Valiant Hearts, Jackbox Smash Pack, Shadow of Mordor, Broken games, Driveclub

Valiant Hearts

• It's a side scrolling game that has you controlling 3-4 soldiers and a dog through different events in World War 1. 
• The main focus is on the story and it provides some interesting history on the War. Did you know that soldiers had to use cloths dipped in urine to combat the chlorine gas the Germans used as the first poison gas in the war?
• It uses the same engine as the Rayman Legend game so it looks great.
• The game play is mainly puzzles and trying to get through obstacles. 
• I'm about half way through and I have really enjoyed the game.  If you have any interest in World War 1 then you should pick this game up.

Jackbox Smash Pack(Steam)

• It's a collection of 5 games from the makers of You Don't Know Jack and each one can be controlled by any smart device, phone, tablet, or laptop.
• When the game starts a code is displayed on the screen and then you go to Jackbox.tv on your device enter the code and then you are ready to play. It works really well.
• They have the classic YDKJ game that is 1-4 players, then Fibbage, Word spud, and Drawful that are 1-8 and finally Lie Swatter 1-100 players.
• I had about 10 people over and we played a couple of the games and really enjoyed it.
• Lie swatter is the easiest, on the screen a statement appears and then you choose if it's a lie or truth.
• Fibbage was really cool. You are given a statement with a blank somewhere in the text and then you have 30 seconds to put in a word for the blank that is a lie that you think someone will choose.  Then it takes those lies and puts them on the screen with the correct answer and you choose.  The game then shows what each player chose and if they chose your lie you get extra points. 
• This is a great party game since everyone has a smart phone so it's easy to setup and explain.
• It on the Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PC

Shadow of Mordor

• I never finished this game so I went back and played for a couple of hours and it's hooked me again. 
• The game is just pure fun and it gets better as you gain abilities and it makes you feel truly powerful, although I still die and fail missions so that does keep the nemesis system interesting.

 Far Cry 4, Assasins Creed Unity, Dragon Age Inquisition, MCC

• What is wrong with the big releases this year.  They have all had issues and it's pretty annoying.
• They did release a patch to fix Far Cry 4's stuttering issue and it's mostly fixed but I still notice a few microstutters and it seems they've downgraded the graphics a bit.
• A fourth patch for AC unity releases today so maybe I'll finally get a chance to play that.
• They released a Dragon Age patch last week that broke parts of the game.  I didn't have any issues before but now I'm just going to wait as there are reports of losing saves. 
• I still don't think they've fixed the Master Chief collection's multiplayer issues and that's based on Halo which always launched with great online play. 

Driveclub

• I think this game is finally fixed although the free PSN+ version is still missing.
• They added the patch that enabled dynamic weather and that is really cool.
• I setup a race in the rain and the effects were really cool and the water would puddle up on the road which did affect tire traction. 

New Releases - Still quite a few releases.  Elite: Dangerous a space shooter is finally coming out and Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes on PC. 

PC

Elite: Dangerous (download)
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (download)
Lisa (download)
SunAge: Battle for Elysium (download)
bit Dungeon II (download)
Clash of Puppets (download)
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition (download - $15)
Rime Berta (download)
Marvin's Mitterns (download)

PlayStation 4

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-
Tetris Ultimate (download)
Loadout (download - free-to-play)
Super Mega Baseball (download)

Xbox One

Tetris Ultimate (download)
Kalimba (download)

PlayStation 3

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-
Super Mega Baseball (download)

Wii U

Meme Run (download)
Blok Drop x Twisted Fusion (download)

Vita

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Toys vs. Monsters (download)

Super Smash Bros Brawl, Geometry Wars 3, Tales from the Borderlands, DA Inquistion

Hope y'all have a great Thanksgiving and fun times with your families, hopefully you will also be able to get some game time in. 

Super Smash Brothers Brawl (WiiU)

• Been getting some unbelievable reviews, I even saw a couple of 100's.  It's sold 3.4 million copies in the first week.
• I bought the digital version and had to hookup an external hard drive to the WiiU since I was out of space and that process went smooth with no issues. 
• I've only spent a couple of hours with the game and so far it has been awesome.
• The game is beautiful and is 1080P at 60 fps so it's silky smooth.
• The character roster is huge and there are a ton of modes and collectibles that should keep me busy for a while.
• The only downside is the online play where I've had mixed experiences.  The first 10 games I played there was no lag then when I tried again last night the lag was so bad I had to just play single player. 
• Nintendo has had some really great games this year and they ended with a bang. 

Geometry Wars 3(Steam)

• If you like Geometry wars then you should like the 3rd version.
• This time it really lives up to it's name, each stage is on a different geometric shape so you are no longer just playing on a square grid.
• The meat of the game is in the adventure mode with 50 stages to complete.  Each stage has 3 stars to obtain and you need stars to progress to each level.
• The game is tough and I'm stuck at the 10 stage needing 4 more stars. 
• There is a classic mode that has the stages from the last game. 
• There are of course leader boards for each mode so you can compete with your friends or the world.
• I'm liking the game so far, it's a fun diversion to play when I'm not busy fighting dragons or honey badgers.

Tales from the Borderlands(PC)

• Another game from Tell Tale studios, I can't wait for the Game of Thrones one.
• This game is set in the Borderlands universe and is really good. The graphics look like the game and it has the same sense of humor which to me is a good thing. 
• I really like how they took the game play from Borderlands and adjusted it to an adventure game.  The quick time events are done really well and the fight sequence at the beginning was really cool.  So far I haven't shot a gun which does feel a bit strange. 

Dragon Age Inquisition

• About 18 hours in now and still just scratching the surface, this game is huge. 
• For me the exploration has been the best part.  Each location is varied and has it's own distinct feeling and some of the views look amazing. 
• So far the party chat hasn't been as good as the last game, they don't seem to chat as much. I haven't gathered all the party members yet so that could change.   I do like the Iron Bull character which I just opened up and he has made me chuckle a few times.

Far Cry 4(PC)

• Really want to play, but the game has some stuttering issues that really bug me so I'm shelving it till those get resolved.
• When I'm moving around the world or driving a vehicle the game will drop about 20 frames at certain points then go back to normal, it's very noticeable and not sure how it was not noticed before release. 
• There is a workaround but it makes the textures default to the medium setting whch isn't ideal.

New Releases - Didn't expect this many releases this week.

​PC

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (download - $15)
If My Heart Had Wings (download)
Luna: Shattered Hearts: Episode 1 (download)
Reverse Side (download)
Space Salvager (download)
Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon (download)
Joe Dever's Lone Wolf HD Remastered (download)
Emergency 5 - Deluxe Edition (download)
Wings of Vi (download)
Rugby Union Team Manager 2015 (download)
Foresight (download)

PlayStation 4

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (download - $15)
Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender DX (download)
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed (download)
Speakeasy (download)
Thomas Was Alone (download)

Xbox One

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (download - $15)

Xbox 360

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (download - $15)

PlayStation 3

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (download - $15)
Boxing (download - PS1 Classic)

Wii U

Penguins of Madagascar
Thomas Was Alone (download)
Mario Pinball Land (download - Virtual Console)
Mighty Final Fight (download - Virtual Console)

Vita

Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender DX (download)
Pocket RPG (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
Penguins of Madagascar

Dragon Age Inquisition, Far Cry 4, Gta V

Dragon Age Inquisition (PC)  - Awesome Buy Now!

• I thought that the game was going to read in the save from Dragon Age 2 which I never finished.  I started playing that last week and have around 25 hours invested then found out that it used the Dragon Age Keep app that doesn't read saves but uses a different method to acquire your choices from previous games so I was a little disappointed. 
• The app is very good though and it allows you to edit around 60 different plot points from the previous games.  It did read my decisions from the first Dragon Age and after I made some choices on the 3rd act of DA2 which I hadn't finished it played a 15 minute flash video of the story with the choices I made which was awesome since it's been about 5 years since I played the original Dragon Age although I did remember quite a bit about it than I had thought I would.   
• The first game was an expansive journey which took you around the world of Ferelden in a grand adventure. The second game went in a different direction and had you in a single city with some expanded areas and the game didn't feel as epic as the first and wasn't received well although the story was great. 
• The 3rd game goes back to the grand adventure of the first with a larger world full of content.  I've read that some people have spent 20 hours just in the first town. 
• The graphics are a huge overhaul and it does feel next gen with some really good looking faces.  I spent about 30 minutes tweaking my character. 
• The combat is a mix of the first and second games so you can play it as an action rpg or tactical depending on the difficulty you set. I'm playing with a controller and it feels great and it's easy to control, there is actually a jump button for the first time in the series.
• I think Bioware learned their lesson and have put out one of the best games of this year and with over 150 hours of content maybe next year as well. 

Far Cry 4 (PC) -  Awesome Buy Now!

• So there I was minding my own business out in the jungle when I thought I heard some loud foot steps behind me, I went to get into my car and then "BAM!" I was flying through the air dead from the initial impact.  I did forget to mention that I had previously shot at a rhino.  Don't ---- with rhinos.
• Far Cry 4 is Far Cry 3 on steroids, everything from the previous game has been upgraded and enhanced which made a great game even better.  The only thing the game needs is a kill cam, I would love to see they ways I've died from an above camera view.
• The environments are lush with more grass and trees than the last game and with the snowy mountain peaks in the background make this a stunning looking game. 
• I'm able to run the game at mostly max settings after having to edit an xml file because I was getting occasional stutters, this should be fixed with a path soon.  It ran fine after that and I had no other issues, except for rhinos.
• The wildlife in this game is more aggressive, you have to be cautious of your surroundings and even from the air, hawks will swoop down out of nowhere and will attack. I was in a boat and got out to collect a plant, but didn't notice the piranhas, dead again. 
• I only put in a couple of hours since I was sampling the other games and I am really impressed with the game.

