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Gus Mastrapa Author Bio

Status: Now recruiting haters.

Last Login: February 8, 2010 5:06:08 PM
Joined: February 17, 2008 8:07:55 PM
Twitter: Triphibian
Xbox Live: Phantom Mare
Steam: Triphibian

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Ratings

A Story Told In Screenshots
By Gus Mastrapa | September 25, 2009
Pictured: Rock Band 2, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Rock Band 2, Demon's Souls

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Yiff the Worgen
By Gus Mastrapa | August 24, 2009
If you were paying attention to BlizzCon this weekend you probably heard that Blizzard will introduce two new playable races when they release the expansion World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Attendees had the chance to get their hands on both races. I did too and will be writing in more detail about them soon. While checking out the Worgen I couldn't help but have a bit of fun with the new Alliance race. I named my character Yiff -- a term of affection, excitement and (sometimes) sexuality frequently used by Furries. Sure, the Worgen are pretty much werewolves -- a man/beast hybrid imagined long before the first furry donned a bear costume. ...

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BlizzCon: The Incredibly Specific Fan Fest
By Gus Mastrapa | August 22, 2009
There are tons of festivals that cater to the geek, but none is so single-minded as BlizzCon. Sitting in the Anaheim convention center this morning I marveled at the fact that I was sharing a huge room with thousands of people who played the same video game as me. When Chris Metzen, Blizzard's vice president of development took the stage to fill us in on the details of World of Warcraft: Catyclism he didn't need to stop to explain what a raid was. Unlike the press events at E3 there was no mainstream press onhand. And if they were there Metzen wasn't taking the time to talk down to them. Everyone in the room was with the program. Everybody watching on pay-per-view and streaming the event at home were up to speed. This, in my mind, makes Blizzard's ...

» Read More
Planeswalker Rob vs The Giant Frakking Grizzly Bears
By Gus Mastrapa | July 30, 2009
A couple weeks ago I got an email from one of my buddies in Minnesota. I first met Rob at The Source -- one of the better gaming and comics shops in the Twin Cites. Rob was there on a Thursday night playing the A Game of Thrones collectable card game -- and he was damn good at it. I soon joined the handful of guys playing cards there and learned just how good all of them were. They were all veterans of the game. More than a couple had competed in the championships at GenCon. And Rob was right there. If I ever beat him it was blind luck that scored me the points.So it wasn't much of a surprise when I learned that Rob was messing around with Magic the Gathering: Duel of the Planeswalkers on his Xbox 360. It also wasn't surprising when Rob told me that he's aleady been gaming the card game. In his email ...

» Read More
This is What Max von Sydow is Doing in Ghostbusters
By Gus Mastrapa | June 23, 2009
Earlier in the week I made a post expressing surprise that Max von Sydow had been cast in the new Ghostbusters video game. Soon after I was contacted (via Twitter) by a representative of Proton Charging -- a comprehensive Ghostbusters fan site. They told me that there's long been speculation that von Sydow performed uncredited ADR for Ghostbusters II (though IMDB hasn't been hipped to the rumor). I spoke to John Melchior, former Executive Producer on Ghostbusters: The Video Game to find out a little more. "Yes," he told me when I asked him to confirm that the casting ...

» Read More
WTF is Max von Sydow Doing in Ghostbusters?
By Gus Mastrapa | June 17, 2009
We all know that the new Ghostbusters game features vocal performances from stars of the original 1984 film, but did you know that it also features the gravelly stylings of Swedish actor Max von Sydow? Go here to hear him guest as Vigo the Carpathian the seventeenth-century maniac. Vigo, a character from the mostly embarassing Ghostbusters II, was originally played by German heavy Wilhelm von Homburg so there's no real reason for Max von Sydow to be in the game -- besides the fact that he's all kinds of awesome. This easter egg is super easy to discover, just to the ground floor of the Ghostbusters firehouse and interact with the big painting and bang. You're hearing the voice of Brewmeister Smith, Death and Father Merrin.

