Dark Souls 2 (Steam)
I'm about 12 hours in and slowly making my way to my next death. So far I am enjoying DS2, it does improve on some issues I had with DS1, but it lacks the weight and darkness of the first title. The character model in DS1 felt perfect, he had weight and the way he interacted with the ground and environment felt right, in DS2 the character feels a bit floaty and not really connected to the world. It's not a big issue but after playing so many hours of DS1 it's noticeable.
They have made the game less of a grind and more about exploration which is a good thing. There were times in DS1 that it seemed I had to grind for a bit to up my level to proceed any further. In DS2 there are more paths to follow and I really haven't felt the need to grind for souls, plus if you kill an enemy a set number of times they don't respawn so unless you use an item that makes them come back even tougher you can get through a tough area with a little patience. I think I've only had this happen on 3 enemies.
The game is still tough but it feels more accessible than the other games so if you haven't tried any of the Souls games this is a good one to start with. The game is a long adventure with around 50-60 hours of content plus multiple NG+ modes so you do get your monies worth.
Crysis 3
Still trying out my new 21:9 monitor and it's growing on me fast. The colors are so much better than my other monitors and the higher resolution just has a nice crispness to it. I played Crysis 3 last night for about 2 hours and wow is that a pretty game. The game seems to focus a bit more on stealth play this time around, at least in the early stages. I'm playing on the Veteran level and the AI seems really good, you need to make sure you are well hidden while replenishing your suit power or you will be seen an then that will alert all enemies. The game still makes you feel like a powerhouse and it's fun to run up to enemies, grab them, throw them into the air, and shoot them on the way down. The game is just too taxing to play on a triple monitor setup but on this monitor I'm able to crank everything up to almost max and get around 50fps.
Roku & Chromecast
I have 2 TV's upstairs that I use occasionally so I thought I'd try out these new sticks to see how they perform. They both require power either from a USB slot or wall outlet.
Roku
$15 more than Chromecast but comes with a remote and does have mobile apps to control device.
Has all the major streaming apps and a ton of niches apps so content is not lacking.
Plex support and works very well.
Netflix takes up to 30 seconds to load which is a bit slow, once it's loaded then it's fairly fast using menus and loading videos. My biggest gripe.
Easy to stream videos and pictures from my iOS devices.
Chromecast
Must use a mobile device to control.
Has most of the major streaming apps but is still missing some and not many niche apps.
The apps must be loaded onto your mobile device then you send that data to the Chomecast and it connects to the source and streams from there.
Plex works well.
Netflix load in under 10 seconds.
Had to download a couple of apps to be able to stream pics and videos from my iOS device.
I was unable to stream my Chrome browser on the phone.
Overall they were both pretty easy to use, but I like the Roku the best. The included remote is a nice feature and even though I usually have my phone nearby, always having to use that to change settings or pick a new video is a sometimes a little annoying. Also if you have multiple people using the device you have to have the apps loaded onto all the devices and then update them which is another hassle.
New Releases - No really big games this week.
PC
Battleblock Theater (download - $15) - Finally releasing on PC.
The Last Tinker: City of Colors (download - $22)
Chronology (download)
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition (download - $50)
Memento Mori 2 (download)
Fearless Fantasy (download)
Orc Attack: Flatulent Rebellion (download) - Flat?????
Xbox One
Super TIME Force (download)
Xbox 360
Super TIME Force (download)
PlayStation 3
Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition (retail)
Wii U
Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails (download - $10)
Vita
Borderlands 2 - Interested to see how well it plays on the Vita.
Soul Sacrifice Delta
Nintendo 3DS
Moon Chronicles - Episode 1 (download)
Mega Man IV (Game Boy) (download)
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
AOC Monitor, Sony Pulse Elite Headset, Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Saw some reviews of these larger monitors and I wanted to try it out on my 3 Monitor rig. The only issue I have with playing on 3 monitors is that the image is stretched on the side monitors so while it's good for peripheral vision it's not much use for anything else. The AOC monitor has a resolution of 2560x1080 so you see more of the screen horizontally and it gives you quite a bit of the peripheral vision without the distortion of the image. Also since the resolution is less than a full 3 monitor setup it doesn't take as much graphical power so I can run every game smoothly.
It's an IPS panel so the colors are rich and deep and the viewing angles are much better than the TFT monitor I was using. I don't play every game with 3 monitors so I wanted a better center monitor for those games as well and this blows the other away, it really looks sharp. On racing and FPS games the extra resolution really makes a difference. I thought about a 4K monitor but they are too expensive now and require to much hardware to push that resolution. Not all games support the 21:9 resolution so you can either stretch the image or have black bars. I tried Diablo 3 and I'm not sure why it doesn't support that resolution but the stretched image didn't look too bad.
I took my other 2 monitors and rotated them to portrait mode and I really like it, browsing webpages in portrait mode is quite nice. Also it makes placing my side speakers a lot easier. I'm debating picking one up for work as I use two monitors there and I don't really have the space to sit two monitors effectively.
Sony Pulse Elite Headset
I have a Logitech G930 headset, but really don't like the bass output as it sounds very muddy. I've played around with the equalizer settings and haven't been able to fix the issue. I saw a review of the Sony headphones and thought that I'd give them a try, plus they were on sale. They are designed for the PS3 and PS4, but work with a usb dongle that can be plugged into a PC.
The interesting feature is the Bass Pulse, it kind of works like the buttkicker speakers where it will pulses(rumbles) when the bass notes are played. It's great and really adds to the immersion, I haven't setup my actual buttkicker yet so it should be awesome to have both going at the same time.
The sound is much better on these than the G930's and they are a bit more comfortable. The only gripe I have is the 5 hour battery life but I usually don't play that long on that PC anyway so not that big of a deal. There is an app that you can use for PS3 games that will set the headphones equalizer to maximize sound in certain games, I need to try this.
Overall I'm very impressed by these headphones and recommend them to any one looking for a nice set of wireless headphones.
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts (Steam)
Usually these games are awful but they made an awesome hunting sim with this version of the game. I was hesitant to buy the game even with it being half off but after reading some user reviews I decided to give it a chance and I've had a great 2 hours so far. The game plays like a simulation where you have to purchase gear and fill your backpack with different hunting items and then go out into the wilderness and find your prey. You have to be wary of the wind direction and the amount of noise you are making.
Once you find your prey it's time to shoot and here is where the game gets cool. When you shoot it goes into slow motion and gives you stats about the bullet as it follows it's trajectory and as it gets close to the prey it will show an x-ray of where the bullet penetrates so you can see the bullet hit bones are lungs or other vital organs, the sound effects are awesome as well. If you just graze the animal then you have to track the blood trail in order to find where the animal ultimately falls.
There is a career mode that I've just started so I can only hunt deer and boars for now but will get to hunt bears and other larger creatures. The game has many weapons and accessories that you can buy including bows and calls so there is a ton of content. I've really liked what I've played so far it doesn't feel restrictive and gives you a huge world to explore.
New Releases - Another week and some good releases. Bound by Flame and Tesla Effect.
PC
Age of Mythology: Extended Edition (download - $30)
Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure (download - $20) - A new Tex Murphy game with FMV.
Bound by Flame (download - $40) - Looks interesting.
Sweezy Gunner (download)
Coldfire Keep (download)
PlayStation 4
MLB 14: The Show
Bound by Flame
Sportsfriends (download - $15)
Stick it to the Man! (download - $15, free for PlayStation Plus)
Titan Attacks (download)
Xbox 360
Bound by Flame
Peggle 2 (download) - Sure wish this would come out on the iPad or PC.
PlayStation 3
Bound by Flame
Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi
Sportsfriends (download - $15)
Titan Attacks (download)
Vita
God of War Collection
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse (download)
Titan Attacks (download)
Nintendo 3DS
Mega Man 2 (Game Boy) (download - $5)
Mega Man 3 (Game Boy) (download - $5)
The Denpa Men 3: The Rise of Digitoll (download)
Grinsia (download)
Monday, April 28, 2014
Dark Souls 2, Wayward Souls
Dark Souls 2 (PC)
Finally had a bulk of time that I could devote to gaming and I spent about 10 hours on Dark Souls 2 and it's awesome. I started out as a Warrior and played about 2 hours then changed to a Cleric because I wanted some healing abilities. The game doesn't feel as difficult as the other games but it's still hard, that may be because I've played so much that I know what to and what not to do, most of the time. I still have instances where I die and a voice in my head says why did you do that you knew that would get you killed.
In my play through of Dark Souls I rarely left messages or summoning requests and that was a mistake as it made the game much harder. If you leave a message and it gets rated by other players you gain a bit of health if you are playing at that instant. If you leave a summon request outside a boss lair you will get summoned and can learn a bit about the boss you are fighting before you take it on yourself and if you are victorious it will turn you human which has other great benefits.
