Games of E3 2014

Well, we're back here again. The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is over for another year and this year was a little underwhelming for me. There were plenty of games that captured my attention but not enough to get me too hyped about. The three main press conferences ranged from good to average at best and I did hope a few would make more of a showcase like Quantum Break for the Xbox One and Final Fantasy XV but they were pretty much a no-show which kinda disappointed me as an update on those games would have been nice but nevertheless, I like to talk about some of the games that were premiered or showcased at E3 that I'm intrigued about and will first start off with the console exclusives.

Starting off with Microsoft and the Xbox One. Which they had a solid conference of showing nothing but games.

• Sunset Overdrive - Insomniac have been crazy for many years when it comes to their games like Ratchet and Clank and Resistance but this one has a vibe of both inFamous and Jet Set Radio mixed together and it looks like something that will instantly make me buy the damn system with the level of exploration, crazy weapons, silly premise and 8-player mode. Definitely worth looking out.
• Scaleborn - While it's only a CG trailer that we saw but since it's from the mindset of Hideki Kamiya of Devil May Cry, Bayonetta and Viewtiful Joe fame with his team at Platinum Games, I can't say I have no interest in it. Has the look of DMC crossed with Monster Hunter from what I've noticed but that's all we got, hopefully we'll see more in the future.
• Phantom Dust - I never played the cult favourite original on the Xbox but if it's an little-known old gem that is remade, I have my eyes set on it. A battle arena style fighting game with trading card aspects is what made the original unique and I'm wondering if it'll catch on in this remake.
• Crackdown - I played a bit of the original on the 360 and it was a fun sandbox game where you defeat crime and learn experience points by grabbing orbs throughout the city. The sequel was more or less overpriced DLC and I hope that since the original team is back, this follow up (or reboot) will right the wrongs of the past.
• Fable Legends - I loved the first Fable on the Xbox, didn't like the 2nd one and barely played the 3rd one but I'm intrigued but this one since it's in a new direction with adding 4-player co-op and the ability to play as the villain in one mode of the game. Will it have a campaign mode though? I guess we'll wait and see.

Now onto Sony and to see what they have brought forth for the Playstation 4. Their conference was fine but still suffered from pacing issues li

• Bloodborne - A new IP from the developers that brought you Dark Souls. It's looking pretty similar but it has a new setting, some new mechanics and a more haunting and creepy atmosphere that looks more like a folklore horror tale than a dark fantasy adventure. I await to see what From Software has in store for this one, as long as it isn't too difficult which I doubt (lol).
• Infamous: Second Son - First Light - I might be cheating since this is a stand-alone DLC but it's more inFamous and I love it! Can't wait to see what the story unfolds for the character Fetch who was in the original game for the PS4. I hope Sucker Punch can succeed!
• Grim Fandango Remastered - Who would have thought that Sony would aid Tim Schafer and his team at Double Fine to remaster the cult-classic adventure game on the PC for the PS4 and PS Vita? I remember playing some of it a few years after it came out but never got too far into it. Why is this game not on GOG is beyond me but still, I'm keen to figure out what made this gem so great when I get to play it.
• Uncharted 4: A Thief's End - While I do think going over 3 is excessive for video games but if they're the ones that I enjoy, I can't deny them and Uncharted is one of those franchises. Loved the series since the beginning and hope this final tale will go out with a bang.

Now for Nintendo which they had a great presentation for their Digital Live stream but their content was rather lacking. That said, there has been a few games for the Wii U and 3DS that I feel is worth talking about, so here we go!

• Bayonetta 2 - My most anticipated for the Wii U by far. It took me around to get around to playing the first one on the 360 and when I did, I loved it despite it's overly non-sensical plot. I expect more of the same action as the original but even better with Bayo's new look, 2-player online co-op mode and the best of all, if you haven't played the original, don't worry as you get the first game packed in for free with some nifty Nintendo costumes for Bayonetta to walk around in. Marvelous!
• Super Smash Bros. - Of course, this has to be on the list. Everyone is excited for it and coming from some one who has played the series since the beginning, I'm excited to but probably not as much as I still have my reservations about it since Brawl wasn't the excellent game that was hyped up to be but still has a lot of things going for it like an amazing roster (Sonic, Mega Man and Pac-Man? Wow), playable Miis as well as being on a handheld for the first time along side it's console brother. Plenty of Smash to go around!
• Codename S.T.E.A.M - This one was a hidden surprise which is something I don't think Nintendo should do since new IPs deserve some respect but nevertheless, this is an interesting one. Developed by Intelligent Systems of Fire Emblem and Advanced Wars fame, so you know it'll be a turn-based, strategy game but instead of going grid-based, it goes for a 3rd person-shoot perspective (Valkyria Chronicles style!) with it's comic-book graphical style, set in a steampunk world with heavy metal blasting. You got me!

