From creators of Little Big Planet comes a fresh new game that uses all of PlayStation Vita's potential including use of it's touchpad and touchscreen controls like a Wii U Gamepad and 3DS. This game is an arts and crafts game just like Little Big Planet and a very great one I must add as the controls feel flexible and amazing plus the use of touchpad is amazing as the mini camera allows what's in front of it to be blended into the game such as having some live action mixed into the game mostly by having it pictured in a ripped frame.
Gameplay is much like a third person platformer with the messenger going on an Odyssey type adventure while encountering enemies called "scraps" on the way which the player defeats by touching touchpad to poke these suckers out while also making some crafts and taking pictures to give things their color back. I never thought of the amazing sorcery and magic of bringing color back with the click of a camera. Tearaway also has PS Vita's motion sensing much like the Wii U Gamepad and gives you the genuine feel you're holding a magic camera. The camera angles are perfect as players will have no frustration when playing.
Plus, watch the effects come at you like they were almost real. I saw a nasty Scrap flung onto the screen and I tapped it to get rid of it. The Graphics look amazing and High Definition. Customization options are amazing and you can't beat the upscale arts and crafts theme of this awesome game. I hope Little Big Planet 3 can have best graphics as Media Molecule(creator of these games) is planning in development a PlayStation 4 game. Let's see if it's Little Big Planet 3!
Final verdict for this awesome game that has left me speechless is a 9.2/10. Points:
+: Flexible controls
+: Amazing overview of gameplay
+: Excellent graphics
Tearaway could very well save PS Vita from disappointing sales.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
3DS Games reviewed for 11/20/13
Lego Friends is a very casual game that is Lego's new franchise, taking you to Heartlake City like a simulation of Utopian teenage girl life. There isn't much for me to say here honestly as gameplay both borrows some mechanics from the LEGO engine used in some of the LEGO Marvel Superheroes games but be very basic sometimes. This is a casual 3DS game that manages to play as not only the teenage girl but also her pets and each can be customized. This game is very consistent with it's theme as it simulate's teenage girl life. Graphics are above average for a 3DS game despite not being the best. The best thing about this game is the character designs are more real than typical Lego characters as LEGO Friends made the characters look more like real people. This game however get boring easily as I started getting bored if you're not the teen simulator kind of player.
Moshi Monsters Katsuma Unleased is a platform game much like Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8 Bit Land and New Super Mario Bros. I did enjoy playing this great platforming game as it not only has jewels to collect and trying enemies to eliminate but also secrets which seem pretty hard to get as you feel like in order to unlock them you must go to previous levels if you missed anything. This game was very well done for a 3DS game and kept in tune with the Moshi Monsters franchise. This game also works well as has different moves such as swinging to eliminate enemies, crawling under tight spaces like Rigby, and even jumping high depending on how you press buttons. While this game is shorter than New Super Mario Bros., Moshi Monsters Katsuma Unleashed does have some boss battles and plays similarly to New Super Mario Bros. The only problems I have is it being hard to find the connectors for rescuing helpless caged creatures.
Moshi Monsters Katsuma Unleased is a platform game much like Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8 Bit Land and New Super Mario Bros. I did enjoy playing this great platforming game as it not only has jewels to collect and trying enemies to eliminate but also secrets which seem pretty hard to get as you feel like in order to unlock them you must go to previous levels if you missed anything. This game was very well done for a 3DS game and kept in tune with the Moshi Monsters franchise. This game also works well as has different moves such as swinging to eliminate enemies, crawling under tight spaces like Rigby, and even jumping high depending on how you press buttons. While this game is shorter than New Super Mario Bros., Moshi Monsters Katsuma Unleashed does have some boss battles and plays similarly to New Super Mario Bros. The only problems I have is it being hard to find the connectors for rescuing helpless caged creatures.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Injustice Gods Among Us review
For Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita, and PlayStation 4. Injustice Gods Among Us is a fighting game like Mortal Combat. I must say this is a thrilling fighting game with dozens of awesome characters and arenas to fight in.
Gameplay is fighting like Mortal Combat, Street Fighter, and Super Smash Bros. and there are countless different fighting moves to kick butt at. You get to play as numerous characters both heroic and villianous including Batman, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, The Joker, Lex Luther, Bane, etc. How awesome are these characters? I really like how this game tried it's best to be an awesome fighting game and definitely not some cheap rip-off of Mortal Combat or Street Fighter. Each character has their own abilities such as Batman's gadgets of robotic bats and grapple and Green Lantern's magical weapons such as green glow mini-gun. Arenas include Batcave, Watchtower, and Fortress of Solitude. The effects of the fighting look stunning as the moves are so real beyond belief. i do feel for jumping that another unused button could have been used instead of being jerked by the left analog stick.
Story is Superman is deceived into killing Lois Lane and unborn son plus destroying Metropolis by the Joker. Superman becomes a tyrant in an alternate timeline as he pits some heroes against other heroes such as Raven and Cyborg vs. Batman and Green Lantern. The story seems so awesome because it makes you wonder why Superman or any other superhero would be an antagonist(s) despite that being in an alternate timeline. Don't you worry Superman fans, the real Superman isn't evil, he just has an evil clone. Joker obtained a nuclear weapon and will use it to kill millions of people in Metropolis and it's unknown if he actually used it for real since both Batman and Joker fight to the death in an alternate universe.
Graphics have an awesome framerate in the next generation systems(Wii U, PS4) and look great as well. The cutscenes however seem to look that of several years ago since though they do have great cinematics they look unpolished. These cutscenes look like they were made in 2008, and this game was released in April 2013. Why can't cutscenes LOOK almost like the graphics of the gameplay?
Injustice Gods Among Us has an Ultimate Edition available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, and PlayStation Vita. This version includes all previously released Downloadable Content including 30 new skins, 6 new characters, and 60 new S.T.A.R. lab missions.
Final verdict for this great game is a 9.3/10. Points made include:
+: Thrilling Gameplay
+: Variety including not just content but gameplay moves
+: Excellent and sharp framerate plus HD graphics
+: Interesting Story
-: Lack of 2013 Cutscene Quality
Gameplay is fighting like Mortal Combat, Street Fighter, and Super Smash Bros. and there are countless different fighting moves to kick butt at. You get to play as numerous characters both heroic and villianous including Batman, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, The Joker, Lex Luther, Bane, etc. How awesome are these characters? I really like how this game tried it's best to be an awesome fighting game and definitely not some cheap rip-off of Mortal Combat or Street Fighter. Each character has their own abilities such as Batman's gadgets of robotic bats and grapple and Green Lantern's magical weapons such as green glow mini-gun. Arenas include Batcave, Watchtower, and Fortress of Solitude. The effects of the fighting look stunning as the moves are so real beyond belief. i do feel for jumping that another unused button could have been used instead of being jerked by the left analog stick.
