Nadia Oxford

In the early aughts, Nadia fell into writing with the grace of a brain-dead bison stumbling into a chasm. Over the years, she's written for Nerve, GamePro, 1UP.com, USGamer, Pocket Gamer, Just Labs Magazine, and many other sites and magazines of fine repute. She's currently About.com's Guide to the Nintendo 3DS at ds.about.com.

News
January 29, 2013
Downton Abbey goes 16-bit in SNES parody
By Nadia Oxford
It's been years since the Super Nintendo was first given life, and it's still one heck of a console. Its action games are fantastic, its role-playing games are sublime. But some Super Nintendo game developers also had a thing for licensed (and mediocre) titles with digitized character sprites and portraits. Maybe that's why this parody trailer for a 16-bit Downtown Abbey game feels so nostalgic.
Reviews
January 25, 2013
Ghostbusters Review
By Nadia Oxford
If there's something strange in your neighborhood, it is prudent to call the Ghostbusters. Unlike the rest of the population, they're ready to believe your story about the demonic Chinese-crested dog living in your fridge. The bizarre events and devilish creatures that define the Ghostbusters movies have made for mixed success on video game platforms across the years. Beeline takes another crack with Ghostbusters for iOS, and the results are fun, if a little predictable and safe.
Reviews
January 24, 2013
Banana Kong Review
By Nadia Oxford
Gorillas have always loved their bananas, but what happens when the bananas say "no more?" You can find out with Banana Kong for iOS, a 2D endless running game that challenges you to run, run, run away from an ever-toppling pile of banana peels. Banana Kong doesn't hit the lofty standards set by Rayman's Jungle Run, but it's still one of the genre's top bananas thanks to slick controls, polished graphics, and tons of fun Donkey Kong Country references.
Upcoming
January 24, 2013
Enchantia: Wrath of the Phoenix Queen Preview
By Nadia Oxford
Blue Tea Games has a delicious-sounding name. More importantly, it's the studio behind some of the best hidden object games (HOGs) released on PC or any other platform. Blue Tea Games has already given us Dark Parables: The Red Riding Hood Sisters, an intense re-imagining of the Red Riding Hood fairy tale, and Fabled Legends: The Dark Piper, a rather twisted take on the story of the Pied Piper. Now Blue Tea is getting ready to make your winter a little warmer with Enchantia: Wrath of the Phoenix Queen, coming February 21.
Upcoming
January 24, 2013
Hackycat Preview
By Nadia Oxford
18th century naturalist/mathematician/cosmologist Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon once observed that "The cat is the only animal which accepts the comforts but rejects the bondage of domesticity." It's true. We've bred dogs and horses to suit specific jobs, but as far back as ancient Egypt and right up to the modern day, we've merely expected our cats to be worshipable (on the altar, on YouTube—same difference). Well, it's high time for cats to give something back. It's time to play. Why not indulge in a little hacky sack with a feline in Hackycat for iOS?
Upcoming
January 23, 2013
Hotel Story Preview
By Nadia Oxford
Every hotel has a story. Consider the Overlook Hotel, a lovely structure with a rich history that's nestled in a secluded pocket of the Rockies—uh, actually, let's talk about a tamer hotel. Let's talk about your potential hotel. Hotel Story is a building/simulation game that's coming soon to iPhone and iPad. It offers an exciting taste of the hospitality industry, and you won't have to deal with blood-filled elevators or haunted midnight masquerades.
Upcoming
January 22, 2013
Tekken Card Tournament Preview
By Nadia Oxford
Why get yourself dirty by punching an opponent's face into a bloody pulp when you can punch that person's face into a bloody pulp using the magic of playing cards? Tekken Card Tournament is an upcoming cross-media project from Namco Bandai that merges the legendary Tekken fighting universe with a digital card game and physical packs of booster cards.
Reviews
January 22, 2013
Heroes & Castles Review
By Nadia Oxford
Wherever there is a castle, a hero is never far behind. And wherever there's a hero, there are monsters, dragons, skeletons, and generic bad guys. Heroes and Castles for iOS illustrates that heroes need to be brave and hardy, but they also need to strategize, manage funds, and problem solve on the fly. In other words, heroes value versatility above all else. Heroes and Castles strives to do many things, and its intentions are noble—but like so many storybook protagonists, it's also a bit rough around the edges.