Tuesday, November 22, 2016

ReCore

Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Platformer
Platforms: Xbox One, Windows 10.
Platform Reviewed On: Xbox One, Windows 10.
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2016

       ReCore is a pretty fun game overall. This is the first game in the Xbox Play Anywhere program where you buy the game and you are able to play on PC as well. ReCore introduces some really cool mechanics but falls short on executing them in a way that makes it exciting. The world is just way to big for all of the back tracking that the player has to do. It wouldn't be so bad if there was a lot more to explore and do in this huge open world but there is not. The prismatic core system is fine at first but gets really dull very quickly due to the fact that you need a certain amount in order to even progress through the story and finish the game. I kept running into problems where I would hit a wall because i did not have enough cores, mainly because the leveling progress is kind of slow so some of the dungeon you would just ignore because you were not the required level.

Open World Combat.
      
       There are some positives overall with the game though. It has new and interesting mechanics that you never see in a video game. Like the ability to change your ammo type based on the color of the enemy. You match it with their color and it will do more damage overall. When an enemy is weakened you are able to extract it's core with you use to power up your companions, Or you can choose to kill them regularly and get the materials you need to upgrade your companions armor. The customization is pretty good overall and if you craft a set for one of your mechanics then you will get a bonus to that character. It might be finding more loot and making on of their attacks stronger. The platform mechanics are very well done as well and feels like a fast paced 3D platformer. The companion system is good with full customization between four different bots and three different cores. Each companion has their own special techniques. Seth can crawl up rails, Mack can find items hidden in the ground, Duncan is able to smash through rocks and the FL1-R is able to fly you over longer distances and use vents to get boosted up in the air.

Great customization.

       ReCore suffers from a lot of problems from glitches and the dreadful load times. It is a bit better on the PC overall but still has the same glitches in the console version. Load times and visuals are superior on the PC version but doesn't help it very much at all. Overall ReCore is a a good game and with just a bit more development time this game could have shined.

**UPDATE** ReCore received a patch update and the load times are now better. Still not very quick but better than it was.

Good Game:
7.5/10 

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Saturday, August 13, 2016

Overwatch

Release Date: May 24, 2016
Genre: First Person Shooter
Platforms: Xbox One, PC, PS4
Platform Reviewed On: PC
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2016

Overwatch is Blizzard's new and very different IP. Overwatch is an FPS team objective game similar to Team Fortress 2. At the time of this review there are 26 playable characters with Ana being the newest edition to the games roster. Blizzard has said they will be releases a lot more characters in the future all for free. Overwatch is one of Blizzards most anticipated game with over 15 million players worldwide and beating the top game League of Legends in Korean cafe's. First time in years.

Overwatch is a team based game where you do one of two objective modes. Capture the nodes or escort the payload. Both modes rely heavily on team communication and the right heroes for the job. The different characters in Overwatch are broken down into specific roles and each are very unique. There are attackers, defense, tanks and support. Each playing a crucial role in winning. When you join a new match you will be either attacking or defending which also changes which heroes will be good to use. At the character selection screen it will also notify you if you have to much of one type, to much of the same character, if you need a support, etc... Which is handy in picking your team with a bunch of random people. Adds some coordination to it.


There are currently 5 options to play. Quick Play which jumps you into a match right away with other people. Play with A.I allows you to play with a team of humans versus a team of A.I controlled characters. Custom Games which allows you to invite friends and create your own games. Competitive Mode which was just recently added and allows you to play a more serious version of the game. Weekly Brawls which changes every single week and is never the same (so far).

Competitive Mode allows you to increase your ranking, earn competitive points which can be used for golden weapons, and to show off your true skill. In Competitive you are only able to select one of each character which makes it so you won't be up against a team of Winstons. The matches in competitive mode are a little bit longer due to the scoring system which makes it that much more competitive.


Weekly Brawls are special modes that changes every Tuesday. This could be Hanzo and Genji's only. Tanks only. Support only. Special rules, over the top regeneration, etc... During the Summe Olympics in Rio, Overwatch introduced a new set of loot crates and a new type of game mode in the weekly brawl called Lucio Ball. The point of Lucia Ball is exactly like Rocket League where you need to get the ball into the opposite goal to score points.

