For storybooks, I may give out some spoilers but I will try not to give away the ending. Jack and the Beanstalk is an interactive storybook for iOS tablets. I must say that I was eager to learn of the ending once the story progressed.
It starts out with Jack and his beautiful mother living in near extreme poverty and struggling for them ends meat. They must sell the family cow Daisy to do so but Jack trades Daisy for 10 magic beans. Mother is upset and Jack discovers a giant beanstalk which will take him to a castle in the sky. The castle would be fit for a giant and Jack would collect some items such as golden coins, a golden egg, and a golden ball. Jack also uses keys to open doors. There are mini-games to be played but you can opt not to do them and instead skip through the story map. There are some parts of the stories that tell you to drag the character but many feel like they're never ending. Unless the arrow flashes, you may not know whether to advance. I don't understand the arrows being shaded. I just don't. Also, on the map the scenes outside the castle are shaded black and white, making you think they could be locked.
I did like the visuals of the storybook and the interactions are great. You can choose to complete all nine activities or skip through the story. The one I got frustrated on was when Jack was running from the giant and jumping over barrels. I then realized it was just part of interactive storytelling and Jack will neither get away nor be caught by the giant so if you grow tired of it, just go to the map or press the arrow. Yes, you can just skip to the ending if you want and see how Jack and mom made their exodus from extreme poverty to comfortable living. I don't want to give away the exact ending but you will understand.
If there was something else I found annoying was that sometimes the dialog unnecessarily used names more than once in a conversation. I know this is supposed to be an interactive storybook but couldn't you make a linear loop instead of making it generic? Story making has been around since Adam and Eve in 4004 BC and it appears Nosy Crow made a mistake in making dialog sound like a run on. Stories don't run like run on and repeating the same thing. This story does however make the dialog understandable and i can understand the conversations. Also, why do the voices sound like one person recorded them?
How do I view Jack and the Beanstalk? I view it to be be of good standing and would recommend this for children and even adults as well. Nosy Crow overall is an amazing publisher of children's books and apps.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Two Games from 2006-2008: Bully and Midnight Club Los Angeles
Midnight Club Los Angeles was released for PSP, Xbox 360, PS3 in 2008 and was a racing game in the 2000s franchise Midnight Club.
Midnight Club Los Angeles is set exclusively in Los Angeles and follows much of Midnight Club's formula of nighttime street racing. MCLA follows a certain story of first choosing a vehicle, then racing for reputation and money. Money is used for purchasing new cars and upgrades. Cars can be purchased at the garage and upgrades at locations marked with a gas pump. Cars will take damage and be in need of repair. The controls can feel jerky and despite being of working condition, they have given players a jerky feeling. Plus, there is less content in this game and while the selection of cars is great, I feel the amount and variety in car types was reduced compared to Midnight Club 3. However, the South Central Edition did come with more car types such as SUVs, LowRiders, and Police Cars and police response is as usual for any Midnight Club game.
Midnight Club Los Angeles was made to be more social and feel more like you could relate to the characters. This game also did a great job with recreating Los Angeles but I've seen better though MCLA does have the feeling of Los Angeles. The designs actually look similar to Midnight Club 3 but with some enhancements.
Overall, I felt that while Midnight Club Los Angeles had a better feeling of relatibility socially it cut down on amount of content from what was in Midnight Club 3. I feel the best Midnight Club game to play is Midnight Club 3 DUB edition.
Bully was a game released for PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, and Windows. Originally released for PS2 in 2006, it made it's way onto the other systems in 2008. What is Bully anyway?
Bully is a game that involves a troubled 12 year old Jimmy Hopkins sent to a boarding school in New England called Bullworth Academy. Jimmy goes from being the new student to eventually adapting Bullworth as his home. Jimmy begins meeting new people, both students and staff whether friendly or hostile. Jimmy does have to go to class or risk getting caught by prefects, who will chase and discipline students breaking rules such as truancy, breaking curfew, bullying, assault, etc. Cutting class if caught will get Jimmy sent straight to class. Jimmy also has some weapons including his sling shot which he can fling projectiles at enemies such as jocks, bullies, and even prefects and staff. Jimmy does need sleep and will sleep until 8am but will forcefully fall asleep if the clock strikes 2am.
This games does an amazing job at simulating school environment and culture with school spirit, staff, students, and character development in such characters. As the story progresses, Jimmy can roam off of school grounds and into the town of Bullworth. The graphics for this game seem like they've been slightly improved compared to Grand Theft Auto III and controls work well. I know this was 2006 but I do feel that when you look at it character designs seem inferior to other great games such as Grand Theft Auto IV.
Conclusion here is Bully was a great game and still is. The character development makes it so you will look back and remember what a hero Jimmy Hopkins has become. The scholarship edition came on Xbox 360 and included more content.
Midnight Club Los Angeles is set exclusively in Los Angeles and follows much of Midnight Club's formula of nighttime street racing. MCLA follows a certain story of first choosing a vehicle, then racing for reputation and money. Money is used for purchasing new cars and upgrades. Cars can be purchased at the garage and upgrades at locations marked with a gas pump. Cars will take damage and be in need of repair. The controls can feel jerky and despite being of working condition, they have given players a jerky feeling. Plus, there is less content in this game and while the selection of cars is great, I feel the amount and variety in car types was reduced compared to Midnight Club 3. However, the South Central Edition did come with more car types such as SUVs, LowRiders, and Police Cars and police response is as usual for any Midnight Club game.
Midnight Club Los Angeles was made to be more social and feel more like you could relate to the characters. This game also did a great job with recreating Los Angeles but I've seen better though MCLA does have the feeling of Los Angeles. The designs actually look similar to Midnight Club 3 but with some enhancements.
Overall, I felt that while Midnight Club Los Angeles had a better feeling of relatibility socially it cut down on amount of content from what was in Midnight Club 3. I feel the best Midnight Club game to play is Midnight Club 3 DUB edition.
Bully was a game released for PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, and Windows. Originally released for PS2 in 2006, it made it's way onto the other systems in 2008. What is Bully anyway?
Bully is a game that involves a troubled 12 year old Jimmy Hopkins sent to a boarding school in New England called Bullworth Academy. Jimmy goes from being the new student to eventually adapting Bullworth as his home. Jimmy begins meeting new people, both students and staff whether friendly or hostile. Jimmy does have to go to class or risk getting caught by prefects, who will chase and discipline students breaking rules such as truancy, breaking curfew, bullying, assault, etc. Cutting class if caught will get Jimmy sent straight to class. Jimmy also has some weapons including his sling shot which he can fling projectiles at enemies such as jocks, bullies, and even prefects and staff. Jimmy does need sleep and will sleep until 8am but will forcefully fall asleep if the clock strikes 2am.
This games does an amazing job at simulating school environment and culture with school spirit, staff, students, and character development in such characters. As the story progresses, Jimmy can roam off of school grounds and into the town of Bullworth. The graphics for this game seem like they've been slightly improved compared to Grand Theft Auto III and controls work well. I know this was 2006 but I do feel that when you look at it character designs seem inferior to other great games such as Grand Theft Auto IV.
Conclusion here is Bully was a great game and still is. The character development makes it so you will look back and remember what a hero Jimmy Hopkins has become. The scholarship edition came on Xbox 360 and included more content.
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Game of Life CD-Rom
For Windows, I remember playing Game of Life CD-Rom which was released in 1998. The Game of Life CD-Rom was a board game produced by Hasbro Interactive(now defunct).
Game of Life CD-Rom plays like any Game of Life game for the 90's as you start off choosing between college or career. Choosing college will get you not only a choice of three careers and salaries to choose from but also a couple careers that require college. You start off with $10,000 and choosing college would put you in debt but you would easily pay off that debt even before you get married. There are three stops needed to be made regardless of spinner and if the spaces left to these mandatory stops are less than the spinner, you will stop and then spin again. The only three requiring mandatory stops are "Job Search" "GET MARRIED" and "Buy a House". Some spaces will get you life tiles which will accumulate to cash at retirement, possibly giving you victory. Each player can get money from other players depending on space landed and career chosen. A travel agent for example will take $20,000 from any player who lands on "Move Across Country" and Accountants for example would collect money from any player landing on "Taxes Due".
You can buy insurance for your house and car and you can even buy stocks. If you land on something damaging your house or car and you're insured, you will not lose any money. Once you get married and buy a house, you have opportunities to land on Baby Boy or Girl or Twins, giving you children. The Game of Life is supposed to emulate the average American life such as getting married, having children, getting a career, and becoming wealthy enough by retirement plus many other lifetime events. This game has done exactly that. I also have sometimes used the Game of Life for deciding the life my sims in The Sims 2 will live.
As for effects, I really liked the 3D and still comic style flashcards for most spaces landed on. You start off with a 50's car, then will progress into the 2000's. With every passing decade brings a new car. You can play with up to 5 other players, either person or computer opponents.
The Game of Life CD-Rom is a memorable video game adaption of an amazing board game.
Game of Life CD-Rom plays like any Game of Life game for the 90's as you start off choosing between college or career. Choosing college will get you not only a choice of three careers and salaries to choose from but also a couple careers that require college. You start off with $10,000 and choosing college would put you in debt but you would easily pay off that debt even before you get married. There are three stops needed to be made regardless of spinner and if the spaces left to these mandatory stops are less than the spinner, you will stop and then spin again. The only three requiring mandatory stops are "Job Search" "GET MARRIED" and "Buy a House". Some spaces will get you life tiles which will accumulate to cash at retirement, possibly giving you victory. Each player can get money from other players depending on space landed and career chosen. A travel agent for example will take $20,000 from any player who lands on "Move Across Country" and Accountants for example would collect money from any player landing on "Taxes Due".
You can buy insurance for your house and car and you can even buy stocks. If you land on something damaging your house or car and you're insured, you will not lose any money. Once you get married and buy a house, you have opportunities to land on Baby Boy or Girl or Twins, giving you children. The Game of Life is supposed to emulate the average American life such as getting married, having children, getting a career, and becoming wealthy enough by retirement plus many other lifetime events. This game has done exactly that. I also have sometimes used the Game of Life for deciding the life my sims in The Sims 2 will live.
