BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle Expansion | Bonus DLC For The Right Price

Not too long ago Arc System Works released a big patch to the core BBTAG base game. It was called patch 2.0, and with it came a laundry list of feature, system, and character changes (2.0 Update). This patch was freely given to any owner of the game, and allowed the base players to play against 2.0 characters without having to purchase the additional DLC expansion. The expansion, which this review will be about, comes with 9 additional characters, a newly introduced scenario, new character interactions, and colors. You even get access to special lobby avatars not available in the base game. It's a $24.99 dollar upgrade that holds it's own in value. Normally character DLC would cost you around $7.99 a pop, but with this DLC you get what equates to three new sets of characters plus the bonus content. It's definitely a discount deal in that regard. That having been said if you have yet to get into BBTAG, and are interested in the current full experience there is a full price special edition that will set you back $49.99. The difference is that it includes character DLC 1-7 plus the new expansion. The physical edition, in particular, comes with a code for the new expansion. Needless to say you have choices when it comes to BBTAG 2.0 and it's content.

Gunlord X | 32bit Shoot 'em Up Metroidvania Platforming At It's Finest!

Nostalgia level over 9,000!!! Gunlord X has a lot of good going for it. NG-DEV's improved upon version of the retro Turrican inspired classic comes to life not only with 32Bit oldschool aesthetics intact, but also with new quality of life tweaks, and additional content not originally included. This smooth as butter platforming shmup hybrid with collect-a-thon goals and a quest to save the waifu is one that will no doubt leave a mark in modern gaming history. It is hailed as being the definitive version of the classic. The one that's worth playing, and worth owning. To that extent I think it definitely lives up to the boastful claims. Though it is still extremely challenging, and borderline unforgiving Gordian Gaiden's fight against the demonic soul stealing alien menace known as the "The Master" is one not easily forgotten, or passed up.

Pinball FX3 | William's Pinball Vol. 5 (PS4)

William's Pinball Volume 5 under the Pinball FX3 label continues the tribute trend by treating the players with a trio of new yet old tables. In this collection you'll find two tables by John Popadiuk, and one by Pat Lawlor. Each table in question hailing from the late 1990's, specifically around 1996 and 1997. John's tables are both interesting selections focusing on a more magical set of themes. One table is the "Cirqus Voltaire" Bally release, and the other the "Arabian Nights" table that most of you will be familiar with. Pat's table tribute is one lesser known, but definitely inspired table called "No Good Gofers". A table that reminds me an awfully lot of the old Bill Murray inclusive film, "Caddyshack". As a collective the set of tables is one of unique quality with each table bringing something notably different to the player. Of course the challenges with each also vary as do the many scoring opportunities made available.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare Battle Pass | Impressions

Battle passes have seemingly become a staple of live service games these days. A common creation goal for game developers, and publishers to implement for business sake. On average they'll cost you, at base level, around ten dollars. That, and commitment to grinding for each reward tier in order to be able to get the most out of what you paid for. Most battle passes are centered around experience point earnings, and will utilize the game's XP system in order to make your ascent up the tier ladder either cumbersome or quickly progressed. In the case of Fortnite's battle pass the XP earned is fast tracked via events that allow the players to capitalize on significant bonus XP for completing certain missions or feats. In Modern Warfare's battle pass though you creep along at a snail's pace on a per kill basis in multiplayer or Spec-Ops until you unlock a tier with an XP boost that can be used to amplify your experience points earnings for 30 minutes to an hour. Even with the boost though the grind in MW, per tier, can take several matches to complete, and in a battle pass that is filled with filler rewards such as XP tokens and lesser items it makes the grind to 100 all the more tedious, and demanding of your time. Once you buy into MW's battle pass for 1,100 COD tokens ($9.99), and the season begins you will have 60 days to complete the 100 tier pass, and unlock everything there is to unlock. While the grind is doable if you clear at least 2 tiers per day it is the artificial lengthening of the pass, and the filler materials that take up potential item unlocks that makes the whole thing less than desirable.

My First Fortnite Battle Pass Grind ... Impressions

When it comes to Fortnite I mostly avoided the first chapter, and all of it's seasons. I might have logged on a couple of times to try it out, but my early impressions weren't good. I played mostly solo during chapter one, and the matchmaking was nothing like it is now. It felt like I had no chance at all, and that I was up against the sweatiest of pro players. I couldn't make it to the top 10 no matter how hard I tried. In chapter two the matchmaking seemed to take a turn for the better though, and I actually got two first place victory royales in solo with no building. Before I decided to actually pay up for the battle pass in chapter two I had progressed through half of the battle pass unlocks. Seeing as the matchmaking was more skill based, and I was actually doing well in-game I was willing to give it a chance. Admittedly at first chapter two was fun, and for once I was really into it. I spent a good amount of time fine tuning my approach, and settings to a serious extent. I also learned about the different game modes, and nearly 100% completed the battle pass missions. Currently I'm missing only the special variations for the legendary battle pass skin, and the secret skin that you unlock for completing the series of event missions. I have stopped for the moment, and kind of feel a disconnect after having witnessed a shift in the skill based matchmaking, as well as Epic Games' choice to turn my report option red signifying they are basically ignoring my player reports.

