Unlocked Gaming

State of Mind Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 03:11:00 +0000

iRo-bored... 3.1/5

In a present where we have the likes of Elon Musk and SpaceX, developer Daedalic Entertainment's version of our future might not be so far fetched.

With their latest release, sci-fi adventure State of Mind propels us thirty years into a dystopian future where, among other things, autonomous Tesla-esque vehicles are the norm. Furthermore, robots and automated AI are commonplace throughout households, as are food dispensers that can make any dish via the press of a button. And while all of these contraptions are intriguing enough; it's a future where virtual reality can provide people with their most sought-after desires that State of Mind directs our attention.

Set in the year 2048 and located principally in Berlin, Richard Nolan has just survived a severe accident and awoke to find that his wife and son are missing. Seemingly in a different city on the other side of the world, Adam Newman has also come away from a similar mishap, and it's from here that the two journalists eventually become acquainted.

Suspicious and reluctant to help Richard uncover the truth about his family at first, Adam soon realises that everything around him is not exactly what it seems. Trapped in a utopian virtual world known as City5, he must use his journalistic skills to recover and search through Richard's memories which present themselves in the form of data fragments. As Adam uncovers each one, a conspiracy begins to reveal itself including revelations about Richard's family, Adam's existence and a scientist named Dr Kutrz.

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Onrush Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 05:40:00 +0000

Twisted Metal! 4.4/5

Onrush is a vehicular combat game that crashes its way onto the PS4 and Xbox One courtesy of publisher Deep Silver and developer Codemasters.

Gameplay

Now, while Codemasters have a long list of racing titles in their portfolio, their latest release, Onrush, certainly isn't a traditional racing game. While parallels exist between it and EA's Burnout series, stylistically, Onrush is much closer to the old PlayStation classic Destruction Derby. This is because that while Burnout and Onrush reward dangerous driving in addition to smashing into your rivals; with Onrush, you're not really racing anyone.

There's no typical first or second place here; it's all about boosting, slamming into your opponents and causing havoc. There are four main modes to choose from: 'Overdrive', where the winning team is the one who acquires and uses the most boost. 'Switch' is essentially all-out warfare where each team member starts on a motorbike and moves to the next vehicle once they crash or get taken out by an opponent. 'Lockdown' is a free for all where you and your team must take control of a moving zone for five consecutive seconds. And lastly, 'Countdown' is a race between checkpoints as you battle against other drivers and a decreasing timer.

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Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 11:10:00 +0000

Hulk Smashed! - 2.6/5

Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition is a tactical first-person shooter set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Initially released in 2016 for the PC, this is a new version of the game available on the PlayStation 4.

Upon its release, Space Hulk: Deathwingreceived a mixed response from critics some of whom were less than impressed with its general performance issues. So, with this latest version vowing to correct the original’s problems, how does the enhanced edition fair on the PS4?

Although I must admit that I didn’t play Space Hulk on the PC; I can report that I didn’t notice any significant bugs on the PS4 version. That said, grievances from the original game such as clunky menus, inferior AI behaviour and a mundane storyline still exist within this enhanced edition. Therefore, similar to the original release, only hardcore Warhammer 40,000 fans will get the most out of this latest attempt.

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Extinction Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 May 2018 08:31:00 +0000

Cornball Ogres - 1.6/5

Developed by Iron Galaxy and published by Maximum Games, Extinction is an action adventure game that sees you assume the role of a warrior named Avil as he fights interdimensional 150-foot tall monsters.

Known as “one of the world’s last defenders” one would think to play as Avil as he defends humanity against these massive brutes would invoke some excitement. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, and not only is Extinction void of any real zest, it isn’t even remotely enjoyable. Plus, since Extinction is currently retailing at a mind-boggling $99.95, the same price as a Triple-A title; somebody, somewhere, is taking the piss.

Gameplay

As one of the shittest games, I’ve played, ever, surprisingly, Extinction’s premise is quite good. As Avil, you are one of the world’s last Sentinels defending humankind against giant ogres named Ravenii. These bloodthirsty brutes are comparable in size to several of the giants in Shadow of the Colossus and require a similar strategy to defeat. By climbing each creature and breaking their armour and stabbing at their limbs, each beast eventually weakens which lets you decapitate them as they fall to the ground faster than a pissed up Shrek.

Read the full review on Impulse Gamer...

God of War Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:51:00 +0000

Beardier n' Badder - 4.6/5

With a wild swing of his axe and angry grunt in his voice, Kratos begins life on the PlayStation 4 in a somewhat different fashion to past God of War games. Appearing older and perhaps wiser now, another significant difference is that with this latest incarnation of God of War; Kratos isn't alone.

In a setting that substitutes Greek gods with Norse mythology, joining the Ghost of Sparta on his venture to the peak of a sacred mountain is his young son, Atreus. And while the thought of seeing Kratos play a father figure in a God of War title seems a little outlandish at first, the connection between the two keeps the story intriguing with the youngster's inclusion not lessening the relentless violence and overall savagery synonymous with past entries in the series.

Furthermore, although the over the shoulder third-person camera angle sways away from past God of War games - a brief exchange at the start of the story between Arteus and Kratos sees the former ambiguously mention that something "feels different" - their journey together feels as though it can only work from this new perspective. As a result, God of War delivers enough action and emotion to breathe new life into the franchise and although it isn't a unique entry in the action-adventure genre; it should delight both old and newcomers alike.

Gameplay

God of War sees Kratos and Atreus living a tranquil life hidden away in the woods of Scandinavia. Playing the role of teacher and protector, Kratos is doing his best to raise and mentor his son, while also trying to shake away the demons from his past. While the log cabin buried amongst the forest trees seems like a safe place for the pair; it doesn't take long for a curious tattooed stranger to soon disrupt their solitude.

As this visitor presents a notable threat to their safety, Kratos decides that although Atreus "isn't ready", the best recourse is to abandon their home and take his young son on a trip to fulfil the last wish of his recently deceased wife by scattering her ashes at the top of the highest peak in all the realm.

Read the full review at Impulse Gamer

Screenshot Sunday #4 - Horizon Zero Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 03:08:00 +0000

Horizon Zero Dawn

Screenshot Sunday Numero 4 features Guerrilla Games' open-world adventure, Horizon Zero Dawn.

I recently finished this game and my thoughts on my experience as Aloy can be found here.

Enjoy!

Horizon Zero Dawn

*All screenshots captured on the PS4*

Opinion: Horizon Zero Dawn - A beautiful but familiar experience

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 06:26:00 +0000

Beautiful but familiar

As of February 2018, Horizon Zero Dawn, the open-world action-roleplaying game developed by Killzone creators Guerrilla Games, has sold 7.6 million copies worldwide. Not only has it amassed some impressive sales figures; the overall critical consensus has been "generally favourable" according to Metacritic, where it currently holds a score of 89/100.

It seems then that with Horizon Zero Dawn critics and gamers agree that the PlayStation 4 exclusive is one of the systems most outstanding titles. Indeed, aside from the critical praise and impressive sales numbers, Horizon Zero Dawn has won a host of 'Game of the Year Awards' from some of the industries most respectable outlets.

So, after recently finishing Horizon Zero Dawn, why do I feel like I'm the only one who didn't enjoy a game which everyone appears to hold so dear? Why didn't it captivate me as much as I thought it would?

The premise of Horizon Zero Dawn ticks every single box of my interests. I enjoy Sci-fi, and I love open-world games. An excellent example of those two genres combined is the original Mass Effect trilogy on the PS3, which is still one of my favourites.

Like Mass Effect, a science fiction fantasy twined in an open-world setting should leave Horizon Zero Dawn with very little to do to engross me for hours on end. But for some reason, it didn't hold my interest for that long. Truthfully, it was at around the ten-hour mark where I felt that my overall enjoyment of it had peaked.

Now, that's in stark contrast to say, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which kept me going for well over three hundred hours. Hell, I'd happily start playing it now just to explore and search for side quests I may have missed. As for other open-world titles; I completed Skyrim twice on the PS3. Fallout 3, I finished twice. And its successor, Fallout 4, took me more than 200 hours to exhaust. With Mass Effect, I have no idea how long I spent as Commander Shepard, but it must have been in a surplus of two hundred hours. The GTA series, again, I never got tired and can gladly play it anew. Going back further, Shenmue 1 and 2, both utterly fascinated me.

