Video Game: Video Reviews

 

Thinking about dropping $60 on a game and not sure if it’s worth the money?

Been excited about the next game in a series but are unsure if the developers have lived up to the original?

We you sir/ma’am, are in need of a good video game review.  I’ve found that there exists quite a drastic difference in quality of video game reviews and since I’m an excessive compulsive researcher, I’m here to show you the ones that I think are the best.  While I don’t always agree with the reviewers, and you’ll notice they don’t always agree with each other, they do a good job informing you of the strengths and weaknesses of any game, allowing you to make the final decision.

1) IGN

IGN has long been my go to for video game reviews and their format has largely been unchanged. Reviewer voice-over discussing a game’s strength’s and weaknesses over actual gameplay footage.  Then a numerical score out of 10 followed by a summary of the main points.  It’s a classic formula that works really well.  Recently they’ve added review discussion, and review in progress videos that you can find on their website should you wish to learn more.  I’ve found IGN to be the most likely to have posted a review on a game, even for less well known pc games.

Example: Halo 5

 

2) Gamespot

I’ve known about Gamespot for about as long as I’ve been playing video games.  Their review helped me as an twelve year old, decide to save up for Command & Conquer Generals back in the day.  Their videos used to have reviewers on camera, explaining the game with interspersing of the footage, but they have in the past few years switched to a format like IGN that has no talking heads. Gamespot also has a pretty expansive list of games covered and you can usually find writeups and news of even the most obscure games.

Example: Star Wars Battlefront

 

3) GT Reviews

GT Reviews is a Youtube only review channel that seems to have cropped up in only the last few years.  Very well done, and informative, GT Reviews tend to be slightly more detailed than IGN and Gamespot and therefore clock in at slightly longer.  They are still very well done and worth watching if you are seriously considering a game.

(Update 6/10/2016: IGN recently purchased GT Reviews and while they are not removing their vast collection of reviews, it appears that they may no longer be making new reviews)

Example: The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt

 

Other Sources:

Looking for more details on a game you are seriously considering?  The following two are excellent sources that publish well written text reviews and occasionally a video review or blurb.  Since I can’t count on them making a video review for a particular game, I usually only use them as a secondary source of info.

4) Polygon

 

Hit or miss whether they do a video review or not, but there is always a review write up.

5) Kotaku

A blog style format in keeping with other Kinja websites  (Gizmodo or IO9).  Often the first to break news.

Book Blurb: Rogues

Authors: Multiple (See Below)

Year: 2014

Rogues is a collection of short stories by some of the most famous names in modern sci-fi/fantasy literature organized and edited by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.  The stories are collected by theme, this one focussing on Roguish characters.

Two of my favorite author’s contributed to this anthology and below are my thoughts on these short stories.  Spoiler alert… they’re awesome.

 

 

The Lightning Tree by Patrick Rothfuss

60 pages

This story is the reason I even picked up the book, and it doesn’t disappoint.  While it doesn’t delve into Kvothe’s story like the Kingkiller Chronicles Trilogy, it does follow a day in the life of Bast, one of the more enjoyable and mysterious characters.  Bast spends much of his day trading answers or favors with town’s children for seeming innocuous tasks that pay off in the end.  Coupled with his dalliances with local women, Bast is brilliantly realized in this short story.

While you’ll enjoy this without reading any of the Kingkiller Chronicles, you won’t fully appreciate it until you’ve read at least The Name of the Wind.

Award for the Story with the Biggest Player in Fantasy: Bast

Also Town with Most Horny Women: Newarre.

A Year and A Day in Old Theradane by Scott Lynch

42 Pages

Scott Lynch is brilliant in world building and portraying characters that thrive on the other side of the law in his Gentleman Bastard Series, and this short story is no exception.  Taking place in the city of Theradane, we are introduced to a band of retired thieves that fall back into one last, seemingly impossible job.  Every snippet of the world that pops up begs for more details and the characters that are introduced make me want a full series to be written around them.

This story has no connection to Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard Series, though it begs for  an entire series to be built around it.

Award for the Most Creative Solution to an Impossible Task: Spoiler

Most Important Lesson: Don’t insult a powerful wizard.

