, We're All a Little Looney

Our latest episode looks at the many, many games inspired by Steven Spielberg's first foray into TV animation: Tiny Toon Adventures.

March 2, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Weekend Gamer: Castle in the Darkness is More Than Just Another Throwback Indie Platformer

Looking for something to play after Friday comes to a close? Nicalis' latest release acts as a greatest hits compilation of 8-bit action/adventure.

Feb. 27, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Wii U Review: Roller Games

Succinct, beautiful, and relentlessly inventive, this stylus-driven gem proves no one knows pure fun better than Nintendo.

Feb. 18, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

25 Years Ago, Super Mario Bros. 3 Made Video Game Launches Monumental

Long before midnight GameStop lines and pre-order madness, Nintendo introduced the world to pre-release hype.

Feb. 17, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USgamer Club: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Part 1 — A Terrible Fate

Join Bob for a discussion of Link's arrival in Termina to the end of the Woodfall Temple.

Feb. 17, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USstreamer Archive: Bob Takes a Trip to Termina in Majora's Mask

Revisit one of Link's strangest adventures with a solid hour of the 2000 N64 original.

Feb. 13, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate 3DS Review: Jurassic Lark

If you've been afraid to approach Capcom's complex action-RPG series, this could be the perfect installment to bring you into the fold.

Feb. 10, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Retronauts Micro Explores Classic Games We Want to Like

Your classic gaming podcast crew mulls over those old games that really let them down.

Feb. 9, 2015 Bob Mackey

Review

Grim Fandango Remastered PS4 Review: A Bone to Pick

Tim Schafer's 1998 tribute to film noir spins a gripping tale, but its unfriendly puzzles will have many calling it quits before the final curtain.

Feb. 4, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

This Week's Retronauts Gets an "Aaaaay!" for Effort

Join your classic gaming podcast crew for a discussion of when good games go bad. (Really bad.)

Feb. 3, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

USstreamer Archive: Celebrate 10 Years of Resident Evil 4

Join Bob for a solid hour of the sequel that changed Capcom's survival horror series forever.

Jan. 16, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Hear Strange Tales of Buyer's Remorse on this Week's Retronauts

On this bite-sized episode of Retronauts Micro, the crew discusses misguided video game purchases that still haunt them to this day.

Jan. 12, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Awesome Games Done Quick 2015: All the Best Stuff So Far

Experience the heights of this amazing charity livestream by checking out the cream of the crop.

Jan. 9, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

2015 in Preview: Will Nintendo's Wii U Ever Be Part of the Conversation?

The Wii U is home to the best console exclusives of this generation, but that hasn't helped it gain an edge over the competition. Can 2015 be the year Nintendo gains more traction?

Jan. 9, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Boss Monster Captures the Spirit of 8-Bit Platforming in Card Game Format

Brotherwise Games' love letter to '80s classics stands as a great (and affordable) way to break into the wide world of non-video gaming.

Jan. 5, 2015 Bob Mackey

Article

Slip on Majora's Mask with Retronauts Micro Episode 2

We celebrate the upcoming 3DS remake by discussing why this great little N64 Zelda is so misunderstood.

Dec. 29, 2014 Bob Mackey

Article

2014 Recap: FromSoftware's Yui Tanimura on Dark Souls' Finest Year

Dark Souls 2's director shares his strategies for avoiding sequelitis.

Dec. 22, 2014 Bob Mackey

Article

2014 Recap: Danganronpa Taught Us the Finer Points of Despair

NIS' efforts brought the entire Danganronpa series to the USA in just one year—spoiling anyone who's a fan of mystery, mayhem, and text-heavy adventure games.

Dec. 18, 2014 Bob Mackey

Article

The Retronauts Holiday Special Spreads Humbug with a Takedown of Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

Due to popular demand, we're back with another movie-themed episode! Listen in and suffer along with a thorough dissection of Capcom's 2009 cinematic disaster.

Dec. 15, 2014 Bob Mackey

Article

Super Mario's Maestro: A Q&A with Nintendo's Koji Kondo

The composer behind some of gaming's most legendary tunes reflects on the many changes he's experienced in his 30-year career at Nintendo.

Dec. 12, 2014 Bob Mackey

Article

2014 Recap: Bayonetta 2 Perfects the Platinum Games Formula

More than just a sequel, this latest Platinum Games production could be the developer's finest work to date.

Dec. 11, 2014 Bob Mackey

Article

Super Mario Gaiden: Five Memorable Spin-offs from the Mushroom Kingdom

Nintendo's mascot steps aside for these worthwhile adventures starring his marketable friends.

Dec. 7, 2014 Bob Mackey

Article

USstreamer Archive: Celebrate 20 Years of PlayStation with Jumping Flash!

Join Bob as he plays the first-person-hopper that made Sony's console debut something special.

Dec. 6, 2014 Bob Mackey

Review

The Old City: Leviathan PC Review: In the Belly of the Beast

Developer Postmod Softworks might not offer any easy answers, but that's one of their game's greatest strengths.

Dec. 4, 2014 Bob Mackey