Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | The Multiplayer Experience As Seen By A Returning CoD Player

I know you guys, and gals have likely got a million questions running through your mind if you have not already bought into the new Call of Duty game. You've likely heard that the camping is causing people to cancel their pre-orders, and that the maps are littered with so many camping spots that it forces players to camp. Having currently spent six hours in multiplayer I can say that it is very campy, but that it's more on the side of realism than it is simply an experience built around camping. It is a very tactical war-like multiplayer that makes you advance as if you were in a real war, and to that extent it's not all that bad. Infinity Ward does good to give you all the necessary tools to combat the threats at hand, and offers counter vantage points that level out the playing field no matter which direction either team of players might be approaching from. With the usual gun setup that is very similar to past Call of Duty games in a lot of ways also comes the ability to mount your gun against surfaces Rainbow Six style for sneaky peeking. I'd say, all things considered, this new Call of Duty is a mixture of the old CoD experience, Rainbow Six Siege, and Battlefield. Borrowing a little from each in a well balanced format that is most definitely an esports worthy venture.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Driven Out | A Straightforward Side-Scrolling Souls-Like Experience

NoPest Production's "Driven Out" is what I like to call a straightforward side-scrolling Souls-like experience. The premise is simple, but the execution thereof extremely difficult to master. Basically, as a female protagonist driven out of her village for undisclosed reasons you must journey out into the world fighting anything, and anyone that you confront. This includes everything from medieval soldiers, and peasants to mythical creatures. Using only a sword dropped by an initially combative, and elusive knight in armor this lady villager must ultimately progress ever forward while utilizing a tool of witchcraft she stumbled upon that allows her to place a sort of resurrection marker for when she falls in battle. As long as the marker has the energy, and remains undamaged by the assailants she can continue where the witchcraft contraption has been placed. Making it a checkpoint for progress sake. Thus is the gimmick of the game.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Minotaur Arcade Vol.1 | Trippy Arcade Action For The PS4

Llamasoft continues their trend of trippery with this micro-collection of arcade tribute games for the PS4, and PSVR consoles. Going from "Polybius" to what could best be described as a virtual assault on the senses "Minotaur Arcade Vol.1" brings to the gamer two hard to master experiences burdened by blinding colors, flashing lights, and oldschool chiptune sounds. Something I couldn't see being all too pleasant in VR, but definitely doable in the standard console format. Epilepsy, and seizure potential aside. With the budget priced package that is this game you get both "Gridrunner" and "Goat Up", collectively. Both in standard PS4 format as well as PSVR format. The titles alone are probably confusing to anyone reading this, but one is a shmup, and the other a tough as nails platformer.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Pig Eat Ball | Grotesque Game Of Gluttonous Gobbling

Mommy's Best Games once again delivers an indie of insane proportions. A grotesque game of gluttonous gobbling. This time it is centered around a junction of connected space stations, the Cake King who is the ruler of them all, and his daughter to be wed, Princess Bow. For whatever reason the king decides it's high time his daughter, who happens to be a pig, gets married. To find a suitable suitor he plans on hosting a series of challenges. Learning of his plans Princess Bow decides to enter the contest herself in disguise to keep from having her dreams of getting out, and exploring the universe to be dashed to bits. And thus it is through these disguises that she gains abilities that will help her better suction tennis balls like a Hoover vacuum cleaner as she attempts to collect them all in order to win the pearls that it takes to advance to the next part of the competition. As you will find out this is done by taking on clam challenges, winning medals for timed completion, and objective based goals bested. The competition along the way is varied, and the challenges challenging. You'll find Princess Bow facing simple ball collecting challenges, racing against the clock to collect balls, and even fighting for survival in challenges filled with bacon letting hazards that will keep Princess Bow from collecting what needs to be collected. Supposing you are able to help her through though she will come out on top as the victor, and not be made to marry her life away.

The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors | An Updated Port From The Arcades To The PS4

Hailing from a time when local Arcades were still a thing, and co-op 4 player brawlers were the trend there existed Taito's, "The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors". A game meant to be played in the company of friends on a weekend when school wasn't in session, or even during after school hours. Staying true to the Arcade experience of the late 80's that it was born from this port brings back in full the fight of three cybernetic assassins at the heart of the story as they face off against a nation's corrupt leader named Banglar, and his loyal regime. As a Ninja, a Kunoichi, and a Kamaichi the game tasks you, and your joining friends to battle the enemy as they come in from all sides, and in all kinds of forms. It's seven stages of challenging mob style gameplay, and one final fight with easy to understand mechanics that will allow you complete the entire set of operations, stylishly. 

