PS4 Launch Impressions and Review

Does greatness await?

by: Joshua Pruett

The Playstation 4 has finally launched. I went and picked it up at the midnight event my Gamestop was having. With all the hoot-n-holler surrounding some reported serious issues, I was a bit nervous walking back to my car after with my new PS4 in hand. (Which nicely sports a slim box and carrying handle!) Since the launch of Xbox 360, you could say there is a bit of skepticism and mistrust with anyone adopting new consoles, myself included. Disturbingly, a chunk of shipments from Amazon are causing the dreaded "Blue Pulse of Death" or "Red Line of Death". Some customers are reporting other issues too and with such a rush of problems all at once, a longer-than-wanted wait to get a replacement. 

Gladly, I don't have a bricked console and my experience with the system has been surprisingly positive. (I had my doubts, also my sympathies to those who have a brick.) I was able to hop on, sign into PSN, update the firmware, jump on the PSN Store, use my $10 credit and download Flower, Resogun and Contrast. I didn't yet have any disc based games because I was awaiting my shipment of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Battlefield 4 and Killzone:Shadow Fall arriving Friday evening. (Thanks buy two get one free, Amazon!) As far as launch day though, I wasn't expecting much to fully function. Remarkably, everything I wanted it to do, actually did work just fine. 

Well what about the camera and streaming functions? I logged into and linked my Twitch account, started up Resogun (which is awesome by the way), hit the share button and voila! The simplicity of it is magnificent, though I hope some more options and tools for tweaking will be implemented in the near future. Still, you can change the quality of your stream from low to best and choose to include your video feed if you have a camera amongst other basic options. You can see who's in your room and who's chatting too.

As for the quality, my upload sucks pretty bad, so I noticed some lag when checking my live stream on my channel. Now, this was via the same wi-fi network, but I still think it's because of my slow upload speed. The performance increased and latency decreased when I bumped down my quality to medium, but it didn't look as good obviously. I've seen some streams that look marvelous, granted they had the upload to get them there. On a side note, I would love to see some production features for editing added.

For meat and potatoes streaming, console gamers now have a way to get themselves out there and you don't need a camera or any other hardware / software to do so. Concerning the rest of the UI in general, if I could sum it up in two words: clean and fast. Nothing appears too cumbersome and everything from downloading games to jumping back to the home screen is nearly instantaneous. You could be in the thick of it, mid-game and hit the PS button and this would snap you right back to home in the blink of an eye. Compared to the both buried PS3 and Xbox 360 interfaces, this is very welcoming indeed. I'm definitely impressed.

Speaking of impressed, the element of PS4 I am probably most impressed with is the newly designed Dual-Shock 4 controller. I will say this: after owning multiple generations of consoles, PC pads, joysticks and any other thing you use to control something with, the Dual-Shock 4 is the most comfortable controller I have ever put in my hands and is easily my new favorite. Everything just feels right about it and this is coming from someone who loved the Xbox 360 controller and not cared for the DS3 as much.

WITH ANOTHER GENERATION OF GAMES TO EXPERIENCE FOR YEARS TO COME, I AM GLAD I'M IN LOVE WITH THE CONTROLLER.

With the DS4, the quality is clearly there. Everything from the depressing/pressing of the face buttons to the swooping lip of the triggers, it's fantastic. Since I don't have a PS Vita, I am not able to check out the Remote Play functionality. Yet, that is. I am planning on picking one up, hopefully during a Black Friday sale somewhere. From what I have seen online of its performance, it looks to work quite well. I even saw someone playing Resogun in the streets of their city over an LTE network. 

To Perform, Or Not To Perform

Now as far as games go, I finally got to jump into it a little bit last night. Let's talk graphics real quick. This is probably the main (if not the) reason why people are clamoring for a new console. I jumped into some KZ:SF and BF4 multiplayer matches and I am pleased to say they run at 60 frames per second and they look gorgeous. I did notice a few dips in frames with KZ:SF, but nothing too drastic. I would say BF4 looks somewhere between medium to high settings on a gaming PC.

BF4 finally gets 64 player servers too, however all of my attempts at jumping into them failed and got me kicked out. EA is aware of these issues and are supposedly releasing a patch early next week. Killzone is very much candy to the eyes and shows what the PS4 can do. It has a Crysis franchise look to it, but with a much brighter palette. I haven't had any issues online with it and not having played any Killzone prior, I'm finding it to be quite fun. I am looking forward to diving into its campaign.

ACIV:BF looks great but doesn't run at 60fps. At least the multiplayer doesn't. I haven't yet gotten a look at the campaign. Resogun, Contrast and Flower all look great in their own charming way and run at 60fps as well. That aside, I am curious to see how developers utilize the console's feature set. I am a little leery of the components being powerful enough to thrust us into a later cycle. From a cost stand point I understand, but concerning the future of performance, the jury is still out.

Time will tell and with consoles, time usually means increased optimization and graphical fidelity. I still think they should mandate 60fps. I guess it's in the developers hands and it's being done now, so let's hope more jump on that bandwagon. It's not the end-all-be-all for me, but it is nice to see silky smooth engines running on all cylinders. The graphical boost is clear from the PS3, however it's still too early to see the full potential of the system. You aren't getting a top-of-the-line, high end gaming rig of a PC here, but the added power is graciously welcomed and clearly evident in the launch lineup.

Greatness Takes Time

We all know these new consoles already have their limitations. That's not always a bad thing, though. If there's anything about PS4 and Xbox One, we know what's in them and we know they aren't changing. This is actually one of the draws of consoles to me. Everyone (owning said consoles) runs the games on the same systems with the same results. I think it also enables developers to think outside the box and help them to focus more on what they have rather than what they don't. It becomes more of a "Let's squeeze everything we can out of this" mentality. This is clearly evident in the life cycle of the console. Games like Halo 4, GTAV and The Last of Us are testament and proof that even outdated hardware can still offer jaw-dropping visuals and a few other surprises.

BY FAR AND LARGE WHAT MAKES GAMING GREAT: THE GAMES. 

As for the greatness, I think it's going to take some time, but not as long as the previous generation. While the next-gen lineup is pretty lackluster, it's what's on the horizon that counts for me. I am excited to see what new IP's are mustered up. Most of my favorite games of all time have been exclusives: Super Mario Bros., Goldeneye, Mario Kart 64, Legend of Zelda, Halo, The Last of Us, Uncharted, God of War, just to name a few. I have to say that I became extremely overjoyed with the teaser of the new Uncharted. This is what matters to me more than frames per second: it's the exclusives. With all of these new games and possibilities coming soon to fruition, it's a great time to be a gamer. 

Here's To Gaming

I wish we could all agree on that! Good God, there has been so much hate between all of these platforms. Between the childish brother wars of the Nintendo, Sony and Xbox fanboys moronically duking out which is better and the holier-than-thou elite master race of PC, why can't we all just enjoy games? I don't for the life of me understand the people who waste their time just wanting to watch something fail while getting off on crushing the joy of others. Good riddance to that. You could be playing games instead! Gaming is a luxury. It's something that a lot of people don't get to ever experience due to their circumstances. So, how about we be thankful for having the privilege of gaming to begin with? I think every platform has something to bring to the table. If you're disregarding that because of some staunch bias, have you ever stopped to think you could be missing something? God forbid we ever learn to cough up our pride. 

GAMING IS EVOLVING. IT'S HARD TO THINK WHERE WE WILL BE IN TEN MORE YEARS EVEN, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S TRULY EXCITING.

Anyway, that rant behind us, I am supremely excited for ALL platforms. It just keeps getting better. Think about the possibilities of the future.  With the addition of Steam Machines in development, the Oculus Rift movement, new announcements of new IP, Nvidia releasing their Maxwell cards next year and the arrival of Xbox One, I am excited to see everything unfold. There are plenty of games across plenty of platforms to enjoy and the best part is: you can enjoy them all. Well, unless you have gobs of money, you can at least respect them all.

BOTTOM LINE
PS4 has some good things going for it. While nothing is perfect, when comparing it to its predecessor, it's safe to say that it can deliver and surpass in almost every way. The game lineup is its current hindrance from that greatness, but what's there is a decent start and with a little hope, time will assist in achieving that. I am also very interested in seeing what role Gaikai plays in the PS4's life. We will have to wait and see, but I'm looking forward to it!

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Hey there! Since I couldn't change my PSN name to one more fitting for Crunchpop, I'll be using: bountyXbandit. Be sure to check out my stream! Here's a list of all the games I am currently playing and will be streaming, so stop by from time to time and say hello!

- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

- Battlefield 4

- Contrast

- Flower

- Killzone: Shadow Fall

- Resogun

Cheers!

Photo credit: Sony

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Beta Impressions

Home is where the Hearthstone is.
By: Joshua Pruett

World of Warcraft. I've always had a soft spot for World of Warcraft, or WoW, as all have come to call it. WoW was the first MMORPG that really sucked me into it's fantastically vibrant world. It even spawned my interest in Warcraft lore and eventually, the trading card game. Like with any deck collecting game, you need a few ingredients to fully enjoy it: time, money and people. Because life also demands some of these ingredients (oh, God), I slowly furthered myself from what was a very delightful and brutal game of cards. History became legend, legend became myth and for two and a half....wait, wrong lore.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Beta. I am thrilled to be a part of it. Now, let's see if it can virtually rekindle my affection for thin card stock with numbers written on them.

A Simplified Complexity

If you're a veteran to WoW TCG, you'll notice some definitive differences with Hearthstone. While I won't go into every detail here, the first thing I noticed was the resource system. In WoW TCG, you had quests that fueled your ability to play cards per turn. The cool thing about it was, you could complete the quests and then turn them over to utilize them as resources. Hearthstone removes the quest cards all together for a straightforward mana system. Per turn you accumulate mana, which you can then use to spend on playing cards. Though I loved the dual functionality of the quest cards, a lot of their functions are found on other cards throughout your deck, so their omission is negligible. Quests do make an appearance in another way and I'll get into that a little later.

