Perhaps the most well known and well regarded entry in the series was none other than Bubsy 3D, which was the first actual 3D platformer to ever be made. You all are probably well aware of this game’s magnificence but just in case you aren’t, allow me to introduce you to Bubsy 3D.

Bubsy 3D isn’t just a platformer, it’s THE platformer. The platforming in Bubsy 3D is nothing short of magnificent. Each jump is not one small jump for man, but one giant leap for man kind.

This is due to the amazing FPS that Bubsy 3D runs at. For a game that was released in 1996 on the Playstation, Bubsy 3D actually has better FPS than most 2015 PC games.

“So You wanna be a video game star?”
The first, and most important words we hear Bubsy say.

The controls for Bubsy 3D are absolutely purrfect. Not only can you make Bubsy run and walk, but you can also make Bubsy jump backwards simply by tapping the down button on the D-Pad. Legends said that this technique actually served as the inspiration for the parkour moves that you can do in the Assassin’s Creed series.

One of the first things you’ll notice after starting the first level of Bubsy 3D is that it has a wonderfully composed soundtrack. At several points during the game, I found myself hitting the “paws” button, just to listen to it’s beauty. I personally have listened to the soundtrack for Bubsy 3D approximately 12 times, and each time feels like a chorus singing the most loveliest of sounds.

The enemies that you face in Bubsy 3D are nothing short of mentally challenging, but in a good way. These enemies will challenge your brain until it hurts from thinking about how
hard these enemies are.

My purrsonal favorite is the lightning enemy, whose difficulty served
as the main inspiration for Dark Souls II.

“What Could PAWsibly Go Wrong?”
Absolutely Nothing with Bubsy 3D.

Bubsy 3D also has a story mode, which is a good thing to have. In fact, the story is considered by many to be the greatest space opera epic since Star Wars (the prequels). Bubsy 3D tells the story of a charming anthropomorphic bob cat who finds himself whiskered away to a world far different than his own, a dystopian society ruled by two equally cruel queens where one’s most subconscious, abstract thoughts become reality.

It’s the player’s goal to guide Bubsy through this strange, nightmarish world looking for rockets to help him build a rocket to escape this prison planet and return to his home. Along the way, you’ll encounter a delightful cast of characters and face menacing bosses in “Mortal Bobcat” such as the “Wooly Bully”.

So if you haven’t purchased Bubsy 3D, then do yourself a favor and do so, otherwise you will never reach your fur potential.

(Of course, this is what I’d be saying if Accolade hadn’t accidentally published the alpha version of this game.)

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Satoru Iwata at GDC 2011
(Source: Official GDC.)

Satoru Iwata, who as chief executive of Nintendo oversaw the introduction of the Nintendo DS and the Wii, died on Saturday July, 11 in Kyoto, Japan at 55 years of age. The cause of death was a bile duct growth, according to an announcement made by the company.

A former video game development legend who worked on many successful titles, Mr. Iwata was appointed president of Nintendo in May 2002 and changed things up when he was made the executive of Nintendo of America in June 2013 as he was the first chief executive to not be member of the Yamauchi family, which founded the company in 1889 as a playing card manufacturer.

During Mr. Iwata’s tenure, Nintendo was trying to fend off fierce competition by rivals Sony and Microsoft. Under his administration, the company surged ahead with the release of the Nintendo DS, a hand-held gaming system, the popular Wii home gaming console, and Amiibo, a line of interactive toys.

Mr. Iwata was no pencil-pusher, he was also a superstar programmer and a creative genius who helped create and influence many successful Nintendo titles including Kirby and Super Smash Brothers. His feats include programming the cult classic RPG known as Earthbound, porting the battle code of Pokemon Stadium to the Nintendo 64, and managing to squeeze the Kanto region into Pokemon Gold and Silver.

Mr. Iwata became a hit with gamers through “Nintendo Directs”, videos in which he would bring the latest news and announcements to Nintendo fans, and “Iwata Asks”. Many stills and quotes from these video series became memes among the fanbase.

During one “Iwata Asks”, Mr. Iwata explained that his drive to expand Nintendo’s game offerings and user base was motivated by more than the lure of making money or beating competitors. While those things mattered, he said, he was also driven by a desire to improve “the position of video games in society.”