» Read More
Boycott!
By Gus Mastrapa | June 4, 2009
The abuse has gone on long enough. Sensible gamers have had indecency upon indecency heaped upon them and now it is time to react. With recent announcements regarding the Left 4 Dead, Rock Band, Metal Gear Solid and dozens of other beloved franchises the furor or outraged fans has snowballed into a cacophony of self-righteous complaint. It's time for those voices to cease being heard. I'm am officially calling for a boycott of all crazy video game fans -- those angry that Rock Band isn't a platform any more, those disappointed that Left 4 Dead 2 came out so quickly, those frustrated that Metal Gear Solid games will be playable on the Xbox 360. I propose that all sensible, decent human beings enact an across-the-board boycott of these deranged fans. Cease speaking and listening to these buffoons. Give them no more notice than you'd give a homeless guy with his pants around his ankles. Block them on message boards. Disconnect from them on social networks. Don't turn the steering wheel ...

» Read More
Power Schmoozing
By Gus Mastrapa | June 4, 2009
There are many ways to approach E3. Some games journos are on a strict schedule, bouncing from meeting to meeting then quickly retreating to their fortresses of solitude to crank out news items and previews on the fly. One of the great luxuries and benefits of working for Crispy Gamer is that that the powers that be understand that first doesn't always mean best. The encourage us to allow our ideas to ferment, our opinions to develop and our nagging questions to fester. That leaves us more time to do the two things that E3 was meant for -- looking at new games and schmoozing with people who make, sell and write about games. My week, so far, has been a non-stop stream of such encounters. Fleeting looks at new games, drunken converstations with people I admire and people I'm interested in learning more about. I've met employees of some of my favorite design teams and up-and-coming writers, wet behind the ears, but eager to share their work and opinions with the world. Many parties were crashed, ...

» Read More
Noby Noby Boy and Commander
By Gus Mastrapa | May 22, 2009
Unless you're classically trained you probably know the Johann Sebastian Bach piece "Prelude from the Unaccompanied Cello Suite Suite No. 1 in G Maj, BWV 1007" as one of the songs played by Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr. Steven Maturin in the movie "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World." Now (or at least since that last update we got last month) you can know it as one of the songs ...

» Read More
I Killed Kyle
By Gus Mastrapa | May 1, 2009
This is the fearsome Orland, weakened and about to recived a death blow at the hands of my Raptor. Be forewarned. Clan Beard does not easily forgive those who speak ill of Noby Noby Boy. FYI: I'm not a crazy person. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift really does name some of the random characters "Orland."

» Read More

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Vitals: 35, married, four cats (!)

Education: English degree, creative writing focus, from University of Central Florida. Masters in Professional Writing from USC -- focus on screenwriting.

Publications: Freelance gaming writer for Paste, The Onion A.V. Club, G4TV's X-Play, GameSpy, Gamasutra, Minnesota Monthly, 1Up 'zine.

Platforms played: All current consoles and handhelds. Retro and arcade.

Genres played: Adventure, shooters, first-person, role-playing, rogue-like, rhythm, indie and experimental.

Multiplayer or single-player: Both. I like playing with friends, but also totally value solitary experiences like Portal.

My favorite Top 10 games ever played:

1. Portal
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
3. Ultima Online
4. Rock Band
5. Advance Wars
6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
7. Pac-Man: Championship Edition
8. Ico
9. Rez
10. World of Warcraft

What makes me tick: Shabu-shabu, music, beer, my friends and family.

Crispy shutting down?!?

January 22, 2010 3:48:48 PM

Thanks for all the thoughts, guys. It was readers and friends like MSUSteve and w1ndst0rm that made writing for Crispy such a pleasure.

This isn't goodbye. Its see you later.

I know you guys already do, but tell your friends: support good writing. The suits certainly aren't gonna do it.
List your top 5 games RIGHT NOW...

