Forza Horizon 2 Review

Forza Horizon 2
Developed By: Sumo Digital/Turn 10
Published By: Microsoft Studios
Date of Release: Sept. 30, 2014
Price $49.99

Close your eyes... Take a deep breath... Now picture yourself on the open road, the sensation of hurtling through time and space, the engine revving, the feel of the asphalt under your tires... that feeling of weightlessness you get as you soar along the highway... That is the feeling of freedom. The feeling of speed. Now open your eyes. Grip the controller. DRIVE! Welcome to Forza Horizon 2!
I've spent the last hour trying to find a way to put into words just how breathtaking it feels to drive in Forza Horizon 2, and I think the above pretty much accurately sums it up.



Before I tell you about what Forza Horizon 2 is, let's start with what it's not. Forza Horizon 2 is definitely NOT a hardcore racing simulator in terms of accurately representing and defining every single aspect of tuning and racing professionally. That's not to say it isn't an amazing simulation of actually driving, have no fears on that front. Rather it is a simulation of car culture unto itself, perhaps the most definitive simulation of racing culture seen yet. Forza Horizon 2 lets you live the dream of being a part of the greatest auto show on earth, and it gives you a front row seat.



Forza Horizon 2 lets you take part in the Horizon Auto Festival, and your options for doing so are almost limitless. Every class of car is well represented here, and you can tweak out their tuning, parts, paint jobs, and decals. The sky is the limit with customization. Once you have your sweet ride, you can hit the open road and enter the competitions you choose. And boy are you in for the dive of your life. Rather than populate the competitions and game world with AI drivers, Forza Horizon instead makes a "Drivatar" profile for you based on your driving style and skills, and unleashes it into the game world for everyone else to compete with. So the opponents you face will be friends and strangers from all over the world.



As if all that wasn't enough, Forza Horizon 2 has online competitions for you and your friends to race head to head in real-as well as the ability to just cast off and go on a free-roaming online road trip with your buddies. What could be better than that? The online play is smooth and lag-free, which makes the experience that much more satisfying. So get your road crew together and hit the road! Something I should also mention are the graphics. Forza horizon 2 has got to be the most realistic looking driving game I have ever played on any console, bar none. On top of that the sound effects are top notch, every car has its signature sound. The controls are tight as well, with amazing tactile feedback coming from the impulse triggers. You can literally feel the road as you go.

Bottom line: If you are in any way a fan of cars, whether it's a love of how they look, how they sound, or how they feel, Forza Horizon 2 is the game you've been waiting for!

Killer Instinct Review

Killer Instinct
Developed By: Double Helix/Iron Galaxy/Rare
Published By: Microsoft
Date of Release: S1: November 22, 2013/S2:October 15, 2014
Price: $39.99 per season for Ultra Edition, $19.99 per season for Combo Breaker

"It's the way you move... to the Killer Groove..."

The year was 1994, and in arcades all over the world the fighting genre ruled with an iron fist. People lined up all over with a fistful of quarters and a burning desire to pummel their opponents into submission. There were the Mortal Kombats, the Street Fighters... and they were good. But then Rare dropped a bomb on the fighting scene, blowing away the competition with Killer Instinct. Featuring fluid CGI animation rendered on the most powerful SGI workstations, and a pulse-poundign CD-quality soundtrack, the production values alone trounced the competition, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. The sheer playability that Killer Instinct had made it easy for people who had never played a fighter to pick it up and play, but on the other hand the deep combo system allowed those who practiced to rack up insanely staggering numbers of hits. And then in 1996 Killer Instinct 2 was released, and the fighting world was turned upside-down yet again.



Now here we are in 2014, two decades past the launch of the original Killer Instinct. Rare has moved on and become part of Microsoft, and just last year they worked with Double helix to make the amazing sequel to KI2, simply titled Killer Instinct: Season One. Now this year they have followed it up with Season Two, and things just keep getting better and better. Everything that makes a Killer Instinct game whole is here: Slick graphics, badass characters, flawless gameplay, a driving soundtrack, and a wicked-ass combo system to tie it all together. And with the awesome D-PAD on the Xbox One controller, you're not gonna break your thumbs pulling off combos.