I played a bit on the consoles but I'm so glad that I waited for the PC version. It runs at a solid 60 fps and looks great. I put on an ENB mod that makes the game look even better so once again the PC is the best version of the game. If you want an action adventure game then you really should give the game a try.
Wayward Souls (IOS)
Played a ton of this game as well this weekend and it's kind of like Dark Souls on my phone. It's a top down action adventure rougelike game with some cool combat and decent controls. Most action games on the iPhone usually don't control well but I haven't had any issues with this game. The game has perma-death so you will be dying over and over but gain coins to use to upgrade your character so that you can progress farther. The game does have checkpoints at various levels so that you don't have to keep playing the lower levels, I haven't made it to one yet though. It's 4.99 now and will increase in price when updates come out which is different from most IOS games so we will see how that works.
Rockband 3
This game is still awesome and is my favorite game of all time. I finally can play the game easily with my full sound setup which makes a huge difference. Having the sound cranked up and feeling the bass is a great and rewarding experience it really makes the music feel alive.
New Releases - Quite a few good games coming out this week from Child of Light to Mario Golf.
PC
Daylight (download - $15) - Looks interesting a horror game that deals with light.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (download - $40) - Getting decent reviews.
Child of Light (download - $15) - RPG made with the same engine as Rayman Legends should look awesome.
BloodRayne: Betrayal (download) - I think I have it for the PS3 not that bad.
Slip (download)
Aerena - Clash of Champions (download)
PlayStation 4
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Daylight (download - $15)
Child of Light (download - $15)
Xbox One
Child of Light (download - $15)
Xbox 360
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Child of Light (download - $15)
PlayStation 3
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle
Rambo: The Video Game
Child of Light (download - $15)
Raiden IV: Overkill (download)
Bust-A-Move 4 (download)
Wii U
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Child of Light (download - $15)
Stick It to The Man! (download)
Abyss (download)
Nintendo 3DS
Mario Golf: World Tour - Getting great reviews and there is even a season pass a first for NIntendo.
Kirby Triple Deluxe
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
Picross e4 (download)
Finally had a bulk of time that I could devote to gaming and I spent about 10 hours on Dark Souls 2 and it's awesome. I started out as a Warrior and played about 2 hours then changed to a Cleric because I wanted some healing abilities. The game doesn't feel as difficult as the other games but it's still hard, that may be because I've played so much that I know what to and what not to do, most of the time. I still have instances where I die and a voice in my head says why did you do that you knew that would get you killed.
In my play through of Dark Souls I rarely left messages or summoning requests and that was a mistake as it made the game much harder. If you leave a message and it gets rated by other players you gain a bit of health if you are playing at that instant. If you leave a summon request outside a boss lair you will get summoned and can learn a bit about the boss you are fighting before you take it on yourself and if you are victorious it will turn you human which has other great benefits.
I played a bit on the consoles but I'm so glad that I waited for the PC version. It runs at a solid 60 fps and looks great. I put on an ENB mod that makes the game look even better so once again the PC is the best version of the game. If you want an action adventure game then you really should give the game a try.
Wayward Souls (IOS)
Played a ton of this game as well this weekend and it's kind of like Dark Souls on my phone. It's a top down action adventure rougelike game with some cool combat and decent controls. Most action games on the iPhone usually don't control well but I haven't had any issues with this game. The game has perma-death so you will be dying over and over but gain coins to use to upgrade your character so that you can progress farther. The game does have checkpoints at various levels so that you don't have to keep playing the lower levels, I haven't made it to one yet though. It's 4.99 now and will increase in price when updates come out which is different from most IOS games so we will see how that works.
Rockband 3
This game is still awesome and is my favorite game of all time. I finally can play the game easily with my full sound setup which makes a huge difference. Having the sound cranked up and feeling the bass is a great and rewarding experience it really makes the music feel alive.
New Releases - Quite a few good games coming out this week from Child of Light to Mario Golf.
PC
Daylight (download - $15) - Looks interesting a horror game that deals with light.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (download - $40) - Getting decent reviews.
Child of Light (download - $15) - RPG made with the same engine as Rayman Legends should look awesome.
BloodRayne: Betrayal (download) - I think I have it for the PS3 not that bad.
Slip (download)
Aerena - Clash of Champions (download)
PlayStation 4
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Daylight (download - $15)
Child of Light (download - $15)
Xbox One
Child of Light (download - $15)
Xbox 360
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Child of Light (download - $15)
PlayStation 3
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle
Rambo: The Video Game
Child of Light (download - $15)
Raiden IV: Overkill (download)
Bust-A-Move 4 (download)
Wii U
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Child of Light (download - $15)
Stick It to The Man! (download)
Abyss (download)
Nintendo 3DS
Mario Golf: World Tour - Getting great reviews and there is even a season pass a first for NIntendo.