Overwatch does have a leveling system where every level you receive a loot crate. These loot crates have a chance to drop commons, rares, epics, and legendaries. These may include emblems, coins, skins, character intros, etc... There is also an option to purchase loot crates with real money. Loot crates do not effect the gameplay whatsoever, it's purely cosmetic. As soon as you hit a certain level the XP caps at 22,000. The max level in Overwatch is 1890 and every 10 or so levels you unlock a brand new portrait. Every 100 levels you unlock a "prestige" like star.


Blizzard has done something truly special with Overwatch. Deep hidden story, amazing cinematics, fast paced FPS, etc.... Overwatch will only get bigger and better from here on out. The really only negative thing I have to say about Overwatch is it's price point. $60 for a full game or the basic version on PC for $40. At the time there just wasn't enough content to justify that price point. But no with all of these updates it certainly will be worth it. Even now, it's a great ton of fun.

Great!

9.5/10

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Thursday, August 11, 2016

Mini Review: Good Knight Story.



Knight Story is a puzzle RPG game for mobile. It is similar to Puzzle and Dragons in away except you are a knight trying to rescue the princess. As of right now there is 125 different levels to complete. As of this review I am on 113. Knight Story has am average story but the humor is what this game makes up in. Some of the lines from the Knight and monsters are generally pretty fun while some are "roll your eyes" funny. A lot of the bosses are unique and also have their own dialogue. Knight Story involves you matching up different colored orbs to perform that elements attack. There is also an element guide on the top of the battle screen to tell you which element is strong against each other.

During your puzzle adventure you meet a lot of decent characters, find weapons and new spells to help you on your way. If you play often enough without waiting to collect your daily gold reward you will get overpowered very quickly. There is the option of buying in game currency but it shouldn't be dependent on it so much. A lot of the battles I was finding myself losing very often until I waited the set amount of hours, several times and gathered enough gold to upgrade my weapons so I would have a chance.



The levels in Knight Story are not all the same though. Some have you collecting items while trying to stay alive against a large enemy or the normal slaying your enemies to progress. It doesn't look like they will be adding any more levels, it's been several months with no updates which is kind of disappointing. Overall Knight Story is a good, quick pass time and recommend if you're into puzzle RPG's.


Good
7.0/10
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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Mini Review: Color Switch



Color Switch is an addictive puzzle game on iOS and Android where the point of the game is to bounce a colored ball through obstacles. Sound easy? Think again! There are a couple of ways you can play this. Either play endless mode or the many different modes offered. Endless mode is essentially a mode that never ends, gets faster and you try to beat your score....almost like Flappy Bird. With Color Switch as you progress through each obstacle the color of your ball changes and you need to match it up with the color of the obstacle in order to proceed. These obstacles can be moving, be very small or even change appearance. 

At the time of this review there are currently 19 different game modes. Each one being very different from the others. Fortafy Games adds a new mode almost every bg update for free. One of my personal favorites is Climb where your ball or icon rides up each side of the wall in order to reach the goal. It start off easy but as you progress it gets much faster and almost frame perfect when you switch between the walls. A lot of these modes will having you wanting to throw your phone at the wall but when you beat it, it feels so rewarding.



The music is super catchy and each mode has it's own soundtrack. You collect stars from playing the game overall and are able to use these stars to buy new balls. One might be a pokeball, thumbs up, a skull, etc..... Color Switch is constantly getting updated with new modes, balls, and much more. Highly recommended.

*Update* New mode Slide was added after the review. Also note that this is a free game. 


Great!
9.0/10

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Tuesday, August 9, 2016

DOOM


Release Date: May 13, 2016
Genre: First Person Shooter
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Platform Reviewed On: Xbox One, PC
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2016

Doom is finally out after all of these years since DOOM 3. I've been a DOOM fan since I was 7 years old in 1996 and was excited to buy this physically on Day One. Let me tell you, it was worth the long wait. DOOM is a franchise which takes place on Mars and Hell. You play as the notorious DOOM guy who is just badass all around.

You start the game waking up which looks like to be some sort of tomb or crypt. As soon as you get up your put on the suit and all hell breaks loose. The story is a basic but decent story, you usually do not play DOOM for the story though. It's all about feeling like a god and destroying hundreds and hundreds of demons. This game is no different. Besides the beautiful visuals this game is fast paced and plays a lot like the classic DOOM. You even have the option to changing your field of view like in the original DOOM. This version of the game introduces some nice mechanics including the rune trials, access to classic DOOM maps, a skill and gun upgrade system.