But with Horizon Zero Dawn, I couldn't even get past ten hours without feeling like the whole game was a chore. And unlike the games mentioned previously; I don't ever see myself replaying it. I've been thinking hard as to why this is. It's taken me several days to figure something out, and although I probably still don't know the entire reason, I have managed to come up with some kind of rationale.

Perhaps it's because I've seen it all before.

Now to be fair, the open-world concept is slowly getting worn down. As stated in my Shadow of War review, it's only the Middle-earth games that have recently done something unique in the genre thanks to the Nemesis System. Usually, though, the conventional approach to an open-world game is to make a big world and fill it with lots of content. Pretty simple. However, to make that work the material that fills each world must be engaging. Other than having utterly gorgeous visuals, there must be a reason to explore.

While playing Horizon Zero Dawn, all I kept thinking was "I've seen this before." Suffice to say, it all felt too similar. From the off, when the protagonist Aloy finds her focus, it summons her to participate in detective work identical to that seen in the Batman Arkham trilogy. Once she's given free reign to explore her surroundings, tagging enemies and liberating outposts like in the Far Cry series becomes a possibility.

While, on the subject of Ubisoft's flagship series, Horizon Zero Dawn does a much better job with its version of Far Cry's 'radio towers', by instead making you scale enormous moving robotic dinosaurs, each one providing a distinct challenge from the next.

However, on the whole, Horizon Zero Dawn's side-quests didn't excite me. The main narrative is decent enough, especially as it nears its conclusion. But captivating side-quests are what any great open-world game should have in abundance. In Horizon, they all felt like filler; like they exist as something to do for the sake of it.

In other open-world games, for example, The Witcher 3; each side quest felt like a vital component to the overall story. The same applies to the Fallout series, especially Fallout 3. And in Mass Effect, I felt compelled to stray away from the main storyline to establish relationships with my crew, knowing that any decision I made would have massive repercussions later on in the story.

Both Geralt and Shepard were likeable personas, and I enjoyed embodying them throughout both The Witcher and Mass Effect. With Aloy, I found her to be somewhat of a wearisome heroine, with little personality. To be fair, perhaps that's more to do with the script being tedious. There was never a time (not that I remember anyway) where we got to see Aloy's real personality shine through. Granted, the earlier scenes with Rost when she was a child were entertaining but other than that; I found her company somewhat stale.

Alas, there's only so much a vast, sumptuous open-world can do when the content of it is so mundane. Yes, there are a plethora of robotic animals to lock your proverbial horns with and unlike The Witcher 3 and Mass Effect, the fighting mechanics in Horizon Zero Dawn are rather good. However, it quickly becomes infiltrating when you're trying to transit from one area of the map to the other and keep getting blindsided by enemies that require a substantial amount of time to deal with.

Now, my gripe with the combat isn't due to its occasional complexity (there are options to tone it down if you wish), but more to do with its repetitiveness. At first, stalking, fighting and taming the machines feels unknown and exciting, but after a while, it becomes incredibly time-consuming, and like the coma-inducing dialogue, it goes on way longer than it should.

Fundamentally, Horizon Zero Dawn feels like a mish-mash of all my favourite open-world games in one. Almost as if Guerrilla Games scooped up all the best open-world titles in the market, threw them in a blender and then placed the remains inside a visually astonishing environment.

I wanted to love Horizon Zero Dawn, and although it may seem like the opposite; I do like it to a degree. I just don't think it's as good as several other open-world adventures. Overall, it hasn't brought anything to the genre that hasn't already been seen before. Is it a 10/10 game? In my opinion, it's far from it.

Naturally, my feelings are entirely subjective, and I completely understand why people adore it. And I must say that Guerrilla Games deserve a hell of a lot of praise for what was their first foray into the open-world genre. They created a visual masterpiece; there's no disputing that.

Ultimately, though, I wish I can say that I'd love to go back and play Horizon Zero Dawn one more time but aside from marvelling at the visuals, I don't think I'll get any satisfaction by acquainting myself with Aloy for a second time.

Twitter: @JimColesy

God of War - Two-hour hands-on preview in Sydney, Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 07:03:00 +0000

God of War preview

At a recent hands-on experience in Sydney, Australia; Impulse Gamer gave me the chance to preview the first few hours of the upcoming action-adventure video game, God of War.

On March 14th, I got to sit down with Sony Santa Monica's Senior Community Strategist, Aaron Kaufman for an exclusive preview of God of War in Sydney, Australia.

After the events of God of War 3, and set in the world of the Norse Gods; Kratos lives with his son Atreus in small log cabin hidden away in the woods. And it's here where Kratos must teach his son how to survive the monstrosities that encompass every inch of their environment.

From the off, we see a different side to Kratos where his aggressive, almost patientless nature must subside to nurture and care for his young son. Although Kratos plays the reluctant father, you can practically feel a caring, dare say, loving side to Kratos consistently struggle to break through his icy exterior.

*To read more of this preview of God of War, please visit Impulse Gamer*

Devil May Cry HD Collection Review - A unique series worth revisiting

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 08:54:00 +0000

Value for money - 7.5 / 10

Created in 2001, Devil May Cry has somewhat of an interesting development story. Initially thought of as a Resident Evil title, it didn't take long for director Hideki Kamiya to realise that the fixed camera view synonymous with past Resident Evil games didn't suit his upcoming hack and slash project.

After lengthy discussions that culminated in a brief visit to Europe; it's there where Kamiya and his team photographed ancient buildings and statues. On his return home and armed with these new compositions, Kamiya tried to combine gothic stylistics and fast-paced gameplay mechanics into what was supposedly still a Resident Evil game.

Consequently, Kamiya couldn't mix the two together. So, in a bold move, he chose to abandon the Resident Evil element of the game and completely re-write the story. Thus, now set in a world full of demonic entities, and introducing Dante as the protagonist; the Devil May Cry series was born.

Receiving critical acclaim on its release, Devil May Cry produced a sequel, Devil May Cry 2 and a prequel, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening. Published for the PlayStation 3 in 2008, Devil May Cry 4 was once again met with critical praise. A reboot, DMC: Devil May Cry is the last original instalment in the series and in 2015, it was remastered for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Now in 2018, Devil May Cry HD Collection includes the first three instalments in the DMC series in one high definition package. And while this latest edition is pretty basic, DMC HD Collection is a fantastic assortment of games that fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy.

Devil May Cry

The first instalment in the series, Devil May Cry, is my favourite game out of the three on offer. It's here where we first meet the devil slayer Dante and accompany him on a journey fuelled by revenge as he pursues those accountable for the death of his mother and brother.

Beginning with a relaxed Dante minding his own business in his shop, an unannounced visit from an enigmatic woman named Trish leads to the revelation that the demon emperor Mundus is planning a resurgence.

This news is particularly relevant to Dante as it's Mundus who he holds responsible for the death of his family. And so, without the need for any persuasion, Dante follows Trish to a remote castle where she quickly vanishes, leaving him to fight his way through numerous demon marionettes and various evil entities.

As you wander through the castle, you need to solve puzzles or kill enemies in your vicinity to be able to progress through locked doors that are guarded by a big cloudy grabby hand thing.

Since various portals consistently shit out a multitude of demons, combat is fast-paced and exhilarating. Holding R1 and pressing triangle to use Dante's sword or repeatedly hitting square to fire his handguns make up the entire fighting mechanics. And although that may sound relatively simple; it's as enjoyable now as it was nearly twenty years ago.

Backtracking plays a significant part in advancing through the castle, as does overcoming some awe-inspiring bosses. These boss battles are on the grandest scale, and although their scope may now have been surpassed in other games, back in 2001, nothing quite like this had been seen before.

Unique, gripping and most importantly fun, 17 years ago, Devil May Cry was groundbreaking. Now in 2018, Dante's first adventure hasn't lost any of its charms.

Devil May Cry 2

Released in 2003, Devil May Cry 2 is as disappointing now as it was all those years ago.

