Archive for the ‘Gaming’ Category

ps4_play_imgLike I said in a previous post, I got screwed out of my PS4 pre-order, which broke my heart! Still, I have had the good fortune to play the new console, since a friend of mine, managed to get his pre-order(As did most people who weren’t me).

First, let me just say: This is a powerhouse of a system, and is capable of incredible feats! It’s not perfect though, the system runs very hot, and has an extreme heat output, so make sure it has PLENTY of room around it to better circulate the air. The systems new, so I have no idea how well it is going to be able to manage that kind of heat output. To be fair, high amount of heat was expected due to the sheer power of the system.

I also don’t like that the power and eject buttons are so tiny! They are hard to see, and it took me a good 4 minutes just to figure out how to turn the thing on. Once it was on, and I began playing games, I noticed some games discs run louder than others(CoD:Ghosts runs almost silently, Battlefield 4 sounds a bit noisy)

Next, the control while very similar to previous dual shock controllers, is still very different feeling. It just doesn’t have the same feel as it rests in my palm. I’m also not completely fond of the “Options” and “Share” buttons positioning. It’s awkward to get to, and to click on, at least for me and my fat fingers. positioned between those two buttons is the large “Touch Pad”, which most times will end up pausing the game, or bringing up a menu, or going to the dashboard. This can be an issue when you have fat fingers, are really into a game, and quickly trying to hit the options button, only to find your fat thumb hit the touch pad, and now you are sitting on your dashboard.

However, even aside from the flaws, it’s an exceptional system and would love to have one in my home. Is it worth its current price tag? At the moment: Not really, but it WILL be! Unfortunately at the moment, the system lacks any PS4 exclusive titles, and you can still enjoy most of the games coming out for it, on the PS3. However in the next few months, there will be plenty to enjoy!

injusticeI have never enjoyed a fighter game in my life. When people were going crazy for street fighter, I was focusing on Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior. So, Fighters have never had a spot in my gaming library. I picked this game up on a lark,. and didn’t expect to enjoy the game at all. I expected to just tool around with it a bit and go back to playing Battlefield 4, however I found myself quickly hooked on this game!

It’s made by the same folks who did the Mortal Kombat games(And in fact has 1 MK character in it..Scorpion), so you know the game is polished. The graphics are absolutely incredible and will make your eyes melt with pleasure!

So, what’s so great about this game? Too much to list, but I will try to list a few! Most characters have several different costume options/skins, so you can wear a classic superman outfit, or superman from the current movie costume. You can wear a classic batman outfit, or his outfit from Arkham city, You can be Classic Green Arrow, or “The Hood”/Arrow from the series. There are a lot of costumes.

Also, the arenas are interactive, and will become damaged as you have your superbrawl. you can also interact with items around the arena. There’s not TOO many arenas, but enough to give you a variety of choices. I hope more arenas get released as DLC.

The best thing though, is the story mode. Now, I am not a big fan of fighters, so I am not sure if it’s common or not, but this game has a full featured campaign mode, which is basically cutscenes connecting to a pre-determined arena battle. It’s an enjoyable story as well, and I couldn’t stop playing.

Once the campaign is done, the funs not over though, since there are STARS Missions, Multiplayer Arenas and Single player arena battles(Which should just basically be practice for multiplayer mode).

beyond PS3

There’s a lot of reviewers who complain about this game. These same people however obviously aren’t familiar with the developer Quantic Dream. This game plays much the same way as their past 2 hit titles(Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain). If you don’t enjoy those two games, you probably won’t have much interest in Beyond: Two Souls, if however you loved those games? Then you will like this title.

The story follows Jodie Holmes, who has a special gift. She see’s dead people. Not just that, but also has a spirit attached to her, that reacts to her commands and moods. Basically it gives her psychic powers, and in a way reminds me of Carrie(Especially in particular areas of the game). The game follows her through a jumbled up mess of portions of her life. One mission you maybe playing a teenage Jodie, the next a young Twenty-something Jodie, and the next 8-year old Jodie.

Personally I would have preferred a more linear time frame, but I guess this was to expose you to different aspects of the story, when they felt you needed to know it.

