I don't really even know where to begin with this game. I'm still, to this day, on the fence about my feelings regarding the purchase of it. Aesthetically, it looks absolutely amazing.
Also, the gameplay looks very enjoyable, and seems like a tactical take on the 3rd person shooter genre. That slides right into the types of games that I enjoy. But being burned by games in the past with visuals that look like this ON STAGE, and then they end up looking not even close to as good when they finally release... It just has me intrigued. The way that they can win me over is by releasing a free demo, or trial of the game. That way, I can play it before I buy it, and decide what I want to do from there.
I've been following Quantum Break since it was first announced as an Xbox One exclusive in 2013 when the Xbox One was initially unveiled. It looks like an awesome game, and it sounds like a really great story.
The reason it looks like an awesome game is because it has aspects of excellent gameplay combined with what looks and sounds like a gripping TV show. What the player does in the game affects what TV show scene plays from the bad guys' perspective as a result. It sounds REALLY cool, doesn't it? Click the link above to go to their website and look at screenshots, etc. I'm really looking forward to it, and it is due to arrive sometime in Q1 next year.
Call of Duty has had its ups and downs over the last decade, but I feel like Black Ops 3 marks at least an extensive effort to make the franchise more fun. It definitely came out to compete against Bungie (the creator of Halo franchise)'s Destiny, which was released in 2014.
The reason that I say that is because the gameplay is very reminiscent of Destiny, albeit with a Call of Duty look and feel. So it plays like Destiny in several ways, but looks and ultimately, because it looks like Call of Duty, also PLAYS like Call of Duty. It's a lot of fun, and very addicting. It came out last month, and I invested several hours into it within the first couple days of it launching.
Despite all of those factors, it is still a lot of fun, and a refreshing breath of air because I've gotten tired of Destiny, and I've been playing it for over a year now.
Black Ops 3 is a great game, and if you've gotten tired of Destiny like me, go grab it. It's a lot of fun, and I enjoy it a lot more than I have enjoyed Call of Duty Ghosts, and Call of Duty Advanced Warfare.
Forza Motorsport 6 is the very epitome of epicness. It is the most amazing looking racer I have ever played, and it is also extremely challenging because it is a racing simulator. The difference between a racing simulator and an arcade racer is that arcade racers don't have very realistic gameplay physics (like traction, collisions, damage, etc.) Simulation racers like Forza, on the other hand, put all of those details in, so that the physics are as close to reality as possible.
It also does this to make the game look more realistic as well. And boy, does it shine!
These are all from the actual game. Just, beautiful, right?
Forza Motorsport 6 is an awesome game, it looks beautiful, and it is really, REALLY difficult, unless simulation racers are your cup of tea. Its a fantastic game, and I really don't feel like I need to elaborate on why very much. It's an awesome game, and definitely worth the investment if you have an Xbox One.
What an incredible game. It was originally released in 2013 shortly before the PS4 launched, and due to that, it was launched on the PS3. It told an extremely gripping story, and it was created with absolutely breathtaking visuals by the company responsible for the Uncharted franchise: Naughty Dog.
Naughty Dog has a way of working with the resources that they are given to push the console constraints that they have to deal with to make their games look stunning. Just... LOOK at the detail in these environments!
...Yeah. Those are ACTUAL visuals from the game. Absolutely amazing graphics, and easily the best looking game from the last generation (PS3 and XB360).
Graphics aside, lets talk about the game itself. It was awesome because it told a gripping story, with absolutely unbelievably relatable characters. The gameplay isn't really anything special, but the STORY itself is absolutely awesome. The game starts with a massive bomb dropping when one of the main characters loses his daughter in a tragic misunderstanding. This event hardens his heart and turns him into a rather violent, gruff character. He is then thrust into a parent-like role when he has to escort the other main character, Ellie, across the country.
The gameplay is terrifying because it requires stealth from the character or else facing rather quick and easy death. And the game requires rather good control of the materials the player is given, because materials are sparse and the player needs to be careful with how they play or else they will trap themselves in a corner against their enemies and the odds will definitely be against them.
It's just a fantastic game, and I missed out on it when it was released, but I was able to play it anyway because it was released as a remastered game on the PS4 last year, and nothing could keep me from getting it and playing it. Amazing game, and a must buy if you have a PS4!
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was released originally on the Nintendo Gamecube in 2003, and it was recently remastered and rereleased on the Wii U. It brought a whole slew of criticism among fans of the Zelda franchise because Nintendo designed it with a new graphical engine and art style, cel shading.
