Sunday, November 29, 2015

Super Stardust HD Review

Super Stardust HD

Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Twin-stick shooter
Release: 6/28/07 (PS3), 12/8/08 (PSP)
Platforms: PS3, PSP
Modes: Single-player, Co-operative Multi-player
Availability: PlayStation Network Store

Disclaimer:
-I'm not that great at arcade shooters.
-I only played on easy mode, which
was hard enough for me.
- Completed arcade mode, but still
have two planets to go on planetary conquest mode.
-I don't have a second controller so I couldn't play co-op.
-I didn't purchase the dlc for the game,
though they are variations of arcade mode.


Graphics:

          Super Stardust HD is visual treat with plenty of shiny and glowing effects that give it a visual vibrancy that most games don't have. The style of vibrant lighting helps with the alien sci-fi visual theme. Texture wise, they are simple and nothing to write home about, but the intense visual effects compensate for it.

Game-play:

          Super Stardust HD is a twin stick arcade shooter where you guide a small ship around a 3 dimensional sphere and destroy as many enemies and rocks as possible in each wave. Each wave has a certain amount of rocks and enemies that need to be destroyed before you can advance, but new ones will drop in on you as you play. Surviving 4 waves on a planet will trigger the boss fight that can only be hurt from his weak point. Once you beat a planet, you will unlock it in it's respective mode and will have to beat 4 more planets.

          As it is an arcade shooter, there are plenty of power-ups to utilize in your survival. There are extra lives, shields that let you take a free hit, points, and ammo powers. You have access to three weapons for the three types of rocks you encounter. It is possible to destroy rocks with other weapons, but they are not as effective as their color coded counterpart. The green rock cutter, the red gold cutter, and the blue ice cutter. The rock cutter shoots thin beams that go fast but has a moderate effective range. Gold cutter is like a flamethrower that has shorter range, but can lock onto multiple enemies without aiming. Ice beam shoots thicker projectiles that travel far, but are slower then the other two. Bombs are limited, but can destroy everything on screen. Enemies don't have any weapons they are weak to so you are free to use any beam that is strong enough and effective.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Armored Core: For Answer Review


Armored Core: For Answer

Developer: From Software
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release: 9/26/08 NA
Genre: Mech Combat
Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Availability: Can be found used for decent prices
Modes: Single-player, Multi-player

Disclaimer:
  • This is my first Armored Core game
  • I reviewed the Xbox 360 version
  • I bought this game used at a cheap price
  • I like blowing stuff up
  • I completed 2 endings, 75% of normal S-ranks
    and 50% of Hard mode S-ranks.

Story:

          Armored Core: For Answer is the sequel to Armored Core 4. It takes place 10 years after the AC4, where you play as a new Lynx, who performs mission for the various corporations that fight among each other. Depending on which missions you chose the course of the story changes.

          My synopses of the story is brief due to most of it being spoilers and that it's not a big story. You could describe the entire story, with spoilers, in a single paragraph. The plot is confusing at first, until you get two of the endings and beat the Orca arena, where it all makes sense. It is an interesting story, but it fails being a compelling factor to playing the campaign. While there is more back-story to the Armored Core 4 universe, it too is sparse. Both the back-story and the main plot waste potential to become more then what they are. You don't get to know the characters or there motivations in what they do. They come and go like cannon fodder. You're not going to buy this game for it's story.


Sunday, September 27, 2015

About This Site

      I made this blog to post various game reviews I felt like writing. At first the were quick bullet point outlines, but I didn't feel satisfied, and I wondered if I could write a review well. Hence why reviews from Thief 2 and on-wards are fully written.

Generally speaking, I've never been satisfied with game reviews as they lack details or don't paint a picture in my head of what a game is. I'll read a review and latter see a video of the game which ends up being quite different then what I imagine it to be. Also, I always find myself think about how a game works while playing and how other regard it. I know it's not easy thing to convey and our feelings about a game will not be the same, but I feel like trying to at least convey as accurately as I can what a game is. I'm not perfect and I might miss details that I didn't think of writing or not do as good of a job as I would hope in convey what the game is.

