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Strike Suit Zero - Review

2013-01-28T03:52:00.000-08:00

Strike Suit Zero (PC) - Review

Somewhere out there, in the vast, empty space...

(VG: space combat simulator, shooter)

Spare time required to complete some missions in this game - if you're not having a few hours on your hands, well, tough deal for you!

Strike Suit Zero tries to innovate the somewhat stale space shooter genre. Back in the eighties and nineties, you could find lots of decent games, but in the noughties, not a lot (maybe X3: Reunion from 2005) - maybe Born Ready Games could be the saviour in disguise? Who knows...?

Why not?

Let me point out first what is wrong with Strike Suit Zero. First off, there's a wide range in the time required to beat the missions. Once it could take you a short amount of ten minutes, and the next one could hook you there for an hour. It was really a pain in the ass to fight for my survival for about 36 minutes (yes, I actually took a timer out...) without stopping for a single second, and then suddenly bam, power outage, lost my checkpoints' progress. Retried, and then I got owned. This just brings up the second problem: the position - and probably the amount, too - of the checkpoints are not good. One more issue is the story itself. It's not Oscar-material, and it is better to be left as it is... just don't care much about the story.

Why?

These aforementioned things shouldn't take you away from the game itself. It's not a short one, with about a 12-13 hour long campaign, this isn't going to be one of those games you could blast through in one sit (like I usually do with some games on YouTube)! The game will try to teach you the essentials in the tutorials (thank goodness for that), so even if you're a total beginner in space combats, Adams' battle against the Colonial fighters is actually a pretty decent game to get started with. You'll have more than one ending, which should expand the game's replay value. But the learning curve is kinda steep, so expect your buttocks to be kicked severely, however in the end, it's worth it - upgrades could help your progress, if you can get them. You don't manage to protect that ship? Well, screw you, no armor upgrade for you, mister! The challenge is in there, and in a good way to boot.

Striking

Allow me to quote myself when I first saw my ship transforming, I said "Oh sweet Jesus on an upside down Toyota doing barrel rolls on chocolate donuts, this is sweet!". Add the fact that you'll be able to control not one, but four ships throughout the game, which all have different weapons to use. Now include the simple, yet oh-so-creative factor of building your own loadout... and taste the result. Don't get greedy though, like I did: save the missiles, and try to use the infinite ammo-wielding machine gun or the plasma shot as much as you can, because there's no way to refill your ammunition during the mission, which is challenging the player.

Almost there...

There is definitely hope for the Earth in the story, and for the genre in general - but the game falls short. The checkpoint system isn't balanced properly, the story is forgettable, as well as it's narrated (oh God, let's not go there again), there isn't any way to refill the ammo during the missions, and the game has some difficulty balance problems. Overall, it's still a good effort, and if you're willing to try something new in the shooter line-up, Strike Suit Zero is a good place to start out.

V

71%

BEST Pirate Bay Link: Strike Suit Zero Collector's

Django Unchained (comic book) - Review

2013-01-27T04:14:00.001-08:00

Django Unchained (comic book)

(Ebook: Comic book; epic western)

Quentin Tarantino's work... in comic form

Let's face it: Quentin Tarantino is a major player in Hollywood - sure, he doesn't direct several movies a year, but when he actually gets to do so, it usually ends up something amazing. Take Reservoir Dogs, for example. This time around, he brought Django back to life. In order to appeal to more fans, there is a comic book adaptation to it, and it's a really good one to look forward to.

Tarantino didn't invent the wheel with Unchained, because there's some history behind this franchise. Believe it or not, the original Django movie was made back in 1966... basically at the end of the golden age of the western movies. Sergio Corbucci's movie wasn't an easy one to sit through, the high amount of violence is something rare in this genre. The sequel came a whopping twenty-one years later in 1987. "Il grande ritorno"? No, not really, spaghetti western or not. Fast forward to 2012 (I'm saying last year because of the first release of the movie was back in December, while the Europen market got it a month later), and here's our target.

Vertigo's temporary hope

I was actually expecting that Vertigo - which is an imprint of DC Comics - would be publishing Unchained, and there's two good reasons for it: one, the violence is still visibly exist (and thus, staying honest to the original material from the sixties) - even in comic form, which makes it artistically difficult to recreate the violent situations, it's really sticking out. That's beautiful. And two: they probably need a "lead" comic for a short amount of time, as Hellblazer (which started back in 1988!) is about to end at its 300th issue.

Staying close to the original

As an adaptation, it stands up for its own remarkably. But why should you try to grab it, you ask? That's a simple, straightforward question: because it's always good to see a product in several ways. Tarantino's movie is good, but I have a hunch that the comic will add new blood to the scene (literally, perhaps?) - in later issues, I'll expect absolutely new scenes from the South. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: we're after the Civil War, in 1858, to be exact...)

The beauty

Get used to cursing in this one. Here's one example, and I apologize in advance: "They never seen a n_gger on a horse before" - and there's actually no censoring. From another aspect, it turns out to be a good thing: it is going to make you feel closer to our heroes Django and Schultz. The slave and the dentist (what a weird, yet working bond...), along with the others are drawn beautifully. And if you're finished with the first issue, don't just skip over the sketchbook arts! These extras - albeit only a few pages - add more into the first issue.

Good, promising start

Watch the movie first. Now that I've made that clear, then read the first issue. Of course, this way you'll probably know what's going to happen, but the new additions will probably be enjoyed. Good quality drawing style, honest-to-the-original adaptation, and a foreword from Tarantino himself... what else can we ask for? Probably nothing. Roll on the next one - draw the guns, boys.

V

93%

Best Pirate Bay link: First issue

Death Race 3 - Review

2013-01-24T23:37:00.000-08:00

Death Race 3 Review

(Mov: Action, car, tits)

Sex, tits, cars and rock’n’roll

After the first two films, I was waiting for the third one. Frankenstein is coming back, and he is stronger than before. New weapons, bigger vehicles and sexier girls, so everything is given for an amazing death race.

The millionaire, Niles York (Dougray Scott) is the newest boss for the death race. He is a psychopath and he puts the tourney in Africa. He thinks that the race should be more dangerous than before, so he does lot of things for it. But he needs the only one champion Frankenstein; because his name is strengthen to viewers for an insane race. The wonted group is ready to help for him with the really sexy partner Katrina Banks (Tanit Phoenix) is up to win and save him as she can. Nothing is easy, that’s Frank knows too, but one thing is in his head; it is the freedom! He has spent too much time in prison, and he must win his last race and he is free.

Big weapons, big tits, big pleasure!

One of the best things is the race running with death cars in the film. I liked, and I was really excited, when I was waiting who will be the first who get disqualification. The movie is spectacular, for sure. The girls are perfect, but I don’t liked much, when these sexy chicks killed each other. The story is cool, worthy continuation of the other parts. Maybe the third is the best part in my opinion. It is sufficiently screwy, the film holds few surprises. This is not an ordinary family film, because it is a bit bloody and uncut, but I can’t say that it is bad for the movie or story. This film is just like this and it is fine. The fighting sections are good too, quite scenic, so it is it also increases the quality of the film. I didn’t like the movie’s soundtrack, if it is better, it can be better film. Also the story is a bit too smart for its own good.

Freedom! And tits…

In total I really enjoyed this film; I can say that, this is a very well-done movie. It has some mistakes as all, but not so confusing. As I said, the girls are really nice, so I can’t give a bad score for this film. I didn’t bore during the film, which is rarely nowadays. It is therefore I was not disappointed. Frankenstein is coming back; he is more popular and much stronger than before. So are you ready to watch his story?! The third part is so hot! Just take care, don’t burn yourself!

Gyebi

66%

Best Pirate Bay Links: 1080p MULTI Lang.

Dishonored: Durnwall City Trial DLC - Review

2013-01-24T00:29:00.003-08:00

Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials DLC

Corvo's snuck back with a DLC

(VG: DLC; action, FPS, strategy)

I'm not lying if I say that Dishonored was easily one of the best games of 2012. Releasing a new IP at the sunset of the current console generation? Everyone thought it's pretty much a suicidal idea, but boy, were we wrong: the game recieved critical success, and now it's extended with some challenges. If you digged the original (I surely did!), these challenges will easily suit you again. Can you cut it this time around? These trials are awaiting you, too...

Up there with Spec Ops: The Line and The Walking Dead Season One, Dishonored is one of my top picks for 2012. The first was able to extend itself beyond the generic TPS with a hard, emotional storyline, the second game revitalized the episodic content video game genre, while building greatly upon the original creation, and the third one...

The Past

...well, it managed to succeed with a genial plot, the abilities you could use, the wonderful sound/music aspect and a challenging gameplay, including stealth, that teached us to stay in the shadows and hit hard, when it was needed. The best thing was the several styles you could play the game as. Like a ninja, like a ruthless killer - it was all up to you. A new franchise is born, and the DLC's are in the works...

The present

Do you have five spare dollars? Because that is how much this DLC costs. Friendly pricing is always a welcome sign. For this small price, you'll get new maps to rage upon. Of course, brute force will NOT cut it this time around: you will be either killed quickly, or the main target will flee even before you input your bloody blade into that guard that just saw you. The good thing is that every time you try, the enemies' placement will always change. You cannot just go bookworm and learn everything. Improvise, look, listen, and earn those stars.

The DLC doesn't only focus on just one aspect of the game. There's the stealth - perhaps the most challenging and fun tasks to complete. Are you able to grab the clues before you'll be forced to restart? How many clues do you need to find the target? How should you plan around the map? Can you stay unseen? Absolutely wonderful. Corvo, the creative killer. Not into the mood to work on your stealth? Don't hit Alt+F4 just yet, or - quoting the late Billy Mays - "WAIT, THERE'S MORE!". How about racing against the clock? Blink, blink, blink, "YOU'RE TOO SLOW!". Apologies for my random references, but you can always just go for the fastest time in the other challenges. Plan your route around, and you'll grab those hard-earned stars! And what about combat, you might ask... how about comboing your killstreak (nope, I'm not joking) way up high, literally! Aerial kills have never been so much fun. The more the stars, the better. Also, there's the puzzle challenges too, rounding out the four types of challenges. Done with the Normal challenges? There's always the Expert difficulty then. You might even climb up to the leaderboards, if you're wily enough.

The future

Sure, there might be some moaning over the "length" of the DLC, but for five dollars, this is basically a gift. A well-earned gift from the masterminds at Arkane Studios. The base game was amazing, and this DLC is no exception. Speedrunning, fighting, stealth and creativity - if you have what it takes to be the perfect killer, chances are you'll love the Dunwall City Trials. But, make sure you play Dishonored through first, otherwise recieve the kick on the buttocks - there is no room for playing around. Put that mask on. Grab your knife. You're ready to go.

V

90%

BEST Pirate Bay LINK: PC

The Crow: Skinning the Wolves

2013-01-20T01:04:00.001-08:00

The Crow: Skinning the Wolves

James O'Barr's creation - reloaded

(Comic book)

If you're from the late eighties, chances are you never heard of The Crow. It's alright, actually - despite the 1994 film adaptation, I can't really say that I knew the origins of that movie. Oh well, there's always the opportunity to dig into James O'Barr's work. Is it worth digging into the new comics of The Crow? Sure, but resurrection is never a good thing...

Resurrection

I instantly remembered another comic series that happened to have the main character revived. That one is also a pretty obscure (because yes, I do find The Crow that): it is Spawn (aka Al Simmons) by Todd McFarlane. But I digress - the story of the original comics was having Eric and his fiancée Shelly killed by a gang. The former one gets revived by a crow (hence the name), seeking for revenge. Nope, Shelly didn't get this opportunity to return, and that plays a huge role towards the emotions and feelings of Eric, who cannot get over the loss of her, literally enforcing himself in pain.

Immortality

You're already dead, and there's no need for human-like things like eating and sleeping - there are other additional "perks" of being revived: feeling no pain, regeneration, and hunting abilities - in many ways I immediately think of either the Predator or Wolverine. An interesting mixture, indeed. Unless you inflict damage upon you, you'd be pretty much invincible. That also reminds me of Wolverine...

Who is the author?

James O'Barr has had a rough childhood, but after being put into the foster care system, his fiancée called Beverly died in an accident - that is one real-life motive turned into the author's work. The Marines became his saviour, and during his service for them was the time period when The Crow was originally born, dated 1981. He's not only known for this: as an artist, he has done covers for Dead Boys, Necromancer and many more.

Grim

The comic itself looks detailed, but seeing its recent date, in the modern age of computers, it's pretty much became a standard over the years. The Crow - Skinning the Wolves look grim, having gore and a distinct look. We're definitely not talking about childs' stuff here. Just to quote one page "...Nothing will save you. Tonight, you all die." while the soldiers all lay dead in their blood. That says it all.

There is one little thing that I needed to get "adjusted" to. the font. It isn't the classic standard one that I have seen countless times, it's a different one, which makes the comic outstanding in a different way too.

Some research, and you're good to go

If you want to get the grips of this series, I can recommend watching the 1994 movie adaptation. Alex Proyas, the director has done a remarkable job, plus it is one of the best movies from that year. After that, Skinning the Wolves is going to be easy to digest. Sure, it's an adult comic. Of course its wonder lies behind the scene (you can associate to our "hero"). So it is a definitely good start of 2013 with comics for me. Deep, yet shallow.

V

91%

Best Pirate Bay torrent: Crow comic

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (PC) - Review

2012-12-13T01:55:00.001-08:00

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (PC) - Review

Another well done remake

(VG: RPG)

BioWare's second game. 1998, back in the days when RPG's were popular - BioWare broke through with Baldur's Gate. This game was out five years before I got my first computer - that fact certainly doesn't take off anything away how successful and good this game was. Overhaul Games (which itself is a division of Beamdog, which in return is founded by BioWare-related people) are already working on BG2's EE version... and they have good reasons why shouldn't they stop.

What exactly is new?

14 years have passed, and some people are still sticking to old games. I have even read that some Diablo 3 players have stuck to 2. This remake - which claims to have over 400 improvements over the original - tries to lure oldschool fans back into the Baldur's Gate franchise. First off, the game got easier compared to the original. This could be meant as either as a good, or a bad thing. I'm going to stay neutral on this - raised level caps are always a double-edge sword anyway. Easiness also shows in the appearance of new class kits, subraces and classes that were in the second Baldur's Gate game, along with its expansion packs. New enemies are also in the game, to somewhat balance the game... but if you're planning a party, which could hold up to six members, this won't be that big of a problem. I still find the game pretty hard. It is because my distinct lack of RPG experience. Oldschool difficulty awaits? However, the tutorial is a little modified (with several things
explained deeply), so if you're not familiar with the Dungeons and Dragons system, don't even try to start the game without it, or face death many times... speaking of deaths, always have gold with you. Go to any of the temples, and pay for your fallen team members' revival. I also have to mention the cutscenes: the original was 3D, now they are hand-drawn. I wish they should have followed this style of art back in 1998. But the biggest addition is The Black Pits. What exactly is this? It is basically an arena mode consisting of 15 arenas, this game mode is basically "standalone". Your progress in the main game won't affect TBP, and vica versa. Will you get out of there, after Baeloth put you there?

Graphics: up a few notches

Since we're in 2012, bigger graphical resolutions are expected, and they are thankfully available. Graphics? That is seriously impressive compared to the 1998 original... unless you zoomed in, like I did (although by accident) - if you don't do that,you'll be fine. The bigger resolution also means a bigger area can be seen on the screen, and that's always useful.

Worth your money

The new additions didn't affect the story at all. It's still the same, epic, original storyline. The gameplay however, is still painstakingly difficult to get used to: if you're not a hardcore D&D, getting to know it will take more time than you expect. Add the around 30-40 hours (no joke) of gameplay to that... and the nice visuals with modified, cross-platform multiplayer, then you end up with this. Sure, it is not an official BioWare development, but the game stayed VERY faithful to the original, with some mistakes like the party's pathfinding, ignoring some orders and such. It costs 20 bucks on the PC. Get this, if you're a hardcore RPG fanatic, and if you own the original, now you will have Baldur's Gate in a format that'll run on your new rig, with some mistakes, and several new ideas that'll keep you hooked.

80%

The Hunter - Review

2012-12-11T01:03:00.001-08:00

The Hunter Review

The shooter

The film has made in 2011, so it’s not the newest movie, but it’s not really
known. That’s why I didn’t expect much from the film, but I was pleasantly
surprised. Let’s see, which film it is!

The main actor is Willem Defoe (Martin David), who is light safeguard for a
good film. A firm commission to him that there is an animal race which is called
Tasman Tiger. It is really rare and maybe there is only one. David has to find
it and get its DNS. It doesn’t seem to be hard to him, so he has accepted the
mission. He goes to Tasmania and he puts up in a woman’s house. She has two
children. We can see some wonderful places in Tasmania; the scenery is just
simple amazing. I really enjoyed this part of the movie, it makes the film better.
The movie’s soundtrack is very nice. It is made by Matteo Zinglaes who is a big
talent. Every sound in their place when you hear, so this is the strength of the
film. The story is planed passing; it is hard to start at the beginning, but it still
exciting, so that’s why it is not a bad movie. I special enjoyed what actors do in
the film. Every person’s function are cool, especially the children’s behaviour
was likeable.

Nothing is easy

Oh the bad boys are coming. It is not a comedy, that’s why the film has some
not too sweet people for the thrills. The film carries for the hunting and the
family drama, which is mystic. David’s personality is really thoughtful and when
he sees this family’s problem, he wants to help them. They father is dead and
they are in hard situation. The film is a little too complicated, and as I said it is
slow, this is the weakness of the film. I don’t want to spoil the end of the film,
but the end is rummy a bit for me. The question is; is he a good hunter or not?!
Everybody can decide it, just watch the film!

For the animals

This is a good film in my opinion. It has everything what a thriller needs, but
one is certain, that it has some stupid things. The landscape speaks for itself,
Tasmania is a nice area, and it is good for hunting! I think you should see

this movie and you won’t disappoint. It’s not perfect, but the film offers a
worthwhile experience. Visual effects and the performance of the actors are
brilliant, so what are you waiting for?!

81%

Gyebi

Best Pirate Bay link: PROPER

Tekken: Blood Vengeance – Review

2012-12-10T03:08:00.000-08:00

Tekken: Blood Vengeance – Review

(MOV: anime, sci-fi)

Japanese Soapopera flavoured with fights

I think I shouldn’t have to introduce Tekken for any of you. Since created by Namco in 1994, Tekken universe grown a lot and now its fans maybe know this universe much better than theirs. After the previous movie (Tekken... really original name, yes) failure, Namco had an idea: why they didn’t make a new movie from Tekken universe?! Eager from this idea they made Blood Vengeance and I really don’t want to question their expertise, but hell, why did they thought that this would be great?

I kind of expected this...

I think and prove me wrong, but really, I don’t expect a story from a film made from games. Let’s see Mortal Kombat, for example! The game itself is similar to Tekken besides the background story and characters and the film is about (like the game) fighting! A tournament where everyone trying to beat down the enemy and that’s all. The one who face the barriers well and win will get the girl and the usual “destroy evil” thing happens. But, not in Blood Vengeance where creators fitfully tried to make a storyline, I could tell it couldn’t make it and it completely dies for after the first third of the film. But really, why they fell that they needed to do this? Personally I played Tekken since my childhood because of the fights and I never think about how Nina Williams could have spent her everyday routine if she were real...

What they are truly good at!

Animation is where Namco shines the most! We could learn it from most of their projects and this part of the film is quiet all right I think. Characters and the scenes are well made and reflect the competency behind work. The only thing I would like to mention is actors movement. First time it was funny but after a half an hour it became increasingly annoying and awkward. I hope at the next Tekken game we won’t have to face with this kind of motions!

If you ever thought about watching this movie, I would like to prepare you for almost ninety minutes of pain. This movie maybe a milk-cow to make more money or just the director couldn’t choose between a great story and endless fights. Maybe next time or never, but in my opinion if you miss so much this universe, you should definitely call over your friends and play Tekken instead of watching this miserable movie!

Hamish

30%

Best Piratebay link: X264 BrRip

FIA World Rally Championship 3 (PC) - Review

2012-12-09T23:40:00.001-08:00

FIA World Rally Championship 3 (PC) - Review

Still not up to the PS2 standards

(VG: rally, car racing)

Milestone are improving, I do admit that, but WRC's third current-gen installment is still not going to be a successful title. It's better than the first two by the Italian crew, however, it's not going to be a world-beater. Against DiRT: Showdown it's a good choice, but against DiRT 3 it is a disappointment. WRC 4 could be good, if they keep on rising...

Worst Rally Crasher

Oh no, not commercial music! - this was my first thought after I booted the game up. WRC3 uses dubstep, ladies and gents, get used to it or get out. There are three options to choose from, if you accept the music: the multiplayer, the Road to Glory and of course, the WRC Experience. One is obvious, one is the 'rise through the ranks to be the next Sebastien Loeb (who - in my opinion - fastened up the fall of WRC)', and the third one is basically the WRC 2012 season with all the cars, all the drivers, but... one mitfahrer only. Disappointing, it could be: you do not get all the co-drivers, only one. At least you'll learn his navigation quick!

Road to Glory

You are a young driver, (not saying talented, as it's up to you) and your target is to climb up to the WRC ranks to defeat that certain Frenchman at the helm of that Citroën. But you're not only forced to drive as good as possible, earning those respect stars, you will also have to deal with sponsorship, the car improvement (yes, you do have to learn to improve and love your car) and the team. You have to drive as stylish and fast as possible: perfect sections, destructions, jumps and so on - they will all get you those points. DO A BARREL ROLL - and recieve points. A tip: always drive once for the points, and then again for the position - both together is not the best idea. I do believe that repeating those stages all, over, again, will be annoying.

WRC Experience

This one is divided up to either a single stage, a whole rally, or the entire championship - if you need practice (oh, you will need that), choose one of the first two. Prepared to conquer? Do the championship. 36 teams, 54 cars (including even some veteran goodies from the past) - all ready to be taken control of. The levels are filled with hairpins. What is up with these? Almost every single level had at least three of them! This means you need to learn how to effectively use the handbrake, otherwise face the consequences of slow sector times...

Looks... old

Graphics don't make a game, but I have to point out the graphical segment - it looks a bit bland and old. It seems Milestone didn't really go to have superb looks, but if you want to take a photo of your car, those 2D backgrounds - even including the people...? - will be there. It seems like it's from around 2008 or something.

Sounds... average

The music was already mentioned, but the co-driver and the engine sounds are not the best either. These need some improvement. The cars sound acceptable, but as you drive your vehicle, you won't really find outstanding audio. It's not bad, though.

Without enemies

The past of awesome WRC games by Evolution Studios are gone. There are no rivals on the scene. Milestone is ruling the World Rally Championship games of the current era, and if there won't be a rival, the developers won't be forced into serious development.
I fear. I fear the WRC games, as well as the WRC are slowly going off the radar. Sure, Mr. Loeb won't be driving full-time in 2013 (just so he won't be beaten fair and square after 9 titles in a row...), but WRC are in some deep shit. So will be us gamers - Milestone has to improve the game: the physics are almost there, but the other segments are damaged. Repair time might not be enough.

72%

Best Piratebay Link; FLT

Viking - Battle for Asgard (PC) - Review

2012-12-06T22:43:00.000-08:00

Viking - Battle for Asgard (PC) - Review

A little too late to arrive...

(VG: action-adventure, hack and slash)

SEGA must be joking, right? This game originally was released in 2008 for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, and they pushed it out for the PC gamers four and a half years later...?! But aside from the huge, almost impossible-to-believe delay, the game actually isn't awful. If you like Norse mythology, you'll probably enjoy this, otherwise you won't be really getting the hang of the storyline.

Who? What? Where?

I was surprised after seeing the developers' name: The Creative Assembly is another one of those veteran teams, and they did some decent games to boot: just to name one franchise out of their list, the Total War games are done by them - and as of 2012 December, there is Total War: Rome II in the works, to be released next October.
And as for who the hell are these people in the game, well, let's do a small run-down on them: so we have Freya (correctly it should be Freyja): she is the goddess of love and war, and she got one difficult task to complete: to defeat her enemy, named Hel - she's the goddess of death, Having been banished from the heavens for the simple reason not obeying Odin, Hel is planning her revenge. The mankind's (and Asgard's, for that matter) future is need to be saved, so Freya brings up Skarin, the character you'll be playing as. Your task will sound simple, but it will not be that easy to complete: defeat Hel, her Champions, Drakan and many more...

Killing in the name of peace

I never understood why you have to kill in order to bring peace, as this technically makes you a murder too - videogame logic, pretty much. You'll be a slaughter in V:BfA too - the underworld's horde must be stopped, and since this game has its fair slice of hack and slash elements. And while you do so, the game will make you remember: this is not a game from this year. The animations feel a little forced... somewhat slow, perhaps. There's something that I encountered a few times: pop- ups. I wanted to see if this happens on the console originals too, and sadly my answer is yes. The graphics aren't that bad though, however my computer was probably suffering under this game.

Another piece of fine music

I don't believe this: why are there games with somewhat flawed gameplay mechanics, while having absolutely amazing music? This is another case of that: pretty enjoyable soundtrack, yet a little disappointing gameplay. It's not because of the upgrades and skills... don't get me wrong. The length is the problem here. The game is short, and since it's an open-world game, this cannot be tolerated that much. And even the audio has some problems here and there. Once I hit an enemy hard... but I heard nothing. Did it again, had a sound. What the... seriously, sometimes I had sound effects 'skipped'...

Tolerable

If you have two spare afternoons, and you enjoy this kind of mythology, probably you will not be disappointed with the game. It is short, but once you get into the game to start enjoying it, you'll end up either beating it, or realizing the aforementioned problems. Sadly, the audio takes the cake here and not the gameplay: graphics don't make a game, and this goes for the audio: the music don't make the game... but we will at least remember it. Not the game, though.

Best Piratebay Link; FLT

67%

V

ParaNorman – Review

2012-12-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

ParaNorman – Review

(MOV: comedy, animation)

Town of bullies!

Every kid, every person is kind of weird on their own way! Some has phobia or believe insuperstitions and there are others who maybe see and talk with ghosts! In Chris Butlers new, animated “horror”- comedy, the last happened exactly. Our hero, Norman who sees the deaths and even talk with them and because of that he is the main target of bullies at school and at home, too! But, sometimes bullies have to face the truth and change their attitude for the greater good...

Lovable hero!

Norman is a shy and quiet around ten boy whose got a weird gift from nature: sees the deaths staying in the world, trying to finish their last duty to get a chance to move on and fade forever. His family, especially his father concerned about him, because he is the only one who talks with ghosts, besides his hermit uncle. Creators and animators did a quiet well job about Norman, his character and his decisions are could be called casuals and that’s why kiddos at his age easily find him likeable! Normans character perfectly reflect that this movie was made for children and for their parents and not for action maniac trolls!

Animation at a new level!

In my opinion, ParaNorman’s visuals created a truly new way for animated movies! We could have seen something similar at Tim Burton’s animated films like Frankenweenie or Corpse Bride, but their dark and depression motivated environment is the past. On the contrary Blithe Hollow is so different. Full of colours, everything is moving and the whole world is so charming, moreover it’s behave like a normal, small town with its small and closed community!

Generalization...

The unique in this story which could be it’s moral, too, that everyone who watch it could find a little part of his life in Norman’s struggle and this is why this movie is not only for kids! Ok, you maybe don’t share his “gift” and seeing ghosts, but every person has or had something which could effects the same (bullying or closeness) and disagreement between family members. Chris Butler have a good point at me for this!

In truth, I was afraid before this movie and I don’t even want to watch it, but I have to tell that proved to be a huge mistake! I heartily recommend this movie for kids, their parents and everyone who would like to see a good animation!

Hamish

78%

Best Piratebay link: 720p BrRip

Far Cry 3 (PC) - Review

2012-12-01T10:38:00.001-08:00

Far Cry 3 (PC) - Review

Another FPS in the lot?

(VG: open-world FPS, RPG)

We haven't had a lot of great first person shooters this fall. Dishonored came and take a respectable applause, MoH: Warfighter tripped and fell, Black Ops 2 got what it wanted, Borderlands 2 was respectably good, but now here's the last rider in the 2012 fall FPS race - the Dunia Engine 2- driven Far Cry 3 has derived a lot from the original Crytek game made in 2004. For example, now you'll have huge maps, very good graphics, ability to customize your abilites and many more... Far Cry 3 is a must-have game.

Jason, the unsung hero

The game has a lot more than its shiny looking opening behind. Anytime is partytime, until you get caught by Vaas, that is. Many games have had this "you are captured, get the hell out before "you are fucked"" segment, but it's a delusion. A delusion that should keep you play the game more, because as you progress, you'll discover the game's true beauty. Tropical islands aside, you'll mostly rely on the perfect switching between the combat and the stealth. Stealth? Yes: like in Dishonored, you could get overwhelmed by the amount of enemies, all holding a gun ready to fire at will.

Craft, craft, craft

This is where something else steps in, and that is the hunting itself. As you hunt animals (you can expect many which you would see in a documentary about tropical jungles), you'll be able to carry more stuff. Wanting to feel like John Rambo? You'll need that extra push to get enough carrying capacity to have another gun with you. Of course, the animals are ranked as well. The more "legendary" they are, the better gear you'll be able to get. Skin those animals, and you could go like that black guy from Dexter, saying "Suprise, mofo!".

Open world opportunities

Do what you want, after you're done with the obligatory tutorial. This will basically let you play the game as you want it to be played, as long as you're not trying something ridiculous. Well, at least I hope throwing rocks at enemies, then shooting them off one by one doesn't count as that! Go ahead, try to discover more of the surrounding islands. Play as silent, as you want, and so on, and so on. You are not really tied in heavy bounds - you can even just hunt until you get the stuff you wanted...

Multiwise

I don't feel the mutliplayer being developed fully. Somehow it just looks and feels like an extra bone thrown to your meal, having not had enough care by the Canadian coders at Ubisoft. Cooperative multiplayer is a good thing, but somehow I didn't feel myself "at home" in it. I don't say it's bad, but it is a little bland and that's pretty much summing it up.

Not perfect

Randomly I saw items in cutscenes disappear, like a bottle on the desk after I escaped, but that's probably my obsolete computer's fault - the graphics were still good, I confess. The story is a little clichéd: corrupting the nature by the pirates, revenge to kill them, et cetera. The characters didn't always seem to be fully developed personality-wise. But as long as you're enjoying the improvisation, experimentation and the hunting, I don't think you'll be disappointed with Far Cry 3. If I had to choose three of the FPS games this year, I'd go for Dishonored, Far Cry 3 and Spec Ops: The Line.

I was really on the verge between giving it an 8 and a 9, but in the end, I think a high-8 is a good rating. Get it, while it's hot.

89%

V

Best Piratebay Link; Reloaded

Cloud Atlas Review

2012-12-01T03:06:00.000-08:00

Cloud Atlas Review

“A movie which shouldn’t exist”

At first I should to note, Cloud Atlas is a great movie from the creators of Matrix, with 6 storylines and also with 6 timelines. When I read the first news about this movie which looked like a monumental product, I can’t believe the directors can find any way to connect the 6 timelines, but my biggest surprise was when I watched Cloud Atlas at first time, they not just found the way, they use this way well. What was the weapon which connected the parts of Atlas? An “occult gun” namely edits. The cuts of the movie concatenate the scenes, so you can follow the events without any atmosphere breaking.

Of course the storylines are connected indirectly, but every actor/actress’s nightmare is a movie like Cloud Atlas, because they need to play more roles than one or as the Atlas they need to play six roles. It’s very hard job, but the cast of the “New Matrix” completed the impossible mission. Naturally there is some problem with the plays of the actors but a monumental, philosophical masterpiece makes us forget these mistakes. Prepare yourself reader, our review about Cloud Atlas will be longer than the ordinary reviews.

Movies in a Movie

Cloud Atlas is a very complex product, which force you to use your mind, because you should focus hard if you want to understand the turns, and connect the lines of this crazy creation. I wrote the biggest nightmare of the actors is that; plays more role than one in a movie. But what can be the nightmare of the viewers? This “sweet dream” is the successor of the Matrix. If somebody decides he/she will watch this movie he should to focus on 6 stories in six years and also at 6 lineups of roles. It’s not impossible to understand but very hard job, so the Cloud Atlas isn’t a relax movie. You will be tired when you raise the end of the film. And here is the main question which I should to ask from myself. Cloud Atlas is a movie or 6 short films which are connected skillfully? Take a look on the parts of our nightmare.

Diary of the dying lawyer

In the first storyline we meet with a slave who escape from the captivity, and hide in the cabin of a dying lawyer in a ship. While the minutes of the movie are elapsing we can follow how these two men from another place, from another civilization and social class become friends. This story is interesting and wrought skillfully. This part of the Cloud Atlas is a very funky adventure short movie, which analyze the social disparities and the greed of humanity for the viewer. As all parts of the Atlas, this short has a great and interesting message for the viewer which is that; a person’s personality isn’t generalizable from him/her social class or him/her color. Interesting and eternal topic is this between the classes but the Cloud Atlas tries to suggest that; every person equivalent.

Symphony of the reincarnation

In our second story we know an emerging composer, who tries to create the best composition around the world. This part of the movie is behave as a wonderful melody, in the beginning it’s calm and noiseless but while we moving forward in the story, the orchestra plays faster and faster, stronger and stronger. The conflicts of the classes appear in this part of the Cloud Atlas too, but here the homosexuality and the poor-rich contrary is the mainly theme. It’s surprisingly good, as the directors present us a platonic relationship between two men, while we follow the process of the born of Cloud Atlas symphony.

Conspiracy in 1973

The most interesting part of the Cloud Atlas is the part of “Catwoman” as a journalist. If you aren’t lost in the events you will realize some really-really amazing thought in the third storyline. Which is that thought? At first time the movie leave the theme of the conflicts between classes, and the directors put the human self-destruction to the focus. This part of the movie introduce the next three short movie but it has own message too. Which is that? With the development of science the humanity become more dangerous to self, and this part of the movie suggest to the viewer first time the sad truth, the road where we going leads to the end.

2012, year of the human mistakes

The fourth part is a connective movie in the “New Matrix”. Why connective? This part hasn’t outstanding role like the first three short where we can realize the most social problems in the world. With this part we meet with individual, personal mistakes, like revenges and murders. These and similar human problems are presented in the fourth part with a fallen publisher, who’s brother imprisoned him to a nursing home. While the story goes on we can follow the process of the escape from the “Prison Home”, and we can meet with a pleasantly phenomenon. This is the human unity, which can move hill (if it’s needed.). Without any spoiler, the personal problems and human unity is what can characterize the fourth part of Cloud Atlas.