As for effects, I really liked the 3D and still comic style flashcards for most spaces landed on. You start off with a 50's car, then will progress into the 2000's. With every passing decade brings a new car. You can play with up to 5 other players, either person or computer opponents.
The Game of Life CD-Rom is a memorable video game adaption of an amazing board game.
18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul review
18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul is a PC games released back in 2007 and I know it's been that long but I am reviewing this since I have nothing else to review and I am anticipating American Truck Simulator's release. I am hoping for American Truck Simulator to be the best trucking simulator available as the latest trucking simulator to take place in North America is American Long Haul from late 2007.
Long Haul plays like any other trucking simulator and has the same engine as Haulin'. American Long Haul has not only U.S. and Canadian cities but also some in Mexico as well. What I liked about this game was the environments and while not perfect they at least put some effort in making the cities resemble thier real life counterparts. For example, going into Las Vegas you'll see the "Welcome to Las Vegas" signs as well as the Vegas Strip; New York's urban jungle; and a few cities even are covered with snow such as Winnipeg, Calgary, Bismarck, and Great Falls. The gameplay consists of making money by hauling goods from city to city and you can choose from a variety of trucks and trailers. I like the variety of this game. I love how this game has improved in visuals since Pedal to the Metal was released in 2004. If a trailer is damaged, it loses value and you will be paid less than the amount. I like how this game also made good with a higher latitutde of variety in cargo.
I do however feel that somethings in this game are unfair. What sucks is that for minor traffic violations you can be fined over $1,000-$3,000 and what's even worse is that unlike Pedal to the Metal you don't have the option to turn off police enforcement of traffic laws, pushing your patience. In Pedal to the Metal, I had the option to turn off police, giving me absolute freedom to speed as fast as my truck could go and even run red lights and whack AI traffic. In American Long Haul, you aren't afforded that option. Instead, I found myself having to either obey the traffic laws or face 8th amendment violating fines. Did the game developers decide to cut out some great options from Pedal to the Metal while making American Long Haul? While the graphics for American Long Haul are more pleasant and look like a step from PS2 to Xbox 360 graphics, somethings such as traffic cars are kind of stock and lack detail. I also noticed it feels longer to haul cargo than in Pedal to the Metal. Plus, what ever happened to the awesome ranking system?
Overall, 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul is a good trucking simulator but feels more like a chore than Pedal to the Metal with the former lacking the same options Pedal to the Metal has.
I give this game a final rating of 7.5/10
+Great Environments
+Fun road-trip travelling
-loss of certain options from Pedal to the Metal
-frivolous police fines
Long Haul plays like any other trucking simulator and has the same engine as Haulin'. American Long Haul has not only U.S. and Canadian cities but also some in Mexico as well. What I liked about this game was the environments and while not perfect they at least put some effort in making the cities resemble thier real life counterparts. For example, going into Las Vegas you'll see the "Welcome to Las Vegas" signs as well as the Vegas Strip; New York's urban jungle; and a few cities even are covered with snow such as Winnipeg, Calgary, Bismarck, and Great Falls. The gameplay consists of making money by hauling goods from city to city and you can choose from a variety of trucks and trailers. I like the variety of this game. I love how this game has improved in visuals since Pedal to the Metal was released in 2004. If a trailer is damaged, it loses value and you will be paid less than the amount. I like how this game also made good with a higher latitutde of variety in cargo.
I do however feel that somethings in this game are unfair. What sucks is that for minor traffic violations you can be fined over $1,000-$3,000 and what's even worse is that unlike Pedal to the Metal you don't have the option to turn off police enforcement of traffic laws, pushing your patience. In Pedal to the Metal, I had the option to turn off police, giving me absolute freedom to speed as fast as my truck could go and even run red lights and whack AI traffic. In American Long Haul, you aren't afforded that option. Instead, I found myself having to either obey the traffic laws or face 8th amendment violating fines. Did the game developers decide to cut out some great options from Pedal to the Metal while making American Long Haul? While the graphics for American Long Haul are more pleasant and look like a step from PS2 to Xbox 360 graphics, somethings such as traffic cars are kind of stock and lack detail. I also noticed it feels longer to haul cargo than in Pedal to the Metal. Plus, what ever happened to the awesome ranking system?
Overall, 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul is a good trucking simulator but feels more like a chore than Pedal to the Metal with the former lacking the same options Pedal to the Metal has.
I give this game a final rating of 7.5/10
+Great Environments
+Fun road-trip travelling
-loss of certain options from Pedal to the Metal
-frivolous police fines
Friday, January 24, 2014
Oculus Rift review
Oculus Rift is a virtual reality head mounted display that works for Windows, Linus, OS X, and Android systems. It currently is for developers and will reach consumer markets by late this year or next year. Down by Game-U in Flemington, New Jersey I tried out the Oculus Rift and looking through it was like actually being there but also can feel nauseating for those unfamiliar with it.
There were unfortunate attempts at virtual reality such as Virtual Boy. Most virtual reality technology has been used for simulation purposes unrelated to the video gaming industry. Oculus Rift however makes an introduction to providing great quality experience with virtual reality. I played a developers version of Oculus Rift and saw how real it felt. Moving your body and head will cause movement. I of course prefer to use a controller for movement but the visual experience is like actually being there.
I did however feel dizzy after a shortwhile since you have your eyes directly to the visual screen. Though it gives you a real feeling but a dizzy after feeling sometimes you can still feel tired. But let me tell you about the Virtual Boy vs. Oculus Rift. Virtual Boy was black and red, had games with butchered graphics compared to Super Nintendo, and gave you migraines in forcing you to take frequent breaks. Oculus Rift has the same graphics as the PC game played and also has better motion sensing, not being just some headset to look into. Unlike the Virtual Boy, Oculus Rift offers a different gaming experience in ways Virtual Boy didn't.
The Virtual Boy had just under 20 games which had butchered graphics(red and black graphics) while Oculus Rift is compatible with a variety of PC/Mac games with the same graphics. Oculus Rift is not it's own system but another peripheral connected to your PC. Be aware that Oculus Rift can only be compatible with so many games as it controls and even looks different. On the monitor, the visuals look like binocular view without peripheral vision. Put on Oculus Rift and you can forget about 1080p and just take a look around as you will feel like you're in the TV screen! Virtual Boy didn't make you feel that way. Virtual Boy made you feel like you were taking an eye exam.
Oculus Rift has provided developers with an innovative gaming experience and will provide consumers with it as well when the final product is released. What I was thinking of is having something like Oculus Rift for consoles. I envision Xbox One will most likely have that in the future but not so much for PlayStation 4. Microsoft's Illumiroom feature would be nice for Xbox One or it's successor.
Oculus Rift is definitely a great start in making virtual reality high definition and high quality, leaving Virtual Boy to rot in misery.
There were unfortunate attempts at virtual reality such as Virtual Boy. Most virtual reality technology has been used for simulation purposes unrelated to the video gaming industry. Oculus Rift however makes an introduction to providing great quality experience with virtual reality. I played a developers version of Oculus Rift and saw how real it felt. Moving your body and head will cause movement. I of course prefer to use a controller for movement but the visual experience is like actually being there.
I did however feel dizzy after a shortwhile since you have your eyes directly to the visual screen. Though it gives you a real feeling but a dizzy after feeling sometimes you can still feel tired. But let me tell you about the Virtual Boy vs. Oculus Rift. Virtual Boy was black and red, had games with butchered graphics compared to Super Nintendo, and gave you migraines in forcing you to take frequent breaks. Oculus Rift has the same graphics as the PC game played and also has better motion sensing, not being just some headset to look into. Unlike the Virtual Boy, Oculus Rift offers a different gaming experience in ways Virtual Boy didn't.
The Virtual Boy had just under 20 games which had butchered graphics(red and black graphics) while Oculus Rift is compatible with a variety of PC/Mac games with the same graphics. Oculus Rift is not it's own system but another peripheral connected to your PC. Be aware that Oculus Rift can only be compatible with so many games as it controls and even looks different. On the monitor, the visuals look like binocular view without peripheral vision. Put on Oculus Rift and you can forget about 1080p and just take a look around as you will feel like you're in the TV screen! Virtual Boy didn't make you feel that way. Virtual Boy made you feel like you were taking an eye exam.
Oculus Rift has provided developers with an innovative gaming experience and will provide consumers with it as well when the final product is released. What I was thinking of is having something like Oculus Rift for consoles. I envision Xbox One will most likely have that in the future but not so much for PlayStation 4. Microsoft's Illumiroom feature would be nice for Xbox One or it's successor.
Oculus Rift is definitely a great start in making virtual reality high definition and high quality, leaving Virtual Boy to rot in misery.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 review
Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 is an ages 4-up tablet that is geared for children. This tablet is 7 inch HD + Dual-Core and can be charged by connecting the USB cord to a USB port on a computer or use the charging adapter. As with every kids tablet, there are parental restrictions to it requiring parental access codes and kid safe browsers. This is something every kids tablet pretty much needs as it makes sense.
There are over 70 apps which include e-books from Disney for example and numerous built in app games. The tablet is very functional, has a great visual, and great audio. I'm impressed with how it works, including touchscreen capabilities. I played a few of the built in app games and they work very well, being impressed with functionality and visuals. This tablet is very impressive in being as functional and tech savvy as any iOS and Android tablet. This tablet also has 8GB memory.
Is Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 a cheap rip-off of many great tablets? No! It's a great device for kids, easy to use, high quality, a price of only $149.99, and great features centered towards kids programming. This is the tablet any parent should get their child as parents will feel confident in a cheap price, great quality, and safety features that are easy to navigate.
A great tablet for kids.
There are over 70 apps which include e-books from Disney for example and numerous built in app games. The tablet is very functional, has a great visual, and great audio. I'm impressed with how it works, including touchscreen capabilities. I played a few of the built in app games and they work very well, being impressed with functionality and visuals. This tablet is very impressive in being as functional and tech savvy as any iOS and Android tablet. This tablet also has 8GB memory.
