About GamePeople

Reluctant Gamer Reviews

Game Reviews
Home | Family Video Game GuidesReluctant Gamer Reviews

Reluctant Gamer - Chris

Chris Kendall's Reluctant Gamer content:

Subscribe

Reluctant Gamer in your inbox:

Chris's Favourites

Chris's Twitter

Today Chris is:

I can't deny it. I really don't want to get too involved. It's not that I don't like playing games, it's just I have a very hard-to-shake underlying suspicion that videogames are a waste of time. And it does take a lot of time, doesn't it?

I've always loved the interaction of game-playing, and for me that has by and large meant cards and board games. At school we played games of Risk that lasted all week, and I played, and invariably lost to, my far cleverer friends at Chess or Poker.

I'll be blogging my way through the experience right here on this page - so you can enjoy it too. Read more about me.

I've been away from the DS for a few months so I've had very little to say about videogames and, to be honest, very little desire to go back to them. But I've been coaxed out of my shell by the most trivial of games, Rhythm Paradise, that has got me re-assessing my take on the meaning of life. The ability of humanity to transform the mundane into something of beauty. And if you think that's just hyperbole, you'd be wrong... read now

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 Loading comments...

Award-winning Carcassonne has reminded me that for fun, strategy and sociability, videogames do not even come close to the satisfaction of a really decent board game. .. read now

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 Loading comments...

Peggle Dual Shot has been an instant hit with everyone in my house. It's easy to pick up, bright and funny and has had all of us comparing notes and getting a little more competitive than the game really merits... read now

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 Loading comments...

The apparently-popular Professor Layton series' fourth release has given me another gilt-edged chance chance to complain about time-wasting story games. However, either Professor Layton Spectre's Call is a lot better, or my standards are lowering, because I'm actually having a rather nice time... read now

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 Loading comments...

Advance Wars Dark Conflict sets its stall out with confidence. This is a serious strategy game for grown ups, with a gritty look and an engaging storyline. It's chess on steroids... read now

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 Loading comments...

Plants vs Zombies DS has loveable cartoon Zombies that shuffle, dance, dig, run, balloon and bungee their way towards your house in waves, and you have a bit of a giggle repelling them to a soundtrack of groans and falling heads and limbs... read now

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 Loading comments...

Ticket to Ride is a steam train themed board game, but don't let that turn you off. It's been a massive hit with my boys who can't get enough of it, and it's got the grown-ups playing too -- sometimes even when the kids are in bed. .. read now

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 Loading comments...

I've heard a lot about Limbo recently, but visiting a friend for an evening of gaming away from the familiar DS I got my first proper look at what all the excitement is about... read now

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 Loading comments...

Elite Beat Agents combines beat-heavy tunes and bizarre storylines with stylus tapping, dragging and spinning. It's surreal, funny and highly entertaining and has left me seriously reconsidering my position on videogames... read now

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 Loading comments...

Sort It Out is a board game that tasks you with putting lists in order. Now that may sound a little dull, but the variety of imaginative (and sometimes slightly insane) questions make this a lot of fun... read now

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 Loading comments...

More Reluctant Gamer reviews, chronological or alphabetical.

© GamePeople 2006-13 | Contact | Huh?

Grown up gaming?

Family Video Game Age Ratings | Home | About | Radio shows | Columnists | Competitions | Contact

RSS | Email | Twitter | Facebook

With so many different perspectives it can be hard to know where to start - a little like walking into a crowded pub. Sorry about that.

But so far we've not found a way to streamline our review output - there's basically too much of it. So, rather than dilute things for newcomers we have decided to live with the hubbub while helping new readers find the columnists they will enjoy.

What sort of gamer are you?

Our columnists each focus on a particular perspective and fall into one of the following types of gamers: