Avernum Is An Incredible Retro Experience


Posted on January 15, 2017 by Les Major

Avernum 2 Cover

Somehow, as a long time PC gamer, I missed the Exile series. The original top down RPG Exile: Escape From The Pit was released in 1995! Like some of my friends, I’d just assumed that Avernum was a newer series that played off the old retro style of the 90s. In fact, it’s actual a product of that decade, revamped. The original Exile was remade into Avernum in 2000, and then again in 2012. I’m sure there are ways to get the classic version to run just fine, or perhaps it does already, but it’s great to see these titles being updated for current machines but still keeping the wonderful style that Spiderweb Software introduced in 1999 with Nethergate. They sort of have an Ultima appearance and that just adds to the charm.

Avernum 2 Inventory

I’ve been playing Avernum 2: Crystal Souls which doesn’t require playing through the original to enjoy. At first I thought it would just be an okay adventure to take, but now I’m completely hooked! The game has a very tabletop gaming aspect to it, including lots of narration text as you wander through the catacombs of the underworld. Avernum is a subterranean land that in a way brings back memories of Ultima Underworld. The setting also adds so much rich lore and interesting locations that it feels like a classic role playing adventure from source books I loved in the 90s. That feeling of leafing through campaign materials is there and it just draws you in even more. Avernum’s aesthetic feels like home.

Avernum 2 - Level Up

Best of all, I don’t find Avernum 2 to play clunky at all. Back in the day some classic games could be cumbersome. Instead, much of the Avernum setup just flows right along. You’re not scrounging around for items for example. You simply just press a button and you can see what is on the ground around your characters. All that loot and gear ready to be dropped into your inventory should you wish. Combat is straight forward but with a good feeling of tabletop action with a variety of options. The game even features choices so you can either attack that roving band of enemies, or let them wander by… for now. Lot alone more detailed decisions as well. It feels like a role playing session a lot of the time, and that’s what really keeps me playing.

Avernum 2 Rooms

Just today I loaded up the game during my morning coffee like I have lately. My cast of characters, the pre-made ones the game offers you at the start (but you can make your own), were standing outside of one of the main forts at the start of the game. I popped open my quest log and went down the list of tasks I could tackle. We’d already cleared out the brigands from a nearby town in a wonderful battle through their hold. That was filled with exploration and some goodies to find along the way that I still have equipped. So now what? Well, a race of humanoid cat people had built a stronghold to the east and I hadn’t bothered with that quest yet. Why not. To begin with, I had a map on me that indicated a hidden cave entrance and some word scrawled on the page. Exploring to the east I found a hidden passage to the cave, actually discovered by standing near it, and went inside to find another small but elaborate dungeon to explore. Various rooms, some goblin battles, and a triggered trap later, I found a gateway that required a special word to be spoken. Using the one scrawled on the map I was able to wander along into the fort of the cat people.

Avernum 2 Map

I found myself enjoying the game so much I just had to share about it. You can wander into towns, explore them, read interesting descriptive text along the way to help paint the world of Avernum in your imagination, and even sell some of that loot you discovered. There are people to talk to, quests to undertake, and just so much to enjoy. I’ve only scratched the surface of Avernum 2 and I’ve fallen in love. I grew up playing games like Dark Sun: Shattered Lands and Avernum 2 brings back so much of that role playing experience that I adore. Even better, Avernum feels even more expansive with an overworld map and many areas to wander to. There are lots of games with 3D graphics and modern style, but there’s just something Avernum has that feels better. Even the artwork used when leveling up feels like something from RPG source books. Avernum gets it all right, and it should, it’s roots are in the 90s, and it’s grown into a beautiful series with many additional titles from Spiderweb Software using a similar engine.

There’s even a demo for Avadon: The Black Fortress on Steam. So don’t just take my word for it, give it a whirl. Spiderweb Software does have an official website if you’d prefer to buy from the creator and support these games directly.


0

Dead Rising 4 Changes Are Awesome For Casual Fans


Posted on December 7, 2016 by Les Major

Dead Rising 4 Promo

I’ve seen a lot of complaints online addressing the changes made to Dead Rising 4 and in some ways I get how hardcore fans must feel. I admit, Dead Rising 3 for me was an accomplishment. When I took down a psychopath, I felt powerful! Like somehow I’d beaten the odds and finished off a boss that I had no right clearing with my skills.

The fourth entry in the series is very much different, but I like it for being it’s own thing. I still remember fighting my way through those impossible odds and beating a difficult boss in the first Dead Rising. Then I ran out of time and had to start all over again, thankfully carrying my leveling up over to my next play through. Still, I’m pretty sure the bosses came back again. That impossible mountain that I’d climbed had returned. I don’t think you had to beat them during a playthrough, but it was just one of those things.

Much of that has changed. There is no time limit anymore. For many, that created quite an outcry. On the other hand, you have this large sandbox town with side quests to explore and collectables to discover. So Dead Rising 4 could be just the game you’re looking for. The problem many gamers have is that it’s different. It’s something they were used to and it’s been removed. Quite honestly, I’ve seen a similar response from some of my friends who are playing Pokémon Sun or Moon. Gyms have been swapped out in that series for trials now. It’s on the surface not that much of a difference, but even a smaller change that didn’t really alter gameplay that much frustrated some fans.

In Dead Rising 4, the changes are more significant. But it all depends on your perspective if they’re better or worse. It would take a lot of programming and possibly some balancing, but it’s a shame both styles of gameplay couldn’t have been included. There is something to be said about the more relaxed and explorative style of this latest release. Having it as a casual mode potentially would have been a way to please everyone.

For me and my friends, it’s actually a welcome change. Instead of having to backtrack through content over and over, you have a steady sense of progress in Dead Rising 4. I’m not about to run out of time and have to go back to the beginning. Instead I’m mowing down crowds of literally hundreds of zombies on screen at once and getting to take my time doing it. If I want to stay in one area and level up, that’s totally an option. I don’t need to worry about muscling my way through the story again.

On top of all that you have more inventory space and bosses do seem significantly easier. It’s either that or I’ve just been armed to the teeth when I’ve met up with some of them. If anything out of it all, maybe the bosses could be a bit tougher. I just finished the second case in the game and the boss I was fighting seemed to have many healing items scattered about. Don’t get me wrong, if I wasn’t paying attention and backing off from the fight I’m sure I could have gotten Frank totaled.

Is the game difficult? No, no really, at least not so far. Is the game fun? Well, yeah! I wish there were even more areas to go inside of out in the town, but there are interiors to explore. I haven’t even touched on multiplayer yet. So it may not be your usual Dead Rising, but it may be something different that you’ll really enjoy!

I feel like I’ve been saying that a lot this season. Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare had the same sort of reception to some. Yes a lot of fans were angered by having to buy the remaster of Modern Warfare along with the new game. Others didn’t care for the sci-fi setting. Really I said the same thing for Infinite Warfare that I’m saying here, if it wasn’t a part of a series we wouldn’t be having this conversation. On their own rights, Dead Rising 4 and Infinite Warfare are awesome games that I love! I just feel bad for the fans that are dedicated to the franchises that were expecting something different. I’ve been there before too. I’d dreamed of NEW Super Mario Bros 2 being based on Super Mario Bros 2 USA which it wasn’t. I watched the Secret of Mana series change and evolve over time into something I didn’t really recognize anymore. I do understand where everyone is coming from.

If you want a zombie game with a holiday theme, tons of weapons you’re used to from the Dead Rising series, and a sandbox town to explore during an outbreak, you’ve got a great title here. I still remember on my gameplay stream having a friend in the chat comment about the Black Friday sale being out of control. Well, yeah, it even is Black Friday when the outbreak happened. So there are still banners for the sales hanging up in the mall.

I’m not hyping the game under any obligation. We do receive free review copies occasionally from publishers and Dead Rising 4 is one of those titles. That does not require us to give a positive review for a game. I honestly enjoy Dead Rising 4 and I hope you’ll give it a chance. Do your research and see what you think of the game. Maybe you’re not hardcore into the series and the concept of no time limit is a godsend to you! Well, have at it! This game is for you then!

Stay tuned for our full review of Dead Rising 4 in the coming days. I can tell you right now though that this is an enjoyable addition to the series.

Want to see more? Check out my hours of footage here:


0

The Sandbox Evolution | REVIEW


Posted on November 30, 2016 by Les Major

In a good way, The Sandbox Evolution feels like a PC port of a mobile game inspired by Scribblenauts. Then on top of that there’s also pixel art creation and interesting thermodynamic gameplay. Much of this is covered in short campaigns that teach you the games mechanics so you can dive in and make your own creations.

The Sandbox Evolution - Save Syndey
There are two modes to the game. A creation mode that allows you to zoom around, dropping elements like their hot (or cold, or rocky), and a character mode that lets you run around as a mix of different heroes. From a Ninja who can wall jump to a Hamster that floats slowly to the ground when you jump in the air, it’s a good mix of play characters that give you someone to control through whatever devious levels you design.