Is Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 a cheap rip-off of many great tablets? No! It's a great device for kids, easy to use, high quality, a price of only $149.99, and great features centered towards kids programming. This is the tablet any parent should get their child as parents will feel confident in a cheap price, great quality, and safety features that are easy to navigate.
A great tablet for kids.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Re-Reviewing LittleBigPlanet, this time it's Game of Year Edition
LittleBigPlanet franchise has yet to see a PlayStation 4 edition. I want to look back however on the LittleBigPlanet series and how the franchise can be great for PlayStation 4.
Game of the Year Edition included more collectibles and content including customization options. LittleBigPlanet has been a franchise known for it's arts & crafts style theme while managing to be the laid back and enjoyable platforming game rivaling Mario. There are somethings I would reform for the next LittleBigPlanet series. First of all, movements seem too cryptic as if sackboy was walking on the Moon. With this you may have concerns of the sackboy jumping properly to avoid losing a life.
I like the approach LittleBigPlanet took, especially for a PS3 exclusive title in going with arts and crafts theme. The LittleBigPlanet series definitely needs more of that while making environments more real. I also like how LittleBigPlanet's geography is like a replica of an arts and crafts Earth, featuring environments inspired by Africa, Australia, and Japan for examples. LittleBigPlanet's environments strive to be creative and rich in variety. If it wasn't for the creativity of Media Molecule, LittleBigPlanet wouldn't be such a cute and creative franchise. Customization options are without bounds as you could customize your sack so much that you wouldn't even be able to recognize the original.
The LittleBigPlanet franchise has a lot of potential and it would mean so much for there to be a LittleBigPlanet 3 for PlayStation 4. Graphics for LittleBigPlanet have slightly evolved as well as having better gameplay between sequels. LittleBigPlanet 2 included PS Move controls, making movements more motion sensing real. As time moves on, visuals become more real, graphics improve, and along with that movements will improve.
While LittleBigPlanet is a classic, it's successors and spin-offs have included new things unavailable even at LBP's time such as PlayStation Move. What if LittleBigPlanet 3 could have the best of previous games such as taking advantage of the PlayStation Camera? LittleBigPlanet 2 included new adventures and characters so LittleBigPlanet 3 should do the same. I also want to mention LittleBigPlanet Karting which retained arts and crafts theme but opted for a racing genre instead of the puzzle and platforming game that the series has been accustomed to.
There have actually been four games in the orthodox LittleBigPlanet series with two being for PS3, and one having a version of PSP and PS Vita ports, which have different stories. The reason I don't count LittleBigPlanet Karting is because the LittleBigPlanet series is usually a platforming game and I would treat LBP Karting as a spin-off in terms of gameplay but part of the series when it came to story mode.
The LittleBigPlanet series has spawned several great games. It's highest rated game is LittleBigPlanet, scoring at 92% while LittleBigPlanet Karting scored 72%. The best idea for a LittleBigPlanet 3 game would be to combine what was great about previous games and combine both racing and platforming elements into gameplay while making it look as impressive as can be on PlayStation 4. The one thing LittleBigPlanet couldn't possibly survive without is fan made content, which is prevalent in the LittleBigPlanet series.
Game of the Year Edition included more collectibles and content including customization options. LittleBigPlanet has been a franchise known for it's arts & crafts style theme while managing to be the laid back and enjoyable platforming game rivaling Mario. There are somethings I would reform for the next LittleBigPlanet series. First of all, movements seem too cryptic as if sackboy was walking on the Moon. With this you may have concerns of the sackboy jumping properly to avoid losing a life.
I like the approach LittleBigPlanet took, especially for a PS3 exclusive title in going with arts and crafts theme. The LittleBigPlanet series definitely needs more of that while making environments more real. I also like how LittleBigPlanet's geography is like a replica of an arts and crafts Earth, featuring environments inspired by Africa, Australia, and Japan for examples. LittleBigPlanet's environments strive to be creative and rich in variety. If it wasn't for the creativity of Media Molecule, LittleBigPlanet wouldn't be such a cute and creative franchise. Customization options are without bounds as you could customize your sack so much that you wouldn't even be able to recognize the original.
The LittleBigPlanet franchise has a lot of potential and it would mean so much for there to be a LittleBigPlanet 3 for PlayStation 4. Graphics for LittleBigPlanet have slightly evolved as well as having better gameplay between sequels. LittleBigPlanet 2 included PS Move controls, making movements more motion sensing real. As time moves on, visuals become more real, graphics improve, and along with that movements will improve.
While LittleBigPlanet is a classic, it's successors and spin-offs have included new things unavailable even at LBP's time such as PlayStation Move. What if LittleBigPlanet 3 could have the best of previous games such as taking advantage of the PlayStation Camera? LittleBigPlanet 2 included new adventures and characters so LittleBigPlanet 3 should do the same. I also want to mention LittleBigPlanet Karting which retained arts and crafts theme but opted for a racing genre instead of the puzzle and platforming game that the series has been accustomed to.
There have actually been four games in the orthodox LittleBigPlanet series with two being for PS3, and one having a version of PSP and PS Vita ports, which have different stories. The reason I don't count LittleBigPlanet Karting is because the LittleBigPlanet series is usually a platforming game and I would treat LBP Karting as a spin-off in terms of gameplay but part of the series when it came to story mode.
The LittleBigPlanet series has spawned several great games. It's highest rated game is LittleBigPlanet, scoring at 92% while LittleBigPlanet Karting scored 72%. The best idea for a LittleBigPlanet 3 game would be to combine what was great about previous games and combine both racing and platforming elements into gameplay while making it look as impressive as can be on PlayStation 4. The one thing LittleBigPlanet couldn't possibly survive without is fan made content, which is prevalent in the LittleBigPlanet series.
The Innovative and Amazing Xbox One
I know I gave PlayStation 4 more praise than Xbox One. However, the Xbox One does have some innovations not included in PlayStation 4 such as HDMI In, allowing one HDMI device to be inputted into the Xbox One and shown via TV app. For example, you could plug in any HDMI device such as an Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Wii U, or as recommended an HDMI TV box and just go to the TV app to make this work.
First of all, I want to start off by saying that Xbox One is truly innovative and Microsoft was going for a revolutionary approach to how a gaming console could also be an entertainment system. If you're the kind of guy who's a hardcore gamer but also like to see the football game and not have to change inputs. You can also sell your DVD/Blu-Ray player as Xbox One can do more than anything a standard DVD and Blu-Ray player can do. I wouldn't recommend selling the DVD player if you don't intend to share your Xbox One with anyone else in your household. Also snap and open another app on your Xbox One, playing your game and using Skype simultaneously. No other console or even PC can do that!
I also like the methods of selections are like options. You can either use the controller, use Kinect motion sensing, or voice commands. For voice commands, say "Xbox On" and will highlight voice commanded actions in green. The voice commands aren't perfect but do work. The Xbox One's innovative features blow the PS4 and Wii U away. I do find Xbox One's setup long and somewhat complicated compared to PlayStation 4. Good thing the DRM and internet connectivity policies for Xbox One were repealed, otherwise this system would have been more complicated than it already is.
The Kinect has been significantly improved as it is now a 1080p advanced camera that sees like a HD digital camera instead of the VGA red sensors the Xbox 360 Kinect had. Three year difference in this technology went a long way. The Kinect 2.0 has superior technology to PlayStation Camera. Kinect controls depend on the game you're playing and while Kinect controls aren't perfect, I find Kinect 2.0 less frustrating than the previous prototype Kinect. The cloud computing aspects of this wonder of a console will be taken advantage of and eventually lead to smarter games and by that I mean AI that actually is so real it's unbelievable.
As for the games, the Xbox One's graphics are still identical with PlayStation 4's graphics but there are just a few compromises for the former. The Xbox One still plays games the same as other consoles and the Xbox One controller has been remade to make the best controller even better. I prefer Dualshock 4 over Xbox One's controller and however, I will say that Xbox One's controller is more compact and while more cramped, Xbox One controller is fresh and functional and has more functionality and feeling to it, just as the Kinect 2.0 will go deep into your skin as it will even check your heartbeat for a harsher challenge.
Xbox One software works just about the same as Windows 8 in which the user interface looks exactly like Windows 8 only the apps are different and the look of apps are in different positions. I know I said Xbox One looks like it was recycled from an old VCR but the design looks really fresh and attractive to be honest. Looking so new, especially the awesome look of the Kinect 2.0. DVR will last only 5 minutes max. and will require Xbox Live Gold.
The Xbox One is truly innovative and despite it's innovations come it's flaws. I like how Xbox One innovates and makes excellent use of what's intended to be.
First of all, I want to start off by saying that Xbox One is truly innovative and Microsoft was going for a revolutionary approach to how a gaming console could also be an entertainment system. If you're the kind of guy who's a hardcore gamer but also like to see the football game and not have to change inputs. You can also sell your DVD/Blu-Ray player as Xbox One can do more than anything a standard DVD and Blu-Ray player can do. I wouldn't recommend selling the DVD player if you don't intend to share your Xbox One with anyone else in your household. Also snap and open another app on your Xbox One, playing your game and using Skype simultaneously. No other console or even PC can do that!
I also like the methods of selections are like options. You can either use the controller, use Kinect motion sensing, or voice commands. For voice commands, say "Xbox On" and will highlight voice commanded actions in green. The voice commands aren't perfect but do work. The Xbox One's innovative features blow the PS4 and Wii U away. I do find Xbox One's setup long and somewhat complicated compared to PlayStation 4. Good thing the DRM and internet connectivity policies for Xbox One were repealed, otherwise this system would have been more complicated than it already is.
The Kinect has been significantly improved as it is now a 1080p advanced camera that sees like a HD digital camera instead of the VGA red sensors the Xbox 360 Kinect had. Three year difference in this technology went a long way. The Kinect 2.0 has superior technology to PlayStation Camera. Kinect controls depend on the game you're playing and while Kinect controls aren't perfect, I find Kinect 2.0 less frustrating than the previous prototype Kinect. The cloud computing aspects of this wonder of a console will be taken advantage of and eventually lead to smarter games and by that I mean AI that actually is so real it's unbelievable.