The deck-building component of the game is very well done and easy to navigate. You can search for specific card attributes, mana costs, neutral allies and hero class spells to assist in putting together a killer deck.  One thing that I am a little bummed about at the moment is not being able to pick your hero. In WoW TCG, your entire deck is based off of your hero and his/her class. The same goes here, but there aren't multiple Warlocks, Warriors, Mages, etc. Right now, there are one of each class with a locked hero power which you can't change. Hopefully they add more heroes in the future that offer alternate hero powers or at least give you the option to switch out their powers for others.

It is beta, so I am sure we will see more and more cards become available. This brings me to the next thing on my mind: obtaining new cards. We are playing a deck-building game mind you, and that means: money. I do like that you can earn gold to open new decks. You do this by successfully winning against real players and fulfilling quests. See, I told you quests would come back. Quests are now implemented not as cards, but as little daily tasks you can pursue for gold. Win two games with a Warlock and you get a sack of forty gold, etc. With expert packs costing 100 gold, pursuing these quests will get you some shiny new cards for your decks fairly quick. And we all love opening new decks.

Expert decks hold five cards with at least one of those being a rare or better. After opening multiple decks, I got pretty lucky. The best deck I opened handed me two rares and a legendary. Me like. When you open a deck, they are revealed face down. You mouse over, click and reveal. I love that they present it like this! It captures the giddy joy of opening real packs. If you are impatient or just don't have any interest in grinding it out, you can just skip the wait and buy the packs upright with real moolah. At $2.99 for two packs (10 cards), looks like I'll be grinding out my collection. There are some quantity deals available, but buying the larger quantity packs will save you most. Basic cards can be earned by leveling up each class. You'll unlock different cards at staggered levels. These basics aren't the best, but they are crucial to filling your deck and making it one that can win.

Balance has always been something that irks me with this type of game. Though a lot of the game does depend on your skill and strategy, it seems that an equal amount can depend on what cards you do and don't have. This is one of the reasons I get turned off to these games. Let's not forget another factor: random odds. Sometimes, the odds just aren't in your favor and you can't do a damn thing about it. But what's a game without a slew of luck thrown into it? You gotta have luck. Speaking of favor, the AI seems to get it handed to them every round, which is why I prefer playing humans. There's an unpredictability that AI just can't match, not to mention the possibility of mistakes humans can make. (Including myself.) Luckily, Hearthstone does a good job of letting you suss out your deck through some good ole' trial and error via practice mode.

Having just the right amount of low, mid and high cost cards will give you a better chance at overcoming the many obstacles between you and victory. (Tip: Mouse over the name of your custom deck and you'll find a nice little bar graph that gives you how many cards you have per mana cost type.) While you're building a deck, you also have an option to craft cards. This is available through the crafting mode where you disenchant unwanted cards for Arcane Dust. The rarity will help determine the cost. In turn, you can use that dust to make new cards, all at a cost of course.

Ah, the sweet taste of victory. Unfortunately, I don't have it every meal, but when I do, I savor it. And though I don't always win, the game is still supremely fun. I love not having to keep track of damage counters and the clean-up is a cinch. I do miss the human interaction. You can't replace someone playing right in front of you. There is a social experience the online world just can't mimic and as of now, you can't chat with random players that aren't your friends. The emotes you can use are a welcomed touch, I would just like to see a chat or voice chat implemented.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Beta has been a blast. Even in beta, it's nice to see it have that Blizzard polish. Though I am very sad to see the physical game go, I am glad to see it translate this well virtually. Let's see what else Blizzard has in store. So far, so good.

If you'd like to challenge my adept skills (yeah right), add my battletag: TheRebelX#1460!

Batman: Arkham Origins is Out Today

The Caped Crusader has his work cut out for him in Arkham Origins.

By: Joshua Pruett

Let's get one thing out in the open: I love Batman. As far as comic book characters are concerned, I don't look any further for favorites. You see, I grew up watching the old Batman of Adam West, the wonderful dark-deco world of Batman: The Animated Series and all of the good and bad Batman films. (Nolan, I can't thank you enough.) I have collected the comics since Sword of Azrael and on the video game front, I've been playing since Batman Forever on the SNES. I even have quite a few toys and statues of the Dark Knight along with his infamous enemies. Now, in all of these different mediums, Batman has had his highs (Nolan's trilogy) and lows (Batman & Robin). The good thing is, he can take it. In the upcoming Arkham Origins releasing today, he has no choice but to.

When Arkham Asylum released back in 2009, I remember being slightly skeptical. Rocksteady was at the helm and other than an older PS2 game (Urban Chaos), I wasn't quite sure of their abilities to make a game where you actually felt like Batman. Let's face it, up until that point, we hadn't really had too much luck with must-play Batman titles. To this day, I couldn't have been proven more wrong. Arkham Asylum was an amazing offering that not only felt like being Batman, but enabled you as him. With it's success, Rocksteady pushed through the stellar Arkham City in 2011, further expanding our experience in being the Batman. 

So what's got me all excited about Batman: Arkham Origins? Plenty. Check out my list below:

STORY. Rocksteady did a bang-up job of telling tales with Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. This time around, it's Warner Bros. Games Montreal calling the shots. My hope is that they build onto the universe Rocksteady helped setup, but expand it with some interesting storytelling. This is an origin story after all, taking place in the younger days of Bruce. It will be fun (hopefully) watching the story unfold. I will say, Arkham Origins has very intriguing line-up of villains. Copperhead, Black Mask, Anarchy, Firefly, Deathstroke, Deadshot and Lady Shiva are some of the newcomers amongst the returning Bane, Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Mad Hatter, etc.