GTA V (PS4)   Awesome Buy Now!

• I bought the 360 version when it came out last year and played around 15 hours but didn't get close to finishing. The game was good but I just didn't like the way it looked or performed.
• I was going to wait for the PC version which comes out Jan 25 but once they released the first person trailer I had to get the game.
• I've played about 3 hours all in first person view and it makes the game feel totally different.
• The movement doesn't feel like a first person shooter, you can tell the camera is on a body so it does take a bit to get used to. They have all kinds of new animations for this view like jumping over objects and crashing out the window of a crashed car.  It all adds to the immersion and being able to walk down the street and admire all the attention to detail of the city is amazing.
• The shooting seems better and when you go into cover I do have it set to switch to 3rd person view to get a better sense of my surroundings.  You can change your view at any time by pressing the touch panel which is really nice.
• The graphical upgrade to 1080P and the smooth frame rate makes the game feel like a next gen game.
• The install did take around an hour on the PS4 though luckily I had some other games to play.  
• New Releases - Well the final week before Thanksgiving means a ton of games.  I have 3 picks this week, Far Cry 4, Dragon Age Inquisition, and GTA V.  Escape Dead Island looks interesting as well.

PC

Dragon Age: Inquisition (download - $60) - Getting great reviews.
Far Cry 4 (download - $60) - Good reviews as well.
Company of Heroes 2 - Ardennes Assault (download - $40)
Escape Dead Island (download - $40) - Cell shaded?
Construction Simulator (download - $30)
Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom (download)
Reverse Side (download)
Rollers of the Realm (download)
Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) (download)
Fate: The Cursed King (download)
Basketball Pro Management 2015 (download - $25)
The Marvellous Miss Take (download)
Rugby 15 (download - $40)
European Fishing (download)
Solidface 2D/3D Parametric CAD (download)
Tome: Immortal Arena (download)
Death Skid Marks (download)

PlayStation 4

Dragon Age: Inquisition
Far Cry 4
Grand Theft Auto V
LittleBigPlanet 3
WWE 2K15
Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show
Monopoly Family Fun Pack
Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) (download)
Rollers of the Realm (download)
Tiny Troopers (download)

Xbox One

Dragon Age: Inquisition
Far Cry 4
Grand Theft Auto V
WWE 2K15
Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show
Monopoly Family Fun Pack
Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) (download)

Xbox 360

Dragon Age: Inquisition
Far Cry 4
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Escape Dead Island
Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show
Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom

PlayStation 3

Dragon Age: Inquisition
Far Cry 4
LittleBigPlanet 3
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Escape Dead Island
Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd
Kickboxing (download)

Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Watch Dogs

Vita

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd
Rollers of the Realm (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Pokemon Omega Ruby
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire
Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom

Call of Duty: AW, Assassins Creed Unity

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbone)

• I got hooked on multi-player over the weekend and put in about 12 hours, I have around 20 hours total now and finally reached level 50 and going to prestige. 
• The game is just so fast with the new movement options that it's just crazy playing any match.  I play hardcore mode when I want to slow it down just a bit but even then it's like a car race.
• In Free for all mode I think I die around every 20 seconds but I'm usually ranked in the top 3 after switching to use the BAL gun.  This mode is probably the most frantic COD mode that I've every played and it's awesome.  I do have to take breaks because my nerves can get a little frazzled after 10 matches. 
• The released a patch that hits the Xbone today so I'll give it a try and hopefully it fixes some of the issues.
• There are only 2 issues I have are bad spawns and some lag.  The spawns are horrible on Free for all especially the starting spawns as most times I'll be right next to someone so it's best just to duck down and start shooting.
• I've been getting better at using the Simtek grenades and I'm not sure why you would use any other grenade,  They stick to enemies and the environment and I carry 2 so I get about 4 or 5 kills a match.  I even 2 kill cams last night using them. 
• I've played a couple of more missions of the campaign and it's normal COD stuff but with a story that I can follow.  I need to try the co-op mode sometime as that seems like it would be fun. 

Assassins Creed Unity (PC)

• Some pretty bad reviews of the game and most are related to technical issues.   The consoles have some pretty drastic frame rate drops and I've noticed some of that on the PC mostly with cut scenes. I have noticed some pop-in while running down the street, people would have clothes added to them when I approached them, but it wasn't too bad. 
• I had almost everything cranked up and was getting around 50-60 fps, then I turned everything up to the max and get around 30 so I'm not sure which I will stick with.  The game looks amazing and the environments are really lifelike and the detail that went into them is outstanding.  Paris was a great place for the game to take place in. 
• The streets are full of people and it does feel like a true town now with crowded markets and even when you run through houses you will see around 5-8 people so the next gen does bring more than just graphics. 
• The movement is about the same as other AC games, they have added some new animations like when you dismount from climbing that I noticed immediately.
• The combat feels better in the few fights that I've had, it feels like they have a better flow to the encounters.
•  I haven't played enough to see if I like the main character but he seems like a dashing young man. 
• If you like the AC games then you should pick it up after they release patches that fix the technical issues. 

New Releases - This and next week have some big games coming out.  The Halo Master Chief Collection is my pick of the week followed by Valkyria Chronicles a re-release on the PC.

PC

World of Warcraft: Warlods of Draenor
Assassin's Creed Unity (download - $60)
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (download - $30)
Valkyria Chronicles (download - $20)
Space Hulk: Ascension (download - $30)
Chariot (download)
This War of Mine (download)
Global ATC Simulator (download)
Desert Ashes (download)
Magnetic By Nature (download)
Why So Evil (download)
Get Off My Lawn! (download)
Toyboy Turbos (download - $15)
Deadlings - Rotten Edition (download)
Oort Online (download)
Deadstone (download)
Amphora (download)
Randal's Monday (download - $25)
The Sun and Moon (download)
Homebrew - Vehicle Sandbox
Frozen Synapse Prime (download)
QP Shooting - Dangerous!! (download)
Reverse Side (download)

PlayStation 4

Assassin's Creed Unity
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Pro Evolution Soccer 2015
Retro City Rampage DX (download)
Terraria (download)
Nano Assault Neo-X (download)

Xbox One

Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Assassin's Creed Unity
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Xbox 360

Assassin's Creed Rogue
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Digimon: All-Star Rumble

PlayStation 3

Assassin's Creed Rogue
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Digimon: All-Star Rumble
Pro Evolution Soccer 2015
Retro City Rampage DX (download)

Wii U

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
A World of Keflings (download)
Tengami (download)

Vita

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Tales of Hearts R
Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition
Senran Kagura: Bon Apetit!
Retro City Rampage DX (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Picross e5 (download)
Pokemon Trading Card Game (download)

Call of Duty Edition

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare(Xbox One)

• I've been debating on which console to pick the game for and I finally went with the Xbox One because of the early DLC.
• The game finally feels next gen.  The graphics look crisp and the environments have a ton of detail, the character models look excellent.
• The sound design is awesome. Each gun has a good thump when firing which keeps my sub woofer shaking my chair. 
• I only played the first level of the campaign and that was while waiting for the disc to install.  Install times on the Xbox one are lengthy.
• The biggest change to the game from previous versions is the mobility of moving around the map.  The exo suit you wear has a jet pack attached so you can double jump and dodge, it feels a bit like Titanfall without the wall running. 
• It does take some time to get used to the new mobility but once you do traversing the map is really fun. No more stairs.
• The faster movement does have a major drawback though, once you fire or kill an enemy you need to quickly be on guard as enemies seem to show up within seconds.  Before they might have been behind a wall now they just jump over so it.
• The exo suit also has other powers that you can use.  I like using the shield so if I spot an enemy at the last second I hit the left bumper which activates the shield which gives me time to get behind cover.  I also use the silent footsteps which puts a damper on sound around you and lets me hear enemies easier.
• When you build your different classes you have a ton of options.  Each gun, perk, kill streak, or attachment has a cost of one point and you have a total of 13 to setup as you like.  If you are not good at getting kill streaks then remove them and use those points to add more attachments to your guns or have multiple perks. 
• I feel like there needs to be a more guns, I think there are 6 per class and they could use a few more.  You get different attachments for your guns by using them and completing challenges like head shots or hip kills, some of the challenges are tough and will take a lot of time to acquire. 
• I'm level 33 out of 50 in multiplayer and played mostly team deathmatch and free for all. Those modes are still hectic with instant re-spawns so I die a lot. I've started playing the hardcore mode which does slow things up a bit and makes for more tactical game play.
• The maps feel about the right size and I haven't played a map that I don't like out of the 13 total. 
• While I was playing I kept remembering some of my favorite maps from the previous games and wish one year they would have an anniversary game with all the different multiplayer maps from every game like they are doing for the Halo Anniversary game out next week. 
• My best kill so far was when I was in a double jump and the enemy did the same and I was able to kill him in mid-air and got a special achievement. 