 

Full List of Authors in Rogues Anthology

Authors I’ve Read and Love:

• Patrick Rothfuss
• Scott Lynch
• Garth Nix

Authors I’ve Heard of and Should Read:

• George R. R. Martin
• Joe Abercrombie
• Neil Gaiman

Authors I Probably Should Have Heard Of:

• Gillian Flynn
• Matthew Hughes
• Joe R. Lansdale
• Michael Swanwick
• David W. Ball
• Carrie Vaughn
• Bradley Denton
• Cherie Priest
• Daniel Abraham
• Paul Cornell
• Steven Saylor
• Walter Jon Williams
• Pills Eisenstein
• Lisa Tuttle
• Connie Willis

Marvel & DC Movie Infographic

This weekend X-Men Apocalypse opens in theaters becoming the 3rd major superhero movie this year and the 9th X-Men movie to date.   But not too long ago Captain America Civil War just came out and though the Avengers and X-Men share the pages in the comics, they don’t share screen today.

What’s the deal?  Well while DC comic heroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman etc…) are all made by Warner Brothers, Marvel sold many of the movie rights to their heroes (X-Men, Spider-Man, Hulk etc…) in the early 90s and many movie studios have tried making films throughout the years.

Then Marvel decided to try their hand at making movies and who would have known the success the Avengers films would have been.  Now all other studios that own superhero properties are trying to emulated the shared universe success of Marvel’s films.

Below I’ve compiled a chart showing what movies and shows are related to others.   Click the link below for the high res image.  Hope you enjoy!  Feel free to share!

Click Here to View High Res Image

PS-If you’re viewing it on a phone, I suggest saving the image so you can zoom and explore it all you want then feel free to delete it when you’re done.

Board Game Blurb: Formula D

Publisher:  Asmodee

Players:   2-10

Game Type:   Racing Game

 

 

 

Formula D is a fun reprint of an older French game titled Formula Dé, where players compete in both street car and formula one races using dice.  Each player get’s a gearbox and tiny car, and every turn they roll dice to see how far their car moves.  Depending what gear you are in, you can roll a variety of dice sizes, with higher gears corresponding to larger dice.  The one obstacle to just shifting up and blowing through the track comes from the turns.  Depending on the complexity of the turn, each player must stop a certain amount of times within the turn or take damage and possibly blow up.  Downshift too low however, and you won’t be able to accelerate as fast as others in the straight.

The game really is a series of choices, play a turn conservatively and risk getting passed, or push it a bit and risk blowing up.  Often you can’t tell whether it paid off till the checkered flag in the end.  The game comes with two large boards/race tracks with more available for purchase.  Furthermore the rules allow for all levels of complexity with even allowances for custom cars, weather, slip-streaming, hazards etc.

Overall I think this is an excellent, unique title that is great for the board game/car enthusiast.   The game box says it allows up to ten players but I’d recommend playing with less because it can take a little bit for the turn to come back around.  Furthermore, if your playing with only 2 or 3 players, I’d recommend giving each person two cars, that way they aren’t eliminated if a car explodes on them.

Award for the Game that Makes You Feel Like a Race Car Driver: Shake’n’Bake

Most Heart-Pounding Dice Rolls: When you realize half the numbers on the dice you are about to roll can cause your car to explode.

Curious how the game plays?  Well the game was featured on Geek & Sundry’s Tabletop Show.

Uncharted 4… and Other Games with Great Stories

This week, Naughty Dog studios launched the 4th and final chapter of the Uncharted video game series.  To those who aren’t familiar with Uncharted, you play as Nathan Drake, famed archaeologist/adventurer/thief extraordinaire who travels around the world in search of lost treasures in exotic locals.  While the games are full of stunning visuals, fun game play and awesome action set pieces, what truly elevates the Uncharted series to next level is the compelling narrative presented through the game.

Many who aren’t familiar with video games in general, may not realize that video games have become a medium by which to convey compelling stories.  Video games have their roots in the old pen and paper role-playing games that were in many ways just shared story telling.  So with that in mind, let me share with you (in no particular order) some of my favorite stories told by video games.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Naughty Dog, 2016

PS4

Let’s get this one out of the way first.  The final chapter in Nathan drake’s story, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is full of what you’d expected from an Uncharted game.  Plenty of fun puzzles, stunning visuals, and exciting action can be found in this game, but more than that,  Uncharted 4 tells a personal story, that is deeply satisfying.  While the basic plot outline shares many of the same points as the previous games (ie a race to find the mcguffin in a lost city before the evil boss and henchmen do…) it is the personal interactions and character arcs in which Uncharted’s story telling truly excels.

