Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Review - I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost

Score: 9 / 10
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: March 24th, 2013



Pros:
  • Humor and charm of Luigi amplifies the game 
  • Hidden collectibles will have you checking every corner of a room
  • Variety of unique puzzles to solve
  • Multiplayer co-op mode can be a fun break from the main game

Cons:
  • Boss battles leave a bit to be desired
  • Death will require you to start most missions from scratch.

There is a certain charm to Luigi's Mansion. Luigi is the brother, the backdrop, the more cowardly sibling living in Mario's shadow. Putting him at the helm of a title featuring ghost hunting in a haunted mansion creates a formula that works well. From the moment you capture your first ghost to taking down the mastermind of it all, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is a fun, addictive title that any 3DS owner should jump at the chance of playing.

How does his hair even do that?

Luigi is hired by the Professor E. Gadd once again, as the once friendly ghosts are suddenly driven mad by a mysterious energy. Luigi is tasked with setting out to Evershade Valley to get to the bottom of what is occurring, and ultimately put a stop to the master plan. The overall fun and frivolity of the game is a constant source of reinforcement as ghost encounters are similar to watching slapstick Saturday morning cartoons. The humorous atmosphere provides a fun filled experience all around, and listening to a nervous Luigi hum along to the soundtrack or scream in surprise of a ghost popping out never loses appeal. It is an expected tale from Mario, but much like going into a kid's movie, it is fun despite knowing the outcome.

Fans of the original Luigi's Mansion game will feel right at home, as Dark Moon is an exploration focused game that keeps you checking all corners for everything the game has to offer. The dual screen features a map that makes it easy to navigate to a new objective as you hop from various locations, completing a set of missions in each area. You often return to the same rooms but there is always a variance thrown in or door unlocked that further your exploration of the area. Most of what you encounter is a bounce between puzzles and combat as you check every drawer or pull every curtain to uncover hidden areas or collectibles. You will find yourself pulling up rugs, carrying buckets of water from point to point, and or unveiling hidden levers to complete a machine.

Who ya gonna call?

The combat is similar to Ghostbusters in capturing ghosts to return to main mission area. When a ghost is encountered, you must first stun them with a charged flash of light. Only after stunning them can you reel them in with the Poltergust 5000. Much like fighting a fish on a hook, the ghosts will pull in a direction that you must pull away from until they lose their health and are captured. It starts simple, but soon ghosts become super powered and are tougher to catch, use buckets or suits of armor to block the light and must be opened to attack, and even possess mummies that must be lit ablaze to expose the ghost within. Though the variety tends to kilter off around the third world, the encounters can become a hectic juggling of dodging ghost attacks while reeling in weakened ones until none remain. It is fast, frantic encounter that pairs well with the more laid back exploratory segments.

The collector at heart will find plenty of side content. The end of each match will earn your character a ranking based on performance. Coins collected, damage taken, and ghosts captured all factor into the letter ranking you achieve. You also have a slew of color gems in each world, these are usually tucked away behind lesser seen areas or teased through a window you cannot get to until you return with a later level. Boos are also hidden in each mission that can be revealed and captured. With so many factors and hidden items, you find yourself checking every desk or pulling every painting off the wall to find everything the game has to offer.

We need more vacuums!

The multiplayer portion of the game is known as the Scarescraper. Four players team up in a variety of modes to advance floor by floor in randomly generated rooms to capture ghosts, find hidden ghosts, and team up to reach an exit. Though the modes vary, the objectives are straightforward. It can be played locally or online, but prepare for the guy who has recognizes patterns and tricks to really take over and carry you forward. The small time I spent with the multiplayer was enjoyable, but I felt like there was always someone who was not able to help as much as the rest.

Luigi's Mansion is a game that deserved a solid sequel, and the 3DS was a great platform to carry it forward. Dark Moon is not only a generally fun game, but the personality of the game really keeps it alive. The co-op mode can be a fun experience, the main game contains enjoyable variety, and the minor stuggles with checkpoints or lackluster bosses are easy to overlook with every new puzzle. The most unfortunate part was that it took this long to get a sequel to such an enjoyable game.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Just Cause 3 Gameplay Reveal Trailer is an Explosive Event



Just Cause has always been the Michael Bay equivalent of video games; throw in a ton of explosions and over the top action. The last installment became a cult hit, and the third installment looks to be just as intense as the last game with wingsuits, grapple hooks, and a variety of vehicles and weaponry.