Caveman escapes a flood
Elemental gameplay and character interaction aren’t blocked off from each other. So if you want to have a huge flood or a lava flow that your heroes need to evade, have at it! The cool thing about elements is the interaction they play on the world. Things can burn, lava can eat through ground, and ice can turn steam back into water. What does that matter? Think about it this way. You could make a switch to burn off some water in a cave. The steam from that water drifts over the cavern your character is in and is turned back to water by an icy ceiling. That water then rains down and fills up the cave, allowing you to jump to a high up ledge and escape. It’s clever elements that make the gameplay fun.

Flamethrower element experiment
Other devices include machines that you can power with electric charges and laser puzzles you can create with mirrors and blocks to bend the light toward your target goal. Elements can effect these things too. Like lightning charging up a mechanical device instead of a button or battery doing the same. All of these features come together to allow for a lot of creativity!

Pikachu made of lasers!
After just releasing earlier this month there have already been a few updates that have addressed small glitches I’ve noticed. The nice thing about The Sandbox Evolution is that the levels are relatively short. So even if you do have the rare crash, it’s not a huge setback. Of course, that does mean you’ll want to save occasionally when creating a level. Sometimes it feels like you need to click and drag in a specific way to create some elements, but it’s never caused me to fail a level. Another level asked me to click and hold to select a color for pixel art creation and instead I needed to click the middle mouse button. These small hiccups are easy to overlook with all the goodies included. Even then, when the game does crash there is an easy to use window to report your problem as well if you wish.

Objects can be bought with in game currency that you earn by completing the included campaigns, and even better, user created content! I was happy to see the inclusion of this since it’s usually the norm to not reward players for engaging in fan made content. At least in the cases I can think of. That and especially since that currency can be used to unlock items in game, it’s a really nice touch.

User created levels
Really the best way to get an understanding of what The Sandbox Evolution offers is to check out their YouTube channel. There really is a lot of neat interaction in the software that can make for some cool interaction. Or if you just want to chill out and make some pixel art to share on the in game gallery, you can do that too. It is great to see that the games gallery is accessed within the software instead of via Steam Workshop. Not that Valves service is bad, but in this case it’s so much faster to be able to just click through levels in game that are downloaded basically instantly.

The Sandbox Evolution is a great package with tons of creative elements to play with. Between everything included and all the available user created content, it’s worth the asking price already. Considering there are probably even more goodies on the way from gamers like you, it’s worthwhile to check out!


0

Fantastic Beasts Coming To Lego Dimensions This Month


Posted on November 10, 2016 by Les Major

Lego Fantastic Beasts Trailer

Releasing the same day as movie theaters bring viewers back into the Wizarding world that started in Harry Potter, Lego Dimensions is also getting swept up in the expanded universe adventure! The Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Story Pack will be available on November 18th. Story Packs are a new addition to this years Lego Dimensions line up. The first featured the 2016 Ghostbusters in a new six level adventure based on the movie. Fantastic Beasts follows suit with six levels based on the new movie, a free roam adventure world to explore, and a themed battle arena. These larger packs also include a replacement for the games portal build. So not only do you get a bunch of in game stuff to explore, you get a bunch of Lego to build a new back onto your Lego Dimensions portal!

Lego Fantastic Beasts Gateway

Along with a Newt Scamander figure, you also get a creature multi build which can be turned into a Niffler, a Sinister Scorpion, or a Vicious Vulture. As with all multi build goodies, these do actually save to the figures base. So when you rebuild the creature figure, you can then place them on the games portal to save that builds data.

Fantastic Beasts Figures

Personally I love when WB has releases like this. I remember long ago when Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King was released in theaters. After we’d watched the movie, I was able to surprise my wife with the video game out in the car. It’s fantastic having simultaneous releases like this.

Last night we were actually treated to a Fantastic Beasts event in downtown Toronto! As guests of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment we were able to check out some of the outfits from the movie on display and even play some multiplayer action in the battle arena this pack unlocks! We will have full coverage coming up soon on the event itself.

Lego Fantastic Beasts Story Pack

In the meantime, check out this Meet That Hero video featuring Gandalf introducing us to Fantastic Beasts!


0

Lego Dimensions Gremlins Trailer Featuring Marceline


Posted on November 10, 2016 by Les Major

Marceline and Gizmo

Keeping fun and enjoyable, Lego Dimensions is rolling out even more content later this month! Already the likes of A-Team, Mission Impossible, Ghostbusters (2016), and even Harry Potter have joined the cross franchise ranks. Of course the best of all of this content is the ability to unlock adventure worlds which are typically big free roam stages that allow you to quest around a big Lego level based on that franchise. Unlocking them is really simplistic and even cost effective as well. All you need is any character from a specific Franchise to unlock that adventure world. So even if you don’t want to play the Adventure Time story level, you can just get Marceline and pop into the Adventure Time Adventure World.