Pinball FX 3 - William's Pinball: Universal Monster Set

The guys, and gals at Zen Studios know pinball. This fact is continuously made evident with each new table set they bring to their pinball platforms. If you haven't followed them in a while you might not know that they've actually begun creating tribute tables of the William's variety as a sort of set extension to their main brand. Each pack which costs roughly around ten dollars for two to three tables comes complete with a table history via textual intro facts, and the usual embellishments that come with the Zen Studios line of original table creations. That as well as the original artistic design. For example with the 'Universal Monster Set' you get a sort of dual design option that keeps the original design in mind as well as an enhanced version complete with the added video game flair Zen Studios is more known for. Point pop-ups, animatronics, holograms, 3D models, and a side dot matrix display where table events unfold in real time along with your achieved high score. Such things as that. With a single pressing of  'CIRCLE' you can effectively switch on, and off visual enhancements as you play. Similar to the way you change the table views, but with a different button. In a way this dual branding gifts the player two different versions of the two included tables. Allowing said players to experience in a more historically accurate way or in the Zen Studios way.

Citadel: Forged With Fire | A Verdict Rewritten

I like to be upfront, and honest when I've made an unfair judgment, or shared something that does not hold true. My recent verdict for Citadel falls in line with that very situation. I had disclosed that the grind on the servers were unfairly balanced according to resources made available, and the pace at which your character levels up. While my claim holds true on some servers there exists other custom servers that allow for fast tracking leveling, and material harvesting. Each server comes labeled accordingly, and through menu toggles you can sort through the various custom lobbies within the listing. Both on the PVE, and PvP side of things. I recently got into a PVE server for my area, and leveling was quickly done as was the harvesting of needed materials. Making it an experience on par with the singleplayer I absolutely adore, but with other online players accounted for. The stress on the servers wasn't bad either though there still exists some lag, and frame rate drops.

Citadel: Forged With Fire | PVP, PVE & A Final Verdict

I've spent some serious time in all three of Citadel's modes of play. I've tried out the easy grind, and the slow and methodical grind. Both offline, and online. For the most part it's the same experience throughout. All modes incorporate the same base crafting, and building mechanics while featuring the same maps filled with the same quests, looting opportunities, and boss/creature battles. Singleplayer itself can be played alone with the tedious grind settings in check or with advanced mods turned on that will allow you to enjoy the game without the hassle of needing to really farm or grind for anything. The opposite goes for multiplayer server play where PvP, and PVE demands the tedious grind in order for you to build your created character up to a point that he/she can engage in the endgame activities. One thing holds true any way you choose to play though, and that is the fact that character leveling does not reset upon death. This allows for picking up where you left off with the ability to craft everything you've unlocked through experience gained as well as your equipped gear still intact. It goes without saying that backtracking to pick up lost loot will be required if you want to regain all you've collected.

Citadel: Forged With Fire | Mechanics & Impressions Update

I've spent some more time tinkering around with Citadel's singleplayer mode, and I've noticed some things that I did not notice before including a whole other menu of options that further simplifies the crafting system, and character progression. If you startup singleplayer after having created your character, and played around a bit you will find an 'Advanced' option at the main menu continue point that has a series of sliders, and toggles that will allow you to tweak things like player points earned, whether or not you need to farm for materials, and other useful things tied to the character, and crafting mechanics. It's basically a mod menu of sorts that allows you to enjoy the game without having to slowly grind to a point that you can craft the things you need in order to fortify your long term existence in the various locations that you can begin in. The spawn areas, or beginning locations number three initially, and will open up more as you travel outward into Citadel's world visiting quest givers, and facing boss fights among other things. The game also offers the option to fast travel via portals that bring up a map with marked points of interest. A map that shows various icons, or points of interest that you can go to, to engage in various MMO oriented tasks. The very map that can also be brought up by pressing down on the DPad in-game.

Citadel: Forged With Fire | Impressions Thus Far ...

Citadel is a game I need to spend more time on than usual to gain a proper perspective of what it has to offer on a full scale. That having been said I have played it to a point I'm getting a proper feel for the type of grind, and crafting it entails. For those of you who don't know "Citadel: Forged With Fire" is an MMORPG sandbox type of game that can be played in singleplayer or on PVE, and PvP servers. It's about a magical world of wizards borne from flame who can fly around on broomsticks, and dragons. Wizards that can engage in combat, and build fortified castles beyond imagination. The world itself is brought to life in a beautiful, and colorful rendering done on the Unreal 4 engine. It pushes the PS4 to it's limits, but looks quite impressive for the console port that it is. As far as gameplay is concerned you'll find that in singleplayer it is smooth. There is no game breaking lag, or frame rate issues that really hinder the gameplay. For now I can't say the same for PVE or PvP, because I've yet to play on the provided servers.

