Eighth Generation Frenzy

As PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ready for release this Holiday season, another PC styled console was recently revealed just weeks ago. Google has yet to reveal their android console.

I've read on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_(eighth_generation) that Valve Corporation's recently revealed Steam Machine wasn't listed as being a major console, which is shameful since the Steam Machine is even more powerful than Wii U, Ps4, and XOne. While the Steam Machine won't see release until next year, some of it's specs are higher than even that of the PlayStation 4.

Also, Nvidia Shield despite having the best performance and greatest potential is stuck being in the Other category of handheld consoles. I know Nvidia Shield is lacking in game selection compared to it's potential to stream PC games from Steam for example. Shield is the future of handheld gaming as it not only provides a valuable handheld gaming experience, but makes it feel like the quality of a home console. 3DS and Vita can't do what Shield can. Plus, Shield plays android games too.

Why should Steam Machine be listed as being a major console? First of all, take a look at the specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-4770, i5-4570, and i3
• Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan, GTX 780, GTX 760, and GTX 660
• Graphics card RAM: 3 GB GDDR5
• Main RAM: 16 GB DDR3-1600
• Hard drive: 1 TB storage/8 GB SSD cache hybrid drive
• Power: 450 W power supply
• Measurement: 12" × 12.4" × 2.9" high (30.5 cm × 31.5 cm × 7.4 cm)

These specs look more advanced than PlayStation 4 by double. Steam Machine will also be able to play major games such as Assassins Creed IV and Watch Dogs for example via Steam. Steam Machine will integrate PC gaming with console gaming as PC gamers will no longer have to worry about PC performance when playing games. This will however be digital media only via Steam. 

The Steam Machine will even have it's own controller that has the accuracy and works like a mouse/keyboard with a touchscreen in the center. The Steam controller will replace the analog sticks with touchpad functionality to increase accuracy. Just slide your finger towards the desired direction. I do feel however that the Steam controller has an unusual button placement as the 4 buttons on other controllers are made to the right hand in the shape of a +. the steam controller has the buttons centered around the touchscreen. Well, at least it isn't centered around the analog stick styled pads. However, I feel the Steam controller is an awesome concept meant to change the dynamics of console controllers, already making Dualshock controllers obsolete. I'll be willing to give the unorthodox design a chance.

The Steam Machine however is at prototype stage and will not be out until next year. Steam Machine however will bring PC gaming to the living room and do as no other home console has ever done before. Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam Machine have their own advantages in which some will be better than others in some areas such as games and performance while for example the PlayStation 4 is predicted to exceed competition overall.

Why can't Steam Machine be considered a major home console? Conclusion on this here is the Steam Machine is within the area of 8th generation specs, doubling that of PS4 and Xbox One while being 8 times more than that of Wii U. Steam Machine doesn't belong under Other along with the micro consoles such as GameStick and Ouya. Stop being so unfair to PC gamers by listing Steam Machine as Other! Steam Machine will be just as competitive as PlayStation 4 due to it's high hardware specs and long selection of games via Steam. Another thing to mention is Steam Machine will eliminate the worries of PC handling of games as Steam Machine will be the same hardware compared to the varying of PC hardwares. Now, it will cost less to play PC games as you won't need to buy a high end gaming PC. Developers will find it easier to develop PC games now that there's a single hardware available working like a gaming PC.
  Nvidia Shield is the future of handheld and even home consoles as it has huge potential in ways Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita couldn't fathom. Shield has the ability of not only an android but also to stream PC games to it. Numerous smash hit PC games can be played on Shield such as Dishonored, Bioshock Infinite, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Saints Row 3 & 4, Call of Duty Black Ops II, and many others. You can play Nvidia Shield on your TV like a home console. Shield has much more potential than the 3DS and Vita have combined as Shield has more button controls, lighter weight, and slicker design. Shield is a merge of handheld and home consoles but should be considered handheld because it's design is more handheld than home console despite having PC potential.

 As for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, eBay is your best way to find ones still available for pre-ordering, even launch day editions can be found on eBay.

Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 review

For Wii U, this Sonic & Mario Winter Games is a game based off the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The game features several modes such as tournament, single match, and internet multiplayer modes for example but that's not limited too. Forgive me for forgetting what they're called exactly but I do know many of the events include skiing, bobsledding, figure skating, hockey, etc. Characters include those from the Mario and Sonic series such as Mario, Luigi, Sonic, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, Wario, Princess Peach, Bowser, Tails, Amy, and more. I like how this game has variety and while the events may not mirror the Sochi 2014 events, they will certainly have an enjoyable gaming experience.

Gameplay and controls work well and you will find yourself switching between the Wii remote and Wii U gamepad which rely almost all the time on motion sensing. The motion sensing works great and the tutorials tell you which controls to use without figuring out yourself or looking for controls in instruction booklet. I like how well this game was programmed. There's also some multiplayer events such as the 4 man bobsled which has four players pushing the big bobsled down co-op style.

Graphics and display look amazing for it's format as Sonic and Mario characters are supposed to resemble cartoon characters, having great resemblances to their designs. While most will find it hard to recognize it's Sochi due to the environments looking more generic than Sochi, Russia, the environments look like beautiful arenas and I like the nighttime look to it in some of the events as well, reminding me of Christmas cheer.

For a game based off the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sonic and Mario make a game like this better if the gameplay is fun. Each character has different specs which makes the game better. Most of the games will require you use the Wii remote.

Regular Show Mordecai & Rigby in 8-Bit Land

For Nintendo 3DS only. 8-Bit Land is a game based off of Regular Show.

Premise of this game includes Mordecai and Rigby as usually being assigned menial work by Park manager Benson. Mordecai and Rigby slack off by playing a new retro video game system which they begin playing but are sucked into the TV with Mordecai and Rigby navigating their way out of the 8-Bit world while facing enemies and obstacles.

Gameplay resembles that of Super Mario Bros. You play as either Mordecai and Rigby but can switch in game between both of them. Both have certain exclusive skills such as Rigby fitting through small spots, and Mordecai jumping higher. Controls are very simple as this game doesn't have much to talk about in terms of gameplay. You can also collect Golden VHS tapes, money, tape recorders, and even the power up that allows you to shoot mega punches to eliminate enemies, similar to some combat power ups in Super Mario Bros. You can usually eliminate enemies via jumping on them like in Super Mario Bros. You will lose a life and start back at either beginning of level or at checkpoint should you get hit by enemy or jump into an abyss. Lose all lives and it shows Mordecai and Rigby banging on the TV screen begging to escape. You play Mordecai and Rigby simultaneously meaning it's a simple single-player game only  and you switch between the two character at any point in the game. There will be several boss battles between Worlds such as Regular Show antagonists like the 8-bit monster and the audio cassette.

Display here concerns graphics, design, and appeal. Graphics and display here are meant to resemble classic NES style with Regular Show design being used. Noises sound 8-bit but the music is repetitive as there is no other game music aside from the single 30 second long loop of the same music. Level designs look like that of Regular Show episodes with the designs of Mordecai and Rigby looking like spitting images. I like how the levels remind you of Regular Show from Cartoon Network itself. The designers of this game though they made this game casual, made it so it would feel like Regular Show and the game actually makes sense for both a side scrolling platformer and a game based off of a cartoon series.

The game feels short compared to New Super Mario Bros. U and 8-Bit Land could easily be an iOS/Android game since it's so casual in nature and easy to develop for limited hardware systems. You won't see this game on any other consoles besides the 3DS. When I first heard of this game I though it was going to be an internet flash game but it turns out it's a 3DS only game. Despite Regular Show 8-Bit Land's great functionality and charmingly simple gameplay that fully works, I feel that games like this need to have a chance for iOS and Android development due to it's simple nature. Handheld consoles like the Nintendo DS are getting obsolete in it's form and in the near future game developers for simple games will most likely prefer iOS and Android devices over handhelds like the 3DS and Playstation Vita. Compare 8-Bit land to Angry Birds and you'll see that they fare nearly all similarities in gameplay, graphics, and content minus platforming vs. sling shot style gameplay.