This was very controversial because it cast Zelda, a somewhat serious franchise, into a cartoonish world. Gamers outcried, I'm sure, but eventually they either stopped crying, or they played the game and got over their tears and fears because of how excellent the game was! The only downfall the game had was the sailing aspect of the game, because it was cast in a world where Link (the main character) grew up on an island, and his sister is kidnapped, so he is violently thrust into a hero role without being ready, and has to leave his hometown island and has to sail to where his sister is kidnapped. Hence, the character has to sail everywhere he goes, from point A to point B. There isn't a fast travel mechanic, and some of the distances are very far from each other, so the gamer can get bored watching Link sail everywhere for minutes at a time. If you can get past that downfall of the game, the gameplay is very fun and enjoyable, and the story was very enjoyable, and the game catered to the graphical engine to make the game humorous and funny.
Overall, it is one of my favorite Zelda games, and it has received much praise and high acclaim. If you've got the chance to play it, it has been recently remastered for the Wii U with new HD graphics, and it look seven more beautiful!
Final Fantasy X was the second Final Fantasy title I played since falling in love with Final Fantasy VII in 1997.
The reason I'm writing another review about another Final Fantasy game is because Final Fantasy X had what I would consider a better story. It also introduced a new levelling mechanic which allowed players to take their own path with each character in the game so that they could utilize their favorite characters in the game, yet still use every ability the game had to offer.
It did this through the Sphere Grid. The Sphere Grid contained all the abilities that characters could learn and use, and each character started on different places in the grid, so that they would be unique. But if you wanted to, you could move a character around on the grid and change the path that they originally were supposed to take in order to teach them different abilities than they were originally going to take if they had just followed the path that they were originally placed on.
Anyway. Enough about the sphere grid.
Final Fantasy X is more near to me than Final Fantasy VII, because of the story. It told a really touching love story that intertwined with the main overarching plot that made me cry when it ended because it was a touching story.
Games that make me cry are automatically placed on my ultimate favorite games list, haha.
And I'm man enough to say it.
Anyway, Final Fantasy X has also been rereleased on the PS4, so if you want to give it a try, do so! I'm still playing it myself because I missed playing it when I sold my PS2 (the console the game originally came out on.)
Halo came out as an Xbox launch title in 2001. It drastically revolutionized the first person shooter genre as a whole because it told an excellent story, and had excellent gameplay, and looked excellent (at the time), and it meant the very beginning of an excellent shooter franchise.
Halo: Combat Evolved also introduced awesome LAN parties via connecting multiple Xbox consoles together and shooting each other up in games of up to 16 players. It was a ton of fun. I did it several times when the game was brand new in my youth group.
But enough about LAN parties, and enough about Halo 1.
Halo 2 really changed the game with its story and gameplay. I feel like it really changed everything that a shooter in general meant, because it utilized Microsoft's Xbox Live internet service to play multiplayer against anyone, anywhere in the world, and at any time you wanted. That was MASSIVE and a HUGE difference from what multiplayer had meant for every game before, because to play multiplayer prior meant that you had to organize get-togethers with your friends to play with them in the same room. Otherwise, multiplayer didn't exist.
Xbox Live combined with Halo 2 was a major enhancement and it really meant a huge leap forward for gamers on Xbox. And with the already popular fan base from Halo 1 joining the fray with Halo 2, Xbox quickly overtook playstation, at least in my heart.
Halo 2 was an awesome game, and it was released in 2014 with the Master Chief Collection for the Xbox One with newly rendered cut scenes made by Blur Studios (absolutely AWESOME looking cut scenes, btw), and newly rendered graphics to bring the old 2004 graphics into this generation. And boy, does it look fabulous!
FINAL FANTASY VII IS GETTING REMADE FROM THE GROUND UP TO BE RELEASED ON THE PS4 AND THE XBOX ONE!!!
WHAAAAAAAT?????????
Yeah, that's basically how I reacted when I learned of this news just a couple weeks ago.
Remember this? This was released several years ago as a teaser to let future PS3 owners know of the capabilities of the system which had yet to be released. They rendered the opening cinematic using a new engine and demoed it live before an audience, whose jaws all likely hit the floor when they looked at it. Sadly, that was all that became of it.
...Until now.
The game is being remade FROM THE GROUND UP. I mean, WOW. It looks absolutely unbelievably epic, and I can't wait for it to be released!