Each level you play has secrets. Within these secrets you might fine some collectibles or even some suit upgrades. You can use these suit upgrades for many different things. One example is reducing the damage you receive from exploding barrels. Each level also introduces you to combat skill points which a rewarded by completed in game tasks which is different on every level and by slaughtering demons. You use these skill points to power up your many guns and unlocking their masteries. Unlocking the masteries are not unlocked with your skill points but by performing other tasks. It's a pretty good system overall.

On top of that there are collectibles to find in each level. Every level has little figurines of DOOM guy in different suits. Whenever you grab one it plays the classic DOOM sound as you're looking at it. It makes it feel like DOOM is an open world game when in fact it is not. But it makes the game much more explorable with it's HUGE maps. On top of that you  are also able to collect codex's and learn more about the story.


Glory kills is also an excellent new mechanic in DOOM which is very useful on the higher difficulties. Whenever you weaken a demon you will notice it glows red and blue. That is the indication that you are able to press the melee button and perform a glory execution. When doing so the demons will drop health and sometimes ammo. Another good way of getting health and ammo back is killing demons with your chainsaw. The chainsaw has very limited ammo but it's a great way to get back your weapon ammo if you're running low during a battle.

The boss battles are a ton of fun! Without spoiling who they are (should be obvious) let's just say they are huge and some require some time and strategy to take down. There are a total of three bosses in the campaign all with badass music and fun ways to take them down.

When you go onto the main menu of the game there is another mode on the right side of the campaign. This is called Snapmap and it's great. Snapmap is kind of like forge from Halo but with this you have a lot more customization when building your own map. With snapmap creators have the opportunity to create their own maps, modes, events, and decide to make it online, co-op or even just a solo map. Some can vary to demon waves, park our, music makers, etc... The list never ends. ID Software is also constantly adding updates to this feature as well.


Lastly, I want to talk about the multiplayer. I personally love the multiplayer in this game and cannot get enough of it for the simple reason of it feeling exactly like Unreal Tournament and Quake. A lot of people have their complaints over the multiplayer but I don't see any reason not to like it. The only frustrating situation about the multiplayer are DLC packs mainly. At the time of writing up this review, the first DLC pack Unto the Evil came on on Friday, August 5th, 2016. Season pass holders for Xbox One have not been able to play because it will not unlock the content and Bethesda has stated they are working on it.....4 days ago and during double XP weekend which people including myself were unable to participate in with the new DLC. Besides the technical difficulties with the multiplayer, it's pretty solid overall.

Overall, DOOM is an amazing game and highly recommend it to anyone on any platform. Full of easter eggs, beautiful visuals, an amazing sound track, demons, action, guns, etc.... There is something for everyone in this title. I just hope they figure out this DLC content fast because people are getting very impatient including myself.

GREAT!

9.5/10

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Monday, August 8, 2016

Fire Emblem Fates


Release Date: February 19, 2016
Genre: Tactical role-playing
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2016

Fire Emblem Fates is another great entry into the Fire Emblem series for the Nintendo 3DS. Ever since Awakening, Fire Emblem has been getting some good traction in North America which is fantastic. Each entry gets better than the last (best one is Sacred Stones in my opinion). Fire Emblem Fates does something a little different. There are three games to choose from in this version. Each one has their own stories, characters and even weapons. Conquest and Birthright are the two mains ones recommended to start with while Revelation is the third story which is obtained digitally at a reduced cost. Once you hit chapter 5 you have the option to choose which side you will help.

As you progress through each story line you will discover lies, truths, and shocking twists. Each story gets their own unique player hub where you can upgrade, and build vendors, prison, blacksmith, arena, etc... There is also a multiplayer option where you attack another players hub or defend your own. In Revelation you get the option of using both sides buildings and farms. Each story is different but in the end the main point of it all is to try and stop this war between the two clans.

Fire Emblem Fates also introduces a new mechanic which allows your to partner up with other units. When doing so you get a slight buff in your stats depending on your relatioship with that unit. It also increases your chances of surviving. Another similar mechanic is when you are standing beside other units they will also increase your stats during battle depending on your relationship with that unit. The better the relationship means a higher stat gain.