Just Cause 3 is set for release this holiday.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Batman: Arkham Knight latest trailer shows off Dual Play





From the looks of the trailer, this could be a hint at co-op modes or a two player campaign even. Nightwing, Robin, and Catwoman all make their return and the dual takedowns show promise of the cooperation required for some of the bigger enemies.

From an official press release to PC Gamer [1]:

"For the first time ever, watch Batman: Arkham Knight’s exciting new 'Dual Play' feature in action, which will allow players to seamlessly switch between The Dark Knight and his allies including Robin, Nightwing, and Catwoman in FreeFlow Combat."

Batman: Arkham Knight will be released June 23rd.

[1] - PC Gamer - Batman: Arkham Knight Trailer Shows Familiar Faces - http://www.pcgamer.com/batman-arkham-knight-trailer-shows-familiar-faces/

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Reveal Trailer

Black Ops III is sticking to the future war in their reveal trailer.



Robot bees, mecho suits, and robot baddies galore. Call of Duty games, although incredibly similar in style and execution, deliver explosive campaigns that are guilty pleasures. This one looks to continue the trend.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III will be out November 6th, a Friday release, and possible nod to "Black Friday".

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Destiny Livestream Confirms Big Changes for upcoming DLC


Destiny has caught a lot of flak from their last Crota DLC, but their latest stream has confirmed some new content that is looking to improve the game overall. [1]



It is confirmed that there level cap with the latest DLC will be light level 34, only two more than the current 32 cap. As previously confirmed, there is no raid this time around.

The Reef will open up a new hub area with new vendors, new NPCs, and new content to explore. Of course, the Tower will not go unused or unoccupied and will still be the source for gear and the like.

All the piles of old shards and energy no longer needed can now be given for Glimmer on the tower, a small, but very big impact to those who have a ton of space taken up in their vault with excess materials.



The biggest news came from the gear upgrade. Any weapons or armor of purple or exotic rarity, can be upgraded to the standard of the best gear. This means that if you prefer the look of the Vault of Glass armor or the Vex Mythoclast weapon, it can be upgraded to match up to the current damage or defense cap. All of this without having to start from scratch with the weapon at hand, as you simply upgrade the "Ascend" area of the weapon with the required materials to bump up the stats. This will open up much more variety in all the Guardians running around in Crota gear and nothing else.

More is planned to be revealed each week during live streams leading up to House of Wolves DLC on May 19th.

[1] - VG247 - Destiny House of Wolves Full gear set up to level 34 in PvP and PVE, upgrades, more - http://www.vg247.com/2015/04/22/destiny-house-of-wolves-raid-gear-ps4-xbox-one/

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

So Many Scorpions


Scorpion is iconic with Mortal Kombat. He has been in every game since its inception, his long standing rivalry with Sub-Zero is a staple to the series, and he is even featured on the cover of the latest title.

The popularity, however, has lead to him becoming the most played character in the game and it is starting to annoy the rest of the crowd. 

Kotaku showcased a player count of character used and Scorpion is sitting very easily at the top of the list. [1]


Raiden? He is up at thirteen million. Takeda? Roughly the same. Sub-Zero is the only one who is a little closer at a few million less.

Every fighting game has this situation. From the sheer amount of Kens in Street Fighter to the litter of Batmans in Injustice, it is expected to run into a character that people gravitate toward. Most are using Scorpion for the ease of using his teleport to gain the upper hand, and the ease of overtaking newer players that are unfamiliar with how to tackle the barrage of attacks.

People will always have their favorite characters, but I would love an incentive to mix it up in some sort of experience reward or game type. Until then...."Get over here!" will be shouted in many a match.

[1] - Kotaku - Maybe Scorpion is a Little Too Popular in Mortal Kombat - http://kotaku.com/maybe-scorpion-is-a-little-too-popular-in-mortal-kombat-1699082085

Monday, April 20, 2015

Assassins Creed: China Launch Trailer


The latest Assassin's Creed installment, a 2D side scroller, has gotten the launch trailer it deserves.