Final Fantasy VII. I mean, wow. I can barely even begin to write about it because it is such a remarkable game. I don't even know where to begin. So, I'll try to give it a very short rundown of why it was awesome and why everyone who even remotely likes RPG games needs to buy it and play it ASAP! It's available for download and play RIGHT NOW on PSN!
Final Fantasy VII was revolutionary because it spurred the release of the franchise into 3D for the first time ever. It was also revolutionary because it introduced a new world completely rendered in 3D, and new pre-rendered cinematic scenes at clinical points in the story, which looked absolutely gorgeous when the game launched in 1997. I mean, c'mon. It is an awesome title.
I won't go into much detail of the story, but basically it takes place in a world called Midgar, and the characters in the story are trying to save the world from absolute destruction by the main villain, Sephiroth. Sephiroth was born of a genetic experiment and as such, once he discovers this, he becomes furious with his creators and wants to destroy everyone and everything.
It is your goal to stop him. So, get cracking! It's a fantastic game and has an excellent soundtrack! Try to look past the visuals because yes, it is almost twenty years old and it hasn't aged well because of that. But my next post will relieve all of that... just wait and see.
This interview covers basically everything I can say about the Mega Man franchise.
Mega Man X was the first game in the new series generated by Capcom. It came out while Mega Man was still thriving. I love the Mega Man X franchise so much more than the Mega Man franchise, and I think it is because the Mega Man X character had more abilities which made moving around much more fun than simply running and jumping like the Mega Man franchise.
Mega Man is about shooting and killing your enemies as you progress through the levels which are platforming levels. The end of each level has a boss which you are supposed to kill. Once you kill the boss, you gain his power, and you are supposed to utilize that weapon power to kill the next boss, who may or may not have a weakness to that weapon power. Rinse, and repeat until you get through each level. There are eight levels in the game, resulting in eight bosses. Once you've killed all the bosses, there is a final boss level, usually with more than one stage and smaller bosses at the end of each stage until you finally get to the ultimate final stage and kill the true final boss, thus beating the game.
Mega Man X builds on the mechanics that Mega Man gameplay has. It doesn't change very much of the mechanics at all. However, what made it great was the additional movement mechanics which allow the player to traverse through levels which are much more complex and contain much more verticality than any of the prior Mega Man games contained released before it. Plus, it looked more awesome because it came out on the SNES, while the Mega Man games released before it were all on the NES. So that extra power of the SNES allowed the Mega Man X franchise to look much more polished and have better sound, and overall a better look and feel.
I love the soundtrack from the Mega Man franchise, and the Mega Man X franchise is no different!
Excellent game, and I strongly suggest you give it a try if you can!
A long time ago... okay, like a couple years ago... I played StarCraft with one of my best friends when he suggested that I play it. I think the last time I played it regularly was in 2010 before the sequel, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty came out.
StarCraft is a Real Time Strategy game which is very difficult to master. I never played it for competition because of that fact. The graphics were rather good, but they were sprites for the characters because back when it was released, computer graphics basically utilized sprites for 2D games, which StarCraft was. I think that they did this to save on the resources that the computers had so that people could play them on their machines without having to go out and buy a new graphics card or other new hardware to allow them to play newer titles.
In a nutshell, StarCraft has three different races which the player selects one from and uses for the duration of the match. The player has to build harvesting units to collect resources, either minerals or gas, and then has to build structures which unlock combat units and combat unit upgrades. The object of the match is to destroy all of your opponents buildings. Once they have no buildings left, they are forcibly ejected from the game, and they lose.
The things that made StarCraft great were that the three races all had different units, and they also had different ways that they created their combative units. So each race played completely different from the other. That made it unique to select one race versus another. The ways that each combative units attacked was unique to each race, and they were all balanced against each other so that no one race was superior to another in sheer terms of units or upgrades. The only thing that made a race superior, was, in a sense, the ability of their commander to command them the best.
It is for that reason alone that I continued to play StarCraft all the way until StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, came out in 2010. I still play the series to this day. I love strategy games, and I will probably continue to play it until StarCraft III comes out in 20...20. (It was over ten years before StarCraft II came out, so naturally, it will be another ten years before another sequel to it arrives.)
Sinistar was an arcade game I was able to play when I bought a Midway Collection for my Xbox. It was terrifying to play because of the difficulty of playing it.