As for the games, the Xbox One's graphics are still identical with PlayStation 4's graphics but there are just a few compromises for the former. The Xbox One still plays games the same as other consoles and the Xbox One controller has been remade to make the best controller even better. I prefer Dualshock 4 over Xbox One's controller and however, I will say that Xbox One's controller is more compact and while more cramped, Xbox One controller is fresh and functional and has more functionality and feeling to it, just as the Kinect 2.0 will go deep into your skin as it will even check your heartbeat for a harsher challenge.
Xbox One software works just about the same as Windows 8 in which the user interface looks exactly like Windows 8 only the apps are different and the look of apps are in different positions. I know I said Xbox One looks like it was recycled from an old VCR but the design looks really fresh and attractive to be honest. Looking so new, especially the awesome look of the Kinect 2.0. DVR will last only 5 minutes max. and will require Xbox Live Gold.
The Xbox One is truly innovative and despite it's innovations come it's flaws. I like how Xbox One innovates and makes excellent use of what's intended to be.
Zoo Tycoon review
A launch title for Xbox One and I didn't think I would be playing Xbox One but it turns out I just did. Zoo Tycoon is a zoo simulation game that puts you in charge of a zoo.
Zoo Tycoon has Campaign, Freeform, and Challenge modes. Campaign modes have you completing certain tasks for each scenario leveled Easy to Hard. The campaign is timed but you'll have plenty of time to complete the tasks before the time runs dry. Successfully completing a scenario will unlock new locations for free mode and new scenarios. Each scenario is part of a sub-campaign which will dictate the tasks such as Prevent Animal Abuse which has you completing tasks relating to the care of animals. Regardless of mode, there's the matter of increasing the Zoo's notoriety which will unlock new features for the zoo such as exhibits, concessions, decorations, mini-exhibits, and facilities.
As this game is a simulation game, you can adopt and breed as many as from over 100 animal types reining from Giraffes, Monkeys, Rhinos, Elephants, Bears, and Zebras. Each category has several sub categories of animals. Taking care of animals is taken seriously in this game as the right Animal Care, Enrichment, and even interactive tourism are required as well as the right landscape such as Tropical, Alpine, Tundra, Savannah, and Grasslands. For example, Monkeys best habitat is Tropical while Bears are best suited for Alpine and Tundra. Don't forget to hire staff such as Zoo Keepers, Janitors, and Breeders. Research is also key in this game as you will need in Campaign mode to start research and wait for the specific time(usually under one minute) before you can choose the item. There are three levels for each Zoo item such as upgrading facilities, concessions, and exhibits.
In campaign mode, things cost money wheres freeform mode you can spend how you like without financial repercussions. What I like about this game is the variety of locations for zoos taking place in nearly every continent on Earth. You can play in either Zoo or Tycoon mode when playing in-game. Zoo mode has you controlling the head zoo keeper who can walk around the zoo, see the outer landscape, and even drive buggies which work much like low speed electric cars(GEM). I liked driving these zoo themed buggies and they were a lot of fun in this game. You can't run over people as they will simply be swept away without harm.
I really like the variety of visuals and animals as this game has great graphics and I like how you can choose from many different zoos worldwide such as North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The animals look as real as can be which is great since what's a zoo without animals? When in Zoo mode, you can see the landscape which varies depending on zoo selected. For Alaska, you'll see beautiful mountains. This is what makes the game great. I also like the interactive mini-games such as washing, feeding, and looking through animals at exhibits. Don't forget to look for interesting animal facts.
I do feel however that it's loading times are tedious and some tasks can feel like a boring chore. Kinect controls are too picky with movements and adjusting them can be heck. You might as well usie the controller for menus as doing it Kinect style will frustrate you. I like Kinect 2.0 improvements over the prototype feeling Kinect.
The Xbox 360 version has some watered down differences such as no mulitplayer, inferior graphics, and only 65 types of animals.
I'm going to give this game a final verdict of 7.4/10
+Amazing Strategy Based Zoo Keeping
+Excellent Visuals and unique features such as animals and locations
+Great Animal Detail
-Some tasks are boring chores
-picky Kinect controls
Zoo Tycoon has Campaign, Freeform, and Challenge modes. Campaign modes have you completing certain tasks for each scenario leveled Easy to Hard. The campaign is timed but you'll have plenty of time to complete the tasks before the time runs dry. Successfully completing a scenario will unlock new locations for free mode and new scenarios. Each scenario is part of a sub-campaign which will dictate the tasks such as Prevent Animal Abuse which has you completing tasks relating to the care of animals. Regardless of mode, there's the matter of increasing the Zoo's notoriety which will unlock new features for the zoo such as exhibits, concessions, decorations, mini-exhibits, and facilities.
As this game is a simulation game, you can adopt and breed as many as from over 100 animal types reining from Giraffes, Monkeys, Rhinos, Elephants, Bears, and Zebras. Each category has several sub categories of animals. Taking care of animals is taken seriously in this game as the right Animal Care, Enrichment, and even interactive tourism are required as well as the right landscape such as Tropical, Alpine, Tundra, Savannah, and Grasslands. For example, Monkeys best habitat is Tropical while Bears are best suited for Alpine and Tundra. Don't forget to hire staff such as Zoo Keepers, Janitors, and Breeders. Research is also key in this game as you will need in Campaign mode to start research and wait for the specific time(usually under one minute) before you can choose the item. There are three levels for each Zoo item such as upgrading facilities, concessions, and exhibits.
In campaign mode, things cost money wheres freeform mode you can spend how you like without financial repercussions. What I like about this game is the variety of locations for zoos taking place in nearly every continent on Earth. You can play in either Zoo or Tycoon mode when playing in-game. Zoo mode has you controlling the head zoo keeper who can walk around the zoo, see the outer landscape, and even drive buggies which work much like low speed electric cars(GEM). I liked driving these zoo themed buggies and they were a lot of fun in this game. You can't run over people as they will simply be swept away without harm.
I really like the variety of visuals and animals as this game has great graphics and I like how you can choose from many different zoos worldwide such as North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The animals look as real as can be which is great since what's a zoo without animals? When in Zoo mode, you can see the landscape which varies depending on zoo selected. For Alaska, you'll see beautiful mountains. This is what makes the game great. I also like the interactive mini-games such as washing, feeding, and looking through animals at exhibits. Don't forget to look for interesting animal facts.
I do feel however that it's loading times are tedious and some tasks can feel like a boring chore. Kinect controls are too picky with movements and adjusting them can be heck. You might as well usie the controller for menus as doing it Kinect style will frustrate you. I like Kinect 2.0 improvements over the prototype feeling Kinect.
The Xbox 360 version has some watered down differences such as no mulitplayer, inferior graphics, and only 65 types of animals.
I'm going to give this game a final verdict of 7.4/10
+Amazing Strategy Based Zoo Keeping
+Excellent Visuals and unique features such as animals and locations
+Great Animal Detail
-Some tasks are boring chores
-picky Kinect controls
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
PlayStation 4 is Awesome
PlayStation 4 is an amazing console and being more than we've expected. PS4 has certainly been more friendly to indie game developers, more improved with it's controller, more futuristic and slick design, more power and far superior graphics, and being the most of what hardcore gamers could want.
For power and focus, PlayStation 4 exceeds Wii U and Xbox One. While the latter goes for an all around entertainment media work, Sony focused more on gaming itself than Microsoft. While the Xbox One has great concepts, it's PlayStation 4 that has focused more on gaming and while some other media and movies can be played on all systems, PS4's structure is more focused on gaming and is less complicated than the Xbox One. Of PS4's 8GB RAM, 7GB are reserved for gaming compared to the Xbox One which although having 8GB RAM has only 5GB reserved for gaming but uses the 3GB for other media.
Features for PlayStation 4 are centered towards making gaming experience more enjoyable. What PlayStation 4 offers includes PlayStation Plus which is $49.99 for a 12 month membership. With PlayStation Plus(included for PS3, PS Vita, PS4) you will be given digital download access to certain select games which can vary depending on month. The only thing you'll need PlayStation Plus for(excluding PS3) is online multiplayer. PS Plus competitor is Xbox Live Gold which is required if you wish to access not just online multiplayer but also various other multi-media programs such as Netflix and ESPN for examples. PS Plus is $10 less than Xbox Live Gold. The PS4 is also $399, $100 less than Xbox One. The PS Camera is a $60 accessory to PS4 and is sold separately but combined still makes the price lower than Xbox One.
PlayStation 4 has a better quality than Xbox One. PS4 is lighter in weight, looks better, and is less complicated than Xbox One. The Xbox One however looks like it was recycled from a big old VCR or old DVD player. You can stream gameplay directly by pressing the share button of your controller. PS4 will not require you to have a PS Plus membership in your PSN account and will also record 15 minutes max. Xbox One on the other hand disappointingly does not have this feature at launch, does require Xbox Live Gold, and sadly has a 5 minute limit on DVR. Sony PS4 has made it easier for indie game developers and all game developers to develop games with better quality and better resolution than the more complicated Xbox One. I will concede Xbox One does have some great and innovative features that PS4 lacks such as being able to have other devices inputted via HDMI, Kinect 2.0, and multi-media machine.
As with all 8th generation consoles, I can see the difference in textures, detail, animations, and movement mechanics. Tomb Raider Definitive Edition will blow you away with enhanced color, better lighting, more detail in movements, and better and altered character models.
PlayStation 4 will eventually have a higher selection of exclusive games with some games though not exclusive to PS4 don't have Xbox One or even Wii U ports. Games like these include indie games like Don't Starve, Resogun, and Contrast. I'm looking forward to a game called Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments which takes place in Victorian London and has Detective Sherlock Holmes solving crimes will be on not only Windows, PS3, and Xbox 360 but also on PlayStation 4. This Sherlocks Holmes game won't be on any other systems.
For power and focus, PlayStation 4 exceeds Wii U and Xbox One. While the latter goes for an all around entertainment media work, Sony focused more on gaming itself than Microsoft. While the Xbox One has great concepts, it's PlayStation 4 that has focused more on gaming and while some other media and movies can be played on all systems, PS4's structure is more focused on gaming and is less complicated than the Xbox One. Of PS4's 8GB RAM, 7GB are reserved for gaming compared to the Xbox One which although having 8GB RAM has only 5GB reserved for gaming but uses the 3GB for other media.