The installment is a welcome departure from the traditional 3D format, and a fresh take on the series. AC:C will be available April 21st in the states for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Star Wars Battlefront Trailer Reveal

After delays, long waits, and cancellation; Star Wars Battlefront finally has a teaser trailer. This comes alongside the Star Wars movie trailer and Batman vs Superman trailer...it's been a good week indeed.


Replaying a Legend - Ocarina of Time


Much like Adult Link returning to the Temple of Time, I find myself revisiting a familiar land I explored as a young child...

That was the cheesiest intro I could think of, but it is hard to shake the parallels as I replay a game I have not played in the better part of a decade. I acquired a 3DS recently and managed to snag Ocarina of Time as my first game for it, and I am finding both a sense of nostalgia and new found perspective on the game as a whole.

I remember my first experience with the game was back in 1998, when my brothers and I received the game as a Christmas gift. We decided we would play through together, and they were kind enough to let me take the first crack at the game. I remember being stunned at how amazing the game looked, and the overall excitement as Ghoma descended from the ceiling for our first boss fight. We went through that game a dozen times over, getting every heart piece and every gold skultulla time and time again.

The only other occasion I played the game was the Master Quest release in 2003 that was given to those who reserved Wind Waker for the Gamecube. Master Quest was basically the same as before, but the dungeons were jumbled around in a different manner. After completing that edition, I felt I had done my time with Ocarina, and moved on to other games with only the memories and nostalgic discussion keeping it alive.

I knew I would return to the game, and now twelve years after Master Quest, I am back at it again. Playing through the game, I could not help but notice the changes between Young Craig and Adult Craig's take on the game:

Ahead of its Time...Ironic, is it Not?
1998 was a good year for video games. There was Half Life, Metal Gear Solid, Banjo Kazooie; the list goes on. A lot of games from that era that are still fun to replay and hold up very well. Playing through the first few dungeons, I began to think that if this were released yesterday it would still be a relevant and strong game. The mission structure, the side content, and the overall exploration offered is something that has resonated with so many other titles and it shows. Coming back to the game that set a standard for so many to come was a humbling experience. There is a reason this game has topped so many lists for greatest game of all time, and whether you are embarking on a side mission for a legendary sword or fighting off Stalfos with lock on combat, you can easily see why.


I Still Fell for This
A decade letter and I still chose No by accident...

Amensia: Dark Descent
I played through OoT a dozen times over, enough to get an idea of where to go, but not enough to remember every little detail. I felt like a patient who awoke with amnesia, bumbling about in a dungeon trying to figure a room out before the 'Ah-ha!" moment of realizing what I did the last time I was there. It was surprisingly back and forth; I breezed through Dodongo's Cavern, fumbled my way through the Shadow Temple, and utterly forgot everything about Jabu Jabu's Belly. The game felt both new and old again with each room I conquered and each small key I backtracked to get.

The Water Temple Was Not Nearly as Hard as I Remember
Maybe this is due to the color coding they added to the temple or just general first attempts, but the water temple was actually not too difficult. Tedious? Yes. Difficult?...not so much. I did find myself venturing back a few times to change water levels and scratching my head as I looked over the map, but I never got completely stuck as I did when I encountered the temple on the N64. Again, this is before the days of Internet guides and Youtube walkthroughs.

Biden, seriously, which key are you missing?

3DS is the Way to Replay
I was skeptical that this title would alter everything I loved about the game, but it has actually enhanced the latest play through. Fighting bosses in 3D seems gimmicky, but works incredibly well in making the encounters that much more enjoyable. The visuals have been sharpened with a brighter pallet of colors and resolution, the item menu is so much faster to navigate with the touch screen (switching boots quickly is a simple delight), and overall the game just performs and feels better. I know when you hear the word remaster we all get scared a CG Jabba the Hutt will ruin everything we loved, but in this case the face lift makes the game we all loved even more spectacular.

Digging for Criticism
I replay games all the time, but when it is a game considered as the greatest game of all time, I felt compelled to be more critical of the game as a whole. I will be honest, there is a slight bit of bias in putting negative feedback on game like this. How could I, when this game was such a large part of why I enjoy playing video games? It would be like insulting my father for providing me a car because he forgot the spinning rims and neon glow.