Basically, you start the game with a ship and you can control it by flying around and shooting at asteroids which break up into tiny pieces once you've shot them enough. As you shoot them, they release little crystals which you need to collect so that you can use them to defeat the sinister which is born as the levels progress. Once the sinister is completed, he shrieks at you through the speakers telling you he is completed and he begins trying to catch you in his mouth, thus killing you.
The only way to destroy him is to fire the crystals at him, and break him apart to win the level. Since it was an arcade game, I don't really recall if it ever had a conclusion or overarching "point." (Other than to stay alive as long as possible to get the highest score possible.)
Sinistar was a great game and I loved the challenge.
Super Mario Bros. was one of the first video games I ever played. The tune is probably one of the catchiest video game tunes, and easily one of the most memorable tunes that has ever come.
Okay, now that that's been said, check out this awesome drum cover montage of the theme song by an awesome Italian drummer!
Pretty awesome, right?
The gameplay of Super Mario Bros is basically very simple by definition: Run, jump, land. Rinse and repeat to complete each level. Sounds simple enough, right? Don't get cocky. It isn't as easy as it sounds. The game starts out easy, but gets more difficult as you progress because there are tons of different enemies and levels to complete. The game makes it even more challenging because each level has a timer counting down to zero, and you automatically die if it reaches zero. Also, you don't have a health meter, so you die if you touch any of the enemies by running into them. You can kill most of them by stepping on their heads, but if you misstep, it's all over for you for that life. It's really difficult, in other words. But that's what made it fun, and extremely addicting!
The overall point of the game is to free the princess from capture, and you can only do that by completing all of the levels in the game, and killing the main boss, Bowser, inside his castles at the end of each world. I never got that far in the game when I was playing it, but I believe that there are 9 worlds in the game, and each world has something like 4 or 5 levels to complete. It was really difficult to play, because each world looks different and contains new enemies that are harder to kill, or impossible to kill, so you have to dodge them and get past them by running under them or jumping over them.
Basically, in a nut shell, it is a simple game, but contains very difficult gameplay. And I loved playing it when I was a kid. It has been succeeded by several, SEVERAL games, and those games are also difficult, but still basically contain the same basic mechanics.
Galaga was a great arcade game released in 1981. I grew up playing it on my NES when I was a kid, and my dad always told me how it was an arcade game that he used to play. The gameplay is basically that you control a ship which you can move left and right, and fire at the enemies lined up in a formation at the top of the screen. You clear the level once you kill all the enemies.
Each level plays the same way: the enemies begin leaving their formation and flying at the player, who has to dodge them or else face death if they collide with the player's ship. The player only has three ships at the start, but they can gain an extra ship once they reach a high enough score.
It's a really fun game, and I loved playing it when I was growing up. It's such a great game because it was challenging, and very addicting. It was easily one of my favorite games that I played growing up, and I love the fact that it has been remade several times so that kids growing up in these days can also experience it for themselves, and people like me who grew up playing it can also keep playing it on their newer console or handheld.
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/47710/xbox-ones-unlocked-7th-core-much-boost-dev/index.html So, this article is talking about how the Xbox One, which has an 8 core processor, has been only utilizing six of the cores for gaming, and people have been led to believe that that is the cause for the lack of power present in the games that have come out since the console launched in 2013. Now, Microsoft has unlocked a seventh core for game developers to use for games. And according to a developer who has been actively collaborating with Microsoft to learn how to utilize the seventh core, it hasn't proven to make very much of a difference.
This is rather disappointing, because I am an avid gamer, on both the PS4 as well as the XB1. For the XB1 to be struggling to make games look the same as the PS4 is not good news for Microsoft. The console originally was released with the next generation Kinect hardware, which is incredibly powerful hardware, but game developers never released anything great for the first generation Kinect. The inclusion of the Kinect 2.0 with the XB1 at launch meant that the console was $499, whereas the PS4 was $399. That price difference, along with the power of the PS4 versus the XB1 graphically speaking, made for some serious problems for original sales numbers of the Xbox One. As a result, Microsoft detached the Kinect from the Xbox One and dropped the price to $399. Sales still didn't pick up as expected, so Microsoft has now dropped the price of the Xbox One to $349. Now, even with a price drop, and unlocking another core for developers to use, you would expect the console to be performing better, sales-wise. But sadly, it looks like the console is still struggling to gain significant momentum. Only time will tell as the next generation of the console war continues if we will see the Xbox One contend with the significant lead the PS4 still has.