Conquest:



Conquest is the story of the mighty kingdom Nohr. In this version it is early discovered that you were captured as a baby. In this story you were born in Hoshido and was captured at a very young age and grew up in Nohr. Manipulated you believe your allies in Nohr are in fact your blood relatives. If you choose to defend Nohr (Conquest) you will be shunned by Hoshido. Overall the story for Conquest is fantastic and has some really cool twists and emotional ties with some of the characters. However, this was my least favorite version.
Conquest is the "classic" way of playing Fire Emblem. In Conquest there is no grinding, resources are limited and the difficulty is much higher than any other version. If you are seeking a challenge then choose this path.

Final Rating:
8.5/10

Birthright:



Birthright is the other option to choose once you in chapter 5. This focuses around the clan Hoshido. In Birthright it is again discovered that Hoshido was your birth home but instead of sticking with Nohr you decide to go with Hoshido. Hoshido is the easier option especially with people who are new to the series. Birthright allows grinding and the ability to get stronger so the tougher chapters won't be as tough. Each mode does have Lunatic mode which is always a challenge. Birthright just makes it more bearable.

Birthright is the "newer" way of playing Fire Emblem, similar to Sacred Stones in a way. I found the characters are much more likable in Birthright and the story is a bit better as well. However, this story was not my favorite.

Final Rating:
9.0/10

Revelation:



Revelation is my favorite story out of the three choices. Revelation is a combination of Conquest and Birthright. It allows you to grind if you need to but the difficulty overall is higher than Birthright. In Revelation on Chapter 5 you decide to not join either clan and form one of your own to stop the war. You later discover a place which no one can speak of and the story and history of this place. It's fantastic story but I recommend you play Birthright and Conquest before Revelation.

Revelation also gives you the option to use BOTH building styles from Conquest and Birthright, allowing you to further customize your player hub. With Revelation you gather units from both Nohr and Hoshido. So overall it makes it a much more interesting story and the difficulty is just right.

Final Rating:
9.5/10

Overall Rating:
9.0/10
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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Undertale


Undertale is an RPG available exclusively for PC and Mac, but don’t let that dissuade you. It is by and large one of the most unique games currently available for many different reasons. Gameplay varies tremendously with the situation, but most of the “exploration” takes place in a traditional top down view with four directional movement (diagonals are also included). It’s an entirely different experience than the huge AAA titles (looking at you, Fallout 4), and I love it for that.

One of the nicer aspects about a game such as Undertale is its more traditional offline nature. You get to have a solitary experience (the strong-willed can complete a run in a day) and take in the world with no distractions. It’s just you and the game, and that’s refreshing. Without the requirement of an internet connection, you don’t even need to hide yourself from trolls or hackers.

Visually speaking, Undertale is designed as a cross between retro 8-bit and 16-bit type graphics reminiscent of the Earthbound franchise. Despite that, the pixel models are selectively very detailed and characters all have unique movements and animations to correspond with their moods and feelings. In terms of creating an immersive environment, Undertale does exceedingly well.

Battles are handled on a turn-based system, but don’t let that throw you off. Enemy turns involve dodging a slew of varying attacks in a danmaku bullet hell style of gameplay, minus the need to destroy enemy ships (as seen in games such as Gradius). The biggest difference is on the offensive turn, as there’s more than just attacking or healing. You also have various dialogues and the most central element of the game.

Mercy

Every fight has two options: kill or mercy. Monsters will eventually die if attacked until they run out of HP, but you can also “spare” them by using dialogue options. For instance, early in the game a reindeer with tree antlers appears as a random encounter. Upon use of the “check” command, you see its trees have been decorated and it doesn’t like that.

If you spend turns removing those decorations instead of attacking, you can spare the monster without dealing any damage. Given the nature of most games, you might wonder exactly why you would even bother. After all, monsters you don’t “kill” yield no experience points.

Yet the game has a few different ways to play. On a pacifist run, you can play to the very end without ever killing a single monster. That includes bosses! If you play your dialogues right, you can even befriend them. Naturally, this also comes with some additional challenges.

No killing means no exp, which means you never level up. Not that you’d need to deal extra damage, but that also means you don’t get any additional HP. Playing the game better becomes more important than leveling up, so the game forces you to become better. Unless, of course, you get fed up and decide to start killing everything in sight.

Murder

The other way to play through Undertale is often referred to as a “genocide” run. As the name implies, you kill everything you come across. This yields the most exp and lets you level up, giving you more HP to handle enemy attacks. While the genocide run is generally considered easier, it has some interesting effects.