If all that wasn't enough you get wicked lag-free online multiplayer, which has leaderboards and ranking to boot. Plus if you spring for the ultra editions you get the corresponding classic arcade versions, Killer Instinct for season one, and Killer Instinct 2 for season two. On top of that you get a set of retro costumes for the characters, which make them look like their original selves from the arcade versions. Good heaping piles of nostalgia there! Sure, $80 is a lot of money, but you get two seasons of the game, lots of extras, and two more insanely impressive games on top of that. The old arcade versions hold up THAT WELL. What are you waiting for? get out there and move to the killer groove!

Halo: The Master Chief Collection Review

Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Developed By: 343 Industries
Published By: Microsoft Studios
Date of Release: November 11, 2014
Price: $59.99

The year was 2001. The PC software giant Microsoft broke into the console gaming market in a massive way, with the launch of its Xbox console. Alongside that particular console they launched what would become it's killer app, Halo: Combat Evolved. Starring the heroic supersoldier Master Chief, it led payers on an epic journey as they waged war against a fanatical religious collective of alien races known as the covenant. Winning countless Game of The Year awards for it's massive single player campaign, as well as it's explosive split-screen multiplayer, Halo would go on to become THE flagship series for Microsoft in the years to come. Ever since the launch of the first game, every Halo release ever since, be it sequel or spinoff, has been quite an event. And now 343 Studios has taken the four mainline Halo titles, and crammed them together into one sweet package that is bursting at the seams with action.



When you start up the Master Chief Collection, you are immediately able to dive in to ANY point in all four campaigns through the unified menu system that ties the whole experience together. Got a favorite mission? Feel free to play it to your heart's content! Everything is unlocked for you right off the bat,which is perfect for series veterans who want to relive their favorite moments. On top of that there are a new set of playlists that spice up the campaign in very interesting ways. there's even a LASO (Legendary, All Skulls On) playlist for each game, which presents the ULTIMATE CHALLENGE for hardcore gamers. Prepare to die. A lot. I'm not kidding.



The Halo: Master Chief Collection goodies start off with the fabulous Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary from the Xbox 360 in all it's glory, upgraded to run in full 1080p at 60FPS. Then we have the meat of the collection, Halo 2 Anniversary. Built from the ground up for the Xbox One, it brings Halo 2 screaming forward into current gen with all new graphics, a fully remastered soundtrack courtesy of Skywalker Studios, and GORGEOUS new cinematics made by the wonderful folks at Blur. And just as with the original Halo Anniversary you can at any time press the View button to toggle between the remastered graphics and the originals, making for one hell of a shocking comparison. Last but not least we have the wonderful journeys of Halo 3 and 4 in their entirety, again running at 60fps 1080p.



For those who love multiplayer, are you in for a treat. EVERY SINGLE MULTIPLAYER MAP EVER is included. Even the exclusives from Halo Combat Evolved on PC. The "virtual couch" is back, and better than ever. Not only that, but six of the greatest Halo 2 maps have been given the Anniversary Edition treatment. The detail added to these maps is nothing short of amazing, and in no way does it ever interfere with the playability. Plus now you get Gungooses(Gungeese? Gungeeses? QUAD BIKES THAT GO SHOOTY!). F**K YES, GUNGOOSE! Now you can gun down your foes, and roll over their corpses while pulling sick stunts! OOH RAH!



Sadly though not everything can be perfect in Halo-land... Unfortunately, be it by licensing issues or just a darn strange design choice, the absolutely awesome rock-epic Blow me Away by Breaking Benjamin has been replaced in Halo 2 anniversary by... well, it's a really odd bit of buttrock riffs strung together somewhat dissonantly. It kinda kills the feel of the end of the Gravemind mission, let me tell you that. But seriously that is the only negative thing that I can possibly say about Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Here we have the Chief's entire saga in one package, all running at 60FPS in 1080p. PLUS you get the entirety of Ridley Scott's Halo Nightfall TV series when it launches. How can it get any better than that? I don't normally assign a numerical score to my reviews, but today I'll break tradition and give Halo: The Master Chief Collection a whopping 11/10 Halo Rings. Get thee to a gamery, and buy it!

Sunset Overdrive Review

Sunset Overdrive
Developed By: Insomniac
Published By: Insomniac
Kangaroo Codpiece By: Insomniac
Date of Release: October 28, 2014
Price: $59.99

Ok, I'm gonna admit right off the bat that I went into Sunset Overdrive cautiously, worried that at best I'd find a cliched mix of "EXTREME!" attitude and overused pop culture references wrapped around a mediocre shooter, or at worst a disaster along the proportions of Insomniac's last venture, FUSE (proof that you should NEVER let the publisher f**k with your product!). I am quite happy to say that Sunset Overdrive is NEITHER OF THE ABOVE! Sunset Overdrive is the freshest, hippest, and quite frankly BEST gaming experience I've had in a long time. I'm serious, this game managed to take the mechanics from some of my all-time favorites, and combine them with witty, non-cliche humor in a way that has to be seen to be believed. Now before we go any further, I have something that i absolutely have to get off my chest(crotch!?).

KANGAROO CODPIECE.


Yep. Let that sink in. Go on, I'll wait for you.

You good now? So yeah, you can use the decapitated head of a green kangaroo to cover your bits. That alone is worth the price of admission right there.

Ok seriously, this game is frigging badass. Take the typical run and gun with a dash of melee formula, add in the grind mechanics from Jet Set Radio, utterly bats**t insane weapons, and decently un-cliche humor. Add 3 quarts of vodka, shake (don't stir), and be sure to drink before the contents settle. You'll probably have one helluva hangover in the morning, but hey that's the cost of living large!



So the story of Sunset overdrive can pretty much be summarized as such: Multinational beverage corporation Fizzco launches a new energy drink called OverCharge Delerium XT. Due to market competition they rushed it to market with ABSOLUTELY NO PRODUCT TESTING, which could have helped avoid this whole freakin' mess. But instead, the drink turned countless people into freaky-ass mutants (known as OverCharge Drinkers, ODs), causing an apocaly-- sorry, an AWESOME-POCALYPSE(thanks Floyd) of massive proportions. It's up to you as the player to clean up the town, armed with the weirdest assortment of weapons ever before seen in a videogame. Of course with Insomniac at the helm, you KNOW you're gonna get some awesome guns. Seriously, there's a bowling ball launcher called The Dude. Sorry, fancy rug and White Russian not included.



The main portion of the game sees you grinding about the city on various missions, running errands, stuff like that. But sometimes the going gets tough, and you need to upgrade your powers, or Amps as they are referred to ingame. During these upgrade sessions you need to return to your base, and prepare to defend your amp-cooking vat. The game mode will switch to a very well executed tower-defense mode, where you have to protect your vat from waves of incoming ODs. Loose too much OverCharge from your vat, and you have to start over. I'm nto normally a fan of tower defense games, but the mechanic is REALLY well used here. Color me impressed.



And then there's the multiplayer. So far I have only managed to get into one session, but it was sweet. Seems to be a mixed bag of different mission types from the campaign, only played cooperatively, with competitive scoring on the side. Top notch stuff, and the whole time it was lag free. It did take me 10 minutes to find a session though, but that should pick up as time goes on and more people get playing. So now a quick recap: Sweet graphics - check. Rockin' soundtrack - check. Great gameplay - check. Awesomely non-cliche humor - check. Kangaroo codpiece - uhh, check please!

Bottom line: get out there and buy Sunset Overdrive. You won't regret it.

No marsupials were harmed in the making of this review.

3D Realms Anthology Review

3D Realms Anthology
Developed By: 3D Realms
Published By: 3D Realms
Date of Release: October 23, 3014
Price: $39.99

The year was 1991. The place, planet earth. PC gaming was gaining popularity with the advent of the affordable home computer, and things were good. However gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System were starting to steal the PC's fire with smooth scrolling platform games, the likes of which had never been seen elsewhere. Enter Apogee Software! Their smash hit Duke Nukem propelled them to the front of the PC gaming scene, and there they would stay for years to come, cranking out hit after hit. And then came the revolution. The Renaissance. In January of 1996 Apogee Software re-branded themselves as 3D Realms, and launched what would be one of the greatest PC games ever made, Duke Nukem 3D. It took the gaming world by storm, leading to ports, remakes, addons... life was good. But not all good things can last. In the process of trying to make a sequel to rival the success to Duke Nukem 3D, 3D Realms ended up putting itself out of business due to delays and unfortunate choices. The King was dead.