Sad future view

Here is the future, our tomorrow doesn’t promises so lot’s of goods. At least in the Cloud Atlas, our future looks like a “Metropolis Hell”. I don’t want to write the details of this “possible world” but this part of Atlas is asks some very interesting but old questions. The most is that; in a world where the humans can clone themselves, who will decide that; who is a person and who is a product. Who counts and who is a simple object which created for work instead of humans. It’s hard to answer for this question but the Cloud Atlas gave you the sad, answer and gave you insight to a distorted, potential future, where the clones are working for the people, without any rights or payments, they live for work, they live for us. In a world look like this potential future world, the revolution and freedom wars are unavoidable. In this world we meet with a “product”, a clone who can thinking free and who has independent thoughts. She will be the theoretic character of the sixth, the last part of the Cloud Atlas.

After the end

The last short in the Cloud Atlas is built up on romantic. This part is a very great adventure movie where we can see the world, after the fall of civilization. We never will know, what the reason of apocalypse was, but we are here, the people living in the forests, they are hunting, collecting goods and try to survive in a world which looks like the times before homosapiens. Here is where Tom Hanks falling in love with the Catwoman. Is there any “gigantic” question in the sixth part of the Cloud Atlas like the parts before? Of course yes, but its back to the social problems in a world where the most of civilization perished. This part tries to show for the viewer that; these social problems/mistakes never will disappear; these will follow us to the end.

Longer and longer

This movie can grab anybody who loves the good movies, and any film critic can write about this novels. But slowly we should to take end of this review so take a fast look on the cast of the Cloud Atlas. With this movie we get an amazing cast, with Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, and lots of more who notable but these three plays the best in our movie. Tom Hanks plays are simple fantastic, Halle Berry sexy as ever, but now she plays the best in her career, I think. Jim Sturgess who has play the Asian “action man” (in the fifth part). Jim’s plays are simple amazing in Cloud Atlas.

For the end

At all, Cloud Atlas is one of the best movies what I ever seen, but there is one thing which is sure. In 2012, this movie will be really the best in many ways. I think the stories and storylines, the way how the creators of the Matrix catenate the parts of Atlas, the background music which follow the events perfectly, and the plays of the actors are deserve the Oscar Award. This movie is the product what you shouldn’t miss; you need to watch this anyway.

I want to note that, this movie was a very-very big fall at the cash decks, because the expenses of the Cloud Atlas was higher than the viewers paid for it in the cinemas. So let’s watch this because you will not watch any movie look like Atlas ever.

Best Piratebay Link: 1080p

94%

Kese

Football Manager 2013- Review

2012-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

Football Manager 2013- Review

(VG: sport manager, PC)

When tactics beats determination and skills!

Every year, late fall, thousands maybe million players of the gamer world waits for one game, Football Manager! Since Sport Interactive created their series, the game has evolved into a better one year by year. FM10 was the forerunner of advance and for now I could say, FM is now shine as the series best! But what makes this game so great and different from its predecessors?

From the aspect of visuals!

On the one hand, they have nearly left the old interface except some minimal changes like renewing search system or using a new menu system during matches, first it could be strange, but in time it will be more familiar! On the other hand, they completely changed the match engine and physics for 3D gameplay and what’s that covering? Player movements are more realistic, but I have to mention that there are still some “interesting” solutions (I’ve got a goal from midfield from an amateur player! Yeah, that’s a shame) Exhausting, misses and faults because of the difference of players languages will be recognizable during matches and if you don’t, your assistant manager does and tells you!

The way of trainings...

The most eye-catching and important change is in the games training system. In the old episodes you could make three formations, sets the training method with the help of your staff and set-up match preparation. Trainings now, had much bigger impact on players and how they perform! Besides setting the mentioned opportunities, now you can set general training and match training and their level, what to focus on, for example defending, ball control or team cohesion. It’s quiet impossible on the whole that without a well organised training your team will perform well and win their matches against either the best or the worst team!

Possibilities, possibilities, possibilities!

If you are a beginner or like FM because of the opportunity to build up and lead a team to glory, but don’t want to waste time on searching the perfect staff or invent the best training system, you shouldn’t be afraid now. A new game mode: called Classic will be suitable for you! In this mode you are in just one role, the manager! You shouldn’t spend your time with training, that’s your coach duty! Even if you don’t want to toil with transferring you could give the names of the players you want to the Director of Football and he will try his best to acquire the players fitting in your system! So make your tactics, build up your team and enjoy their performance! (or get mad because of it, it’s only depends on you)

FM13 is shinning as it’s best! New game mode, challenges and opportunities as far as you can see! Don’t waste your time, build up your team and lead them into the Champions League final! I know, that all of you want!

Hamish

86%

Best Piratebay link: PC

Sine Mora – Review

2012-11-29T08:58:00.001-08:00

Sine Mora – Review

(VG: side-scrolling, action, PC, PS3, XBOX360)

Game of fashion!

Nowadays old times (I mean 70’s and 80’s) - with the help of so called hipsters, does a flashback! Side-scrolling games, steam and dieselpunk environment, Gun’s & Roses, 90’s games reissue are now on plate (I’m so excited when Elvis will be brought back from death...) Game from Digital Reality and Grasshopper Manufacture, Sine Mora seems to be loyal to this trend with its dieselpunk fashioned, side-scrolling game play.

Storytelling from an extinct race!

Blast in the middle, I don’t expect any story from a game like this. But Sine Mora is giving us
something to cheer about! A war devastates besides the Empire and the Enkies and we will be dropped as an empire pilot into right the middle of it as we starts campaign. During our first mission, which is a so-called training level where we can get to know about the planes, weapons and features like time-slowing, we should fight through ourselves dozen of enemy planes to reach our goal and drop a huge bomb on the Enkies.

Flee from time!

The most interesting part of this game, you don’t have any health and you won’t blow up until... your time is running up! Because at every start you will have a limited time with which you should manage to and every shoot you takes into will reduce your remaining time. This would be really hard to survive (and it is!) if we don’t get a chance to get back that we’ve lost. This is where killing and destroying enemies come on the scene! After every destroyed object you will regain a limited amount of time, so you can’t just avoid shoots, moreover sometime you have to risk and take in some, to get as many kills wherewith you can survive! Besides your weapons, you can slow down time (like in PoP) to avoid shoots or get closer to your enemies. But be aware, while you’re in this “mode” time is running in a normal way, only enemy actions will be slower!

Now the whole world can learn, what “bazdmeg” means!

Another interesting and unconventional feature is Sine Mora’s language! The whole game came out with an English menu but with Hungarian synch and with English subs! This is so unusual that I have to take time and place and talk about it! As a person whose mother language is Hungarian I found it weird too, that the game speaks and curse like I do (especially after when I died about a dozen times). The dub and voices are so great and I don’t even mentioned music! Maybe the first Painkillers music was as great choice as Sine Moras!

All in all, Sine Mora is a game for the genre hardcore fans, not for some casual gamers, because of its difficulty! You could try it, but get prepared for some nerve-racking moments!

Hamish

72%

Best Piratebay links: PC

Gone - Review

2012-11-28T23:01:00.000-08:00

Gone Review

Dear Diary

*Today I watched the Gone… It was a typical thriller from the director of Nina (2004) and O Cheiro do Ralo (2006) Heitor Dhalia. Gone is a simple and clichéd movie with Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Sunjata, Jennifer Carpenter and Sebastian Sten. With this cast I thought this movie must be awesome but this faith was a very-very big mistake.*

There is nothing in Gone what you didn’t see before in other thrillers or in weaker horror movies. So why Kese write the review about this bullshit? The answer is simpler than you think; sometimes the bad movies deserve our attention and our review because after we watched a bullshit we know what makes a film good and we can discern the good and bad movies.

Dear Dhalia

I just wanna tell some remarks for the director of Gone. Some tips… At first, I think the biggest mistake in the gone is the way how Dhalia tried to use the scenario. Not bad at all, but Heitor’s skill is too “exiguous” for an art like Gone. The story is too complex and an inexperienced director can’t use this well. Our Dhalia made the storyline of Gone frustrating, untraceable and silly. In turn of this the story could be cool (of course stereotyped but cool) if the work of the director allow it to unfold. So Heitor at next time if you decide you wanna make another movie, please try to sit in peace in your director ass and don’t try to influence a good, breathing story. The second big-big mistake with Dhalia is easy to expressed with a simple question which is that; ”Who was the idiot who allowed this dialogues in this bullshit?” Seriously I just wondered while I watched Gone, with every word what the actors said I getting closer to suicide.

Dear Amanda

Sorry lady, you will not stay out from our harassment. I have a question for the star of Gone yet what I wanna tell her for a long time. (I think this question was born when I watched at first time the In Time with Amanda and Justin Timberlake) Who was that crazy who said you, you should be an actress? Okey this girl is beauty and sexy and look pretty on the screen but her play is absolutely suck. There is no movement or look in gone which can convince you (/me) about that; she is a skilfully actress from Pennsylvania. Unfortunately in our little world, Amanda’s skill and roles are enough for the laic viewers. In turn I think there is a lot of actress who could make this movie more interesting, and successfully.