“I believe that if we don’t make moves to get people who don’t play games to understand them, then the position of video games in society will never improve,” Mr. Iwata said. “Society’s image of games will remain largely negative, including that stuff about playing games all the time badly damaging you or rotting your brain or whatever. If that happens, then even people who enjoy games will start to feel a strange guilt when they play them.”

Satoru Iwata will definitely be missed and he will not soon be forgotten.

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Now let’s talk about the gameplay. It’s basically like a standard turn based role playing game, you move your team towards an enemy, you attack said enemy, you try not to die, lather, rinse, repeat. It’s certainly not bad, but it isn’t really anything extraordinary either. That being said, whenever your team is surrounded by about 12-20 zombies, things can get really tense really fast, especially since Dead State has perma-death. The music also really helps set the tone for such encounters, although it can be a tad repetitive at times. Whenever you’re not battling zombies and looters, or scavenging buildings, you spend time at your community, assigning jobs to the inhabitants, and forming relationships with them. All of the survivors that you encounter are very well written, with a lot of interesting moments, so you want to make sure to make an effort to interact with them as much as possible.

So in closure, Dead State may look like just another zombie survival game, but it’s much, MUCH more than that, and it is definitely worth your time and money.

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Depth is a first person team based Survival horror game, in which you play as either a Diver or a Shark. If you play as a Shark, then your objective is simple: Kill all the divers. If you play as a Diver, then you have to avoid said sharks. It’s a simple formula, but it’s very effectively. When you’re playing as a diver, you feel almost powerless against the beasts, and your first encounters with the sharks can be truly horrifying. One moment, your fellow diver will right next to you, but before you know a Great White bursts through the wall and rips him apart right before your eyes. This may sound like the Sharks easily overpower the divers and will always be the winning team, and while it seems that way at first, it’s not that difficult for the tides to turn. After a few minutes of dying repeatedly, you will be able to upgrade your Diver’s skills, weapons, and special items, which vary from a device that detects any nearby Sharks to mines which can damage the Sharks, and sometimes kill them. This of course puts you at a disadvantage if you are playing as the Shark, and you will have to adapt to the situation and learn new strategies if you want to be the victorious team. So Depth manages to keep both teams balanced, granted that the players know what they’re doing, which brings up another great thing about Depth: The Community. The Community for Depth is very friendly to new comers, making it easy for them to figure out what to do, and both sides show a great amount of Team Work, which really makes Depth a very enjoyable experience. So if you’re still feeling the blues from your Evolve Pre-Purchase, then I highly recommend that you check out Depth if you want a tense, fun, and overall great multiplayer game.

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Buy wireless controllers for your video game systems. Playing video games can get pretty exciting. Many gamers jerk their controllers at one point or another. Some may even get so into a video game that they throw their controller across a room! In instances like these, it is disastrous to be tethered to a system. Wired controllers have been partly responsible for the destruction of many gaming systems.

Go online to find reviews about a game before you purchase it. These comments will help you understand more about the game and will ultimately help you determine if it is right for you. In addition, user comments can be very valuable in helping you understand if a game has annoying glitches or not.

Stretch every fifteen minutes during video game play. You might get cramped if you keep playing in the same position. When you stretch your muscles, you will not get cramps as easily and you reduce the risk of having blood clots. This is for your health.

A great way to provide fun for kids is to find educational games for them to play. If you are looking for games for a younger player, you should opt for educational titles. These will be far more appropriate than games that emphasize violence and explicit language. You can find a lot of good reviews online for games that are deemed appropriate for children.

You should determine the age your children should be before they can play M-rated games. While consoles do allow you to control adult content settings, computers do not. Know the things to look out for when you are monitoring your child’s game time.

Often, you can check out games from the library for free, or rent it from a video store. Most libraries have a good selection of popular games that can be borrowed for free. The library often carries games for many systems, so call in advance to find out if the library has the title that you are looking for.

If you are into gaming on your personal computer, know what it can handle. Personal computer games come with system requirements, ranging from CPU speed to graphics card model and power. Always remember that the listed requirements on the box are minimums. Your system needs to be more powerful to play the game well.