Story is Superman is deceived into killing Lois Lane and unborn son plus destroying Metropolis by the Joker. Superman becomes a tyrant in an alternate timeline as he pits some heroes against other heroes such as Raven and Cyborg vs. Batman and Green Lantern. The story seems so awesome because it makes you wonder why Superman or any other superhero would be an antagonist(s) despite that being in an alternate timeline. Don't you worry Superman fans, the real Superman isn't evil, he just has an evil clone. Joker obtained a nuclear weapon and will use it to kill millions of people in Metropolis and it's unknown if he actually used it for real since both Batman and Joker fight to the death in an alternate universe.
Graphics have an awesome framerate in the next generation systems(Wii U, PS4) and look great as well. The cutscenes however seem to look that of several years ago since though they do have great cinematics they look unpolished. These cutscenes look like they were made in 2008, and this game was released in April 2013. Why can't cutscenes LOOK almost like the graphics of the gameplay?
Injustice Gods Among Us has an Ultimate Edition available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, and PlayStation Vita. This version includes all previously released Downloadable Content including 30 new skins, 6 new characters, and 60 new S.T.A.R. lab missions.
Final verdict for this great game is a 9.3/10. Points made include:
+: Thrilling Gameplay
+: Variety including not just content but gameplay moves
+: Excellent and sharp framerate plus HD graphics
+: Interesting Story
-: Lack of 2013 Cutscene Quality
PlayStation 4 Released
Just released November 15, 2013, PlayStation 4 has arrived managing to be high definition and stylist too. I've heard that some PS4's may have some hardware problems but it's unlikely those problems will be as bad as the Core Xbox 360 "Red Ring of Death" fiascos. I've played several games on PS4 already and they look more defined graphically than PS3 and Xbox 360.
Hardware looks almost futuristic as it looks appealing. I do scrutinize the power and eject buttons for not feeling like easy buttons to press as these are critical for making the console work such as ejecting discs and turning console on/off. The console's power button turns on/off similar to the newer Xbox 360 models. Sometimes you may find yourself pressing the odd pin thin eject button several times to try and eject the disc. Fortunately, the disc will eject with some patience and there's no problem putting discs in the system. When a game disc is inserted or a digital download is purchased, the game will install to the hard drive and appear on the menu screen, indicated whether or not it's either digital or disc required by an icon of a disc.
Games typically play in 1080p, which has been rare(exception of Wii U) in video game consoles as most PS3 and Xbox 360 games play at no higher than 720p. PS4's typical video output and input for games is 1080p and nearly all games have remote play abilities. What else is new is I haven't seen so much detail in graphics before as comparing the PS4 edition of Assassin's Creed IV to Grand Theft Auto V, the former has a sharper presentation of display, increasing framerate and picture in ways PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are typically unable to do. It would be a shame for there not to be an Ultimate Edition of Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Unfortunately, you can't play games with 4K but you can so with movies, videos, and pictures. But 1080p for games is amazing and makes graphics to having more detail as I would have seen the difference in had I played Dishonored for next-generation consoles compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360 ones.
HDMI is replacing the dinosaur Composite analog video that was the main video input ending with the Nintendo Wii. PlayStation 4 makes the Nintendo Wii look older than the PlayStation 2. The Wii U has officially been set back by the superior PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Wii U, PS4, and Xbox One have 1080p HDMI as primary inputs but the Wii U has the option of composite video.
The Dualshock 4 controller has a fresh new approach to it, adding a touchpad which can also act as a button, a "share" button allowing you to record about 15 minutes maximum of gameplay per consecutive sect, a sturdier design, and the texture of the controller has something that seems fun to scratch. The touchpad not only works smoother than the touchscreen controls of a Nintendo DS or any tablet device, but also can replace the "select" button that was on previous dualshock controllers, providing the same button functionalities but making room for the "share" button. The pause button is now the "options" button. Other controllers include PS Vita which acts like a tablet controller via Remote Play, plus you can also use the PlayStation App for iOS and Android devices.
Don't forget about the microphone built into the Dualshock 4 controller. Now you don't need a headset for communications for online multiplayer. PlayStation 4 has a mic built into the controller and voice commands just like Kinect 2.0 for Xbox One.
PlayStation 4 is more than you expect.
Hardware looks almost futuristic as it looks appealing. I do scrutinize the power and eject buttons for not feeling like easy buttons to press as these are critical for making the console work such as ejecting discs and turning console on/off. The console's power button turns on/off similar to the newer Xbox 360 models. Sometimes you may find yourself pressing the odd pin thin eject button several times to try and eject the disc. Fortunately, the disc will eject with some patience and there's no problem putting discs in the system. When a game disc is inserted or a digital download is purchased, the game will install to the hard drive and appear on the menu screen, indicated whether or not it's either digital or disc required by an icon of a disc.
Games typically play in 1080p, which has been rare(exception of Wii U) in video game consoles as most PS3 and Xbox 360 games play at no higher than 720p. PS4's typical video output and input for games is 1080p and nearly all games have remote play abilities. What else is new is I haven't seen so much detail in graphics before as comparing the PS4 edition of Assassin's Creed IV to Grand Theft Auto V, the former has a sharper presentation of display, increasing framerate and picture in ways PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are typically unable to do. It would be a shame for there not to be an Ultimate Edition of Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Unfortunately, you can't play games with 4K but you can so with movies, videos, and pictures. But 1080p for games is amazing and makes graphics to having more detail as I would have seen the difference in had I played Dishonored for next-generation consoles compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360 ones.
HDMI is replacing the dinosaur Composite analog video that was the main video input ending with the Nintendo Wii. PlayStation 4 makes the Nintendo Wii look older than the PlayStation 2. The Wii U has officially been set back by the superior PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Wii U, PS4, and Xbox One have 1080p HDMI as primary inputs but the Wii U has the option of composite video.
The Dualshock 4 controller has a fresh new approach to it, adding a touchpad which can also act as a button, a "share" button allowing you to record about 15 minutes maximum of gameplay per consecutive sect, a sturdier design, and the texture of the controller has something that seems fun to scratch. The touchpad not only works smoother than the touchscreen controls of a Nintendo DS or any tablet device, but also can replace the "select" button that was on previous dualshock controllers, providing the same button functionalities but making room for the "share" button. The pause button is now the "options" button. Other controllers include PS Vita which acts like a tablet controller via Remote Play, plus you can also use the PlayStation App for iOS and Android devices.
Don't forget about the microphone built into the Dualshock 4 controller. Now you don't need a headset for communications for online multiplayer. PlayStation 4 has a mic built into the controller and voice commands just like Kinect 2.0 for Xbox One.
