Most Anticipated Games of 2014

Only a few days away until we enter into the new year. We should reflect at the many great games that came out this year but I decide to go against that as this year for gaming was kind of a mixed bag for me.

It wasn't a terrible year, don't get me wrong but it felt like the year for mostly overhyped titles that most of them didn't really reach up to what I was hoping for. Bioshock Infinite and The Last of Us are fine examples of that, one that I believe was a step back for the franchise and the other while still solid, felt too familiar with it's tone. While I appreciate the hard work that the developers have done to make them solid, they just didn't do it for me for various reasons.

So I don't know how to feel about this year to be completely honest. I "might" talk about it another time but for now, let's focus on what to expect in the new year!

With all of the new systems released this year with the Xbox One and Playstation 4 and the Wii U getting a head start. The new generation is now set in stone and ready (and this includes PC and handheld gaming too). So what exactly are the big ones to look forward to?

That is someone that you have to decide for yourself but for me? Here's my list of the Most Anticipated game of 2014 and let's start off with a few no-brainers.

Watch_Dogs

The anticipation for this game may have died down a bit due to the surprise delay that happened a month before it's intended release but at least it shows that Ubisoft is willing to add extra polish to a game that shows promise from it's unveiling at the Press Conference at E3 back in 2012.

The details on the story and the characters including the protagonist Aiden Pearce may be scarce but the gameplay, visuals and features shows a lot to keep the players attention with a city having surveillance 24/7, the ability to hack to accomplish goals and the combat and driving looking smooth and functional as any good game should be.

Looking forward to seeing more as well as an official date (Sadly, my Wii U version of the Dedsec edition had to be changed to PS4 due to the said edition on the Wii U being cancelled).

Infamous: Second Son

My most anticipated game for the PS4 ever since it was announced and all I hope is that the wait is worth it as coming from a fan of the series after playing through both games as well as the Halloween-esque downloadable title Festival of Blood. I can only hope that Second Son can surpass if at least match the greatness of it's predecessors.

With a more different tone, different character, different powers and an impressive visual look. This is one of the finer examples of what the PS4 can do and I hope it does it justice. I pray for you, Sucker Punch!

Child of Light

Stepping out of the action genre for a moment as we enter into RPGs and it's another Ubisoft title to our surprise. Child of Light is their tribute to the classic Japanese, turn-based RPGs under the same director of Far Cry 3 (a complete change in tone there!) and using the UbiArts engine which was used in the excellent Rayman Origins and Legends.

The story is shown in a beautiful 2D watercolour painting look, dialogue told in rhyme as if we're listening to a story book and the mechanics has a level of exploration in a 2D plane with battle mechanics that are tried and true to the genre.

As long as the story keeps our attention without any bizarre turn overs or screws up the formula, this is one game to look out on every RPG-gamers radar.

Mario Kart 8

Moving to Nintendo, I've been a Mario Kart player since the very beginning on the SNES, so this is a must. I don't think I've ever played a Mario Kart game that I didn't like (with minor exception of Double Dash on the Gamecube as I couldn't get into it) so I expect to be just as great if not better than the last.

I don't think there's much I can say about it as it speaks for itself as it'll be fun to play solo and multiplayer (local and online) and some of the new additions like the new anti-gravity sections are more than welcome but I can say that it's visually one of the most impressive I've seen on the Wii U hands-down and it was from my impression of the debut trailer!

If a trailer like that can impress me, then surely it's something to look forward to! Speaking of the Wii U...

Bayonetta 2

One of the more surprising announcements that happened a long while ago is when the sequel to Platinum Games cult favourite is a Nintendo exclusive. I have a strange history with the first one as I was kind of hyped and then it died down for me when I got into it and didn't get around to finishing it until 3 years later after I got it for my birthday and while I regret that I didn't play more of it back then, I can say it's one of the best action games on the previous generation.

The information about this game is small but they have detailed about the different control methods (including using the touchpad), a 2-player mode, the story not only involves fighting angels but also demons. I expect nothing more but the same awesome action that was featured from the first game but tweaked to make it more exciting and to be honest here, that new haircut looks really awesome even if it does seem a bit jarring since here attacks and clothes are made of hair.

When will the Umbran witch return is the big question?

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

One of my favourite indie games of 2012 is coming back with a vengeance. I don't know what to say about this one aside from the fact that it's a new story with not one but 4 characters to play around as, new mechanics added into the game, new music while retaining the tone and look of the original hard-as-balls gem that was released on PC then later on Sony's consoles.

No confirmed date as of this moment but only time can tell when players can don the mask and answer the question, "Do you like hurting people?" again.

Dying Light

Techland's Dead Island series isn't exactly a horror masterpiece nor is it a "great" series by any stretch of the imagination but is one of those guilty pleasures for me as it offers great fun even if it is a bit repetitive. Dying Light is a different kind of zombie game while still being familiar. Mixing in the open world, co-op fun of Dead Island mixed in with Mirror's Edge style parkour and a day/night cycle that changes the zombies aggression (hence the title) making it more of a challenge to get back to safety.