Fast forward a decade or so. The year is 2013. It is the future. A savvy group of game developers band together under the name Interceptor Entertainment, and crank out a wickedly badass reboot to the Apogee/3D Realms classic Rise of The Triad. Fresh off the success of RoTT 2013, they embark on a bold new venture: the resurrection of 3D Realms. The Date is October 23, 2014. It is also the future. 3D Realms is reborn anew, and with it's glorious rebirth comes the 3D Realms Anthology, an extraordinarily unprecedented collection of games spanning the history of the company. All the titles that made a name for Apogee/3D Realms are present here in full pixel perfect glory, retooled to work on modern machines with controller support to boot. On top of that you get a "re-rockistrated" soundtrack featuring arranged music from 9 classic games. Woot! Now then, let's take a look at each individual title.

Alien Carnage


This is definitely a good title to start on. Alien Carnage stars the super-macho "Halloween" Harry, an action hero who could easily be mistaken for Duke Nukem's twin brother. Aliens have invaded New York City, and it's up to Harry to strap on his jetpack and flamethrower and kick their asses. With smooth scrolling action, anime-inspired graphics, and a rockin' soundtrack, Alien Carnage is easily one of the top shooters in this pack.

Arctic Adventure


Woo, this is a bit of a blast from the past! Arctic Adventure is a barebones (but fun) platformer from back in the days of CGA graphics. That means everything is blue and pink! Plenty of platforming and puzzle solving here, definitely worth checking out.

Bio Menace


Ok, this is more like it! Aliens! Guns! Grenades! Gore! Dr. Mangle has unleashed a horde of mutants on metro City and it's up to Snake Logan to take him out! With smooth Duke Nukem style platforming and gunplay, this game is a must-play. Some of the enemies may look comically cute, but you can blow them to bloody chunks just the same!

Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold


And here we go into the first FPS of the bundle! Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold is a Wolfenstein-powered tour-de-force that holds up amazingly even against today's shooters. With massively upgraded details like floor and ceiling textures, working vending machines, and NPCs to interact with, Blake Stone takes the Wolf3D formula to the future, literally.

Commander Keen: Invasion of The Vorticons


And now here's something any gamer who grew up in the NES days could appreciate: a candy-colored 2D platforming sci-fi romp of epic proportions. Commander Keen: Invasion of The Vorticons is a love letter to fans of Nintendo's platformers. Keen wasn't actually developed by 3DRealms however, it was published by them back in the Apogee days, having been developed by their friends at id software. Now tell me: how many other series star the son of a war hero, traveling the stars in a homebrew rocket made out of soup cans and fueled by booze purloined from dad's stash?

Commander Keen: Goodbye Galaxy!


If Invasion of The Vorticons was a love letter to Nintendo fans, then Goodbye Galaxy is a full-on marriage proposal. Here we have the classic Keen formula, but with the production values cranked up even further. better graphics, better sound effects, and MUSIC! Billy Blaze (son of Wolfenstein's B.J. Blazcowicz) has his work cut out for him once again as he saves the galaxy from destruction!

Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure


Ok, so far we've had quite a few games centered around blowing the everloving drek out of aliens. How about a game where you play as one? In Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure you play the titular Cosmo as he searches for his missing parents. Cosmo is an adorable green alien with suction cup hands, which add a sweet wall-jumping element to the game. Definitely a good title for the kids.

Crystal Caves


Here's another cute little platformer. In Crystal Caves you lead our hero Mylo Steamwitz on an intergalactic treasure hunt full of traps and puzzles. Everywhere you go in this slick platformer you'll find danger and candy-colored crystals abound!

Death Rally


Hoo boy, here's a speedy one! In death rally you drive a tricked out vehicle ready to dish out the carnage. Can't beat your foes to the finish line? Blow the $#!& out of 'em with your advanced arsenal! You can spend your earnings on new vehicles and upgrades, and trust me you will need them. Duke Nukem makes a cameo appearance in this rad racer, and he's one tough opponent. Fans of top down racing will love this one.