Kirby Triple Deluxe
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
Picross e4 (download)
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Game Room Setup
Room Setup - I am still in the process of finishing up the room, now it's just tinkering with the following items.
Sound
I bought an SVS sub two weeks ago but for some reason it went out after I hooked up my new rear surround speakers so I had to call the company and they sent out a new amplifier but in the process of installling that I broke one of the driver connectors so I had to wait on that part and it got here Sunday night and I now have 2 subs working and they sound great.
I also got a UMIK-1 microphone which you use with the freeware software REW so that I could test my room acoustics. The REW software shows the different decibal ratings of each frequency and how much decay each frequency has at your listening position so I could see if my speakers were in the right locations and if I needed acoustical room treatments. It took a bit to get setup but once that was done the software was easy to use and quickly showed if my speakers were positioned incorrectly. For example, I had my sub placed in a location where the 50hz freq was quite a bit lower in volume than the other frequencies, I could tell this by playing the bass in Rockband as some notes weren't as loud as others. It was a subtle distinction that you wouldn't think would matter but once you hear it you always hear it.
Remote
I bought the Harmony Ultimate remote since my equipment was under the staircase I needed a way to control everything without having a line of sight to the equipment. The remote comes with a hub and 2 IR blasters so I was able to set it up so that I can control every device from my main seat. The remote setup has to be done online and they've made the interface a lot better than the last harmony remote I used. It can control up to 15 devices and I have 10 used so far. I still have some tweaking to do but everything works great with the remote.
Arcade Machine
I bought a cool little benchmark case for the PC and it's pretty cool and it powered up the first time after setting it up which doesn't happen that often. I still have to get all the emulators working and setup the controls and hopefully will have that done by next week. I need to play some Robotron 2084.
3D
I still haven't used my room very much but I have watched a little bit of 3D content and it's awesome. Netflix on Comcast now has 3D content available after the agreement and even the HD picture looks improved. The 3D on my Plasma looked great but there's no comparison versus the projector, 3D is meant for big screens, and 65" is just not quite big enough. I was able to find some cheap $20 3D glasses that work with my projector so i ordered a few, they are RF glasses so you you can move around and not lose the 3D effect like my IR glasses for the plasma.
New Releases - Finally Dark Souls 2 hits PC.
PC
Dark Souls II (download - $50) - Can't wait to play, comes out Friday.
Trials Fusion (download - $20) - I liked the previous Trials game but this one hasn't gotten good reviews.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (download)
FRACT OSC (download)
Perpetuum (download)
Blackwell Epiphany (download)
PlayStation 4
Octodad: Dadliest Catch (download - $15)
Cel Damage HD (download - $10)
Xbox 360
Warface (download - free-to-play)
PlayStation 3
Cel Damage HD (download - $10)
Wii U
LEGO The Hobbit
NES Remix 2 (download - $15)
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island (download - $7)
Vita
Demon Gaze
The Walking Dead: Season Two (download)
Cel Damage HD (download - $10)
Sound
I bought an SVS sub two weeks ago but for some reason it went out after I hooked up my new rear surround speakers so I had to call the company and they sent out a new amplifier but in the process of installling that I broke one of the driver connectors so I had to wait on that part and it got here Sunday night and I now have 2 subs working and they sound great.
I also got a UMIK-1 microphone which you use with the freeware software REW so that I could test my room acoustics. The REW software shows the different decibal ratings of each frequency and how much decay each frequency has at your listening position so I could see if my speakers were in the right locations and if I needed acoustical room treatments. It took a bit to get setup but once that was done the software was easy to use and quickly showed if my speakers were positioned incorrectly. For example, I had my sub placed in a location where the 50hz freq was quite a bit lower in volume than the other frequencies, I could tell this by playing the bass in Rockband as some notes weren't as loud as others. It was a subtle distinction that you wouldn't think would matter but once you hear it you always hear it.
Remote
I bought the Harmony Ultimate remote since my equipment was under the staircase I needed a way to control everything without having a line of sight to the equipment. The remote comes with a hub and 2 IR blasters so I was able to set it up so that I can control every device from my main seat. The remote setup has to be done online and they've made the interface a lot better than the last harmony remote I used. It can control up to 15 devices and I have 10 used so far. I still have some tweaking to do but everything works great with the remote.