PlayStation 4 is more than you expect.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Just Dance 2014 review
For PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Just Dance 2014 is a dance party game which has you dancing to over 40+ songs which I must say are considered popular. Artists such as Justin Bieber, Nicky Minaj, One Direction, Ke$ha, Rihanna, Ricky Martin, etc. Modes included are Classic, On-Stage, Master, World Dance Floor, and Dance DJ with some new twists such as changes in difficulties from being numbers to Easy, Medium, Hard, and Hardest, new remix value, better graphics, and a few new songs. There's not much to say about this game since it recycles many of the songs from it's last game and failed to bring other artists and new songs into this game. What would have been awesome is since "Prince Ali" from Disney's Aladdin was a song in this game, "Be Prepared" from Lion King and "World's Greatest Criminal Mind" from Great Mouse Detective could have been included as songs.
This game will give you a workout and now it seems even easier to save the recording of your dancing if you just so happen to have PS4 or Xbox One. I like how and was surprised by how the PlayStation Camera for PlayStation 4 worked as great as Kinect as you don't need a PS Move or Wii remote controller like in PlayStation 3 or Wii/Wii U respectively. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are better than the others in my view since the PS4/XOne add a newer feeling to the game and makes it feel less recycled. Just Dance 2014 is still fun to dance too and still has variety in songs and modes, with DLC adding more songs to the collection.
Online modes are fun too as online leaderboards are included and this game isn't a one player game.
Final verdict gains a 7/10(PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U) 7.7/10(PS4, Xbox One). Points:
+: Fun Gameplay
+: Better Outlook(PS4 and Xbox One)
+: Better PS Camera and Kinect Response(PS4 and Xbox One)
-: Recycled content
-: Fails to fulfill potential
Just Dance 2014 is a dance party game which has you dancing to over 40+ songs which I must say are considered popular. Artists such as Justin Bieber, Nicky Minaj, One Direction, Ke$ha, Rihanna, Ricky Martin, etc. Modes included are Classic, On-Stage, Master, World Dance Floor, and Dance DJ with some new twists such as changes in difficulties from being numbers to Easy, Medium, Hard, and Hardest, new remix value, better graphics, and a few new songs. There's not much to say about this game since it recycles many of the songs from it's last game and failed to bring other artists and new songs into this game. What would have been awesome is since "Prince Ali" from Disney's Aladdin was a song in this game, "Be Prepared" from Lion King and "World's Greatest Criminal Mind" from Great Mouse Detective could have been included as songs.
This game will give you a workout and now it seems even easier to save the recording of your dancing if you just so happen to have PS4 or Xbox One. I like how and was surprised by how the PlayStation Camera for PlayStation 4 worked as great as Kinect as you don't need a PS Move or Wii remote controller like in PlayStation 3 or Wii/Wii U respectively. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are better than the others in my view since the PS4/XOne add a newer feeling to the game and makes it feel less recycled. Just Dance 2014 is still fun to dance too and still has variety in songs and modes, with DLC adding more songs to the collection.
Online modes are fun too as online leaderboards are included and this game isn't a one player game.
Final verdict gains a 7/10(PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U) 7.7/10(PS4, Xbox One). Points:
+: Fun Gameplay
+: Better Outlook(PS4 and Xbox One)
+: Better PS Camera and Kinect Response(PS4 and Xbox One)
-: Recycled content
-: Fails to fulfill potential
Need For Speed Rivals review
For PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows.
Need For Speed Rivals is a racing game the continues the long line of Need For Speed titles, keeping in mind that thrill and adrenaline are what make Need For Speed great. Need For Speed Rivals takes another approach while recycling some of the classic gameplay modes we love to play. Rivals is either the first or second Need For Speed title of the 8th generation(depending on counting Wii U version of NFS: Most Wanted as 8th Gen) that brings a new perspective to Need For Speed franchise.
Gameplay for Rivals combines what's great with NFS: Hot Pursuit and NFS: Most Wanted as you will play as both racers and cops. The point system is based on say a racers heat level and cops performance. The points you gain from completing goals and races can be used for upgrades such as new cars, performance upgrades, and pursuit technology, which are all purchased at the hideout(racer) and command post(cop). Twist here for racer is when you are busted by police, you lose your multiplier and all of your un-banked points. Points you earn as a racer are banked when you visit your hideout. Another interesting feature is called AllDrive, which allows you to instantaneously switch from single player to online mode, racing with online players never was so convenient. Rivals feels like Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted combined with more interesting twists. Speed points are earned by evading cops obviously and doing more of that will get you more speed points. Also look for your heat level as speed points will come towards you faster and police will be more eager to bust you. When playing as a cop, look for a racer's heat level to earn more points when busting a racer. As for unlocking content, as you progress through the cop storyline you will unlock cars automatically. As for racers, cars are unlocked by first ranking up and purchasing said car with speed points(which are obviously banked). This game will have you raising stakes race after race, pursuit after pursuit with pursuits being a gamble as if you get busted, you lose all un-banked points as I've mentioned before. For police, play as pursuit, enforcer, or undercover missions. I also love how pursuit technology does and makes it's way.
Graphics look more detailed on PS4 and Xbox One games than ever before. I can't tell you how much detail is in this game's visual. Comparing it to Hot Pursuit and even Most Wanted, you'll see closely with 1080p graphics that were unavailable on previous(7th) generation systems concerning detail. I don't think you could do any better with graphics, exception being a high end gaming PC and the to be released 2014 Steam Machine. Sounds keep in tune with the Need For Speed family and are real.
I do however want to file a few complaints. One complaint I have is there are only 26 cars in the game, compared to 62 cars for Most Wanted. Plus, while Redview County looks amazing with delightful nature and variety of roads(roads, highways), the whole environment lacks towns and can feel lonely at times unlike Blaine County in Grand Theft Auto V. Hopefully EA will make some DLC packs to increase number of vehicles
The final verdict for this amazing game is an 8.3/10. Points made:
+: Great Gameplay Ideas
+: Amazing and Cutting Edge Graphics
+: Consistency with Need For Speed franchise
-: Short Selection of Cars
-: Lonely environment*
*=Despite feeling lonely, it's done very well and isn't half bad.
Need For Speed Rivals is a racing game the continues the long line of Need For Speed titles, keeping in mind that thrill and adrenaline are what make Need For Speed great. Need For Speed Rivals takes another approach while recycling some of the classic gameplay modes we love to play. Rivals is either the first or second Need For Speed title of the 8th generation(depending on counting Wii U version of NFS: Most Wanted as 8th Gen) that brings a new perspective to Need For Speed franchise.