While I'm rather annoyed by the competitive multiplayer feature being a pre-order bonus (not surprised since WB games are publishing it) that doesn't put me off from trying out this interesting entry of a well-worn genre. I'm surprised that I ain't sick of zombies yet.

Murdered: Soul Suspect

I nearly forgot about this one as it was one of the more genuine reveals that happened during the start of the year to it's showcase at E3. Whenever Square-Enix publish a new IP from their Western division, it's something to be interested in like the excellent Sleeping Dogs for example.

I'm hoping Mudered: Soul Suspect does the same thing with as the premise of a detective in form of a ghost solving his own murder already has a lot of potential as well as some of the gameplay has been showing a lot of intrigue on how it's like LA Noire and Ghost Trick mixed together. Definitely something worth looking forward to and how the game unravels.

So that's pretty much it for the most anticipated games that I'm looking out for in 2014 but there are a few more honorable mentions that I would like to point out though...

• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (Haven't finished the previous ones but I love them)
• DanganRonpa: Happy Trigger Havoc (Not a fan of visual novels but I liked the anime based on this game)
• D4 (Swery65's next strange game and it's an Xbox One Exclusive of all things!)
• Quantum Break (Remedy has been light about this one but I'm still interested regardless)
• Mario Golf: World Tour (Been a long time for a new Mario Golf game to come)
• Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle (Enjoyed the new anime series, so this is worth looking at)
• Oddworld: New 'n Tasty (a remake of an old favourite on the PS1)
• Persona Q (Not sure if it'll come out this year or at all but have high hopes though!)
• The Evil Within (Can Mikami make horror games scary again, we'll see)
• Broken Age (Double Fine's Kickstarter project has a lot of promise)
• Shovel Knight (One kickstarter I backed and looking forward to it!)
• South Park: The Stick of Truth (The long delays has me worried but still keen for it as a fan)
• Kingdom Under Fire II (Five years and hopefully, it'll be out this time!)
• Transistor (Bastion was a solid game so hopefully SuperGiant Games can do it again!)
• Trials Frontier/Fusion (I love the Trials games so this is a no-brainer)
• Final Fantasy XV (Would put it on the list but there hasn't been any major update as of late)
• Valiant Hearts: The Great War (Another unique title coming from Ubisoft)
• Game of Thrones by Telltale (They're really on a role but haven't heard much yet)

Well, that's all of the honorable mentions, there are more games that I'm looking out for but not as excited as the ones I've listed. Please tell me what games are you excited for in 2014 and until then, Have a happy new year and I'll see you all later!

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Bonus: A list of games that I enjoyed in 2013...

DmC: Devil May Cry

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

Brothers: A tale of two sons

Tomb Raider

Grand Theft Auto V

Payday 2

Beyond: Two Souls

The Last of Us

Deadly Premonition: Director’s Cut (Special Mention)

Steamworld Dig

The Wonderful 101

Rayman Legends

Pokemon X

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

The Wolf Among Us (Special Mention)

The Next-Gen Storm

In just a week or two, the two new consoles from both Sony and Microsoft will be available to the public, cementing the competition between the Wii U, Playstation 4 and the Xbox One will commence.

What does this mean for us? Well personally, I'd say that even though the new generation has started with Nintendo's HD system, the other two systems will make the new generation of gaming in full set. I don't like saying which is the better console because of reasons being that I prefer the "console wars" didn't exist (even if they keep popping up on forums and blogs everywhere) as I see that every console has a merit and negative, no matter what.

So in this blog, I'm going back to one of my older blogs about my stance on the new-gen systems and talk about on how much has changed since the announcement of both the PS4 and Xbox One.

Starting with the Playstation 4, things have left unchanged since it's announcement, however as it recently got released in North America, it has sold over a million units on launch which is quite impressive but not without it's set backs. Reports of units breaking down as most notably the blue light of death as well as GPU failures even though the failure rate is 1% but adding insult to injury that while the quality is there in terms of multiplatforms, the exclusive launch line-up for games like Knack and Killzone: Shadow Fall isn't nearly up to par as some critics have hoped even though it's more or less based on personal observations upon playing said games. However the UI and functionality seems to be in order from what I've read/heard about it and hope it continues to stay that way when it gets released within a week (as of this blog) as I plan to get it for Christmas this year.

Onto the Xbox One and Microsoft has really changed things up since launch but still has a few niggling issues here and there from critics such as Rev3 Games and GamesRadar but positive nonetheless with the TV feature including Snap TV and great use of Kinect integration with the new and sleek UI. Even the launch line-up seems to be more high in quality with games like Dead Rising 3 (despite it's technical faults), Forza 5 and Killer Instinct. However I have gripes with the latter exclusive Killer Instinct since it's my most wanted on the system but won't have an arcade mode until the first season of characters are released which I think is a bad move in my opinion, even though fighters are catered to play with others but still preferable if they have some single-player content. But aside that, Microsoft seem to have shown a lot of upgrading since the unveiling and the E3 showcase earlier this year, even if the system doesn't seem to be up to par with it's resolution on some games.

