Spartan Reviews: 'Dishonored' Takes Off White Gloves, Slaps Your Creativity and Challenges It

Reviews in 300 words or less...

It’s been said that life is all about the choices we make. Take the time I decided to high-kick a tree branch at Great America and fell on my butt. In public. Boy, do I wish I could take that back.

Choices also happen to be at the core of Dishonored, a game about a former royal bodyguard turned assassin after being framed for murder. Although divided into chapters, each stage in Dishonored pretty much acts like open world. From the routes you take in the plague-infested city of Dunwall to your decisions on whether to kill or spare practically every character you run into, choosing your own path is baked into the game’s DNA. Want to sneak around and finish the game without killing a single soul? With a little creativity, you can actually do that even with your assassination targets. Want to unleash a Kill Bill murder spree? You can do that, too, albeit at the expense of making the rat plague worse. In fact, hand Dishonored to two people and you’re guaranteed to see different approaches to the game. In one stage, I entered my destination by climbing up to a second-floor window after sneaking around and rendering enemies unconscious. My cousin, meanwhile, mowed everyone down and entered through the front door. Don’t be surprised if you save and reload often to test all sorts of possibilities. 

The only caveat is that this game may not be action-packed enough for folks who prefer a more Michael Bay type of experience. Still, given its overwhelming sense of freedom combined with cool assassin skills and a distinct Victorian steampunk art style, Dishonored is easily one of 2012’s best games.

Recommended if you like: Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Cost: $60, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Official Dishonored website

Spartan Reviews: NBA 2K13 Dishes Out Good Basketball

Reviews in 300 words or less...

Back when wearing John Stockton shorts didn’t get you locked up in fashion jail, I fancied myself as a promising basketball player. Then my little brother had a growth spurt so I decided to drop the ball and pick up embroidery. Actually, I was only kidding about that last part — though needlework certainly sounded more appealing than being endlessly boxed out by your suddenly ogre-sized sibling.

These days, I live my hoops dream vicariously through video games. As far as virtual basketball goes, the NBA 2K series is the alpha dog. With NBA 2K11 and 2K12 easily counting among the best sports games ever, NBA 2K13 had some huge size 22 shoes to fill. The good news is that gameplay-wise, NBA 2K13 continues the tradition. The game introduces some new wrinkles including JAY Z tunes, mapping new ball handling controls to the right stick and shots requiring additional button input. There’s also a plethora of offensive moves to master, which further add to the game’s realism and polish. In fact, there’s so much to do that newcomers will likely be overwhelmed, especially with the absence of a tutorial mode. There’s also a career mode that allows you to create a player and guide him from pre-draft greenhorn to stellar baller. I decided to create “JLicious Hidalgo” a player who is 100 percent just like me -- except taller, more athletic and just a smidgen better looking.  

Admittedly, the lack of past “Jordan/NBA Greatest” challenges is a bummer. Overall, though, NBA 2K13 is on the money.

Cost: $20-$60; PSP, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC
2K Sports NBA 2K13

Samsung SC96P0 Canister Vacuum Sucks in a Good Way

Back when I was a super-stoked college student who also happened to be super broke, I used a small hand-me-down canister vacuum to clean everything from my apartment to my car. I loved that underpowered little sucker until the day it could suck no more. Several years later, I find myself trying out another canister vacuum, Samsung’s new multichamber SC96P0 bagless vacuum.

It’s like my old vacuum’s long lost twin in the sense that Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger were twins in that late ’80s movie. Not only is the Samsung bigger, it’s more powerful and loaded with more tech. It looks the part, too, sporting a jetpack-like design that makes you want to strap it on your back.

With a power rating of 12 amps and suction rating of 200 watts, the SC96P0 sucks pretty well. Its regular motorized brush has five height settings and transitions well from carpet to hard floor. It also has a motorized assist for easier vacuuming plus a silent mode. Attachments like the Parquet and Mini Turbo brushes round out your options for hard surfaces, fabrics and upholstery. The dust bin and HEPA and anti-odor carbon filters are easy to remove and clean. The vacuum also works well with pet hair and comes with a tool for removing pesky strands from the roller brush.

Issues include a high price tag. The vacuum’s capacity is also smaller than its bagged counterparts. Overall, though, solid features and performance make this sucker a winner.

Cost: $469
Samsung SC96P0 Site

Spartan Reviews: Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Doubles the Mayhem

Reviews in 300 words or less...

The King of the Iron Fist Tournament returns with double the action once again in Tekken Tag Tournament 2.

Like the first Tag Tournament, this game tries to spice up the traditional Tekken recipe by throwing in some two-on-two tag team action. The mechanic adds an extra level of strategy to the game, including tag attacks and life bar management. Fail to tag in a partner with full health when your other fighter goes down, for example, and you will lose the match. Tag in a partner at the wrong time and you could see the poor sap eat a combo on the way in and lose chunks of health.

Folks who like eye candy will love how well this game looks. The graphics actually are beautiful and tack-sharp, even on my ridiculously large 83-inch TV (yes, I know). The fighting itself also is fluid and fast. Button mashers might get far against scrubs, but the folks who master the timing for attack chains, bounces and juggles are the ones who still rule the day. You’ll need those skills, too, as the last boss in this game can be King-of-Fighters cheap (though a bit susceptible to the Law family’s somersault kick). Otherwise, you can test your might online, though just how smoothly that goes depends on the quality of your connection (or your opponent's). 

Offline admittedly could use more extras though the Training Lab mode with Combot and the cheesily "Excellent!" Lee can be fun. Ultimately, your enjoyment of this game largely hinges on whether or not you still enjoy fighting games. If your answer is yes, then you'll be happy to know that Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is an excellent, polished 3D fighter that’s even more enjoyable with a group of friends in your living room. "Excellent!"

Recommended if you like: Virtua Fighter, Dead or Alive

Cost: $60: PS3, Xbox 360
Official Tekken site