With a story that takes place before, the voice talent sees a bit of a change as well. I panicked when I saw Batman and Joker getting changes because of my beloved memories of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil giving those roles their iconic sound. Gladly though, I was relieved when hearing some of Roger Craig Smith's Batman lines in some gameplay footage. It's noticeably different, but Batman's noticeable younger, so it makes sense. It's the Joker's change that irked me more. Just recently during New York Comic Con, a monologue of the classic graphic novel The Killing Joke was read by none other than Troy Baker. His likeness to Mark Hamil's Joker is pretty impressive. My fears were put to rest.

GADGETS. As with the previous games, you can't be Batman without that utility belt. It is one of the keys to your success and Origins plans to give you some new additions to your arsenal: shock gloves, remote detonator and concussion detonator to name a few. I always enjoyed the progressive upgrading available in the previous games. Let's hope they keep that up.

FAST TRAVEL. Arkham City was fairly large. It was really easy to get around thanks to your ability to use Batman's cape to glide. In Origins, that mechanic returns but to get someplace ridiculously quick, you can summon the Batwing. Although I am not sure if you can actually pilot it (that would be awesome), having access to this jet will make being Batman feel that much better.

UNLOCKS. The last two games were chock-full of unlocks in an assortment of flavors: missions, challenges, items, weapons, upgrades, collectibles, art, skins and game modes. There will be loads to keep you busy and coming back to reveal every nook, cranny and secret.

MULTIPLAYER. There, I said it. I know you're thinking: "A Batman mulitplayer, how the eff is that going to work?" I said the same thing with Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell, which are some of the most unique multiplayer experiences you can encounter. Sporting a 2v3v3 format, players will take on gangs and rivals of the Dynamic Duo. These teams will be led by Joker and Bane. The remaining two players will don the cape and cowl of Batman & Robin. Though I am pondering how it works and plays, it sounds to be pretty dang fun to me!

MUSIC. Nick Arundel's score back in Batman Arkham City was nothing short of amazing. In fact, I'm listening to it now as this is written. He did a perfect job of marrying likeness of Danny Elfman's iconic Batman motif (without directly playing the motif) and the ominous attack of Hans Zimmer's Batman sound. There are parts that remind me of Batman: The Animated Series and parts that remind me of Phillip Glass. It's been one of my favorite soundtrack albums to date and I still listen to it very regularly. With much lovely sentiment toward Arundel's masterpiece, I was a little bummed when I found that Christopher Drake was composing Origins. After previewing a couple tracks, I had a change of heart. Also, I didn't know that he did the OST for the motion comic Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Reassuring indeed. With that said, I am very much looking forward to analyzing, breaking it down and really giving it a solid listen.

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What's getting you excited about this entry? Do you think it will live up to the past titles? Be looking for a full review very soon!

UPDATE: I picked up my copy last evening and popped it in before going to bed. So far, it feels very similar to City and Asylum, which is a good thing. In the looks department, everything is beautifully done! I am very impressed with the graphics. DAT TITLE SCREEN, DAMN! I didn't get to play long, but I launched into the story and am loving it so far. I can tell the story is going to be a lot of fun to tackle! I am still unclear about fast travel. Looks like it's just going to be a point to point system of getting around, no flying. Oh well. I am excited to check out the multiplayer mode and I am liking the way the game is being presented. Stay tuned for a full review!

Picture source: Batman Arkham Origins website

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist - PS3 Review

I spy a game you will want to play.
By: Joshua Pruett

Sam Fisher. What a guy. You'd be hard pressed to not find gamers that haven't heard his name. With the series hitting it's sixth installment, Splinter Cell: Blacklist is delivering an experience worthy of remembering. Speaking of remembering, lets reminisce for a little bit. Released back in 2002 across multiple platforms, the original Splinter Cell definitively offered fresh ideas to the table of stealth driven combat. Playing as Sam meant more than just going in guns blazing. It meant a different approach (and a patient one at that) would ensure a successful mission. This made Sam standout. It made Splinter Cell count for more than just a cookie-cutter, third person shooter.

Through the second iteration of Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow (2004) took things to brave new heights with it's asymmetric multiplayer. The fact that you could grab a merc as an opposing spy and hold the white button (yes, the white button, we are talking original Xbox here) on the controller to whisper a sweet nothing before you began his demise was paramount to excitement. Interestingly enough, you could utilize a spy bullet to literally "spy" on your opponents' live conversations (again, via the white button.)

It was this kind of forward, progressive gameplay that gave the series all of the praise it deserved. Does Blacklist garner the same praise? Let's find out...

PRESENTATION - An older but younger Sam?

So here we are five renditions later with Splinter Cell: Blacklist. The more things change, the more things stay the same. With Sam, we see a big change. Namely, in who takes the helm of his voice. Up until this point, it's always been one man that I have grown to love: Michael Ironside. For me, this was probably the hardest change about Blacklist to digest. You see, I get really attached to my voice actors. (Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamil and Arleen Sorkin, anyone?)