January 15, 2010 5:19:51 PM

1. Borderlands
2. World of Warcraft (SCARY)
3. Miles Edgeworth: Perfect Prosecutor
4. Mass Effect (second play)
5. Fallout (first play!)
Jones Returns to FFXII Over the Weekend, Enjoys Self Thoroughly by Scott Jones

January 11, 2010 6:37:00 PM

Are you serious? Fran is Bjork in a Playboy bunny outfit. The answer is clear.
Weekend Playlist, 1/8/2010

January 11, 2010 6:35:05 PM

@w1ndst0rm:

Wait! I'm Coach!
Earworms I Have Known and Loved But Mostly Hated

January 11, 2010 3:12:34 PM

It's tricky to rock a rhyme / to rock a rhyme that's right on time / it's tricky
Casual Fridays: Every Day the Same Dream

January 8, 2010 3:37:47 PM

I danced in the elevator.

The game reminds me quite a bit of the Torneko Taloon sequence in Dragon Quest IV -- where you play as the vendor selling weapons to adventurers.
The Composite Games of the Decade

January 6, 2010 3:56:39 PM

The Sims put wives and moms in front of the computer so they'd be that much more likely to play World of Warcraft when it came out.
Borderlands

January 5, 2010 8:02:49 PM

@Lavoscloud:

I dig Borderlands as much as the next guy. But, be honest, you really "love" only seeing a portion of the menu when playing split screen? The shooting with a friend is good fun, but man do the menus (an important-ish part of the game) really blow when you play that way.
The Year the Music (Game) Died

December 30, 2009 9:53:39 PM

Sure the process of learning about and acquiring new music is a little more sterile now that we have a series of tubes, but I don't really ascribe the whole better back in the day theory of music discovery. I sort of envy these kids who are able to cultivate immaculate tastes in Krautrock by sixteen thanks to the Internet. I wish I had that kind of head start. Not to devalue my musical journey, but now that scarcity and access are dealt with the only roadblock to learning about amazing music is your own open-mindedness. I still think there's a lot that Rock Band can do here.
The Year in Weird

December 30, 2009 2:55:15 PM

I <3 you guys for turning the comments here into a Mike Patton love fest.

Gus Mastrapa hasn't rated any games yet. Have you? Find some.

