All posts by Michael Mendis

The Wondrous World of Interactive Storytelling

January 5, 2020

Storytelling is an integral part of our lives, and gaming takes it to the next level through interactivity. Come see this incredible display of creativity!

by Michael Mendis

Game of the Year Awards – 2019

December 31, 2019

2019 is coming to a close, which means it’s time for our annual Game of the Year awards! We have been blessed to play many high-quality games this year, and we’re honored to highlight the best of the best. So sit back, relax, and see the greatest [...]

by Michael Mendis

My Favorite Level: Halo—Combat Evolved

October 27, 2019

In this next installment of My Favorite Level, Michael Mendis discusses "Halo," the iconic level from Halo: Combat Evolved!

by Michael Mendis

7.5

Review: Agatha Knife

September 30, 2019

Agatha Knife is a point-and-click adventure game where you create a new religion for the purpose of convincing animals to give themselves up for slaughter.

by Michael Mendis

GUG Plays: Borderlands Series

September 13, 2019

Borderlands 3 is upon us, which makes this the perfect moment to reflect on the Borderlands series as a whole!

by Michael Mendis

6.5

Review: Gravity Ghost—Deluxe Edition

September 12, 2019

Having recently received a PS4 port several years after its initial PC release, can this colorful, physics-centric game make a splash?

by Michael Mendis

Being X: A God Without a Gospel

September 2, 2019

One of the central characters of The Saga of Tanya the Evil is Being X, a divine entity that opposes the show's protagonist. How does this god compare to the real one?

by Michael Mendis

7.5

Review: Blazing Chrome

July 24, 2019

Blazing Chrome promises high-speed action and epic boss battles with a retro feel. Can it live up to its old-school hype?

by Michael Mendis

The Ethical Intrigue of Kino’s Journey

July 16, 2019

The original anime adaptation of Kino's Journey may be over a decade old, but its intriguing blend of ethical themes shouldn't be overlooked.

by Michael Mendis

5.5

Review: Hero Express

July 12, 2019

Hero is really absent-minded and always forgets his heroic tools. Who will save the day when the hero needs saving? The Hero Express of course. And you are the best of the best, Delivery guy, the one sent on impossible missions. Help Hero save the [...]

by Michael Mendis

7.0

8.5

Review: Team Sonic Racing

July 3, 2019

Team Sonic Racing introduces team-based mechanics not seen in similar games. Will this help Sumo Digital's latest kart racer take the chequered flag?

by Michael Mendis

9.0

Review: The Walking Dead—The Final Season

June 12, 2019

After almost never seeing the light of day, the conclusion to The Walking Dead game series has arrived. Is it worth the wait?

by Michael Mendis

7.0

Review: Hellmut

June 4, 2019

Hellmut is a top-down roguelike shooter with zany characters, big explosions, and lots of guns.

by Michael Mendis

Geek Culture and the Church

May 20, 2019

God calls us to spread his Kingdom to all of the world, including geek culture. What does it look like for Christians to reach out to this community?

by Michael Mendis

7.5

Review: Dark Devotion

May 14, 2019

As a stamina-based action-RPG, Dark Devotion must fight for attention amidst a growing crowd of Souls-inspired games. Can it rise above the noise?

by Michael Mendis

4.0

Review: Grave Keeper

April 4, 2019

Grave Keeper is a hack-and-slash game from indie developer Baldur Games. Is this little game good enough to stand out amongst the flood of indie titles?

by Michael Mendis

9.0

0.4

Review: Gwent—The Witcher Card Game

April 1, 2019

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game—the standalone version of The Witcher 3's minigame—is now in its full release...and it's just as addicting as the original.

by Michael Mendis

7.5

Review: Crackdown 3

March 6, 2019

With Crackdown 3, Microsoft promises big explosions, addictive orb hunting, and cloud-powered destruction. Does the long-awaited game live up to the hype?

by Michael Mendis

8.0

Review: Ashen (Xbox One)

January 30, 2019

Ashen is an action RPG about a wanderer in search of a place to call home. This is a world where nothing lasts, no matter how tightly you cling to it.

by Michael Mendis

9.0

Retro Review: Skies of Arcadia (Dreamcast)

December 11, 2018

Skies of Arcadia, a JRPG for the SEGA Dreamcast, may be almost two decades old, but its upbeat narrative, loveable characters, and imaginative world serve as an example of gaming's potential to tell compelling stories.

by Michael Mendis

Positive Marriages in Gaming

November 7, 2018

Despite the presence of sexual and relational brokenness in pop culture, God's grace still finds ways to shine through the darkness. Let's take a look at three video games that portray marriage in a positive light.

by Michael Mendis

6.5

Review: Sinner—Sacrifice for Redemption (Xbox One)

November 5, 2018

Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption offers boss battles straight out of the Dark Souls playbook, along with its own unique "level down" twist. Does this focused approach yield a great game?

by Michael Mendis

6.5

Review: Graveyard Keeper (PC)

September 20, 2018

Developer: Lazy Bear Games Publisher: tinyBuild Games Genre: Management sim Platforms: PC, Xbox One Rating: T for Teen Price: $19.99 Video games allow people to perform all sorts of activities that they will never have the opportunity to do in real life: [...]

by Michael Mendis

7.5

9.0

Review: Star Traders: Frontiers (PC)

August 22, 2018

Developer: Trese Brothers Publisher: Trese Brothers Platforms: PC Genre: RPG, Simulation Rating: N/A Price: $14.99 Many role-playing games these days put the player into the role of a great hero or antihero: some terrible evil threatens the world, and [...]

by Michael Mendis

7.5

Review: OneShot (PC)

August 10, 2018

Developer: Little Cat Feet Publisher: Degica Platforms: PC Genre: Puzzle, Adventure Rating: N/A Price: $9.99 If you have never heard of the game OneShot before, I do not blame you. OneShot is a small indie game that released to little fanfare back in [...]

by Michael Mendis

6.0

9.1

Review: City of the Shroud (PC)

August 8, 2018

Developer: Abyssal Arts Publisher: Abyssal Arts Genre: Strategy RPG Platforms: PC Rating: N/A Price: $19.99 Episodic video games have carved their own niche in the gaming landscape in recent years. Ranging from story-heavy games like The Walking Dead and [...]

by Michael Mendis

9.5

Review: Undertale (PC)

July 23, 2018

Developer: Toby Fox Publisher: Toby Fox Genre: RPG Platforms: PC, PS4, PS Vita, Switch (TBD 2018) Rating: E 10+ Price: $9.99 Gamers love the independent development scene because it often provides unique experiences that you can’t find elsewhere. Big AAA [...]

by Michael Mendis

Race, Ethnicity, and Gaming Culture

July 19, 2018

Last time we looked at how women are represented and treated in gaming culture; while that situation poses a challenge, representation of racial and ethnic minorities presents an even bigger one. Looking at surveys taken over the last few years by the [...]

by Michael Mendis

Women and Gaming Culture

June 17, 2018

Women lack proper representation within gaming, and often face harassment as well. How did this come about? What does the future hold for women and gaming culture?

by Michael Mendis

Diversity and Gaming Culture

June 10, 2018

Issues of diversity are a hot button topic these days, both within the church and in broader society. The internet gives people from all walks of life a platform from which to voice their opinions and shape the surrounding culture in ways that weren’t [...]

by Michael Mendis

All posts by Michael Mendis

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