Arcade Machine
I bought a cool little benchmark case for the PC and it's pretty cool and it powered up the first time after setting it up which doesn't happen that often. I still have to get all the emulators working and setup the controls and hopefully will have that done by next week. I need to play some Robotron 2084.
3D
I still haven't used my room very much but I have watched a little bit of 3D content and it's awesome. Netflix on Comcast now has 3D content available after the agreement and even the HD picture looks improved. The 3D on my Plasma looked great but there's no comparison versus the projector, 3D is meant for big screens, and 65" is just not quite big enough. I was able to find some cheap $20 3D glasses that work with my projector so i ordered a few, they are RF glasses so you you can move around and not lose the 3D effect like my IR glasses for the plasma.
New Releases - Finally Dark Souls 2 hits PC.
PC
Dark Souls II (download - $50) - Can't wait to play, comes out Friday.
Trials Fusion (download - $20) - I liked the previous Trials game but this one hasn't gotten good reviews.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (download)
FRACT OSC (download)
Perpetuum (download)
Blackwell Epiphany (download)
PlayStation 4
Octodad: Dadliest Catch (download - $15)
Cel Damage HD (download - $10)
Xbox 360
Warface (download - free-to-play)
PlayStation 3
Cel Damage HD (download - $10)
Wii U
LEGO The Hobbit
NES Remix 2 (download - $15)
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island (download - $7)
Vita
Demon Gaze
The Walking Dead: Season Two (download)
Cel Damage HD (download - $10)
Friday, April 4, 2014
Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls
I told myself that I was going to wait until the console release but sometimes I just don't listen. I've played about 4 hours into ACT V and it's pretty awesome. Once I finish that act it will open up the adventure mode which is the real meat of the expansion. Adventure mode removes the story and allows you to go to any location of the game and complete bounties and other objectives to keep acquiring better loot. The loot is so much better after the patch that just after 5 minutes of playing I had completely replaced all my gear with substantial upgrades, I've gotten 3 legendary items so far so it's much improved and makes the game more enjoyable. If you stopped playing the game awhile back because it didn't quite feel right you should jump back in with this new expansion as it finally feels like a proper Diablo game.
Basement
The room passed the final inspection so I can finally start moving my stuff this weekend. There is still a couple of small things that need to be fixed like the bathroom paint and some electrical work that will be completed by Monday. I'm taking next week off to get everything setup so I should have a nice slideshow soon.
Stuff
FTL - Released yesterday for IOS and it's awesome. Also the PC version has been updated as well for free.
Hearthstone - Released yesterday on IOS but not for NA but you can get around that.
New Releases - Best game of the week - Goat Simulator.
PC
The Elder Scrolls Online
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe
Age of Wonders III
Goat Simulator
Meridian: New World
Halo: Spartan Assault
PlayStation 4
Mercenary Kings (download - $20, free for PlayStation Plus)
King Oddball (download)
Xbox 360
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe (download - $20)
PlayStation 3
MLB 14: The Show
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe (download - $20)
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army (download - $10)
Wii U
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe (download - $20)
Advance Wars (download - $8)
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (download - $8)
Metroid Fusion (download - $8)
Vita
MLB 14: The Show
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE
Nintendo 3DS
Rusty's Real Deal Baseball (download - free-to-play)
Super Monkey Ball 3D (download - $20)
I told myself that I was going to wait until the console release but sometimes I just don't listen. I've played about 4 hours into ACT V and it's pretty awesome. Once I finish that act it will open up the adventure mode which is the real meat of the expansion. Adventure mode removes the story and allows you to go to any location of the game and complete bounties and other objectives to keep acquiring better loot. The loot is so much better after the patch that just after 5 minutes of playing I had completely replaced all my gear with substantial upgrades, I've gotten 3 legendary items so far so it's much improved and makes the game more enjoyable. If you stopped playing the game awhile back because it didn't quite feel right you should jump back in with this new expansion as it finally feels like a proper Diablo game.
Basement
The room passed the final inspection so I can finally start moving my stuff this weekend. There is still a couple of small things that need to be fixed like the bathroom paint and some electrical work that will be completed by Monday. I'm taking next week off to get everything setup so I should have a nice slideshow soon.
Stuff
FTL - Released yesterday for IOS and it's awesome. Also the PC version has been updated as well for free.
Hearthstone - Released yesterday on IOS but not for NA but you can get around that.
New Releases - Best game of the week - Goat Simulator.