Duke Nukem


And here we are, the debut of everyone's favorite booze-chugging, cigar chomping, 'roid raging original badass videogame action hero. The man who saves our babes. Duke Nukem! In his earlier adventures, Duke was confident enough in his machismo to wear pink and watch Oprah. He was a bit more health conscious as well, as he substituted cola for beer and turkey for steroids. However in his early days Duke still kicked ass, even without his signature shades. Duke Nukem has enough robot blasting action to fill a good action packed weekend.

Duke Nukem II


"I'm Back!"
That one line (voiced by 3D Realms Community Manager Joe Siegler) is enough to sens shivers down the spine of any shooter fan. It seems that Duke's fame got a bit out of control, during an interview on a certain famous talk show he was abducted by aliens who wanted to suck out his brain and use it to power their invasion machine. Spies have been knows to hide a secret cyanide capsule in a tooth in case of capture. But Duke's not gonna lay down and die, he's backing a nuclear molar! After he blows away the door to his cell he arms himself and wreaks hell on the alien army. This right here is the holy grail of 2D platform shmups on the PC. There's also a spot of controversy here, as they have retroactively drawn in Duke's shades, even though in the original he didn't wear any.

Duke Nukem 3D


Here we are. The undisputed crown jewel in the Duke Nukem franchise. Duke Nukem 3D is 3DRealms's magnum opus, and with a stable as impressive as theirs I do NOT say that lightly. Duke Nukem 3D reimagined Duke as the grizzled, profane, ultraviolent, babe-loving, stogie-chomping, alien ass kicking motherf***er we know and love today. Using the best technology available at the time (the mighty Build engine!), Duke Nukem 3D delivered a massive campaign of blockbuster action, with a side order of the finest in world class alien patooties to pummel with Duke's size 13s. Add to that the badassest multiplayer going at the time(Dukematch!), and you have the recipe for success! 3DRealms later added an extra fourth episode in an expansion called the "Plutonium Pack", and soon after sold a complete combo called the "Atomic Edition", which is what we have here in this anthology. Score!

Duke Nukem Manhattan Project


Well, this one's half decent. It's a typical Duke Nukem sidescroller, this time in 2.5D, but it just doesn't have the charm to match the earlier games. That said it's still a damn fine game in and of itself. Just don't go expecting the magic of the earlier titles and you'll do fine.

Hocus Pocus


Ahhh, Hocus Pocus... In this magical adventure you play as a young wizard named... Hocus Pocus. Yes, that is his actual name. Though he may have a slightly cheesy moniker there is nothing else cheesy about this spellbinding romp. The graphics and sound are amazing, and the gameplay is your typical solid platform affair. Definitely worth a go.

Major Stryker


Ahhh, here we go. A nice vertical shmup. Major Striker is a tale of one man fighting against all odds to save the universe. A little bit cliche at this point, but the gameplay makes up for it. Plenty of upgrades for your ship abound, and the pulse-pounding soundtrack keeps you on the edge of your seat. Another quality title, and a worthy addition to any collection.

Math Rescue


Well, there's not much to say about this one. It;s an edutainment platformer filled with math questions, geared towards the kiddies. It's ok in small doses if you're utterly bored, but definitely not for the hardcore gamers among us. NEXT!

Monster Bash!


And here's one NOT for the kiddies! At first glance Monster Bash is a cute cartoony haloween romp, but think again! With heaps of gory gibs, intestines wrapped around spikes, and decapitated heads flying everywhere, Monster Bash is a wonderful and brutally gory adventure for the big kids.

Monuments of Mars


Monuments of Mars is another oldschool CGA platformer. Pretty much Arctic Adventure in space. With aliens. And space stuff.

Mystic Towers


Ok now we're talking! Mystic Towers is a wicked sweet isometric puzzle/platforming RPG. Starring Baron Baldric, a jolly and flatulent old geezer with an arsenal of magic spells (and poisonous gas clouds!), he's ready to take on any foe he may stumble across. Be sure to let him idle for a few moments, as the good Baron will burp, fart, pick his nose, and scratch his arse. Charming!

Paganitzu


Alabama Smith is back once again! And this time he's packing EGA graphics! No longer limited to the cheesy CGA colors of the past, he can now solve epic puzzles as he journeys through a world painted with a lush and vibrant pallet of 16 WHOLE COLORS! Score!