I'm not going to talk more into what else the two systems have as they do provide a strong sense of social interaction, the quick loading, multitasking between games and apps and plenty more. Even with the faults, they both do seem well made systems and it'll be interesting over the next couple of months of what games are coming out and what quality brings to the table for both of them.

While the PS4 is first to get with Infamous: Second Son being my most anticipated but the Xbox One will come later in a hopeful store deal, a price cut or when Quantum Break comes out. I also have hope for Nintendo's Wii U but I feel that console is more of a strange league of it's own when compared to the big leagues even if it's more powerful than the Xbox 360 and PS3.

So that's pretty much it for this blog, sorry for being away as life has been busy and leave your thoughts about the next generation of gaming, thanks for reading!

Demo Impressions: The Wonderful 101

Nintendo recently held their Direct Conference via the internet to discuss some of the upcoming games that are heading out later this year. While there were some good news like NIS America publish two ATLUS titles for the 3DS for PAL regions (finally) and Ace Attorney Vs. Professor Layton are getting a west release in 2014, the rest was mostly updates on some games for the Wii U and 3DS that we know about already.

But the also stated that later in the week, there is another Direct focussing on PlatinumGames (of Madworld and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance) newest title for the Wii U titled The Wonderful 101.

Originally unveiled at E3 a year ago titled "Project P-100", it's an action game with a mix between Pikmin and Viewtiful Joe and it's from the brainchild of Hideki Kamiya, who's well known for games like Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry (the original), Okami and Bayonetta.

The direct was hosted by Kamiya while amusingly wearing a suit like he was trying to emulate Iwata and showcases and talks about the games features, combat and utilization of the Wii U gamepad which all seemed very interesting as well as repeating the release date over and over again after each section. After ending with a 7-minute trailer (which I felt was very spoiler-heavy), the game's demo was released an hour later after the Direct was finished.

I managed to get the demo after midnight but didn't play until morning. The first time I played around with it, I had a bit of a hard time getting used to how it played, how you moved the heroes was fine but the combat, the use of the gamepad and the scope of the game was really tricky to get used to but as I progressed I was kinda getting the hang of it but then the gamepad stopped because the battery was dead.

So after a while of charging, I gave the game another go and it became more clear every time I kept playing it over and over again, it seems simple at first glance but it's surprisingly complex for a game like this. Something I never thought it would be possible in an action game but Kamiya knows how to pull it off and pulls you in for the ride.

The camera is placed on an isometric view and since it has a fixed zoom level within battles (depending on how big they are) it can be hard to see where you are at times but if you keep your eyes focused, it shouldn't be too hard but you do need to time your blocks and dodges at the right moment but careful as abusing them can drain your battery meter. There are two different kind of attacks, one to use your team and the other to use your morph abilites which can be swapped by drawing with the touch pad or using the right analog stick. So for a fist, you draw a circle. For a sword, a straight line or for a gun, a right angle.

The gamepad also has other features like swapping heroes and other details but not really that important but the information and the tabs kind got in the way which made the experience a bit of a hindrance. But it was intuitive enough to make it functional and it works very well when changing morph powers or using other morphs to create special combo attacks. Even using the right analog stick worked perfectly. You can also use the D-pad or touch pad to swap items and hold the item on the touch screen or down on the D-pad to use the item

The gameplay consists a lot of crazy action but also emphasizes on rescuing citizens of Blossom City and allow them to be in your team to make larger morph abilities which can be more powerful than the previous amount depending on how long/big you draw. Your team attack is primarily used as a stun attack for the enemies while you blow them away with a morph attack but each morph attack is useful for different attacks like the sword to vertical attacks and the gun for aerial attacks as well as for solving puzzles like turning a wheel with the fist or unlocking a door with the sword like a key. Hell, you can even use your heroes to form into a ladder or a bridge when needed to go from one place to the other.

There is a bit more to the gameplay but it'll take a while to explain and some of it is best to experience it yourself if you want to play the demo. But as for the other features the game has, you can play it off-TV or with a Pro Controller but there's one part in the demo that requires you to go into a warehouse and requires you to look on the touch pad to see inside but luckily, you have the option to swap screens by pressing the minus button.

The presentation isn't anything too spectacular but if anything, it's a nice reminder for those who loved Viewtiful Joe as they took the feel of that game and it's obvious "Super Sentai" influence that gave that game it's personality with Kamiya's touch and it's been done again but with a more fun and chaotic feel. The graphics aren't the most technically advanced I've seen on the Wii U as the environments looks simple and the characters look like mini Xbox Avatars but the lush colors and design gives the game a sense of charm that only Kamiya and PlatinumGames can do. The sound design isn't anything remarkable either but the voice acting (which can be switched to Japanese in the options) and the music fit the tone of the game perfectly.

So all in all, I'm very impressive with The Wonderful 101, it's shaping up to be PlatinumGames next best things since Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and it'll probably be one of the better offerings on the Wii U thus far even if the system isn't so hot right now. The game does have it's shortcomings but can be overlooked with some trial and error and it's overly chaotic which may not appeal to everyone but for those who are looking for something new in their action games, fans of PlatinumGames or Hideki Kamiya in general or just want something to play on their Wii U, This is a must buy.