Still, there are only a few gripes I had this time around. For a big open world, it sure does feel empty. Again, this was the era where 3D games were just coming to fruition, so I find it hard to fault them for that. Some even argue the structure is too similar to ALTTP with dark and light world, but although the structure may be similar, the game felt much different as in lieu of a different world you saw repercussions of a tyrant king directly impacting the NPCs you interacted with on your initial quest. The feeling you get when stepping out of the Temple of Time for the first time is unforgettable, and gave a sense of urgency to make it all right again.

Replaying a classic like Ocarina of Time never feels like a chore or item on a checklist to complete, but serve as a personal reminder. Primarily, as a reminder of how far video games as a whole have come. The same could be said of any major franchise, but for the age when the jump from 2D to 3D was coming to fruition, Ocarina managed to get so many things right. I am sure it will be some time before I hop back into the world of Hyrule for another round, but the latest play through has further reinforced the idea that this truly was one of the greatest games ever made.

Friday Spotlight: Mighty No. 9

Mighty No. 9
PC - PS3 - PS4 - Xbox 360 - Xbox One - Wii U
Developer: Comcept
Publisher: Comcept
Release Date: TBD





Following the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3, Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune used Kickstarter to get Mighty No. 9 off the ground. In two days, it reached its Kickstarter goal and began development back in late 2013.

Gameplay has been promised to be very similar to Mega Man, a 2D side scrolling platformer using 3D animation and graphics. Each of the eight stages can be chosen in any order, and upon defeating the Mighty boss at the end you will gain a new ability.

The protagonist of the game, Beck, will be able to shift forms during a stage. This can range from magnetizing joints to walk on walls to turning into a tank to traverse spikes.

Regardless, the game looks great. Mega Man has been a staple since childhood and its successor looks just as fun. You can see its progress from their official website.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Mario Kart's 8's Animal Crossing DLC Track List


The season pass for Mario Kart 8 ends with the latest batch of DLC due out April 23rd, but they did release a demo of the Mute City track on the new 200cc difficulty.


The race is fast as fast can get, and you can see how the bots powerslide and navigate with ease. This will not be a mode easily conquered.



The map pack will include new tracks including an Animal Crossing themed track that changes seasons each play, rehashed tracks like Double Dash's Baby Park loop, and characters like Dry Bones Bowser and Animal Crossing villagers. Complete track list below:

  • Retro Tracks
    • Baby Park (Gamecube)
    • Koopa City (3DS)
    • Ribbon Road (GBA)
    • Cheese Land (GBA)
  • New Tracks
    • Wild Woods
    • Super Bell Subway
    • Big Blue
    • Animal Crossing

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Guitar Hero Returns



Another leak today has unveiled that the Guitar Hero franchise is making its return along with Rock Band, with its newest title Guitar Hero Live.



Not much has been revealed aside from a new guitar layout featuring six buttons in two rows, in lieu of the five button layout of the classic controller. There is also word of a first person perspective being used so you can see the crowd in front of you like a real rock star. [1]

More can be expected at E3, but the return of the plastic instruments seem all but nigh.

[1] - Gamespot - Guitar Hero Live Leaks Ahead of Announcement - http://www.gamespot.com/articles/guitar-hero-live-leaks-ahead-of-announcement/1100-6426608/

Monday, April 13, 2015

Back to the Grind; Destiny's House of Wolves on May 19th


According to Kotaku, Destiny's next expansion, House of Wolves, will be released May 19th. [1]

This is a highly anticipated DLC for Bungie, as the last Crota DLC took huge backlash from long time fans as gear was rendered worthless and new players were getting better gear with minimal effort.

This comes after Bungie's 1.1.2 tweaks to raids, strikes, and pvp modes. Little is known about House of Wolves, but expect much more detail in the coming days.

[1] Kotaku - Destiny's House of Wolves Comes out May 19th - http://kotaku.com/destinys-house-of-wolves-comes-out-may-19-1697466230

Shovel Knight to feature Kratos on PS4


Shovel Knight was an amazing game, with a lot of positive reception upon its release. (You can see my personal video review here) Luckily, Playstation platforms will get the Shovel Knight treatment with an added bonus; fighting one of their most iconic characters.