The game plays sort of like an interactive movie, where your actions determine the outcome of the game. While the game does have multiple endings, it doesn’t have much of a replay value. The graphics and animations are top notch, and the professional voice acting is top notch.

The biggest fault to the game, is the clumsy and awkward controls. Yes, they are similar to the previous games, but just doesn’t feel as refined, at least while playing with a gamepad.

The story is good the first time around, and blends sci-fi with paranormal thriller.

I can’t stress this part enough: The game fits a very niche market, and there is a strong chance that it just won’t appeal to you. If you are unfamiliar with Quantic Dreams, it could go either way, and I strongly urge you to rent this, before adding it to your cart(If you do enjoy this, be sure and check out Heavy Rain and Indigo Prophecy)

 

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When the Playstation 4 was announced back in June, I hopped on my computer and preordered it from Amazon in the form of a “Watch Dogs” bundle. Over time, I applied gift cards to the preorder, so that as of last month the cost due was $0.00. Now, all that I had to do was wait for the quickly approaching November 15th release date!

This month however Ubisoft announced that Watchdogs was being delayed, and so Amazon switched my order to the basic core system launch. Not a huge deal, I would just order Killzone Shadowfall. It’s not amazons fault, and the new KZ game looked pretty sweet to begin with. So, I dealt with it, and carried on.

Last night however, I received an email from Amazon customer service, notifying me that my order for the Playstation 4 was cancelled, and that they “hope this helps”. completely flabbergasted and confoundedly confused, I got online and entered into Amazons support chat. It is here that I found out, that it was a mistake, and someone had accidentally cancelled my order.

Fine, mistakes happen. I get that! I asked them if they could correct the issue that had just happened mere moments before. I was informed that this was impossible, as their system is all automated and my cancelled order went to the next person in queue who hadn’t gotten their order placed in time to guarantee themselves the system.

So, basically I was told, that despite being a prime subscriber, despite spending thousands of dollars over the years on their website, despite preordering this console on the first day possible, that I was basically screwed and there wasn’t anything they could do about it.

In fact, not only was there nothing they could do about it, but to worsen the situation, Amazon has in place a system that allows only one console to be ordered per account. Meaning, that if I want to order another one, I would need to have a friend order it, and send it to my address. Despite the fact, that the now refunded gift card balance is saved on MY account, not theirs. Not that it would matter anyway, since the console pre-orders are completely sold out.

However, they did say they were sorry and issued me $30 dollars credit. Which doesn’t help me at all really. Overall, this is a horrible experience with amazon, and is the first time I have pre-ordered a big-ticket item from them. Is this a regular occurence? I don’t know, but I do know that I will be ending my prime subscription, and won’t be purchasing any thing major from them again.

We are well into a new year! So, I decided to bring to you my list of best free to play MMORPGs! It wasn’t so long ago, that a list like this would be pointless. MMORPGs that were free to play were few and far apart, and the ones that were out looked only slightly better than ASCII. Now, not only are there multitudes to choose from, but the majority of them don’t just look good, but look outstanding.

However, nice graphics does not always make a fun MMORPG. For me, a good MMORPG offers a compelling story or brings something new to the table. Something to make it stand out from the rest!

It’s not surprising that most of the games on this list were once subscription based. Games originally intended to be subscription only, tend to have a higher production value, and because of that, more time and effort put into the game.

I also want to say, that if you really enjoy any of these games, and find yourself playing one a lot, then I highly recommend subscribing to the game. You usually receive special perks, and you get full enjoyment out of the game, without having to spend time and extra money purchasing the needed content to continue your adventure.

Lastly, I will say right from the go: World of Warcraft is not on this list. Some may argue that it is sort of free to play, however they would be wrong. Sure, you can buy pets from a cash store, and yea, you can play for free. However you can only play up to level 20, and then no further unless you buy the game and subscribe. Although, even if it were free to play, I am not sure it would make it to this list, since at the time of this writing, it doesn’t really offer anything new to the MMORPG community.

Without further ado, the 10 best free to play MMORPGs!

10) Tera – This free to play MMORPG only went free to play last month, and it looks gorgeous! To fully appreciate the beauty of this game you need to have a fairly decent computer, however you can lower the settings, and play it on lower performance systems, but it doesn’t look anywhere near as nice. The game has a ton of races and classes to choose from, and features a detailed character creator.