Pharaoh's Tomb


Oh. The CGA pallet came back again. Damn. Sorry old chap, dunno what to say. Just keep going, you can get through it! Pharaoh's Tomb is yet another Alabama Smith adventure, this time taking place in the tomb of a pharaoh! Adventure awaits! Just try not to get any sand in your boots.

Blake Stone: Planet Strike


Blake Stone is back, baby! And so is his nemesis, Dr. Pyrus Goldfire! More guns, more glory! Blake Stone is here to kick alien ass and chew bubblegum and he's all out of... Wait, wrong action hero. It's time once again for agent Blake Stone to punt the mutant menace in the jorblochs, and make sure that this time Goldfire retires PERMANENTLY!

Raptor: Call of The Shadows


Ahhh Raptor... Another fine vertical shooter, this one sees you in control of an advanced fighter jet, armed to the teeth with machine guns and missles. Raptor: Call of The Shadows differs quite nicely from other SHMUPS in the fact that you have a shield gauge rather than the typical "one shot and you die" mechanic. With a rockin soundtrack, tough as nails bosses, and a nice varied set of levels, Raptor will keep you coming back for more!

Realms of Chaos


Realms of Chaos is a pretty sweet game. It's a sidescrolling hack'n'slash rpg that lets you switch between a swordsman and a sorceress whenever you like. It's got good graphics, a nice soundtrack, and some nice action to boot. The gameplay is quite similar to Actraiser on the SNES.

Rise of The Triad: Dark War


Ooh, this is a treat right here. At the time of it's release, Rise of The Triad was pretty much THE most violent game available for the PC, let alone anywhere else. With guns and explosives galore, and tons of secret areas, RoTT can seriously eat up hours upon hours of your time in a blink. Especially rewarding are the moments when you blow up an enemy JUST right and are treated to a shower of gore. "LUDICROUS GIBS" indeed.

Secret Agent


In Secret Agent you join Agent 006½ on a mission to save the world in a platforming puzzle-solving spy thriller romp. Parodying popular movies of the time, there's plenty of wit to go around here. Plenty of gameplay too.

Shadow Warrior


Who wants some Wang? No, not that kind of wang. Get yer mind outta the gutter, buddy! Lo Wang is here, and he's gonna paint the land of the rising sun red with the blood of his enemies. Betrayed and left for dead by his boss, Zilla, Lo Wang is on the run and out to cut himself some ninja sushi. Sharpen your shurikens and polish your katana, it's time to rip Nippon a new one! Bonus Fortune Cookies: Man who fart in church sit in own pew. Man who stand on toilet is high on pot. Baseball wrong, man with four ball cannot walk. Stuck in pantry? You have ass in jam!

Stargunner


Stargunner is yet another balls-to-the-wall SHMUP, but this time on the horizontal plane. Quite similar in gameplay to the classic Gradius and R-Type games, Stargunner has enough action and upgrades to keep you going for hours.

Terminal Velocity


Whoof, hope you don't get airsick easily! Terminal Velocity is a 6DOF shooter in the same vein as Descent, except in this one you aren't stuck underground! Fly above the clouds! Fly upside down! Paint the cockpit canopy wit your lunch(no, not really)! In Teminal Velocity there is sh*t that needs blowing up, and you're just the pilot to blow it up.

Wacky Wheels


What's this? Mario Kart for furries? Hell no! It's just a sweet little racer that happens to star a colorful cast of cute cuddly critters! VERY similar in gameplay to Mario Kart, however only in Wacky Wheels do you get to snatch up hedgehogs sitting on toilets(WTF?) and launch them at your foes!

Wolfenstein 3D


Ahh here we are, the original first person shooter. Wolfenstein 3D has enjoyed a fine history of being BANNED in Germany for it's use of nazi imagery. Poor german gamers, they don't get to go after mecha-Hitler with a lead-spewing chaingun. MUAAAAA HAAA HAAA! DIE FUHRER, DIEEEEEEE! Fun Fact: when your health gets desperately low, you can slurp up pools of blood from the floor to heal yourself!

Word Rescue


Uhh, ok, here's some more kid-friendly edutainment. Word Rescue is basically Math rescue, but with words this time. Alright kiddos, set forth and kick some gruzzle ass! And stuff. Once again, if you're into this kinda thing you might get some enjoyment out of it. Otherwise save it for the kids in your life.