For the first time since it's inception, Splinter Cell: Blacklist brings Eric Johnson to give Sam Fisher a new direction. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical of his performance. I spent the first couple of campaign missions scratching my head. 

IRONSIDE HAD SUCH A UNIQUE TIMBRE TO HIS VOICE: A GRAVELLY, CALM BUT STERN TONE THAT GRACEFULLY USHERED FIRM RESOLVE WITH A DASH OF SARCASTIC CYNICISM. YOU COULD HEAR HIS DRY SENSE OF HUMOR. JOHNSON BRINGS A MUCH YOUNGER, MORE SERIOUS PRESENCE TO SAM. 

This is kind of where things flatline: there just doesn't seem to be the same amount of depth to Johnson's rendition. He just comes off as monotone to me. You need a pinch of humor to such a heavy role. I feel it lost with Blacklist's Sam Fisher. Visually, Sam looks younger as well, which chronologically makes no sense, because his daughter Sarah is now older. Johnson gets the job done, albeit being slightly one note throughout. This could be the writing. If Ubisoft is trying to reboot the series, I understand their decision to change up the lead. If anything, his tone grew on me at least. A little disappointing, but not deal breaking. Blacklist does a decent job of bringing likable characters to your aid. Grim, Victor, Briggs, Charlie, Kobin and the villain Sadiq are all well acted. I especially liked Kobin who was voiced by Elais Toufexis playing Adam Jensen in the latest Deus Ex.  

The story presents itself organically, which I found endearing. After an effective cut scene that kick-starts the plot, players are thrust into the action via the Paladin. She's a big ole' plane and houses all of the menus that launch the various modes offered. Much like you navigated Shepard around the Normandy in Mass Effect, you'll do the same with Sam on the Paladin. You'll keep up with your crew by talking to them between missions, which help move the story along. There are also little unlocks of concept art if you scavenge around. 

You won't be making desperate decisions that alter the outcome of the story however. An RPG, this is not. (Though I kind of secretly want one.) The more I interacted with the characters, the more I wanted to influence some crazy plot twist of fate. Talking of plots, Blacklist conveys some substance, if feeling slightly washed out nearing the end. It's not that it's bad, it's just a little underwhelming and I found myself a little apathetic towards it's outcome. These qualms aside, pushing through wasn't by any means a chore and it did offer some intense action set pieces that were fun to watch unfold. The overall taste of the story is just a bit been-there-done-that.

GAMEPLAY - Somewhere between ghosts and panthers... 

We've seen some changes throughout the history of Sam's gameplay mechanics, but Blacklist stays steady in balancing the best of all the past iterations. Borrowing the cover, mark and execute and last known position systems from Conviction and refining some of the older features from the past games, Blacklist rewards you for being as stealth as possible. Sure you can run in guns blazing (which never really worked out for me) but you're better off taking a little bit of time in planning your attack. It even encourages going completely undetected. 

Between ghost, panther and assault play styles, my progress proved to be somewhere between a ghost and a panther. The cool thing is, I chose to play this way. Giving you multiple ways to tackle levels means you can challenge yourself in attacking a different approach. In turn, this gives you plenty more replay-ability which is always something I look for in a game. It did seem that running-and-gunning will get you floored pretty quickly. The option to pursue that path is there if you deem it your desire. 

Shadow Net is the in-game network that tallies up your whole career. You can then compare your stats to your friends and try to beat their scores to be the best. During my play through, I was constantly being reminded that my friends were beating me at this or that. I've never been too good at competing for high scores, but it's there if you want to. Also, challenges become available asking you to carry out specific tasks, handing you a chunk of extra change if and when you succeed. These too are recording and measuring your friends' stats.

YOU WOULDN'T BE A SPLINTER CELL WITHOUT YOUR GADGETS AND THE CUSTOMIZATION LOAD-OUTS IN BLACKLIST ARE BOUNTIFUL. 

Drones, sticky cams, noisemakers, incendiary grenades are some, just to name a few. The gun list is notably nice, giving you options to adjust and upgrade each to your liking. Even your suit gets broken down to the customization of your pants, gloves, goggles, etc. Both weapon and suit choices will effect your load-out attributes, which will affect your gameplay style. There's something for every strategic scenario. There's also some aesthetic choices available like changing the lights on your goggles or the skins of your suits. All of these are purchased with in-game currency that you earn from doing challenges and just playing the game. The cool thing is, you share the pool between all modes. So if you want to play multiplayer for a while, you can collect a chunk of change and then spend it all on your single player load-outs if you fancy.

Well all this is fine and dandy but how does the game feel? Though looking at the controller layout may seem paralyzing at first, I found controls surprisingly tight in Blacklist. For me, getting used to reloading with R3 or submitting to the use of the select button wasn't completely arduous, moreover just awkward. Not for long though. Soon, I was rip-roaring-it-up, slinging my blade left and right in the necks of my enemies. The radial menu utilized makes selecting gadgets a breeze and I love double-tapping the left trigger for a quick throw down of my selected combustible. (Especially useful in the many precarious situations I found myself in multiplayer.)