I have this game on pre-order at EB Games after making some big trade ins and I cannot wait, it's coming out later in Australia and Europe later in August but it's coming out on September 15th in America which doesn't bode well since it's two days before the worldwide release of Grand Theft Auto V and the combination of the game's niche appeal and it's on a system that hasn't been a big seller, it may end up selling poorly but I can see it being a cult gem in a few years.

That's it for this blog, thanks for reading!

The Gaming Community is the worst.

The title of this blog is no joke. I fear that the gaming community is dead in my eyes.

Why do I say this, you might ask? Well, the answer is rather simple. The people in the community, especially those in forums, blogs or almost anywhere else on the internet are usually full of crybabies, ritualistic fanboys (both video games and fanboys), nostalgia-tards, the list can go on and on.

Now I am aware there are a few smart people online that talk about gaming without any sort of bias (at least with a decent reason) or stupid (unless they're reasonably joking about it), including well known people that I see on YouTube. But sadly, the smartest people in the world are easily overshadowed by the self-absorbed and closed-minded dimwits of the world. My first question is where can I start?

Why not start off with those who complain about certain things in the game that they think is missing or needs to be rectified when the developer intentionally did so in form of artist's creativity or the game doesn't need a certain feature because it's not built around it.

Starting off with artist's creativity, when certain things are created in a way that they think is good enough no matter what the outcome may be, gamers can rant and rave about it so highly that they give in and have to "fix" it due to their demands. Mass Effect 3's ending is a fine example of that. While I can agree that ending was very underwhelming, I didn't have the raging hate that made me want to send hate mail to both EA and Bioware in order to have the ending more stretched out since the ending got such a bad response since it was the end of a saga that matter via player's choice, they decided to release free DLC in order to extend the endings and even then, some players were still divided by it!

It's one thing to be disappointed about and have the right to talk about it reasonably but raging and sending hate to the developers is a high level of low that I can't bare it not matter what.

There's also the complaint of certain gamers who don't buy games because of certain aspects in video games, games that don't have multiplayer for example. While it is nice to have that feature in games to extend the value of it and some who didn't added in is a bit of a missed opportunity (Vanquish for example), not every game needs that. Games like Codemned, Resident Evil, The Darkness and many more tend to have (or their sequels) forced in multiplayer which weren't designed around it and only placed in there to extend the value when they can be shallow as hell. Not all games are like this but for the ones that do, they tend to be forgettable and tends to make the game feel unfocused when the main campaign isn't as strong as it should have been.

Another problem with the gaming community is that whenever something is changed, especially in reboots, die-hard fans can flip out like crazy. Now this problem isn't as prevalent because some can be taken for granted and some of it can be agreeable but if you don't like on how a certain franchise has changed, why do you keep playing/talking about them and focus on the good old games?

The infamous DmC: Devil May Cry reboot is a prime example as the developer Ninja Theory got heavy fire since they changed around a lot of the details and mechanics that the previous games have been known for but I still say most of that blame has to be laid on to the publisher Capcom for allowing them to do whatever they wish in order to get a new image for Dante. Some fans have been more accepting than others but it's still something that die-hard fans loathe to this day.

(Personally, I found the reboot to be a nice surprise since I wasn't a fan of the original game (most likely due to it's age) but the 4th game was alright.)

I understand the frustration of changes no matter how good the actual product can be (my feeling towards Max Payne 3 can be a test to that) but I don't think it's a good idea to go on a rampage about it or otherwise it'll make a bad name within the fan-base of your beloved franchise.

This part of the problem also applies to those who rely way too much on nostalgia on newer installments/additions to franchises. Sonic 4 was one example where one person I know online (not personally by the way) raged about on how it was meant to be a throwback to the old design of the blue blur but instead was the modern design with the long legs and green eyes. Nitpick much?

Understandable that you'd prefer the old days but that's no excuse to talk down to those who do prefer newer things or say that the older games are "superior" which may be true but doesn't mean you should use that in an argument.

One of the more obnoxious things within gaming is the age of gamers playing certain games, now I'm all for everyone regardless of age or gender playing video games but when it comes to age (especially children), there are some games that needs to be restricted from their reach, especially multiplayer games like Call of Duty which results in unintentionally hilarious videos of kids ranting, crying or being trolled by other players on Xbox Live.

Think video games are the cause of violence or other criminal activities? Then why are kids younger than the intended age for certain games playing them? I can put the finger on both the parents for buying the game for them and/or stores for selling the game to them without much caution.

Now onto one of the most occurring plagues of the gaming community which is the "console war".

Going on since competitive systems like the Super Nintendo and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis consoles back in the 90s, it was proven that two big game systems can survive and compete at the same time with their game library, regardless of exclusives or multiplats. Nowadays with 3 big console developers at the helm, it's almost impossible to have a decent talk over what console is the best or what you like/dislike about a certain system when the main focus is the games.