	Feature: The Year in Weird by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/28/2009 5:00:12 PM \| 4 comments A look back at 2009's best in weird.
	Feature: Nintendo DS Buyer's Guide by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/23/2009 7:05:01 PM \| 0 comments In the market for a Nintendo DS and pondering your next move? Let Crispy Gamer guide you.
	Feature: The Language of Games: Listening to the Girl in Your Ear by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/16/2009 9:23:59 AM \| 20 comments Can hearing voices be a good thing?
	Review: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/9/2009 2:20:58 PM \| 4 comments Spirit Tracks will take care of you.
	Review: Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 11/17/2009 1:41:31 PM \| 12 comments Left 4 Dead 2 expands on much more than weapons and multiplayer modes.
	Review: Band Hero (Wii) by Gus Mastrapa \| 11/12/2009 8:54:26 AM \| 10 comments The music snob in Gus struggles for control of this Band Hero review.
	Feature: Games That Time Forgot: Myst Online: Uru Live* (2007)* by Gus Mastrapa \| 11/11/2009 9:02:09 AM \| 0 comments The ages of Uru haven't been lost, but they've been left behind.
	Feature: The Ballad of Gay Tony: Who Is the Man? by Gus Mastrapa \| 11/5/2009 10:56:41 AM \| 6 comments What Gay Tony isn't scared to say.
	Review: Brütal Legend (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/13/2009 6:53:29 PM \| 12 comments Gus Mastrapa bangs heads with Brütal Legend.
	Review: Demon's Souls (PS3) by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/6/2009 5:34:58 PM \| 15 comments Demon's Souls ponders the value of the soul.
	Interview: Rocktober Cometh: Tim Schafer Readies Brütal Legend by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/22/2009 10:42:30 AM \| 1 comments Brütal Legend made its way to PAX 2009. We spoke with Tim Schafer about his heavy metal dream come true.
	Review: Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/22/2009 8:33:29 AM \| 3 comments The Halo universe expands. Turns out all we wanted was another firefight.
	Interview: More Than a Shiny Sword by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/21/2009 8:39:46 AM \| 7 comments BioWare's Greg Zeschuk on storytelling in Dragon Age, The Old Republic and more.
	Interview: Guiding Shepard in Mass Effect 2 by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/16/2009 2:08:44 PM \| 7 comments Will Mass Effect 2 make sense to everyone? We interview the game's lead writer.
	Preview: Diablo III is Totally '90s by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/1/2009 8:46:07 AM \| 11 comments The newest Diablo will thrive on its old energy.
	Preview: New Beginnings in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm by Gus Mastrapa \| 8/31/2009 9:10:09 AM \| 14 comments There's more change in Cataclysm than new races and playable areas.
	Feature: The 10 Best Songs in Rock Band: Country Track Pack by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/30/2009 6:10:00 PM \| 3 comments Gus Mastrapa gets his twang on in the Country Track Pack for Rock Band. These 10 tracks made him a convert.
	Feature: Achievement Hunting in the Capital Wasteland by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/23/2009 9:05:14 AM \| 7 comments Gus Mastrapa goes through the arduous process of becoming a Wasteland overachiever in Fallout 3.
	Review: Flower, Sun and Rain (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/2/2009 7:53:23 PM \| 8 comments Gus Mastrapa takes you inside his review of Flower, Sun and Rain. Please tell us if he gets out of line.
	Review: Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/18/2009 5:26:21 PM \| 3 comments Expecting Ghostbusters: The Video Game to be a disaster of biblical proportions? Think again.
	Preview: E3 2009: The Five: MAG by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/11/2009 7:56:00 PM \| 0 comments War is hell. Hell is other people. MAG is war with 255 other people.
	Preview: E3 2009: The Five: APB by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/11/2009 3:11:57 PM \| 0 comments An ambitious online shooter aims to make open-world action feel more massive.
	Feature: The Sounds of PopCap, Part 3: Peggle by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/10/2009 12:15:59 PM \| 0 comments Makers of PopCap games spill their aural secrets. In Part 3, tune in to Peggle.
	Feature: The Sounds of PopCap, Part 2: Plants vs. Zombies by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/9/2009 12:52:51 PM \| 0 comments Makers of PopCap games spill their aural secrets. Plants vs. Zombies ring in Part 2.
	Preview: E3 2009: The Five: Brütal Legend by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/9/2009 12:34:31 PM \| 0 comments Double Fine's heavy-metal epic is funny, but until E3 2009 few have had a chance to play the game. Crispy Gamer jumps into the pit and gets some hands-on time with Eddie Riggs.
	Preview: E3 2009: The Five: Left 4 Dead 2 by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/9/2009 12:02:53 PM \| 0 comments Two weeks after the first infection, Valve unleashes another wave of the horde.