PC
The Elder Scrolls Online
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe
Age of Wonders III
Goat Simulator
Meridian: New World
Halo: Spartan Assault
PlayStation 4
Mercenary Kings (download - $20, free for PlayStation Plus)
King Oddball (download)
Xbox 360
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe (download - $20)
PlayStation 3
MLB 14: The Show
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe (download - $20)
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army (download - $10)
Wii U
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe (download - $20)
Advance Wars (download - $8)
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (download - $8)
Metroid Fusion (download - $8)
Vita
MLB 14: The Show
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE
Nintendo 3DS
Rusty's Real Deal Baseball (download - free-to-play)
Super Monkey Ball 3D (download - $20)
Thursday, March 27, 2014
One Finger Death Punch, inFamous Second Son, Basement
One Finger Death Punch (Steam)
Got this game as part of an indie bundle and it's awesome. You are a stick fighter that has enemies attacking you on a horizontal plane and you use the left or right mouse buttons or 2 buttons on a controller to attack. You have a set area around you and only when an enemy enters that area can you attack them so it's not a button masher, you have time your hits otherwise it counts as a miss and you are ranked by how many misses you have. The longer you go without misses the faster the enemies appear so it can get pretty frantic but it's never overwhelming. The game is simple but it looks fantastic and has some cool animations, the game will sometimes go into slow motion so you will see an eyeball flying out towards the screen or it will turn the enemy into an x-ray and let you see the damage of your hits. It's hard to explain so here's a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVEiezuiKvU
I thought that I'd probably spend about 30 minutes with the game but I'm really enjoying it and have about 2 hours. Highly recommended.
inFamous: Second Son (PS4)
Finally another game on my PS4, it's been sitting idle for quite a while. I finished the first inFamous and got about half way through the second but I did enjoy my time while playing. The first thing that you will notice is the graphics, they use a varied color pallette so the neon signs against the rainy Seattle backdrop really looks good. The game play feels similar to the other games so you are basically an unnamed superhero with some cool powers. There is supposed to be moral choices but they are so black and white that it ultimately boils down to help or kill. So if you liked the previous games and have a PS4 then you should get this game. PS4 sales in the UK where up over 100% after the release of the game.
Basement - The end is near?
They are putting the final touches on it today so hopefully they will be able to get the final inspection done tomorrow so I can start working on getting my stuff set up this weekend. The carpet looks really nice and I think all the colors work well together. I ordered a window plug that was pretty expensive, but if it works will be worth it because the air unit is right outside the window and I want to minimize the sound coming in and out of the room.
New Releases - Another week of big releases.
PC
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Waiting on the PS4/Xbox One version, I like the direct control.
Mercenary Kings
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD - Purchased for $5 from Gamefly.
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny - Gold Edition
Ether One
Bioshock Infinite Burial at Sea Part 2
PlayStation 4
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends - Complete Edition
Fez (download - $13)
Xbox 360
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Anna - Extended Edition (download)
PlayStation 3
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
Deception IV: Blood Ties
The Witch and the Hundred Knight
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Fez (download - $13)
Wii U
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Deception IV: Blood Ties and Destiny of Spirits
Vita
Deception IV: Blood Ties
Fez (download - $13)
Destiny of Spirits (download - free-to-play)
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends - Complete Edition
Nintendo 3DS
Cut the Rope: Triple Treat
Got this game as part of an indie bundle and it's awesome. You are a stick fighter that has enemies attacking you on a horizontal plane and you use the left or right mouse buttons or 2 buttons on a controller to attack. You have a set area around you and only when an enemy enters that area can you attack them so it's not a button masher, you have time your hits otherwise it counts as a miss and you are ranked by how many misses you have. The longer you go without misses the faster the enemies appear so it can get pretty frantic but it's never overwhelming. The game is simple but it looks fantastic and has some cool animations, the game will sometimes go into slow motion so you will see an eyeball flying out towards the screen or it will turn the enemy into an x-ray and let you see the damage of your hits. It's hard to explain so here's a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVEiezuiKvU
I thought that I'd probably spend about 30 minutes with the game but I'm really enjoying it and have about 2 hours. Highly recommended.
inFamous: Second Son (PS4)
Finally another game on my PS4, it's been sitting idle for quite a while. I finished the first inFamous and got about half way through the second but I did enjoy my time while playing. The first thing that you will notice is the graphics, they use a varied color pallette so the neon signs against the rainy Seattle backdrop really looks good. The game play feels similar to the other games so you are basically an unnamed superhero with some cool powers. There is supposed to be moral choices but they are so black and white that it ultimately boils down to help or kill. So if you liked the previous games and have a PS4 then you should get this game. PS4 sales in the UK where up over 100% after the release of the game.
