Halo 5 Guardians Review

Halo 5 Guardians
Developed By: 343 Studios
Published By: Microsoft Studios
Date of Release: October 27, 2015

It is no secret that the Halo is Microsoft's most beloved game franchise, and for good reason. The Halo series started out with Halo: Combat Evolved, a launch title (and arguably killer app) for the original Xbox gaming system in 2001. Since then, each subsequent entry into the main series has been something truly special, offering a vastly enthralling experience for both singleplayer and multiplayer fans alike. With epic campaigns and some of the best multiplayer experiences available, the series has been going strong for four main entries, and a handful of spinoffs. However, now Halo 5: Guardians has arrived, and it seems that the series legacy has continued in strong form.



The first thing noticeable about Halo 5: Guardians is just how damn good it looks. Being the first Halo title crafted exclusively for the Xbox One, it takes full advantage of the hardware and uses a scalable resolution to keep the action at 60fps. I didn't notice any resolution changes at all during gameplay, the scaling is that smooth and dynamic. As always the gameplay is smooth and tight, with no hiccups in the presentation. The story is gripping, and kept me going through the entire campaign, however the ending was pretty much as jarring as it gets, giving me flashbacks of Halo 2. That makes sense though, as this is the second game in a trilogy. Just be prepared to tear your hair out over a massive cliffhanger.



Now, about the multiplayer: It's there, it's good, it's online Halo at it's best. And unlike the launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the matchmaking is NOT broken. I was able to get into games almost instantly, and the experience was as smooth as butter, with no lag that I could discern. The same 60fps experience as the single player campaign is present here, and even in the most hectic moments I never noticed a framerate dip. On top of that there's the new REQ system that lets you collect points to buy random booster packs of weapon and vehicle cards. The multiplayer also give players massive levels of visual customization for their character, with armor components unlocked from collecting cards.



All in all I would have to say that Halo 5: Guardians is the full spartan package, slightly bullshit cliffhanger ending notwithstanding. Of course what does my opinion matter, it's a Halo game, it's bound to be good. Bottom line: get out there, buy it, kick some covie ass! The Universe needs you, Spartan!

JUDGEMENT SILVERSWORD -Resurrection- Review

JUDGEMENT SILVERSWORD -Resurrection-
Developed by: Qute
Published By: Degica
Date of Release: September 18, 2015
Price: $4.99

Back in the pre-millenial days of 1999, there was a cute little Japanese handheld system known as the Bandai Wonderswan. The literal swan song of GameBoy designer Gunpei Yokoi (who tragically died before it's release), The Wonderswan at one point managed to grab 8% of the handheld market and had two major revisions, the second of which introducing a color LCD, before finally being discontinued in 2003. Many amazing games were made for the system, Including the original remakes of Final Fantasy I, II and IV that later found homes on the Gameboy Advance. However one Wonderswan exclusive stands out in particular. That game is JUDGEMENT SILVERSWORD.



Originally released as JUDGEMENT SILVERSWORD -Rebirth Edition-, this was a game that was actually developed for a WonderWitch dev competition, and published officially as a cartridge. Because of the limited release however, it is nigh impossible to find, which makes this Steam release a godsend. Now the entire world has access to this simple, but absolutely marvelous bit of bullet hell. It may be slightly basic and by the numbers at this point, but back in the day it was a technical marvel. The SHMUP genre has existed on handhelds for quite some time at that point, but Judgement Silversword was the first true bullet hell experience on a handheld system, which was probably due to the latency of the LCD screens on other handhelds at the time. Of course it's a moot point now,a s any modern display is up to the task of rendering everything as it was meant to be seen.



The Steam version of Judgement Silversword comes with the main game as well as the time-attack spinoff Cardinal Sins. Both are perfectly emulated with a host of control and visual options, as well as extended soundtracks. Any bullet hell fan would do well to have this title in their library, and at $5 it's a total steal. It's also available bundled with the steam release of Eschatos, which I will be reviewing as soon as I get it running! JUDGEMENT SILVERSWORD -Ressurection- is a good enough title to stand on it's own IMO, and the addition of the challenged in Cardinal Sins just piles on the replay value.

