I, like so many other Call of Duty players, have slacked off on playing Modern Warfare II since launch. The common consensus is that it released in an unfinished state, has some features the community does not like, and has seen little to no significant updates to content or gameplay. Even on the store front things aren't looking all that great. The only upside I find as a committed player is the frantic online multiplayer experience in playlists like Shipment 24/7, or Scrapyard 24/7. They're the only real go to modes for leveling up everything including the battle pass. On the battle pass side of things, things are surprisingly more doable than before despite the heavy XP throttling, and dependency upon XP boosts. I actually feel, and it's odd saying this, that it's easier to complete MWII's battle pass than it is Fortnite's. Fortnite's throttling is beyond ridiculous by comparison.
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II | The Multiplayer Experience
I've followed, reviewed, and supported Call of Duty since it's golden years. Without fail I've played each new release despite my growing concerns over the multiplayer experience. I witnessed the ups and downs of matchmaking, saw skill based matchmaking introduced, and the lobby system in general struggle to maintain a from the start experience. Problems that continue to persist.
With each new release I stuck by my own claims saying that the biggest problem with Call of Duty was not so much the game itself or the gameplay, but the players who were playing it. To an extent that claim has always held true. Multiplayer continues to be what kills the CoD experience over time. From toxic gamers to hackers, and modders it has grown increasingly problematic. Fast forward to MW2, and almost immediately those player problems reared their ugly heads to an extreme, but that was not the only problem this time around ...
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | The Campaign
For those of you who have yet to buy or play through MW2's new campaign you don't have to worry about spoilers here. I will not go into detail about key plot points, story instances, or character roles. I will give you a basic take on the plot, and give you my honest thoughts on my experience with the campaign playthrough ...
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
CoD: MW | Season 6 ... Trick or Treat?
Bringing more treats than tricks Activision, and Infinity Ward's Season 6 of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare battle pass presents some noteworthy additions to the growing cosmetic collection, and arsenal. For $10 you can gain access to the 100 tier grind for what looks to be Call of Duty's coolest season of offerings yet. Somewhat themed for Halloween it includes a bat take down named Edward, several Halloween themed gun blueprints, some Halloween themed baubles (key chains, stickers, emblems), and some new character skins. The skins this time include a Nikolai skin set with a trio of Nikolai disguises. You'll even gain access to the new operator Farrah as well. Freebies are nothing to shake your fists at either. You get two new weapons for the grind including a new bolt action marksman rifle (SP-R 208), and the (AS Val) auto-rifle. Those into the vehicle cosmetics will also find some creepy new Halloween skins that include bloody patterns as well as more monstrous creature designs. There's even a magic watch with a glowing green time display that raises outside of the watch's face.
Saturday, September 5, 2020
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (REVIEW)
Visually enhanced, retro inspired, and modernized for new player experience Activision's "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2" bundle aims to impress. Not only does it include crucial parts of the original releases in the form of memorable in-game content, skaters, and music, but it also adds some things from later entries. Namely Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5. Along with the old, and the new players get more than their money's worth even when putting down fifty dollars for the digital deluxe version. With the price on point, and the fun to be had this remastering of the older greats could very well revitalize interest in the franchise, and steer it back on course to where it should always be.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Call of Duty | 3 Battle Passes In
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4)
The gameplay itself is fairly straightforward though, in all due respect. You play as an aged shinobi named Wolf who was rescued at a younger age, and taught the ways of the shinobi in order to protect his master's young lord. As Wolf you will keep to that task as you forward your mission, and backtrack to unlock portions of the game previously hidden behind key items, and key NPC interactions. Your base of operations is a dilapidated Buddhist temple kept in order by a monk whose prosthetic arm you now don. As your savior early on he guides you with wisdom along with a shrine maiden or rather doctor's assistant, and helps tune-up your prosthetic with new shinobi tools when you find them, and bring them back to him.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (PS4)
Monday, January 1, 2018
A Glance Back At 2017's Games
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Well ... CoD WWII Got Good
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Destiny 2 ~ First Impressions
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The Destiny Update
Monday, November 30, 2015
"Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5" Post-Patch Assessment
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 (PS4)
Past all that, and onto the recent release of "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5" though I have found that while the game has attempted to stay true to it's core standards it deviates somewhat, and sometimes fails at being the more fantastical, and rock solid skateboarding adventure that it once was. Instead of adventurous treks through larger than life skate parks for that high score we have a series of environments that are more true-to-life in size, and centered mostly around a socially interactive experience much like a true skate park would be. Things like online competitive modes, and a new "Create-A-Park" map editor will have you experiencing the game with people from across the globe in a variety of different ways as you show of your virtual skateboarding skills. Even the offline single player which has you gaming by your lonesome offers up social standings in a sort of leaderboard fashion that keeps track of your performance progress, and feats in the limited selection of levels that are made available to you. I think this time Activision really went for that true-to-life skate park appeal, and only added certain arcade style gaming nods into the mix as more of an afterthought. Those missions that have you completing gap lists, and collecting items as well as spelling words are more or less a way to unlock the customization extras which are tied to the game's new skateboarder leveling system. As such the main focus is more about impressing people with your skills, and less about the single player campaign shenanigans.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Destiny - "A Reflection, A Farewell"
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Game Developers, Half-Assed Releases & What To Do About the Issue
We all know as gamers that everything from video games to patches/updates have been being botched, and released regardless of their unsatisfactory condition. This has got to stop. What it all boils down to is pure laziness, a lack of commitment to the product, and a lack of willingness to supply the funds needed to make things right. If you are going to make a game set in an online environment, or even an offline game it is imperative that you get things right from the start, and that you work out all the kinks before it hits shelves. There's no if's, and's, or butt's (I typed it that way on purpose) about it. If you are not willing to fund a team who can get such a job done then you do not need to be releasing the game, or patch in the first place. While I could point fingers, and call names all day I'm going to go a different route, and offer up a viable suggestion that will help get the development process back on the right track, and no it does not require more money to do ...
Monday, November 10, 2014
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare - "Impressions"
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Call of Duty: Ghosts (PS3)
I could complain all day about CoD's long list of faults, but we all know about Infinity Ward's, and Treyarch's stance on the whole thing as well as the poor efforts they apply to making each release an enjoyable one. I also know that you've probably heard everyone share their concerns about the game via the social sites. Opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one. Even so I'm here today to let you know what I think about the whole thing, my two cents worth as it were. I'm going in unbiased, and will try to explain everything in a thorough, and professional manner, so that you can better understand what you're getting into if you have not already bought the game. Without further ado let us get into this ghastly review of the arcade shooter known as "GHOSTS"!!! ...
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Xbox 360): "The Sad Truth"
- Brad (OtakuDante)