Words cannot fail me when someone complains about certain consoles saying it's the best because of certain features when (as I've stated before) it's all about the games. But even the games part is an issue itself. For starters, some gamers complain about certain titles going multiplatform, no matter what the reason it is. Rayman Legends was originally intended to be a Wii U exclusive which does seem rather strange since the previous game Origins was a multiplatform release but due to the sales of the Wii U being rather poor, Ubisoft decided to release it as a mutliplatform as well as delayed the game which caused so much outrage by fans, they made a Challenge App for the Wii U version. While the Wii U version may still considered the prime platform with the most features, the inclusion of other consoles won't exactly hurt since the predecessor was made on every system to allow more sales and players to experience the game.

The same can be said for Crysis as it was originally made for PC but due to requiring high-tech PCs to run it smoothly and the fact that not a lot of gamers have a good PC to run it as well as it's price (which you can, of course, find high quality parts at a low price to rectify that) made it hard for Crytek and EA to sell in which for the later installments (including a downloadable version of the first game) on the home systems along with the PC but people complain on how much of the series has gone "consolized" without considering the reason why the developers went through with this idea in the first place.

Also count in Final Fantasy XIII when they announced it'll also be on Xbox 360 alongside PS3, it caused a massive outcry because the Final Fantasy series have been on Sony consoles for a long time even though it's start and various spin-offs have been on Nintendo platforms as well, which completely destroys the argument of Square's signature series being a Sony product.

So that's one awful truth about exclusivity in video games but the other one that people complain is why a certain game is an exclusive to a specific console and demand it to be on the other or multiplatform. If that was the case, wouldn't the system not sell? Or do you just hate the system and want the game on the console you hold so dear when it could end up with porting issues, not that it's a problem nowadays but still.

The announcement of Bayonetta 2 at one of Nintendo's Direct feeds is a big example of that. After the sales of the first game didn't meet expectations, Sega decided to drop the franchise and sent it back to PlatinumGames where they were picked up by Nintendo to help them fund the sequel and make it an exclusive. A lot of people raged about it and while it's strange for a multiplatform title to go exclusive (like what I talked about earlier), sometimes there's a good reason why and that's because a sequel wouldn't have exist at all if there was no one to back it, even the developers mentioned about it themselves.

And then there's those fanboys who say that a certain game is exclusive to their system when it's also on PC. A majority of 360 games like Bioshock (on their first run), the first Gears of War, Fable III, Mass Effect, etc. have been either released along side or came out later on PC which destroys the argument of a console exclusive. I assume the same thing applies to those who say that Final Fantasy XIV Online on the PS3 when it's also on PC since it's an MMO.

Another issue within gaming is when gamers claim that you're not a "hardcore" gamer if you play specific games, especially games that are more or less like Call of Duty, Halo, Battlefield and many others similar to it. I hate to break it to some people but when I think of "hardcore" games, I think of games like Zack & Wiki, Ghost 'N Goblins, Dark Souls, Mega Man and many others. No matter what the intended age group the visuals are, if the game is hard as nails or deep as the earth's core, that is what I consider a hardcore game.

Although it probably doesn't help with the rise of casual titles that we see on mobile platforms that cement the image of casual games so like one look without looking into it is completely wiped off. One of the many reasons why gems like Little King's Story are often forgotten.

There's also plenty of other matters that I would talk about such as sexism against female gamers, DLC and video games in the media but half of those are either irrelevant to what I'm talking about or too touchy that I might have to do a separate blog if I feel the need to.

But the bottom line is the gaming community to me is just dead because from what I remember when I was growing up, gaming was all about having fun and enjoying an experience at the comfort of your own home by yourself or with friends and family. Nowadays (somewhat thanks to the internet) those days have been long gone since people have a reason to complain, troll and various other ways of spouting bullshit to others.

You could call out on me if you want by saying I'm doing the same thing and I do acknowledge that I too am not the ideal version of a gamer but unlike some people, I have at least a sense of common knowledge and try to restrain/explain myself or correct my mistakes whenever they occur. I know others who do the same thing as I've mentioned but the majority of the gaming public is so out of control that I can't stand it.

You might be asking, if I hate all of this so much, why do I continue gaming? Because it's my passion, it's been a favourite thing for me to do since my childhood and it's not going to die no matter what. I may have not been much of a crazy gamer as I was years ago but I still enjoy it to this day and I treat each platform with respect no matter how flawed they may be.

This blog is over.

Kickstarter Report: Shadow of the Eternals

Starting up a new series of blogs that I want to do that I might transfer into video form some day. It's a series of reports about interesting Kickstarter/Indiegogo projects that I find and want to share with you all why I believe they're a worthy or not worthy to donate to.

To start off this new series of blogs, I'm here to talk about one that was "re-launched" recently after having a rough start. Yes, I'm talking about Precursor Games first big project...

 Shadow of the Eternals

Made as to be a spiritual successor to the psychological horror Gamecube gem Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem by Silicon Knights with some members of the original team working on the successor including the infamous Denis Dyack. Shadow of the Eternals is being developed for PC and the Wii U with CryEngine 3. While not only it was bringing back a lot of the elements from Eternal Darkness, it was also asking people who pledge the game to have their input within a special part of the forums called "The Order of the Unseen" where they can share and discuss ideas on how the gameplay should be handled, what insanity effects should be placed, etc.