Certain fights change when you alter the course of the story by killing everyone. Some enemies become more difficult or more aggressive (as one might imagine). Other fights will take longer (strangely enough) to win if you’re just using attack.

Other than regular battles, there are some other systems in Undertale worthy of note.

In the Field

Outside of battle, there are a number of different puzzles and traps you’ll need to navigate to reach your destination. While most puzzles aren’t incredibly challenging, they do require some thought. A few are timed and will demand some additional dexterity.

That means tons of mini-games, so you won’t always be able to rely exclusively on the skills you’re using to battle through the rest of the game. Decision making is important because what choices you make will have different outcomes. This can even include what equipment you’re wearing.

Inventory in the game is extraordinarily limited, as you can only carry up to 8 items at a time. You’ll need to choose what you bring with you carefully. Though random battles are somewhat infrequent, you can quickly find yourself in a bad spot if you have no healing items because your inventory is filled with dogs (you’ll understand if you play).

Plot

It might seem curious to list the plot so late in an RPG review, but that’s only to save the best for last. Undertale’s plot is simple in nature but filled with clever jokes and heavy themes. Within the first few minutes of the game you’ll find yourself cast as a child that’s fallen into a cave. This is a place where, in an ancient war, humans banished the monsters to and sealed them away with a barrier. This is a land where monsters rule.

While your goal is mostly to escape the underground and return home, the variety of unique and entertaining characters can quickly make you forget about reaching the end. Recall that your enemies can quickly become your friends, but only if you handle the battles and dialogue right. You’ll quickly learn that the protagonist’s life is incredibly important, even as a child.

Where to Get It?

Undertale is available on Steam and GOG for an affordable $9.99. Due to the different choices you can make in the game, you can get at least several runs out of it. Considering how most modern games run as high as $60 (before the DLC), a ten spot seems like a good deal.
Do you have any additional questions about Undertale? If you’ve played it, what did you think of it? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

About the Author: Lots of people play video games, and Cassie is no exception. When she’s not slaying dragons or beating her friends, she’s usually writing about tech and gaming online. If you’d like to read more of her work, check it out on Culture Coverage.

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Monday, July 25, 2016

Mini Review: Kerbal Space Program (Xbox One)

Bob, Bill and Jebediah Kerman crash onto console

Release Date: 15th July, 2016
Genres: Space-flight-simulation, Single-Player
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Windows, OS X Linux 
Platform Reviewed on: Xbox One
Date Reviewed: 25th July, 2016

                      After over two years in development within Steam Early Access, the hit space-simulation lands on consoles with an experience recommended for Xbox one players everywhere; it's a rare hidden gem hidden amongst the depths of modern shooters.

Kerbal Space Program is home to 3 different modes: Career, Science and Sandbox. Sandbox is where your imagination becomes the limit as you have an infinite supply of any equipment in the game, which can lead to hilarious results. Career is when you have complete control of your space program, from keeping track of the cost to run the facility, to upgrading the buildings in it. Science was clearly constructed with Career in mind, because of their similarities, but they feel different and distinct enough gameplay-wise to be separate ways of playing.

When playing the game, it is entirely possible to spend hours upon hours at a time attempting to brainstorm ideas and put them into action. It is entirely possible for you to spend hours upon hours building or modifying ridiculously stupid ships or planes in an attempt to break free from orbit. And it is, unfortunately, possible for you to spend hours upon hours at a time failing horribly and concluding your gaming session with the deaths of multiple kerbals, which is how I spent my Sunday night. This means the game is better played in long segments rather than multiple small doses, which may sound off-putting at first but you can save different designs and test them later,
However, the clunky and somewhat complex controls as well as frequent frame rate drops prevent this game from being the best it could be, but if you're looking for something new and exciting, give this a try.

Good!
8.5/10


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Friday, February 26, 2016

Indie Review: Castellum (Alpha)


       Castellum is currently in it's alpha stages and I hope to be along during the Beta and full release of Castellum. I was one of the lucky ones to get invited into trying the alpha version and was asked to do a mini review. Remember this is an alpha which means it is subject to change at any time.

       Castellum is an arena based RPG where you pick your type of warrior and enter them into battle. Each battle is automated almost like Punch Club. After each fight you earn resources to use to improve your fighter with better equipment and new skills. During the alpha test a lot of the game was limited to what I was able to do. For the most part I was able to experience the core of the game. After a few attempts at playing Castellum I got a good feel at what the game was trying to accomplish. The gameplay offered is a smart decision because it keeps the player entertained for hours depending how much content gets added into the full game. After awhile the battles can get a little stale as you watch the same animation over and over with the odd time use of a skill.