The only thing keeping this game from being higher on the list is the controls. They are clumsy and awkward, though I am sure some will love them. I am used to traditional MMORPG controls, and this style, just fries my dome.

9) Star Trek Online – This MMORPG has been out for 3 years, and has only gotten better. If you are a fan of star trek, or Sci-fi in general, then this is definitely worth checking out. The game features voice talents of many Star Trek actors and actresses and some stunning graphics. After a short tutorial mission, you become a captain, and get your own ship! This ship also serves as your player housing, and as your mount. Piloting your ship takes a little getting used to, but afterwards, it becomes second nature. This unique blending of space missions and ground missions helps the game to stand out from other titles, but what really sets it apart is the Foundry. The foundry allows you to create your own quests and missions and share them with the community. Which means that there is a never-ending flow of new quests and missions being added daily, and since Star Trek fans are known for their passion and creativity, the majority of these missions are of higher quality than the official missions.

8) Age of Conan – An MMO that captures the savagery of Hyboria and the tales of Conan! The game has unique combat controls, which requires you to watch your enemies and attack where they are weakest. Sure, you can just button mash, but you won’t last very long doing that! It’s also important to note, that this game is based on the novels, not the movies, so don’t be surprised that people don’t speak in an Austrian accent. The only thing keeping this game from being MUCH higher, is the fact that after the starting area, the game seems less polished. Tortage is fantastic and gorgeous, and if the rest of the game was anywhere near as fleshed out as that area? This game would be number one with a bullet!

7) Lord of the Rings Online – This MMORPG is based on the novels by Tolkien, not the movies! Meaning, you will see and interact with characters not in the movie. The game takes place during the same time as the events in the books, and you play a character living in the world. Sometimes, you may find yourself bumping into the fellowship, or following in their footsteps, in your own unique story worthy of the title Lord of the Rings.

6) Fallen Earth – An MMORPG set not just in the future, but in a post apocalyptic future! A wasteland reminiscent of the Fallout universe, or Mad Max. The world is huge, the setting unique and the story? Well, the story is alright, but it’s there, and better than most MMOs.

5) Dungeons & Dragons Online – One of the earliest subscription based MMORPGs to go free to play, and still one of the best. The game is challenging to master, but easy to learn. If you are a D&D pen and paper player, then you should be playing this, if you aren’t already. The game is set in the Eberron Campaign, which admittedly is not my favorite setting, but the game is fantastic never the less. The controls can be remapped to any button(Or controller if you use an Xbox 360 controller for windows), which means the controls can and do fit everyones needs.

4) Champions Online – An action based MMORPG where you get to play a super hero! The game features graphics that are top notch, and resemble comics with their slightly cell shaded appearance. Not a fan of the look? Don’t fret! That graphic filter can be switched off, for more of a traditional gaming look. The game has deep character customization tools, so you can literally create the super hero of your dreams. Worried that your hero name will be taken? Not a problem either, since the can be multiple Super Heroes with the same name(whispers and mail is determined by your login name).

3) APB Reloaded – While it’s not your traditional MMORPG, it does have enough in common with other MMORPGs to appeal to the same userbase. The game takes place in a modern setting, and is similar in many ways to the grand theft auto games. Will you be a cop or a thug? Bring peace to the streets or anarchy? The choices are yours! The game is heavily group dependent however, so if you are a soloist, this might not be the best game for you. The controls also take a while to get used to, and since the game has recently gotten rid of its tutorial level, you are pretty much just forced to figure it out on your own. Which means, you will end up dying a lot at first.

2) Star Wars: The Old Republic – This game is made by Bioware, the same guys who made the Mass Effect, Dragons Age and Knights of the Old Republic games. So, you know it’s going to be kick-ass! The graphics are amazing, and the stories(the are different for each class) are unbelievable! Your actions shape the entire outcome of the game. How you play it is entirely up to you!