Focusing on Dante and a new playable character named Lucia, the story sees you traverse through insipid urban environments searching for Arius; a businessman hell-bent on using demonic power to conquer the world.

Needless to say, unlike Devil May Cry, this sequel hasn't withstood the test of time. Not because it's close to fifteen years old, but more so because it was never a particularly good game.

Bland environments and unchallenging enemy AI means skipping Devil May Cry 2 is probably the best course of action.

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening

And so we reach the final game in this trilogy, and pleasingly it ends with a bang rather than a whimper.

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is a prequel to the first two games and focuses on Dante's development into the vengeful demon hunter we first met in the original Devil May Cry. Arguably the best all-around game of the Devil May Cry franchise, it's only the nostalgia I have for the original Devil May Cry that makes DMC 3 my second favourite game in the series.

This version of Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is the special edition version of the game and introduces the option to play as Dante's twin brother Vergil. Additionally, it includes the Bloody Palace Mode (a single-elimination tournament) and the Turbo Mode (an opportunity to speed the gameplay up 20%).

Overall Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening betters both its predecessors graphically, and mechanically. Not only are the visuals a stark improvement over Devil May Cry 2, the ability to move the camera and lock on to individual targets means DMC 3 is much more accessible game to get to grips with. R3 now lets you change the camera angle and reset it to where Dante is facing and by pressing R2 or L2 you can equip him with various swords and guns.

Furthermore, before you begin each level, you can choose what kind of style you want to play with. For example:

Trickster: Gives Dante evasive movements.

Swordmaster: Allows Dante to perfect different melee weapons and maximise their power.

Gunslinger: While firing handguns, it turns Dante into a flashier version of RoboCop.

Royalguard: Minimises the damage of an enemies attack and moves Dante into more strategic positions.

The above-added features make Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening the most complete in the series. And while that may be true, there are times when rage quitting becomes a common occurrence. Indeed, personally, I find DMC 3 an extremely challenging game to get through, but its difficulty spikes are forgiven as if you persevere and advance through the story; the end result makes all the hard work worth the struggle.

DMC 1,2 and 3

While not being able to control the camera angle was common in games from this era; in Devil May Cry 1 and 2, it can severely impede your progression through each level.

At times, it's infuriating. None more so than when you keep dying in boss battles because the camera is consistently working against you.

In both Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 2, it's painstakingly obvious that a fixed cinematic camera just doesn't work. Hence, both games are almost crying out to use the right analogue stick so you can at least move the camera to see what the hell you're shooting at. Although you know your bullets are hitting the target, at times in battle, you're essentially just firing at the screen.

Aside from my camera objections, upon completion of a level, each game assigns you a rank based on how well you played. Like most academic exams, you're marked from A to Z. However, the best score isn't A as SSS, SS and S are the most desirable grades. Individual marks for time, orbs collected, style, damage and items used make up your overall rank. Randomly, after finishing one of the levels, my grades spelt out "BADAS", which is close enough to "Badass". A coincidence? I think not..

As for the sound design, all three games have a decent soundtrack. The musical score regularly consists of some gothic horror mixed with a little rock and roll and works well with what's transpiring on screen. Then again, the first Devil May Cry does have a repetitive piano key playing for the majority of its duration. It almost sounds like the developers' left a drinking bird in front of a piano, recorded the audio and decided to use it.

Visually, Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 3, both look great. Although not groundbreaking by today's standards, the gothic textures and atmospherics look sharp and are pleasing to the eye. However, Devil May Cry 2 still looks drab in HD, but that's more to do with the dull level design than anything else.

Verdict

So, is Devil May Cry HD Collection worth adding to your game library?

All in all, unless you grew up with the series, you shouldn't lose any sleep if you decide not to become acquainted with Dante. That said, if you're familiar with Devil May Cry and have fond memories of the series, then you won't regret saddling up with the red-coated protagonist for one last ride.

Pros:

All three games in one place for a reasonable price.
DMC 1 and 3 are great games.
Face it, a blonde guy in a red coat duel wielding handguns killing demons left, right and centre is fantastic.

Cons:

The camera is frustrating, especially in DMC 1 and 2.
DMC 2 is worse than I remember it being.
Except for DMC 3, the controls and camera mechanics are a bit of a mess.

Score: 7.5 / 10

Game Details

Primary Format: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, PC

Game Genre: Action / hack & slash
Rating: MA15+
Game Developer: Pipework Software, Inc. / NeoBards Entertainment
Game Publisher: Capcom
Reviewer: James Coles

Coming this week - Dante in HD

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 09:44:00 +0000

How does the original DMC shape up on the PS4?

Coming this week to Unlocked Gaming is a review of Devil May Cry HD collection and my thoughts on Kratos' return in God of War.

On Wednesday 14th March, Impulse Gamer gave me the opportunity to go to an exclusive hands-on experience in Sydney with God of War and later on this week, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the game.

So, check back later this week!

Screenshot Sunday #3 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 08:56:00 +0000

*Screenshot Sunday #2*

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of my favourite ever games.

Including all the DLC, I spent well over 300 hours slaying beasts across an array of visually stunning continents. And although open-world games are probably not for everyone; this particular adventure deserves all the praise bestowed upon it.

While I could easily ramble on about how much I love this game, instead, my review for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is here.

And below, you'll find a selection of screenshots from my PS4 capture gallery.

Enjoy!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

*All screenshots captured on the PS4

Screenshot Sunday #2 - Middle-earth: Shadow of War

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 07:31:00 +0000

*Screenshot Sunday #1*

It's time for Screenshot Sunday again, (on a Tuesday)..

Today the thread features my best shots from Middle-earth: Shadow of War. I reviewed this game late last year and my thoughts on it can be found here.

Enjoy!

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

* All pictures captured on the PS4

Screenshot Sunday #1 - Hellblade, Shadow of the Colossus & DBFZ

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 09:06:00 +0000

I know it's Saturday but here's the first entry in the new 'Screenshot Sunday' thread I'll be posting each week (until I forget so this might be the first and only post)..

I've had a busy seven days reviewing Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, but no pictures from that particular game feature this week. Below you'll find my favourite shots from Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice, Shadow of the Colossus and Dragon Ball FighterZ.

Enjoy!

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Shadow of the Colossus

Dragon Ball FighterZ

*All pictures captured on the PS4.

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 04:36:00 +0000

Mediocre - 3 / 5

Following on from the events of Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is a third-person role-playing game published by Bandai Namco and developed by Dimps.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the franchise; Sword Art Online is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara. Since April 2010, the series has produced eight manga adaptations, an anime television show and four video games.
As the fifth video game in the series, Fatal Bullet sees you log into the virtual world of Gun Gale Online which is essentially a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game).

Read the full review at Impulse Gamer...

Metal Gear Survive Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 20:03:00 +0000

Dud Zombie - 2.4 / 5

Metal Gear Survive replaces stealth with survival in what is the first Metal Gear game without the involvement of director Hideo Kojima.

Although Survive is the first entry in the Metal Gear series without Kojima’s influence, it isn’t the first spin-off. Released only five years ago on the PS3, XBox 360 and PC; Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance took the Metal Gear series in a completely different direction.

Replacing stealth with hack and slash action mayhem, surprisingly, Rising worked. The reason for this was due to Kojima Productions enlisting the help of developers Platinum Games who are most famous for their 2013 hit, Vanquish.

While developing Rising, Kojima and his team were struggling to design a Metal Gear game that merges stealth with ninja action. Such were the difficulties that Kojima faced; the game ceased development in 2010. It wasn’t until Kojima gave Platinum Games free reign to re-design the project from scratch that Rising began to take shape.

Read More...

Dragon Ball FighterZ Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 13:04:00 +0000

Dragon Balls! - 4.5 / 5

As one of the most popular franchises to come out of Japan; the action-anime series Dragon Ball has entertained fans all over the world since it first appeared as a manga series way back in 1984. Fast-forward some thirty-three years later; the franchise has sold over 40 million games worldwide establishing itself as one of the most successful anime series of all time.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is the follow up to 2016’s Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 and sees developer Dimps replaced by Arc System Works who are most famous for their arcade 2-D fighting game series, Guilty Gear.