Understand that some games contain multi-player options, which can expose your children to others on the internet. In this case, you should be monitoring who your children are speaking to, as you do not want them to get too involved with strangers. This can help to put your child in the safest position possible.

As a parent, you will want to closely monitor the language that your child is displaying after playing a video game. If their language is taking a turn for the worst, you may want to limit the amount of time they are spending playing games that are explicit or unsuitable for their age.

Get up and take a break during marathon gaming sessions. Just push the pause button or wait until you’ve finished a level, and then get up and walk around. Take about five to ten minutes resting your eyes and hands, and then you can get back to the game where you left off.

Be patient if you are waiting for a major title to drop from sixty dollars to twenty. On average, it happens five months after the initial release date. However, some titles have actually lasted above the twenty dollar price point for one to two full years. Know how long you are willing to wait.

If your child needs an extra boost at school in a certain subject, look for video games that have an educational focus on that subject. Children learn best when they are having fun. Playing these games every now and then may be able to reinforce a subject in which they need extra help.

Make sure you do not try to cheat too much when it comes to playing a game that requires lots of skill on your part. It makes the game useless and unenjoyable. Try saving cheats for sports games. These can often enhance gameplay rather than ruining it altogether.

In order to keep your gaming under control, try to plan out gaming sessions with definitive limits. Whether you intend to play for a fixed amount of time or until you reach a certain goal, have a clear stopping point in mind before you pick up that controller. Even the best game is no good if you play it obsessively.

If you are scared about your kids playing video games, turn to other mothers for help. ESB ratings are usually one thing, but the actual gaming experience is another. If you know other mothers, ask them for advice in choosing appropriate video games for your kids. If no other mothers are available to help you out, look for online reviews that can help you.

Are you stuck on something in a game you are playing? Get online! There are probably others who are having the same trouble. A lot of times these people get online and share how they got their way out of a sticky situation. Or, you can find cheats for the game that will help.

The harder a level, the more often you should replay it. Playing a level many times in a row allows you to truly master it, and the learning you get will carry through to further more difficult levels. It also gives you the skills necessary to beat other games in the future.

Video gaming can enhance our lives in so many interesting ways. Game play can improve your athletic reflexes, GPA or even your ability to put together an amazing feast for the family! Hopefully this article has provided you with an entertaining way to learn more about video games and how to maximize your benefits from them.

The post Need Help With Video Games? Try These Simple Tips! appeared first on GameReviewStop.

Be aware of how multiplayer works. If you are buying a game solely for its multiplayer, make sure you have everything you need for it. If you plan on playing against someone in your household, you may find that you will need two copies of the game to play against each other.

Game ratings are a great way to figure out what is suitable for your children. Video games come in a variety of ratings. Each game will have a specific rating ranging from Early Childhood (EC) to Adults Only (AO). When the game is for a child, check the rating and select your games with caution.

If you are buying a game for your children (or another child you know) discuss the purchase with them first. Don’t just buy on a whim. Sports games are quite different from RPG games, so if they have a particular interest, you want to make sure that you know what that is.

To master game play in shooter video games, master your weapons. Know everything there is to know about each and every weapon style in the game. Each weapon excels in certain ways, but falls short in others. When you know the pluses and minuses of each weapon, you can use them to full advantage.

Know your maps in the video games that you are playing. Understanding the terrain is extremely important to winning. Where are the best places from which to hide and ambush your opponents? Where can you take shortcuts to give you a better strategic position? This type of knowledge will give you a major strategic advantage.

If as a parent you are concerned with video game content, control what downloadable mods are placed in the game. These downloadable mods are normally created by players, not the video game companies, so there is no rating system. What you thought was a relatively un-risky game can turn a lot worse with one of these mods.

Customize your controls. Most games have advanced settings that let you alter how the game is controlled. Use these to your advantage. There is nothing that says you must play with the game’s default settings. For example, if you have become accustomed to jumping with one button and attacking with another, and your new game uses the opposite – change it!

If you can’t get past a particular level, turn off all noise, whether it is the in-game sounds or music that you have put on. This will help you to really focus on what is happening in front of you and you may have a better chance of progressing in the game.