Done with the exclusives and now time for the Multiplats, PC included!

• Mortal Kombat X - I haven't been the biggest fan of the MK franchise but I have enjoyed the hell out of the last iteration of the franchise which itself was a big comeback to it's former glory (even if Shao Kahn is a pain to beat), this new entry seems to combine a lot of it's predecessor's best aspects (as well as taken a few cues from Injustice, another game by NetherRealm Studios) and enhancing it with better graphics, new fight styles, new characters and a more darker tone as well as more brutal fatalities that makes your skin crawl. Time to unfreeze Sub-Zero once again.
• Far Cry 4 - Loved the last Far Cry and it's downloadable spin-off Blood Dragon so this is a no brainer. Although I was skeptical at first, thinking it was all too soon but a new setting, new animals, new mechanics, a drop-in/out co-op feature and a new villain voiced by Troy Baker. Ubisoft, you have my attention.
• Hotline Miami 2 - The original was an indie smash-hit and for good reasons with it's unique pixelated look with simple yet challenging gameplay revolved around a mind-twisting story. I hope the same for this new installment where you play as 4 characters in a gang as well as the PC version getting a nifty level editor. Nice!
• Oddworld: New 'n Tasty - I have vague memories of the classic Abe's Oddyssey back on the PS1, it was indeed a unique and creative game back in the day as well as along with it's successors that followed. So I'm happy to return to this remake, done by the original creators and save them mudokans from Rupture Farms.
• Hunt: Horrors of the Guilded Age - A Resident Evil 4-style co-op shooter centered around American horror folklore, developed with the Cry Engine from Crytek USA (originally known as Vigil games of Darksiders fame). Looks great and while it's familiar, it's different enough to have me intrigued.
• Dying Light - I've mentioned this game before in a previous blog but sadly, the game has been pushed to 2015 but still, I'm interested on how this new IP from the developers behind the original Dead Island games can fare up. Hopefully not as buggy.
• Lords of the Fallen - It's certainly inspired by Dark Souls but that's not a bad thing as it's visually impressive with a Diablo-esque look to it as well as it's meant to be a bit more accessible. I'm keen!

So there are my most interested games of E3 2014 but here is a small list of honourable mentions!

• Batman: Arkham Knight - I might be growing tired of Batman but that doesn't mean I enjoyed the Arkham games and this one is proving to be a bit bigger than expected.
• Xenoblade Chronicles X - Haven't played much of the original but this one looks amazing.
• Dead Island 2 - How can Yeager follow this one up? At least their debut trailer was honest.
• Star Fox - Wanted to put it on the list but we haven't seen anything about it, Dammit Miyamoto!
• Zelda Wii U - The footage was pretty but left me with a vague impression.
• Kingdom Under Fire 2 - Been nearly 8 years since it was announced, sadly it's a free-to-play title.
• Mass Effect 4 - I'm in for a new Mass Effect but concepts alone isn't enough to get me hyped.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider - I enjoyed the reboot so it's a no brainer but that title is stupid >.<
• Rainbow Six: Siege - Not expecting it but I liked the Vegas installments of the series, so why not?
• No Man's Sky - Doesn't seem to be the kind of game that I would play but it has promise.
• Splatoon - If priced right, I can see this inventive spin on the 3rd-person shooter genre for the Wii U being fun.

There were plenty more that I could have mentioned but I didn't have much to say about them to be honest. So that's pretty much it for E3 of 2014. Hopefully next year will be more exciting but I'm keeping my expectations low for it, but at least a lot of great titles are coming later this year and the next.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you all in the future!

Top 5 Gaming Guilty Pleasures

Guilty Pleasures. No matter how much we think some things are bad, we can't help but enjoy them for some reason. Bad movies, bad TV shows, bad songs, you name it!

And this also applies to video games, games that we're ashamed to enjoy but someone is bound to find out sooner or later. This can also apply to games that a generally good or bad but not the type that you'd usually play because you don't want many people knowing that you play that sort of game because you're not a fan of it but happen to make one exception.