While it had a rough start with it's first attempt back in May with the goal for $1.35 million dollars for a game that was going to be episodic but how they handled it was rather strange with the funding of the first crowd-fundraiser to only produce the first episode of the game, it also didn't help that they had this on their website and due to a high amount of demands, they made a separate Kickstarter page in order for their pledges to be more secure...but it only got rather worse from there.

Dennis Dyack who was known for the CEO of Silicon Knights hasn't been having a good track record as of late. While some of their earlier games like Cyber Empires (or Steel Empire as it's known in other countries), Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Eternal Darkness and the Gamecube remake of Metal Gear Solid have been praise-worthy titles for good reasons. The last two games put out by Silicon Knights haven't been up to par, such as the nearly-decade long developed Too Human on the Xbox 360 which received mixed reviews and poor sales within the public despite some good aspects added into it but by far the most flawed was when SK was given the task to develop a game based on the popular Marvel comic book franchise which was titled X-Men Destiny and was way below par in terms of reviews and sales due to it's lackluster quality.

Adding insult to injury is that Dyack has been known for spouting things out that he shouldn't have said like the effects on forum culture within gaming but the worst is when him and the rest of SK filed a lawsuit against Gears of War developers Epic Games since the engine that they provided for Too Human didn't seem to work for them. After their lawsuit failed, Epic Games counter-sued and won the case which resulted in Silicon Knights having to pay over $4 million in damages which soon caused their company to go into debt, which resulted in recalling all titles using the engine and selling off equipment to the new studio Precursor Games which Dyack left to persue but stepped down as CEO to CCO for the new developer.

So with all that left behind, Dyack is still accused of being accused of being an enemy, especially to a Kotaku article that accuses him of embezzling the budget that was given to SK for X-Men Destiny by Activision as well as other shady dealings (when there hasn't been any proof from what I know), which he did post a video explaining that it isn't true a few months afterwards. Unfortunately, the video is now set to private by the time of this blog is posted so instead, Kotaku posted another article with the details (as well as the video itself).

  After that, there was still confusion over the handling of the two fundraisers and Precursor Games decide to cancel both the Kickstarter and in-site donations to reconfigure their strategy to fund their big game. 2 months later, Shadow of the Eternals return to Kickstarter with a new goal of $750k, a complete 8-10 game instead of being episodic, an eventual stretch goal to develop for Sony's new-gen system the Playstation 4 and they have David Hayter (Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid) voicing the main character.


So with all of this said and some of the burdens that Precursor Games has received with plentiful amount of mistakes and other bad omens, why I am supporting this? As you might ask.

My answer is rather tricky. While it is true that the previous efforts that Dyack has been involved has been less than stellar and the bad press haunts him to this day. He has made quality games in the past that while may not say much to him as a person but as a developer, he has given a good reputation when compared to the games that he did with Silicon Knights before the release of Too Human.

I also want to see this game become a reality because while I don't have much experience with Eternal Darkness considering that I didn't like the Gamecube back in the day (despite having a really good level of stellar games on the platform), I can see why it was considering an excellent game with it's storytelling, presentation and creative features like the Sanity meter. Something about those aspects added into this spiritual successor really speaks to me with a lot of intrigue that I can't help but be fascinated by.

The early demo that they showed which the game utilizes the CRYEngine3 (the same graphic engine used in the more recent Crysis games) looks superb with solid environment detail, character design and superb use of lighting. The sound design within the music is nicely done although the voice acting could use a little bit of work, it's not awful but not really stellar.

Also with the addition of those who pledge get to have their input in the game really shows that they're trying to make the best game for gamers as much as possible by allowing them on how the game is going to be made via a special forum called The Order of the Unseen. Such as creating ideas for how the game works, what insanity effects, what kind of enemies, etc. It's a very cool incentive, no matter how much you pledge for what incentive, you get access to the forum to partake in helping the developers creating the game.

All of this really impresses me on how ambitious they are as well as how willing to allow community input in their games, combined with an impressive demo and high promises, I feel inclined to check it out once it's complete.

However, there are two problems standing in the way. The first one is not detailing how the funds are going to be spend and considering the bad press that Dyack got in the Kotaku article, it's something that should have been addressed from the start like every other good Kickstarter campaign and the second one is more recent as Nintendo has re-registered their claim for Eternal Darkness which could lead to a follow up to the Gamecube gem on the Wii U with a different developer in mind (or it could be them buying out SOTE but that might be too much of a stretch).

But even with that said, I have a level of hope that it gets funded but it could be a slow build and depending on the time they have left, it's either a do or die moment for the project to reach their goal. I'm also wondering on what they're gonna do if the game doesn't get funded (like Project Awakened which has now been accepted into Steam Greenlight).

But if you're as confident as I am, check out the game's Kickstarter page here as well as vote on Steam Greenlight. It's only your choice, you can say yes or no to whatever you desire.

Thanks for reading.

PAX Australia: A long time coming (Part Two: Games and Hardware)

Welcome to part two of my PAX Australia: A Long Time Coming blog, if you haven't seen part one, click here to read it to see my experience of the main event itself. This post will be focusing on the games and hardware I checked out.