When we first meet Nathan Drake in the first game, he was a typical Indian Jones-like action star.  Over the course of Uncharted 1-3 however, Drake becomes a more complex character as you discover how a young orphan boy who found a purpose in the old stories of treasure and history became the man you see in the games.  The 4th chapter builds upon these developments as well as those seen in other supporting characters, namely Elena (Drake’s primary love interest) and Sully (Drake’s oldest friend and father figure).  The game also remarkably makes you care about Sam, Nate’s lost brother, who is introduced for the first time in this game.  Sam interrupts Nate’s attempt at living a “normal” life and suddenly their off on yet another adventure.  To truly appreciate the fourth game the first 3 need to be played, but the story you get from the entire arc is one of the most beloved in video gaming.

Award for the Most Beautiful Game on This List:  The Madagascar environment especially

Most Amazing Sendoff to a Video Game Character: That epilogue…the feels…

 

 

Mass Effect 2

Bioware, 2010

X360, PS3, PC

Bioware’s Mass Effect trilogy stands as one of the greatest space opera’s not just in video games, but in all media formats.  You are commander Shepherd, a human soldier and humanity’s last hope against an ancient menace.  In the second chapter specifically, you are returned from an apparent death by a shadowy organization that tasks you with a seemingly suicidal mission.  You are given a group of unlikely allies that are each unique and fascinating in their own right.  Coupled with much tighter controls and game play than Mass Effect 1, and unsullied by the controversial ending of Mass Effect 3 (yeah, I wasn’t a fan of that too) Mass Effect 2 often heralded as the best of a very excellent trilogy.

The story is rich in both characters and but also in world building.  The galaxy feels like a lived in place, with a history and a myriad of cultural identities.  I often found myself reading through the massive amount of lore provided in the game.  Furthermore, the game truly allows you agency in the story.  Your various choices will affect the endgame often dictating who among your companions survive.  You owe it to yourself to experience this trilogy.

Award for the Game That Kills You Right off the Bat: Goodbye Normandy SR1

Most Musical Alien: Mordin

 

 

Bioshock

2K Games, 2007

X360, PS3, PC

Bioshock starts off with a mystery.  Your plane crashes in the middle of the Atlantic with the only source of refuge being a mysterious lighthouse rising out the ocean.  From there you are lead into the fascinatingly dark yet beautiful underwater city.  So begins Bioshock, a first person shooter where you delve into the failed utopia of Rapture, as the citizens which tried to become gods have instead become monsters.

Between heavily modified guns and genetic superpowers, you have plenty of ways to defend yourself as you delve into Rapture’s secrets, though the game makes ammo and adam (the source of your powers) relatively scarce, especially early on.  You are constantly on edge as you feel your survival is on the brink throughout the game.  Furthermore, the story sets itself apart by the choice it gives you, directly affecting the game’s endings.  Not only that but there is an incredible plot twist will leave you reeling… Would you kindly play this game.

Award for One of the Most Iconic Video Game Settings: Rapture

Most Thrilling Boss Fight: Taking down your first “Big-Daddy”

 

 

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Bioware, 2003

Xbox, PC, iOs, Android

It’s crazy to me that this game is now old enough to run on your smartphone. but as it stands, this is the game that gives me fond memories of owning the original Xbox. Though the game play is only a few steps removed from a pen and paper RPG (with combat turns and heavy stats), the story is engrossing and you quickly forget about all the mechanics that now feel outdated.

The game takes place thousands of years before the Star Wars movies, where everything is familiar but different.  As a nameless soldier of the Republic, you are quickly caught up in a conflict between the Republic and a Sith Empire lead by the greatest champions of the Jedi that have turned to the dark side.  You will explore worlds both familiar and new, while learning shocking secrets that will make your head turn.  I would go out on a limb and say the twist in the story is one of the single greatest twists in all video games.  If only this story was made into a movie instead of the films we got in the early 2000’s.  If you call yourself a Star Wars fan and still haven’t played this game, you owe it to yourself to download it and play.

Award for the Game with the Most Hilarious Droid: Silly Meatbags

Most Mind Bending Twist: *Spoiler* No, its not about your father…

Book Blurb: The Republic of Thieves (Spoiler Free)

Author:  Scott Lynch

Gentleman Bastard Series:  Book 3

Published:  2013

The 3rd of Scott Lynch’s masterful series, The Republic of Thieves picks up the tale of the master thieves, Locke and Jean after the events of the 2nd book, Red Seas Under Red Skies, leave the pair desperate for answers. While the first two books in the series started off a bit slow, this book takes off running and never slows.

More so than the previous books that were largely self contained tales, Scott uses this 3rd book to set up a unified tale.  He introduces an over-arching mystery regarding the main characters, a nebulous world ending threat hinted on the fringes, and a reoccurring villain that will undoubtedly haunt the main characters in subsequent books.  I personally appreciate that he takes his time to reveal his world and story, not showing us everything in the first, second or even third book, but rewarding those that stick with him throughout.