Features for PlayStation 4 are centered towards making gaming experience more enjoyable. What PlayStation 4 offers includes PlayStation Plus which is $49.99 for a 12 month membership. With PlayStation Plus(included for PS3, PS Vita, PS4) you will be given digital download access to certain select games which can vary depending on month. The only thing you'll need PlayStation Plus for(excluding PS3) is online multiplayer. PS Plus competitor is Xbox Live Gold which is required if you wish to access not just online multiplayer but also various other multi-media programs such as Netflix and ESPN for examples. PS Plus is $10 less than Xbox Live Gold. The PS4 is also $399, $100 less than Xbox One. The PS Camera is a $60 accessory to PS4 and is sold separately but combined still makes the price lower than Xbox One.
PlayStation 4 has a better quality than Xbox One. PS4 is lighter in weight, looks better, and is less complicated than Xbox One. The Xbox One however looks like it was recycled from a big old VCR or old DVD player. You can stream gameplay directly by pressing the share button of your controller. PS4 will not require you to have a PS Plus membership in your PSN account and will also record 15 minutes max. Xbox One on the other hand disappointingly does not have this feature at launch, does require Xbox Live Gold, and sadly has a 5 minute limit on DVR. Sony PS4 has made it easier for indie game developers and all game developers to develop games with better quality and better resolution than the more complicated Xbox One. I will concede Xbox One does have some great and innovative features that PS4 lacks such as being able to have other devices inputted via HDMI, Kinect 2.0, and multi-media machine.
As with all 8th generation consoles, I can see the difference in textures, detail, animations, and movement mechanics. Tomb Raider Definitive Edition will blow you away with enhanced color, better lighting, more detail in movements, and better and altered character models.
PlayStation 4 will eventually have a higher selection of exclusive games with some games though not exclusive to PS4 don't have Xbox One or even Wii U ports. Games like these include indie games like Don't Starve, Resogun, and Contrast. I'm looking forward to a game called Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments which takes place in Victorian London and has Detective Sherlock Holmes solving crimes will be on not only Windows, PS3, and Xbox 360 but also on PlayStation 4. This Sherlocks Holmes game won't be on any other systems.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Past Wii Games: Club Penguin Game Day
Club Penguin Game Day was released in September 2010. This game is based off the Club Penguin franchise by Disney Inc.
What is Club Penguin Game Day? The game plays with you either creating a penguin or uploading one from the Club Penguin program. The campaign mode has you selecting a team and competing in challenges that involve sack racing, bag balancing, shooting, and many more mini-games. What Club Penguin Game Day is is essentially a mini-game compilation and the mini-games play very well and this game does keep Club Penguin's cute feel to it. You will claim an area every time you complete a championship comprising of four mini-games and a final event ranging from memorizing coaches face to painting the main wall with your team's color. This game managed to keep it short and sweet and even though it is short and will not hold a very long lasting appeal. If you like the Club Penguins franchise, this game will have a longer lasting appeal for you. A championship is made like a tournament where you compete against members of rival teams and are given an overall score. The one who has the most overall points wins the championship though the goal is to beat the main rival team such as if you play the Dock tournament, you need to defeat the Blue team. You also gain coins from scoring and coins can be used for upgrades and in-game merchandise.
Club Penguin's Game Day isn't very far from being stock as it mostly relies on the Club Penguin's flash program while including Wii Remote game mechanics. This game has taken great advantage of Wii Remote motion sensing and while I do think these mini-games are also suitable for iOS and Android apps this game was made very well. The display does resemble Club Penguins best it can on Wii hardware. Just to convey to you that the main Club Penguin MMORG runs on adobe flash and can be played on any PC, tablet, or smartphone. You won't be hearing any dialog as this game is largely based off the adobe flash version of Club Penguin.
Overall, Club Penguin Game Day has fun mini-games and I really did like the environments even though this game is short on content and the mini-games in this game could be made as online flash games.
What is Club Penguin Game Day? The game plays with you either creating a penguin or uploading one from the Club Penguin program. The campaign mode has you selecting a team and competing in challenges that involve sack racing, bag balancing, shooting, and many more mini-games. What Club Penguin Game Day is is essentially a mini-game compilation and the mini-games play very well and this game does keep Club Penguin's cute feel to it. You will claim an area every time you complete a championship comprising of four mini-games and a final event ranging from memorizing coaches face to painting the main wall with your team's color. This game managed to keep it short and sweet and even though it is short and will not hold a very long lasting appeal. If you like the Club Penguins franchise, this game will have a longer lasting appeal for you. A championship is made like a tournament where you compete against members of rival teams and are given an overall score. The one who has the most overall points wins the championship though the goal is to beat the main rival team such as if you play the Dock tournament, you need to defeat the Blue team. You also gain coins from scoring and coins can be used for upgrades and in-game merchandise.
Club Penguin's Game Day isn't very far from being stock as it mostly relies on the Club Penguin's flash program while including Wii Remote game mechanics. This game has taken great advantage of Wii Remote motion sensing and while I do think these mini-games are also suitable for iOS and Android apps this game was made very well. The display does resemble Club Penguins best it can on Wii hardware. Just to convey to you that the main Club Penguin MMORG runs on adobe flash and can be played on any PC, tablet, or smartphone. You won't be hearing any dialog as this game is largely based off the adobe flash version of Club Penguin.
Overall, Club Penguin Game Day has fun mini-games and I really did like the environments even though this game is short on content and the mini-games in this game could be made as online flash games.
Past Wii Games: Baseball Blast
Baseball Blast despite it's 2009 release date is a great example of how a national pastime can be made to be more creative in gameplay. Despite it's great variety and creativity in gameplay, certain issues arise such as the design being poor, lasting appeal fading rapidly, and the short length of gameplay.
First, I want to get to how it has been made creative in terms of it's mini-games. This game has 20 mini-games which although ain't much are made to have creativity in gameplay amounts to giving players a new and innovative gameplay experience. I could not find one mini-game that was similar to another one. All mini-games do however have baseball mechanics in hand such as bat and pitch. I do criticize however that the game feels very short and is more like a casual arcade style game than anything in the Major League Baseball crowd. The lasting appeal for this game will wane after playing all the mini-games.
As for the graphics they look lazy and look more like the designers were trying to make a quick cash load. The character and environment designs look disgraceful! I know this is a Wii but c'mon! iOS and Android versions could have done better. I will give this game credit for including real life MLB teams. The awful design ruins the real life characters as the models look like poorly done cartoons rather than actual players. Backyard Sports dating back from as far as PS2 had better graphics.
I can't say this game will get you playing for long as lasting appeal is very short. I did enjoy playing some mini-games but I just didn't see any real reason to keep on playing after more than 30 minutes straight. I'd recommend MLB The Show instead, despite it being mainly for Sony consoles(PS2, PS3, PSP, PS Vita, and coming soon PS4).
Final verdict needs to be a 6.5/10
First, I want to get to how it has been made creative in terms of it's mini-games. This game has 20 mini-games which although ain't much are made to have creativity in gameplay amounts to giving players a new and innovative gameplay experience. I could not find one mini-game that was similar to another one. All mini-games do however have baseball mechanics in hand such as bat and pitch. I do criticize however that the game feels very short and is more like a casual arcade style game than anything in the Major League Baseball crowd. The lasting appeal for this game will wane after playing all the mini-games.
As for the graphics they look lazy and look more like the designers were trying to make a quick cash load. The character and environment designs look disgraceful! I know this is a Wii but c'mon! iOS and Android versions could have done better. I will give this game credit for including real life MLB teams. The awful design ruins the real life characters as the models look like poorly done cartoons rather than actual players. Backyard Sports dating back from as far as PS2 had better graphics.
I can't say this game will get you playing for long as lasting appeal is very short. I did enjoy playing some mini-games but I just didn't see any real reason to keep on playing after more than 30 minutes straight. I'd recommend MLB The Show instead, despite it being mainly for Sony consoles(PS2, PS3, PSP, PS Vita, and coming soon PS4).
Final verdict needs to be a 6.5/10
Friday, January 10, 2014
Past Games: Carnival Mini-Golf
I played this Wii game and have to say that while this game is pretty average, it does have negatives. I like how this mini-golf style game was made to have some innovations such as a mini-game for each adventure hole and great animatronic animations for challenge holes and trick shots.
Gameplay for this game is centered around traditional mini-golf and gameplay mechanics have you lining up your golf club and ball while swinging the Wii Remote to swing the golf club. You also can collect coins from each course but can also lose five coins for every skull coin unfortunately collected. The gameplay mechanics greatly resemble what you're suppose to do in mini-golf. There are three types of mini-golf holes for each course being Adventure, Challenge, and Trick Shots. There are several different courses from themes ranging from Fairytale, Dinosaurs, Wild West, Pirates, Barnyard, Mayan, and Egyptian for examples, though there maybe another one or two of these left that I did not list. For adventure course if you happen to come across a closed structure you will be thrown into a mini-game in which victory will result in an automatic hole in one. Each mini-game is different and well connected to it's theme but can be very challenging. I appreciate the use of Wii Remote but sometimes the controls for mini-games can feel slippery.
I can't say graphics are the best but seeing as this is a Wii game I can't complain too much though the textures look somewhat outdated, even for a Wii game.
This game is part of the Carnival games franchise with Barker the ring master as mascot. You can instantly recognize that this is a Carnival franchise game just by looking at the mascot. I'm not saying all Carnival games are of good quality but at least Carnival Mini-Golf is consistent with it's theme and is playable, adding some interesting twists to the mini-golf gameplay.