Rare Replay Review

Rare Replay
Developed By: Rare
Published By: Microsoft
Date of Release: August 4, 2015
Price: $29.99

Ahhh Rare... Since 1985 they have been delivering gaming goodness on various home game consoles, and now for the first time ever they have released a compilation of their finest works (that were not Nintendo franchises!) for the Xbox One console. with 30 games in total, Rare Replay spans their entire history and has more than a few incredible gems, many of which are hard as hell to find in their original forms. While nostalgia is a driving force in this compilation, it is undeniable that most of the games aside from a few of the older one hold up incredibly well in this day and age.



Rare has long been known for crafting some of the finest games ever on Nintendo's home consoles, and other than the Donkey Kong franchise as well as Goldeneye (thanks Activision!) pretty much every good game they ever put out is present and accounted for. In fact, at the time of this writing, Rare Replay has ensured that the Xbox One has more playable Nintendo 64 games than Nintendo's own Wii U currently has. The irony is strong in this one. Anyway, the complete list of 30 games is pretty damn impressive, let me lay them out for you.

Jetpac
It all started here folks! Build your rocket and fuel it up!

Atic Atac
Find the key and escape the labyrinth!

Lunar Jetman
Blow up your enemies and pilot the moon rover!

Sabre Wulf
The first Sabreman adventure! Escape the maze! Evade the Wulf!

Underwurlde
Sabreman returns in this puzzle platformer!

Knight Lore
Sabreman marks his final outing here, as he searches for a cure for his lycantrophy.

Gunfright
There's a new sheriff in town... ok that was incredibly cliche.

Slalom
Slalom marked Rare's first console outing, as well as being the first Western developed NES game.

R.C. Pro-Am
R.C. Pro-Am is one of the finest RC car simulators on the NES!

Battletoads (NES)
I dunno about this one, best call Gold & Silver Pawn Shop for details. 1-702-385-7912. Ask for Rick.

Cobra Triangle
It's R.C. Pro-Am with boats. And guns. Very good stuff.

Snake Rattle N Roll
Isometric snakes. No, that's not a British punk band.

Digger T. Rock
Another puzzle platformer. Can you dig it?

Solar Jetman
Another well made shooter.

R.C. Pro-Am II
R.C. Pro-Am: The Sequel. 'nuff said.

Battletoads Arcade
Battletoads just got bigger, badder, and Battley-er!

Killer Instinct Gold
The amazing N64 port of Killer Instinct 2. ONLY ON NINTENDO ULTRA 64!

Blast Corps
Blow shit up to clear a path for a nuke on a truck. What more could you ask for?

Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie marked the beginning of Rare's obsession of collectathon games, which is not a bad thing at all.

Jet Force Gemini
Jet Force Gemini is one of the finest third-person shooters on the N64, and here it shows up with modern controls and a widescreen HD facelift.

Perfect Dark
This is arguably a better FPS than Goldeneye. Which makes it pretty effing sweet.

Banjo-Tooie
Bear and Bird return to COLLECT ALL THE THINGS!

Conker’s Bad Fur Day
This is basically a genre-defying game that stars the hung-over squirrel incarnation of Al Bundy. Despite beign released on a Nintendo console it contains massive leavels of raunch, profanity, and singing poo. No, not slinging poo. Grow up, you little #%^&$#@!

Grabbed by the Ghoulies
Depending on who you ask, this is either the BEST or the WORST Xbox game, and the first released by Rare after Microsoft bought them out.

Kameo: Elements of Power
One of the Sbox 360 launch titles, this gorgeous platformer sticks closely to Rare's grandiose traditions.

Perfect Dark Zero
An awesome shooter from the Xbox 360, no longer plagued by its horrendous screen tearing.

Viva Piñata
A colorful garden management sim. This is about as zen and peaceful as it gets.

Jetpac Refuelled
Jeatpac is back!

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
An amazing vehicular adventure, sadly trashed by many because it's not a platformer.

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
More pinatas! More fun! Woooooo!



So there we have it. Rare has assembled the best of the best for this fine package, and with the additions of unlockable documentaries on the making of the games and the like, it's really a fully rounded package. Even without all the goodies it's still a solid 30 games for $30, so it's an incredible value. If you have an Xbox One and you care at ALL about decent gaming, pick rare Replay up pronto!