There's really not much to do in this game and if it were an Android or iOS title, it would be only under $8, instead of $29.95. Best things about this game include it's resemblance of Super Mario Bros. in terms of gameplay plus resemblance of Regular Show with respect to display and graphics. Bad things however include repetitive music, feeling short, and why it won't reach iOS and Android systems despite having the price cut by more than 67%.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes review

For Windows, Nintendo DS & 3DS, Playstation Vita, Wii U, Playstation 3 & 4, Xbox 360 & One.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes is a Lego game based off the Marvel franchise. This game includes over 100 playable characters including Hulk, Iron Man, Deadpool, Black Widow, Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-man, and Thor for examples. Don't forget about the remarkable voice acting including voice actors Phil Lamar, Robert Craig Smith, Dee Bradley Baker, Troy Baker, and John DiMaggio just to name a few.

Gameplay between portable and console versions differs as the portable versions are linear and do NOT include freemode unlike the console versions which have a more complex structure. Gameplay mechanics are typical of any 2010's Lego game such as Lego City Undercover where you smash Legos to get nuts for fueling your health and other power-ups. Each superhero for both games has their own abilities and powers such as Hulk's Super Smash and Spider-man's Webs. Controls are very decent as they can easily be worked with plus more challenges in both portable and console versions. Also bring another player as you switch between two different characters, each having special abilities. I like how each character is unique and looks fantastic. The Hulk looks very big and muscular despite this being Lego's.

The game can feel too challenging at time and even feel like a chore, which is a setback to this game. Examples I've ran into are for the console version I wasn't able to figure out how to wet the sand wall in the Grand Central Station part which is at the beginning of the game. I like that this game has puzzles just like Lego City Undercover but I've searched everywhere to find something and the closest thing to water is the pipe near a door which I have to figure out how to open but I don't know what I'm supposed to use. Iron-Man and Hulk are the first characters you use in console versions. Can't Iron-Man just fly over the wall and Hulk smash it? C'mon! It's common sense! The portable version has you needing to acquire gold bricks which are gained by completing objectives in platform style levels. However I've found the camera angles to be somewhat constricting as it's semi-top down at a bird's eye view. The portable version although linear and shorter is more simple and easier.

Graphics for both portable and console versions vary. Examples would include DS, 3DS, and Vita versions having bird's eye view and lesser resolution graphics that aren't bad actually as compared to previous portable games, while the console version graphics will range from standard(Xbox 360-PS3) to HDMI(Wii U, PS4, Xbox One) for examples. Designs for environments and characters look so real for a Lego game and the 2010's Lego engine makes Lego games like Undercover and Marvel Superheroes the best Lego games of all time. The framerate and movements for example are smooth and thinned out to make gaming experience look and feel pleasant as you play. One problem with camera angles is it doesn't control like a third person game and only looks towards one direction regardless of which direction the character is facing. I feel that should be addressed for the 2010's Lego engine.

This incredible yet somewhat too hard of a game makes The Incredibles look juvenile. Lego Marvel Super Heroes gets an 85/100 for it's amazing graphics, awesome design, great gameplay, while occasionally feeling like a chore.

Just Dance Kids 2014 review

For Wii, Wii U, and Xbox 360.

Just Dance series got not only a new game but a new Kids version as well, being the third installment in the Kids lineage of Just Dance games. In reviewing this game, I find this game is a more watered down and more limited and casual game than Just Dance 4.

Gameplay consists of doing dance moves to over 30 different watered down kid style songs from bands and singers such as Wiggles, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, One Direction, etc. There are four modes which consist of Shake and Freeze, Just Dance, Balloon Pop, and Team Point Dance. Just dance consists of the simple mode of dancing for a high score. The dance moves are side scrolling towards the center of the screen to see what dance moves to make. It was hard for me with the Wii remote in just one hand to articulate most of the moves as you may have to switch hands quickly with the remote. Plus, you'll have to in order to articulate most of the time mirror image the moves as swinging with the left hand could be considered doing so with the right hand. This game makes it hard to do moves perfectly and most players will probably only get just one star. Shake and Freeze is the same as Just Dance mode but with sequences in having to shake the Wii remote and stop when told to do so. Sounds easy but the challenge lies in your attention span. Balloon Pop has you doing correct moves to inflate balloon into popping in which you must then shake the Wii remote to collect stars, which raise your score. I like this mode as it really gives some more gist to it. I don't know exactly how Team Dance goes but I feel it has something to do with multiplayer and it is multiplayer such as for some songs having another player.