	Preview: E3 2009: The Five: God of War III by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/9/2009 11:49:10 AM \| 0 comments Kratos' revenge kick gets bigger and bloodier. But will it be better than God of War II?
	Feature: The Sounds of PopCap, Part 1: Bejeweled Twist by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/8/2009 11:35:15 AM \| 0 comments Makers of PopCap games spill their aural secrets. Bejeweled Twist plays in Part 1.
	Review: Patapon 2 (PSP) by Gus Mastrapa \| 5/8/2009 8:01:48 PM \| 2 comments Don't let the cute armies fool you. Patapon 2 is a deep, difficult role-playing game. One you should be playing.
	Feature: Screen Burn, Vol. 1 by Gus Mastrapa \| 5/6/2009 7:23:58 PM \| 6 comments We get a lot of preview screens here at Crispy. But rather than regurgitate them for you, see what Gus has to say about his top picks.
	Feature: The Five: Blood Bowl by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/10/2009 3:35:18 PM \| 9 comments Blood Bowl brings Warhammer miniatures to life. Gus Mastrapa previews the medieval football fantasy.
	Review: The Godfather II (PS3) by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/7/2009 6:09:34 PM \| 69 comments If Uwe Boll is the bad guy for making a crappy House of the Dead movie, how can we let this stand? Gus Mastrapa reviews The Godfather II.
	Review: Guitar Hero: Metallica (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/6/2009 8:03:36 PM \| 10 comments Metallica helps the Guitar Hero series find its way. Read Gus Mastrapa's review.
	Feature: Stranger in a Strange Land: The Intricate World of Brütal Legend by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/3/2009 2:38:28 PM \| 2 comments Headbangers unite to save their world in Tim Schafer's Brütal Legend. Gus Mastrapa previews the heavy metal tribute.
	Review: Tom Clancy's HAWX (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/2/2009 7:21:52 PM \| 3 comments Tom Clancy's still following those missile trails. Gus Mastrapa flies with HAWX.
	Review: Tom Clancy's HAWX (PS3) by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/2/2009 7:21:49 PM \| 0 comments Tom Clancy's still following those missile trails. Gus Mastrapa flies with HAWX.
	Feature: Resident Evil 5: Further Readings by Gus Mastrapa \| 3/23/2009 9:25:58 PM \| 1 comments Japan didn't invent the African zombie. Gus Mastrapa traces Resident Evil 5's precedents in literature and film.
	Review: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 3/10/2009 7:53:03 PM \| 2 comments Intelligent Design reboots its legendary tactical RPG for the DS. It's a kinder, gentler Fire Emblem -- but only barely. Gus Mastrapa reviews.
	Feature: The Noby Noby Boy* Litmus Test* by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/26/2009 8:45:35 PM \| 4 comments Noby Noby Boy's been stretching himself all around the planet. Gus Mastrapa thinks he's also drawing a line between different types of gamers. Read his feature.
	Feature: Five Ways to Play The Lost and Damned by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/24/2009 7:32:33 PM \| 2 comments Liberty City just grew itself a new pair of wheels. Gus Mastrapa takes on The Lost and Damned, GTA IV's first DLC.
	Review: LocoRoco 2 (PSP) by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/19/2009 6:00:40 PM \| 2 comments LocoRoco 2 is cute beyond compare, but it's also a damn good game. Gus Mastrapa explains why every PSP owner should cop this sequel.
	Review: Valkyria Chronicles (PS3) by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/11/2009 6:46:42 PM \| 13 comments Gus Mastrapa finds killer tactical warfare and a smart, mature, emotionally-driven story in a visually dazzling package. What's not to love?
	Column: Keeping It Reel: The Skate 2* Video Guide* by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/30/2009 9:30:43 PM \| 1 comments Skate 2 isn't just a game; it's an arena for demonstrations of skill and the sharing of information. Gus Mastrapa gives an introduction to skate.Reel in his new column.
	Review: Skate 2 (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/26/2009 8:00:43 PM \| 0 comments EA's Black Box studio iterates on its skateboarding series, adding new tricks, robust video editing and a slew of new misdemeanors to commit. Gus Mastrapa drops in and reports from the streets of New San Vanelona.
	Review: Skate 2 (PS3) by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/26/2009 8:00:38 PM \| 0 comments EA's Black Box studio iterates on its skateboarding series, adding new tricks, robust video editing and a slew of new misdemeanors to commit. Gus Mastrapa drops in and reports from the streets of New San Vanelona.
	Feature: Nintendo DS Buyer's Guide by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/21/2009 6:17:23 PM \| 2 comments For such a friendly-looking handheld, the DS comes with a heavy load of possibilities. Gus Mastrapa takes you through the basics (and beyond) in our DS Buyer's Guide.