So with the explanation in tact, I now start off with my Top 5 Gaming Guilty Pleasures!

5. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003

I've had my fair share of playing sports games as I grew up playing Wrestling games, Skateboarding games and even a few tennis games here and there (Rockstar Presents Table Tennis was going to be on this list but instead chose this one) but golf games is something that I wouldn't expect to play as some of the older ones before this one were pretty tricky but had a level of fun to it.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 is the only golf game I've put so much time into back on the original Xbox as it was accessible with using the right analog stick to move the club back and forth to adjust the power with all of the depth of a usual golf-sim but not so much that it alienates those who aren't really into a high level of realism.

It's campaign mode is nicely done as you can play your own golfer, the courses you play are beautiful and each tournament you go into is always a challenge with moments that have a heart-beat when you hit a long ball to the green. I consider this as a guilty pleasure because I never really invested into any of EA's sports titles with the exception of the EA BIG brand with games like SSX.

So having a standard golf sim like Tiger Woods is unusual but with the level of simplicity and ease of control in this game (as opposed to the later installments which they went a bit too real), this one is one of the more fun golf titles that I've had a look at.

4. Deadly Premontion

I already talked about this game on my previous posts which was a review of the game, so if you haven't looked at it, I suggest you do so as I really don't have much to say.

I put this game low on the list because while I'm guilty of playing this game because of the low quality it represents, it's been praised by a ton of other gamers and has been well-received by critics (or as well received as a B-grade movie). Not as well received like The Last of Us but decent enough to warrant a look at.

While I still stand on what I say about the games poor quality in terms of controls, visuals, map and other bugs. The story and characters is what drove the game by involving the player into something completely bizarre but magnificent at the same time and that alone is quite of an accomplishment by Swery 65 and his development studio Access Games.

Not including the hilarious moments that happen, whenever they're intentional or not. This is a game that only the very curious can dare themselves to look into and I did so with grace and haven't looked back. Guilty as charged but no regrets.

3. Too Human

Probably one of the most controversial games on the Xbox 360 (or as controversial as a small-town convenience store robbery) as Too Human has had a troubled and long development history. Originally started as a 4-disc epic on the PS1 before shifting to Gamecube and then finally having it's place on Microsoft's console, using the Unreal 3 Engine.

While many may have forgotten about this game, was it worth the wait? Probably not because despite it's long time to fine-tune the game, it is riddled with problems that would make a lot of players put the game down in frustration. I was not one of those people surprisingly.

But how can I like a game like this? The game's combat is clunky as you use the right analog stick to attack with swords or guns, the uncontrollable camera doesn't help either (as you can only reset it), the enemies can overpower you and kill you instantly if you're not well equipped, the game over screens are annoying as you can't skip them as you watch your character get carried away by a Valkyrie, there's not much in terms of side quests as the game feels too linear and the story doesn't get interesting until the end which leaves on a cliffhanger.

So why do I like this game?! Well...I guess it has to go with the creative ambition the game had, even with it's near-decade long development history, the concept is very interesting as it takes Norse Mythology into a sci-fi setting, the amount of loot you get is quite cool, some of the visual design is neat, the sound design is excellent in terms of voice and music and it does set up for something bigger at the end.

But that sequel will probably never see the light of day as developer Silicon Knights lost their stupid lawsuit against Epic Games over the Unreal Engine, claiming it wasn't what they were given wasn't user friendly enough and as a result, Epic Games counter-sued and they won, resulting nearly $10 million in damages which forced SK to recall all copies of Too Human as well as the critically abysmal X-Men: Destiny.

The end of Silicon Knights? Probably and sadly, which is why I'm relieved that I was able to get Too Human before it gets taken away.

3. Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers

Contrary to belief, this game has a bit of a following in Japan (so much so as it has it's own movie) as the Onechanbara series started off on the PS2 in Japan (as well as Europe if I'm not mistaken) as budget games and they clearly show and when D3Publisher decided it was a neat idea to bring the Xbox 360 remake subtitled Bikini Samurai Squad as well as it's new installment on the Wii subtitled Bikini Zombie Slayers, I strangely had a small amount of interest in this.

The reviews and some gamers are to expecting this game to be crap and they're probably right as this game is repetitive, convoluted, shallow and just not worth the full price. But in spite of all of that, I kind of enjoyed this game.