On the 18th of November, Lego Dimensions adds the Gremlins team pack to the lineup. Team packs are the mid range sets that come with two vehicles and two characters. They don’t unlock a level, but they do unlock an Adventure World. New to this years expansions is also Battle Arenas. We actually played a bit of the Battle Arena for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them in downtown Toronto last night at a wonderful event for the movie, but we’ll have more about that later.

Gremlins Team Pack

Marceline the Vampire Queen is also joining the cast, of course with her axe guitar. She is a Toys R Us timed exclusive, available there also on the 18th. Marceline will be in a fun pack that features her and an additional three build figure.

Marceline Fun Pack

Till these awesome new sets are released, enjoy their Meet That Hero trailer!


0

Paper Mario: Color Splash | REVIEW


Posted on October 12, 2016 by Les Major

Color Splash Intro

Paper Mario Color Splash is a comical and nostalgic entry in the franchise that almost takes on a 90’s PC adventure game vibe. With less emphasis on RPG elements in this release it may feel awkward at first, but it’s a worthwhile journey to take. Some of the set pieces along the way really make for great additions to the story. Other reviewers have touched upon some of the great moments like the Pirate Ship and Haunted Inn.

Much of this content is decently lengthy and encourages exploration which really adds to that classic adventure game feel. I couldn’t decide if the game is actually hard and we just got lucky at times, or if exploration is done just right to keep you progressing. There has been the odd time I’d wandered about trying to figure out where to go next, but between quick searches online or stumbling across characters who point you in the right direction, the game has flowed well. Areas are split up in a Super Mario World style overworld map, as seen below, allowing you to go back and forth between different stages quickly.

Paper Mario Color Splash Map Screen

Really it’s the story to get into Color Splash for. Princess Peach has received a colorless Toad in the mail and she takes him to Mario. They set off to Prisma Island where the Toad had been mailed from to try and discover what is going on. Upon arrival they meet Huey, a talking paint can who is distraught that the port town is missing it’s Big Paint Stars. It quickly turns out Shy Guys are using straws to suck the paint out of Toads, flowers, the walls, everything! These colorless splotches can be filled in by Mario’s new paint hammer. You’ll use paint from the three primary colors, and get more paint from hammering various objects, to color in the world again.

This gimmick is actually pretty neat since it gets you exploring your surroundings more to try and get 100% in each area. Unfortunately the game doesn’t give you a big notification when you do get 100% of the spots in a level. Instead you’ll just have to check out your stats menu on the GamePad which isn’t open while walking about. Info like that and a more constant reminder of how many cards out of your maximum you have would have been helpful.

Cards are another thing altogether. As mentioned above, you don’t really have RPG elements in the game. Sure you battle it out like in most Paper Mario games, but you don’t level up or such. Instead, finding Big Paint Stars rewards with more HP and gives you an eventual advantage to one shot certain enemies outside of combat. At first the card system can feel cumbersome. You’ll get a display of cards for jumping, hammers, fire flowers, your typical attacks, on the GamePad. After selecting your attack you’ll paint it in if it isn’t already to power it up. Finally you’ll flick the cards at your TV with the stylus. Like with many Wii U interactions, this is a cool interface that feels unique. It just takes a bit to get used to. Battle cards aren’t complex. They just activate various moves and serve as your way to attack enemies.

Paper Mario Color Splash Battle

One tricky part however is making sure you have the right kind of cards on you and don’t just stack your deck with stuff that will get you stuck. I’ve had some challenging moments, but I haven’t had to reload because of battle cards. Thing cards are another story however. They are big attacks that you can use in combat, but they are also items you’d find in an adventure game to solve puzzles. One ability you’ll learn early on is to cut away parts of the environment. This can at times allow you to drop in one of these Thing cards to solve a puzzle. If the game is ever awkwardly bashing you over the head with a word that relates to one of your Thing card items, take that as a massive hint. There has been the rare time we got stuck this way. You do really need to put the breaks on in each area and explore around. You can also talk to Huey for hints as well by pressing up on the directional pad.

Those frustrating moments are few at least and most of the time the game does a good job in making you feel clever. The rare time you may tear an area apart only to figure out that if you just walk into the background and try to walk behind the scenery, you’ll find a ramp up to where you want to go however. It’s those moments I’ve felt incredibly lucky on. A decent number of times we’ve said, “That could have really drug out if we didn’t find that.” I don’t know if anyone has become stuck in any of those situations, but at times it just feels like we stumbled upon what we needed by chance.