	Feature: The Five: CrimeCraft by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/19/2009 7:02:06 PM \| 1 comments So you want to be a hoodlum? CrimeCraft takes third-person action and gang warfare into the massively-multiplayer arena. Gus Mastrapa boils it down.
	Feature: Reviewer's Notes: Mirror's Edge by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/19/2009 7:02:00 PM \| 6 comments For those of you wondering which version of Mirror's Edge plays best, Gus Mastrapa discloses his full reviewer's notes. Read on.
	Review: Mirror's Edge (PC) by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/19/2009 6:58:02 PM \| 0 comments Mirror's Edge moves fast and thumbs its nose at gravity. But what happens when you stop to take a breath? Gus Mastrapa pauses to ponder such questions.
	Review: Mirror's Edge (PS3) by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/19/2009 6:57:11 PM \| 0 comments Mirror's Edge moves fast and thumbs its nose at gravity. But what happens when you stop to take a breath? Gus Mastrapa pauses to ponder such questions.
	Feature: Stoked: The Little Snowboarding Game That Could by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/15/2009 7:38:15 PM \| 0 comments Will Stoked snowball into something bigger than its competitors? Gus Mastrapa gets a first look at this snowboarding game from Destineer.
	Feature: Chris & Sheva: The Resident Evil 5* Co-op Preview, Part Two* by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/31/2008 2:31:24 PM \| 0 comments Trapped in a finicky factory, Chris and Sheva let off a lot of steam. Read Part Two of Gus Mastrapa and Russ Fischer's Resident Evil 5 co-op preview for content you didn't see in that Japanese demo.
	Feature: Chris & Sheva: The Resident Evil 5* Co-op Preview, Part One* by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/30/2008 5:59:05 PM \| 4 comments Resident Evil gets a pair of visitors in Capcom's new sequel. Gus Mastrapa and Russ Fischer exorcised some demons back-to-back, bullet by bullet. Read on for Part One of their co-op preview.
	Feature: Keep Your Enemies Closer: Multiplayer in The Godfather II by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/23/2008 6:21:27 PM \| 4 comments Gus Mastrapa sets foot inside a different kind of social club at a recent demo of the upcoming sequel to The Godfather. Read on for his report.
	Feature: How to Suck at Bionic Commando* Deathmatch* by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/18/2008 8:13:57 PM \| 4 comments After grappling through a recent demo of Bionic Commando, Gus Mastrapa is no better at deathmatch, but that doesn't mean you can't learn from his failures. Read on for his view from the bottom of the leaderboards.
	Review: Chrono Trigger (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 12/9/2008 6:29:33 PM \| 6 comments A classic RPG returns. How does Chrono Trigger hold up on the Nintendo DS? Gus Mastrapa looks at the game's time-bending charm and convention.
	Review: Mirror's Edge (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 11/13/2008 8:01:49 PM \| 0 comments Mirror's Edge moves fast and thumbs its nose at gravity. But what happens when you stop to take a breath? Gus Mastrapa pauses to ponder such questions.
	Review: Fable II (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/22/2008 7:02:50 PM \| 10 comments Fable II rethinks the role-playing game, ditching statistics tweaking for relationship building. Can a touchy-feely action game compel? Gus Mastrapa finds out.
	Feature: REDACTED: The Gears of War 2* Preview* by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/15/2008 8:40:09 PM \| 1 comments Gus Mastrapa sits down with Senior Producer Rod Fergusson to talk about Gears of War 2's approach to story and character development. All spoilers, such as discussion of the big [REDACTED] at the end of the game, will be omitted.
	Feature: The Five: Tetris Party by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/9/2008 1:35:38 PM \| 0 comments Ever wanted to play Tetris with your butt? Tetris Party will give you the power to do that and much more. Gus Mastrapa gives you some reasons to be glad you own that Wii Balance Board.
	Feature: The Five: Rhythm Heaven by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/9/2008 1:35:35 PM \| 0 comments Can't stop tapping that DS stylus on the tables, walls, people and pet dogs around you? Rhythm Heaven will channel those energies into an altogether more rewarding environment. Read Gus Mastrapa's preview of the handheld rhythm-based game.
	Feature: The Five: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/9/2008 1:35:31 PM \| 0 comments If you hunger for high-stakes strategy and teeth-gritting tactics in a fantasy setting, then this may be your game. Gus Mastrapa gives the lowdown on the upcoming Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon.
	Feature: I Survived Four Hours of Fallout 3, Part 3 by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/3/2008 5:51:52 PM \| 3 comments During a four-hour play session in Bethesda's Fallout 3, Gus Mastrapa ventures out of the Vault and tries out life as a Wasteland wanderer. In Part 3 of his feature, he reaches his original destination, and finds a home of sorts.
