Stories by Isaac Handelman for the Spokesman-Review

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This is (hopefully) not goodbye

Fri., May 22, 2015

Tech Deck contributor Isaac Handelman looks back on his time writing for the blog.

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A look back at Rockstar’s ‘Max Payne’ three-quel

Thu., May 14, 2015

The Tech Deck shells out its take on the acclaimed shooter from 2012.

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Which portable gaming device is right for you?

Thu., May 7, 2015

Let us here at the Tech Deck make your decision easier by narrowing the playing field to only the best machines in the portable gaming realm.

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Memorable video game open-worlds

Thu., April 23, 2015

These nine stunning, open in-game locales are guaranteed to sweep you away for hours.

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Six games with the potential to define the new console generation

Thu., April 2, 2015

Will these titles emerge as the killer apps of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One?

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Ranking the entries of your favorite video game series

Thu., March 26, 2015

Come share your heated opinions on these series hierarchies. We've ranked each individual Assassin's Creed, Halo, and more.

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‘Brothers’ is beautiful in its simplicity

Mon., March 23, 2015

Find out why Starbreeze Studios' indie adventure is worth checking out in this review.

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Unleash hell in ‘The Darkness II’

Thu., March 12, 2015

This gory shooter sequel isn't for the faint-of-heart -- or the queasy.

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Secret Values: Why ‘Pokemon’ isn’t just for kids

Mon., March 9, 2015

Pikachu's adorable appearance might make kiddos flock to 'Pokemon,' but the series contains some lesser-known underlying complexity to hook older gamers.

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‘Smash Bros.’ mod ‘Project M’ is fast, furious, and ferociously fun

Thu., Feb. 26, 2015

How a 'Brawl' veteran was converted to the fan-made modification -- and why you should consider making the jump, too.

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A ‘Mass Effect’ trilogy retrospective

Thu., Feb. 19, 2015

Looking back on BioWare's critically lauded science-fiction series through the lens of a gamer who played through all three games in quick succession.

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Sites to satiate your need for gaming news

Thu., Feb. 12, 2015

What are the premier internet destinations for industry updates?

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‘Alpha Sapphire’ brings familiar fun and returning issues to ‘Pokemon’ fans

Thu., Feb. 12, 2015

Game Freak's Third Generation remakes are enjoyable but far from revolutionary.

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‘Kingfisher’ coming along nicely

Thu., Feb. 5, 2015

A third update on the status of Andrew Smith's indie horror title.

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Continued adventures and new learning in ‘Guild Wars 2’

Thu., Feb. 5, 2015

A newbie's eventful journey to level twenty left plenty of new impressions and revealed a slew of content.

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My favorite video games of 2014

Thu., Feb. 5, 2015

Now that the new year is well underway, I'm ready to recount the 2014 games that I hold in the highest esteem. By titling this post as my favorite games of 2014 rather than the best games of 2014, I...

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The perplexing pain/pleasure loop of ‘Super Hexagon’

Sat., Jan. 24, 2015

Live. Die. Repeat.

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Checking up on ‘The Kingfisher’

Fri., Jan. 23, 2015

How is the locally-developed indie horror title shaping up?

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Learning to love ‘Guild Wars 2’ as an MMO newcomer

Fri., Jan. 16, 2015

Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the hotbar

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‘Unity’ in the face of adversity

Thu., Jan. 8, 2015

A review of Ubisoft's latest big, bold, beautiful, broken 'Assassin's Creed.'

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Last-minute holiday buying guide for parents of gamers

Wed., Dec. 10, 2014

To parents of young gamers, the holiday shopping season can seem a minefield. Which games will work with your kid's console? Which titles are appropriate for young eyes? Well, parents, worry not; this last-minute gift guide will help you navigate the ESRB ratings and the...

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Local indie dev preps a pair of wildly different titles

Wed., Dec. 3, 2014

Spokane isn't exactly known as a hotspot for indie game development, but pockets of Washingtonian creativity do exist east of the Cascades. Take, for instance, the Spokesman's own Andrew Smith, who recently introduced himself as a new contributor to the Tech Deck blog. An avid...