So there we have it. The 3DRealms Anthology is a collection of 32 games from the company's past, of which 99% are utterly kickass, and the remaining 1% is edutainment. On top of that you get the wicked album 3DRealms Anthology Re-Rockestrated, which has 9 awesome tracks spanning the best of the collection.


When you add everything together there is no denying that this set is WELL worth the $39.99 asking price. So don't think twice about it, go for it! Everything is bundled into one hassle-free launcher, and will run on any modern Windows PC with no configuration needed, and Xbox 360 controller support to boot! Get to the 3DRealms site and buy this collection, You owe it to yourself to enjoy these classic masterpieces.

3DRealms Anthology

Monster Monpiece Review

Monster Monpiece
Developed By: Compile Heart
Published By: Idea Factory
Date of Release: May 27, 2014


Hydras. Basilisks. Minotaurs. Bugbears. All horrendous, vicious beings of darkness, who will most certainly have you for dinner if you are to meet up with them. But not in this world! In the magical world of Monster Monpiece, monsters that would normally be horrific beasts are actually cute girls! Cute DEADLY monster girls! You have an army of adorable monster girls to fight your battles for you, and boy are you ever gonna need all the help you can get!



Monster Monpiece is a Collectable Card Game/RPG hybrid that has you pitting your army of monster cards in turn-based battles against your opponent's army. Which seems perfectly by-the-numbers until you get to the method of making your monster girls/cards stronger: you have to err.. rub them. That's right, both the touch screen and rear touch pad on the Vita are utilized. By suggestively stroking your monster girls, you make them stronger(you can't make this stuff up!).



Ultra-risque elements aside, Monster Monpiece manages to stand on it's own as a completely competent card brawler, and the lengthy campaign plus the robust multiplayer will keep you coming back for more. This is definitely one of the best card games on the Vita, and the production values are through the roof. If you are a card game fanatic, or just a fan of cute monster girls, there is no reason not to check this unique gem out. Just don't play the more naughty parts in public.

Conception II Review

Conception II: Children of The Seven Stars
Developed By: Spike Chunsoft
Published By: ATLUS
Date of Release: April 15, 2014
Price: $39.99

Heeeeeeeey baby, here's a question! Who wants to make babies? Wait, don't run away! I didn't mean it like that! I am of course referring to the latest release from Spike Chunsoft, courtesy of the fine folks at ATLUS. The sequel to the Japanese PSP exclusive and awkwardly titled Conception: Please Have My Baby!, Conception II: Children of The Seven Stars is a dungeon-crawling RPG in the vein of the Persona series. With added childbirth. Now don't make that face, there's nothing grody happening here. This is good clean fun for the whole family! Or maybe not... It did earn a mature rating after all. ^_~



In Conception II creating Star Children is the order of the day, and you'll need an army of them to fight for you in the dungeons. It's kinda like Pokemon plus parenthood, except you don't catch your team, you give birth to them! Don't worry, this isn't some creepy eroge. Said procreation, known as "Classmating" happens simply with the holding of hands, and channeling your ether and your partners spirit energy into a matryoshka doll. If you're successful, out pops a new Star Child! Or twins! Or triplets! I hope you bought enough baby bottles to go around! Your player character has an unusually high level of ether, and is known as a God's Gift, which means he'll be getting QUITE a lot of attention from the game's lovely ladies.



The dungeon crawling works pretty much like the Persona games as mentioned before, with your party exploring the dungeon areas populated with monsters. Coming into contact with said monsters initiates battle, and here's where things differ quite a bit from Persona. The combat in Conception 2 uses a unique turn based battle system that shows the order of the battle progression through a stream of character/enemy portraits, and also lets you choose which side to attack your foes from. If you attack their weak side you'll do massive damage, plus earn other nice bonuses. The way the battles progress offers a nice refreshing change from standard RPG fare.



In my hours playing Conception II I never found that the game dragged on at all or got repetitive, though that may be because I am used to RPG grinding. Despite the odd subject matter, Conception II is quite a wonderful RPG, and is well worth investing in to add to your Playstation Vita or 3DS library. With lush anime visuals, a wonderful soundtrack that fits the mood perfectly, and masterful voice acting, the production values are really high. So head out and buy it now, do it for the children!