'Army Corps' ho-hum; 'Shinobido' lacks Zen

Army Corps of Hell; Platform: Vita; Genre: Action; Publisher: Square Enix; ESRB Rating: M, for mature; Grade: * * 1/2. Enlarge

Each of us has dreamed of being lord over all, subjecting minions to our every command. But what happens when this power leads to tedium and repetition? Thus is the vexing question of Army Corps of Hell.

Certainly this is not the debate the makers wanted you to have, but it's the reality once you find yourself deep into the game. Playing as the King of Hell, you rule over a vast army of little goblin-like creatures that can exact serious punishment upon whatever demon foes need vanquishing. Despite being lord of the underworld, forces conspire against you, thus creating nonstop battles placed before you.

Your army is divided into three specialties -- spearmen, soldier, and magi -- that have different abilities against different enemies. Don't get emotionally attached to them --minions are meant to be thrown into the bloody fires of battle and then replaced later. You can command up to 100 at a time, and when the action is jelling correctly, the gameplay is smooth and exciting, but it can get desperate if you are lax and allow your army to dwindle to a mere dozen or so.

After the rush of a few initial battles, monotony sets in and excitement grinds to a halt. Boss battles improve the situation, but getting the most from this game requires heading into cooperative play online. Teaming up against hordes of enemies is certainly more rewarding and at least staves off boredom for a spell.

Army Corps of Hell has the bones of a solid strategy game, but nothing is fleshed out to its full potential, making the game worth renting, not owning.

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Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen; Platform: Vita; Genre: Action; Publisher: Namco Bandai Games; ESRB Rating: M for Mature; Grade: *. Enlarge

A key to successful ninja-ing (or so I've been told from novels, movies, games and just about any ninja-crazed fool out there, including my pal Kelly) is that silence is golden. It's all about walking softly and carrying a big sti ... er, how about a sharp sword?

Shinobido 2 fails at this most crucial element because silence is rather unnecessary. Yes, you still have the piercing katana blade that cuts human flesh like Thanksgiving turkey, yet you could wield a dull butter knife and the enemies in this game would barely put up a fight. If this was anything resembling feudal Japan, I'm not quite sure what all the fuss was about.

You play as a freelance night stalker willing to fight for he who pays the highest, but the numerous cut scenes that help drive the story do little to keep you interested to see the conclusion. Some mirrors bring a bit of mysticism into the proceedings, and still I am left wondering why anyone should care. If nothing else, the fact that many missions take place in the same location begs the question of when the overseers might deem it wise to hire tougher guards.

The combat itself is simplistic and not worthy of ninja standards. You walk, run, jump, and attack as if slamming bricks together, yet no one is alerted or concerned about a sword being rammed into their chest. A few boss fights are difficult but they just delay the inevitable frustration with this game and leave you feeling far from Zenlike, making the game's title a cruel joke.