Deals

• The Best Buy Ultimate Gamer Club is still on this week so for an extra $30 you will get 20% off all new games for 2 years. 
• If you are getting COD then get this deal it will knock off $12 off of COD.

New Releases - It's Call of Duty week so not much else releasing, the WiiU doesn't get COD   
PC

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (download - $60)
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (download - $15)
Depth (download - $25)
Defenders of Time (download)
World of Subways 1 - The Path (download)
Logistics Company (download)
A Bird Story (download)
Crowntakers (download - $15)
Gold Rush Anniversary (download)
QP Shooting - Dangerous (download)

PlayStation 4

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Rocksmith 2014 Edition
The Wolf Among Us (retail)
How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition
MXGP
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (download)

Xbox One

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Rocksmith 2014 Edition
The Wolf Among Us (retail)

Xbox 360

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
The Wolf Among Us (retail)

PlayStation 3

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
The Wolf Among Us (retail)
MXGP
BlazeRush (download)
Snark Busters: High Society (download)

Wii U

Citizens of Earth (download)
The Swapper (download)
Sportsball (download)
Pier Solar and the Great Architects (download)

Vita

The Wolf Among Us (retail)
MXGP
Don't Die, Mr. Robot! (download)
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Harvest Moon: Lost Valley
Pokemon Puzzle Challenge (download)

Bayonetta 2, Lords of the Fallen, Deals, Ipad Air 2

Bayonetta 2 (WiiU)

• I loved the first game and this one is no exception they ramp'd up the craziness even more.
• If you never played the first game then you are in luck it's included making this a great deal.
• It's your basic 3rd person beat'em up action game and it's awesome.
• There are a ton of moves to learn and you can still button mash some and still survive.
• The game does have a cheeky and dark sense of humor with some sexiness mixed in, it's a mature game.
• The lead character is a woman who uses her hair as clothing and when she summons monsters the hair is used so you may not want to play with your wife/gf around as you may get some strange stares, there is no nudity but it can be awkward.
• You are ranked in each level based on a variety of stats so there is a ton of replay value. 
• There are tons of things to unlock so this game could keep you busy for awhile.
• If you own a WiiU then you should get this game. 

Lords of the Fallen(Steam)

• Ever wanted to play Dark Souls but were too afraid of the difficulty?
• The game is in the style of Dark Souls but is more accessible and forgiving.
• It's still more challenging than most games so if you just rush into combat you will die.
• The graphics look great and I like the art style, I've read quite a few complaints about it but I like the World of Warcraft look.
• The game has NG+ and NG++ after that the game ends so there is some replay value. 
• I've put in 4 hours and beaten 3 bosses and really enjoyed what I've played.  It's not a button masher, the combat takes some patience and rewards timing and technique instead of fast action which makes the action feel realistic. 
• I love Dark Souls and I'm glad other games are taking some it's ideas and putting their spin on them. 

Deals - Don't Miss this Deal - If you plan on buying more than 3 games in the next 2 years.

• Best buy is offering their Game Club Ultimate for $30 if you purchase any game over 39.99 this week or the next.
• The GCU gives you 20% off any new game purchased for the next 2 years so it's worth it.
• Also if you are going to buy Call of Duty Advanced Warfare you can trade in Ghosts for $20 or Black Ops 2 for $15 plus get a $10 reward cert as well so if you buy the GCU you can get the game for around $25 for a brand new game.  You need to trade in the game before Nov 1.

Ipad Air 2

• I had the Ipad 3 and it was starting to show it's age as there was some slowdown when switching apps and playing certain games so I picked up the Air 2 and it's great.
• The thing is lightening fast and is quite a bit lighter so it was a substantial upgrade.
• The only thing that is strange is that it's so thin when I use the built in speakers they vibrate the whole device if I have the volume more than half way. 

New Releases - A ton of new releases.  Why don't they release some of these in July?  My pick is Lords of the Fallen kind of like Dark Souls but not as punishing.  Sunset Overdrive is getting some really positive reviews.

PC

Lords of the Fallen (download - $50)
Woah Dave! (download)
Mythos: The Beginning (download)
Fabula Mortis (download)
Skara - The Blade Remains (download)
Daedalus - No Escape (download)
Zero Point (download)
BlazeRush (download)
The Forest of Doom (download)
Dark Arcana: The Carnival (download)
Farming Simulator 15 (download - $30)
NS2: Combat (download)
Gold Rush Anniversary (download)
Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager (download)
Solidface 2D/3D Parametric CAD (download)

PlayStation 4

WWE 2K15
NBA Live 15
Lords of the Fallen
SingStar (download)
Costume Quest 2 (download - $15)
Home (download)
#KillAllZombies (download)
The Unfinished Swan (download)

Xbox One

Sunset Overdrive
WWE 2K15
NBA Live 15
Lords of the Fallen
Xbox 360
WWE 2K15
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze

PlayStation 3

WWE 2K15
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze
SingStar (download)
Costume Quest 2 (download - $15)
Blood of the Werewolf (download)
MX vs. ATV Supercross (download)
Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops (download)

Wii U

Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones (download)
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (download - Virtual Console)
Demon's Crest (download - Virtual Console)
Gargoyle's Quest II (download - Virtual Console)

Vita

Freedom Wars
The Unfinished Swan (download)
Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops (download)
Poltergeist: A Pixelated Horror (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay
Woah Dave (download)
Gargoyle's Quest II (download - Virtual Console)

Fantasia, Legend of Grimrock 2, South Park Pinball, The Evil Within, Bayonetta 2 Demo

Fantasia

• This game is made by Harmonix who developed my favorite game, Rock Band. 
• The game has you directing music like Mickey Mouse did in Disney's animated classic, Fantasia and it's a ton of fun and the best use of the kinect sensor other than Dance Central.
• The game comes with 33 songs and I bought the digital deluxe version that adds another 30 songs.
• Fantasia does let you remix the songs while playing. each song has at least 3 variants so it does mix up the game a bit and adds some user creativity.
• I am having some issues with the timing and I think it's due to the calibration, I'm still working on getting it perfect.
• It starts off with a long tutorial and there is an involved story mode but you can goto the options and turn on the free play which will open up every song.
• There isn't any online multiplayer, it does support 2 local players which I haven't tried yet.
• The music is varied and I've enjoyed some of the songs that I wouldn't normally listen too. 
• If you have an Xbox one with the Kinnect then you should get this game. 

Legend of Grimrock 2 (Steam)

• The first game was a great dungeon crawler like Dungeon Master and was a mix of combat and puzzle solving.
• The sequel opens up with more puzzles and has outside areas so you aren't confined to the dungeon any more.
• The combat is real time so you will be moving around quite a lot avoiding attacks and you need to be aware of your surrounding so you don't get cornered.
• I kind of wish it was turn-based as I feel like I'm square dancing around the enemies but you do get used to it.
• The game has some tough puzzles at the start and I think it has more puzzles that combat this time around.
• So far I've enjoyed the game and hope to spend more time with it.

Pinball FX2 - South Park Pinball

• I've really enjoyed the tables of Pinball FX2 and they just released 2 South Park tables and they are great.
• There is one table that has all the characters and one dedicated to Butters and I like each one equally.
• Each board has some really funny sound clips depending on what you hit.  I laugh each time I hear Timmy say his name.
• Each character has a goal for the table and I've only completed a couple.  It's pretty tough.
• Definitely recommend if you are a South Park fan.

The Evil Within

• I'm up to Chapter 6 now.  I'm playing a chapter a night and the game is becoming more combat focused than stealth.
• It's probably the goriest game that I've played especially when the long haired woman creature kills you, I have to turn my head.
• It's not as good as RE4 but it's a decent game that you should probably play once it drops in price.
• The biggest issue is the black borders, they say it's for a cinematic experience but it does hinder the game play at times.

Bayonetta 2 Demo(WiiU)

• The demo is awesome and I will be picking up the game on Friday and have impressions next week.
• The demo is one level but it's a level you won't forget there is so much happening.
• It's crazier than the first game which I thought would be impossible.

New Releases - Quite a few releases this week and I have two on my radar.  Fantasia by Harmonix on Xbox One and Bayonetta 2 on the WiiU
PC

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth (download - $50) - Getting decent reviews, but I'll pass.
The Legend of Korra (download) - Same developer as Bayonetta 2 but mediocre reviews.
Dreamfall Chapters (download - $35)
Poltergeist: A Pixelated Horror (download) - Ehh.
Screencheat (download - $15)
Devil's Dare (download)
Time Rifters (download)
Prophour23 (download)
Squishy the Suicidal Pig (download - $6) - No idea.
Sign Motion (download)
Enforcer: Police Crime Action (download)
Sproggiwood (download)

PlayStation 4

Just Dance 2015
The Walking Dead: Season Two (retail)
Samurai Warriors 4
The Legend of Korra (download)
Shadow Warrior (download) - Loved the game on PC.   Awesome fun game.
Escape Goat 2 (download)
Race the Sun (download)
Fluster Cluck (download)

Xbox One

Disney's Fantasia: Music Evolved
Just Dance 2015
The Legend of Korra (download)

Xbox 360

Disney's Fantasia: Music Evolved
The Legend of Korra (download)

PlayStation 3

The Voice: I Want You
The Walking Dead: Season Two (retail)
The Legend of Korra (download)
Race the Sun (download)

Wii U

Bayonetta 2
Just Dance 2015
The Voice: I Want You
Pier Solar and the Great Architects (download)
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (download)

Vita

The Walking Dead: Season Two (retail)
Race the Sun (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Pokemon Art Academy
Fantasy Life
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (download)
KORG DSN-12

Alien Isolation, Driveclub, The Evil Within

Alien Isolation

• After 2 hours I've only seen the alien once and he killed me. 
• The best part of the game is the atmosphere.  I re-watched the first Alien movie and this game feels like you are on the set and in the movie.
• The game is all about stealth, if the alien sees you, you die.  This can make for some trial and error, but it adds to the tension and is really what you want in an Aliens game. 
• The Alien has advanced AI and there is not supposed to be any scripted events, also when you die and replay a section he will not act the same or even be in the same places.
• There are other enemies as well and there are weapons but the ammo is very limited plus if you make a lot of noise it will attract the alien so stealth is always the best approach.
• The sound design is awesome and I read where they know when the alien is near and they will increase the audio of your movements just to make the game more tense.
• The game is around 20 hours long which seems like that's a long time to be tense in a video game.