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3 V Generation Review

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3: V Generation
Developed By: Compile Heart
Published By: Idea Factory
Date of Release: June 30, 2015
Price: $39.99

It's time to NepNep like it's 1989!

In the game industry of our world we have seen countless companies come and go, bringing us amazing consoles, epic games, and so much enjoyment and innovation. From the simple joysticks and clunky cartridges of the past, to the sleek disc-based consoles of today, videogaming over the ages has told a rich and and storied saga. Now imagine if you will, a world where people live and die based on the market shares of their respective game comnpanies. A world where software pirates and modchip makers are the scourge of the seven seas. A world ruled by digitally deified divas who symbolize the hopes and dreams of their console nations. Welcome once again to the digital frontier of Gamindustri!



Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory marked the third main outing for the series when it hit the PS3, and it was also the longest and most hilarious off the wall and over the top Neptunia game that had been seen. If Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 was considered a reboot, then perhaps Hyperdimension Neptuinia Victory is a reboot of a reboot! The plot kicks in just a few short years after the events of MK2/Sisters Generation, with Neptune and Nepgear slacking off daily with the other CPUs (Console Patron Units) and CPU Candidates (The siblings of the CPUs). After the two sisters have a falling out over their shirked responsibilities, Neptune goes off on her own to work, and through a series of absurd events is transported back into the Gamindustri of the past!



The videogame industry allegory that runs throughout the series is just as strong as ever in this entry, this time telling the tale of the 1989 console war. In a time before Neptune and company even saved the world of Gamindustri the first time, A dark force from the past has come forth to destroy everything. I won;t say more about it, because SPOILERS! I won't bore you with the gameplay details and descriptions of the wonderful graphics and the adorable CPUs, because if you're here at this point, you know that this series is goddamn good, and that nothing is gonna change about that. Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation is more of the same hot Nep-Nep action you have some to expect from this series, and I would not have it any other way. Just go buy it already, you don;t want Iris Heart to get pissed off at you for taking too long!

Goat Simulator Review

Goat Simulator (Xbox One)
Developed/Published By: Coffee Stain Studios
Date of Release: April 17, 2015
Price: $9.99

In the beginning, there was goat named Pilgor. She was a very goaty goat, spending her days doing goaty things. Pilgor grazed every day in her grassy yard, ever dreaming of the world outside her fenced domain. One day she noticed Bigge peering at her over the fence, and decided to strike up a conversation. "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaah" she said. Bigge didn't notice. So Pilgor decided to make a more physical approach, and charged through the fence, headbutting Bigge forcefully. "I want my mommyyyyyy!" cried Bigge, as he was launched through the air, impacting a nearby propane tank and perishing in the explosion.



Pilgor blinked, and realized that she was free from the confines of her goat pen. She decided then and there to become an explorer, and discover all the marvels of this new world. So she trotted merrily along the path, crossed the road, and found herself surrounded by people waving strange signs on sticks. They all seemed to be very angry at a man on a nearby stage, so she decided to help out. Pilgor climbed onto the stage, and with a loud "baaaaaaaah!" she headbutted the man into the crowd. Strangely, that seemed to make everyone even more upset, as the crowd ran away screaming.



Dejectedly, Pilgor continued her journey, wondering why people seemed so afraid of her. She stopped at the local gas station and tried to make friends with the gas pumps, but they just exploded when she nudged them. Then she visited a backyard party where everyone was dancing, and tried to join in with her new friend, a giant boulder. Sadly no one wanted to party with her rocky friend, so she left, looking for somewhere that she would fit in.



Pilgor decided to get a better view of her surroundings, so she climbed up to the very top of a tall crane at a nearby construction site. Gstfs was up at the top, sitting at the end of the jib. Pilgor said hello, but that just served to startle him, and he fell to his gruesome demise. Pilgor bleated sadly, deciding that maybe she should just join him, after all no one seemed to like her very much. As she contemplated leaping from the crane, she spotted a rooftop party in the distance. Seeign the bright lights and the happy dancing people, she decided to give one more try at making friends.