I won’t go into much detail about it, especially since I haven’t beat the game yet, but there is one personal frustration I have with this title. For years I’ve been waiting for the cast of Super Mario 2 USA to return. There’s even a mention of Wart by one of the Toads in this game. The Shy Guys are his minions! I’d love to see an expanded universe Mario game and this one really could have been it. I’ve poked around a bit online but haven’t seen any reference to Wart being in the game. There is a big cast from Super Mario 2 USA that added new dynamics to the flow of a Mario title. I’d love to see any of the bosses return. Really I’d love to see a return to SubCon itself. I’d just give up, but there is so much Mario 2 nostalgia in this game! I’ll be eagerly awaiting anything like this to ever be released.

Paper Mario Color Splash Paint Can

My personal obsession with an old Nintendo game from 1988 aside, Color Splash really does have a lot going for it. The story is interesting and keeps you playing. Various characters you meet along the way are fun, as are the areas you’ll explore. Many times the game did make us legitimately laugh out loud and it really has quality writing poured into it. Really the only awkward thing that makes the game drag a little is combat. It’s strange to say for a series that started with RPG routes, but I could have done with less combat and more adventure game content. There are times you’ll be referenced to return to a previous area and talk to someone there. I was more interested in that content than really doing much of the battling. It isn’t that the combat is bad. It’s more so that the game’s story is so fun that you just want to stomp or hammer the enemies out of the way to enjoy the content instead. At least I did. That and wandering the land trying to paint every last spot in each area.

Visually the game is absolutely beautiful! Color Splash uses the paper craft style that the series is known for and makes it cleaner than ever. When you actually look back to even just Thousand Year Door, the art style really stands out as even more realized. The world comes alive as you unfurl paper bridges, watch some of the scenery tremble with each hammer hit, and even as enemies and friends react like crumpled paper cutouts. The style looks great and the simplistic character animation is enhanced by the actual motion and turning of the paper cutouts they are painted on.

Paper Mario Color Splash Bloo Inn

Paper Mario Color Splash really is worthwhile. It has the feel of the series you’ve come to know and love in the story, with a new card combat system that while different doesn’t feel out of place. I usually love grinding for levels in RPG’s, so that’s probably why I’ve personally taken to the story more since that’s absent in this game. You are rewarded with more maximum paint after collecting hammers that drop after battle along with some coins, but I love the stats of previous releases. Again, that doesn’t devalue this title. It just makes it different.

You’ll find lots to enjoy in Color Splash. The game feels like a quality Nintendo product. Sure we can nitpick various elements about it, but they aren’t really that big of a deal. Besides Wart, I want 16 games featuring him for the 30th anniversary of Super Mario 2 in 2018 Nintendo! Combat and cutting out areas are the only main uses of the GamePad which keeps it from feeling overused. Looking down at your cards may feel cumbersome at first, but it’s something you get used to that isn’t overly intrusive. It’s a fun adventure and a good value for the lengthy time you’ll be spending on Prisma Island.

Color Splash Combat Thing


0

Destiny: Rise Of Iron | REVIEW


Posted on September 29, 2016 by Les Major

New Fallen Splicers

Considering it sounds like Bungie was hoping to have Destiny 2 out by now and Rise of Iron wasn’t originally in the cards, you’d be hard pressed to know it. In this expansion you venture into the plaguelands, a patrol area that overlaps some of the sections of classic Earth patrol with a new snowy theme. Along with the change in the weather comes signs of a vicious battle as well as strands of red vines called Siva, a nanite weapon that is growing out of control.

By this point with Rise of Iron being the fourth Destiny expansion, you pretty much know what you’re in for, but for gamers who haven’t taken the plunge there is quite a bit of content now. The first two expansions gave players quite a bit of running around to do through shorter stories in previous areas. Meanwhile The Taken King was quite a massive third expansion which added a large new play area, an alien ship to explore over Saturn.

Many of these expansions, including Rise of Iron, included strikes and raids. Strikes are missions you complete with a team of three which leads up to a boss battle and tends to have good rewards. Raids can include up to six players and include both puzzles and battles to keep everyone busy. So what really keeps people playing Destiny? We’ve all heard the complaints that it’s a grind and not much content is really added story wise in each expansion.

The snowy intro mission

The experience itself is great! My friend and I finally buckled down and accepted that we’d have to place an awkward personal ad of sorts to find ourselves a group to play with. The raids don’t matchmake for you, nor does some other in game content. So we went online and begged random strangers to come to our rescue so we could run some of the earlier raids we’d missed. In less than twenty four hours we had a group.