Gameplay for Rivals combines what's great with NFS: Hot Pursuit and NFS: Most Wanted as you will play as both racers and cops. The point system is based on say a racers heat level and cops performance. The points you gain from completing goals and races can be used for upgrades such as new cars, performance upgrades, and pursuit technology, which are all purchased at the hideout(racer) and command post(cop). Twist here for racer is when you are busted by police, you lose your multiplier and all of your un-banked points. Points you earn as a racer are banked when you visit your hideout. Another interesting feature is called AllDrive, which allows you to instantaneously switch from single player to online mode, racing with online players never was so convenient. Rivals feels like Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted combined with more interesting twists. Speed points are earned by evading cops obviously and doing more of that will get you more speed points. Also look for your heat level as speed points will come towards you faster and police will be more eager to bust you. When playing as a cop, look for a racer's heat level to earn more points when busting a racer. As for unlocking content, as you progress through the cop storyline you will unlock cars automatically. As for racers, cars are unlocked by first ranking up and purchasing said car with speed points(which are obviously banked). This game will have you raising stakes race after race, pursuit after pursuit with pursuits being a gamble as if you get busted, you lose all un-banked points as I've mentioned before. For police, play as pursuit, enforcer, or undercover missions. I also love how pursuit technology does and makes it's way.
Graphics look more detailed on PS4 and Xbox One games than ever before. I can't tell you how much detail is in this game's visual. Comparing it to Hot Pursuit and even Most Wanted, you'll see closely with 1080p graphics that were unavailable on previous(7th) generation systems concerning detail. I don't think you could do any better with graphics, exception being a high end gaming PC and the to be released 2014 Steam Machine. Sounds keep in tune with the Need For Speed family and are real.
I do however want to file a few complaints. One complaint I have is there are only 26 cars in the game, compared to 62 cars for Most Wanted. Plus, while Redview County looks amazing with delightful nature and variety of roads(roads, highways), the whole environment lacks towns and can feel lonely at times unlike Blaine County in Grand Theft Auto V. Hopefully EA will make some DLC packs to increase number of vehicles
The final verdict for this amazing game is an 8.3/10. Points made:
+: Great Gameplay Ideas
+: Amazing and Cutting Edge Graphics
+: Consistency with Need For Speed franchise
-: Short Selection of Cars
-: Lonely environment*
*=Despite feeling lonely, it's done very well and isn't half bad.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Knack review
A PlayStation 4 exclusive launch title that sees the best of times but the worst of times.
The story consists of evil goblins attacking the World and scientists gear up to stop them with a particular scientist creating a creature made from an alternate power source dubbed "relics" which powers technology on it's own like magic. The creature created is called Knack, which powers up and grows like magic powered by "relics" from lost civilizations. What I like about the gameplay is that it works and how impressive Knack is in changing size to make things far more convenient. As impressive as the setting of the future is as well as learning of an awesome ultimate power system, the gameplay is repetitive as gameplay will be the same old stuff such as beating up various enemies and smashing obstacles while collecting more magic relic rocks. The voice acting doesn't seem to have much feeling either as you may find yourself bored and uninterested in the characters. Co-op is included as you can get an extra player which helps when going gets tough.
Graphics and displays look amazing but things seem recycled as repetitiveness ruins the sci-fi experience of Knack. I like how real and crisp the designs look but bad acting accompanied it, which is a shame.
While Knack has great ideas and some fun gameplay, it just fails to deliver as deserving of positive reviews. It does however avoided deserving negative reviews so that leaves mixed reviews.
Rating for this game is a 6.8/10
+: Great Sci-Fi ideas
+: Amazing displays and visuals
-: Repetitive Gameplay
-: Uninteresting and bland character acting
The story consists of evil goblins attacking the World and scientists gear up to stop them with a particular scientist creating a creature made from an alternate power source dubbed "relics" which powers technology on it's own like magic. The creature created is called Knack, which powers up and grows like magic powered by "relics" from lost civilizations. What I like about the gameplay is that it works and how impressive Knack is in changing size to make things far more convenient. As impressive as the setting of the future is as well as learning of an awesome ultimate power system, the gameplay is repetitive as gameplay will be the same old stuff such as beating up various enemies and smashing obstacles while collecting more magic relic rocks. The voice acting doesn't seem to have much feeling either as you may find yourself bored and uninterested in the characters. Co-op is included as you can get an extra player which helps when going gets tough.
Graphics and displays look amazing but things seem recycled as repetitiveness ruins the sci-fi experience of Knack. I like how real and crisp the designs look but bad acting accompanied it, which is a shame.
While Knack has great ideas and some fun gameplay, it just fails to deliver as deserving of positive reviews. It does however avoided deserving negative reviews so that leaves mixed reviews.
Rating for this game is a 6.8/10
+: Great Sci-Fi ideas
+: Amazing displays and visuals
-: Repetitive Gameplay
-: Uninteresting and bland character acting
Playroom review
Playroom is built into the Sony PlayStation 4 console and what it basically is doing is it's showing off futuristic technology that was never done before. While Playroom doesn't have much to offer here it does have amazing presentations as it will make Wall-E look old fashioned.
The technology here includes use of PlayStation Camera while the display of live video is shown on the screen while you position your controller to have the Blue Light Bar match the camera view and a futuristic display will appear showing a few apps which are activated using the touchpad nearly all the time. The robots associated with Playroom will show up on the screen with you as if you're in the same screen as each other, similar to Mary Poppins and Who Framed Roger Rabbit having live action and cartoon characters together on the same screen. Back 25-50 years ago this was hard and amazing to do but today it's easier and still amazing to do so. The "apps" as I will call them pop up on the screen from the blue light bar like in science fiction stories where display's come out like a projector.
There aren't many modes but the modes there really do well and seems like they can be made for iOS and Android systems. One mode has you playing with little robots which you can either summon from or vacuum into the PS4 controller via blue light bar. Another part of such a mode has you going inside the controller and shaking it around to shake the mini robots and adding light effects like a dance club. I earned a trophy for shaking and lighting up the inside of the controller, feeling so good to shake the controller in motion tracking. Go ahead, it doesn't hurt the robots at all but they actually like it. Another mode includes Air hockey, using two players and plays like air hockey, using the touchpad to slide the puck. A third mode has you having the host be on the screen with you like a dog.
Playroom relates the most to Disney's Tron Legacy from 2010 as both are renowned for their presentation of technology rather than story or gameplay. Playroom has amazing technology as it will jump those Science Fiction fans into pushing for futuristic technology. In the future, we hope to see this technology of portable projectors without having to adjust lighting to see. Playroom's display will be a likely successor to smartphones. I do however criticize Playroom for being lacking in content. I feel more modes could be added that uses touchpad features.