	Feature: I Survived Four Hours of Fallout 3, Part 2 by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/2/2008 7:17:44 PM \| 5 comments Gus Mastrapa recently got a feel for life as a Wasteland wanderer in this upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG. In Part 2 of his feature, he visits a ghost town and makes a treacherous journey underground. Read on.
	Feature: I Survived Four Hours of Fallout 3, Part 1 by Gus Mastrapa \| 10/1/2008 6:42:56 PM \| 4 comments During a four-hour play session in Bethesda's Fallout 3, Gus Mastrapa ventures out of the Vault and tries out life as a Wasteland wanderer. Read on for Part 1 of his feature, in which he settles some differences with the denizens on the outside.
	Review: Spore Creatures (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/24/2008 7:32:29 PM \| 0 comments A Spore spin-off crawls out of the ooze and onto the Nintendo DS. Gus Mastrapa evolves an opinion on the handheld critter creator.
	Review: Spore (PC) by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/9/2008 6:50:51 PM \| 17 comments Gus Mastrapa dove into the primordial ooze of Will Wright's evolutionary god game and steered his life-form into outer space. Did he see that it was good? Read on for his review.
	Feature: I Lost It at PAX 2008 by Gus Mastrapa \| 9/4/2008 9:30:28 PM \| 2 comments Penny Arcade Expo isn't just a games conference; to Gus Mastrapa, this year's show was nerd nirvana. Read on to find out why every gamer should go.
	Feature: The Five: Dragon Age: Origins by Gus Mastrapa \| 8/22/2008 7:24:29 PM \| 0 comments BioWare goes back to its sword-swinging roots with this upcoming fantasy RPG for the PC. Will it be a return to Baldur's Gate form, or Mass Effect Redux? Gus Mastrapa got an early look.
	Feature: Bring a Friend by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/30/2008 7:28:42 PM \| 1 comments While online gaming offers countless ways to have your ass handed to you by strangers, a co-op trend appeared to be on the rise at E3. According to Gus Mastrapa, the next big thing in games is killing together.
	Feature: Eyes-on at E3 2008 by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/25/2008 10:38:49 PM \| 3 comments In the past, E3 has been a spectacle, but the pared-down size of this year's show meant Gus Mastrapa could take a good long look at games that caught his eye. These are the ones that shined the brightest.
	Feature: The Five: Spore by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/18/2008 5:44:38 PM \| 1 comments Will Wright evolves the God game, giving players the power to create life and guide its growth from the primordial ooze to the outskirts of the galaxy. Read on for Gus Mastrapa's hands-on preview from E3.
	Feature: The Five: Fallout 3 by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/18/2008 5:32:53 PM \| 0 comments The classic post-apocalyptic PC series Fallout finally gets a third from the creators of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Gus Mastrapa went hands-on with the game at E3 and learned what it'll be like to step out of the vault and into the wasteland.
	Feature: The Five: LittleBigPlanet by Gus Mastrapa \| 7/18/2008 5:16:12 PM \| 0 comments Media Molecule bets the farm on gamer creativity with LittleBigPlanet -- a game that lets players make, customize, and share their own playable levels. At E3 Gus Mastrapa spent some hands-on time with the ambitious game.
	Feature: Into Africa With Resident Evil 5 by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/6/2008 7:00:09 PM \| 0 comments Discussions of race and game design intermingle when Jun Takeuchi gives Crispy Gamer an early look at RE5. Find out what's in the works for the game and more in Gus Mastrapa's feature.
	Review: Myst (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 6/1/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments How does the classic, puzzle-filled PC adventure game fare on the DS? Read on for Gus Mastrapa's review.
	Review: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 5/9/2008 1:36:48 PM \| 0 comments Are the latest additions to this RPG series worth the dungeon-crawl? Find out in Gus Mastrapa's review.
	Review: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 5/9/2008 1:36:44 PM \| 0 comments Are the latest additions to this RPG series worth the dungeon-crawl? Find out in Gus Mastrapa's review.
	Preview: TNA iMPACT! by Gus Mastrapa \| 5/6/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments It may be the underdog league of pro wrestling, but TNA is planning a big takedown in the videogame arena. Gus Mastrapa reports from ringside.
	Preview: Ghostbusters: The Video Game by Gus Mastrapa \| 5/5/2008 2:52:47 PM \| 0 comments With Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray on board, what can you expect from this upcoming game? Proton guns, slime tethers and lots and lots of destruction. Check out Gus Mastrapa's preview.