With publisher Bandai Namco teaming up with one of the best combat game developers in town; it should come as no surprise that Dragon Ball FighterZ is an outstanding achievement and might just be one of the best fighting games ever made.

*For a more in-depth look at Dragon Ball FighterZ and other games, please visit Impulse Gamer*

Gameplay

Now, I don’t know a great deal about the Dragon Ball series. I’ve never watched an episode or spent any time with the games. I have however played numerous fighters throughout my years as a gamer, and although it isn’t one of my favourite genres, I still hold the Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Tekken series’ in high regard.

That said, what always dissuaded me from immersing myself in most fighting games was their control schemes. I always found learning a multitude of different moves and combos for every fighter on a roster tedious, and demoralising. That’s not to say I’m afraid of a challenge; it’s just I’ve never adored a fighting game enough to spend a substantial amount of time with it.

Thanks to easy to learn but difficult to master controls, Dragon Ball FighterZ, changes my attitude towards the fighting genre entirely. This gorgeous, frantic, three-on-three fighting extravaganza is uncomplicated, therefore extremely accessible to newcomers. Although it’s true the controls are straightforward to learn, overall, FighterZ still offers a versatile experience.

A sizeable roster of twenty-four characters from the Dragon Ball universe is all here, most of which have similar moves making it easy to swap between them while in combat. In regards to the fighting mechanics, they are responsive and smooth and look exceptionally cool when in motion; especially when you successfully pull off a devasting combo.

The Story Mode is the ideal introduction to the control scheme as this is where you’ll learn all the tutorials and get to grips with the mechanics. Clocking in at a satisfactory ten hours, the plot consists of some troublesome clones running amok and a new character called Android 21.

To be honest, as a newbie to the Dragon Ball series, some of the humour was lost on me since I didn’t know the characters well enough to appreciate the camaraderie between them. That said, Goku and all of the other prominent Dragon Ball personalities are here so I’m sure fans of the series will cherish the story. Furthermore, even though I came into the game relatively ignorant, I thoroughly enjoyed fighting my way through the campaign and also laughed out loud on several occasions.

Despite the Story Mode providing a decent enough challenge, it’s the Arcade Mode that presents the toughest test of your ability. This is where you can try out your skills against other AI controlled fighters. A grade is assigned after each match which determines the path you take and your upcoming opponents’ difficulty. Keep winning in style, and you’re on your way up the high path; perform poorly, and you’ll find yourself on the low path. Even after confidently completing the Story Mode, I’m average at best, so plodding along down the middle path was where I spent most of my time.

Another way to spend some time with Dragon Ball FighterZ is in the lobby where you and your pre-selected Dragon Ball character can interact with other players and navigate to areas devoted to the story, arcade and online modes. Although naturally not as fluid as the fast-paced action you’ll find offline; online play performs relatively soundly. Lastly, you can purchase stickers and emojis from loot boxes with in-game currency which you can earn playing all of the above modes.

Graphics / Audio

Not only have developers Arc System Works done a splendid job with the fighting mechanics; FighterZ’s visual presentation is just as dazzling. Thanks to the breakneck action, a multitude of colours burst off the screen at once. So much so, that at times, concentrating when in combat becomes somewhat of a challenge. Nevertheless, while playing the game in its early stages, I couldn’t help but keep taking screenshot after screenshot. Although this meant I lost a lot of battles; at least I got some eye-catching pictures for my PS4 capture gallery!

Notably, FighterZ‘s art style looks identical to the TV show, so fans are in for a real treat. Additionally, the cutscenes play out smoothly with the option of English or Japanese voiceovers available for selection.

Final Thoughts

Predominantly, what I take from my experience with Dragon Ball FighterZ is a new found appreciation for the fighting genre. Aside from the classics like Mortal Kombat, I was never a huge fan of games of this ilk. However, I can honestly say that this frantic 2-D fighter is so captivating, that I can see myself spending a hell of a lot of time with it in the upcoming months.

Indeed, before playing FighterZ, I knew absolutely nothing about the Dragon Ball series. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the story so I can only imagine how fans of the franchise will react to the visual beauty and over-the-top mayhem. While the controls are easy to get to grips with, it still provides a tough challenge. In particular, the frustrations I had progressing in the Arcade Mode are a prime example of how difficult mastering FighterZ is.

So, with that said, ending this review with a quote from Atari founder Nolan Bushnell seems fitting: “All the best games are easy to learn and difficult to master”.

A famous videogaming motto that for me, sums up Dragon Ball FighterZ perfectly.

Score: 4.5 / 5

Game Details

Primary Format – PlayStation 4 (Reviewed)
Game Genre – Fighting
Rating – PG
Game Developer – Arc System Works
Game Publisher – Bandai Namco Entertainment
Reviewer – James Coles

Shadow of the Colossus Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 06:22:00 +0000

Keep on Climbin' - 4.6 / 5

Initially released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and then re-released in high definition six years later on the PlayStation 3; Shadow of the Colossus returns to Sony’s latest console for a third outing courtesy of developers Bluepoint Games.

Now, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about one of the greatest games ever made getting a facelift for the PlayStation 4. After all, even though some twelve years have passed since it first graced our screens, we can now enjoy this work of art in all the glory of dynamic 4K.

And although the visual splendour alone is enough to warrant a purchase of this timeless classic; the emotionally investing story fused with the gorgeous soundtrack elevates Shadow of the Colossus alongside some of the PS4’s best games.

In fact, when you consider the already extensive catalogue of outstanding titles available on the PS4, it’s quite an achievement that Shadow of the Colossus deserves a place among them.

Read More...

Football Manager 2018 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 07:09:00 +0000

Addictive as Ever - 4.4 / 5

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about past Football Manager games is just how addictive they are.
While I haven't spent much time with the series in recent years, in the late ’90s and early ’00s, sitting in front of my PC chasing virtual glory was how I spent the majority of my weekends. As I longed to become football's most famous gaffer, the weekends stretched into weeks and weeks into months. In fact, I spent so much time playing these games that I am pretty sure the only moments I was away from the computer was when I was at school. (No smartphones back then!)

Although reminiscing about these games brings back some fond memories, it's frightening how many hours I spent playing each one. So with that in mind, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little apprehensive when the opportunity to review Football Manager 2018 came my way. However, once I got my hands on a copy of FM18, it didn't take long for my apprehension to subside. Moreover, although it is not my favourite, (that accolade goes to Championship Manager 01/02), Sports Interactive's latest effort is still as engrossing as ever.

*For a more in-depth review of Football Manager 2018 and other great games, check out Impulse Gamer!*

Gameplay

Now, the first thing you are going to notice about Football Manager 2018 is the disorientating user interface. For veterans of the series, this is part and parcel of the experience, but I can see how beginners might shy away from learning all the ins and outs. However, while the sheer amount of data on the screen can be quite daunting at first, by sticking with it, you will soon get to grips with the UI.

And once you are accustomed to the layout, it is time to prepare your squad for the upcoming season. Whether it be organising your team, tactics or set-piece routines, the fundamentals of Football Manager 2018 are the same as before.

While there are more tactics on offer, a new feature sees a change to match planning. Now you can organise your team on a game-by-game basis aided by sports scientists and data analysts. These members of your back-room staff provide detailed information on your squad and the opposition which is particularly useful when your next game is against a superior opponent, and you are struggling to figure out how to nullify their attacking threat. Now, onto this year's most significant inclusion. Like previous instalments, Sports Interactive has once again expanded the number of players and staff and while increasing the size of the database is not anything special, this year, players now have a personality. This feature, called ‘Dynamics’, sees players split into social groups, which determines your team's morale. For instance, selling a favourite player, or failing to look after an area of your team can lead to losing the dressing room which, unfortunately, only has one outcome – losing your job. (A stint as a pundit for Sky Sports is not a feature yet) … As for the transfer market itself, not much has changed about how it operates. You can still send scouts to all corners of the globe and hope that they unearth some hidden gems. That said, scout reports now include a comprehensive list of pros and cons for each target so you can be more meticulous when deciding whom to buy. The last notable new inclusion to Football Manager 2018 is the ‘Medical Centre’ where you can investigate player injuries, which helps you to identify what's causing specific issues and alter training methods to prevent them from reoccurring.