It’s really spending time with these guys and running content to get new gear that keeps us playing. We socialize, have a good time, and enjoy the solid gameplay. It’s not exactly the same but in a way Destiny even brings back memories of StarSiege Tribes. You have these amazing double jumps instead of a jetpack and lots of great fire fights. The whole experience is fun and that’s what keeps us coming back and trying to get new gear and goodies to drop from replaying raids or other multiplayer sections.

Really I’m hoping the sequel will grab the MMO style of Destiny and expand it deeply. What I’d really like to see is constant character improvement. Typically when you go back into older areas in Destiny, your character gets scaled down a bit. You’ll still be a beast, but you can’t expect to one shot any old foes. If Borderlands and Destiny had a baby that kept the rewards and leveling coming, it would be a completely addictive experience. More so than what Destiny already is.

Giants Husk shipyard area in the plaguelands

All that aside, the fact remains that what we do have is fun. If you’ve enjoyed Destiny in the past and have people to play with, you’re going to enjoy going through this latest batch of content. Story content does need to be detailed out more and I still dislike that collecting gear unlocks cards to read online. I want everything in my game itself. Give me a reason to visit the Speaker, the leader of the Guardians you play as. Let me filter through a list of his unlocked knowledge and read the text of those cards in game. Or better yet, when the card is about an exotic weapon, let me use my Ghost robot friend to scan the weapon and learn that data from them in my own inventory.

So what do you get in this pack? As mentioned above the plaguelands are an overlapping section outside the wall of the Cosmodrome on Earth. You can wander back into familiar areas and see what they’re like all battle scarred and Siva covered, but the new content holds up as well. From a destroyed shipyard with a massive tanker that seems split in two like the wall of a collapsed apartment building baring it’s rooms to the outside world, to more factory like complexes to wander through while having fire fights with upgraded Fallen warriors. The new enemy type are called Splicers which are basically cybernetically enhanced Fallen. They come with a new Shank as well, a flying robot enemy, which is electrically charged to explode when it gets too close. This comes as a disadvantage to them however since they can be destroyed to take out nearby regular Shanks as well.

More Splicer action

The main story mission is fun as well, even though it’s sadly only two hours long. There is still more content on top of that though. Like quests to find new guns which do include spoken dialogue and story bits along the way, so saying the story really ends after two hours isn’t entirely true. Plus there is the strike, the new raid, and patrolling that new plagueland area. There’s also a new social area in the cold mountains where you’ll find the temple of the Iron Lords.

In short, it’s more Destiny. Somehow Rise of Iron jumps that hurdle of feeling like the same old thing and creates a familiar nostalgia that becomes an enjoyable experience. Fighting familiar enemies isn’t a rehash anymore, it’s your part of the war against the darkness. Exploring old content with new visuals isn’t a slog through reused assets, it’s a fun experience with new collectibles to find. If you’re still playing Destiny, you’re getting more of what you enjoy already. You’ve got your friends online to enjoy it with, and you want to take an evening off and go find more gear with those people.

The new social area

Plus who knows what new events will be waiting for us! Will Sparrow League Racing make a return? What will the new Iron Banner be like when that relaunches? So is Rise of Iron worth the admission price? Well I’ve already spent more time on it than I probably should have, so I think that speaks to it’s value right there. It’s more of what you enjoy with new stuff to discover.


0

Supergirl Introduces E.T. To LEGO Dimensions


Posted on September 14, 2016 by Les Major

Lego Dimensions ET

LEGO Dimensions is definitely an amazing way to experience various franchises, and on September 27th the new wave starts rolling out for even more content! That’s right, you don’t need to buy a whole new set to keep this party bouncing. These are just new fun packs and the like with adventure worlds to explore and some level packs as well in the mix! Coming later down the line E.T. is even joining the mix!

Check out the trailer below as Supergirl introduces us to the alien who wants to phone home!


0

Join Darkain Arts ReCore Pre-Release Stream Tonight At 9pm EST


Posted on September 12, 2016 by Les Major

ReCore Stream Tonight

Can’t wait for the 13th to see more ReCore action? Stop by and check out Darkain Arts Gamers streaming the new game produced by Keiji Inafune of Mega Man fame! Trust us, you’ll want to check this one out. Especially if you enjoy wandering a world and finding collectables, you’re in for a treat!

Stop on by at 9pm EST at Darkain Arts Gamers Twitch stream and watch as we tackle ReCore right from the start! We expect the stream to last until at least 11pm. See you there!

What awaits on the desert planet of Far Eden? Explore the world with us tonight as we delve into this latest title that isn’t even out yet! How cool is that? If you’ve seen some of the reviews out there already and you’re on the fence about this one, you should tune in! We’re really enjoying it and it’s really up to you to decide what to think about this latest title.