After reading this article, hopefully you will be able to find some great games to play without worrying about high prices. Video games can be a fun experience, but you don’t have to break the bank just to enjoy them. Use the information provided and spend less money when you game.

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The gameplay in MKX was vastly improved from MK9. Matches are fast paced, fluid, and overall very enjoyable. All of the fighters are evenly balanced, so you don’t have to worry about someone picking an overpowered character if you are fighting in a tournament. MKX also features the return of some newer additions from past NetherRealm games, such as the X-Ray attack from MK9 (Which are still as gruesome and ridiculous as they were before) and the interactive objects in stages that were introduced in Injustice: Gods Among Us. The only real problem that MKX has when it comes to gameplay is the net code, which is pretty unstable to say the least. Sometimes whenever you’re playing an online match, you’ll encounter no problems at all, running at a smooth 60 FPS, whereas other times you’ll maybe get anywhere from 10-15 frames, which makes the gameplay look like one of those slow motion fights from the Mortal Kombat movies, and no, that isn’t a good thing. Another problem with Mortal Kombat X is the way it handles Downloadable Content. In order to receive Goro, who is arguably one of the most popular fighters in the franchise, you had to pre-order the game, or be forced to pay $5 for him after release. Even worse to receive 4 extra characters, you have to pay $30 for a Kombat Pack, which is pretty much just a season pass titles under a different name, and while you’ll get some great returning characters like Tanya and Tremor, you’ll also be burdened with Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13^th, and Predator, who have no business being in a Mortal Kombat game. Mortal Kombat X also features several alternate costumes for you to unlock (or buy, if you’re into DLC), most of which can be unlocked via the Krypt, which is probably the best jump scare horror game on the market right now. The only problem with the Krypt, again, comes with the way that the DLC is handled. If you’re willing to pay $20, then all items in the Krypt will be unlocked for you, which pretty much removes its purpose for being in the game.

Now onto the story. The Mortal Kombat has never been known for being particularly well when it comes to storytelling; however the story in Mortal Kombat X is just mediocre. One of the biggest differences you’ll notice is that there are only 12 chapters in Mortal Kombat X’s story, as opposed to the 16 that were in MK9. The story starts off pretty good, you have a civil war going between Kotal Kahn and Mileena, Rain and Tanya secretly plotting against Mileena, Quan Chi still holding several of the main characters under his control, etc., however most of these plotlines are either rushed, or just left incomplete and completely forgotten. The biggest problem with Mortal Kombat X’s story is that it’s never really clear what the purpose of the story is, until maybe about half-way through, but by then it’s too late as you spend most of the story mode jumping from one plotline to another, each of which is usually left unresolved. Another problem with the story is that it only focuses on a small set of characters (Scorpion, Sub-Zero, The Cage Family, Quan-Chi, The Briggs Family, Kenshi’s Family, Kotal Kahn, D’Vorah, and Shinnok) whereas all the other characters were pushed to the side, which is a shame because a lot of them seemed really interesting.

However, despite the lackluster story, the gameplay in Mortal Kombat X is probably the best in the series, and is definitely worth checking out whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer.

The post Mortal Kombat X review appeared first on GameReviewStop.

So the gameplay in Grand Theft Auto V is basically like every other Rockstar game, however the main gimmick for Grand Theft Auto V is that you can switch between three different characters. It isn’t really necessary, but it’s a neat little feature, so nothing really to complain about there. The three characters you can play as are: Franklin Clinton, your average bland Grand Theft Auto protagonist, Michael DeSanta, a retired bank robber going through his mid-life crisis, and Trevor Phillips, who’s insane and that’s about all the personality you’ll get from him. Out of the three characters, the only real stand-out is Michael, and even then, he’s not super interesting, he’s just better than all the other characters.As I said earlier, the gameplay is pretty much every other Rockstar game since Grand Theft Auto IV, but slightly better, and while this isn’t a bad thing, it certainly isn’t a good thing either. Grand Theft Auto V also has a beautiful open world with absolutely nothing interesting to do. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot that you can do, like Tennis, or Yoga, or Golf, but none of that is really fun, it’s just kind of there. Grand Theft Auto V also has side missions, which are horrible and you should avoid them at all costs. One of the other major selling points for Grand Theft Auto V is the online mode, which is finally finished. I mean yeah, Rockstar released it back in 2013, but the only interesting part (the heists) was only released recently, and even then, the heists aren’t that great, but the first two or three that you play are pretty fun, so there’s that. The best thing that Grand Theft Auto V has going for it is the Director Mode, which basically lets you create your own videos and movies simply by playing Grand Theft Auto V. It’s very simple, but it’s also extremely fun.