      Always feel free to point out mistakes, inaccuracies, ways I could convey a detail better, etc. You can criticize me.

      I post game reviews once a month due to life, game length, difficulty witting a review, and trying to not have a review drought.

Fallout Shelter Review

Fallout Shelter

Developer: Besthesda Game Studio's
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Genre: Management Simulation
Release: IOS- 6/14/15, Android- 8/13/15
Modes: Single-player
Platforms: Android and IOS
Price: Free

Disclaimer:
-I like management simulations
-I'm harsh and picky.
-I'm not a professional journalist.
-I try to 100% games unless it's pointless or tediously stupid.
-Todd Howard did not bribe me with his body.
-I'm not big into mobile games.

Graphics:

       Technically, the 3D visuals are low resolution, blurry crap that you would see if you play a game at the lowest visual setting. It sticks out like a sore thumb despite not being needed. They are not detailed or use lots of colors so there is no need for them to be blurry. You will notice this when you zoom into a room. As for the 2D visuals, they are fine at any screen size due to there paper look. They are nothing to write home about, but are okay. Characters are based on a modified version pip boy character.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Netherworld: Beyond Time I Stand Review

Netherworld: Beyond Time I Stand

Alternate title: Agni: Queen of darkness / Inferno: Where Death Is Your Only Ally
Developer: Irrational Games (former)/ FX Labs
Release: 4/13/2009
Genre: Action-Adventure
Platform: Windows
Modes: Single Player
Availability: Unknown

Disclaimer:
-I play on the highest difficulty
-I'm harsh and picky.
-I'm not a professional journalist.
-I try to 100% games unless it's pointless or tediously stupid.
-No bribes were taken.
-No bribes were offered.
-Good luck finding this game
-DRM Free

Story:
           The Story is about a woman named Amanda who one day finds her daughter kidnapped/ murdered (never made clear) from her apartment. Distraught, she thinks about jumping off a bridge, but is stopped by a conductor of a train, who give her a choice. To go into hell and save her daughter. Scared, but determined, she sets out to find her daughter.

           The story is one of the better parts of the game, both for good and bad reasons that will be covered latter. The story it's self is isn't too complicated or really deep, but it is compelling. Rescuing your child from the depth's of hell is a plot that a (decent) parent can understand and relate to. Along the way, Amanda meets interesting characters who at first regard her as a wimpy human, but soon respect her skills. They change from a rag tag bunch of scoundrels into a team that shows some of the positives of humanity.

Netherworld: subway car puzzle solution


Friday, July 31, 2015

Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason- Old review

Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason

Developer: Action Forms
Publisher: 505 Games (EU)/ 1C Company (NA)
Platform: Windows/ MAC
Release: May 6, 2009 (NA)
Genre: FPS, Psychological Horror
Availability: GOG, Steam, GamersGate

Disclaimer:
- I'm not a professional journalist
- I play games on the highest difficulty settings
- This is an old review that I wrote 3 years ago
- I'm good at fps games
-This game is DRM free

         Cryostasis is an amazing Russian survival horror/FPS that was lucky to be released in Europe and North America. Not often do game like this reach American shores or even into Europe. The game is very story focused in that you want to play this game more for the story than game play. That is not to say that the game play is bad, as it's great. The graphics are also an amazing that immerses you into the environment to make you feel like you are there. Read on to learn more about this amazing game.

Story:

          The story is about a meteorologist named Alexander Nesterov that is sent to the Arctic Circle to investigate a Russian ice breaker trapped in the ice. Things go terribly wrong when his sled falls into a pit of ice and must take shelter in the ship. As you investigate the ship you will find bodies that can change the fate of the people. During these segments you will learn more about what happened on the ship and how they all died.