DriveClub

• Driveclub was set to be released when the PS4 launched and now it's finally out. Was it worth the delay/wait?
• This game feels like a throwback racer.  If you don't care about tweaking or customizing your car and just want to race around a track then you might like this bare-boned game. 
• The handling is a mix of simulation and arcade but there are no options to tweak the settings like in Forza.  There are no settings for traction or control or stability so if you don't like how it feels you are out of luck.
• The visuals are really nice and they have a lot of little details that make the game a stunner. They are going to patch in weather effects sometime later.
• The game is trying to be a social racer so during single player races you can compete against your friends on cornering or maintaining a high speed though parts of the race.
• They have had some server issues so multiplayer has been down and even the free PS+ version was delayed so it wasn't a smooth launch.
• Once again I am playing with a controller and it's okay but I really want to race with a wheel. 
• The career mode has you gaining stars in different events that unlock other events.  I haven't seen an option to buy a car yet, they just unlock as you progress that may change later. 
• You can't paint your car, each car has one color and 4 different preset liveries which is a little strange for a racer in this generation. 
• The racing is fun and the graphics are good but I'm having a better time with Forza Horizons 2.

The Evil Within

• Only played the first chapter and I can already tell this game is going to be crazy and a blast.
• It's from the director of RE4 and you get that vibe fairly quickly.  Just think Chainsaw man. 
• The game is action horror so expect some gory scenes, I've already fell into a pool of blood and have been decapitated.

New Releases - Another week with a ton of good games.  The Evil Within is my pick of the week, with Legend of Grimrock 2 a close second.

PC

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel - Waiting on a price drop and I need to finished Borderlands 2.
The Evil Within - Playing and it's awesome.
Duck Dynasty - Not sure what this is a duck hunting game?
Legend of Grimrock II - First game was really good and this has open outdoor areas. 
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th Anniversary Edition - May pickup sometime later.

PS4

The Evil Within
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
The Walking Dead: Season 1
Peggle 2 -  Where is my iPad version.
Duck Dynasty
Raven's Cry
In Space We Brawl
Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut
Nidhogg

XB1

The Evil Within
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
The Walking Dead: Season 1
Duck Dynasty

PS3

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
The Evil Within
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2
Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord
Duck Dynasty

360

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
The Evil Within
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2
Duck Dynasty

WiiU

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2
Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut

3DS

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2
Poptropica Forgotten Islands
Petz Beach
Petz Countryside
Duck Dynasty
Harvest Moon 2 - eShop
The Legend of Dark Witch - eShop

Vita

Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus
Nidhogg

Shadow of Mordor, Forza Horizon 2

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

• I've put about 16 hours into the game and about half-way through and having a great time.
• It's an open world game that is a mixture of Assassins Creed traversal and Batman combat and it works very well.
• Moving through the world is satisfying and I haven't had any miss-jumps like in AC.
• The combat is very reminiscent of the Batman games and it does have a nice flow to it.  There are some gruesome animations so you probably don't want to play this in front of children or wife/gf they will give you strange looks.
• Lord of the Rings isn't in the name but there is a ton of lore from the books and has some characters from the movies.
• The graphics look great and there are ultra textures that require 6gb of video ram, I tried it with my Titan and didn't notice that much difference, I didn't play it on there very long though,. 

Nemesis System

• The best part of the game is the Nemesis system and it's awesome and I hope it gets incorporated into other games.
• The Orcs that you fight have a command structure with Warlords, Captains, and grunts each with their own power level. 
• If you defeat an Orc he will lose his position and another one will take his place. They will also fight each other and gain power and levels as well. 
• If you die to an Orc he will be promoted and given an upgrade to his power.  I've died to one Orc 4 or 5 times and he has escalated his way from a grunt to a captain and he lets me know about our encounters every time we meet. 
• This game play hook actually gives you in game rivals that have an emotional attachment which is great.  When I see him on the battlefield I really want to take him down.
• Each of the Orcs have their own strengths and weaknesses which you can learn by interrogating other orcs or finding documents and you will need this information or you will die quickly.
• Some Orcs can't be attacked by some methods so you have to adjust your fighting style with each encounter which keeps things interesting.

Forza Horizon 2

• I didn't think I was going to buy this because of the lack of support for my Fanatec wheel but I caved and it's a great game even on a joypad.  I am getting a new wheel that will support it around December though. 
• I played the original Horizon and thought it was good, but it's a lot better now with the improved visuals and minimal load times.  That has always been my issue with console race games, the long load times. 
• The game looks stunning and the cars are super detailed and can be modified any way that you want as long as you have the time.  Some of the car designs are incredible.
• This is an arcade racer with some simulation mixed in and I think they got the balance correct.  You aren't driving on set tracks a lot of the time and the most fun is going off road and the world is huge. 
•  The game uses the Forza 5 driveatar system and it works OK, It uses names from your friends list so I saw Servoth driving around in a Lamborghini and didn't think he had the game. 
• There is a ton of content to the game, I think there are 164 different races and hundreds of collectibles that should keep you busy for a long time. 
• The game is just a fun way to unwind.  Driving in an beautiful HD world with music blaring from the speakers in an exotic sports car. 

New releases - Well fall is here and that means it's time to release games.  Not going to mention how many games I'm buying this October but it's a bunch.  Vib Ribbon is finally out on PS3 and Vita!!!

PC

Alien: Isolation (download - $50) - Purchased and downloaded and will have impressions later in the week.
Costume Quest 2 (download - $15) - First game was really good
NBA 2K15 (download - $60) - Always stunning looking.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (download - $30) - A really overlooked gem.  It's out on the new consoles as well.
Final Fantasy XIII (download - $16) - On PC I can't believe it.  The whole trilogy is coming out in the next months.
Ryse: Son of Rome (download - $40) - Have on the Xbone wish I would have waited.
Styx: Master of Shadows (download - $30) - Looks interesting.
Project Spark (download)
Crow (download)
Project D Online (download)
Metal Dead (download)
A Golden Wake (download)

PlayStation 4

DriveClub - Tempted to pick this up as well. There is a small version for PS+ members that I will try out. 
Alien: Isolation
NBA 2K15
Minecraft PlayStation 4 Edition
Styx: Master of Shadows (download)
Spelunky (download)
Pix the Cat (download)
Divekick: Addition Edition (download) - A very fun easy to control fighting game. Only uses 2 buttons.

Xbox One

Project Spark
Alien: Isolation
NBA 2K15
Forza Motorsport 5 GOTY Edition
Ryse: Son of Rome Legendary Edition
Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition

Xbox 360

Alien: Isolation
NBA 2K15
PlayStation 3
Alien: Isolation
NBA 2K15
Jet Car Stunts (download)
Strider 2 (PS1 Classic) (download)

PS3

Vib Ribbon

Wii U

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (download)
Art of Balance (download)

Vita

Pix the Cat (download)
Jet Car Stunts (download)
Vib Ribbon

Destiny, Gauntlet, Wasteland 2, God of War Ascension, Plex

Destiny 

• My desire to play is fading fast as there is just not much desirable content to keep me playing.
• While the shooting mechanics, graphics, and sound design are top notch the game is just missing something.
• The story doesn't make any sense and if you want to learn more about the lore you have to go to the Bungie site and read it there.
• I'm level 16 and I want to at least get to level 20 so I can try some of the raid stuff but after that I may be done.
• It is fun to play with friends and just shoot stuff but I can see that losing appeal quickly. 
• Diablo can be compared the same way but that game has something special that Destiny lacks and hopefully in the coming expansions Bungie can fix the issues.

Gauntlet

• A new spin on the old classic Gauntlet game from the developers of the Magika games.  It's awesome.
• I saw some early videos and didn't think it looked that fun, I was wrong I played for 3 hours straight and had a blast.
• There are 4 different characters to play as and you level them up individually by performing different task while playing.  You can also customize which special powers they have by using runes.
• I started playing solo on the hard difficulty level and didn't make it very far it is a difficult game which is a good thing.  I backed it down to normal and still died a couple of times so you do need to be careful. 
• I then played a co-op game with 2 other people and that's where the game really shines, it's co-op but it has a bit of competition.
• The gold you collect is distributed equally to every player but it keeps track of how much each player finds and rewards the person with the most gold collected. 
• There is also one crown that is in each level that gives extra gold so only one player can wear it, but if that player gets hit then the crown flies off and then it's a race to see who gets it. 
• When a person dies they do get resurrected after so many seconds and where there body dies they do leave gold so you can get extra gold that way so there is some strategy when you see a person getting low on health to maybe pick up the piece of chicken before they do. A little mean.....maybe.
• I didn't expect to like the game so much but it's been great.  Each character has different attacks and each one uses different buttons on the controller so no two characters play the same way.  The mage for example has to hit two buttons for different spells while the archer uses the right analog stick to shoot, since each character is leveled up separately this keeps the game from getting stale.
• You can get it from Greenmangaming with a 25% code for $15 which redeems on Steam.