Scott Lynch continues to write in rare form and I am excited for the four upcoming novels planned for this series.

 

Award for the Book that Finally Introduces the Romantic Interest After Only Hinting at Her for Two Entire Books Already: Oh Sabetha…sigh…

Most Intriguing Frenemy: The Seamstress

Parental Advisory: Strong language, violence and some sexually explicit scenes and dialogue put the entire series as for adults only, although this is nothing if you’re into Game of Thrones.

 

Board Game Blurb: King of Tokyo

Publisher: IELLO

Players: 2-6

Game Type:  Push Your Luck, Dice Game, Take That

Game Difficulty:   Easy, Family Game

King of Tokyo has recently risen as a popular dice chuckin game, where each player is a monster vying to control the poor city of Tokyo.    The game utilizes dice, in a similar fashion to Yahtzee, where the different combinations of symbols allow you to punch other monsters, heal your wounds, upgrade your monster, or score victory points to win the game.  Like Yahtzee, you can re-roll as many that you like dice up to two times to try to get the combinations you want.

The big strategy comes from controlling Tokyo.  While in Tokyo, you gain points for conquering it and holding it each of your turns.  Also while in Tokyo, you can punch every other monster simultaneously, but you can’t heal and every other player can punch you making it very risky to be there.  If you hit the monster in Tokyo, they can choose to leave the city, which drags you in, so you better be ready to become the new target of the rest of the table.

“I will retake Tokyo, Meka Dragon.”

This game has all the hallmarks of an excellent gateway game:

• Simple, easy to learn rules
• Fun, involving gameplay
• Silly, vibrant art and theme
• Excellent components
• Fairly quick game time

I would easily recommend this game to almost any group of gamers.  It’s simplicity makes it a great contender for family game night, or a filler between games in a more advanced game group.  Player’s can and often do get eliminated, but the games are short enough that they are never out for too long.

Expansion: Power Up

I would highly recommend purchasing the power up expansion along with the base game.  It doesn’t add so much complexity that first time players should avoid it, and the new monster is a fun addition.

The real value is in how the expansion changes the monsters.  In the base game, there really is no difference between monsters so it’s really up to personal preference in the art.  With the power up expansion however, each monster has a corresponding evolution deck.  When you roll 3 hearts (healing symbol), you can choose to forgo the healing and instead draw from that deck which contains a mix of permanent upgrades and one time use cards.  With each deck being unique for the monsters, you never know what a player has up his sleeve.  This allows your choice of monster to matter and gives a purpose for rolling hearts in Tokyo.

Overall, King of Tokyo is a light, fun, goofy game that is a great choice if your looking to add to your collection.

Award for the Game with the Most Powerful Bunny:   Cyber Bunny

Most Epic Dice Rolls:  When your opponent needs only one more punch to win the game, but no matter how many times they re-roll it doesn’t show up.

Zombie Comedies… Zomedies?

Need a break from the heavy subject matter on the walking dead?  Let me tell you about three of my favorite zombie flicks that have a much lighter attitude on reanimated corpses.

Warm Bodies

Year: 2013

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1hr 38mins

A tale as old as time… boy meets girl… boy falls in love with girl… boy eats the brain of the girl’s boyfriend…

Did I forget to mention boy is a zombie?

This quirky title is a zombified romance tells a tale about a zombie (Nicholas Hoult) who falls in love with a girl (Teresa Palmer).  The story is told through witty first person dialogue as the zombie tries to relearn what it means to be a human again.

The movie has many funny moments and a warm gooey center that is pretty rare in the genre.  As long as you are okay with quirky premise (as the movie won’t change your mind if your aren’t), the movie is a great watch and is often a favorite for those who aren’t usually into zombies (AKA date night).

Best Bromance: R & M

Award for Movie That Luckily Removes the Love Triangle Early: Poor Dave Franco…

Zombieland

Year: 2009

Rating: R

Runtime: 1hr 28mins

From Jesse Eisenberg’s opening narration to the slow motion zombie kill montage of the opening credits Zombieland sets itself up as a tongue and cheek zombie survival story.

We follow loner, awkward Colombus (Eisenberg) as he meets and befriends other survivors who are all trying to figure out what is next in this zombie-filled world.  Where can we go that is safe?  Will the cute girl I just encounter still ignore me if I’m literally the only guy left? Are there any Twinkies left?  As they travel across the country wrestling with these questions, we see them slowly go from a band of survivors, to a family.