Obvious shameless sex-appeal aside (trying to out-do Dead or Alive, are we?), this game is indeed repetitive as Dynasty Warriors and Sengoku Basara. Two game franchises which I'm not a fan of because as hack-n-slash games, they're pretty dull with large scale battles against brain-dead AI which makes me think of other games like Ninja Gaiden instead because I prefer that series over them.

That said however, Onechanbara doesn't really have much of a large scaled as the areas are small and linear which I'm okay with because I feel they don't drag on for too long but that said the game is still repetitive as you have to waggle your arm a lot with the Wii-remote to attack instead of button mashing (like the cult gem No More Heroes), you have to clean your blade off once in a while to make it sharp again, your move sets are a bit limited, the other playable characters don't add much to the experience but only minor as one of them does use a gun, the story is convoluted and the visuals aren't that great.

Although, I still enjoyed from what I played of it because while it is a waggle-fest, the controls work fine, the levels are brief and don't drag out so you can take breaks between them if you get bored quickly and while it is silly, it has a small sense of personality even if it isn't anything too special. So while I do think it's tailored towards the Dynasty Warriors crowd in terms of gameplay, it is in fact a decent time-waster if you lower your expectations, play it at short bursts and just enjoy it.

I really don't know what else to say as this game is indeed pretty bad but I can't help but like it.

2. Def Jam Vendetta

As I mentioned earlier that I grew up playing a lot of wrestling games, mainly the WCW and WWF (now WWE) games on the N64, PS1 and a bit of PS2. But I am not a fan of Rap/Hip-Hop music, I don't hate the genre as I do enjoy some performers or songs but it's not my go-to choice of music as I mainly prefer guitars and drum kits.

So why do I have an interest in this? I looked into it via videos on DVDs and demo discs when magazines had them packed in back in the day (before downloading demos became a thing) and I was strangely intrigued until eventually I gave in and got it on the Gamecube.

As I said, I'm not a fan of Rap/Hip-Hop music but this had it's level of charm as combing that with wrestling strangely worked, especially since this was co-developed by the AKI Corporation, the same developers behind the WCW/WWF games on the N64 and they knew their stuff. Sure the game was lacking a few modes as well as a create a player but the main campaign was fun and once you're against famous rappers like Ludacris or DMX, it gets rather challenging. It's the one odd wrestling game that I never thought I would play and here it is.

The game did follow up with two sequels but I never bothered with them and judging by the 3rd one, it seems that we'll never see another fighting/wrestling game affiliated with Def Jam Records again.

1. Kingdom Hearts: 3D - Dream Drop Distance

...Where do I begin?

If I was going to do a top list of games that I never want to play, the original Kingdom Hearts games on the PS2 (and the upcoming 3rd one on the new-gen systems) would be on that list for one particular reason and that reason is...the pairing of both Square and Disney characters don't mix well with me.

I'm sorry but the whole concept just sounds like something a 3rd-rate crossover fanfic writer would do because they don't really have anything in common at all. If it was a game with Disney and Studio Ghibli or Warner Bros. cartoon characters, then maybe that can work better or something like Final Fantasy crossed with Fire Emblem or Phantasy Star or even Dragon Quest.

So why did I even play this 3DS spin-off you may ask? Because of the appearance of characters from one of my favourite DS games of all time, The World Ends with You. Neku, Josh, Shiki, Beat and Rhyme were in it and I was thrilled to see them even if it was a brief moment at the start and lead to believe that Square still had confidence in the cult favourite RPG, which lead to a mobile version of the DS game (which that reveal still kinda upsets me to this day as I was hoping for a sequel).

But aside from that, the rest of the game was my first proper experience to the world of Kingdom Hearts and to my surprise, I really liked it. The worlds you go are detailed and faithful to the Disney classic films or more recent ones like Tron Legacy which looked amazing and even the character designs looked remarkably faithful. The combat was surprisingly fun even though the camera can be a little obnoxious at times and overall, it was a very enjoyable game.

I shouldn't feel guilty since a lot of people like this game as well as critics but I do because of my lack of interest for this franchise for those reasons (which can also be taken as a vow). But you know what they say...If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

And that concludes my Top 5 Gaming Guilty Pleasures, please comment and tell me what games are you guilty of liking and with that said, thanks for reading and have a nice day!

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.