Wasteland 2

• The original Wasteland was the pre-cursor for Fallout franchise and this game could be considered as the real Fallout 3.
• It's a free roaming RPG with some pretty fun turn based combat. 
• I've put about 3 hours into the game and so far have enjoyed my time. 
• There is a lot of reading, but the story is interesting and well written so it's not a slog.
• The combat is interesting as well as I have a well rounded group that uses pistols, snipers, shotguns, and barbed wire wound bats so there is a lot of strategy in each combat situation.

God of War Ascension

• I've finished every one of the God of War games except this one and it's the weakest of the bunch even the PSP games. God of War 3 was epic in every way and this game tries to emulate it but fails short.  The boss battles were amazing in 3 and the very first big battle of Ascension tries to start off with a bang fighting a monster the size of a mountain but there is something that is off.
• My biggest issue is the controls as I find that blocking doesn't work all the time.  I think it's due to the animations so if I'm attacking and I see an enemy start to attack I hit the block button but the animation of my attack is too slow so the block in not in time and I get hit.  This has happened a lot and annoys me.
• I will finish the game but it's not a joy as the other games were.  Hopefully it gets better.

Plex

• I bought the lifetime subscription mainly just to support the product as I think it's great, but the sub gives you a couple of cool features as well. I can sync movies and music to my phone from the Plex Library and it will copy my photos from my phone to Plex automatically. 
• The price is $79 for the next week then it's going to double in price.  They are adding quite a few new features so if you thought about subscribing now is the time. 

New Releases -Tons of games releasing this week.   My Pick - The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

PC

FIFA 15 (download - $60)
Gauntlet (download - $20)
Stronghold Crusader 2 (download - $50)
Defense Grid 2 (download - $25)
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (download - $20)
Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies (download - free-to-play) Neverending Nightmares (download)Ancient Space (download)
Magicmaker (download)
Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery: Episode 2 (download - $4)
Schrodiner's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark (download)
TransOcean - The Shipping Company (download)
Runaway Express Mystery (download)
Moorhuhn: Tiger and Chicken (download)
Roadside Assistance Simulator (download)
Kraven Manor (download)
Tesla Breaks the World! (download)

PlayStation 4

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition)
FIFA 15
Defense Grid 2 (download - $25)
CastleStorm: Definitive Edition (download)

Xbox One

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition)
FIFA 15
Killer Instinct Combo Breaker Pack (retail)
Defense Grid 2 (download - $25)

Xbox 360

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition)
FIFA 15
Slender: The Arrival (download)

PlayStation 3

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition)
FIFA 15
Ar Nosurge Ode to an Unborn Star
Arcana Heart 3 LOVE MAX!!!!!
Slender: The Arrival (download)
Wall-E (download)

Wii U

Hyrule Warriors
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition)
Mario Golf: Advance Tour (download)

Vita

FIFA 15
Arcana Heart 3 LOVE MAX!!!!!
Frozen Synapse Prime (download)

Nintendo 3DS

FIFA 15​

Destiny

Destiny (PS4)

Finally after all the hype we get to play what Bungie has been working on since they shipped Halo 3 back in 2007.  7 years and 500M dollars later their new game is out.....

Pro's

• Smoothest launch of an always online game that I've seen.  I had a couple of small issues but there wasn't any lag and no server issues.  The graphics look sharp and the lighting is fantastic.  I was fighting an enemy and he was taking cover behind a crate and I was able to see his reflection in the water and was able to sneak up from behind and get a melee kill.
• The AI is very smart and they are even tougher than the beta.  I played a couple of missions on the hard difficulty and I had to fight 3 different waves of enemies because I couldn't take down the boss quick enough. 
• I did play on a fire-team which is made up of 3 people and it worked fine.  Each person has their own loot and ammo drops so you aren't fighting over those things.
• I also joined a random fire team and we took on a bounty that took about 30 minutes and they were nice players who revived me when I died. 
• The gun play is rewarding and each gun has it's own type of feel and sound. 
• Does feel like Halo.  The real Halo flashback moment was when we were nearly ran over by an enemy on a space "bike", I could of swore it was an elite.

Cons

• Not sure how much content the game has. There are 4 major areas and the first 2 don't feel that large, they are open areas.much like in Borderlands 2.  Also the missions will have you in the same locations you were at a couple of missions ago, this is still the early game so things could change. 
•  The town hub area does make the game feel a bit like an MMO where you talk to different people to upgrade weapons, armor, and other things but after awhile I think I'd rather just go to a menu than walk all over the map talking to people.
• The game is supposed to have a ton of loot but so far I haven't had many drops or found too many worthwhile loot chests, it's nothing like Diablo or Borderlands in the loot respect. 
• You can go into "Explore" mode which has you visiting the same areas as before but there are beacons around that will give you missions but they are the generic MMO kind and not that interesting.
• The story missions aren't that interesting and mostly it's go to a location and let the ghost scan something then fight enemies.
• Played two matches of the crucible which is the PVP content and it feels like other shooters.  You do bring in your own character and the matchmaking wasn't that great.  I was level 7 and it put me against mostly level 15 guys so I was in the last of the leader boards.
• Developers did say the game really starts once you reach level 20 and get to the endgame content which is something I really don't to hear.  Why am I playing the early stuff then......

Overall I'm enjoying the game but is it a must buy?  If you have a couple of friends that like to get together and shoot things then yes go buy it right away.  If you are a single player type of gamer then I'm not sure there is enough content to keep you busy that could change once i reach the endgame so I will let you know a bit later. 

New Releases - Your destiny awaits on consoles this week. 

PC

Fable Anniversary (download - $35)
Hack 'n' Slash (download - $20) -
Velocibox (download)
Road Redemption (download)  - Road Rash successor hopefully it will be good.  I really liked that game.
Time Mysteries: The Final Enigma (download)
Uriel's Chasm (download)
J.U.L.I.A.: Among the Stars (download)

PlayStation 4

Destiny
NHL 15

Xbox One

Destiny
NHL 15

Xbox 360

Destiny
NHL 15

PlayStation 3

Destiny
NHL 15
Mega Man X5 (download)

Wii U

Teslagrad (download)
Adventure Island (download)

Vita

Mega Man X5 (download)

Nintendo 3DS

The Keep (download)

Madden 15(Update), Diablo 3, Upcoming Games

Madden 15 (PS4)

I've played about 10 games so far and the game has some flaws but it's still the best Madden I've played in years.  I've been testing out some sliders and found a set that I really like that are challenging but not overwhelming.  There are two major issues though that can't be fixed by sliders and need to be addressed in a patch, they are CPU QB accuracy and sacks. With the new defensive mechanics this year I really like playing the OL on every down, but my defense can sack the QB more than 5 times a game which is way too much.  The issue is the CPU QB holds onto the ball too long and doesn't throw the ball away. The CPU QB's are far too accurate even rookies can complete around 90% of their passes.  There is a slider for QB accuracy, but when you lower that stat it seems to make the sack issue worse. 

I have noticed though that when you play the game at the Fast speed setting the AI plays much better and the QB will actually get rid of the ball more frequently.  I think the blocking is better as well especially run blocking.  When I was playing on the slow speed my runs to the outside were usually met with a couple of defenders in the backfield but on fast it seems my blockers are able to hold the blocks just long enough for me to get around the edge.  Also the animations seem to be better, on fast I didn't  see as many of the awkward positions the players can get into during pileups.

Diablo 3 (PS4)

I'm about in the middle of Act 2 and level 34 with my crusader on the expert difficulty.  The game is just awesome and it's extremely addicting.  I've died at least once each session that I've played so I do suggest playing on the expert level as it feels to be the right amount of difficulty to keep the combat interesting.  I'm changing up my abilities quite a bit during each sessions trying to find new combinations of them to decimate enemies.  My favorite move of the crusader is where you jump into the air and then come down with your sword and smash into the enemies sending them flying.  The game feels so much better playing laid back on my recliners than huddling over my keyboard and mouse. 

Last night I finally noticed that some of my legendary drops are actually gifts for friends.  In order to send them to your friends you need to go into the menu where your potions and gems are and from there it lists the item and which friend it is for and then you can email them a legendary item which is a cool feature. 

Upcoming Games

Minecraft PS4/Xbox One -  Friday
Destiny                             - Sept 9
NHL 15                             - Sept 9
Fable Anniversary            - Sept 13
Wasteland 2(PC)             - Sept 19
Fifa 15                              - Sept 23
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter    - Sept 26
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor - Sept 30
Forza Horizon 2                           - Sept 30


New Releases - Not that many releases due to the holiday, Destiny hits next week.  Dead Rising on on the PC and it was a decent game.