 

Kratos, of all things, will be featured in-game as a boss. He is no pushover, and has been stated that it will take some effort to even start the encounter.The game does promise rewards for defeating him, perhaps an ability or two? [1]

Regardless, it is an awesome addition that is sure to attract more attention to the game, and hopefully they can find a way to incorporate this into existing editions? (Please copyright, be nice!)

[1] Playstation Blog - Shovel Knight vs. the God of War - http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/04/10/shovel-knight-vs-the-god-of-war/

Friday, April 10, 2015

Friday Spotlight: Little Devil Inside

Little Devil Inside
PC
Developer: Unlisted (Kody)
Publisher: Unlisted
Release Date: TBD






Steam Greenlight always has promising up and coming titles, and Little Devil Inside has recently taken the spotlight.

Taking influence from The Legend of Zelda and Xcom, Little Devil Inside is an action RPG. This is guided by a multiple mission-driven system with an open world to explore. The expected world events, upgradable weapons, and sword and gun based combat can be expected.

According to their Greenlight page [1]:

We wanted to create and design a world with a surreal but familiar look and feel with all its elements such as characters, creatures, buildings, objects and the entire environment for that matter with a level of visual detail that is minimal but sufficient enough to create a vivid imagery in the players’ minds.
As opposed to developing fully life-like, high polygon characters and objects with intense level of textures, the intended design essence and aesthetics is to create a subtle but powerful sense of emptiness for each player to fill for themselves throughout the game experience. 

Sounds and looks like a game to keep your eye on in the future.

[1] - Steam Greenlight - Little Devil Inside - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=421727832

Thursday, April 9, 2015

LEGO Dimensions Coming This September


LEGO games are a commonality lately, with every popular franchise getting the LEGO adapted treatment; and they are oddly addicting games at that. LEGO Lord of the Rings was a blast to play with my brothers; a simple, enjoyable adventure game.



Now LEGO is looking to take the direction of Disney Infinity and Skylanders, by announcing LEGO Dimensions. This new game will feature the scan pad that has the ability to scan your legos into an open world game.

The official press release according to Kotaku [1] :
For the first time in any LEGO videogame, characters from iconic entertainment franchises join forces and battle in worlds outside of their own. In addition to the game, the LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack will include the LEGO Toy Pad, which allows players to transport special LEGO minifigures and other LEGO objects into the game, bricks to build the LEGO Gateway, three LEGO Minifigures, including LEGO BatmanTM from DC Comics, LEGO Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings and Wyldstyle from The LEGO Movie, plus the LEGO BatmobileTM.
In addition to the three minifigure heroes used to start the experience, LEGO Dimensions will allow gamers to customize their experience with additional expansion packs. Highly collectible Level Packs, Team Packs and Fun Packs will provide new buildable characters, vehicles, tools and gadgets, as well as compelling game content with new mission-based levels and unique in-game abilities. All expansion packs will feature well-known properties and provide gamers the opportunity to use everything interchangeably, anywhere throughout the game – with no limitations.
A small sample of packs available in 2015 include the Back to the Future Level Pack with a LEGO Marty McFly minifigure, a LEGO Ninjago Team Pack with Kai and Cole minifigures, three Ninjago Fun Packs with Jay, Nya and Zane minifigures, two DC Comics Fun Packs with Wonder Woman and Cyborg minifigures, three The Lord of the Rings Fun Packs with LEGO Gollum, LEGO Gimli and LEGO Legolas minifigures, four The LEGO Movie Fun packs with Emmet, Bad Cop, Benny and Unikitty characters, and a The Wizard of Oz Fun Pack with a LEGO Wicked Witch of the West minifigure. Additional packs to round out the 2015 assortment will be announced in the months leading to launch. Further waves of expansion packs will be released regularly following the launch of the game and into 2016.

Lego Dimensions will be out this September 29th for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and Wii U.