First off with the hardware as I'd like to talk about them very briefly before I get onto the games. On Saturday, I went in line (which was REALLY big by the way) to see Microsoft Presenting the Xbox One which they also had on display in the Expo Hall but was behind a glass case for certain times during the day. Trust me when I say I have a little rant planned for that later.

Anyway, one of the reps of Microsoft came up and discussed about what the Xbox One has in store that most of us probably knew like switching to TV on the fly and back again, optimal hardware, cloud saving and 1080P Skype calls then they showcased the Kinect 2.0 which to my surprise really showed off a lot of neat things on how it tracks your body as well as work in low lighting and has in place an "Active IR" sensor which on how they displayed seemed really impressive but since it's the Kinect, I don't think gamers like me will be wasting time or using it at all.

They also discussed about the controller on how it's seems similar but revamped to make it more comfy and engaging with the use of rumble in the triggers which actually seems very cool but it's more of something that you need to feel for yourself to know how you feel about it.

They then showed off the games they had for demos which were only 3 games that we already knew about. Two exclusives and one multiplatform title. Let's talk about them shall we?

Ryse: Son of Rome - A very grounded in reality, Roman-set, hack-n-slash game by Crytek originally as a Kinect title but now not so much. From what I've saw of it, I had worries it was going to be a QTE action game that people said but it's not the case here, they're only there for executions which they claim to have a hundred of (yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it) and visually looks great, the player had a bit of trouble but not so much at the end.

Battlefield 4 - A rep from EA discussed about how they want to make it as an engrossing story for players to experience and using motion capture with actors to make the drama feel more realistic but we all know most players will be focusing on the multiplayer of that game. They did mention vehicular combat and other aspects from MP into the main campaign but still. The game looks fantastic running at 60fps but really, I don't think I'll be getting it as it looks way too similar to BF 3 that I just don't care but they also mentioned a map pack to come out first on the Xbox One but really I don't give a shit.

Killer Instinct - This is the one game I've been really excited about. I never played the older KI games so I can't really say on how this one is going but despite some of the usual decisions to promote the game, I think it looks impressive even if I'm still weary about the developer behind it. It runs at 60fps like Street Fighter IV and Mortal Kombat and the game itself looks like a lot of fun but lack of an ultra combo at the end was a minor disappointment. Even the rep himself said that.

After that, they also explained the best feature of the Xbox One having a built-in gaming DVR which you can record gameplay and share it with others as well as Twitch integration for livestreaming. While I do want to know if I can add recorded videos to my computer and still hasn't answered that, it's still an awesome feature regardless. So that was pretty much it besides stating the release is in November and they showcased the reveal trailer of Halo 5 that we already know about and I honestly don't care as I was leaving the main theater.

So the presentation was okay but that leads to my rant about Micosoft's appearance at PAX this year. So skip over if you don't want to read but if you want to see, get ready.

Microsoft's appearance other than to promote and showcase the Xbox One is nothing more than meaningless because they still didn't address the concerns about the Kinect being required, does Xbox Live Gold still needed to play online or any other matter that affects the system due to the poor PR they showed at the reveal earlier this year. But the worst of all is that they didn't have any demos for people to play at the Expo Hall. All you had was the system on display for a very limited amount of time and no one can get a feel of the controller with it's rumble triggers or try out the new games that they showcased at E3. Instead of playing them at PAX, you have to play them at the EB Games Expo in October which is happening in Queensland which really hurts those who don't have the effort or money to fly over there like myself. I would love to go there some day but I don't have the money, time or effort to do that this year.

So this was somewhat of a missed opportunity for Microsoft to regain the lost buyers even with the DRM removed and while it may be sold out at pre-orders (in America at least), it's still annoying whatever the case may be.

Okay, that's the end of the rant, let's talk about something more interesting with...

The MOGA Mobile Controller. This has been hyped for some time now and now we get a chance to feel it at PAX. A lot of big developers for Android gaming apps are working with it and it's great to see a controller being made for a more core gamer who prefer not to use the touch screens for certain games like Dead Trigger, Dungeon Hunter 4 or even Sonic The Hedgehog. While the normal version they had felt pretty good but the analog pads felt rather off when compared to the analog pad on the Nintendo 3DS as it had a more concave feel to keep my thumbs in place rather than slipping off. Luckily, they also had a Pro version that I got to feel which was bigger but way more comfortable and featured a D-pad which the basic version lacks. They had original versions on sale for pre-release for $59 as it will come out to EB Games and Target later this year with the Pro version coming down later.

I never been into mobile gaming and I sadly own an iPad for all of my gaming app needs but if I ever do get a better phone or an Android tablet, I might consider picking the pro version of the MOGA Mobile Controller up! It was a pleasant feeling.