Visual / Audio

Indeed, much of your time playing Football Manager 2018 will involve staring at walls of text for hours on end. Roughly 95% of the game is scrolling through pages of data, in search of new players and changing tactics. The remaining 5%? Well, that's for match day, where FM18's graphical engine beats all previous entries in the series.

Watching a game looks clearer thanks to the new graphics system which allows for more elegant textures, lighting and motion capture. These sleeker visuals are thanks, in part, to Total War Developers Total Assembly who helped build the new engine for Sports Interactive.

While these sharper visuals will please Football Manager enthusiasts, I still prefer the 2D setup, where 22 circles whizz around a flat pitch. Of course, that is just my personal preference as I prefer the simpler days of the early 2000s. Hell, I’d even go as far to say that I would be happy with a box of text that flashes the word ‘GOAL’, like what was on offer in the late ’90s!

Final Thoughts

All-in-all, Football Manager 2018 is as addictive as ever. Packed with a plethora of options and tactics to choose from, it immerses you into the world of football management like never before. Quite Simply, unless you are up to date with your coaching badges, Sports Interactive's latest effort is the closest you will get to becoming a managerial messiah.

So, if you are passionate about football and you fancy yourself as a bit of a José Mourinho, then Football Manager 2018 deserves a place in your collection.

Gameplay - 4/5

Graphics - 3.5/5

Audio - 4/5

Value - 5/5

Overall - 4.4/5

Game Details

Primary Format: PC (reviewed)

Game Genre: Sports
Rating: G
Game Developer: Sports Interactive
Game Publisher: Sega
Reviewer: James Coles

Middle-earth: Shadow of War Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 05:53:00 +0000

Plenty of Fun - 4.4 / 5

As an enthusiast of the open-world genre, I was pretty excited to get my hands on Middle-earth: Shadow of War. The first instalment in the Lord of the Rings spinoff was a surprising success back in 2014, with critics and fans heaping praise upon its excellent combat mechanics and distinctive characters. Much like its predecessor, Shadow of War is a game of gargantuan proportions; a vast open-world adventure full of monsters all eager to kill you off.

While the last decade has seen games of this ilk improve with bigger maps and better graphics, Shadow of Mordor‘s Nemesis System was, in my opinion, the most innovative idea brought to the open-world genre in the last ten years. Although it’s surprising other RPG’s haven’t gone down the route of creating their own type of Nemesis System, pleasingly, it returns in Shadow of War; bigger and more enthralling than ever.

*For a more in-depth review and news on Shadow of Mordor, please visit Impulse Gamer*

To summarise, the Nemesis System consists of multiple Uraks all of which have their own persona. As you take control of the protagonist Talion and fight your way through Sauron’s army, each Orc will react to your actions, usually resulting in a violent confrontation which either party can initiate at any time. Kill an Orc and another will slide into his place, lose to one, and that Orc will gain recognition. Primarily, the Nemesis System operates much the same as it did in Shadow of Mordor with endless possibilities creating a unique gaming experience.

Exploiting a soldiers’ strength and weakness is extremely satisfying, and like Shadow of Mordor, it didn’t take me long to build rivalries among Sauron’s army. In fact, in the early stages of the game, as I sought-after a warlord to beat to a bloody pulp, I was the victim of an ambush by an Orc commander. Like me, he was also on the prowl but merely seeking to butcher me to gain recognition among his fellow troops.

Although I survived this particular assault, when you do succumb to defeat on the battlefield, the rivalry isn’t over, as the Orc that beats you becomes more powerful. Consequently, if you’re anything like me, you’ll then scour the realms of Middle-earth on the warpath to bring him and his followers to their knees. Alternatively, if you don’t fancy doing the dirty work yourself, you can always brand an enemy captain which allows you to control their mind and trick them into fighting for you.

It's fair to say, with the possibility of building so many rivalries that differ each time you jump into its world, Shadow of War's Nemesis System feels like a game unto itself; a thoroughly engaging feature that I can happily fight my way through while semi-neglecting the real storyline.

Speaking of story, once again you take control of Talion and his elf-wraith buddy Celebrimbor as they forge a new ring and marauder through Middle-earth killing Orcs and goblins while helping a few noble people along the way. At least, that’s what I presume they’re doing, the story is a bit confusing, and so I found myself not caring a great deal as I preoccupied my time annihilating Uraks and riding Caragors up the side of buildings.

Ultimately, Shadow of War‘s plot is a bombastic tale and slightly nonsensical. Although the Nemesis System alone is engaging enough, the story just isn’t as gripping as it was in Shadow of Mordor, maybe because by the time you start Shadow of War, your emotional attachment to Talion isn’t as strong. The opening scenes in the original game saw Talion’s wife and son butchered while he (Talion) gets his throat slit. Now, that’s a pretty morbid start to any story but this sad moment helps build a meaningful rapport between the player and Talion. This time, the story isn’t as emotionally hard-hitting making it feel slightly less significant overall.

However, there’s plenty of side quests to keep you busy with each mission jumping from region to region. Some of these tasks are mundane, such as ‘purifying’ Haedir towers so you can gaze across your surroundings and uncover different types of collectables. While others are engaging, like the “Shadows of the Past” quests where you take control of Celebrimbor in missions which can yield extra experience, skills and equipment to use.
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As you progress through Shadow of War, you’ll earn skill points and unlock new weapons and armour. This area of the game is more in-depth than the original, with plenty of new combat moves available to master. In regards to the fighting mechanics, the developers’ rightly opted for the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach with the outstanding Batman Arkham series’ style of combat returning to the mix.

Now, to be honest, I didn’t want to go into great detail about the microtransactions in Shadow of War, but unfortunately, it’s difficult not to. After you complete the main quest, you enter a phase called “The Shadow Wars” where enemies attempt to overrun your defences and conquer your fortress.

Consisting of ten missions, this part of the game is kinda gruelling, and your army is likely to suffer multiple casualties. Therefore the game offers you the option to purchase items such as captains to man your fort or new gear for Talion. Ultimately, the choice is yours – grind it out or buy some upgrades. Mainly, it just depends on how quickly you want to unlock a little bit more of the story.

Graphics / Audio

Visually, Shadow of War isn’t the prettiest open-world RPG in the market with muddy textures plaguing most of the game. Possibly, because so many things are happening on-screen at once, the graphics suffer slightly, but that’s not to say that it’s an ugly game to look at. All-in-all, aesthetically, Shadow of War isn’t exceptional, although the score – most notably the pianos and violins – is pleasing to the ear.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a fan of the Lord of the Rings mythology, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Middle-earth games don’t compliment the lore of the books. Spawned from a series of epic fantasy novels, this loud, insane, adrenaline-filled open-world adventure certainly isn’t true to the works of author J.R.R. Tolkien.

Perhaps you might slap your forehead in dismay by the goofy plot or looseness to the source material but what’s undeniable is, that Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a lot of fun.

Gameplay - 4.5/5
Graphics - 4/5
Audio - 4.5/5
Value - 4.5/5
Overall - 4.4/5

Game Details

Primary Format: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, PC, Android

Game Genre: RPG
Rating: MA15+
Game Developer: Monolith Productions
Game Publisher: Warner Bros.
Reviewer: James Coles

PES 2018 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 07:11:00 +0000

The best in the series to date - 4.6 / 5

The Pro Evolution Soccer series deserves a lot of credit. Standing toe-to-toe with EA’s behemoth FIFA franchise is no small feat, and yet, each year, Konami manages to deliver a football simulation that may not rival its competitor in sales figures but certainly gives it a run for its money on the pitch.

Ultimately, it doesn’t take long to notice that PES 2018 is an improvement over its predecessor. While Konami hasn't torn the mechanics of last year’s effort to shreds; subtle enhancements to AI etiquette and faster, more responsive controls, makes PES 2018 a cracking football game.