[1] Kotaku - Lego Dimensions Announced, Uses Actual Lego Toys - http://kotaku.com/new-lego-game-leaks-1696710755

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Assassin's Creed Rogue Review - It's Good to Be Bad


Score: 8.25 / 10
Assassin's Creed: Rogue
PC - Xbox 360 - PS3
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: November 11th, 2014







Pros:
  • One of the more captivating stories of the franchise
  • For being a last-gen title, visuals still as sharp as ever
  • Mission structure and enjoyability is a step above the rest
  • Slew of collectibles and side content
Cons:
  • Enemy AI is still a pushover
  • No feel of a templar
  • Many of the same game mechanics of Black Flag

Assassin's Creed: Rogue is not the best title in the franchise, it is not the most game changing entry, and it is not without its fair share of faults; it is however one of the better titles they have released since Brotherhood. Surprising, considering AC: Unity took the spotlight when the games were released at the same time.

I know what you are thinking, there is already so much in terms of Assassin Creed games, why is this one so special?

"I am just not dressed for this weather"

The story, unlike the previous tales, is much more straight forward than the others in the series. You are not subjected to much outside the Animus, and the little you encounter never outstays its welcome. You still play the role of an Abstergo employee diving into the animus, stumbling upon a corrupt memory file that bugs the servers and you are tasked with clearing the system; but you never dwell too far into it and are instead more involved with Shay's adventure. You work your way from newly appointed Assassin recruit to well versed Templar leader, encountering familiar faces throughout. In particular, you see a younger, more brash Haymitch (Connor's mention from AC3) whose orders for Shay lead to continual clash for Precursor artifacts between Shay and his former Assassin allies. The events that play out have you questioning both sides and the lengths they will go to gain a leg up on the other, as you see Shay struggling with the same concept.

Ubisoft knows that this is not your first AC game, and the overall pacing of the game is considerably better than previous titles. There is no long drawn out tutorial, no entire sequence devoted to learning how to use smoke bombs; you are thrown into the Homestead and into the open world fairly quickly. Main missions feel much more diverse and memorable. The game overall is the shortest of the AC games, but that is actually a good thing, as I never felt like they were bashing my head against certain aspects of the game.

The Unity parkour is lost, but that does not mean the game skimps on overall quality. Where you lose the parkour descent that was so great from Unity, you regain the little things, like the ability to once again whistle in cover. Shay's aresenal also presents a widened array of stealth/combat options with a grenade launcher that can put multiple enemies to sleep or berserk a group of enemies to fight amongst themselves. A new enemy type even plays the role of Assassin and must be sought out hidden amongst the high brush or population, and will strike first (taking more than half of your health) if you are not careful to dispose of them before movingto your target.

 No stranger to four on one

The die-hard completionists will find even more little things to do in this game than ever before, and act as welcome side content to improve your arsenal. All the familiars make their return; hunting for items to craft armor and upgrades, resources to collect to improve your ship, and a multitude of fragments and pieces to collect at each location. In lieu of using pigeons to accept missions you catch pigeons to intercept their orders, and protect the target before they are killed. If you have played Black Flag, chances are you will know what to expect in terms of offered content as they are vastly similar in both size and scope.

No multiplayer or co-op make an appearance in this title...and that is perfectly okay. Those modes can offer plenty to enjoy, but the focus on the single player is what made the franchise stand out in the first place.

The biggest complaint I have with the game is that for being a templar...I sure felt like an assassin. When I was an assassin I snuck into big groups of enemies to kill a single target, and as a templar you still find yourself alone and sneaking into groups. Sure they threw in assassins and missions to protect templars from assassins, but as a templar I wanted to feel a lot more powerful; commanding troops or walking into a room with an army at my disposal. Sure the red dots on my radar were now my friends, but if I bumped into them they still went on the offensive. You wear the colors of the templar and befriend their order, but you sure do not feel like one.

Assassin's Creed: Rogue feels very much like a Black Flag clone, but the personality of the game and the better pacing of the main missions made for an overall solid experience. It is not drawn out, and the shorter 10 hour campaign made for a much more enjoyable game overall, as some of the creed game can drag the point across for twice the time. If you are a fan of Assassin's Creed, I actually enjoyed this title more than Unity, and the surprise ending made me appreciate it even more. It is an all around solid game that was sadly overlooked for its prettier older brother.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Confirmed after Leaked Screenshots



Square Enix has been doing an "interactive" reveal over the past few days, teasing a game that was currently in development.

While many were left guessing, leaked screenshots from a Russian website yesterday proved that the game in question was an entry to the Deus Ex franchise.

