Joe Juba
This author account hasn't been claimed yet. To claim this account, please contact the outlet owner to request access.
Writing For
Game InformerLatest Reviews
ScreamRide
I have spent many happy hours tormenting patrons in the Roller Coaster Tycoon series. Though ScreamRide doesn’t have the simulation elements of Frontier’s most famous theme park experience, it still has nauseating and dangerous contraptions that push riders to the edge of their sanity. Sadly, your interactions with these thrill...
I appreciate when a game has plenty of charm, but it needs to support other elements that are executed well. Call me a grump if you must, but an abundance of quirk and whimsy cannot completely compensate for threadbare design and clunky mechanics. That’s a lesson thoroughly reinforced by Grow...
Xeodrifter
Practically any game can catch my attention with the words “It’s like Metroid.” Of course, a conceptual tie to Nintendo’s classic series isn’t a free pass, but the time-tested formula is a great place to start. In the case of Xeodrifter, it serves as a solid framework to deliver a...
Never Alone 2
I used to love trips to the computer lab when I was in elementary school, because it meant that I got to play games like The Oregon Trail and Number Munchers. I didn't even realize that I was learning; I thought my teachers were suckers for letting me spend school...
Revisiting a cherished game like Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee can be risky. Some things need to change in order to update the gameplay and appeal to a modern audience, but straying too far from the original can damage the nostalgia factor and alienate hardcore fans. Developer Just Add Water does a...
Entwined
The gaming landscape is broad enough to support a wide variety of experiences. More releases are challenging our definition of the word “game,” defying classification and veering toward interactive art. Entwined is one of those titles, but it demonstrates that being artsy and unique isn’t a free pass.
In the absence of more traditional action, first-person exploration games depend on their atmosphere and characters. Success stories like Dear Esther and Gone Home demonstrate how a compelling narrative can pull players in, even when the gameplay consists mainly of looking at stuff and reading. Zombie Studios makes a similar...