The technology here includes use of PlayStation Camera while the display of live video is shown on the screen while you position your controller to have the Blue Light Bar match the camera view and a futuristic display will appear showing a few apps which are activated using the touchpad nearly all the time. The robots associated with Playroom will show up on the screen with you as if you're in the same screen as each other, similar to Mary Poppins and Who Framed Roger Rabbit having live action and cartoon characters together on the same screen. Back 25-50 years ago this was hard and amazing to do but today it's easier and still amazing to do so. The "apps" as I will call them pop up on the screen from the blue light bar like in science fiction stories where display's come out like a projector.
There aren't many modes but the modes there really do well and seems like they can be made for iOS and Android systems. One mode has you playing with little robots which you can either summon from or vacuum into the PS4 controller via blue light bar. Another part of such a mode has you going inside the controller and shaking it around to shake the mini robots and adding light effects like a dance club. I earned a trophy for shaking and lighting up the inside of the controller, feeling so good to shake the controller in motion tracking. Go ahead, it doesn't hurt the robots at all but they actually like it. Another mode includes Air hockey, using two players and plays like air hockey, using the touchpad to slide the puck. A third mode has you having the host be on the screen with you like a dog.
Playroom relates the most to Disney's Tron Legacy from 2010 as both are renowned for their presentation of technology rather than story or gameplay. Playroom has amazing technology as it will jump those Science Fiction fans into pushing for futuristic technology. In the future, we hope to see this technology of portable projectors without having to adjust lighting to see. Playroom's display will be a likely successor to smartphones. I do however criticize Playroom for being lacking in content. I feel more modes could be added that uses touchpad features.
Madden NFL 25th Anniversary review
Madden NFL 25th Anniversary is a sports game based on NFL. I have to say that this game is an awesome one and I'm saying that for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ports! This game is one of the first to have EA Sport's very own Ignite game engine, improving game performance and making this game all too real.
What amazing sorcery am I playing here? You might be asking yourself if a video game can resemble a real life football game. Madden NFL 25th anniversary says it can thanks to EA Sports Ignite engine, improving AI and player performance to make it so realistic should you pick up a copy of either a PS4 or Xbox One port. The AI and mechanics are so realistic you'd swear this was like watching a real football game. While the plays can seem disorienting at times to those who aren't football fans, they play like real football and there are so many modes and plays to choose from your head will spin! Content includes real life teams, players, and stadiums. Decide if you want to be like the new John Madden by coaching a team and taking them to the Sha-SuperBowl or play a simple game for kicks. Online features include online multiplayer and leaderboards. It can however feel repetitive with it being hard to score due to having to control multiple players at once on your team and have a high risk of missing the opportunity to score unless you're an expert in knowing football moves.
Amazing visuals with this game to be had not only with real teams, coaches, players, but also voice acting and crowds to make it sound like a real NFL football game. I cannot tell you how real the facial expressions and design of characters are and they just seem so real with EA Sports Ignite engine! Seeing the difference between the Infinity vs. Ignite engine, you'll prefer the latter as it enhances not only graphics, but the gameplay itself. This game looks as real as any game like it is going to get when playing it on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. As for PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, they're stuck with the lesser performing Infinity engine which is said to decrease game quality. The Ignite engine however improves game quality and makes AI moving so realistic as if they were human. The AI has human like capabilities and is almost self-aware.
The difference between the PS3 and Xbox 360 vs. PS4 and Xbox One versions is one of the most substantial of any game having two different generation ports but sounding so elementary when you mention the Infinity(PS3, X360) vs. Ignite(PS4, XOne) engines and how they perform.
Final verdict for PS3 and Xbox 360 versions merits a 7.9/10 while the PS4 and Xbox One versions merit a 9/10. Points taken include
+ Great content
+ Amazing visuals and graphics*
+ enhanced gameplay*
- Can seem tricky to understand
*=Differs between PS3/X360 and PS4/XOne versions.
If you should happen to get a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and enjoy football games, then purchase these versions because there's a major difference in generations and performance. You won't be disappointed by EA Sports Ignite Engine.
What amazing sorcery am I playing here? You might be asking yourself if a video game can resemble a real life football game. Madden NFL 25th anniversary says it can thanks to EA Sports Ignite engine, improving AI and player performance to make it so realistic should you pick up a copy of either a PS4 or Xbox One port. The AI and mechanics are so realistic you'd swear this was like watching a real football game. While the plays can seem disorienting at times to those who aren't football fans, they play like real football and there are so many modes and plays to choose from your head will spin! Content includes real life teams, players, and stadiums. Decide if you want to be like the new John Madden by coaching a team and taking them to the Sha-SuperBowl or play a simple game for kicks. Online features include online multiplayer and leaderboards. It can however feel repetitive with it being hard to score due to having to control multiple players at once on your team and have a high risk of missing the opportunity to score unless you're an expert in knowing football moves.
Amazing visuals with this game to be had not only with real teams, coaches, players, but also voice acting and crowds to make it sound like a real NFL football game. I cannot tell you how real the facial expressions and design of characters are and they just seem so real with EA Sports Ignite engine! Seeing the difference between the Infinity vs. Ignite engine, you'll prefer the latter as it enhances not only graphics, but the gameplay itself. This game looks as real as any game like it is going to get when playing it on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. As for PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, they're stuck with the lesser performing Infinity engine which is said to decrease game quality. The Ignite engine however improves game quality and makes AI moving so realistic as if they were human. The AI has human like capabilities and is almost self-aware.
The difference between the PS3 and Xbox 360 vs. PS4 and Xbox One versions is one of the most substantial of any game having two different generation ports but sounding so elementary when you mention the Infinity(PS3, X360) vs. Ignite(PS4, XOne) engines and how they perform.
Final verdict for PS3 and Xbox 360 versions merits a 7.9/10 while the PS4 and Xbox One versions merit a 9/10. Points taken include
+ Great content
+ Amazing visuals and graphics*
+ enhanced gameplay*
- Can seem tricky to understand
*=Differs between PS3/X360 and PS4/XOne versions.
If you should happen to get a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and enjoy football games, then purchase these versions because there's a major difference in generations and performance. You won't be disappointed by EA Sports Ignite Engine.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Reviews from Last Year: 2012
The handheld version of Rise of the Guardians for 3DS & DS. I must say here that with many handheld Nintendo games i've played this one is no exception to greatness. Gameplay is a good ol beat em up where you beat the crap out of dark enemies. You can play as not only Jack Frost but Santa Clause, Easter Bunny, Tooth, & Pitch. Each character has their own animations & weapon attacks but controls & mechanics work great. Each enemy has their own health bar & you must whack the hell out of them until they die. Keep in mind that no matter what character you're using your health will still be the same. To regenerate health, you can use the dream gems to refill but they're in limited quantity. When you run out of health, you are like a ghost which cannot be hit but cannot fight enemies.