*For a more in-depth review, please visit Impulse Gamer*

Gameplay

Essentially, PES 2018 plays at a slower pace than last year’s entry, making passing and shooting more satisfying. This steadier tempo means there’s more weight to each pass you play and extra venom behind every strike on goal you attempt. Successfully pinging balls from one side of the pitch to the other is immensely gratifying and looks tremendous, especially when the recipient adjusts his body to bring the ball under control.

Not only does it feel authentic, but it also appears remarkably natural. This, in part, is thanks to the Real Touch+ system which considers aspects such as weight, angle and where the ball is travelling from to determine how a player alters his body to collect a pass. The end result is exceptionally life-like, especially when launching a counter-attack from deep with one dazzling pass.

In addition to improvements to the passing and shooting mechanics; dribbling is tighter, making it easier to beat a man down the touch-line and deliver a devastating cross. Coincidentally, it was when I first met an inch-perfect cross with a thumping header where I noticed how flamboyant the goalkeepers are this year. While PES 2017 saw behavioural enhancements in the ‘keeper department, this year you’ll see saves that even Gordon Banks would be proud of. Sure, these wonder saves will prevent you from scoring, but boy do they look spectacular.

Aside from enhancements to the goalkeeper AI, defensive units as a whole operate intelligently, with defenders sensibly identifying threats and cutting out through balls effortlessly. While this makes it harder to fashion chances, it also means that in PES 2018, you must now carefully consider when to attempt a defence-splitting pass.

At the other end, attackers who like to play on the shoulder like Agüero, are a nightmare to track and consistently keep you on your toes. A pacy forward like Aubameyang requires particular attention, mark him too tight, and he’ll turn you with ease, and an all-rounder like Kane is a real handful as he can hurt you anywhere near the 18-yard box. Defending these threats is always a challenge, although, on the flip side, if you have one of these world-class strikers in your team and play to their strengths, you can inflict some real damage to the opposition.

In regards to modes, Master League, Become a Legend and MyClub are all here as are the licensed Champions and Europa Leagues. New to PES 2018 is the return of Random Selection mode, where the game randomly assembles teams that meet your specifications. For example, you can set parameters such as playing with only English players and the game will randomly create two groups that match your criteria. Additionally, new modes include online 11 Vs 11, 2 Vs 2 and 3 Vs 3 co-op.

Graphics / Audio

Alas, we now reach the not so positive characteristics of PES 2018. While this year’s effort is graphically the sharpest in the series, there are still areas of the game that could use a polish.

Firstly, the menus still look incredibly drab, as does the ‘Game Plan’ screen which is a shame since, with the number of tactics available, you’ll be spending more time tweaking your teams’ style of play than ever before. Also, with Jim Beglin on commentary, Konami has one of the better commentators in football. And so, it’s frustrating that once again the script is threadbare and poorly written – Peter Drury’s “I’m ready to rock” is one of the more cringier lines.

Now, although my criticisms may seem harsh, the reason I’m airing these grievances is that they are all avoidable. Indeed, it’s unfair to condemn PES for having phoney names or a lack of competitions as it doesn’t have FIFA licensing. However, the menus aren’t unsightly, and the commentary isn’t inadequate because of licensing issues. Sadly, nuisances like these plague the PES series every year and while I can forgive the lack of authenticity, it’s disappointing Konami didn’t put a gloss on these particular aspects of the game to give it an extra shine.

Nonetheless, it’s not all doom and gloom in the presentation department. Both the Camp Nou and Westfalenstadion stadiums look sublime as does several of the top clubs’ star names. Lastly, with player animations looking exceptionally life-like, there are times, on the pitch at least, where PES 2018 is visually striking.

Final Thoughts

Overall, what PES 2018 lacks in authenticity, it more than makes up for in gameplay. Bettering its predecessor on the pitch, PES 2018 is another fantastic entry in the series.

Gameplay - 5/5
Graphics - 4/5
Audio - 4/5
Value - 4.5/5
Overall 4.6/5

FIFA 18 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 06:54:00 +0000

Goooal! - 4.6 / 5

Last year, FIFA 17 was the best-selling game on the PlayStation 4 with over 10 million units sold worldwide. Not only did it perform exceptionally well on the PlayStation, across all platforms, only Pokemon Sun/Moon on the 3DS sold more copies.

Without a doubt, the FIFA franchise is huge, and while EA Sports know that they’re likely to top the sales charts each year, I’m happy to report that with FIFA 18, they are not resting on their laurels. Thanks to subtle improvements to the gameplay, as well as new features in the ‘Career Mode’, this year’s FIFA is EA’s most complete entry in the series to date.

*For a more in-depth look at FIFA 18, please visit Impulse Gamer*

Gameplay

FIFA 18 grabs your attention from the very first whistle, dropping you into an intense Madrid derby, as you take control of Cristiano Ronaldo standing over a free kick with the scores tied at one apiece. From there, you play the remaining 30 minutes or so, as the game susses out your skill level. While it’s easy to spot the superb atmospherics, this introduction is also where you will notice how FIFA 18 betters its predecessor in the gameplay department.

Firstly, improvements to the dribbling and crossing mechanics are clearly recognisable, especially in 1v1 situations. Travelling with the ball feels more fluid with crossing looking much more realistic than it was last year. This, in part, is thanks to the ‘Real Player Motion Technology’ which helps FIFA 18 appear much more natural. Player’s move and react to certain situations in a manner which is closer to representing real life football than it was in FIFA 17.

As a huge football fan, I’m fascinated to see how EA replicates a team’s tactics as a whole. For example, does Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool set up to aggressively press their opponents or do Manchester City utilise the pace of their two wing-backs. Pleasingly, although not perfectly, FIFA 18 reproduces both of these styles. Though one may argue that this was true of FIFA 17 and to a degree, previous instalments in the series, the 2017/2018 season is still in its infancy, and where Liverpool play a similar way to last season, Man City’s tactical approach is slightly different with FIFA 18 mimicking it rather well.

This attention to detail also stretches to individual players. While it would be impossible to uniquely program thousands of footballers individually, the more significant, as well as some lesser-known players, have their own unique style of play. Of course, Ronaldo and Messi play like their real-life counterparts, but it’s refreshing to see someone like Matt Ritchie behave similarly to real life.

Although not a bad thing, the differences between FIFA’s 17 and 18 regarding AI behaviour adapting during a match is less noticeable. Games are slow and play out similarly to FIFA 17, with an emphasis on possession being the key to unlock defences. However, one welcome change I found is how teams react to falling a goal or two behind.

One gripe I have about FIFA games is how the AI responds to conceding early on. Teams tend to go kamikaze, prematurely piling men forward leaving gaps in the defence. This behaviour is typical in the latter stages of a real match but not early on. With FIFA 18, teams do seem less partial to keep throwing men forward nonsensically when falling behind, now only doing so when the time is running out, or the possibility of a comeback is likely.

The quick substitution feature is a welcome addition. Quite simply, as a match nears its conclusion, pressing the R2 button brings up a small box where you can substitute a tiring player with a positional like-for-like replacement instead of pausing the game.

Finally, the set-piece system remains from FIFA 17, and although initially, I wasn’t a fan of it last year, over the course of the previous 12 months, my appreciation for it grew, and I find myself happy to see its inclusion this year.

Modes

The Journey: Hunter Returns

Alex Hunter’s journey continues in the aptly named ‘The Journey: Hunter Returns’. If you played the first part, then you can import your save file from FIFA 17 but if you didn’t, do not fret as it isn’t imperative that you have.

In brief, Alex’s story continues up the footballing ladder and in much the same vein as last year, to improve Alex’s attributes you must meet the objectives set out by the coach before each match like scoring a certain number of goals or providing assists.

Without mentioning spoilers, in-between matches is the drama of Alex’s personal life, which unfolds not only by your actions on the pitch but the decisions you take off it. Additionally, a new feature to ‘The Journey: Hunter Returns’ allows you to change Alex’s appearance such as hairstyles and tattoos so not only can you play through The Journey acting like a fool, you can now make Alex look like one.

It’s fair to say I found the second instalment of The Journey more interesting than the first. There was more substance to the story, and I felt like I had control over Alex’s destiny.

