720: 22 Days Left?

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By: Jared Collings

Microsoft

So with the Xbox event coming up on May 21. Many questions have arisen.

Will Xbox be headed in the direction of the Zune?

Will Microsoft offer a merger with Sony or Nintendo?

Will Steam be incorporated in a new console?

In just a few short weeks all these questions and more will be answered.  Especially what the name of the console will be. However what we know is online only AND no used games. What's been rumored is raise in price for games and micro-transactions and of course the DAMN name.

I thought I would take the time to go over the good the bad and the ugly on Durango or 720 or what ever they are going to call it. Actually I saw great guess on Reddit saying it will be Xbox infinite. Which I think fits pretty well but who knows. How can you have a 720 which is TWO circles that's just a dumb name.

Surprisingly they're announcing this in late May just a few short weeks before E3. So I can't see to much being revealed and just teasing the massive fan groups. Microsoft has truly lost the rights to future Halo games being Microsoft only seeing as Bungie has gone cross consoles. All they really have left is Forza, Gears of War and Fable though you can play Fable on PC. With games like Killzone and Drive Club being revealed for PS4 I don't think many of us will miss these Microsoft Studio titles.






With Steam eventually coming to consoles like the Ouya, Steam has mentioned that they wouldn't be on Microsoft consoles if anything Wii U and PS3/PS4. Value games on 360 now like Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 will loose their spunk if I can play my PC version on another console.


Okay lets start with the good. They are switching to blu-ray finally. I really need to complete my porn collection. Ha who pays for that anymore.

 But the will get rid of two disk games. Which is sad because when you opened a game and saw two disk you knew you were in for a ride. I am going to miss that. It's a some trade off from having to install disk two and realizing you have a 4GB Xbox and yeah that sucks no DLC for you.


They also will be releasing a new Kinect which I was a huge fan of it is one of the most innovative pieces of tech in a long time. Its great to see them try and improve it. I wand to learn piano on my Xbox make it happen! I do have to say that there are rumors that it will always be connected. Couple That with the fact that they can monitor the feed from them that some real big brother stuff. But still maybe its the aliens beaming there demon voices in my head while I sleep. Lets just hope for the best on the that.

There is a lot of bad news. According to the leaked dev kit photos all games will be full installed on the hard drive. Which I personally have gone through 4. So I don't really like that to much. But what really gets me is that they are also going to bump up the price to 70 bucks a game. Now that is a lot for anyone to try and keep up with newest titles.  Especially sense the pc versions of the same games are 20 bucks cheaper! That just wrong in my opinion. But the cherry on top of the mud pie sundae is it will have to always be connected to the internet.  I don't about you but I live on an island rain can knock my internet out. I don't want to pay 6 to 7 hundred bucks just so I can't play a game because Microsoft doesn't want me playing used games during thunderstorms.

 Yep that's right NO used games 70 bucks every time. The ps4 isn't doing it so... why is Microsoft shoot themselves in the foot? So when you buy the newest Call of Duty and you want to loan it to your buddy Tommy, Tommy is sure going to be pissed that he can't play it.



This may also harm Gamestop but with two other success systems like Sony's and Nintendo's I don't think they'll be worried.

I am a huge 360 fan, I defended it many. A time from the PlayStation Fanboys. I don't want to have all my loyalty and trust get thrown to the wind because they wanted micro-transactions in every game so they can give me half a game for 70 and buy the rest every time I beat a level. I am a little emotional about this.

Come May 21 we shall know all so buckle done. Hold on to you butts and hit that power switch cause it coming.

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What are your thoughts on the new Xbox?!?!

 

Review: "Star Trek" (2013) "Where Most Games Have Gone Before."

By: Jared Collings

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You know, I don't expect much from a Star Trek game anymore. Especially one based on a movie.

Actually, I will give respect (not money cause I am poor), to any man who can name a good star trek game besides armada because that was awesome.

But this is good a little ruff around the edges with some it's fun. However this game probably would have been better as a movie to bridge the gap between the two movies.

Movie games tend to not do as well because the effort put into the movie isn't the same amount put into the game, there are of course a few exceptions but most of the time it's a flop. There should be a sacred divide between both movie and games, unless equal effort is put into both.

  The game however gets bonus points because the cast from the movie lent their voices. And even their faces, graphically it's not your Tomb Raider or Far Cry 3. But it has a gritty scifi feel to it, kind of like Mass Effect 1. The background can sometimes seem very splashy and glitchy as well, but the actors faces still maintain their realism.

The upgrade systems has some fun modifications for your gear for like your phaser and tricoder. (the pew pew sounds from the phaser are great). The thing to remember most games these days its coop, but in this it feels right some of the puzzles are vary run of the mill. This game should be played as a co op game seeing as they give you the option to be joined by online players or drop in from friends. This does make the game easier since you have to use commands to get your partner mine being Kirk to come over to me. This can be difficult in you venture to far away and are taking on a lot of foes.