Now for the biggest accessory I got to try out which was the Oculus Rift, after waiting an hour in line to speak to the VP of Product manager Nate for a few interesting questions. I got the chance to check out their updated version of the 3D VR goggles (which was a development kit by the way) which goes up to 1080P and was displaying the Unreal Engine 4 at 60fps. I tried a pair of the original 720P developer's kit and while the motion tracking was neat, it was very fuzzy and had a lot of issues with the resolution. The new version was more crisp, detailed and in your face but still had to try and get used to it as it's hard to see properly with all of the 3D imagery in the way but it does showcase how cool it is with a lot of particle effects and details that the Unreal Engine 4 can do and it pulls it off amazingly at a smooth motion. Like you're actually in the game.

They don't have a set date but hoping it'll sell around the $300 price tag, if it gets lower and if I see a game on the PC that I could see working with it for a more immersive experience, I may actually pick one up.

Now to the moment you've all been waiting for...

THE GAMES!!!

I'm gonna start off with some of the big releases then work me way to the indie side as there was quite a lot of games they've showcased. So let's start off with.


Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z - What do you do when you take a beloved yet challenging franchise and collaborate with Mega Man/Dead Rising creator Keiji Inafune? You add zombies to the mix! This spin-off plays very similar to Ninja Gaiden in every aspect which is excellent and the addition of using zombies as weapons makes the gameplay more fun than it already is but my only problems are on how the fans will take this considering the new look, character and style and you press the jump button to dash rather than hold the block button than press a direction.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - A sequel to a sleeper hit reboot of a classic franchise. It's practically the same game but with a lot of refinements like camera control, enhanced detail in the visuals and plays the same as the original but with a lot of refinements to the combat making it more diverse using different abilities and weapons and the sound design is fantastic.

Super Mario 3D World - Similar to Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS but with 4-player co-op and introduces the Cat-suit that can help you climb walls and attack enemies easier. It's pretty fun but won't be seeing myself getting it straight away.

Sonic Lost World - The Wii U version didn't make an appearance but the 3DS version did and it's a lot better than the 3DS port of Sonic Generations but it's rather slower than most Sonic games because I feel they wanted to make it more of a basic platformer than just always speed as you now have a run button but what's cool is the level design, new tricks like the parkour system and other neat little things to make it a rather interesting entry in the Sonic franchise.

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - A sequel to one of the fan favourites of the lengendary series, A Link to the Past. It features the same gameplay with the top-down view and features an ability to traveling along the walls. It's very easy to pick up and play and to have fun exploring. Not a fan of Zelda but this is something I'd like to try out.

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD - The Gamecube gem which had a bit of a mixed reception with the fans comes back for a second chance with an enhanced coat of paint and a few tweaks added into it. Just as fun as any other 3D Zelda game and cannot wait to check it out.

Rayman Legends - The follow-up to the awesome Rayman Origins which was a Wii U exclusive but now on all platforms (except PC which will come soon they say). If you loved Origins, you'll be wanting this game. 'Nuff said.

Flashback - A HD remake of the cult classic cinematic platformer from the 90s with a lot of tweaks and enhancements to make the game more accessible for a newer audience and already, I'm keen on checking it out when it's released.

The Epic Quest for Mighty Loot - A free-to-play title which you can infiltrate another players castle to steal their loot if you can avoid the traps and enemies placed in your way but be careful they can do the same to your castle, so be well guarded! An action-RPG with tower defense aspects sounds crazy but it's really cool. Might give it a go.

I did sit down to check out a presentation of Watch_Dogs at the Ubisoft booth but the problem with that was the presentation only showed an introduction from the Creative Director and footage of the game we've seen back at E3, nothing new. At least, I got a free poster while I was there.

Now with the big games out of the way, let's move to the indie titles as there as a lot and some of them very interesting.

Freedom Fall - You play as a prince who gets duped by an evil Princess and have to go down a big castle from the top to the bottom while avoiding devious traps. Reminds me a lot of Super Meat Boy but a bit more slower paced and it's pretty fun with it's 2D artstyle and silly humor. Out on iOS, Android and Ouya, hoping to come to PC via Steam Greenlight when gotten enough votes.

Zombitsu - An endless runner with action-RPG elements and a level of open-ended platforming. Pretty fun but it's more of a time waster which is a perfect fit for Android phones. Also coming to the Ouya.

MacGuffin's Curse - Now available on Steam, a comedy werewolf puzzle game from Brawsome, the developers behind Jolly Rover. A pretty straight-forward but interesting puzzle game.

Burden - A tower defense game where you place turrets on a giant titan as it tries to deviler cargo from one place to another while being attacked by enemies. It has an organic atmosphere in the game that is well suited with a really good soundtrack. The gameplay isn't my thing but I can see it working with a lot of people who are fans.

Framed - You control what happens to the fate of a framed man on the run from the law as you swap comic panels to progress through the story. Reminds me a lot of Ghost Trick with the concept of changing fate of the main character within the setting of a Noir comic-book. I liked it and it's coming out on iOS and PC soon.

So that's pretty much it, there were others but didn't get a chance to play them or just wasn't interested.

So this concludes my blog about my experience at PAX Australia. Finally glad a new gaming convention has come to Melbourne after a long time and for some photos, be sure to check out my Facebook or Deviantart page for some of the shots I took and I'll probably link my video on PAX itself once it's done.

But with all that said, thank you for reading!