Dear Reader

If you read these lines, you are in the right place to know that; whether is Gone deserve your curiosity? Is there any interesting for you in the latest “movie” of Heitor Dhalia? Are you interesting for the answer? It’s a simple but big NO! Please guys try to avoid this movie if you don’t want to waste your time for a frustrating, silly 90 minutes. Gone is a bad film for the congregation of ascetics.

30%

Kese

Best Piratebay Link (for ascetics); BRRip 700Mb

Freelancers Review

2012-11-28T22:58:00.001-08:00

Freelancers Review

„Untheatricable” Production

Always when I watch a movie which hits DVD & BluRay without theatrical release I try to prepare myself for a film with mid (or lower) quality, because I hate the disappointment. When I found Freelancers I knew I should to be prepared for the worst. The preparing was unnecessary. Freelancers is a great movie (with some small problem, but I will write these later) with great cast and with a well-written story.

Let’s begin with the beginning. When I watched the first scenes, I thought this movie will be a stereotyped crime-thriller, with a lot of cliché. Is this statement was wrong? At all, I think it's true but we should to go step by step. I was pleasantly surprised, when I raised the half of the Freelancers. The turns and dialogues doesn’t let slumber my attention, the storyline simple entrained me. In the drifting of the events I forgot the reason why I watched this movie and I watched this with my laic viewer eyes and I enjoyed all parts of the Freelancers.

“Unbreakable” Cast

My biggest surprise in this movie was the plays of Curtis Jackson (50 Cent). I always thought Curtis isn’t a good actor, or an actor for that matter and he should to take end of his career but now, with this film Jackson showed me he can do it well. Ok, there is a lot of problem with his plays but simply good to see 50 in the screen while he start to grow up for a drug lord cop. The second pleasant “icon” is Forest Whitaker who is one of my favourite actors so the Freelancers got an A from me for this role. Whitaker plays the corrupt cop fantastically. He can convince you with his every move or dialogue. At last we got a silly-old De Niro who showed me with his plays his career is near to end. I never thought I will write this ever but our Robert should retire already. I think he will realize too the sad truth soon.

“Untouchable” Story

The plot of the Freelancers is not too complex. Jonas “Malo” Maldonado (Curtis Jackson) is an ex criminal who is a new guy at the New York Police Department with his friends. Immediately Malo joins to NYPD he is invited by his new boss Sarcone (Silly-Old-De Niro) to a small squad which try to control the crimes, drugs and criminals in New York. Yes, they don’t try to take end of the crimes; they just want to control the criminals and try to earn money from the drugs. Malo get his trainer LaRou (Whitaker) who teach him everything what Jonas should to know if he want to stay alive in the streets of New York. Slowly the events take an interesting turn when Malo decides he will take his boss’s place. Is it interesting yeah? Not too complex, not so simple, so this is the golden middle road.

“Undisputed” Blockbuster

Freelancer is a really-really great movie with some small problem, with a great cast. Let’s evaluate! I think the story raise the 7 points of 10. The cast is 8, while the director’s work is only 6. The storyline with the interesting dialogues I think raise the 8 too. At all the Freelancers get 75% from the Piratewave.

75%

Kese

Best Piratebay Link; 720BrRip

Hotline Miami (PC) - Review

2012-11-28T01:08:00.004-08:00

Hotline Miami (PC) - Review

Retro looking "annoyance"

(VG: action, third person shooter, top down view shooter)

Hotline Miami tries to be like the first two Grand Theft Auto games were, but they added something else in. Something I like to call the "I Wanna Be The Guy" factor. You'll die plenty of times on several rooms if you"re unprepared. And all the while you'll see some flashy lights, colours that regularly change (made directly to look like an LSD trip), and everything else that adds the "trip" factor. In the end, you'll have an intriguing, yet a partially failed concept. You are dead, press R to restart.

1989

Since this is not a game that took several millions of dollars to be created - being an indie game, after all -, Hotline Miami (which keeps making me think of a porn number for some reason) shouldn't be compared to any big games of 2012. It has a quite original touch, that's true. It even has lots of brutality, as you'll try to either shoot, punch or hit the enemies' with your arsenal, having melee as a last resort - you might even think of the first Postal game, after killing a ton of baddies.

20 levels, 200 deaths

The levels have a basic concept, that's not really going to be different while you progress (if you can, anyway): start out at home. Get the call from your boss (wearing a mask), get in the car, listen to Y. Bhekhirst (optional), get your job done... and die a lot. You'll have short levels, that's true. But if you have a short fuse, if which burns down in the end, destroying patience in the progress, you will not get far. Make good use of throwing your bats, then try to "finish him" (yes, I just had to do a Mortal Kombat reference) before the other henchmen find you... and kills you in one hit. You cannot fool around - one hit, "and you're a dead motherfucker" (quoted for truth from the Big Bill Hell's commercial).

"Huh-huh, hu-huh, let's score"

You'll have points by killing enemies. You'll get combos by killing enemies one after one. Everyone must die, otherwise you will not be able to progress. Most important: map yourself out how to complete the floor, because one error will make you restart. You can't go John Rambo on them, or your ass will be sliced in four. Get good scores and unlock new killer machines in your hand - but beware, always try to have a weapon, or you might die quicker than expected, especially because dogs are untouchable, if you don't have a bat, for example. Try to play good, because you'll be able to unlock 25 masks, each having a unique skill.

Problems

The music is good, but not all of them. Could be a little annoying. The storyline cannot be progressed by pressing space or enter, you'll have to keep clicking. You can't skip the part between the missions, so you have to enter the diner. Also, it is a little difficult, but getting the hang of it is possible. But there is one issue you'd probably notice by yourself is the AI. It's too random. Getting stuck in doors, once hearing your gunfire, the other time don't.

Worth your money, still

It costs eight and a half euroes. Let's just face it. That's not that much. Sure, Hotline Miami is not very good, but buying the game will help the developers' improvement. As an indie game, it's an alright experience, booting a stack of cocaine and LSD into you virtually. The rating you'll see is meant to be one that's a motivational push. Give it a try.

72%

V

Best Piratebay Link; THETA

Hitman - Review

2012-11-28T00:51:00.004-08:00

Hitman - Review

Tommy Monaghan's turn on the comic line

(Comic book)

Hitman, nope, definitely not Agent 47 this time around. In fact, this time we're going to take a look at a "semi-Superman", if you like. Tommy Monaghan has superpowers, such as X-Ray vision and Telepathy, with the ability of good melee fighting and knowledge of firearms. DC Comics has already finished Tommy's run, but is it actually worth a look?

Hitmen, everywhere

Disambugation time. There actually is a Hitman character in the Marvel universe, but there, it's just a small appearance in a seventies' Spiderman comic, and he's a boss in the '90 The Punisher game on the NES and the Gameboy. Then, there's Agent 47 in the Hitman videogames, with the latest one
- Absolution - recently released: he's bald, he's bad, he's cruel, but no superpowered clone assassin.
However, we're now looking at Tommy Monaghan, an ex-Marine, who apparently lives in... Gotham City. Yes, the exact same Gotham where Batman and Joker fights for everlasting peace, whoever gets the last laugh.

Improved over time

All sixty-one issues has good style, but as time progresses, I found the issues look better and better. This is actually interesting - I don't find the first ones look awful. For a 1993 comic, it's top-notch. What about the (final) 2012 ones, then? Well... these look more grim, more designed and on the spot. I can't really find the words... but "improvement" seems to fit the most. If you take the time to read them, probably you will notice the same too.

A crossover?

I should talk about this two-issue mini-series too from 2007. You'll see... Batman, The Green Lantern, and even Superman meet up with Tommy. This is something I really liked, a nice big team-up, something like Marvel did many times. Sadly, Hungary never really got much of them published in the nineties, only just a some in "Marvel Extra" mainly.

Interesting

60 issues, divided down into 26 storylines. (Not counting in the JLA crossover.) Starting out in The Demon Annual #2, moving on to Batman Chronicles #4, Tommy finally got his own issues from the "The Rage In Arkham" storyline. I have to say, you shouldn't skip much of the issues. Maybe this is the one where you're better off getting everything to enjoy The Hitman fully. The storylines (just to name a few: Zombie Night at the Gotham Aquarium, Fresh Meat, The Old Dog) are well written, and they really seem to develop well.

Not bad

Don't let the name fool you - Tommy Monaghan has had his almost twenty years of run, and he did it a little underrated in my opinion. But this doesn't stop me from saying The Hitman is alright. Probably it won't be the best comic of all time, however it is still worth a read. Telepathy go.

Best Piratebay Link; Hitman and Appearances (DC Comics)

81%

V

Hitman: Absolution Review

2012-11-21T22:47:00.000-08:00

Hitman: Absolution Review

It’s a hit, man!