1) The Secret World – While not free to play in the same sense as the others on this list, it is still free to play. Sure, you have to buy the game, but that’s it! You can buy more items from the cash store, but not required for full enjoyment of the game. The game reminds me of the Story Telling games by White wolf, called World of Darkness. To be even more precise it reminds me of the Mage games. The game takes place in a modern world, wrapped in dark secrets on conspiracies. A world where hidden things do go bump in the night, where shadowy organizations pull the strings. This game borrows heavily from Lovecraft as well as numberous other writers, and is an insanely enjoyable experience.

ncis

I will be upfront with this review. I am not a fan of the series, in fact I have never watched it. If I had, my views on the game might have been different.

What I expected was a game with similar play mechanics to the CSI titles. The premise isn’t much different, and it’s released through the same publisher.

Needless to say, it’s not what I got. The game was a mess! Sure the graphics were standard(For the time of its release), but the animation and voice acting were very sub-par, which is a shame since apparently the game uses the voice talents of the actual shows actors(Which leads me to question the shows entertainment value).

The game consists of you walking around the screen taking pictures of whatever one of the other characters tell you to take photos of. Basically, it’s a “Hidden picture” game. I say that in quotes, because the items aren’t really hidden. They usually are just right there. You may have to walk around a counter to see it, but it’s sitting in the blue.

Occasionally you might be asked move something, or help move something. During these scenes you are expected to press a combo of buttons. Kind of like a Quick Time Event, minus the Quick Time.

You also play as the medical examiner and perform autopsies, which sounds interesting at first, until you discover that an autopsy consists of you taking pictures of red glowing marks on a wire frame body.

You are probably wondering by this point, if the game has any puzzles! Yes, it does. If you have the same idea of puzzles as this game. Puzzles tend to be matching up a piece of evidence with another. Sometimes the puzzle is a memory game. Other times, its keeping your crosshairs on top of a moving target.

The only redeeming aspect of this game is the “deduction board” where you connect all of the gathered clues to reach a final conclusion. It reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes deduction boards, however, it too is fairly simple.

Overall, the game is nothing like what I expected, and was a huge disappointment from start to finish. perhaps if I was familiar more with the series, it might have left a better taste in my mouth, but from a purely gaming point of view, this is an abomination to video games! Sure, it’s not the WORST game I have ever played, but that’s not really a redeeming factor.

In the end, unless you a truly hardcore NCIS fan, I would stay FAR away from this title.

In my youth, my most prized possession was a Super Nintendo game console, from Nintendo! I loved that game system, and I still have it to this very day! As a matter of fact, it was that system that got me REALLY interested in video games! I had other systems, but for me, the Super Nintendo was just downright magical!

As the years passed, I eventually unhooked my old game systems, set them lovingly in a box and tucked them away in a closet. Unfortunately, combined with the hugeness of modern-day game systems, and my limited space, I just didn’t have the room to keep them all hooked up! Which was a shame, but the newer systems helped ease the pain.

However, while browsing through Amazon, I stumbled across a little thing called the FC Twin. It played BOTH Super Nintendo games and regular NES titles as well! My heart skipped a beat! Then I saw the price! Less than 40 dollars! All the memories of staying up to the brink of dawn during super mario world marathons came flooding back! I couldn’t resist!

When the game console arrived, I seriously think I might have danced a little jig. After my little jig, I tore through the packaging in a manner befitting the Tasmanian devil, and whipped out the system!

First thing I noticed was that the system is light! I mean really light! I am pretty sure, that most super Nintendo game carts weigh more than the FC Twin! To me, this was a bonus! Yes, that means that the casing of the system can’t be too thick, and not very protective, however I have no plans to throw this system across the room, and I have no children who might mistake it trampoline.

The next thing I noticed, was that it was really small! Which meant I could easily find room around my TV to place it. It’s width is just a little wider than a game cartridge and about as long as a DVD case. Which is amazing since this is essentially 2 game consoles in one! You can seriously just fit it anywhere!

Next the controllers, I wasn’t quite fond of those! They just lacked the feel of the original SNES game pads. They have the same design, and same button positioning, but not the same feel! Also, they were super light, and I personally prefer to have the game pad resting firmly in my grips, not floating atop the flesh of my palms. Still, since the FC Twin uses the same controller connector as the SNES, you can easily switch it out for a SNES controller. Win/Win.