For handheld version, graphics & characters look great & what's important is being able to play the game. I do feel that unless you have it in 3D like the 3DS, you may find it's grainy texture annoying but not enough to give it a bad graphics rating. There is text instead of voice acting BTW as with most DS & 3DS games. Anyway, there's your classic beat em up for you. Home console versions are different & more sophisticated so stay tuned for that review.
Rise of the Guardians for home consoles have more detail to them & better image than the handheld ones. The story is identical to the movie & might I say the characters sound & look movie like. Pitch Black is the main villian & the Guardians Bunnymund, Sandy, Tooth, North, & Jack Frost must fight to stay alive by having children believe in them. Gameplay consists of fighting enemies. Each character has their own attacks & you can even get attack bonuses & dreamsands. You can carry 3 dreamsands at a time & what these dreamsands do is restore the character's health. When the health bar runs empty, the character is invisible & cannot get hit by enemies. When all characters die, you reset to the latest checkpoint & health is restored. Fighting moves work great & gameplay is as fun as a classic beat em up. Each character has a seperate health meter so if one light goes out the rest are not effected by that one misfortune. While graphics are not at their best, they're still appropriate for this time. You may find the graphics to look like there's less light but depending on what TV you have, graphics could look even better in High Definition. You can even see similarities between the home console game & movie. Marvel's The Avengers Battle for Earth is an awesome fighting game. The gameplay, graphics, resemblance, & everything makes this game great. This game is a fighting game for the Xbox 360 Kinect & the Wii U. Gameplay: I played it for Xbox 360 & it will give you a workout. Each character has different moves & it even shows you what positions to use to activate controls, which is really helpful. Going through menus, you simply slide the option or game mode you choose. The moves responded to your body movements but it only did so in the form of moves but responded perfectly. You can see the action right in the game as many moves do so much action & butt-kicking. You can play as two characters in one game but you can switch in between them. You have two opponents. There are two fighters at a time in the ring with one being from each opposing team. With Xbox 360 Kinect, you truly get a workout. I feel fighting games are made more fun with the Xbox 360 Kinect since you can use your arms for moves. What would have been better is having more flexibility in terms of spitting image body movement responses. This game deserves a grade A-. Graphics: Eighth Generation is here ladies & gentlemen & comparing this game to 2005 games, you can clearly see the radical improvements to graphics which Grand Theft Auto IV failed to compete at. Frame rate is slick finding no cryptic scenes at all unlike Grand Theft Auto 4 which felt somewhat more cryptic than the average game back in 2008. Clear graphics are key for eighth generation gaming & this game brings it forward. See the character designs & environments flash before your eyes. Presentation: Marvel comics is proud to present the awesomely done characters including Captain America, Wolverine, Spider Man, Iron Man, Black Widow, The Hulk, & Thor to name a few well known examples. Characters here are perfect & kills in the ratings for best character animations yet. Looking better than super Smash Bros. Brawl I can say that. Environments are greatly designed & characters look perfect. What can I say? Sounds are also Marveltastic just like everything else. I'm now speechless here. This game certainly makes the first Super Smash Bros.(N64) an old classic from decades ago. This Avengers game is now reminding me of how much Nicktoons MLB sucked. |
Kre-O Impressions
Kre-O is considered the newest competitor to Lego. Kre-o was released in 2011 and it's first line was Tranformers. Then came Battleship, G.I. Joe, Star Trek, CityVille Invasions, and Dungeons & Dragons. But what exactly is this rising competitor to Lego? You may remember Mega Bloks and Lincoln Logs for example as I have? Kre-O however looks promising as a rising star. Lets see just how Kre-O rises to be as competitive as Lego.
I'm going to use CityVille invasion as an example. Some interesting marks to be made here are the electronic vibrations and movements of some parts. The Police Station set includes the spinning turrets, moving vibration parts, and sound effect base. I must warn you the moving vibration parts are clumsy as they will fall sometimes and sometimes not move at all. Kre-O looks a lot like Legos, I joke you not. You can also download free apps to better control the set which is free.
How are both Kre-O and Legos different? Unlike Lego, Kre-O is in it's infancy and is not very original, relying on third party licensed franchises, which are few in number as of it's 2nd anniversary. Legos on the other hand is more original and has numerous ideas and even video games and movies such as Lego City Undercover and the 2014 Lego Movie.
Kre-O and Lego sets look identical to each other as the figurines look like Legos and the blocks as well. Both have you assembling with small pieces and pieces look strikingly similar. Kre-O manages to compete with Lego more than other competitors and despite it's low content level overall, the content is awesome and Kre-O can actually make almost spitting image resemblance to the franchises adopted. I like how Kre-O manages to be it's own deal and not just a cheap rip-off of the legendary Lego.
I do have a problem with the packaging of Kre-O playsets. The problem I have with this is the pieces are mixed together without regard to the different parts/steps of assembly. For example, with the police car you will have some parts in different bags which may disorient you. Assembling Kre-O is exactly like assembling Lego sets. Kre-O's do sometimes look cheaper than Lego such as the former having some pieces seem smaller than Lego.
Both Kre-O and Lego have their own advantages such as the PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One. Lego manages to be classic and original while Kre-O manages to be fresh and franchise friendly.
I'm going to use CityVille invasion as an example. Some interesting marks to be made here are the electronic vibrations and movements of some parts. The Police Station set includes the spinning turrets, moving vibration parts, and sound effect base. I must warn you the moving vibration parts are clumsy as they will fall sometimes and sometimes not move at all. Kre-O looks a lot like Legos, I joke you not. You can also download free apps to better control the set which is free.
How are both Kre-O and Legos different? Unlike Lego, Kre-O is in it's infancy and is not very original, relying on third party licensed franchises, which are few in number as of it's 2nd anniversary. Legos on the other hand is more original and has numerous ideas and even video games and movies such as Lego City Undercover and the 2014 Lego Movie.
Kre-O and Lego sets look identical to each other as the figurines look like Legos and the blocks as well. Both have you assembling with small pieces and pieces look strikingly similar. Kre-O manages to compete with Lego more than other competitors and despite it's low content level overall, the content is awesome and Kre-O can actually make almost spitting image resemblance to the franchises adopted. I like how Kre-O manages to be it's own deal and not just a cheap rip-off of the legendary Lego.
I do have a problem with the packaging of Kre-O playsets. The problem I have with this is the pieces are mixed together without regard to the different parts/steps of assembly. For example, with the police car you will have some parts in different bags which may disorient you. Assembling Kre-O is exactly like assembling Lego sets. Kre-O's do sometimes look cheaper than Lego such as the former having some pieces seem smaller than Lego.