Gameplay for this game is centered around traditional mini-golf and gameplay mechanics have you lining up your golf club and ball while swinging the Wii Remote to swing the golf club. You also can collect coins from each course but can also lose five coins for every skull coin unfortunately collected. The gameplay mechanics greatly resemble what you're suppose to do in mini-golf. There are three types of mini-golf holes for each course being Adventure, Challenge, and Trick Shots. There are several different courses from themes ranging from Fairytale, Dinosaurs, Wild West, Pirates, Barnyard, Mayan, and Egyptian for examples, though there maybe another one or two of these left that I did not list. For adventure course if you happen to come across a closed structure you will be thrown into a mini-game in which victory will result in an automatic hole in one. Each mini-game is different and well connected to it's theme but can be very challenging. I appreciate the use of Wii Remote but sometimes the controls for mini-games can feel slippery.
I can't say graphics are the best but seeing as this is a Wii game I can't complain too much though the textures look somewhat outdated, even for a Wii game.
This game is part of the Carnival games franchise with Barker the ring master as mascot. You can instantly recognize that this is a Carnival franchise game just by looking at the mascot. I'm not saying all Carnival games are of good quality but at least Carnival Mini-Golf is consistent with it's theme and is playable, adding some interesting twists to the mini-golf gameplay.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
To Commemorate Tomb Raider's Definitive Edition: Tomb Raider Underworld
I am commemorating on the upcoming release of Tomb Raider Definitive Edition for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One by reviewing a previous Tomb Raider game from 2008. Tomb Raider Underworld was produced for Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 with altered and more watered down versions made for mobile phones, N-Gage 2.0, DS, PlayStation 2, and Wii.
Tomb Raider Underworld gameplay plays like a third person shooter. The game also has puzzles for Lara Croft to solve which helps you progress through the game. The combat for this game includes a new melee mechanic and targeting feature allowing you to double target when using the pistols. The environments actually are Lara Croft's enemy in which she must go through challenging and dangerous environments which were made very active. The elements of climbing, shooting, and puzzles have been integrated and reformed for a better gameplay experience. Lara can also use pick-ups available throughout the environment such as health packs. The grappling hook also has more feel to it as you use it to pull heavy objects from ledges and doors open and swing over ledges. This game also gives you the impression that Lara Croft can do anything you expect she can do. I do feel the gameplay can make you feel stuck at times if you're not careful in what you're doing such as the axles used for the underwater part and opening ancient stone gates. The puzzles are very consistent in this game given the Tomb Raider series is about exploring lost civilizations. I've even heard of this game having bugs and glitches.
The story follows Lara Croft escaping her burning and crumbling manor with the game flashing back to the week before and after the events of Tomb Raider: Legends where Lara Croft is on a mission to find out what happened to her mother. Croft travels to several different places such as Mexico, Arctic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, England, Scandinavia, and the East Indies near Thailand. Tomb Raider Underworld has variety of locations which is something great for any game as you don't want it to feel repetitive.
How does the game look. For 2008, I can expect graphics like these to be average and looking at other games this game could have put more effort into their display. This is one of those games that looks average for the Wii. Graphics for this game look average in between PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, exceeding PS2 while falling behind Xbox 360. How could Eidos Studios mess that up with consoles released just 2-3 years before this game's release date?
Tomb Raider got a reboot in the 2010's starting with the 2010 download game Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light before the real reboot game of Tomb Raider was released in 2013. It was with the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider that made it more next-generation and more enjoyable and the Definitive Edition coming to PS4 and Xbox One will make the game even more enjoyable with the best 1080p graphics any PS4 and Xbox One game can have. While Tomb Raider 2013 isn't quite perfect, it brings a new direction as ever single new generation in Tomb Raider manages to give Lara Croft more detail. Looking back at previous Tomb Raider games, the reboot makes past games look outdated. I know the reboot takes place only in Japan and I haven't played it yet but the reboot gives gaming experience an enhanced view and experience.
Tomb Raider Underworld gameplay plays like a third person shooter. The game also has puzzles for Lara Croft to solve which helps you progress through the game. The combat for this game includes a new melee mechanic and targeting feature allowing you to double target when using the pistols. The environments actually are Lara Croft's enemy in which she must go through challenging and dangerous environments which were made very active. The elements of climbing, shooting, and puzzles have been integrated and reformed for a better gameplay experience. Lara can also use pick-ups available throughout the environment such as health packs. The grappling hook also has more feel to it as you use it to pull heavy objects from ledges and doors open and swing over ledges. This game also gives you the impression that Lara Croft can do anything you expect she can do. I do feel the gameplay can make you feel stuck at times if you're not careful in what you're doing such as the axles used for the underwater part and opening ancient stone gates. The puzzles are very consistent in this game given the Tomb Raider series is about exploring lost civilizations. I've even heard of this game having bugs and glitches.
The story follows Lara Croft escaping her burning and crumbling manor with the game flashing back to the week before and after the events of Tomb Raider: Legends where Lara Croft is on a mission to find out what happened to her mother. Croft travels to several different places such as Mexico, Arctic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, England, Scandinavia, and the East Indies near Thailand. Tomb Raider Underworld has variety of locations which is something great for any game as you don't want it to feel repetitive.
How does the game look. For 2008, I can expect graphics like these to be average and looking at other games this game could have put more effort into their display. This is one of those games that looks average for the Wii. Graphics for this game look average in between PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, exceeding PS2 while falling behind Xbox 360. How could Eidos Studios mess that up with consoles released just 2-3 years before this game's release date?
Tomb Raider got a reboot in the 2010's starting with the 2010 download game Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light before the real reboot game of Tomb Raider was released in 2013. It was with the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider that made it more next-generation and more enjoyable and the Definitive Edition coming to PS4 and Xbox One will make the game even more enjoyable with the best 1080p graphics any PS4 and Xbox One game can have. While Tomb Raider 2013 isn't quite perfect, it brings a new direction as ever single new generation in Tomb Raider manages to give Lara Croft more detail. Looking back at previous Tomb Raider games, the reboot makes past games look outdated. I know the reboot takes place only in Japan and I haven't played it yet but the reboot gives gaming experience an enhanced view and experience.
Don't Starve review
Originally released for Windows, OS X and Linux in April of 2013, Don't Starve has a version of this game on PlayStation 4 which for January 2014 is free for PlayStation Plus Members. What Don't Starve is is an Action-Adventure and Survival Horror game.
Don't Starve has you playing as a gentleman scientist named Wilson who is whisked away to a remote land that's completely away from civilization and Wilson must now live off the land avoiding starvation, insanity, and loss of health. Enemies in this game exist such as wildlife creatures such as bees, buffalos, birds, and more. This game includes the ability to craft items such as an ax for example from trees and rocks for example. Don't forget about eating as berries and animals for example provide nourishment. The goal of the game is to survive for as long as possible which are calculated in days. There's a daytime, sunset, and nighttime portion of each day. The daytime portion is the longest, taking up approx. 60% of day with the nighttime being literally pitch dark. To be honest, the nighttime portion can feel impossible without looking for guides from the internet.
I know I'm repeating this but the objective for this game is to survive as long as possible in an open-world wilderness, completely void of civilization. This game also features permanent death as when you die, the game is over and you are judged based on the length of survival. I must mention Adventure mode which is the game's campaign mode which the player must work through the story and take on the deranged demon Maxwell, who is responsible for bringing the protagonist to the civilization-less wilderness. The Gentleman Scientist isn't the only character you can play as in this game though you'll have to complete goals to unlock more characters. This game also has a great themed visual for it as it looks a lot like a Tim Burton production with graphics looking so HD.
I do however feel that Don't Starve can get repetitive after a while unless you come across new abilities and new places such as going from grasslands to big forests. This world is your oyster and you can travel as far as you want in this world, knowing no bounds other than those prescribed by the game's design. You won't be disappointed as you advance through the game. Keep in mind this is an indie game that sells for $14.99 but is free should you be a PS Plus member.
I have to give this game a final verdict of 8.5/10
Don't Starve has you playing as a gentleman scientist named Wilson who is whisked away to a remote land that's completely away from civilization and Wilson must now live off the land avoiding starvation, insanity, and loss of health. Enemies in this game exist such as wildlife creatures such as bees, buffalos, birds, and more. This game includes the ability to craft items such as an ax for example from trees and rocks for example. Don't forget about eating as berries and animals for example provide nourishment. The goal of the game is to survive for as long as possible which are calculated in days. There's a daytime, sunset, and nighttime portion of each day. The daytime portion is the longest, taking up approx. 60% of day with the nighttime being literally pitch dark. To be honest, the nighttime portion can feel impossible without looking for guides from the internet.
I know I'm repeating this but the objective for this game is to survive as long as possible in an open-world wilderness, completely void of civilization. This game also features permanent death as when you die, the game is over and you are judged based on the length of survival. I must mention Adventure mode which is the game's campaign mode which the player must work through the story and take on the deranged demon Maxwell, who is responsible for bringing the protagonist to the civilization-less wilderness. The Gentleman Scientist isn't the only character you can play as in this game though you'll have to complete goals to unlock more characters. This game also has a great themed visual for it as it looks a lot like a Tim Burton production with graphics looking so HD.
I do however feel that Don't Starve can get repetitive after a while unless you come across new abilities and new places such as going from grasslands to big forests. This world is your oyster and you can travel as far as you want in this world, knowing no bounds other than those prescribed by the game's design. You won't be disappointed as you advance through the game. Keep in mind this is an indie game that sells for $14.99 but is free should you be a PS Plus member.
I have to give this game a final verdict of 8.5/10
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Pinball Palooza: Zen Pinball 2 and Pinball Arcade
Zen Pinball 2 was released originally for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita on September 4, 2012, then Wii U months later and Zen Pinball 2 was freshly released for PlayStation 4 on December 24, 2013. This is digital download only and pinball boards are paid for separately. There are many great pinball tables to choose from, one of them being free of charge.
The gameplay has you playing like you would with pinball. Goal is to get a high score and use the flippers to flip the pinball back up away from it falling. There are some great pinball tables to play from such as Star Wars and Marvel themed pinball machines. Graphics for this game look amazing and it actually looks like more life was made into these pinball machines. What attracts me to board games made into video games is 3D models bring life to them, such as Monopoly Streets(2010). Zen Pinball 2 doesn't disappoint when it comes to enhancing it's base on themes. Just look at how well the Marvel's Avenger's pinball table was made. Great sound effects and model, especially the designer pinballs. Zen Pinball 2 makes pinball playing more real and fun.