Speaking of it using the same ports as the SNES! This is good and bad, it’s good in the fact that you can use your favorite 16-bit SNES game pad to play your games, however it’s bad in that you can only use your favorite SNES game pads! Unless you are forgetting, this piece of gaming marvel also plays standard 8-Bit NES games, however the NES and SNES had very different ports. Translation: You can’t use 8-bit NES controllers on your FC-Twin. This means, games that required special controllers, are non-playable. Games like Duck Hunt or any other light zapper title. It also means, if you really were looking forward to playing some of your favorite NES games using the Nintendo Power Glove, then tough titties!

Anyway! Game consoles all hooked up, all ports on my Mad Catz AV Sitch box hub are now filled, and it’s time to play some games! The first thing I noticed when I popped in a SNES game was that it was kind of a tight fit! I had to push a little harder than I would have liked, but that will loosen over time I imagine. Next thing I noticed was the familiar sense of Deja vu, when I had to pull the cart out and blow on it. Then again, and again and again. Then I realised that these games have probably been sitting in a box for 15 years or longer, so I just broke out the Q-tips and rubbing alcohol and gave it a good cleaning, and after letting it dry for awhile, popped it in the system, and it worked like a charm!

The colors were amazing and gorgeous, and it was everything I remembered it to be. I swear to god, if I was a little bitch, I probably would have shed a tear! However, I am not, so I didn’t!

Over-all, the system is fantastic! Definitely worth the price tag! Now, the system comes in various models and colors, obviously I picked the Black model, however there’s different colors, and some that even play SNES, NES and Genesis games! I however avoided that one, since I have heard tales of that particular model not functioning that well. This version however? Works like a charm, at least for now! If or when it ever breaks down, I will post about it!

Another thing to keep in mind, is that this system doesn’t play all NES and SNES games, but it does play most. If a game used a special chip, odds are, it won’t run on the FC Twin. Therefor, games like Super Mario RPG aren’t playable. There’s a list of games that won’t run, so I urge you to read through those before making a purchase.

When purchasing games, you have two options. Either buy the game new, or buy it used. Which is the way to go?

First, you have to ask yourself, How new is the game? Is it a recent release? If so, then you might want to consider buying the game new. Bottom line, a new release game is not going to be that much cheaper used. If you are lucky, you might save yourself 5 or 6 bucks. However, many newer games come with free bonus DLC codes. When you buy that game used, odds are the code has already been redeemed. If you want that DLC, it will cost you between 5 and 10 bucks.

Best case scenario, you broke even. Worst case scenario, you paid an extra 5 bucks or so. Actually, best case scenario you end up on the loosing end too, since used games generally don’t have as long a return policy as a new game. Meaning if after a few weeks, you find out the game had a scratch that made it unplayable…too bad for you.

To be fair, sometimes you don’t really have a choice. A game company will quit producing a game, or it’s a game on an older game console. Your only realistic option is buying the game used. Sure, you can buy new copies of older games, but expect to pay out the nose. In fact, most of the time, that game you want, costs more new than it would to buy a game console.

It’s times like this, that paying the hundred(s) less for a game might be the best way to go, but it’s not perfect. See, here’s the thing. Many times these games have some serious issues. The games are old, and as such may not work as well as will like. Hell, to be fair, they may not work at all! You might buy a game, get it home, pop it in, only to find the damn game won’t boot up. Worse yet, it may boot up, and may play perfectly all the way through the game, until it reaches the last mission, and then freezes up!

If the game doesn’t work from the get go, you can always return it. Assuming you tested it right away. If however it waits until the end, you are pretty much screwed, since odds are, it will be several weeks before you notice, which by then returns are no longer valid. Also, if you notice right away, and you bought it at Gamestop, great..return away. However say you got it at some online store? If you paid 50 bucks for a used game, then yea! Return it. What about 5? At this point, is it worth the hassle of packing the box, printing a label and waiting for it to get there, so your replacement can be shipped out? Not really right?

I have bought many used games, and to be fair the majority of them work great. Although a good many were non-functional. So, weigh your choices before buying a used game, and figure out, if it’s really the best move for you.

 

 

The Amazing Spider-Man: The Game, is based on the new movie of the same name. It’s not a typical remake of the movie in game form either, it actually serves as a sequel. The events are tied to the events of the movie, and takes place a few months after the movie.