The AI works at presenting a challenge, but I would suggest upping the level if you are a veteran gamer. Depending on your play style, you'll be able to increase the difficulty simply by your actions. Or should I say, inactions? There were a couple of instances where my poor enemies were as dense as a brick. I would find them walking blindly in bizarre patterns, not reacting to the sound of a door opening right in front of them, etc. This wasn't persistent throughout, just noticeable when it did happen. It doesn't seem that Blacklist's AI reacts to sound as sensitively as previous Splinter Cell games. Maybe it's just me. Either way, it didn't negatively affect my experience.

SOUND & VISUALS - A little foggy in those goggles.

Splinter Cell has always been a series that pushes not only gameplay, but graphics. While Blacklist looks good, it doesn't stack up to the calibre of some other recent titles like The Last of Us. Throughout my play through of the campaign, I felt some inconsistency between various levels. Some just appeared super drab and washed out, while others were more colorful and bright in their palette. Framerate is fairly steady, but will dip down occasionally in heavy action and when there is smoke present. Also, I noted a jerkiness every so often in the Unreal engine that made animations stutter. This was most present to me aboard the Paladin. 

Now, I know that we are rearing the end of this generation and straddling the line of next-gen, it just seems that the series doesn't have as much of a shocking contrast in graphical awe as opposed to it's previous titles. Still, there are some nifty pretty aspects like lens flares, filters and particle effects, plus the character models and faces look decent. The sound department has always delivered in the series and with Blacklist, continues to do so. The orchestral score is brilliantly laced with some fun motifs that really fit the bill, offering just enough moodiness and ambience to stand out while not being too distracting. Guns, explosions and of course, voice acting all sound top-notch as well.

ENJOYMENT - Shaking in my boots...

I have screamed numerous times in games. Oh, I've jumped out of my seat in Resident Evil 4, thrown my controllers down in Alan Wake, clawed up fluffy pillows in The Last of Us, but nothing scares me as much as Classic Spies vs. Mercs. While Blacklist offers plenty of other modes that are equally fun, Classic Spies vs. Mercs brings tension to new heights for me. I think it's because I just hate being and/or the feeling of being chased. Reduced to a 2v2 count with a set load-out for each side, Classic SvM pits the spies trying to hack the terminals against the mercs trying to defend them. This mode also darkens it's maps significantly. Spies may seem to have the upper hand, but with the mercs having a standard head-mounted flashlight, I beg to differ.

This mode offers some of the most intense matches I have ever encountered. There is no "I" in team and you will have to communicate to your teammate thoroughly to survive. You will have to coordinate to hack those terminals, spies. Mercs, you had better throw some prox mines down and watch those black pockets closely. There is something about that feeling of knowing someone is over your shoulder. You know what I am talking about? That creeping figure in the shadows you know exists. Those dark corners where you swear you saw someone. The letting down of your guard to get your ass taken out by something from above. The fact that someone controls whom you are in the way of making their goal sweetens the deal.

SPIES AND MERCS DOES SOMETHING A TRADITIONAL FIRST AND THIRD PERSON SHOOTER CANNOT: IT TACTICALLY BALANCES ASYMMETRY.

The third person view of the spy gives you all of the angles you need. Slap on a Ghillie suit with sonar goggles and you're guaranteed to score multiple kills. Their gadgets / load-outs bolster their stealthy mobility. They are killing machines designed to take you down before you can blink. Mercs however, not so much. After playing a spy, you'll feel claustrophobic as a merc. The fixed first person view doesn't lend the most generous of hands when it comes to checking your six. Fear not, the mercs have plenty of punch in their arsenal to strike that same fear in any spy. Shotguns, assault rifles, proximity mines, detection gadgets and remote controlled drones will help you weed out their pesky nature.

Neither side will be most effective without the most important component to success: communication. Luckily, I have met some new friends by sharing the same goal of teamwork and let me tell you, it's glorious. You can tell the teams who don't effectively communicate. They are usually the ones losing. Blacklist has several other multiplayer modes that tickle my fancy, but I mainly stick with Blacklist SvM and Classic SvM. Blacklist SvM is 4v4, asymmetrical and allows custom load-outs. The same goal stands as classic for spies and mercs, but the levels are much brighter. With the added team count and the lighting turned up, this mode type is much frantically faster. If you are wanting to tackle missions co-operatively, there are plenty to do so with a friend online or split screen. All of these modes enable you to use your money pool and upgrade whatever load-out you would like. It's pretty rewarding earning boatloads of cash and spending it on the next gadget or gun you've been eyeing. Fact of the matter, you do not want to miss playing the multiplayer.

BOTTOM LINE:
The campaign offers tackling fun under fire however you see fit, but suffers from a slightly stale story. It's the mighty draw of Blacklist's excellent multiplayer and co-operative modes that truly warrant a purchase. There's plenty to unlock, much more challenges to master and DLC packs on the way to keep things fresh. If you are looking for something off-the-beaten path from your standard shooters, look no further. 