Pinball Arcade is another Pinball Arcade game released in 2012 for Android, iOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, OS X, Kindle Fire, Ouya, Windows, PlayStation 4. Wii U, Linux, and 3DS versions not yet released. The Pinball Arcade emulates the classic arcade pinball games we loved for decades. There are dozens of pinball tables to choose from, which can be purchased in packs digitally online via either Xbox Marketplace, PlayStation Store, Apple App Store, Google Play, and Steam. How does this game work? It may not have the same spice as Zen Pinball 2 but the former does work like any pinball machine and many famous pinball machines are included. The Pinball Arcade simply emulates many classic pinball machines manufactured and played in arcades throughout time. Pinball Arcade focuses more on bringing classic nostalgia to pinball gameplay, differing from the new approach brought by Zen Pinball 1-2. Pinball Arcade surely brings out the classic nostalgia of many great pinball machines from as far back as the 1970's.
The gameplay has you playing like you would with pinball. Goal is to get a high score and use the flippers to flip the pinball back up away from it falling. There are some great pinball tables to play from such as Star Wars and Marvel themed pinball machines. Graphics for this game look amazing and it actually looks like more life was made into these pinball machines. What attracts me to board games made into video games is 3D models bring life to them, such as Monopoly Streets(2010). Zen Pinball 2 doesn't disappoint when it comes to enhancing it's base on themes. Just look at how well the Marvel's Avenger's pinball table was made. Great sound effects and model, especially the designer pinballs. Zen Pinball 2 makes pinball playing more real and fun.
Pinball Arcade is another Pinball Arcade game released in 2012 for Android, iOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, OS X, Kindle Fire, Ouya, Windows, PlayStation 4. Wii U, Linux, and 3DS versions not yet released. The Pinball Arcade emulates the classic arcade pinball games we loved for decades. There are dozens of pinball tables to choose from, which can be purchased in packs digitally online via either Xbox Marketplace, PlayStation Store, Apple App Store, Google Play, and Steam. How does this game work? It may not have the same spice as Zen Pinball 2 but the former does work like any pinball machine and many famous pinball machines are included. The Pinball Arcade simply emulates many classic pinball machines manufactured and played in arcades throughout time. Pinball Arcade focuses more on bringing classic nostalgia to pinball gameplay, differing from the new approach brought by Zen Pinball 1-2. Pinball Arcade surely brings out the classic nostalgia of many great pinball machines from as far back as the 1970's.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Resogun review
A PlayStation 4 exclusive at launch Resogun is a side-scrolling shoot em up indie game. Download From PSN only.
Resogun plays like a side-scrolling shooter in which you shoot enemies and optionally rescue humans. Each level requires you to eliminate enemies and each level has three phases with a final boss battle. Five levels include Acis, Ceres, Decima, Febris, and Mefitis. Single mode has you competing for a high score wheres Arcade mode has you progressing through levels to unlock more. Ships can be upgraded to give more power such as heavier damage done to enemies or less damage done to your ship. Difficulties here are Rookie, Experienced, Veteran, and Master. Resogun manages to emulate the classic side-scrolling shoot em ups such as Space Invaders. Plus, a female voice talks through the Dualshock 4's microphone.
The gameplay for Resogun follows the simple shoot em up formula but with more flexibility and HD graphics. The theme of this game is Sci-Fi given that you use 3D digital printed space ships and things look like the inside of a computer. Impressive how this game handles and HD graphics make gameplay more enjoyable and more playable. When Space Invaders came out in 1978, graphics were just 2D pixels and environments which couldn't render detail other than colors. With Resogun 35 years later, gameplay and graphics are made to be more flexible. Movements are more realistic and gameplay feels more fast paced. You'll never look at previous generations of gaming the same again. Instead of just moving a cannon and shooting like the simple Atari 2600 controller has, you can move with a space ship and have better moves and detail unheard of decades before.
Resogun has shown us how Side-Scrolling Shoot Em Ups can retain their classic formula while tweeking it with HD technology. Final verdict for this game is a 9/10.
Resogun plays like a side-scrolling shooter in which you shoot enemies and optionally rescue humans. Each level requires you to eliminate enemies and each level has three phases with a final boss battle. Five levels include Acis, Ceres, Decima, Febris, and Mefitis. Single mode has you competing for a high score wheres Arcade mode has you progressing through levels to unlock more. Ships can be upgraded to give more power such as heavier damage done to enemies or less damage done to your ship. Difficulties here are Rookie, Experienced, Veteran, and Master. Resogun manages to emulate the classic side-scrolling shoot em ups such as Space Invaders. Plus, a female voice talks through the Dualshock 4's microphone.
The gameplay for Resogun follows the simple shoot em up formula but with more flexibility and HD graphics. The theme of this game is Sci-Fi given that you use 3D digital printed space ships and things look like the inside of a computer. Impressive how this game handles and HD graphics make gameplay more enjoyable and more playable. When Space Invaders came out in 1978, graphics were just 2D pixels and environments which couldn't render detail other than colors. With Resogun 35 years later, gameplay and graphics are made to be more flexible. Movements are more realistic and gameplay feels more fast paced. You'll never look at previous generations of gaming the same again. Instead of just moving a cannon and shooting like the simple Atari 2600 controller has, you can move with a space ship and have better moves and detail unheard of decades before.
Resogun has shown us how Side-Scrolling Shoot Em Ups can retain their classic formula while tweeking it with HD technology. Final verdict for this game is a 9/10.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Contrast review
Contrast is a puzzle/platformer game released on November 15, 2013 for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and most importantly PlayStation 4. Contrast was a launch title for PS4 and was digital download only for $14.99 or Free with PlayStation Plus subscription. Contrast takes place in 1923 Paris as an 8 year old girl Didi sneaks out with her imaginary friend Dawn to find her father Johnny Fenris.
Gameplay consists of a very unique structure as it has great concepts such as the playable protagonist(Dawn) blending into shadows and performing a wide variety of tasks that normal people are unable to perform such as jumping to higher structures through shadows. Some puzzles can be very challenging at times but there's always a way around them. There have been complaints by some reviewers most notably for the PC version about glitches in gameplay that happen almost constantly. I've played the PS4 version of this game and I haven't seen too many glitches, though I did come across not being able to pick up the ball once I placed it right behind the cannon tube again. The shadowplay in this game is awesome as it really plays as if it was real. Dawn must be some supernatural being for being able to shift between dimensions. Don't forget about the luminaries and collectables showing early 20th century artwork.
Story of this game has Didi helping her parents(particularly her father) in their financial need by for example getting a film reel to show to Vincenzio so the latter will perform at Johnny's circus. I really am attracted to the theme of this game as you don't see much of the 1920s in video games. The theme of this game is very appealing but I do feel that it could have had more 3D model people instead of mere shadows. I know this game is about shadows but making this 3D would make this game more real and convincing. If you see one of the collectables you'll see Didi's mother Kat Knight is one of the most beautiful women you'll ever see. Would be great to see her 3D model while you're playing PlayStation 4.
Graphics for this game look stunning if you play it on PS4. Even though this game's graphics look more cel-shaded, it definitely looks next-generation to me. The frame rate looks amazing as it just zips quick and has sharp movements to it.
Final Verdict for this casual game is 7/10
+Stunning Environments
+Amazing Concept
+Consistent and Amazing Theme
-Glitches?
-Lifeless Environment and lack of 3D models
-Short Time
-Somewhat tedious tasks
Gameplay consists of a very unique structure as it has great concepts such as the playable protagonist(Dawn) blending into shadows and performing a wide variety of tasks that normal people are unable to perform such as jumping to higher structures through shadows. Some puzzles can be very challenging at times but there's always a way around them. There have been complaints by some reviewers most notably for the PC version about glitches in gameplay that happen almost constantly. I've played the PS4 version of this game and I haven't seen too many glitches, though I did come across not being able to pick up the ball once I placed it right behind the cannon tube again. The shadowplay in this game is awesome as it really plays as if it was real. Dawn must be some supernatural being for being able to shift between dimensions. Don't forget about the luminaries and collectables showing early 20th century artwork.
Story of this game has Didi helping her parents(particularly her father) in their financial need by for example getting a film reel to show to Vincenzio so the latter will perform at Johnny's circus. I really am attracted to the theme of this game as you don't see much of the 1920s in video games. The theme of this game is very appealing but I do feel that it could have had more 3D model people instead of mere shadows. I know this game is about shadows but making this 3D would make this game more real and convincing. If you see one of the collectables you'll see Didi's mother Kat Knight is one of the most beautiful women you'll ever see. Would be great to see her 3D model while you're playing PlayStation 4.
Graphics for this game look stunning if you play it on PS4. Even though this game's graphics look more cel-shaded, it definitely looks next-generation to me. The frame rate looks amazing as it just zips quick and has sharp movements to it.
Final Verdict for this casual game is 7/10
+Stunning Environments
+Amazing Concept
+Consistent and Amazing Theme
-Glitches?
-Lifeless Environment and lack of 3D models
-Short Time
-Somewhat tedious tasks
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag review
Assassins Creed IV Black Flag is for Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Assassin's Creed IV was a launch title for PS4 and Xbox One.
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag takes place during the early 18th century(1710's-1722) with Edward Kenway leaving his wife and unborn child for a pirate lifestyle in the West Indies. Kenway becomes shipwrecked in 1715 on Cape Bonavista, Cuba which he finds an assassin named Duncan Walpole, kills the latter and poses as him for a short while. Kenway will eventually become a feared captain pirate during the periods from 1715 to 1722. Instead of having Desmond Miles be the main modern character, you have a first person anonymous person be an Abstergo Industries tester for an entertainment simulation which will sync Edward Kenway's memories. Historical figures such as Blackbeard appear and Blackbeard sure was a badass like Johnny Gat. What was Edward Kenway after again? The Sage of course.