0

MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death Story Trailer


Posted on August 26, 2016 by Les Major

MeiQ Title

The latest Compile Heart title headed on PlayStation Vita received a new trailer today giving some insight into MeiQ’s story. This dungeon crawling RPG features first person exploration, sort of like Etrian Odyssey but with actual triggered event style turn based combat. It looks to be quite the adventure and if anything, those of us who aren’t Vita owners can probably look forward to this title eventually making it’s way onto Steam like most Idea Factory titles in recent memory.

MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death will be released on September 13th in North America and on the 16th in Europe.


0

OC Remix Has Released A Chrono Trigger Jazz Album


Posted on August 23, 2016 by Les Major

Chronology Cover

Overclocked Remix has released their 60th album project, this one focuses on giving Chrono Trigger fantastic soundtrack a jazz remake. Featuring eight tracks performed by a jazz ensemble it’s quite the treat! Focusing on one tune from each era of the game, the overall feel is a classy lounge sort of rendition of many favorites. As with project director Dylan Wiest, many of us have been drawn into the fantastic world of Chrono Trigger in the past and it’s always amazing to see musicians giving the music a fresh perspective. It’s a game that stands out, even today. A memorable title that to many of us even stood out as an equal among the Super Nintendo era Final Fantasy titles.

Welcome to Chronology: A Jazz Tribute to Chrono Trigger. You can find the download of the soundtrack here.

The following is the directors comments.

“I first played Chrono Trigger when I was seven years old . It was my introduction to JRPGs, anime, and most importantly, video game music. I can vividly remember watching my brother play this game… or was it a movie? It certainly wasn’t Super Mario Bros. or Donkey Kong Country. It had complex writing and intricate characters put into a vast and colourful world accompanied by music you might expect to hear in a film. As I learned to play the game, it consumed me. I would rent the game every weekend for what seemed like years. It didn’t matter how many times I had completed it because I could restart and it would seem like a new adventure every time. Needless to say, I have a bit of an addictive personality. Over the years, I would go on to obtain many new obsessions and interests that would come and go. Chrono Trigger, however, did not. I am 25 now and, after nearly two decades of playing the game, I can honestly say that it still remains an important part of my life and that every time I play it, I look at it with the same wide eyes and enthusiasm as when I was seven.

I explored Chrono Trigger through all of its facets whether it was trying to copy Akira Toriyama’s art (and learning that I’m not very good at drawing), discussing the more intricate plot features on the forums at Chrono Compendium, actively awaiting the English dub of Radical Dreamers so that I could further my knowledge in the Chronoverse, or attempting to learn Yasunori Mitusda’s score on piano. I believe at one point I had just about the entire soundtrack learned and it was this that nudged me in the direction of the video game music community and, eventually, OverClocked ReMix.

Fast forward another half-decade and I decided to pitch the idea for a jazz based Chrono Trigger album. It seemed like this was going to be an impossible task to accomplish given the genre restriction and general interest from other arrangers at the time so move ahead another couple years and the OC Jazz Collective was born. Through some fluke, I was able to assemble my own “dream team” of musicians and arrangers on OC ReMix who all shared a passion for jazz and video game music. I felt Chrono Trigger would be an ideal candidate for our first release given the game’s quickly approaching 20th anniversary and the fact that Mitsuda’s music lends itself so well to jazz and improvisation. The musicians and artists on this album have put in countless hours of practice and recording to produce an album which I think sounds authentic and natural. Jazz is a social music best captured in the moment… and while the production process of this album was anything but “in the moment,” I think the album’s sound and cohesiveness will speak for itself. It has been an honour getting to know and work with these talented artists from different parts of the world. Each of them brings their own unique sound and nuances to the album and without each and every one of them this album would not have been possible. I hope that our devotion to detail will be apparent in the music and that you will enjoy Chronology: A Jazz Tribute to Chrono Trigger. ”


0

Savage Lands Is Actually Pretty Neat


Posted on August 22, 2016 by Les Major

Savage Lands Campfire

As far as early access goes and something that was nearly given away on the base tier of a recent Humble Bundle, Savage Lands is actually a pretty fun experience. At first glance I just assumed it was a basic indie Elder Scrolls sort of game, but it actually falls more into the survival and crafting genre. Sure this early access experience is still a little rough around the edges, but it’s the basics that kind of work the best for it. Stepping out of the way of lunging skeletons, strafing around an enraged boar, firing that one last arrow that hits a deer yards away while you’re character is starving to death, there’s a lot to be said about the little things.