The banter between Spock and Kirk is great it really makes you feel your in a Star Trek episode, even the sounds are vary authentic.  I haven't played with another treky but i hope it is as good an experience. The chemistry from Spock and Kirk isn't surprising in the movies seeing as they're polar opposites but the same on the inside, however it is in fact surprising in the game. They were able to compel the relationship between the two which may be the saving grace of the game! What's also cool about our heroes are they both have their own specials, Spock has the death grip and can mind share which is always a plus.


The campaign is good, varied in different types of gameplay, which keeps it from getting dull. Though the story is only about 6 and half hours.  There are even some cool ship sections where you have a kind of rail shooter.  It was nice I forgot how much I missed rail shooters. Which adds some great variety seeing as regular combat is dull. While you have options of weapons like all games these days, targeting can be VERY difficult and you could be shooting directly at a enemy and still not take them down! I don't know if this is all to blame with the glitchiness of the game or just overall flaw.  The game made me want to play time crisis all over again.

But there are even more issues that should probably be discussed though expected. The mouth movements were weird and when they said certain lines it looks really strange and just not up to par.

Though not surprising but no muiltiplayer was kind of a bummer. I would have loved to phaser it out with buddy's in death-match or even a horde mode would have been nice. Star Trek horde mode could have been the next new big thing! Horde modes exists in almost any shooting-ailen game.


Our Honest View gives Star Trek (2013) 4/10.  The game is a CO-OP game as we said before, a little more Mass Effect meets Gears of War except with good endings and people that are not hulks. Even plays like most Co Op games do like Brink or Resident Evil 5. I sense J.J Abrams has gone to the dark side I don't think we will be getting any more sequels to Star Trek as great as they are. But this game could give us a way to keep enjoying this Star Trek universe, which I for one am whole heartedly hoping for at the vary least.




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Replay Value: Moderately Low

Similar Games: 

Mass Effect - M Rated

 

Brink - T Rated

Resident Evil 5 - M Rated

Review: "Star Craft II: Heart Of The Swarm" (2013) "Overwhelmed By A Swarm Of PC Joy!"

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Unlike the game however we'll keep the review short and sweet so we can keep playing!!!


I need to get this off my chest; Our Honest View gives Star Craft II: Heart of the Swarm 5/5.

This game has amazing moments but you make them all happen. It isn't just make a ton of units and over whelm the enemy.

It is all strategy and what helps were every unit is helpful. Each level could take hours so I haven't even finished it. There where a couple of times I was sure that this was the last mission then they give me a nice cinematic and I was off to another planet to bring the inhabitants under the loving rule of the Zerg.

This is a demanding game, I just bought a laptop and had a lot of trouble running it. But I love it, I hate saying it but I haven't played a good RTS sense well, Starcraft 2 which is sad because the RTS is a great genre.

It sucks I have to wait for Blizzard to make a new one. Seeing as they come out "when there done" and that can mean anything from a couple months or centuries. Regardless this was well worth the wait.

Campaign:
I am actually more of a fan of the story then any of the Castle Grey Scull multiplayer. It has great cinematic, an amazing upgrade system with tons of different variations of unite to choose which makes you have to think about what will help you the most for your play style.

Hell, you can make the Zerg rush better. Yeah better which is great when your zergin later levels though they just take up resources. each level is great in that you have to change up your strategy. every cut scene made me really get into the story.

I know i am really into a game when i go to work and scream 'for the swarm". Ahh the looks coworkers gave were priceless.  but I did have my issues. mostly hardware as I don't have a super gaming rig. the gameplay itself ran smooth.

And almost every-time a cutscene came on the audio was either 30 seconds ahead or behind the picture, which sucks because they have some awesome fights and moments. but even that didn't take away from the story. After the opening I already was on the Zerg side wanting the universe burnt to cinder under the heel my revenge.

Our Honest View gives Star Craft II: Heart of the Swarm 5/5.  If you have a computer to run it you need to play it. if you like RTS's you need  to play it. it is a sorely under appreciated game type that i am glad to see can still be done amazingly well.  but mot of all its was nice to have a break from all the fps desert, jungle, secret base games i have had lately.

By: Jared Collings

Replay Value: Infinite (Though we haven't found a end)

Similar Games:

• Star Craft II
• X-Com
• Fire Emblem 

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Review: "Tomb Raider" (2013) "Not Only A Survivor Is Born BUT Also Multiplayer."

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Tomb Raider's Lara Croft hasn't been looking so good these past few years. But I’ve got to say the face-lift done by Square Enix and Crystal dynamics is exactly what she needed! Switching from a unproportionate girl to a realistic girl like Camilla Luddington was just what this reboot called for. Also Adding a wide spread of touches such as, fully voiced journal logs, and explorable areas, It has a great balance. Finally after several one's this year we SEE a successful reboot!

Single player:


Ever wondered who Jason from Far Cry 3 or Nathan Drake would be if they we're a female? A female that has had her life turned upside down and lost her love ones? Well if you can answer "yes" to either of these questions then you should probably play this game!

The campaign is actually riveting. From jumping from rock to rock to, slide to zip line, or running through exploding/collapsing ruins, it keeps you interested with every detail.

I personally don't like trying to find 231 special color rocks to get 10 percent extra completing of the game. But the documents and relic give it a very nice touch. Each one gives a little history about what has happened on the island.