From your character's creation at the main menu startup to their birth from a fiery pit in-game, and the grind that follows you'll be able to level up, and grow your character's set of abilities. It is ultimately through experience earned, skill points applied, and learned crafting skills that you'll be able to establish your sustained existence as your created character in the world of Citadel. The Touchpad menu from which everything is done in regards to this, outside of character control, houses six different themed diamonds for each interactive sub-menu that will give you quick access to everything that can be done. This includes the equipment loadout, the crafting, the crafting skills, the spells, creature taming, and your House or clan setup. It's a quick access hub for all you can do with your character, and the world around you. Much more streamlined than other games of the same genre.

Rebranded Review: Disgaea 4 Complete+ | Formerly Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited

This is probably something unheard of among gaming journalists, but there happens to exist a complete version of Disgaea 4 for the PS Vita that mirrors the new complete version for consoles. I think while it harbors similarities it's worth reviving my initial review of the game for those of you interested, or curious about the new complete version for the PS4. I went all in with the former review, and I'd basically be repeating what I said if I were to review it again, and I think sometimes reviews that are already telling enough are telling enough. I hope this rebranded review gives you the insight necessary to decide whether or not Disgaea 4 Complete+ is something worth your time, and money.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Habroxia | An Entry Level Shmup For The PS4

If you've played earlier shmups like Gradius and Space Invaders you'll have a good clue as to how Habroxia plays, and what type of shoot 'em up it is. Even though it has it's own slightly different hybrid take on mechanics, and even features it's own unique visual design as well as it's own approach to gameplay the waves of enemies including how you approach them within the handful of modes made available will feel very familiar. Compared to other shmups, and bullet hell shooters Lillymo Games' creation is also a bit more tame, and entry level by design. Said design has it's ups, and downs to note. For example, it is somewhat too reliant upon the upgrade system that is it's base feature for progressing through the 15 stages of the main mode. Outside of that the alternate modes that you unlock such as Invasion, Rescue, and Shield Maiden at every five level completion will offer only slight replay value as well as a means to farm for credits which act as the game's in-game currency. Sadly, in all that it offers it does not include global leaderboards though. Thus making the chain combo scoring that is attached to the experience less than beneficial to those gamers looking to compare their feats of mastery with other worldly competitors.

Sudden Strike 4: Complete Collection | A Military RTS In All It's Entirety

Sudden Strike 4 is a real time strategy (RTS) game that focuses heavily on the various WWII campaigns. It includes eleven campaigns stretched across the core game, and bonus DLC including various axis & ally perspectives. Through voiced narration, historic video clips, and added textual facts the game takes the player through the war from different fronts as they command troops, and units to see the battle through as they would have seen it done, but with guided mission objectives, and rewards for completing the tasks at hand accounted for. You'll fight as the Germans, the Soviets, and the Allies among others as you use the doctrines of historical commanders, and tweak said skill based doctrines to your benefit. There are over 45 missions in total within the complete collection. The DLC campaigns included. Each with an obtainable 3 star rankings based on objective performance, and your ability to come out of the set battle victorious. Using user friendly commands tied to face buttons, shoulder buttons, thumbsticks, and the DPad you will be able to fast track combat as you point, and click troops, and units from point to point on the mini or main map. The troops, and units being like their real world counterparts in that they feature functions, and abilities that can be used to aid other troops and units as they make their way to areas of interest, and do as directed.

Borderlands 3 | My Own Thoughts & Opinions

Beyond the drama, and past all the technical issues I am personally finding myself engrossed in the Borderlands 3 grind loop. This is coming from a gamer who has never fully completed Borderlands or Borderlands 2. For whatever reason the third installment has hooked me where the others failed to do so. Maybe it's the newly updated mechanics, the new characters, or the engaging plot filled quests and side quests that are more than just target hunts to participate in. For me everything in the game is enriched in some way. Through well thought dialogue, and humor that I actually laugh at I'm finding the entirety of the new Borderlands universe to be alive, and thriving. There's never a dull moment. Whether you are completing the campaign, farming for guns, or engaging with NPCs it all comes together in a complimentary fashion befitting of a Triple A label. In the company of friends or alone there is plenty of fun to be had, and it scales appropriately while rewarding accordingly. Depending on how much the drama surrounding development and corporate PR effects you though you'll either be willing to give it a chance, or not. Just know that there is an entire team of developers involved that may or may not have had the same ideas in dealing with things as the head of marketing did.