Savage Lands dumps you on the shore of a pretty rough island. The aforementioned skeletons are just one of the dangers you’ll encounter. Let alone starving, freezing to death, and other fun activities. Normally you’d prepare to explore and set off without a care in the world. Meanwhile in this title, you’re more concerned with getting set up at the start. On the plus side there is gear to discover nearby, places to begin turning into a home, and trees to cut down to keep a fire stoked to cook your meals. As the Humble Bundle theme stated, it’s more about survival.

In a way, that makes Savage Lands more of a medieval Lost In Blue rather than an Oblivion like adventure. You could just sit on the beach and watch the icebergs drift by, or you can get going and start establishing yourself in this harsh and savage land.

Things are still rough, and the odd time I’ve been caught up on a hillside or a doorway, but it’s something different. There is a multiplayer component as well, so if you’d rather wander the world with some companions, that’s an option too. I was happy just to see that there was a single player local mode. Still, it’s a fun experience if you’re just looking to take things slow, collect up your resources and enjoy the chilly wilderness. Especially if you picked up the bundle, be sure to actually give the game a go. It’s shaping up to be quite the neat adventure.


0

Momodora Is A Metroidvania Worth Exploring


Posted on August 21, 2016 by Les Major

Momodora First Boss

It’s been a little while since Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight was released on Steam, but it’s definitely a title Metroidvania fans should take a look at. The game is even currently on sale at just $6.99 USD! I’ve been quite the fan of titles like this over the years. The Castlevania DS games really drew me into the genre and I’ve been playing them ever since. This entry in the Momodora series really scratches that itch. There’s goodies to find, bosses to fight, and items to purchase.

That and really, what other game do you play as a skilled archer who beats enemies down with a leaf melee weapon? It’s a good adventure to go on and took me about seven hours to wander through, get up my gear, and take down the final boss. The only thing I would have wanted is leveling up, which isn’t in the game, but that’s just because I’m a nerd for stuff like that. I got stuck the rare time, but with enough persistence and mixing up tactics I made it through.

Give the trailer a look and see if it’s a title you’d enjoy. I love the visuals!


0

What Is The Upcoming Steam JRPG Trillion Anyway?


Posted on August 15, 2016 by Les Major

Trillion is an Idea Factory title in which you power up to take on Trillion, the god of destruction! Sounds nice, happy and to the point doesn’t it? Trillion seemingly gets his name from the 1,000,000,000,000 hit points he has. Hopefully he’s max level so he doesn’t need to change his name. It must have been weird for Trillion growing up. “Who are you?” “I’m Twenty-Four!” “Oh, that’s a shame because my sword has a DPS of twenty five!” We don’t need to worry about that though since Trillion has all those juicy hit points at level 1. Ahem, joking aside, what IS this game? Let’s find out!

First off it should be noted that unlike some Vita ports, which is what Trillion is, the game contains both English and Japanese voiced dialogue. So any of you out there who enjoy dubbed audio in your JRPG’s, you should still have that here. I can’t imagine that not surviving the port to Steam.

Trillion at level 1

Unlike the cute Moe girls you’re used to from Idea Factory, Trillion takes on quite a Disgaea vibe which is something that stood out to me from the start. Instead of being like Hyperdimension Neptunia however, there seems to be a more tile based combat system in Trillion. When you move the enemies get to move. I’ve only looked at YouTube videos so far, but we do hope to get some hands on experience closer to the Steam release. As you can see in the image below, this specific combat focuses on Mokujin, a Trillion training dummy. He’s able to summon monsters and do some pretty devastating area of attack moves that show up both on your map in the upper left and on the actual level display as well. So you do have some warning of these big moves as well as time to avoid them. You can fight Mokujin every cycle, which works out to a week. In your main menu you’ll see the next coming of Trillion which the game counts down to in weeks.

Trillion battle setup

That isn’t the only way to power up. A mode called Valley of Swords gives players a rogue-like dungeon to explore and fight enemies in. If anything it reminds me quite a bit of NIS’ game The Guided Fate Ultimatum. With Trillion baring down on the world however, you’re probably not going to be able to stop him the first time. Cool thing is, after your game over new game plus carries over your character progression. So it is really a neat concept. Grind away, fight back against Trillion, rinse, repeat.

We’ll be taking a further look into Trillion soon, but for now take a look at the trailer below.

Also, some of the screens in this article are from BlueMaxima’s Vita Channel. If you’d like to look deeper into Trillion right now, feel free to watch his video here:


0

Get the latest articles and news from BrokenJoysticks and a selection of excellent articles from other sources.

Simply fill out the form below and you’ll be on your way to getting our upcoming newsletter.