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Indivisible | An RPG And Metroidvania Hybrid Of Colorful Proportions

From Lab Zero Games, the creators of Skullgirls, comes an RPG hybrid about a rambunctious teenage girl named Ajna who finds herself as a part of a haunting mystery that one day comes calling. Training under the tutelage of her father Indr, the village elder, she learns the ways of combat. All while wondering who her father really is, and why her mother died when she was younger. As fate would have it a ruler of a certain kingdom sends his lieutenant to destroy the disobedient population of the Ashwat village shortly after one of Ajna's training sessions. The very village where Ajna, and her father live. In his murderous rampage Dhar, the lieutenant sent to plunder, kills Ajna's father leaving her with a lot more unanswered questions, and a fight that she will thankfully not have to face alone. Utilizing a mysterious undiscovered power activated in the heat of battle Ajna captures certain people of interest including Dhar, and has them fighting on her side as she makes her way to face off against the man who had her father killed. It's with this interchangeable army of individuals, and assisting acquaintances that Ajna will be able to see her mission through to the end. That, and some abilities she gains along the way through her journey of discovery, and maturity.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Valfaris | A Metal Game That Will Test Your Mettle



Valfaris is a game that takes it's focus from it's own namesake. It is a 2D action-platformer of a Contra persuasion that is centered around a paradise gone dark, and the son of it's king who returns to it in order to try, and figure out why it is the way it is. Valfaris is the location at which this game takes place, and Therion is the protagonist with which you'll face what lies in wait. Armed with a trio of weapons, and other useful abilities such as a shield Therion must brave the darkness infested wilds of Valfaris as he journeys forth to find his father, or at the very least what happened to him. The road from beginning to end is wrought with perils in the form of environmental hazards as well as bosses, and lesser creatures. An adventure that's made all the more impressive by masterful pixel art, and Celtic Metal music made just for this experience.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Burgertime Party! | A Retro Based Remake Done Justice

Do you like burgers? Do you like the cartoony Cuphead character style art? Do you like puzzle platformers? Do you like it all with a side order of local multiplayer? If you do chances are you'll like this re-imagining of Data East's retro Burgertime experience. Complete with four fully fledged modes of play that are playable solo, and with up to three other players you'll be tasked as Pepper Pete to take on the Food Foes as well as both of said characters as they clash in the ultimate food fight party extravaganza. You'll find that along with the new art direction, new modes of play, and new challenges comes a Solo, Main, Challenge, and Battle Burger option where perfecting your playthrough is the key to a high score. Whether you are trying to earn the gold star ranking, the trophies for feats accomplished, or are going classic with higher tiers of difficulty for that global leaderboard position you'll need to master your maneuvers across obstacle laden ladder accessible towers as you use pepper to fend of fiendish Food Foes in an attempt to make burgers layer by layer. It is not an easy undertaking as this time around pepper is somewhat limited, and the environmental hazards to overcome while you dodge Mr. Hotdog, Mr. Pickle, Mr. Egg, and Mr. Donut are aplenty.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Family Tree | Trajectory Based Puzzle Platforming With A Fruity Twist

Perhaps one of the most interesting platformers I've ever played comes in the form of, "Family Tree" from Infinite State Games. This pinball meets platforming experience featuring a fruity family torn apart by a sinister sugar skull named Pedro really takes the cake. With added music of an interesting variety including dub-step, and acid house it's a trippy experience to say the least. One that will have you playing through 128 increasingly challenging levels across four theme inclusive seasons while taking on side challenges, and an endless climbing mode for up to four players. As you command the role of Mister, and Misus Fruits whose children were abducted by the nefarious Pedro you will need to quickly ascend the towering tree innards before you via cannon catapults as you dodge wacky enemies, and odd obstructions keeping you from collecting that which will mean perfection for the playthrough rescues at hand. Both the fruity children themselves, and the 4 coins per level that hover ever so conveniently within the hollowed out tree structures included.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Alliance Alive HD | An Upscaling Of An Amazing JRPG Adventure

Mirroring the evils of society, and the governing bodies of today's real world, 'Alliance Alive' brings to us a familiar plot premise told through classic RPG gameplay, and enhanced HD visuals. Complimented by added mechanics paying homage to RPGs of the past, and others that are somewhat new to the genre as well as specific to this experience. As the game opens up through visually enhanced cutscenes, textual art panel inclusive storytelling, and in-game character interactions we find a fantasy world plagued by the invasion of  Daemons, and divided realms born from a resulting barrier where beast folk enforce the laws without mercy. Leaving humans to be the last underground resistance to the oppressive darkness, and the rule thereof. In the midst of the darkened skies, and society's downfall there lies hope in the guise of a girl named Azura, her childhood friend Galil, her father Wyatt, and the guilds that will join in an alliance to find the blue skies of a thousand bygone years. It's a story of hope enduring, and the final fight for freedom. One we all can relate to.