I will say, right out the door, that this game was better than the movie(Although, to be fair, it kinda would have to be right?) and is currently the best spider-man game I have ever played(taking the title away from Ultimate Spider-man game)

The first thing you are going to notice is that the graphics are eye explodingly beautiful! The attention to detail cannot be praised enough, and it feels more like a movie, than the actual movie!

Everything from the lens flares, to the window reflections, to the level of shine on cars! Even the water reflects so perfectly! I haven’t seen a game achieve this level of awesomeness in their graphics, since the last Uncharted game.

The controls are also top notch, and works well! They kind of have to, since the entire control mechanics is taken right from the much praised Arkham BATMAN games. In fact, much of the entire game plays like an Arkham game, with Spiderman instead of batman. Translation: Kick ass!

The DLC is where the game is lacking. I would love to have seen some campaign DLC. Mini-missions and so forth. Instead, I got Stan Lee swinging around gathering Pages, a few different “Be the bad guy and tear shit up” and of course, a spider-man inspired game of  Snake.

I would much rather have gotten a “Rhino is rampaging through time Square: Save the citizens and stop his carnage!” mission, or a “Vulture has been spotted above the city!” or some more Black Cat!

On the upside, while I am not looking forward to the movie Amazing Spider-Man 2, I am anxiously awaiting its game!

 

 Sleeping Dogs is an open world sandbox game from Square-Enix. The game takes place in Hong Kong, and unlike most open world games you play a cop. Don’t worry though, it isn’t a goody two shoes type of cop! You play Undercover officer Wei Shen, who is infiltrating a Triad society called the Sun On Yee.

Sleeping Dog is the “Spiritual successor” to the True Crime games. If you owned a Playstation 2, you most likely played either True Crime: Streets of LA or True Crime: Streets of New York. Sleeping Dogs started it’s life out at Activison / Blizzard as True Crime: Hong Kong, however the game was cancelled for various reasons, and then insteps Square-Enix who bought the rights to the game. They however did not buy the rights to the True Crime franchise, and so the game was renamed Sleeping Dogs.

Now that we are done with the back story of the game, let’s move on to the meat of the matter! The review!

First things first! The graphics are amazing! Probably some of the best that I have seen on a finished console product. Everything from the lighting to the water to the fire looks amazingly realistic. Those are three of the hardest things to create in video games and keep realistic looking, but Sleeping Dogs pulls that off with flying colors.

The cast is all very believable, however since it takes place in Hong Kong, there is a fair bit of Cantonese spoken, although nowhere near as much as you would expect if you were actually in Hong Kong. However, there are subtitles, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue to anybody.

One thing that has become a staple in Open World games, is the car radio! Which makes sense, because usually a fair amount of time is spent in a car, and a person just needs some tunage! Know what I am saying? Well, Sleeping Dogs knows what I am saying, and they gave us car radios as well. Their choices for radio stations and songs playing on them however kind of suck! This is probably the worst collection of “Radio tunes” I have heard in an open world game since GTA3.

The game is actually pretty linear compared to others of the “Open World” genre, in fact I would go so far as to say, that it only gives the ILLUSION of freedom. Most things have to be done in a certain order, however you can explore the entire city right from the beginning. You don’t have to wait for bridges to open up, or anything like that. Just grab yourself a car and explore.

The game naturally has races, which has become standard fare in these types of games, however I usually suck at races, which usually either means I don’t finish the game, or I get bored and move to another game for a few months, the prolonging my completion of the original game. However, unlike other games of this Genre, has the races as side missions. If you love the race missions, do them! If you don’t, just skip em! Brilliant!

Then there is the combat! The game feels like it’s trying to lift the combat style from the Yakuza games and blend them with the newer Batman games. It does a pretty decent job of blending the two, but the combat does become frustrating, since there are a few times, where you get your ass handed to you, and have to go back quite a bit, because Checkpoints are few and far between.

Overall, the game is great! Sure, there’s a few areas that could use some polishing, but nothing that will break the game.

Fun fact though: Some players who research a lot on organized crime, or are familiar with the Chinese Triad, might think the games Triad clan Sun On Yee sounds familiar. The clan is actually a play on the RL Triad Sun Yee On.