Gameinformer confirmed this leak, along with their cover reveal for their next issue. [1]


The screenshots show Adam Jensen, our protagonist from the previous title Human Revolution (2011). All we know is the game will take place two years after the events of the previous game
as we see Jensen joining part of a task force assigned to hunting down augmented terrorists. Much of the similar gameplay from Human Revolution is promised with new tech and abilities.

The last game was an absolute blast, and a next-gen installment is even better. Still no word on a release date, but expect to hear more at E3.

[1] - Gameinformer - May Cover Revealed - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided - http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/04/07/may-cover-revealed-deus-ex-mankind-divided-568435.aspx

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt Plans for Big DLC



Witcher 3 is only a month away from release, but CD Project Red is already hyping it up with the promise of some expansive DLC.

The first DLC "Hearts of Stone" will feature a 10 hour playtime due out this October, while the second "Blood and Wine" will feature up to 20 minutes of content due out the first part of next year. [1]

This is huge, especially considering the main quest alone has been said to take over 200 hours to complete. That is a lot of content for one game.

The expansions are currently priced as follows:
  • Season Pass - $24.99
  • Hearts of Stone - $9.99
  • Blood and Wine - $19.99
  • Game and Expansion (PS4/Xbox One) - $84.99
  • Game and Expansion (PC) - $79.99
The Witcher 3 is set to release May 19th for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

[1] - IGN - 2 "Massive" Expansions Announced for the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/07/2-massive-expansions-announced-for-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt

Friday, April 3, 2015

Friday Spotlight - Cuphead

Cuphead
Xbox One - PC
Developer: Studio MDHR
Publisher: Studio MDHR
Release Date: TBA 2015








I used to bask in Saturday Morning cartoons. The simple approach, the whacky antics, and crazy characters; I loved everything about them. Cuphead looks like a testament to those that used to do the same.



The first game by Studio MDHR, Cubhead looks to provide a run and gun sidescroller with the personality of a playable classic cartoon. The overall look is a standout on its own, but the developers are also promising a retro game experience, making it anything but a pushover in terms of difficulty.

Co-operative play has already been showcased, but deep details about the game have been pretty hush hush. The most we know is we can expect continuous boss fights, as well as an RPG overworld to choose different worlds.



Cuphead is slated for release later this year. Hopefully we will see more out of E3.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Nintendo Direct Reveals Amiibos, Mario Kart Goodies, and More



Yesterday may have been April Fools but Nintendo was making no jokes on their Nintendo Direct stream. Here are the big reveals for what is in store:

Amiibo was front and center as a new line of smash brothers amiibos will be set to drop later this year. Additionally Yoshi's Wooly World will be getting yarn inspired Amiibos.

Smash brothers fans waiting for Mewtwo will be happy to hear he will be available for only $4 on March 28th, with melee veteran Lucas joining the roster later this June. There is also a Smash Brothers Fighter Ballot website where you can vote for your favorite fighters here.

Splatoon was showcased a big, showing off new Amiibo, as well as giving it a May 29th release date.

Wii U Virtual Console will now be featuring N64 and DS games, starting with Mario 64 and Yoshi's Island at $9.99.

Mario Kart DLC is inbound for those awaiting the Animal Crossing pack on April 23rd. Additionally, a 200cc mode will be released soon, upping the difficulty for a more challenging racing experience.

New Fire Emblem!

Despite a Legend of Zelda delay, there are plenty of exciting things coming this spring.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Playstation Home Officially Closed its Doors


Playstation Home, which launced for free for the PS3 in 2008, was officially shut down yesterday.

The concept was to have a place where all Playstation users could lounge, discuss, invite, and overall interact with other Playstation users. There were even events and games that could be played, winning prizes to customize your avatar and personal apartment.

The result was...less than inspiring. The load times and process of communicating were long, and despite trying to mount interest in gathering at Playstation Home, many went about using the platforms and services that were faster and more beneficial.

Home was a brief experience for me, personally. I ventured in, looked around, judged it was not for me, and left it in Sony purgatory as an icon that remain untouched through the life of my PS3.

The fact that Playstation Home has lasted this long though...I would far from consider that a failure. Maybe a failure in its intended purpose, but the overall lasting appeal kept a few coming back, just not enough to hold it up.