PC

The Sims 4 (download - $60) - Another version of the Sims, hope it doesn't have issues like Sim City.
Dead Rising 3: Apocalypse Edition (download - $50) 
Hatoful Boyfriend (download - $10)
Train Fever (download - $35)
Runers (download)
Hexcells Infinite (download)
Recycle (download)
Orborun (download)

PlayStation 4

Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate
Velocity 2X (download)

Xbox One

Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate
Dance Central Spotlight (download - $10)
Warframe (download - free-to-play)

PlayStation 3

Mega Man X4 (download)
Deathmatch Village (download)

Wii U

Cubemen 2 (download)
Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight (download)
Nobunga's Ambition (download)

Vita

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair - Really liked the first one and I still need to finish that game.
Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate
Velocity 2X (download)
Deathmatch Village (download)
Joe Danger (download)
Don't Starve: Giant Edition (download)
Mega Man X4 (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Tappingo 2 (download)

Madden, The Crew Beta, Movies

Madden 15

Another year the same old crappy Madden. Just kidding that line was for Brent.  This year I am happy to report that Madden is finally next gen and it's really fun to play.  I'm of course a NFL 2k5 fanboy and haven't been too happy with the Madden series for years, I've felt without competition they never were pushed to make the best football game as some flaws were there year after year.  This year something changed and they improved almost every area and made one of the best football games. 

Graphics

• Last years version really didn't look that great which I could somewhat understand because of the new consoles.
• This year Madden truly looks next gen especially in motion. The cut scenes have always looked good but the game in motion wasn't as detailed and this year they fixed that issue. 
• The lighting looks great and dusk to nighttime games look awesome.
• They don't rotoscan every player/coach so some don't look that great especially Jason Garrett he looks really bad.

Presentation

• Madden has made some massive improvements this year.
• They hired someone from NFL films to direct the presentation and it really shows.  When I'm playing it actually feels and looks like the real games I watch each week.  From the camera angels before and after plays to the overlay graphics they really did a great job.  I especially like the down and yardage graphic.
• They have a half time show which is decent but is still a bit clunky.  The replays aren't long enough and although I like the guy doing the voice over it isn't detailed enough.  Also during the season they don't show any plays from other games.
• You can change your camera angle at any time by pressing the d-pad which is extremely useful instead of going to a menu.
• The worst part is the announcing, it didn't take long before Jim Nance and Phil Sims got on my nerves.  Phil Sims has some great things to say but he's a bit boring especially after 3 straight games.  They also aren't always in sync with the game either as I've had multiple times their comments didn't match what was happening on the field.  I eventually muted them.

Gameplay

• Defense is extremely fun to play this year and you can play with the camera directly behind your player which makes a huge difference. 
• I've always had trouble playing defense because I would always overrun tackles I just couldn't get the depth perception.  This year they have the tackle cone that lets you see the direction you are facing and it really helps in making tackles. 
• The Defensive Line play is amazing.  Each snap feels like a mini-game to get to the QB.  Right at the snap you hit R2 which engages you to the offensive player then you can steer him right/left or do a swim move to get around him.  It works really well and I'm finding I playing the DL exclusively.  It's very satisfying getting around your guy and sacking the QB.
• The kicking game also has some major changes as you have more control over accuracy and power. The kick meter is divided into 3 areas of power and they show the actual arc the ball will travel for each level which makes it much easier to kick towards the sidelines and pin your opponent.  The CPU kicker is actually smart and has pinned me down multiple times. 
• The passing game seems a bit tougher as zone defenders play better so your timing must be exact. 
• The physics are much better but I still see on just about every play some weird player animation that is impossible for the human body to make. 
• The skills trainer is very good at teaching you the new systems and it has some football theory mixed in to show you how to deal with various defenses which is a nice touch.  There is also a Gauntlet mode where you have various challenges and you are scored by how many you can complete without failing 5 times.  My first score was 7 can you beat it?
• There have been some complaints over the new play call screen.  I'm fine with it but I can see where it can be improved. 
• I have read reports where the PS4 version runs smoother and has better colors than the Xbone.   

The Crew (PC Beta)

I found a beta key from the Steam forums so I was able to test the game out for a bit.  It's an arcade racer so I wasn't sure about wheel support. I was surprised as there was a ton of wheel setup options and even though it's not as precise as a racing simulator after a bit of tweaking it felt great racing with my Fanatec.  The premise is that you can race all of America and of course it's not every road but the map is huge and full of different cities with paved and offroad streets to race on between them.  You start in Detroit and the game feels like other Ubisoft open world games where there are a ton of markers on the map to denote side quests which are car challenges.  Some have you maintaining a top speed without veering off the road or jumping over a river, the amount of these is a bit overwhelming, they do earn you money that you can spend on cars and upgrades.  It looked like there was a ton of options to upgrade your cars with different parts having different levels. 

So far the story races have been linear tracks meaning the there is a set way to race and not like in Burnout Paradise where you could take any route you wanted to get to the finish line.  The game is always online so you will see other racers while you are free roaming so you can challenge them to races or help you beat story missions by having them join your Crew, which is a major focus of the game that I didn't get to try in my first hour of playing. It is a beta so there were a few bugs, like losing the force feedback a couple of times and some frame rate issues but other than that I had a great time and hope to spend more time with it while the beta is running this week. 

Quick Movie Reviews

Worth It.
Bad Words - Funny movie, Jason Bateman is awesome.  A little vulgar at times though.   Don't look at me!!!!!
Need for Speed - Unbelievable stunts but a pretty decent racing movie based on a game with good special effects.
Van Helsing - Decent blu-ray version and the movie holds up pretty well. 
Mummy 1 & 2 - Decent Blu-ray version and both movies are still fun to watch.  What happened to Brendan Fraser.

Ehh...
The Purge - A cool plot that degenerated to a silly horror movie with illogical decisions. 
Divergent -  Decent movie with a bad ending.
Non-Stop  - I've not been impressed with the recent Liam Neeson movies and I wasn't a fan of this one either. Too many unbelievable sequences. 
Rushmore - Older highly rated movie but only mildly entertaining. 

New Releases - It's Madden time and the end of summer which means a ton of games are being released which doesn't make any sense because so many people that had time to play are now in school. 

PC

The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 5 (download - $25)  - Finale so I'll probably pick it up now.
Super Time Force Ultra (download - $15) -  Been waiting for this one looks great was an Xbone Exclusive.
Metro 2033 Redux (download - $25) -  Really good game that has been updated to the Last Light Engine.
Metro: Last Light Redux (download - $25)
Pinball FX2 - The Walking Dead Pinball (download) - Getting this as well.
Lethal League (download)
Toast Time (download)
Draconian Wars (download)

PlayStation 4

Madden NFL 15 - Pre-purchased but I'm not going to the midnight release.  I think anyway????
Metro Redux (retail)
Metro 2033 Redux (download - $25)
Metro: Last Light Redux (download - $25)
Pinball FX2 - The Walking Dead Pinball (download)

Xbox One

Madden NFL 15
Metro Redux (retail)
Metro 2033 Redux (download - $25)
Metro: Last Light Redux (download - $25)
Pinball FX2 - The Walking Dead Pinball (download)

Xbox 360

Madden NFL 15
The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 5 (download - $25)
Pinball FX2 - The Walking Dead Pinball (download)

PlayStation 3

Madden NFL 15
The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 5 (download - $25)
Pinball FX2 - The Walking Dead Pinball (download)

Wii U

Pinball FX2 - The Walking Dead Pinball (download)
SteamWorld Dig (download)
The Fall (download)
Donkey Kong Jr. Math (download)

Vita

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re:Birth 1
The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 5 (download - $25)
Pinball FX2 - The Walking Dead Pinball (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Azure Striker Gunvolt (download)
Mighty Gunvolt (download)
Thorium Wars: Attack of the Skyfighter (download)

Diablo 3 UE Edition, EA Access

Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition(PS4)

So this is the third time that I've bought Diablo 3 and I think I've finally found the best version.  The PC version launched and it was good but had some problems because they really made a mistake with the loot, auction house, and always online features. When they released on the consoles I bought the 360 version and it was almost perfect, all the issues above were fixed and the only problem was the resolution.  When the PC expansion came out they fixed 2 of the earlier problems, but I still had issues with the always online feature as the game would lag quite a bit and it was annoying.

Sitting in the recliner and moving your dude around with the analog stick and with each attack booming on your home theater system, that is the way to play Diablo.  The PS4 version is just about the perfect place to play Diablo.  The resolution is 1080P and I haven't noticed a bit of slowdown, the Xbox One version runs at 1080P, but has some frame rate issues. 

I played with the new Crusader class and it was awesome. The sound was so intense that it rumbled a pretty heavy cup off my chair after 20 minutes of playing.  I'm playing on the expert difficulty and I've actually died a couple of times. It feels like I am leveling faster than before, I think after 3 hours of game play I'm at level 18.  The game plays great with the controller and really is easier than the keyboard/mouse, the only issue could be with targeting specific enemies, but for most players, unless you are playing on the the hardest difficulties, it should never be an issue.  

The only gripe I have with the game is that you have to beat the full game with one character before you open up adventure mode. 