Both Kre-O and Lego have their own advantages such as the PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One. Lego manages to be classic and original while Kre-O manages to be fresh and franchise friendly.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Ben 10 Omniverse 2 review
Ben 10 Omniverse 2 is the sequal to last year's Ben 10 Omniverse game. How well does this game add up? It has the best of time and the worst of times here as I examine how this game is your typical TV/Movie based game.
Gameplay for starts is beat em up style game where you defeat enemies by brawl style attacking them and you can switch between three classes(light, medium, and heavy) which will each have their own abilities such as light class having high jump, medium having more speed than heavy and will have weaker projectiles than heavy, and heavy smashing through stuff like super strength. The Omnitrix is used for changing between aliens and you will unlock more of these slick and awesome aliens as you progress through the story. Unlock special attacks to make the enemies feel a more humiliating defeat. What's bad about gameplay is it can feel pretty repetitive at times and you may feel like you're going in circles. You can however follow the green corridor as you go through corridor sequences. Corridor sequences have you rushing between alien classes as on one hand you smash through a wall with heavy while jumping over a trunk with light class.
Story follows Ben Tennyson's exile from Earth by the tyrannical Emperor of Incuresea. Ben must go through the alien ship corridors and make it back to Earth to defeat the evil Darth Vader of the Omniverse. I do feel however the story could be too short in content as the story doesn't really tell much here. This game however is centered more on gameplay and science fiction adventure.
Graphics and design are cel-shaded and quite awesome I might add. When characters move lips, the words don't match. While this game has an awesome layout and design, especially with the awesome aliens plus great voice acting, some elements seem cheap. The music for instance can seem a little repetitive but the sounds make sense for this game.
Does Ben 10 Omniverse 2 feel like a science fiction adventure straight out of Cartoon Network? Of course it does. While the resemblance and features are great, the gameplay can get repetitive and you may find some parts to be a boring chore.
Gameplay for starts is beat em up style game where you defeat enemies by brawl style attacking them and you can switch between three classes(light, medium, and heavy) which will each have their own abilities such as light class having high jump, medium having more speed than heavy and will have weaker projectiles than heavy, and heavy smashing through stuff like super strength. The Omnitrix is used for changing between aliens and you will unlock more of these slick and awesome aliens as you progress through the story. Unlock special attacks to make the enemies feel a more humiliating defeat. What's bad about gameplay is it can feel pretty repetitive at times and you may feel like you're going in circles. You can however follow the green corridor as you go through corridor sequences. Corridor sequences have you rushing between alien classes as on one hand you smash through a wall with heavy while jumping over a trunk with light class.
Story follows Ben Tennyson's exile from Earth by the tyrannical Emperor of Incuresea. Ben must go through the alien ship corridors and make it back to Earth to defeat the evil Darth Vader of the Omniverse. I do feel however the story could be too short in content as the story doesn't really tell much here. This game however is centered more on gameplay and science fiction adventure.
Graphics and design are cel-shaded and quite awesome I might add. When characters move lips, the words don't match. While this game has an awesome layout and design, especially with the awesome aliens plus great voice acting, some elements seem cheap. The music for instance can seem a little repetitive but the sounds make sense for this game.
Does Ben 10 Omniverse 2 feel like a science fiction adventure straight out of Cartoon Network? Of course it does. While the resemblance and features are great, the gameplay can get repetitive and you may find some parts to be a boring chore.
Eighth Generation Frenzy
As PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ready for release this Holiday season, another PC styled console was recently revealed just weeks ago. Google has yet to reveal their android console.
I've read on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_(eighth_generation) that Valve Corporation's recently revealed Steam Machine wasn't listed as being a major console, which is shameful since the Steam Machine is even more powerful than Wii U, Ps4, and XOne. While the Steam Machine won't see release until next year, some of it's specs are higher than even that of the PlayStation 4.
Also, Nvidia Shield despite having the best performance and greatest potential is stuck being in the Other category of handheld consoles. I know Nvidia Shield is lacking in game selection compared to it's potential to stream PC games from Steam for example. Shield is the future of handheld gaming as it not only provides a valuable handheld gaming experience, but makes it feel like the quality of a home console. 3DS and Vita can't do what Shield can. Plus, Shield plays android games too.
Why should Steam Machine be listed as being a major console? First of all, take a look at the specs:
I've read on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_(eighth_generation) that Valve Corporation's recently revealed Steam Machine wasn't listed as being a major console, which is shameful since the Steam Machine is even more powerful than Wii U, Ps4, and XOne. While the Steam Machine won't see release until next year, some of it's specs are higher than even that of the PlayStation 4.
Also, Nvidia Shield despite having the best performance and greatest potential is stuck being in the Other category of handheld consoles. I know Nvidia Shield is lacking in game selection compared to it's potential to stream PC games from Steam for example. Shield is the future of handheld gaming as it not only provides a valuable handheld gaming experience, but makes it feel like the quality of a home console. 3DS and Vita can't do what Shield can. Plus, Shield plays android games too.
Why should Steam Machine be listed as being a major console? First of all, take a look at the specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-4770, i5-4570, and i3
- Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan, GTX 780, GTX 760, and GTX 660
- Graphics card RAM: 3 GB GDDR5
- Main RAM: 16 GB DDR3-1600
- Hard drive: 1 TB storage/8 GB SSD cache hybrid drive
- Power: 450 W power supply
- Measurement: 12" × 12.4" × 2.9" high (30.5 cm × 31.5 cm × 7.4 cm)
These specs look more advanced than PlayStation 4 by double. Steam Machine will also be able to play major games such as Assassins Creed IV and Watch Dogs for example via Steam. Steam Machine will integrate PC gaming with console gaming as PC gamers will no longer have to worry about PC performance when playing games. This will however be digital media only via Steam.
The Steam Machine will even have it's own controller that has the accuracy and works like a mouse/keyboard with a touchscreen in the center. The Steam controller will replace the analog sticks with touchpad functionality to increase accuracy. Just slide your finger towards the desired direction. I do feel however that the Steam controller has an unusual button placement as the 4 buttons on other controllers are made to the right hand in the shape of a +. the steam controller has the buttons centered around the touchscreen. Well, at least it isn't centered around the analog stick styled pads. However, I feel the Steam controller is an awesome concept meant to change the dynamics of console controllers, already making Dualshock controllers obsolete. I'll be willing to give the unorthodox design a chance.