Basement - The end is near?
They are putting the final touches on it today so hopefully they will be able to get the final inspection done tomorrow so I can start working on getting my stuff set up this weekend. The carpet looks really nice and I think all the colors work well together. I ordered a window plug that was pretty expensive, but if it works will be worth it because the air unit is right outside the window and I want to minimize the sound coming in and out of the room.
New Releases - Another week of big releases.
PC
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Waiting on the PS4/Xbox One version, I like the direct control.
Mercenary Kings
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD - Purchased for $5 from Gamefly.
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny - Gold Edition
Ether One
Bioshock Infinite Burial at Sea Part 2
PlayStation 4
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends - Complete Edition
Fez (download - $13)
Xbox 360
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Anna - Extended Edition (download)
PlayStation 3
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
Deception IV: Blood Ties
The Witch and the Hundred Knight
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Fez (download - $13)
Wii U
Cabela's Big Game Hunter Pro Hunts
Deception IV: Blood Ties and Destiny of Spirits
Vita
Deception IV: Blood Ties
Fez (download - $13)
Destiny of Spirits (download - free-to-play)
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends - Complete Edition
Nintendo 3DS
Cut the Rope: Triple Treat
Monday, March 17, 2014
Demon Souls, Titanfall, South Park, New Releases
Demon Souls (PS3) - Free version from PS+, if you are not a member you really should be.
If you've never played Demon Souls or Dark Souls you really should give the games a try as they are absolutely fantastic action games. The games are described as difficult but they really aren't, they do expect you to have patience though which most games lack. These are action games boiled down to the basics, tight controls and deadly enemies where each step needs to be considered carefully. If you rush into an area, you will die, if you just mash buttons during combat, you will die, if you get cocky, you will die. I sure wrote die a lot in the previous sentence and death is a big thing in the game, but death is usually never the games fault, it's something that you did wrong and the game makes you pay for it.
To describe the game this way some people may think the game is a grind but it's probably the most rewarding set of games that I've played. When I enter a new area and make it to the next checkpoint without dying I literally do a fist pump, or even when I finally beat a boss on the 20th time I feel like I've accomplished something and not many games have I felt this way about. When I die I know almost immediately what I did wrong and usually can tell before it happens, "I knew I shouldn't have done that.", gets said quite a bit. After playing for 10 hours and you revisit the first level do not make the mistake of thinking you can breeze through, you can kill them with one hit but if you try and over-extend they can at least inflict major damage so that keeps the games interesting. Once I get started playing the game it's almost impossible for me to stop there is just something about the games that makes me want to try again after dying or explore a new area, the game is just rewarding.
TitanFall (Xbox One)
I'm up to level 28 and I've only played about 6 hours so the leveling is much faster than COD, or maybe I'm just awesome. (Nope). I'm playing on the random game option so it rotates between all 5 game modes, I like all the modes even CTF is fun. I'm getting better at using the Titans so I'm lasting a bit longer in fights. Last night I was guarding the flag while in a Titan and someone pickup up the flag and they jumped on top of a hanger trying to get away from me and I followed beneath and when he went to jump off I was there blasting him with rockets and machine gun fire, he only thought he got away. I think I've had about 10 Xbox Record that moments that I want to upload to Youtube so hopefully I'll get that done this week. It's a good game to spend about an hour with then go on to other things. I find it less irritating than COD and I seem to stay alive longer and not die 20 times a match I think the most I've died is 14 times in a match and it's usually under 10. The max level is 50 then you can regen upto 10 times, which has already been done by one gamer playing for over 3 days, some people are crazy.
South Park Stick of Truth (Steam) (17hours)
I finished the game this weekend after 17 awesome hours, it was the perfect length for the game. The ending hours kept ratcheting up the ante for shock value and the final fight is not indescribable. The combat was fun all the way through and I never got bored, they kept sending out different enemies throughout the game so it always felt fresh. The Canada level was really cool and surprising so I won't spoil anything if anyone eventually wants to play the game. Overall I recommend the game and wish that other licensed properties like the Simpsons can get a game of this caliber
New Releases - Been a pretty good month of releases. I may pick up inFamous.
PC
Cloudbuilt (download)
Deus Ex: The Fall (download - $10) - iPad game now on the PC.