Pilgor climbed down the crane, and hopped onto the roof of a passing car, riding it into town. She found the tallest building and rode to the roof in a elevator, where she found the dance party. Deadmau5 was DJing, and people really seemed to be into the music. Pilgor let out a loud bleat in greeting, and everyone turned to look at her as the music stopped. She walked up to the stage, and Deadmau5 put one of his famous helmets on her head, and motioned for her to join everyone else. Pilgor struggled to hold back tears of joy as she joined the crowd and danced the night away with them.



After a satisfying night of dancing, Pilgor bid farewell to her new friends, and strapped on a jetpack to make her way home. She soared over the city as the sun rose, feeling content that she had finally found her place in the world. Today was the first day of the rest of her life. The world was her oyster! Nothing, no matter what, would ever get her down.



And then she flew into a helicopter and perished in a fiery blast.

Ori and The Blind Forest

Ori and The Blind Forest
Developed By: Moon Studios
Published By: Microsoft Game Studios
Date of Release: March 11, 2015
Price: $19.99

As I sit here, the tears have finally dried. Why was I crying? Maybe it was the beautiful artwork. maybe it was the flowing narrative. Or maybe it was the sheer Bambi-class heartbreaking feel-trip from the prologue of Ori and the Blind Forest. Yeah, definitely the feel-trip. The game starts out swinging with the emotional narrative, and keeps it up through the entire experience. By the time you're done you'll definitely need to re-hydrate.



Now all of you know how much I love a good platforming romp of the Metroidvania persuasion. I could sit and play Metroidvanias happily for the rest of my life, and I can definitely say that Ori and the Blind Forest is a worth addition to the hall of Metroidvania honor. I will warn you though, it does pretty much start with a nut-punch right in the feels, but don't let that detract from your enjoyment of the game. Just put a little ice on it.



The first thing that struck me about Ori and The Blind Forest is how much work went into the visuals. The entire game looks like a surreal moving painting, with the artwork flowing around like sands on the wind. The sound design is also quite up to the task, painting an aural canvas that is as pleasing to the ears as the visuals are to the eyes. The narrator's voice is amazing, despite being in a fictional language with subtitles.



Of course the gameplay also matters, and you can definitely compare Ori and The Blind Forest to stalwart classics such as Super Metroid and Castlevania Symphony of The Night. Ori however takes a more organic feel to the whole system of upgrading and backtracking, giving it perhaps a more natural feel than other titles. All in all it is an extensive meaty experience, with plenty to offer genre veterans and newcomers alike. Ori and The Blind Forest is a must have for any Xbox One owner!

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 PC Review

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 PC
Developed By: Idea Factory/Compile Heart
Published By: Idea Factory
Date of Release: January 28, 2015
Price: $29.99

In the game industry of our world we have seen countless companies come and go, bringing us amazing consoles, epic games, and so much enjoyment and innovation. From the simple joysticks and clunky cartridges of the past, to the sleek disc-based consoles of today, videogaming over the ages has told a rich and and storied saga. Now imagine if you will, a world where people live and die based on the market shares of their respective game comnpanies. A world where software pirates and modchip makers are the scourge of the seas. A world ruled by digitally deified divas who symbolize the hopes and dreams of their console nations. Welcome to the digital frontier of Gamindustri!



Released last year on the Playstation Vita, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 has now been ported onto the PC, and is offered for sale exclusively on Steam. The entire experience is here, with all the trimmings (including plenty of DLC to buy!). Sadly it's been a little clunky so far, with many issues popping up here and there, but Idea Factory has been fast to listen to fan feedback and fix everything up! It's good to see they care about their fans at this level, some companies (COUGHSQUAREENIXCOUGH) can;t seem to take a hint about what their fans think. I'm confident though that IF knows their fanbase, as they have handled everything smoothly thus far.



Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 marks the fourth outing for the series, and though it may be a reboot it is also the longest, most hilariously off the wall and over the top game to grace the series yet. If Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 was considered a reboot of the original, then perhaps that makes Hyperdimension Neptuinia Re:Birth1 a reboot of a reboot! This literal rebirth of the original game takes the original story, polishes it up a few notches, and sticks it on top of the gameplay system that made Hyperdimension Neptunia: Victory so great.