The bald and tattooed head assassin: Agent 47 returns in the long awaited episode in the Hitman series. After more than six years waiting we had some doubts about our good old hitman’s steady aim, but those were quickly dissipated, when he landed a quick bullet from his silverball’s silencer into his latest target the naked chest of Diana, his contact in the Agency.

Yes, this time 47 has to kill Diana, the woman who was the contact in all Hitman game and who saved his ass in Blood Money. It was already revealed in the dramatic trailer, so no spoiler here. As you can see, this time the story is a lot more important, then in previous episodes, where it always took a backseat.

Kill everyone to save one girl

So it comes to no surprise, that 47 indeed kills the naked Diana, however, which IS surprising, is that he also promises her, while she’s dying to take care of a special young girl instead of delivering her to the Agency. But for our bald assassin it’s isn’t enough: he also wants to know, why she is so important and who’s after her? In doing his “investigation” he gets on a rogue killing spree by helping informers, and killing those who stands in his way. As always, it’s up to us, how bloody or smart we get to our target…

A silent assassin

Fortunately the gameplay of Hitman didn’t
followed the “winds of change” like Sam Fisher
for example in the next Splinter Cell, which will be more action oriented. No, Hitman: Absolution stayed a sneaky game, where killing targets in silence and elegantly is always more rewarding, then gunning down everybody, also the latter is almost impossible on hard levels. As usual, you have to hide, put on your fallen enemies clothes, taking care to not go too close to them. One novelty is that now it also takes care in consideration, which kind of person stands next to you: if you are using a cloth, which is similar what they are using, they will get instantly suspicious and they can spot you from even farther away on higher levels. It’s also somewhat exaggerated: it’s hardly plausible, that a single policeman or Mafioso will know every other member of their team, so that they can spot you so easily. Since you must rely so much on fake clothes, it’s somewhat annoying, that others from the same faction can spot you so easily, while those from some other faction will be oblivious (even policemen, when you are wearing some other clothes.)

Several choices

When you have to kill your target (or a bad guy/policeman blocking your path), you always have several choices at your disposal. Of course you can simply put a bullet in their head, but this will cause massive mayhem, and that’s not what a professional killer would want. One of the methods usually consists to follow or lure them away in an abandoned place, than strangle them, cut their throats, or killing them in a more “exotic” way, like sticking a needle in their throat, or throwing a knife/scissor in their head. The most important factor must be that you always have to kill them silently so that you don’t alarm their mates. You can also cause an “accident”: for example when one of the bad guys smokes a cigarette, you can sabotage a fuel dispenser near them earlier, so when they throw the cigarette away, they will get on fire. Those are actually the funniest assassinations – in a morbid way of course. The essential is to get to your main target silently, always pick the best path and avoid guards at all cost, or kill them and hide their bodies.

Instinctively

There’s also a new feature called instinct: when you activate it, it’s like the special views from Splinter Cell/Assassin’s Creed you will see the guards through walls, and also their movement patterns. You can also avoid attention while you are walking near enemies by simply using your instinct. However your instinct meter will deplete fast, and only special actions will fill it again, so you have to carefully plan your actions again: instinct mode is far from a God mode. Besides all that you can also use instinct to dispose of your enemies fast by tagging them while the time is frozen, which also reminds me of Splinter Cell: Conviction. Be aware that it depletes also your instinct meter fast and also you will lose your discretion.

Best Hitman game so far

If you were asking if Hitman: Absolution was well worth the six years in waiting then the answer is an absolute yes. This episode is not only the most polished gameplay wise, but also held together by a professional storyline which wasn’t the case with other Hitman games – even Blood Money was sketchy at best. Also it clearly feels like playing as the “original assassin” like it was mentioned in the trailer: it’s not freeform running, faith jumping Assassin’s Creed or “one man commando” like Splinter Cell. The world of Hitman is also a gritty, perverted world, with extremely rotten but also believable characters with the stoic 47 himself in the middle by exterminating everybody as a bald avenging angel.
It’s a hit, man, for sure…

BadSector

Best Piratebay Link; SKIDROW

94%

Painkiller: Hell and Damnation (PC) - Review

2012-11-21T22:31:00.001-08:00

Painkiller: Hell and Damnation (PC) - Review

Shooting the shit out of everyone

(VG: FPS, action)

I had a bad day, and this game helped me let my aggression and frustration out. Basically, this is what this game is good for: leading out the bad mood without harming anyone. And it's doing it very well. However, do not take several doses in sit of this "medicine", otherwise be punished and bored. If you do two levels every time, you won't be bored of Farm 51's game, which is good, but not in a way it should really be... but it's still addictive. Interesting, isn't it?

Let it all out!

Let's get quickly the two bad aspects of this game out of sight quickly. The reason why you will see that certain rating at the end are because of these: number one, the music feels a little too generic to me while playing. It's sounding like some basic riffs put together... yet it somehow manages to do its job, giving an extra mood for the strive of blood, swiping those green souls up after every single kill. Number two: it gets boring quickly. If you have had the worst day of your life, even then I would think you would get bored, no matter what the difficulty is.

"I create chaos, destroy everything..."

Get weapon, get ammo, shoot the enemies (sometimes in a combo of using both primary and
secondary fire), get their souls, collect sixty-six (yes, that is supposed to be a reference to 666), turn into a demon, destroy enemies, win, repeat. This is basically the main concept of Painkiller. It never really wants to be more than a game that's a mixture of the past and the present. Past, as in soullessly (pardon me for the pun) killing a huge amount of enemies per wave (because quite frankly, it really is an arena game). Present, as in having more than that behind: Unreal Engine 3 is here in another iteration of the FPS genre... but this time around, graphics are not that really important. Despite all of that, it still looks very nice.

The enemies

Those creatures you will face are a mixed bag.
Some of them are easy to kill (for example, the skeletons - you can't have a Hell-themed game without them, just ask Diablo 3), but later on you might face some of the problematic ones. I didn't really like one type, which had a shield... and what about the bosses? That is all down to one easy, simple tactic: get 60-ish souls before you reach the end of the level, and then slaughter away.

Not recommended, yet it's so fun...

There is another thing that's sad: the game - as it is a remake of the original - lacks levels compared to the original. There's a "Black Edition" of the original on Steam that you can get for ten bucks. Still, you have the tarot cards with various effects, gold scattered all over the stages and such, and it's still not reaching the heights of the aforementioned version. You can still go and play co-op, but then, in all fairness, go for a bigger difficulty level. So, to conclude: Painkiller isn't a must-have. It's good for leading agression out... and nothing else,
really. Get 10 spare bucks, download the Black Edition from Steam, and keep it, just in case. Hell and Damnation is damned in Hell: the potential has stuck deep within the game, never being let out of its cage to rage. Disappointing, but expected - the FPS man of the fall is still Corvo Attano from Dishonored. Daniel has no touch on the masked killer...

70%

V

Best Piratebay Link; Skidrow version

Lucius (PC) - Review

2012-11-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

Lucius (PC) - Review

Good idea, bad design

(VG: adventure, psycho horror)

Lucius is a game where you can take up the role of the Antichrist - this is based upon Damien Thorn's book called The Omen. Take control of a murderous kid, who's more than meets the eye, providing a huge amount of blood and gore, but also failing to overcome the problems that many adventure games face. As you pixelhunt - because yes, you will -, you might be thinking about something more entertaining than Lucius... however, being patient MIGHT - just might - pay off...

Load, goddamnit!

Thankfully it did not take that many seconds to load the game, but the first problem I have encountered with Lucius is the ridiculous amount of loading times. I might not have the most recent computer of all time, but I certainly did not expect to make a tea while the game loads a level in. It happened, and it's pretty ludicrous.

Welcome to Dante Mansion

Hats, gasmasks and anything that's on my head goes off to say: wow, this mansion does seem to be absolutely detailed, and it explains partially why the game loads so slow. Graphically speaking, the game isn't looking awful. It's worth to try Lucius just because of this aspect: an absolutely great job, but of course, graphics don't make a game...

They see me rollin' crucifixes...

While you wander around the mansion as this six-year old kid, you'll need to kill people (of course!), which itself is really disgusting, yet enjoyable. Psycho horror games are rare nowadays, but it seems they are still worth being made - don't forget, you have to make good use of the powers granted by your father, none other than Lucifer itself. But of course, as it is an adventure game, you will have to solve some hefty puzzles too, like rolling those crucifixes around. However, there are two things that I need to point out. First, the annoying pixel hunting is back. Second, despite given some tips by the game, I always felt a little lost, and I don't know why: it's either the lack of proper writing (the background story, for example), or something that I can't really put my finger on... it's probably the fixed storyline. You're always given a certain order of killing, and no going off the track for you!