Luftrausers (download - $10)
Men of War: Assault Squad 2 (download - $35)
Revolution Ace (download)
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (download) - May pick this up
PlayStation 4
inFamous: Second Son - Graphics look real impressive and I like the previous 2 games. Releases on Friday.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
SteamWorld Dig (download - $10) - A good DS game.
Xbox One
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes - Campaign is around 3 hours so beware.
Xbox 360
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
PlayStation 3
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster - Played the origianl FFX and is was pretty funn.
Luftrausers (download - $10) - Lambeer game, they made ridiculous fishing.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
Wii U
Pure Chess (download - $8)
Vita
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Luftrausers (download - $10)
Pure Chess (download - $8)
SteamWorld Dig (download - $10)
Nintendo 3DS
Ballpoint Universe: Infinite (download)
Pokémon Battle Trozei (download)
Yumi's Odd Odyssey (download - $30)
If you've never played Demon Souls or Dark Souls you really should give the games a try as they are absolutely fantastic action games. The games are described as difficult but they really aren't, they do expect you to have patience though which most games lack. These are action games boiled down to the basics, tight controls and deadly enemies where each step needs to be considered carefully. If you rush into an area, you will die, if you just mash buttons during combat, you will die, if you get cocky, you will die. I sure wrote die a lot in the previous sentence and death is a big thing in the game, but death is usually never the games fault, it's something that you did wrong and the game makes you pay for it.
To describe the game this way some people may think the game is a grind but it's probably the most rewarding set of games that I've played. When I enter a new area and make it to the next checkpoint without dying I literally do a fist pump, or even when I finally beat a boss on the 20th time I feel like I've accomplished something and not many games have I felt this way about. When I die I know almost immediately what I did wrong and usually can tell before it happens, "I knew I shouldn't have done that.", gets said quite a bit. After playing for 10 hours and you revisit the first level do not make the mistake of thinking you can breeze through, you can kill them with one hit but if you try and over-extend they can at least inflict major damage so that keeps the games interesting. Once I get started playing the game it's almost impossible for me to stop there is just something about the games that makes me want to try again after dying or explore a new area, the game is just rewarding.
TitanFall (Xbox One)
I'm up to level 28 and I've only played about 6 hours so the leveling is much faster than COD, or maybe I'm just awesome. (Nope). I'm playing on the random game option so it rotates between all 5 game modes, I like all the modes even CTF is fun. I'm getting better at using the Titans so I'm lasting a bit longer in fights. Last night I was guarding the flag while in a Titan and someone pickup up the flag and they jumped on top of a hanger trying to get away from me and I followed beneath and when he went to jump off I was there blasting him with rockets and machine gun fire, he only thought he got away. I think I've had about 10 Xbox Record that moments that I want to upload to Youtube so hopefully I'll get that done this week. It's a good game to spend about an hour with then go on to other things. I find it less irritating than COD and I seem to stay alive longer and not die 20 times a match I think the most I've died is 14 times in a match and it's usually under 10. The max level is 50 then you can regen upto 10 times, which has already been done by one gamer playing for over 3 days, some people are crazy.
South Park Stick of Truth (Steam) (17hours)
I finished the game this weekend after 17 awesome hours, it was the perfect length for the game. The ending hours kept ratcheting up the ante for shock value and the final fight is not indescribable. The combat was fun all the way through and I never got bored, they kept sending out different enemies throughout the game so it always felt fresh. The Canada level was really cool and surprising so I won't spoil anything if anyone eventually wants to play the game. Overall I recommend the game and wish that other licensed properties like the Simpsons can get a game of this caliber
New Releases - Been a pretty good month of releases. I may pick up inFamous.
PC
Cloudbuilt (download)
Deus Ex: The Fall (download - $10) - iPad game now on the PC.
Luftrausers (download - $10)
Men of War: Assault Squad 2 (download - $35)
Revolution Ace (download)
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (download) - May pick this up
PlayStation 4
inFamous: Second Son - Graphics look real impressive and I like the previous 2 games. Releases on Friday.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
SteamWorld Dig (download - $10) - A good DS game.
Xbox One
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes - Campaign is around 3 hours so beware.
Xbox 360
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
PlayStation 3
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster - Played the origianl FFX and is was pretty funn.
Luftrausers (download - $10) - Lambeer game, they made ridiculous fishing.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
Wii U
Pure Chess (download - $8)
Vita
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Luftrausers (download - $10)
Pure Chess (download - $8)
SteamWorld Dig (download - $10)
Nintendo 3DS
Ballpoint Universe: Infinite (download)
Pokémon Battle Trozei (download)
Yumi's Odd Odyssey (download - $30)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)