I feel the controls are flimsy and the game itself is very casual and limited compared to Just Dance 4. Having no unlockables nor progressions. Just scores. Any hardcore gamer would be repelled by this and even casual gamers would find this game very short after going through the songs. Just Dance 4 looks hardcore compared to Just Dance Kids 2014. But what do you expect with water down singing in which some of the songs will sound nothing like the original. I know it's supposed to be juvenile as it's targeted towards kids but you don't have to water down songs. You can simply choose songs that don't have explicit or non-kid friendly songs for the game since most songs in this game are pop songs. Though the Kinect use may seem better since you just use your body, you will still have the same difficulties.

Graphics and display are suitable with live action dancers fitting the theme of the song. With the "Footloose" song you have a countryside background and country dress. I like it better when the dancers look real instead of being shaded weird color filters like in Just Dance 4. I don't see anything wrong with graphics and display with live action actors making the movements.

While Just Dance Kids 2014 isn't terrible, it's not great either but is at least playable with the exception of some flimsy controls and watered down singing.

Wii Party U review

For the Wii U, Wii Party U is an amazing multiplayer and party game involving the Miiverse. Could you ask for a better Wii Party U game? I fell not as it involves flexible gameplay and controls plus more HD graphics than Wii Party. Nintendo can keep being profitable in console hardware so long as they can make their consoles appealing for markets.

Gameplay involves House, TV, and GamePad Party modes which have great and somewhat good games for playing. The controls function like the games should in real life such as sports for example. Don't forget about the amazingly fun mini-games that will be the real deal breaker. What I really love is the board games and how fun they are. For some of the Wii U Gamepad games, I find it unnecessary sometimes to hold the Wii U Gamepad vertically instead of horizontally. I also like how this game plays well either single or multiplayer, which is something party games need to be, flexible! A good party game needs to be something memorable and classic. Wii Party U gives the Wii and Wii U something to go one as there would be no Wii styled games without either Wii or Wii U. Nintendo has proven with this game and others like it that it is still worthy of having their own console like Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox series.

Graphics look average to great for a Wii U game as comparing it with Wii and Wii U, you can see the latter has HD while Wii doesn't. It's great this game has the best of both the Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote. The game's graphics and design center around the Miiverse and the characters such as players will look like Mii avatars. I like how Nintendo is able to make the Wii and Wii U unique and what makes Wii Party U amazing is using the Miiverse characters to the fullest, unlike the terrible Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade .

Conclusion here is Wii Party U can substantially relate to the Wii based franchise not just in being a Wii U only game but also part of the Wii franchise like Wii Fit. a marvelous edition to the Wii based family entertainment. Don't forget Wii Party U also has a Wii Remote Plus bundled with it, all for the price of $49.99 in total.

Gyrobot Experimental Kit review

Gyrobot is an experimental robot that can be made into different forms emulating different robotic experiments. However, I wish to state how the robots works overall.

Just how does this work. After putting it together like Legos, the gyrobot once turned on will start moving and balancing itself on it's own. I do however feel the wheels start up too slowly as it really is disappointing, even for a toy robot. The robot does however balance itself despite having it's wheels be disproportionate to it's upper height. I like how that was done. It was smart to have the robot balance on it's own. however it's main problem is how slowly it starts and stops. Many electronics don't work that way. Imagine having a game be designed where it had slow loading screens!

You can put the Gyrobot together different ways according to directions in the booklet. I chose to stick with the most common design being the one that looks on the box. Don't forget that unless the bot is fully moving, it will need some support or it will fall to whatever surface it's on. It has a neat design to it and it's head looks similar to that of Iron-Man's. Gyrobot was also easier to assemble compared to the 600+ Lego pieces for some sets.

Conclusion is Gyrobot is awesome but it's robotic wheel structure is cryptic in starting and stopping.