The Steam Machine however is at prototype stage and will not be out until next year. Steam Machine however will bring PC gaming to the living room and do as no other home console has ever done before. Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam Machine have their own advantages in which some will be better than others in some areas such as games and performance while for example the PlayStation 4 is predicted to exceed competition overall.
Why can't Steam Machine be considered a major home console? Conclusion on this here is the Steam Machine is within the area of 8th generation specs, doubling that of PS4 and Xbox One while being 8 times more than that of Wii U. Steam Machine doesn't belong under Other along with the micro consoles such as GameStick and Ouya. Stop being so unfair to PC gamers by listing Steam Machine as Other! Steam Machine will be just as competitive as PlayStation 4 due to it's high hardware specs and long selection of games via Steam. Another thing to mention is Steam Machine will eliminate the worries of PC handling of games as Steam Machine will be the same hardware compared to the varying of PC hardwares. Now, it will cost less to play PC games as you won't need to buy a high end gaming PC. Developers will find it easier to develop PC games now that there's a single hardware available working like a gaming PC.
Nvidia Shield is the future of handheld and even home consoles as it has huge potential in ways Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita couldn't fathom. Shield has the ability of not only an android but also to stream PC games to it. Numerous smash hit PC games can be played on Shield such as Dishonored, Bioshock Infinite, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Saints Row 3 & 4, Call of Duty Black Ops II, and many others. You can play Nvidia Shield on your TV like a home console. Shield has much more potential than the 3DS and Vita have combined as Shield has more button controls, lighter weight, and slicker design. Shield is a merge of handheld and home consoles but should be considered handheld because it's design is more handheld than home console despite having PC potential.
As for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, eBay is your best way to find ones still available for pre-ordering, even launch day editions can be found on eBay.
The Steam Machine will even have it's own controller that has the accuracy and works like a mouse/keyboard with a touchscreen in the center. The Steam controller will replace the analog sticks with touchpad functionality to increase accuracy. Just slide your finger towards the desired direction. I do feel however that the Steam controller has an unusual button placement as the 4 buttons on other controllers are made to the right hand in the shape of a +. the steam controller has the buttons centered around the touchscreen. Well, at least it isn't centered around the analog stick styled pads. However, I feel the Steam controller is an awesome concept meant to change the dynamics of console controllers, already making Dualshock controllers obsolete. I'll be willing to give the unorthodox design a chance.
The Steam Machine however is at prototype stage and will not be out until next year. Steam Machine however will bring PC gaming to the living room and do as no other home console has ever done before. Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam Machine have their own advantages in which some will be better than others in some areas such as games and performance while for example the PlayStation 4 is predicted to exceed competition overall.
Why can't Steam Machine be considered a major home console? Conclusion on this here is the Steam Machine is within the area of 8th generation specs, doubling that of PS4 and Xbox One while being 8 times more than that of Wii U. Steam Machine doesn't belong under Other along with the micro consoles such as GameStick and Ouya. Stop being so unfair to PC gamers by listing Steam Machine as Other! Steam Machine will be just as competitive as PlayStation 4 due to it's high hardware specs and long selection of games via Steam. Another thing to mention is Steam Machine will eliminate the worries of PC handling of games as Steam Machine will be the same hardware compared to the varying of PC hardwares. Now, it will cost less to play PC games as you won't need to buy a high end gaming PC. Developers will find it easier to develop PC games now that there's a single hardware available working like a gaming PC.
Nvidia Shield is the future of handheld and even home consoles as it has huge potential in ways Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita couldn't fathom. Shield has the ability of not only an android but also to stream PC games to it. Numerous smash hit PC games can be played on Shield such as Dishonored, Bioshock Infinite, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Saints Row 3 & 4, Call of Duty Black Ops II, and many others. You can play Nvidia Shield on your TV like a home console. Shield has much more potential than the 3DS and Vita have combined as Shield has more button controls, lighter weight, and slicker design. Shield is a merge of handheld and home consoles but should be considered handheld because it's design is more handheld than home console despite having PC potential.
As for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, eBay is your best way to find ones still available for pre-ordering, even launch day editions can be found on eBay.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 review
For Wii U, this Sonic & Mario Winter Games is a game based off the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
The game features several modes such as tournament, single match, and internet multiplayer modes for example but that's not limited too. Forgive me for forgetting what they're called exactly but I do know many of the events include skiing, bobsledding, figure skating, hockey, etc. Characters include those from the Mario and Sonic series such as Mario, Luigi, Sonic, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, Wario, Princess Peach, Bowser, Tails, Amy, and more. I like how this game has variety and while the events may not mirror the Sochi 2014 events, they will certainly have an enjoyable gaming experience.
Gameplay and controls work well and you will find yourself switching between the Wii remote and Wii U gamepad which rely almost all the time on motion sensing. The motion sensing works great and the tutorials tell you which controls to use without figuring out yourself or looking for controls in instruction booklet. I like how well this game was programmed. There's also some multiplayer events such as the 4 man bobsled which has four players pushing the big bobsled down co-op style.
Graphics and display look amazing for it's format as Sonic and Mario characters are supposed to resemble cartoon characters, having great resemblances to their designs. While most will find it hard to recognize it's Sochi due to the environments looking more generic than Sochi, Russia, the environments look like beautiful arenas and I like the nighttime look to it in some of the events as well, reminding me of Christmas cheer.
For a game based off the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sonic and Mario make a game like this better if the gameplay is fun. Each character has different specs which makes the game better. Most of the games will require you use the Wii remote.
The game features several modes such as tournament, single match, and internet multiplayer modes for example but that's not limited too. Forgive me for forgetting what they're called exactly but I do know many of the events include skiing, bobsledding, figure skating, hockey, etc. Characters include those from the Mario and Sonic series such as Mario, Luigi, Sonic, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, Wario, Princess Peach, Bowser, Tails, Amy, and more. I like how this game has variety and while the events may not mirror the Sochi 2014 events, they will certainly have an enjoyable gaming experience.
Gameplay and controls work well and you will find yourself switching between the Wii remote and Wii U gamepad which rely almost all the time on motion sensing. The motion sensing works great and the tutorials tell you which controls to use without figuring out yourself or looking for controls in instruction booklet. I like how well this game was programmed. There's also some multiplayer events such as the 4 man bobsled which has four players pushing the big bobsled down co-op style.
Graphics and display look amazing for it's format as Sonic and Mario characters are supposed to resemble cartoon characters, having great resemblances to their designs. While most will find it hard to recognize it's Sochi due to the environments looking more generic than Sochi, Russia, the environments look like beautiful arenas and I like the nighttime look to it in some of the events as well, reminding me of Christmas cheer.
For a game based off the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sonic and Mario make a game like this better if the gameplay is fun. Each character has different specs which makes the game better. Most of the games will require you use the Wii remote.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)