Overall, ‘The Journey: Hunter Returns’ builds on last year’s instalment, and although it won’t be the focal point (nor should it be) of FIFA 18, it is a welcome feature which should keep you busy for roughly ten hours.

Career Mode

Unquestionably, the most prominent attraction of FIFA games is ‘FIFA Ultimate Team’ (FUT) but for me, ‘Career Mode’ is my bread and butter.

This year’s newest feature for ‘Career Mode’ is the introduction of cutscenes for negotiating player transfer fees and wages. Selecting various options via a dialogue wheel, such as initial transfer fee or bonuses after a select number of games, certainly adds a new flavour to the transfer system but whether or not this is what was missing from previous career mode’s remains a moot point.

At first, discussing transfer fees or negotiating contract extensions is intriguing but unfortunately, it’s also immensely repetitive, and it wasn’t long before I longed for the faster scribbling pen of previous FIFA’s. That said, I do like the added stipulations to contracts and how signing reinforcements for your team are now slightly more complicated.

Aside from the transfer system, there are no significant differences in the ‘Career Mode’. The menus are the same, the emails from board members and players are identical, and training is still a mundane necessity to improve player attributes in-between matches. Although, thankfully, the option to simulate training drills is always there.

For fans of ‘FIFA Ultimate Team’, it does exactly what you will have come to expect. Lastly, online play seems to perform soundly with no issues to report with connectivity so far.

Graphics / Audio

It goes without saying (although I say it every year) that the latest FIFA is graphically superior to last year’s effort. Indeed, it was FIFA 17 that saw EA implement the Frostbite System for the first time, clearly distinguishing the visuals from its predecessor, FIFA 16. Although FIFA 18 is a graphical improvement on 17, its superiority is less stark this time around.

Finally, with beautiful visuals and Martin Tyler and Alan Smith both being on top form in the commentary department, FIFA 18 is as aesthetically pleasing as one could hope for.

Final Thoughts

FIFA 18 does enough to better its predecessor thanks to new player animations and improvements to the gameplay. Although repetitive, the revamped transfer system is intriguing and part two of Alex’s story in ‘The Journey: Hunter Returns’ makes FIFA 18 the best in the series to date.

Gameplay - 4/5
Graphics - 5/5
Audio - 4.5/5
Value - 5/5
Overall - 4.6/5

Elite Dangerous PS4 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 09:02:00 +0000

Worth experiencing - 4 / 5

Carl Sagan once said: "Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere'.

With a universe consisting of billions of stars and planets, we're a long way off from visiting the far reaches of outer space. Although that's true in reality, Elite Dangerous may be the closest thing we'll get to experiencing interstellar travel. Frontier Developments' space-trading sim is a giant online game that lets you explore a rendition of the Milky Way Galaxy, while also giving you plenty of opportunities to set your imagination free.

There is a story of sorts to Elite Dangerous, but you can approach the game in several ways. Primarily you can play as a trader, a pirate or a bounty hunter. The best way to figure out what path you want to take before heading out to the far depths of the galaxy is to visit space stations and view lists of players with bounties on their heads or rare materials that you can mine and sell at a later date.

*For a more in-depth review, please visit Impulse Gamer*

To be honest, the first few hours playing Elite Dangerous were brutal. I spent a significant amount of time going through the training programs which are there to help you become familiar with the basics such as flying, docking, jumping and combat. Suffice to say, although there are tutorials to help you get to grips with the game, Elite Dangerous doesn't hold your hand. Understanding its mechanics was a tedious and occasionally frustrating exercise. That said, with a little patience I became comfortable with the controls, and while not being James T. Kirk, I was able to become a semi-competent captain and was ready to head out into the stars.

Ultimately, the goal is to make enough money to improve your ship with a plethora of upgrades, but before you do, there are specific factors to bear in mind. For example, for every internal component you install, you'll add weight and mass to your ship which in turn affects its jump range. Another example is the life-support system which is responsible for the air you breathe.

If your hull is breached during combat, you'll only have a certain amount of time before you'll run out of oxygen so upgrading this component is vital as you start to venture further out into the cosmos. Admittedly, there's an abundance of criteria to digest and much like the controls it can be daunting at first, but overall it doesn't take too long to learn all the ins and outs.

As for exploring, the galaxy map shows you each star system and their distances. In most cases, you'll be travelling for thousands of light-years which mean there are moments in-between moving to each destination where you'll be relying on your imagination to fill in the gaps.

Aside from voyaging to stars and planets, you can travel to unidentified signals which may be anything from wanted criminals with sizeable bounties on their heads or other players passing through the same system as you. It's these random encounters that make the mundane moments of Elite Dangerous tolerable. Being the bounty hunter and engaging in a space battle with another player is extremely fun as is playing the pirate and attacking other players to steal their cargo.

Lastly, with a gargantuan map stretching for thousands of light-years, it's not only other explorers that inhabit the galaxy. While it's possible to see aliens during your time out in the vastness of space, whether or not you do so is entirely by chance.

Graphics and Audio

With stars that stretch light-years in all directions, nebulas that are a nest of vibrant colours and massive, complex planets that jump from the screen, Elite Dangerous is gorgeous to look at. Indeed, if you're a stargazer, then you will appreciate what is on offer here, as Frontier Developments representation of the Milky Way Galaxy oozes style. The sound design is also top-notch, complementing the visuals making the experience of traversing through each solar system utterly engrossing.

Final Thoughts

Everyone will have a different experience with Elite Dangerous and so, summing this space sim up is tricky. For me, open-world games are my favourite genre, so I'm comfortable letting my imagination fill in any gaps. I had a blast travelling through the galaxy, discovering new star systems and hunting space pirates with little more than a 'trial and error' mentality. Sure, learning the controls was frustrating, and boredom crept in when transiting from one system to another but overall the thrill of exploration and discovery dwarf any grievances I have with the game.

On the flip side, it isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially if you're looking for instant action or a direct playing experience. That said, with a little patience, and a bit of imagination, Elite Dangerous is a gratifying game that is worth experiencing.

Graphics: 4.5/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Audio: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

Movies You May Have Missed! - Gattaca (1997)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 17:28:00 +0000

"There is no gene for the human spirit."

Director: Andrew Niccol
Written by: Andrew Niccol
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, Uma Thurman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Release: October 24, 1997
Origin: United States
Genre: Science Fiction

"For someone not meant for this world, I must confess, I'm suddenly having a hard time leaving it. Of course, they say every atom in our bodies was once a part of a star. Maybe I'm not leaving; maybe I'm going home."

Released in October 1997, Gattaca was written and directed by New Zealander Andrew Niccol. In what was Niccol's debut film, it received extremely positive feedback from critics. Though the film wasn't a smash at the box office, it has become somewhat of a cult classic. If you like your sci-fi intelligently written, with excellent acting and beautiful cinematography, then you'll find that watching Gattaca is as rewarding as it is intriguing.
The plot of Gattaca is set the not too distant future, where humans are judged by their biometrics to determine what kind of social class they are categorised in. Doctors are able to diagnose any genetic defects or potential issues a child will have before they're born. If a person is likely to develop a deficiency or disease at any stage of their life, they are known as "invalid". If a child is born with the aid of genetic selection, to eradicate any 'faults' within their DNA and genetic makeup, they are known as a "valid". Valid's are in the highest class of society, they get the better jobs, and are generally viewed as superior humans than those who are born as invalids. Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), has dreamed of journeying to the stars since he was a young boy. The problem for Vincent is that he was born naturally, with the probability of developing specific genetic defects in his lifetime thus rendering him as an invalid.

Specifically, Vincent wants to be part of the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, and travel to Titan. Every time he has an interview with the company he is turned away. Just a simple blood or urine test is enough for them to find out that he's invalid and unsuitable to be trained as an astronaut. While working as a cleaner at Gattaca, Vincent learns that there is a way to fake blood and urine tests, but he will have to change his identity and meet a valid that is willing to give him their identity.

Enter Jerome Morrow (Jude Law). A "perfect genetic specimen" who has been rendered paralysed after a car accident several years prior. He agrees to help vincent by letting him have his identity, and by providing essentials such as blood, and urine so Vicent can pass the frequent scanning and DNA testing at Gattaca. Vincent also has to alter his appearance during a painful procedure, and soon becomes the spitting image of Jerome.