YAYS
+ Rich, customizable and deeply rewarding gameplay
+ The presentation of navigation via the Paladin
+ A variety of modes to keep you coming back
+ Using a drone to take out a spy: priceless

NAYS
- U-Play....enough said
- No Michael Ironside this time around
- The initial learning curve may turn some noses
- Graphically showing it's age / some screen tearing

4.5 out of 5 werewolf unicorns

"FEROCIOUS"

Photo credit: PSX Extreme

E3 2013 Impressions

By: Joshua Pruett



Well that was a pretty intense week of announcements. Between WWDC and E3, good God, it didn't seem there was an end in sight. Not that this was a bad thing, I ate all of the information up as I would a heaping tower of waffles buried under a monument of bacon that lived in it's own atmosphere of syrup. That said, you can now check out my impressions of E3 2013 over at my YouTube channel.  Let me know your thoughts! I want to hear what your highs and lows of the show were, so take a gander and share them with me!

Injustice: Gods Among Us Battle Edition Unboxing & Review - PS3

It's finally here! I usually do not go to midnight releases because of the fact that I love my sleep and typically struggle staying up late. Injustice garnered my respect to bite the bullet and take one for the team. (Little did I know I would stay up until 4:30am playing.) Between the early morning and late evening of yesterday, I am currently about 60% complete on story mode with a little bit of time spent dabbling in S.T.A.R. Mission Labs and online multiplayer. So far, so awesome.

The story is carefully crafted with superb storytelling and top notch voice acting. This is partially due to most of the Justice League Animated cast making their efforts on Injustice. I really haven't cared about a story in a fighting game since Mortal Kombat (2011). Let's face it, it's not the genre's strength. The pacing is what makes things very interesting throughout. Also, I really like how Injustice rewards you for playing all modes. You will be unlocking lots and lots of goodies. This all ties into the leveling system too. Story mode level progression will roll over online. You earn cards that you can spend on your hero card, costumes, art, music, etc. It seems everything you do earns you points to unlock something you haven't discovered yet. I really like this aspect.

As for the game itself, it's a downright blast to play. For me, the stick makes all the difference. Each character is so unique, it's going to take a while to figure everyone out. I am currently digging on Green Arrow, Raven and Aquaman. They're are just some nifty zoning options and combat opportunities with these three that captured my attention. All in all, I can't wait to dive in deeper! If you are a fan of fighters and a fan of comics, pick this up ASAP. Be sure to check out my latest review and unboxing of the battle edition above!

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Release Tonight & Demo Impressions On Xbox 360 & PS3

For those that don't know, I have a soft spot for comics, especially DC. I also have a soft spot for fighting games. They have always been a huge part of my gaming history and when a game called Mortal Kombat entered the scene, I was more than intrigued. My days of spouting bouts with my buds on the couch started with Capcom's gem, Street Fighter II, along with its many iterations. However, it was Mortal Kombat that really sealed my love for fighting games. I really wasn't allowed to play the MK series until MK 4, but that doesn't mean I didn't. I guess mom didn't mind the "sweat" on the SNES version, but everything else I had to sneak. Man that was lame.

In the pre-NetherRealm days of 2008,  MK vs. DC Universe made an attempt to gain some ground after the previously successful release of SFIV. MK vs. DC Universe wasn't a bad game, I just felt that it lacked some pizazz and polish. It seemed to be trying too hard and I think the game was slightly hampered because of it. Flash forward to 2011. NetherRealm released their new rendition of Mortal Kombat and the crowd went wild. I truly am loving and still playing it to this day. The game captures all the atmosphere and brutality of what truly is and should always be Mortal Kombat. I was very proud to see it taken onto tournament level at EVO. Let's hope the community does the same with Injustice.

During EVO 2012, a rough build of Injustice: Gods Among Us was presented by Ed Boon himself. Seeing the game in action got me all giddy and excited. From what was shown, I could immediately tell the resemblance to the updated 2011 MK. I was also very glad to see that the game was solely focused on the DC Universe. I think having a more focused effort towards one universe is the way to go. I followed the game ever since and here we are at the night of release.

My impressions from the demo are definitely positive. Everything from the menus to the level design is superbly polished. The ebb and flow of each fight is very natural. I enjoy the exchange the fighters display as they interact their own unique way with the interactive backgrounds. Fights will lead you from one place to another as you pummel your poor opponents into a transition. These are nuts to see. The wager system is a neat feature as well, adding a gamble of odds to the mix when activated. Each player will cough up chunks of their meter against the other. Whomever gave the most up wins the wager and gets an edge of combat opportunity or health regen, albeit at the cost of your wager. Super moves are specific to each character and are absolutely over-the-top. A great answer to MK's fatalities. You never know what's going to happen next.

It's this kind of unpredictable outcome each round offers that plays seamlessly into the comic universe of DC. It's just really fun to watch a match unfold.

Playing on both PS3 and Xbox 360, I really don't see much of a difference graphically. Honestly, there shouldn't be. The game is beautiful and runs at a very solid framerate on both. The PS3 seems more crisp and a little brighter overall. The Xbox 360 seemed darker, but shadows were more prevalent. You could argue the adjustments could be made within the game and/or on your television. However, I think it just comes down to preference when choosing systems. I am personally getting it on the PS3 due the near full hard drive of my 360. I don't typically play fighters on control pads unless I have to, so that's not a factor for me. This time, there isn't a Kratos situation either. Everyone is getting everything.