The main story is about the three protagonists doing missions for the FIB, and occasionally doing a bank robbery here and there. That’s really all the story’s about. I was actually pretty disappointed with the story, to be honest. After hearing so many people praise it I thought I was in for a treat, but what I got was a cluster of several different stories that weren’t as important as the FIB missions where, so I was left feeling pretty disappointed that that’s all that Grand Theft Auto V had to offer.

So while I don’t like Grand Theft Auto V as much as everybody else does, I still think that there’s some fun to be had here, it’s just not worth paying $60 for. Maybe $30, if you ever see it up for sale on Steam.

The post Grand Theft Auto V (PC Version) Review appeared first on GameReviewStop.

Iwata explained: “As proof that Nintendo maintains strong enthusiasm for the dedicated game system business, let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename ‘NX’. It is too early to elaborate on the details of this project, but we hope to share more information with you next year.”

It’s not clear yet if this “brand-new concept” will be handheld or a dedicated console. This announcement comes moments after Nintendo revealed plans to create “new gaming applications featuring Nintendo IP” for smart devices.

This new platform appears to be in development with a new membership “core service” that will unite Nintendo’s home consoles, its handhelds, as well as mobiles and computers. Iwata stated that this new service will “encompasses the existing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems, the new hardware system with a brand-new concept, NX, and smart devices and PCs.”

Nintendo previously announced that it would be closing its Club Nintendo membership program by September of this year. It claims that it is “working hard to create a new program” that will create a “connection between Nintendo and each individual consumer regardless of the device the consumer uses.” It appears this new membership service will be its replacement.

Further details about the Nintendo “NX” are unknown, although a lot of fans have begun speculating, hoping, and dreaming that this new console will be the savior Nintendo needs.

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A diagram of Nintendo’s new service.

After years of speculation by press and fans alike, Nintendo has announced that it plans to start making games for mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.

Nintendo recently signed a deal with Japanese mobile games publisher, DeNA, which will include “new gaming applications featuring Nintendo IP, which [both companies] will develop specifically for smart devices.” Nintendo proceeded to purchase 10 percent of DeNA, while the latter received 1.24 percent of Nintendo.

DeNA (pronounced D-N-A) is known for the Mobage platform, which is one of the most popular cell phone gaming platforms in Japan, as well as publisher ngmoco, which has released title such as: Rolando, Topple, and We Rule.

As part of this agreement, Nintendo confirmed it will be developing “a core system compatible with a variety of devices including PCs, smartphones, and tablets, as well as Nintendo’s dedicated video game systems”. What this “core system” is is unclear at the moment, but many speculate that it could be a new social network or a digital streaming service.

Nintendo went on to state that it is not interested in porting older games to mobiles but would rather create new, original games that will be “optimized for smart devices”. Nintendo has confirmed that its new mobile services and games will be built for iOS and Android platforms and that it is not restricting any IP for mobile platforms. This means that possibilities are open for mobile games based on major franchises such as Mario, Zelda, Star Fox, Metroid, Animal Crossing, and others.

During a press conference on Tuesday, chief executive Satoru Iwata explained that the n”core system” will “encompass the existing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems,” as well as a an all-new hardware system, codenamed the “NX”.

He continued: “Unlike the Club Nintendo membership service that Nintendo has been operating, the new membership service will include multiple devices and create a connection between Nintendo and each individual consumer regardless of the device the consumer uses.”

This announcement comes as relief to hardcore Nintendo fans who feared that Nintendo would abandon their hardware roots and jump straight into making smart phone games.

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