EA Access

If you haven't heard EA is offering for $5/month or $30/year access to a backlog of games and pre-release access to their upcoming games.  Is this a good thing?  So far there are only 4 games in the backlog Fifa 14, Battlefield 4, Madden 25, and Peggle 2 with more supposedly coming.  Madden 15 is coming out next week and this Friday you can get early access, but are limited to only 6 hours of playtime, and yes there is no demo this year so you are kind of paying for early access demos which isn't as cool as if first sounded.  Other publishers are looking to see if this model works so you could see more subscriptions down the road and I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not. 




New Releases - Quite a few good games this week. Diablo 3 on next gen and Shadow Gate

​PC

The Golf Club (download - $35) - I bought the early access and it's a good golf game.
Shadowgate (download) - Looks like a good dungeon crawler.
Hatoful Boyfriend (download - $10)
Chess 2: The Sequel (download)
Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (download)
Commando Jack (download)

PlayStation 4

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition - Probably getting this version.
Plants vs. Zombie: Garden Warfare - Bought on PC good game.
CounterSpy (download)
Hotline Miami (download)
The Last Tinker: City of Colors (download)

Xbox One

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition
The Golf Club (download - $35)

PlayStation 3

Tales of Xillia 2
CounterSpy (download)
Kung Fu Rabbit (download)

Wii U

Lifeforce (download)

Vita

Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment
CounterSpy (download)
Gravity Badgers (download)
Crimsonland (download)

Sblog 8/4 Crypt of the Necrodancer, Blackbay Asylum, Rouge Legacy, Theif?, Movies

Crypt of the Necrodancer(Steam Early Access)

I am usually wary of Steam Early access games because most of the time they are alphas and lack a lot of content and I get bored quickly.  This game so far feels full featured and is a blast to play.  The Rouge-Like type of game has really invaded a ton of indie titles recently and although I like them there are almost too many that are similar. This game has some unique concepts that work well and it feels fresh.

The game plays like most rogue-like where you move around a randomized dungeon in a top down view and try to find the stairs leading to a new floor while finding cool loot and defeating enemies.  In this game you can only move to the beat of the music, the enemies also move to the beat and have specific patterns that they follow so you not only have to time your attacks when the enemies are in specific locations you also have to do this to the beat, it sounds tough but after playing for awhile the movement become hypnotizing.  You can even play the game with a USB dance pad,(mine is on it's way). 

You can import your own music but the in-game music is so good that i haven't messed with it that much.  There is a vendor who you will meet that will sing during one of the songs and it's really awesome and it had me singing.  There is some permanence so you can build up attributes and what types of items show up in the dungeon. 

I think I've put about 3 hours into the game so far and I am really enjoying it and i haven't even beat the first boss yet.  I highly recommend this game if you enjoy rouge-like games, it's unique spin on the genre and is really fun in execution. 

Blackbay Asylum (Steam)

I bought this game this weekend and put in a couple of hours and enjoying this as well.  It's a horror adventure game played mostly form a top down perspective with some first person exploring mixed in.  You are a serial killer that just got sent to an asylum and for some reason your door opens one day and you are trying to escape and find out what happened by reading journals and computer terminals. 

The game feels like you are in a B grade horror movie, there have been some crazy scenes so far, one involving a lawn mower and a crazy hatchet wielding chef.  Just about every item can be examined or picked up and the main character will comment of everything.  It's more of a puzzle game than anything else and I've been stumped a couple of times even though the clues were right in front of me.  I just got to the part of the game where it transitions into first person view and it was pretty creepy.  Another game that I highly recommend.

Rouge Legacy(Vita)

Another rouge-like game, one of my favorites from last year, and it's finally on the Vita which is the perfect platform for these types of games.  I've wrote about this in the past and it's an amazing game.   This game is an action platformer  where you restart if you die, the catch is you come back as a decendant of the dead character so your stats and traits are randomized.  The traits is what makes the game stand out, you could be color blind then then whole level is black and white.  You could have near-sightedness where the screen is blurred on the edges or you not be able to see in 3D which has it's own cool effect.  The game is addictive and has that let me try one more time feeling.  The third game this week that is highly recommended.  If you have a Vita you must get this game if not then buy it on the PS3/PS4/or PC, it's crossbuy on Sony's consoles so if you buy it on one it's available on the others and it has cross save support. 

Thief

I tried to be a real life lock picker this weekend after my girlfriend locked the keys inside a house she was house sitting.  There was a baby kitten inside as well that luckily we just fed.  I spent about an hour trying to use a credit card to unlock the door and was unsuccessful.  I watched a couple of videos and it seemed so easy.  My hands were sore and cut up with little success, I did get the card into the crack but could never get it to release the lock.  We eventually called a locksmith and he couldn't do it with a credit card either which I was thankful for because I was expecting him to try and within 5 seconds have it open.  He had to get 2 different sets of lock picking keys before it was finally
opened. 

The lesson is: 
If you need to break in a house don't call me, just because I can do it in a video game doesn't mean that it translates into real life.


Movies

300: Rise of an Empire -  Decent movie with some really cool visual effects and a great sound effects, not as good as the first movie but a good time.  I need to get the 3D version. 

Spy Kids 3: Game Over - Some really cool 3D that has stuff flying out at you throughout the game but one of the worst acted movies I've seen.  Sylvester Stallone has some great scenes though. 

The Raid: Redemption -  Modern kung-fu movie with some really good action scenes and can get pretty brutal, I'm not sure some of the stuntmen didn't go home in some casts.

Watership Down - Watched this movie as a kid and re-watched it again this weekend until my PS3 couldn't read past the scratches and it holds up.  It's adapted from a book and has a good story. 


New Releases - A ton of PC releases this week you would think it's November. Pick this week is the  Darksiders Collection. Stay away from Sacred 3 it's nothing like the original games and getting horrible reviews.

PC

Ultra Street Fighter 4 (download - $15 digital upgrade)
Sacred 3 (download - $50)
Road Not Taken (download)
Darksiders Collection (download - $30)
Red Faction Collection (download - $30)
Jet Gunner (download)
Guns and Robots (download)
Mind: Path to Thalamus (download)
Rex Rocket (download)
Pe-2: Dive Bomber (download)
Back to Bed (download)
Amazing World (download)
Kingdom Tales 2 (download)
Direct Hit: Missile War (download)
Cloud Chamber (download)
Heroes of a Broken Land (download)
Orbital Gear (download)
GamersGoMakers (download)
Victory At Sea (download)
Frontline: Road to Moscow (download)
Another Perspective (download)
Stonerid (download)

PlayStation 4

The Swapper (download)
The Road Not Taken (download - free for PlayStation Plus members)

Xbox 360
Sacred 3
Ultra Street Fighter 4 (retail)
Darksiders Collection

PlayStation 3

Sacred 3
Ultra Street Fighter 4 (retail)
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed
Darksiders Collection
Red Faction Collection
The Swapper (download)

PlayStation Vita

Metrico
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed
Table Top Racing
The Swapper (download)

Nintendo 3DS

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Mysterious Murasme Castle (download)
Xtreme Sports (download)

Hue Lights, Last of Us Remastered, Gears of War 3

Phillips HUE Lights

Finally decided to pick up these lights even though they are very expensive.  The kit comes with 3 lights and a base station and that's $200, since i had 4 sconces I had to buy an extra light at $60.  The base can control up to 50 lights so I should only have to have one of those.  The lights themselves are LED and can change into 16 million different colors and can be controlled by your phone or my remote control.  It was easy to setup, plug the base into your router, install the lights, and then start up the app and press the button on the base and you are all set.

The IOS app works pretty well, it let's you set scenes which is basically a grouping of the lights with different color settings for each light.  You can take a picture then import it and set each light to a color on that picture which is cool, so you can really set the mood to the room if you take the time.  My Logitech remote can control the lights as well but it has minimal features, you can set about 6 colors and also set the dimness.  If you use the app in conjunction with the remote it works much better so you can set the lights how you want them with the app then assign that setting to a current activity on the remote and it will change appropriately, it all worked well once you get the pattern correct.

The lights themselves produce a bright light in their basic form.  If the lights are set to a color scheme a simple off and on of the light switch will reset the lights back to normal lights.  I setup my lights to come on when I get home and turn off when I leave the house or at midnight to
remind me it's time for bed.

I bought the Hue Disco app for $2 and it's well worth it. When I play Rock Band I turn on the disco mode and it randomly changes the lights based on the beat of the music so it adds a cool effect while playing which really makes the whole purchase worth it.

Last of Us Remastered (PS4)

I was able to trade in the PS3 version for $25 which made the new version half off and the DLC that I never bought is $15 so for $10 I get the refreshed game which wasn't that bad.  The game does look much better at 1080p and smoother since it runs at 60fps.  They added a photo mode so at any time you can pause the action and then you have full control of the camera and can add effects and take some really cool pictures.  There are a lot of options to it so you should be seeing some great pics from the game.  60fps really does make a difference in the feel of the game, all the actions have a nice and smooth transition and I wish the three Uncharted games would receive a remastered edition.
If you've never played the game and have a PS4 then this is a must have.

Gears of War 3(360)

I bought the game when it first came out, a couple of years ago, and didn't play it much even though I beat the other 2 GOW games at least 3 times a piece with different people.  It took about 4 days to finish the game and it was very enjoyable.  I still think 2 had the best story and some of the best set pieces of the series, the lava level, the rain sequence, and the brumack riding come to mind.  They tried once again to be dramatic in the story and it was ok I guess, for a game about shooting things they wanted you to think on things a little bit.