There are several different stories told one from the ancient priestess to a World War 2 captain. With every piece, Lara's character progressions are also interesting. I definitely loved to see our badass archeologist grow up, from a scared girl into a determined gun-slinging heroine. In the beginning she hated tombs now well not to ruin it she promises us a sequel! Due to the attachment you get with Lara it's hard to let her die, so you make it your mission to die and get her hurt as little as possible.

 The upgrade system is also very good. Some weapons let you interact with the environment in interesting ways, my favorite one is an upgrade for fire arrows that explode into a pool of fire giving enemies a napalm Jacuzzi. Upgrading is not just suggested it's a necessity because you'll have to fight entire armies.

The story itself is good and runs like a typical Far Cry or Uncharted game. But I am more excited about where they go from here they are going to have find a good story to drive her character. It’s hard to see what they have in store, which is good. The story has as many twists, turns, characters, action as any game you need.

You do feel like you are doing some repetitive stuff however in the story, but with newer weapons and upgrades it adds a little more excitement and makes fast travel even quicker.

 Everything was fun and interesting but some of the characters were not very memorable. It doesn’t take away from the overall story it just drags you down when they kill someone off and your like who was that again? But in the end this is a must play for any who would love a good story and well worth that money. Lara makes a big deal about helping or using characters but they are not as important to the game as she is.

***BORROWED FROM IGN***
Though using the characters is what helps make her a survivor. Making her a Tomb Raider. They even tease a few things from previous games. Such as the fact that Lara is deathly afraid of tombs and caves and such. Also they give you a glimpse of her using the double pistols several times.

A reboot like this reminds so much of this years Far Cry. And we thought how could anyone make a more realistic adventure game. Well Square Enix did and hit it hard. Everything is seamless from cut scene to gameplay seeing as if you truly are living the nightmare she is.



Multiplayer: 

When it comes to the multiplayer I will give them credit the levels are masterful done. They aren’t just vertical arenas the have tons of hiding places dark corners, and high hides. The draw back is that if you aren’t playing cry for help (a king of the hill type game) or rescue (hard point type) it is kind hard to find anyone, truly having to bring the fight to you.  Just depends on if your tired of preserving and you need something new it will give you plenty of levels to backstab, noobtube, corner camp, auto shotty, your way to the top. Now we talked about the characters being useful only for Lara's character development, you are able to play as each one giving some more insight on how badass they could have been!


Our Honest View gives Tomb Raider 4.5 out of 5. It's great game if anything you should pick it up for the campaign, and with the right group of friends the multiplayer could be fun. With a great story that will last you hours and hours of campaign. Plus it's a M rated Tomb Raider with a realistic character. Though if your a completionist one play through will not do. Once you finish the main story you can go back to each "camp" where you'll find everything you need to be a true Tomb Raider.


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Replay Value: Extremely High

By: Jared Collings

Review: "Aliens: Colonial Marines" (2013) "Sega Leaves This Games Fate To The Die Hard Fans"

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 **This is a special game so we are going to have to review it in a special format!**

This being the first time I get to review anything. It's quite a challenge to write a review about colonial marines. When the game was announced I was very excited, and being a huge fan of the films ( the first two are the only ones that count.) I count wait to fight the stuff off my childhood nightmares so what! Besides every one dreams riding a xenomorph with Fabio hair....what? No one else had that wet dream?...anyway this game lacks the feel of the movies, let me break it down.


Graphics:

Not much to talk about here, actually it looks fairly dated compared to other new releases like dead space 3 for example. They did use a lot of original set designs from the movie so the environment at least gives off an Aliens vibe. But it doesn't help enough to save the poor character modeling. The audio is one thing that is spot on from the motion tracker to chest bursting, that sounds like aliens.

Single player:

 

 **Borrowed from Machinima** (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypHORmiLe3I)


The story it self isn't very note worthy, but is has its moments. From defending doors from xenos to crawling though dark sewers. The ladder is the best unarmed, xenos all around you sneaking your way to safety. Welding doors to stop pursuers was actually a lot of fun on coop. However there is just not anything memorable I could not tell one plot point other then some guy kills some other guys and scales from the aliens, again! It felt more like playing Area 51 back in the day. Some green blood here some red blood here and RELOAD.

Multiplayer:


I didn't spend much time with it but I did play all the modes and other then straight death match not really interesting. Which if your the alien it means you get shot all the time, because teamwork is far beyond the random teammates you have. Something noteworthy is the other modes where entertaining for a while, but then again without friends to have your back it is really a wait until your a marine to win. The worst part is the gearbox logo on the box.

I still can't believe after six years of development the guys who gave us borderlands couldn't pull this off. I think it's time to stop treating the Aliens franchise as a shooter and try making it a survival horror game.

Give it to Viseral games I am sure they can at least give kids nightmares about Xenomorphs lurki under their beds. I did t even ducktape two guns together..so unfair!


In the end Our Honest View give "Alien: Colonial Marines" (2013) 2 stars out of 5, worth renting for nostalgia, but not worth adding to the collection. FOR THE FANS!

By: Jared Collings

Replay value: Moderately Low

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