Most Important Rule: Cardio… No wait, Avoid Bathrooms… Wear Seatbelts?  Eh I don’t know.

Award for the Movie with one of the Best Cameos: *Spoiler* you’ll just have to watch it.

Shaun of the Dead

Year: 2004

Rating: R

Runtime: 1hr 39mins

Can I really make a list of zombie based comedies and not include this movie?  With the patented Edgar Wright style of fast cuts and visually interesting film making, this movie is a huge part of what put the comedy duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on the map.

It follows the life of typical everyman Shaun (Simon Pegg) as his life starts to spiral down due to his lack of ambition, his slacker buddy (Nick Frost) and his disappointed girlfriend (Kate Ashfield).  But then the zombie apocalypse strikes London, suddenly Shaun has a chance to be more than he is… Oh and get everyone to the Winchester for a pint.

Best Zombie Selfie: I almost forgot about disposable cameras

Award for the Movie that Makes me Wish America had More Pubs: The Winchester.

 

Book Blurb: The Martian

Author:  Andy Weir

Published:  2014

Described as a love letter to science, this book chronicles the story of Mark Watney, an astronaut in a near future manned mission to mars, mistakenly stranded and forced to survive until rescue.  Originally released as a serial on his website, the Martian carefully keeps to accurate science and feasible technology making it the quintessential Hard Science Fiction novel.

The book is told through two perspectives.  The primary perspective is a first person view told in personal logs where Mark’s hilarious gallows humor and accessible scientific explanations immediately draw you into the narrative.  The book then periodically shifts to a third person omniscient view where NASA and Mark’s former crew realize his plight and race to save him.

The recent movie staring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott, is an excellent adaptation that stays very true to the book (minus some iron man suit puncturing nonsense). If you’ve already seen the movie and enjoyed it, the book is still worth your time as many problems that Watney had to overcome were glossed over or cut completely from the movie due to time constraints.  Furthermore, if you enjoyed the scientific explanations in the movie, the book goes into much greater detail while still remaining accessible.

This book is a must read for not only space and science enthusiasts, but for those interested in compelling characters striving to overcome impossible situations.

Award for the Book that Makes Engineering Cool:   Oh yeah…  and botany too, I guess…

Most Homicidal Planet:   Mars

Parental Advisory:  Super strong, though often hilarious, language

PS-If you enjoyed the book and/or movie, there is a great interview of Andy Weir conducted by former mythbuster Adam Savage below:

Board Game Blurb: Dead of Winter

Publisher:   Plaid Hat Games, 2014

Players:   2-5

Game Type: Co-Op with Possible Traitor

 

Dead of Winter is basically The Walking Dead in board game form.  You and your fellow players control a a small group of survivors that have banded together in a makeshift colony, trying to survive the Zombie apocalypse.  Throughout the game you will be risking your character’s life and limb venturing out to find food, medicine and other supplies all the while wondering if someone is secretly trying to bring the rest of you down.

As with most Co-Op games, there are bunch of ways to lose, but only one way to win.  You and your fellow players have a series of rounds to gather a particular set of items need to win the game all the while making sure the colony has enough food each round, the zombies are kept at bay, the trash hasn’t piled up, raider’s, depression or other random events have been appeased etc…

What differentiates this game from other co-op games is the story elements that make each play through a unique experience.  The objective of each game is randomly drawn from the deck referencing short paragraph’s to read before starting that give a bit of context as to why medicine, guns or food need to be gathered to win.  Furthermore, during each player’s turn, the player on the left draws a “crossroads” card that may or may not trigger every turn.  The crossroads cards are random story events that may be good, bad, or offer a choice the player or entire group must make.  This makes the game feel like you’re playing through a zombie story, with all the random things that happen and need to be adjusted for.

The game is well designed and has well-made components with the “Standees” for zombies and characters being my favorite.  There is a token for everything (no really, everything) and decks galore so no playing on small coffee tables.

This is currently my favorite game even though I’ve only been with a group that has beaten it a handful of times.  I would warn that though the game isn’t incredibly complex, there is so much to explain and keep track of that it feel like drinking out of a fire hose when you are first learning it.  Keep at it though, the game is well worth it.

Award for the Game that Most Makes it’s Players Desperate for Scraps of Food:   Yes, we voted to eat the horse.

Most Heroic Character:  Sparky the stunt dog!  Don’t know how he can hold a shot gun, but that game doesn’t say he can’t!