Lacks polishing

Lucius is not that bad, but - with some of these "underground" games - the audio should have had some extra attention on it. That music isn't the best, and the voice acting is a little below average. All in all, you'll end up either frustrated (that certain "WTF should I do NOW?" feeling), or having that sudden realization ("You serious about doing THAT?!"). You will need to actually THINK what to do next, but this will test the players' patience. It can be considered either as good or bad. The same applies for the game itself. I don't think it's bad, but not that good either. It's above an average game, that's for sure. And now if you excuse me, I'll go and search for my Shadow Man CD somewhere...

63%

Best Piratebay Link; Skidrow

Dark Shadows - Review

2012-11-13T22:39:00.001-08:00

Dark Shadows - Review

Bouncing back from the sixties, gothic style

(Comic book)

Wow. I never thought that there was a gothic soap opera back in the sixties in the United States. I didn't really think that it would get a 2012 rework in a film format... but surprises are always welcome, and this was no exception. If you're into absurd things like zombies, vampire, blood all over the pictures and such, Dark Shadows will be an excellent choice. It's so gory, it's so dark... totally refreshing the original series from the past.

What is Dark Shadows?

There is some explanation to do here. This all starts from the gothic soap opera, which aired on television between 1966 and 1971. During this time, two movie adaptations born (House of Dark Shadows (1970), and Night of Dark Shadows (1971), respectively), both being directed by Dan Curtis, who felt at home in the macabre "genre". It got a black and white comic strip, which ran between 1971 and 1972. Two decades later, NBC did a reboot in 1991, again directed by Curtis. The WB also wanted to have a slice of the success cake in 2004, but they only managed to do a pilot episode out of it. 2012, and in comes the genius Tim Burton, who did a movie adaptation of the franchise (yet again starring Johnny Depp - I have to admit, these two are gelled together perfectly...). The comic we're focusing on is coming from Dynamite Entertainment - their monthly release started back in 2011, before Burton's movie. It's still going on, but Dark Shadows has a Vampirella spin-off storyline that is about to end in December. To conclude: yes, this franchise is still going on strong despite being laid off twice for at least a decade. Does it mean the comic sucks? Nope.

Macabre, in comic format

In case you don't know what macabre means: it's a style that stylizes death along with its symbols, building a dark, abstract atmoshpere - something that you'd read from H. P. Lovecraft. Burton has added black comedy elements into his movie (and did it well), but what about the comic? It's definitely has its own touch at being honest to the original, while looking unique and stylish. That - in my opinion, at least - is a key part of success. The story - written by Mike Raicht - is also important, and I have to say, it's a great job. Collinsport has its feel of gruesome death while you read on - what could you do, if you're not living in your time, having the eternal suffering of being a vampire, always having the need to have blood in order to survive? Well... that's why it's a must-read.

Seventies, without disco

Do you have to know anything about the franchise at all before reading? This is always a question that I bring up - this time around, I'm going to go the "no" way. The graphics of Dark Shadows are good, but sometimes the heads of the characters are not that round (One example: issue 9, page 29 - nitpicking at best, but look at the anchorwoman's head!), but it's not annoying, just something I found. The best part of Dark Shadows is the way it's having gore in it. Absolutely wonderful, albeit I don't think it's going to top Resident Evil at all... but since that's a whole different story, it's plausible. So, to recap - it is a great monthly comic to read. Get it, enjoy it, and I recommend Burton's movie too.

92%

V

Best Piratebay Links; Dark Shadows/Vampirella

X-Com: Enemy Unknown

2012-11-13T22:09:00.002-08:00

When the Earth is at stake

(VG: strategy, action)

Enemy Unknown has reborn, making it as a perfect example as how remakes should be done. It successfully managed to expand itself into something new while keeping the development close to its roots. If you're into strategy games, EU will be a definitely good choice for you. Firaxis Games (who has done Sid Meier's Pirates! back in 2004) has struck success with the story of the alien invasion and the team that needs to stop them...

You have a team of maximum six members, and you really have to build it solidly up, otherwise you'll only get your ass whooped by the aliens. Having five classes, it's important to have one of all of them later on, and I heavily - sorry for the pun... - recommend putting in a second Heavy into slot six.

So let's see who does what. The Heavy is the one with the big gun, small brain and lots of HP. In close range, it's absolutely a killing machine with his machine gun. Try not to ignore his rocket launcher. If you build the team with two Heavys, it's basically a "last resort". Then there's the Sniper, who has a deadly sniper rifle in possession. With this member, I do recommend getting the Squad Sight upgrade: whenever any of your team sees an enemy, the Sniper can aim and shoot at it without seeing that actual alien.

Ghost and the shells

Also, the Ghost armour will hide him for a round - good for either quickly hiding away, or to find a safe spot without geting spot to score some kills on the spot (and again, sorry for the puns). The S.H.I.V machine can't be promoted, but it can be upgraded into versions that can fly, carrying a big load of weapons. You should use it as a bait, lead him to your two Heavys... and enjoy the sight of destruction. The Assault should be used as the first line of attacking, having that useful perk of "better armor equals bigger HP" as well as getting enemies out of their hideouts. Don't ignore him. And in spot number five is the Support, who's basically the doctor of the team. Smoke grenades should always be around to have a successful escape, just in case.

Most of the time I found myself dividing the team into two: the first half was the aforementioned S.H.I.V - Heavy x2 trio, and the other half was the Assault, with the Support behind in case of healing, and both being defended by the Sniper way behind. An absolutely logical, yet so gelled together layout, but hey, it worked...

Moody, all around

In 2012, it might be a little weird to see the good old Unreal Engine 3 have this isometric gameplay, but it won't be much of a problem. The camera might be a little problematic sometimes, though. But then again, nothing's perfect, however, the audio section is! They have really cared about the voice acting and the sound effects. Rough, nasty and thrilling - that's all it need to be said. I'm not saying anything about the storyline - go and play it yourself, because it is worth a try, even if you're not really a strategist.

Remake: A

If the multiplayer gets a little more attention in the future updates, we will have one of the roughest strategy games out there. Enemy Unknown has renewed itself while keeping honestly close to the 1994 original. This is how remakes should be done, as XCom is a prime example of making something new while touching the old original. Now, when's the XCOM shooter will be done...?

V

90%

NBA 2K13 (PC) - Review

2012-11-06T22:50:00.000-08:00

NBA 2K13 (PC) - Review

Basketball, without opposition

(VG; sports game, basketball)

There is no alternative this year for those gamers who are interested in basketball. In 2011, you could choose between EA Sports' and 2K Sports' NBA game, but not this time. Basically, while EA Sports reboot their NBA Live franchise for 2013, NBA 2K13 is in a monopol situation, and they will have to make the best out of it until the rivalry burns up again... Electronic Arts will be back stronger than ever, so while they are preparing for the next season, let's just enjoy this fine piece of basketball.

In good hands

When I saw the developers' name - Visual Concepts - I was already satisfied a bit: they are deep, deep into sports games. It was a good start, however, there is a little confusion as well. Why? The menu system is not easy to navigate through. It needed some time to be understood, but since everything is hard to begin, it's plausible. If you're ending up finally in the stadium, you will definitely forget it...

Sensational

There is one aspect where NBA 2K13 is absolutely on the spot, and that is being the mood. It's amazing! Not once I caught myself nodding: the commentary is great (just like on TV, if you're wondering), the stadium echoes from the fans' voice, while the two teams are duking it out for the victory. But there's the question: is the gameplay learnable even for a newcomer into basketball games? My answer is a definite yes. I started out as losing to the AI not once by 20 points, or even more... yet in the end I ended up making the AI a joke, passing the ball here and there. Speaking of passing: one crucial part could be the team's AI - thankfully, you won't have a bunch of idiots controlled by the computer. They are actually going for teamwork, so if you're starting to get the other team's guys closing up on you, there will be a buddy to pass for. But do not go for solo, because it's not paying off, to say the least.

Sounds mixed

The audio segment might be a little problematic. I don't say it's bad, but the tracklist is
somewhat "rigged" towards Jay-Z. I mean, while you have great classics like "Around the World" by Daft Punk, but there are at least five songs by this rapper! Why? Isn't the music supposed to be a wide range of styles mixed together? Anyway... aside from this, the authentic sound (including the commentary, the sound of the shoes slipping, the crowd) makes it up a lot.

Opportunistic choices of gameplay

There are so many options to choose from, if you want to play this game. Ever dreamed of defeating the 1992 Dream Team? You can go ahead and try to defeat Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson et al. But if you're actually planning to start a career, make sure to grab a controller. The right stick will be grabbing most of the focus.

Good for a start

Since there are no other basketball games out there this year, you can only get this one, but it's a really good game. Plus, since it's a multiplatform title, you don't have to buy a console, if you're a hardcore PC gamer. It is a great game as an entrance into the world of the basketball games too: and while we are waiting for the next year, NBA 2K13 isn't going to disappoint. Bring on 2013, let's see what EA Sports will bring up with NBA Live 14!

91%

Best Piratebay Links; NBA2K13 - XBOX 360 - [REGION FREE]