New Releases - Some good new releases this week.  Rouge Legacy on Vita and Last of US on PS4 my picks.

PC

The Room (download) - Pretty good IOS game not sure how it translates to PC.
Firefall (download)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (download) - Older Gamecube RPG coming to PC.

PlayStation 4

The Last of Us: Remastered - Traded in my PS3 copy which cut the cost to half price which is almost the price of the DLC I never got to play.
Rogue Legacy (download) - Great great game.
Pure Pool (download)

Xbox One

Pinball FX 2 (download)

PlayStation 3

Rogue Legacy (download)
WRC 4 FIA Rally Championship (download)

Wii U

Mega Man Battle Network (download)
XType Plus (download)

PlayStation Vita

Ratchet & Clank Collection - Tempted
LEGO Ninjago Nindroids
Rogue Legacy (download) - Perfect platform for this excellent game.  It is a great game.
WRC 4 FIA Rally Championship (download) - Got the PC version disappointed so far.

Nintendo 3DS

LEGO Ninjago Nindroids


http://countachrt.blogspot.com

Destiny Beta, Game Collection, Pinnacle Speakers, Sale

Destiny Beta (PS4)

I got into the beta for being an IGN Prime member and I spent a couple of hours in the beta and really enjoyed what I played.  I leveled my character to level 4 which is half way of what the full beta provides and I want to go back and play some more but I'm holding off since I don't want to spoil the full game. 

It's what you expect from the makers of Halo, a sci-fi fps shooter, but it's mixed with an MMO, so maybe it's the MMO I've been wanting to play. In the areas I played there were about 6 other people around but we didn't interact except we shot a few common enemies.   What I liked best about the combat was the enemy AI, I was able to flank the AI, they didn't have magnetic eyes that follow you around and through obstacles. The enemies also used cover effectively which is what I want to see in this new console generation.    There is a ton of weapon and armor upgrades and you can take raw materials to a certain person and he will create a new piece of equipment for you. 

You have a companion cube that leads you around who is narrated by Tywin Lannister, he is like Cortana from Halo.  Once you've completed a couple of story missions in an area you can go back and complete other generic quests that felt like other general MMO quests.   There are hidden areas in the environment that has some great loot so you do want to explore your surroundings.  There is a main town hub that you can visit that has all the vendors and I saw about 5 people in a circle dancing.  You got to missions in an spacecraft but it's from a 3rd person view and you don't control it, not sure if that's just a beta thing or not. 

I had a great time playing the beta and it got me to pre-order the game which is what a good beta should do. 

Here are 2 beta codes for the PS4 beta.  First come first serve.

9EM2-KFNT-H2DK
AFLL-T3N5-676N

Game Collection

Spent basically the entire weekend putting up shelves in my downstairs closet.  It took 5 trips to 4 different Home Depots to get enough shelves to hold all my games.  Thanks to my girlfriend for alphabetizing all the games it took a couple of hours, but it was worth it, and it shows that I have a game addiction problem. 

 Pinnacle Speakers

Hopefully my last major purchase for my media room is complete and I can start enjoying my room without nagging questions about my setup.  I had the Klipsch Icon line of speakers that did great for my smaller room upstairs but once I moved them downstairs they couldn't fill the larger room with sound the way that I wanted.  I'd been looking for speakers for awhile and wasn't sure what I wanted. There isn't a good place that I found to test out different speakers and for the money I was spending that wasn't ideal,  but It did work out for my sub woofer.  I was looking at Woot and saw they had some Pinnacle speakers on sale and some major discounted prices, the ultimate tower speaker had an MSRP of $4000/ speaker.  I looked for reviews but really couldn't find any, I read they sold most of their speakers to pro installers and rarely sold to consumers.  There was one review in Sound & Vision that gave a great review but it wasn't the exact speakers. I passed that first week of sales because there wasn't a center channel on sale but the next week they followed with everything that I needed so I took the plunge.  Shipping was $5 so why not. 

They shipped extremely fast and I had them within 2 days or ordering.  The towers were around 50lb and the center and surround speakers where heave as well which is a good sign for a speaker.  They have a glossy piano black exterior which looks nice provided you don't touch them.  They look great and once I was able to calibrate my setup I was ready for the sound test, I was so tired though from other stuff I had to do that day that I really didn't get to do much, just listen to a couple of songs and a bit of a movie.  I wasn't floored though so I was a little worried. 

I didn't really get to test them out till Friday night and I watched Dredd in 3D and was blown away.  The whole movie experience was one of the best times I've ever had watching a movie.  The 3D was cool and the sound was amazing with the soundtrack thumping away and the surround sounds zooming from the left and right, I felt like I was actually in the action. It was just awesome. 

I still need to do some tweaking but I'm very happy with my new purchase. 
 
Speaker Sale

Really???  I'm trying to sell my old speakers after raving about the new ones?   These are still great speakers but just can't fill up a large room. So if you are in the market or know someone who wants a full 5.1 setup let me know. 

I'd like to sell these together since they are the same family of speakers and go well together.  They are about 3 years old  and in like new condition and I think I have all the original boxes..

2x Klipsch KF-26 Floor Standing 
Klipsch KF-25 Center Channel   
2x Klipsch KF_14 Surround Sound 
Klipsch SW-450 Sub-woofer     

​New Releases​ - A couple of games coming out this week.   My pick is Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty, a remake of the great first Oddworld game.

​PC
The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 4 (download - $25) - Waiting for all episodes to be released.
OlliOlli (download) - Bought on the Vita, cool game.
Gods Will Be Watching (download)
Data Hacker: Initiation (download)
Freedom Planet (download)
Halfway (download)
Unrest (download)

PlayStation 4

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty (download - $30)

Xbox 360
The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 4 (download - $25)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Training Lair (download)

PlayStation 3

The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 4 (download - $25)

Wii U

Wii Sports Club
Wooden Sen'SeY (download)
Master Reboot (download)

PlayStation Vita

The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 4 (download - $25)

Nintendo 3DS

Siesta Fiesta (download)

IOS

Hearthstone Expansion

Wolf Among Us, Lightening Storm, Game Room

The Wolf Among Us (Steam)

A Tell Tale game similar to the Walking Dead but in the Fable(not the Lionhead games) universe.  I don't read comics so I wasn't familiar with the Fable universe.  Basically all the fairy tale characters are living in New York and they use glamours(magic) to make themselves take human form so they can live among us.  The main character is Bigby, the big bad wolf, the sheriff of the town and has to try to maintain peace among the fable characters so they won't be noticed by real people. 

The final chapter released last week and I waited until all 5 were available before I started playing.  I've finished the game last night and I really enjoyed it.  The game is an adventure game that relies heavily on story and dialog choices, each choice is supposed to have some lasting effects later in the story.  The game looks great and the voice work is excellent.  The actual game play is limited to walking around and
for action sequences they use some cool quick time events which are very enjoyable and actually make the fights intense.  The game has some good extra material that gives you more information about each character and progresses as the story moves along. 

The final episode did refer back to a lot of the choices i made in the earlier episodes and the ending was satisfying once i got it working.  The game's final scene bugged out on me but it took me awhile to figure that out, I thought that it was a dream sequence or something, dialog boxes with no choice and floating heads in one scene.  I restarted the game and it worked fine. 

If you liked the Walking Dead Tell Tale game you should give this a shot.  I can't wait for the Game of Thrones Tell Tale game. 

Lightening Storm

A neighbor's tree about 20 yards from my house was hit by lightening last night while I was watching TV and I lost some equipment.  I thought it had hit my house at first, it was a weird sensation followed by a huge thump and the ground shaking.  I didn't know the tree was hit until an hour later once the rain stopped and I could go outside. One of the neighbors said she saw a huge fireball.  My fire alarm started beeping for about 5 minutes afterward. 

Here is what I lost:
Mac-Mini - Won't power up so hopefully just the power supply. 
Receiver can output one signal to two sources and I lost the 2nd source that I was watching. I bought an Hdmi switcher that should work until I can get it fixed.
The HDMI cable that was running to my TV and receiver.  It had a special chip to help the signal with the long cable length which probably is why it broke my receiver. 
Network Switch - Have 7 devices connected and all of them appear to be working once I replaced this with my backup.

Game Room

Got some heavy use this weekend.  I had a party of 8 on Saturday and they played darts, ping pong, pinball, and did some racing and everything worked without any major issues which isn't normal.  I had 11 people over last night and they danced and watched a movie, two people spent about 3 hours just racing.  I did have an issue with the racing rig, for some reason the pedals do not register if I leave them plugged in and the PC goes to sleep so I have to reset them, I'm not sure if it's the pedals or the usb hub.  I finally had some challenge at the ping pong table and actually lost 3 games to 2, we had some great rallies and I won one game off a ceiling shot, house rules are cool. 

​New Releases - Not much this week.

PC

Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut (download - $15) - Re-re-release of a good game.
Wayward Manor (download)
Abyss Odyssey (download - $15) - Looks interesting.  A procedurely generated rouge-like mixed with fighting games like Street Fighter.
Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers (download - $10) -  I think you can actually build some decks in this version.
Light (download)
Aperture Gun: The Paintball Testing Initiative (download, Portal 2 required)

PlayStation 4

Crimsonland (download) - Crazy co-op game where you kill tons of things.