	Preview: Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy by Gus Mastrapa \| 5/2/2008 3:05:37 PM \| 0 comments As High Moon Studios puts the final touches on this action-adventure game that lets you play as Robert Ludlum's rogue special-ops agent Jason Bourne, Gus Mastrapa got a closer look. And sometime this month, so will you. Read on.
	Preview: Prototype by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/29/2008 3:19:56 PM \| 0 comments A shapeshifting man wreaking havok in an open world -- meet army-of-one Alex Mercer. Gus Mastrapa got a sampling of his skills in a recent demo -- read on.
	Review: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP) by Gus Mastrapa \| 4/8/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 2 comments Set seven years before Final Fantasy VII, this prequel is primed to be an RPG fan's dream come true on the PSP. Read on for Gus Mastrapa's review.
	Preview: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed by Gus Mastrapa \| 3/6/2008 3:45:58 PM \| 0 comments At GDC 2008, we caught another look at the latest Star Wars in the works at LucasArts and Krome Studios -- read Gus Mastrapa's preview of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
	Preview: Puzzle Quest: Galactrix by Gus Mastrapa \| 3/6/2008 3:45:51 PM \| 0 comments At the Game Developers Conference 2008, D3 gave gamers a first look at their upcoming sequel to their surprise hit. Read Gus Mastrapa's preview to find out what's in store in Puzzle Quest: Galactrix.
	Preview: LEGO Indiana Jones: The Videogame by Gus Mastrapa \| 3/6/2008 3:45:38 PM \| 0 comments Can Traveller's Tales and LucasArts give Indy the LEGO treatment? Gus Mastrapa got an early look at the game at GDC 2008 -- read his preview to find out more.
	Review: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 3/4/2008 6:49:06 AM \| 1 comments The Ace Attorney series returns with an all-new face -- how will this rookie fare in the courtroom drama adventure series perfected by Phoenix Wright? Find out in Gus Mastrapa's review of Capcom's Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney for the Nintendo DS.
	Preview: Mass Effect by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/28/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Commander Shepard is stepping out of the Xbox 360 and into alien territory -- check out these new screens from the PC version.
	Preview: Fracture by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/25/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments GDC 2008 gave us an up-close look at some of this year's hottest upcoming games -- check out Gus Mastrapa's preview of Fracture, a terrain-deforming shooter being developed by LucasArts.
	Preview: Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/21/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments A fierce new MMO is getting ready to do battle -- will this upcoming release from FunCom be able to carve a niche for itself in a WoW world? At a recent demo at GDC, Gus Mastrapa had a look inside Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures.
	Preview: Too Human by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/21/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments At a recent demo at GDC, Gus Mastrapa spent some time with Too Human, a dungeon-crawling mythology and sci-fi mash-up being developed by Silicon Knights. Read his preview to find out what's in the works.
	Review: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations (DS) by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/17/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Capcom has spun the third case in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney adventure/visual novel series for Nintendo DS -- does it hold water? In his review, Gus Mastrapa swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
	Review: Blue Dragon (Xbox 360) by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/12/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments As the first game from Mistwalker -- the studio founded by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi -- does this RPG keep the dream alive? Find out in Gus Mastrapa's review of Blue Dragon for the Xbox 360.
	Review: World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC) by Gus Mastrapa \| 2/7/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Your favorite MMO just got bigger -- Blizzard and Vivendi have released World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, an expansion pack for the game-turned-social phenomenon WoW. Gus Mastrapa has seen the world from end to end -- read the review.
	Review: The Witcher (PC) by Gus Mastrapa \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Likened to a distant cousin to Bethesda''s Oblivion, The Witcher is the debut title from Polish developer CD Projekt. Gus Mastrapa went deep into this medieval fantasy RPG released by Atari -- was he bewitched or bedeviled? Read his review.

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