As far as the gameplay goes, it falls between the 2011 rendition of MK and the quicker speed of UMvC3. I find the new direction to be quite refreshing. The button layout will take a little getting use to, as well as adapting to some of the new implemented mechanics and meters. With most new fighting game franchises, this is pretty much expected. It will take a little bit for the community to break everything down and see where the loopholes lie. Overall, the fighting system as a whole seems simple enough to pickup, but has the depth for the people who truly want to master it. I really like what NetherRealm is bringing to the table. Interactive backgrounds, level transitions, the wager system, super moves, robust online progression, S.T.A.R. lab missions; the list goes on and on. Between the secrets, unlocks and dlc, we should be pretty busy for a long time.

Injustice: Gods Among Us is offered in multiple flavors on PS3 and Xbox 360. You have the standard, the collector's and the battle edition. The collector's highlight is 13" statue of Wonder Woman vs. Batman which looks pretty freakin' rad. The battle's highlight touts a fight stick made by PDP. With all of the statues and toys that I own and my need for a stick with a normal button layout, I am going with the battle edition. Tonight couldn't come sooner. I can't wait to dig in and get good, or at least think I am getting good. What are you going with? What system are you going to play Injustice on? Make sure to comment and let me know!

For a superbly deep disassembly and breakdown review of the Injustice fight stick, check out Kaihong's post over on the forums on Shoryuken.com @ Kaihong's Incredible Breakdown of Injustice Fight Stick. I was completely floored and so happy to get an in-depth look at the stick. Thank's Kaihong!

Photo credit: Gamestop, Injustice

My Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Thoughts & The First 15 Minutes Over @ IGN

by Joshua Pruett

You had me at that logo. Look at it. It was a sealed deal with "Blood Dragon" in the title. I am just completely enthralled with that hot pink/electric blue gridded terrain and the font that looks like word art from Microsoft Works. (Yeah, I went there.) It's actually what piqued my interest to even look into the game a couple months ago. I loved Far Cry 3, don't get me wrong, but another game in that sandbox would get kind of old for me.

However, if you slap on a coat of paint that layers over-the-top, ridiculously outlandish throwbacks to my favorite '80's action movies/cartoons, then count me the heck in. Speaking of the 80's, the color palette in Blood Dragon makes this a far cry from being Far Cry. Not to say that Far Cry 3 wasn't colorful. Blood Dragon just magnifies the saturation levels to such greater heights.

Crimson red skies and bright cyan lens flares serve as a backdrop to brilliant fiery-orange explosions as you rip your way through the world's firefights. (I couldn't help but love the evil emblem of Colonel Sloan's army being projected from the rooftops. Reminds me of Cobra. Nice touch.)  I mean, you run around with a blade that glows light purple? Okie-dokie! I assume you will see every color within the spectrum. So much as they should have called it Far Cry 3: ROYGBIV. If you are color blind, it should be even more of a wild ride. Sure it's bold and flashy, but it's a world that I would love to explore because of it. Although it probably won't be for everybody, you got to admit it grabs your attention. Everything you do produces the results of rainbows hemorrhaging more rainbows.

This shouldn't deter FC veterans and fans too much. As far as story goes, there doesn't appear to be any correlation with the FC universe. It does take place on a remote island, but it seems like the only familiar thing to Far Cry 3 is that Blood Dragon just utilizes the engine and some of the game mechanics. It's not a rehashed, uninspired ripoff with a new skin either. That's clearly obvious. I am pretty curious to see what kind of surprises unfold, what enemies you will encounter and what weapons you will have access to as the game progresses. Another interesting venture would be multiplayer. I haven't seen anything concerning that, but given the setting, some co-op and/or deathmatch options would be wholeheartedly enticing.

Yes, the picture above actually happens. I loved it so much that I took this screenshot to use for this post. Cut scenes are righteously crafted. Pixel art is the perfect medium to totally capture the cheese factor for this game and to my knowledge, all of the cut scenes make use of it. The beginning shots of Rex being assembled had me rolling. There is plenty of voice acting that is just downright hilarious as well. (Rex is voiced by Michael Biehn from Terminator.) Check out the tutorials and note the animations. They are some of the funniest I have seen in a game. As far as music goes, the band Power Glove takes care of the soundtrack and boy, it really amps up the atmosphere with a Tron meets Terminator vibe. (PC players get the digital soundtrack when pre-ordering as a bonus.)

The most radical thing is, it's a standalone game. You don't have to own Far Cry 3. The asking price is $14.99, which is well worth it if you ask me. Do yourself a favor and go watch the video of the first 15 minutes from the boys over at IGN. You will laugh at this game's awesomeness and you will want to play it yourself. Trust me, if you love any references to action movies and cartoons from the 80's, this should be your bag. Who wouldn't want to mow down evil baddies with a chain gun from your helicopter while Little Richard blares in the background?

So who's planning on playing this?! What are your thoughts?! I want to know what you think!

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is expected to release May 1 on XBLA, PSN and Steam.
(However, PSN says April 30th?)

Photo credits: PC Gamer, IGN

Video credit: IGN