Assassin's Creed IV has open world, third person gameplay which focuses not only on land gameplay but also naval gameplay as progressing through the story with Edward Kenway having not only variety of swords and pistols but also a customizable pirate ship dubbed Jackdaw. Somethings in the game are available after progressing through the main storyline. The Jackdaw is fully equipped to be a real fighting ship and with upgrades, it can sustain more damage and deal more damage too. Kenway will also have a crew on the ship which can be lost due to massive naval storms and combat. Forts can also be stormed and destroyed synchronizing the area the fort is in, thus revealing more locations. This game has something called synchronization which reveals locations of collectables and locations such as treasure chests. The personal combat has Kenway using his hidden blades, swords, pistols, smoke bombs, fists, and darts to either stealth assassinate or engage in straight out combat. Naval combat consists of ramming, firing at enemy ships using mortar cannons, heavy shots, chain shots, etc. Another gameplay mechanic includes ability to climb tall structures by clinging to ledges.
Gameplay for Assassin's Creed IV is great and has a realistic physics texture to it and was real to be believed. The movements are real and cutscenes are cinematic. Assassin's Creed IV may not be the best kind of game as Grand Theft Auto V but the former deserves a great applause for being the best pirate game ever made.
Graphics are so sharp and cutting edge with amazing visuals and textures. Designs are so well done that you'll never look at 7th generation PS3 and Xbox 360 versions the same again if you happen to have either PS4/Xbox One or both. I can actually see the detail emerge as you've never seen this much graphical detail at 1080p PlayStation 4. I can't say the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions have the same graphics but I will say Assassin's Creed IV looks it's best on PS4. I've been hearing some Xbox One games will run only at 900p.
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag makes Pirates of the Caribbean look like juvenile wannabes. Assassin's Creed IV actually gets serious with the pirate adventure and even though the story itself isn't too clear to follow as it focused more on random pirate adventures than an actual story. Desmond Miles died December 21, 2012 and unlike previous Assassin's Creed titles, Assassin's Creed IV's modern portion has a generic fella as an employee for a simulation entertainment system.
Final Verdict for Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag merits a 9.2/10
+Amazing Pirate Adventure Gameplay
+Sharp and Most Realistic Graphics(having non exceed it)
+Open-World/variety and realism of locations
+Great Character Development
-Lack of clear sight on story
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag takes place during the early 18th century(1710's-1722) with Edward Kenway leaving his wife and unborn child for a pirate lifestyle in the West Indies. Kenway becomes shipwrecked in 1715 on Cape Bonavista, Cuba which he finds an assassin named Duncan Walpole, kills the latter and poses as him for a short while. Kenway will eventually become a feared captain pirate during the periods from 1715 to 1722. Instead of having Desmond Miles be the main modern character, you have a first person anonymous person be an Abstergo Industries tester for an entertainment simulation which will sync Edward Kenway's memories. Historical figures such as Blackbeard appear and Blackbeard sure was a badass like Johnny Gat. What was Edward Kenway after again? The Sage of course.
Assassin's Creed IV has open world, third person gameplay which focuses not only on land gameplay but also naval gameplay as progressing through the story with Edward Kenway having not only variety of swords and pistols but also a customizable pirate ship dubbed Jackdaw. Somethings in the game are available after progressing through the main storyline. The Jackdaw is fully equipped to be a real fighting ship and with upgrades, it can sustain more damage and deal more damage too. Kenway will also have a crew on the ship which can be lost due to massive naval storms and combat. Forts can also be stormed and destroyed synchronizing the area the fort is in, thus revealing more locations. This game has something called synchronization which reveals locations of collectables and locations such as treasure chests. The personal combat has Kenway using his hidden blades, swords, pistols, smoke bombs, fists, and darts to either stealth assassinate or engage in straight out combat. Naval combat consists of ramming, firing at enemy ships using mortar cannons, heavy shots, chain shots, etc. Another gameplay mechanic includes ability to climb tall structures by clinging to ledges.
Gameplay for Assassin's Creed IV is great and has a realistic physics texture to it and was real to be believed. The movements are real and cutscenes are cinematic. Assassin's Creed IV may not be the best kind of game as Grand Theft Auto V but the former deserves a great applause for being the best pirate game ever made.
Graphics are so sharp and cutting edge with amazing visuals and textures. Designs are so well done that you'll never look at 7th generation PS3 and Xbox 360 versions the same again if you happen to have either PS4/Xbox One or both. I can actually see the detail emerge as you've never seen this much graphical detail at 1080p PlayStation 4. I can't say the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions have the same graphics but I will say Assassin's Creed IV looks it's best on PS4. I've been hearing some Xbox One games will run only at 900p.
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag makes Pirates of the Caribbean look like juvenile wannabes. Assassin's Creed IV actually gets serious with the pirate adventure and even though the story itself isn't too clear to follow as it focused more on random pirate adventures than an actual story. Desmond Miles died December 21, 2012 and unlike previous Assassin's Creed titles, Assassin's Creed IV's modern portion has a generic fella as an employee for a simulation entertainment system.
Final Verdict for Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag merits a 9.2/10
+Amazing Pirate Adventure Gameplay
+Sharp and Most Realistic Graphics(having non exceed it)
+Open-World/variety and realism of locations
+Great Character Development
-Lack of clear sight on story
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Super Mario 3D World
How amazing is this Wii U title. Super Mario 3D World takes on a new role as you can play as either Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad in a new adventure that doesn't follow the side-scrolling platforming game entirely but has new gameplay which gives a more diverse camera angle that gives players more control over sight.
Gameplay consists of platforming gameplay but instead of it being a side scroller, it is fully 3D in angle and gameplay with enemies coming directly towards you instead of having a given path. An enemy sees you, it will charge towards you. You kill enemies via jumping on the enemies. The most noted power up you will receive in this game will be the kitten suit, which allows you to climb up tall things and eliminate enemies by a scratch attack. Other power ups include the fire shooter, boomerang, super-leaf, mega mushroom, and propeller block. You will initially start off with normal size and getting hit by an enemy or obstacle will set you back a power-up. You can also store one other power up and use it in game. If you don't have a power-up on you, you will revert to the small model and if hit with that, you die. I love how gameplay has been improved and the game feels more fun and less rushed than New Super Mario Bros. U. I like how it saves after every level completed instead of having multilevel intervals auto-save and one time quick save like you had in New Super Mario Bros. U. I liked playing as Luigi and Princess more than Mario and Toad due to Luigi and Princess managing jumps better such as them having some more air time in their jumps. What I also like about gameplay is it has variety, casting away repetitiveness. Play up to four players
Graphics look amazing and environments look so lifelike in their design as this has the best graphics any kind of Mario game can have. I love how detailed Nintendo made these worlds. These environments, characters look so amazing and you can't even describe how great they are. The 3D model for the game gives players more freedom in gameplay and provides a closer look on adventure.
Final verdict for this great masterpiece is a 9.5/10
+Spectacular gameplay and variety
+stunning environments and graphics
+More freedom and control of gameplay
Gameplay consists of platforming gameplay but instead of it being a side scroller, it is fully 3D in angle and gameplay with enemies coming directly towards you instead of having a given path. An enemy sees you, it will charge towards you. You kill enemies via jumping on the enemies. The most noted power up you will receive in this game will be the kitten suit, which allows you to climb up tall things and eliminate enemies by a scratch attack. Other power ups include the fire shooter, boomerang, super-leaf, mega mushroom, and propeller block. You will initially start off with normal size and getting hit by an enemy or obstacle will set you back a power-up. You can also store one other power up and use it in game. If you don't have a power-up on you, you will revert to the small model and if hit with that, you die. I love how gameplay has been improved and the game feels more fun and less rushed than New Super Mario Bros. U. I like how it saves after every level completed instead of having multilevel intervals auto-save and one time quick save like you had in New Super Mario Bros. U. I liked playing as Luigi and Princess more than Mario and Toad due to Luigi and Princess managing jumps better such as them having some more air time in their jumps. What I also like about gameplay is it has variety, casting away repetitiveness. Play up to four players
Graphics look amazing and environments look so lifelike in their design as this has the best graphics any kind of Mario game can have. I love how detailed Nintendo made these worlds. These environments, characters look so amazing and you can't even describe how great they are. The 3D model for the game gives players more freedom in gameplay and provides a closer look on adventure.
Final verdict for this great masterpiece is a 9.5/10
+Spectacular gameplay and variety
+stunning environments and graphics
+More freedom and control of gameplay
New Super Luigi U
New Super Luigi U was released on June 20, 2013 as a DLC add on for New Super Mario Bros. U and then released hard copy in July 2013(August 25, 2013 for North America). New Super Luigi U's gameplay and engine are the same as New Super Mario Bros U. New Super Luigi U's map is the same as New Super Mario Bros. U but the former's level designs are shorter, look different, and also have a 100 second timer.
Gameplay is the same platforming gameplay as New Super Mario Bros. U where you hop on enemies to kill them and avoid falling or getting hit. Power-ups are the same such as raccoon flying and fire suits for examples. You can also play as Nabbit who cannot be killed by enemies, which seems awesome for a 100 second time limit as you can just run through the level and not worry about running into enemies nor running out of time so long as you just run. First of all, new Super Luigi U is ruined by the 100 second time limit which makes you rush through the level. Second, New Super Luigi U's hardcopy is $29.99 while the DLC version is cheaper. The map is the same but the levels are designed differently and though I feel the 100 second time limit should be extended by more than 60 seconds, I feel shorter levels have worked out for me as you're not worrying and going over and over again about hitting unexpected hard bostacles that can easily kill you. Of course, one power-up downgrade is made when hitting a hazard(other than the straight to death falling).
Graphics, music, and sounds are the same as New Super Mario Bros. U with graphics being HD and sounds being great. Like New Super Mario Bros U, New Super Luigi U manages to keep the side-scrolling platforming gameplay great with HD graphics. Movements are more real and frame rates are better than they were for SNES.
New Super Luigi U isn't bad but it does have the disappointment of having a 100 second time limit. I think Nintendo can change that with an update to increase the time limit by 60-100 seconds more. It was a big mistake to make gamers rush through the level with a 100 second time limit!
Final verdict for this game is 7.7/10
+Great New Level Designs
+Nabbit's Ability
-100 second time limit giving you rushed feeling of game
-Recycled Map
-Somewhat Lack's Originality
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