After being hired by Gattaca, Vincent is vigilant throughout his training and performs at an exceptional level until one of the high-ranking administrators is brutally murdered. As the police sweep the crime scene, one of Vincent's eyelashes is found, and the hunt for an invalid imposter begins meaning Vincent's secret is in danger of being revealed.

So what makes this film so good?

Gattaca highlights several controversial subjects and raises interesting questions about genetic engineering, and what lengths a man will go to so he can achieve his dream. The universe of Gattaca is such that discrimination still exists but is no longer determined by details such as skin colour, or gender. Your DNA determines what you can do in the eyes of society. It's an exciting concept and one that could very well come true in the future.

Ethan Hawke's portrayal as Vincent is brilliant, especially how he manages to radiate his character's desperation to travel to the stars. Jude Law also does an excellent job as Jerome, a self-destructing alcoholic who has all but given up on life after struggling to come to terms with his accident. Uma Thurman also puts in a solid performance as Irene Cassini, a co-worker of Vincent and eventual love interest.

The two lead performances are superb, but the plaudits must be given to director Niccol. If it weren't for his smart script that raises so many thought-provoking questions, then I certainly wouldn't still be thinking about the film days after watching it.

Should humans be messing with genetics? What are the repercussions of altering nature?

These two questions are only a snippet of what Gattaca asks you. And with the film being made nearly 20 years ago, the questions asked then are more relevant now than ever before.

WipEout: Omega Collection Review - A gravity defying joyride

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 07:43:00 +0000

Worth the wait - 4.5 / 5

Wipeout and PlayStation go hand in hand. Since 1995, this adrenaline-fuelled futuristic racer features on all of Sony's consoles and although we've had to wait a little longer to see a Wipeout game grace the PlayStation 4, the delay has been worth it.

WipEout: Omega Collection includes all the content from three previous instalments in the series: WipEout 2048, WipEout HD and WipEout Fury. In total, there's 26 reversible circuits, 46 ships and of course, a bunch of pulsating tunes. With nine game modes, including Single Race, Speed Lap, Detonator and online/offline multiplayer, there's plenty of depth to keep you busy.

*For an indepth review of WipEout: Omega Collection, please visit Impulse Gamer*

Eliminator mode is a personal favourite of mine, where the objective is not to win the race but merely cause other opponents damage using a variety of different weapons. And while it's fair to say that most Wipeout veterans have probably played these three games until their eyes have melted, it doesn't mean that this latest instalment, isn't worthy addition to the series. If anything, experiencing Wipeout on the PlayStation 4, in HD, (especially 4k), gives it a new lease of life.

Indeed, although the visuals are quite stunning, the thing I like the most about WipEout: Omega Collection is the nostalgia it induces. Not only does the soundtrack take me back to my teens where I was throwing shapes on the dance floor like a legend (at least I think I was), it also reminds me about the times I went head-to-head against my friends in split-screen multiplayer 22 years ago! Sure, I'm a little older now, and my mates are different, but I like to think that after two decades I'm a bit better at handling corners!

Graphics & Audio

With eye-popping visuals, supersonic gameplay and a pumping soundtrack, it's no surprise that WipeOut: Omega Collection looks fantastic on the PlayStation 4. Although both HD and Fury were already well put together on the PlayStation 3, unsurprisingly, it's Vita's WipEout 2048 that looks the slickest out of the three games. As for the audio, an array of new, and remastered '90s tunes compliment the gameplay and sound better than ever.

Final Thoughts

The thing that sets Wipeout: Omega Collection apart from racing games of today is that it doesn't take itself seriously during a time where some racing games are beginning to do so more regularly. Wipeout is silly, it always has been, but that's the beauty of this gravity-defying joyride. Every time Sony releases their latest console, I eagerly anticipate the release of a new Wipeout game to accompany it. Although this time it's taken a while for this iconic racer to get an update to next-gen, WipEout: Omega Collection has been worth the wait.

Overall: 4.5/5
Gameplay: 4.5
Graphics: 4.5
Audio: 5
Value: 4.5

Game Details

Primary Format: PlayStation 4 (reviewed)
Game Genre: Racing
Rating: G

FIFA 17 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 04:40:00 +0000

More of the same - 4.4 / 5

With the introduction of a new game mode called The Journey and a graphical overhaul thanks to the Frostbite engine, does FIFA 17 take the crown as this year’s best football game?

As mentioned in my PES 2017 review; I’ve been able to try both games. In short, FIFA 17 is the best-looking football game ever made. However, that doesn’t mean that EA Sports' latest is the king of the virtual pitch...

*For a more in-depth look at FIFA 17, check out the review at Impulse Gamer*

Gameplay

Gameplay wise, FIFA 17 is very similar last year’s instalment. Matches are slow, with retaining the ball through quick passing being the easiest way to unlock defences. Defensively, the AI still suffers from crazy behaviour, but for the most part, it performs competently. Goalkeepers are harder to beat, with some of the world’s best capable of pulling off spectacular saves. Lastly, shooting feels better, with finesse and chip shots looking more natural.

On the other hand, the penalty and set-piece system has changed and unfortunately, not for the better. Penalties now require you to push the analogue stick up to run to the ball and then move it in the direction you want the ball to go. Corners now include a precision marker that is a nightmare to use and makes corner kicks appear unusual. On the whole, I’m not entirely sure what these new systems bring to the table and personally, I’m not a fan of either.

Modes – The Journey

The Journey is the newest inclusion to the FIFA series, which sees you play as Alex Hunter, a 17-year-old youth player trying to make it in the Premier League. Sandwiched in-between games are training sessions (something I hated in FIFA 16) and cutscenes that show the trials and tribulations Alex goes through including his relationships with his family and friends.

Now, this story mode is fun, and it’s nice to finally see it in a football game, but it doesn’t quite work as well as it does in games like the NBA2K series. The problem I found with The Journey is that I never really felt like I was in control of my destiny. Although you can decide what Alex says, or how he performs on the pitch, ultimately, a similar story will happen for everyone. That said, The Journey is engaging enough, though, it isn’t something you’ll play more than once. Of course, FIFA 17’s longevity exists with the Ultimate Team (FUT) and Career Modes with the former receiving an overhaul including new challenges and objectives.

Presentation

It’s fair to say that the FIFA series visually improves every year and thanks to the Frostbite engine, FIFA 17 continues this trend to become the best-looking football game ever made. The photo-realistic player models look better than ever, and the overall matchday experience including the stadiums and pre-match build-up is spot on. Certainly, a match under the floodlights has never looked so slick especially when the rain lashes down courtesy of the dynamic weather system.

However, where FIFA 17 hasn’t built on from last year is in the commentary department. As always, both Martin Tyler and Alan Smith do good jobs, but neither are spectacular. Although this doesn’t spoil the atmospherics of the game, I can’t help but feel that this area is slightly lacking, though, thankfully, EA Sports will be releasing commentary updates throughout the season to keep the game feeling fresh.

Also, it’s becoming the norm for me to mention the EA Trax selected for each FIFA game and how much I love the latest selections. FIFA 17 is no different and includes some excellent tunes that are sure to get stuck in your head for a long time.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, I feel as though FIFA 17 hasn’t significantly improved over last year’s effort. Sure, The Journey adds a new mode to play through, and the graphics look great, but gameplay wise, I don’t see anything majorly different. EA has tweaked areas that didn’t need tweaking. I don’t like the new penalty and set piece system, and the AI still suffer from bouts of strange behaviour. That said, FIFA 17 is an excellent football game that will keep me coming back for more.

After reviewing both FIFA 17 and PES 2017, I think for overall presentation and game modes, FIFA is the best option. However, if you’re looking for the beautiful game, then you’ll find it with PES.

Gameplay - 3.5/5

Graphics - 5/5

Audio - 4.5/5

Value - 4.5/5

Overall - 4.4/5

Game Details

Primary Format – Games – PlayStation 4
Game Genre – Sport
Rating – G
Game Developer – EA Sports
Game Publisher – Electronic Arts