       Some other features that Castellum has is an Arena where you can fight against other opponents including your friends or the best of the best. Each fight will cost you a ticket. Other players are able to challenge you while you're away as well. There is also a mini game building. This feature is not implemented in the Alpha version. There is a bar where you can join clans and gain followers. Not available in the Alpha version as well. There is a shop where you can buy various armors, weapons, runes, and potions to help out on the battlefield! Lastly there is your character screen where you can change your equipment, improve your traits, earn new skills, and check your stats and inventory.

       In conclusion I recommend keeping an eye opened for this lovely game when it becomes available. Lots of options, customization and really interesting art style. The audio is something I noticed right away as well. It is so cheery and suits this type of game immensely. You can tell the developer has put a lot of time and thought into this game. Really the only other criticism I can give is to make the battling animations a bit more entertaining or provide the player with something to do as you are fighting in combat. I also hope to see hundreds of different armors and weapons to give the player more customization options.

Great Start!

8/10 


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Saturday, February 20, 2016

Mini Review: Sacred Citadel

Release Date: April 17, 2013
Genre: Action, Beat 'em up RPG
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Platform Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Date Reviewed: February 4th, 2016

Sacred Citadel came out on the Xbox Live Arcade a few years ago. It was the most recent Games for Gold game on the Xbox 360. So I decided to do a mini review on it.

Sacred Citadel is a side scrolling hack and slash RPG. You have your choice in choosing which class you want to play as. These vary from a Warrior, Ranger, Wizard, or a Shaman. Each class has their own unique skills and abilities to use. Sacred Citadel is a short game with 4 different acts, co-op play, and challenges to increase the difficulty of each level. As you progress through the story you gain levels, new skills, new armor, weapons, and meet several new enemies which all increase in difficulty as your progress further through the story.

Fast Paced Action!

If you were to compare Sacred Citadel to another game it would be a more serious version of Castle Crashers. Just like Castle Crashers this game is enjoyed more with a friend. Sacred is a fairly challenging game but can be beaten in roughly two hours. Each class is unique so beating the game with all classes is recommended totaling up between 8-10 hours of gameplay, solo.

If you enjoy 2D side scrolling RPG's then I recommend you try this game out for yourself. It isn't a fantastic game but definitely a good game to kill some time with. Soundtrack is good, combat is fun but does get repetitive. The enemies are fun to kill except for the few really annoying ones. It would been great to have some sort of crafting system in place.

Okay

7.0/10
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Friday, February 19, 2016

Yo-kai Watch

Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Genre: RPG
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2016

        Finally we get this game over to the West after all of these years of being teased. Well finally the first Yo-Kai Watch is here and only on Nintendo 3DS. You are a young boy who magically discovers a capsule machine in the middle of the forest. You insert a coin and behold! A Yo-Kai appears! He quickly befriends you and explains what Yo-kai are and how you are able to obtain and see different Yo-kai's. You are on a quest to save the human world from the Yo-kai world which you find out is being ruled by an evil Yo-kai and you are trying to stop them from entering the human world.

         Yo-kai Watch is in kind of a way like Pokemon but very different from it. You do capture and tame wild monsters hiding out in the wild. You are only able to see these monsters with the power of the Yo-kai Watch which gets upgraded as you progress through the game. In order to see stronger Yo-kai you will have to keep upgrading your watch. Yo-kai's get stronger as you battle with them and some even evolve into stronger Yo-kai's. Fairly early in the game you also discover you are able to fuse certain Yo-kai together to create new and more powerful Yo-kai's.

The Combat Screen

         The world which you explore is fairly large in size for a 3DS game. As you progress you unlock new areas to explore in this huge city. Each area also has their little hidden areas such as Alley ways, tunnels, and shortcuts. Everywhere you search you are always able to find Yo-kai. Yo-kai are based on their ranks, so the higher they rank, usually it means they are stronger. Each time your watch picks up a nearby Yo-kai the watch will actually tell you the rank of the nearby monster so you will know if you're up for a challenge or not.

         Overall the story of Yo-kai watch is pretty good with some moments of laughter and some moments of sadness. The animations are beautiful and full of life. Some clips are from the TV show as well. Sometimes I did feel that the story was kind of jumbled and sometimes you forget why you're doing certain things. Besides the main story there are several side quests and favors to do to earn some extra money and experience. Some even give you items to further power your Yo-kai.

         The combat is fairly weak in my opinion. It is very fun but half the time you're sitting there watching your Yo-kai attack since it is all automated. What really drove me mad sometimes is the fact you are not able to select which attacks your Yo-kai's use. The only way to "alter" that is to change their moods with items. Some will make them more aggressive and attack physically while some will mainly focus on healing. During combat you also have control of a wheel type system on your touch screen. This is the fun part of the combat ad you are able to rotate up to six Yo-kai to fight. You also use this to give your Yo-kai items, purify them or to use their specials which are for the most part really fun to do. To use their specials you will either be spinning the wheel rapidly, cracking the glass or tapping power orbs as quickly as possible.

Interesting Boss Battles.

         The only true annoyance I had with this game was Terror Time. Terror time has a random chance to trigger. It gives you a notification with your watch in the top right corner of the screen where you will see a count down from 3. In terror time you have to escape back into the waking world without getting caught by the huge Yo-kai trying to find you. There are special chests that you are able to get in Terror Time, some have powerful items. But as time carries on more monsters spawn and it becomes difficult to hide from them. If a Yo-kai see's you it yells and calls for the Yo-kai that is hunting you down. If you get caught you have to fight him which I recommend you never do.

         Overall Yo-kai watch was a very fun experience. Lots to do, lots of Yo-kai to obtain and a huge open world map to ride around in. I highly recommend this game for the Nintendo 3DS.

Great!

9.0/10



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Thursday, February 18, 2016

Fallout 4

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Platform Reviewed on: Xbox One
Genre: Open World FPS RPG
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2016

        The long awaited fourth entry in the Fallout series has finally arrived for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Fallout 4, you return to the wastelands 200 years after being asleep in Vault 111 for reasons unknown. Shortly after you signed the form for securing your families safety if a nuclear war were to happen.......a nuclear war happens. You and your family quickly rush over to vault 111 where you are presumed to be safe. You wake up, cryogenically frozen only to discover your son is gone. Shortly after leaving the vault into the wasteland you quickly discover you have been in the vault for 200 years. You are now on a quest to find your missing son.


         Fallout 4 is an interesting game to say the least. I do appreciate the fact you have a somewhat massive open world to explore with hundreds of side quests and many stories to be told. Fallout 4 also introduces a new mechanic to the series. The ability to build your own outposts. You can almost literally build anything you'd like, that's if you have enough supplies, electricity, food and water. From fortresses of dooms, to simple housing, you can build it all. Sometimes these play an important roll when defending your outposts. You are able to build defenses so if your outposts are getting attacked, you have a fighting chance to fend them off.

         The guns are a plenty in Fallout 4. Several guns to be found, created and modified to your liking and play style. There are many different perks which you earn by gaining levels, and the beauty is that there is no level cap so feel free to pick and choose your perks. The character customization is wonderful because you are able to alter your characters feature to whatever you'd like. Some people have even re-created celebrities such as John Cena! Overall, Fallout 4 does have a lot to offer for anyone, even if you have never played a Fallout game before. But...


         Personally I could not get into this game myself and had to force myself just to beat this game. The engine is very out of date and you can tell as soon as you load up the game for the first time. The textures are bland, the models on some of these characters are brutal and look like early last gen. The controls are sluggish, the voice overs on some of the characters are horrible. The outdated system has had a huge toll on this game and it shows. I am not sure why they were using such an old engine on "next" gen. It is a bit more tolerable on PC but not by much.

         One of my biggest pet peeves with Fallout 4 was the dialog. All previous Fallout games had some form of dialog for your character to respond with which what made Fallout so great in the first place! They have completely removed it in Fallout 4. The dialog options are abysmal with simple answers such as "Yes, and No". It just made the game feel so shallow and empty, even in a huge open world. Very disappointing.

         Overall Fallout 4 was a huge let down. Don't get me wrong, I did have some fun with it but not from the main parts of the game. I enjoyed the side quests because some of them had a better story than the main game! But for what it's worth I do not recommend this game. Please try it before you buy it and save yourself some money. I hope overtime with the free updates they improve this game immensely. We waiting so long for this game.

Okay
6.5/10


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