To be brutally honest, the original Hyperdimension Neptunia for PS3 was an absolute soul-breaking slog, with hours of grinding and frankly boring combat dragging the experience on. The only saving grace was its story, which made the most of things with its masterful console war allegory. Thankfully having been moved over to the gameplay stylings of Victory, Re:Birth1 is propelled high and above its clunky progenitor. With the far more exciting battle system on offer in this entry, traveling through the games myriad dungeons and leveling up no longer feels like such a chore. Unrestrained by the formerly boring gameplay, the story is now free to take center stage.



When it comes right down to it, Re;Birth1 is STILL a shining example of that the series can offer, and I can only hope that Re;Birth2 will follow the first entry onto Steam as soon as possible. The PC library could definitely use more JRPG experiences like these, as it's mainly been a bland morass of western RPGS until now. I for one would gladly go for every Neptunia adventure again if they were to be ported to the PC. Now get on Steam and buy this awesome game, or I'll send Iris Heart after you!

Dying Light Review

Dying Light
Developed By: Techland
Published By: Techland/WB
Date of Release: January 27, 2015
Price: $59.99

ZOMBIES! ZOMBIES EVERYWHERE! In a world that had never before seen a zombie related videogame this situation would seem quite frightening. Not in our world, where zombie-killfests are a dime a dozen, and a zombie-related game just HAS to do something to stand out from the crowd, otherwise it just becomes another brick in the wall. Dying Light is NOT just another brick in the wall, let me tell you. Fresh from releasing Dead Island 1 and 2, Techland has definitely learned from the shortcomings of their previous undead endeavors, and Dying Light is all the better for it!



Dying Light is however more than a mere Dead Island 2.0. Everything that was good about the previous games has vastly been improved on, and everything bad has pretty much been checked out the window. I know that this is a different game, in a different series, but it really just feels like a complete successor to Dead Island. If only the that series could have been this good. IMO however this is a complete redemption for any past shortcomings. Dying light is just plain meaty, and a blast to play alone or in co-op. And with one character to play as this time, things don;t feel as fragmented.



The crafting system is in full force here, but completely streamlined, much easier to craft what you need this time around. Combat feels satisfying visceral, and this time around we have guns that act like guns for a change, no dinky popgun this time. You fire a shotgun, and it FEELS like a shotgun. Just prepared to be swarmed by the undead due to the noise. Of course you can always climb to higher ground, as Dying Light has adopted a parkour system that seems to be Mirror's Edge meets Assassin's Creed. Though it's slightly clunky, it more than does it's job, and you'll save your own hide many times by taking the higher ground. In a way the clunkiness makes it that much more real, because you WILL have close calls, you're not some superhero athlete. You're a tough guy, who's taken some damage, and this just drives it home.



The co-op mode feels pretty good, with support for four players. It's a drop in/drop out affair, and you keep your gear and progress as you go. A lot of the missions in the campaign feel suited to having extra help, so it's nice to see that co-op was well thought out and not just slapped on for it's own sake. For those who would rather be an antagonist, there's also a "Be the Zombie" mode, where you play a superpowered undead badass trying to hunt down the other players, and it's pretty decent as well. When it comes right down to it, Dying Light is a very good effort, and by far one of the best zombie games to come out recently. So if you like clubbing the bajeezus out of shambling undead hordes, do yourself a favor and pick it up. Just try not to get eaten.

Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition (PS3/VITA) Review

Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition
Developed By: 3DRealms/Abstraction Games
Published By: Devolver Digital
Date of Release: January 6, 2015
Price: $9.99 (CROSS BUY!)



In a land where alien asses need to be kicked, babes need to be saved, and bubblegum needs to be chewed, there is and always will be one hero for the job: Duke Nukem. A bona-fide cigar-chomping, booze-swilling, swaggering maestro of machismo, Duke is always ready at had when alien bastards show up to give the earth a bad day. Duke Nukem 3D was by far the breakout moment for Duke's current melange of attitude and violence, and is also remembered fondly by many as his finest outing to date. Well, things just got a helluva lot finer!



True, Duke Nukem 3D is not a graphical tour-de-force by today's standards, but it sure as hell stands strong even to this day (my only complaint beign that they filtered the hell out of the graphics, no more retro pixels here sadly). The sprites are lush and detailed, and there are so many little nuances to the level designs. You can spend hours looking for secrets in the sprawling levels, and though a bit dated, there are so many awesome references and jokes strewn about. If you are a fan of the late 80s/early 90s pop culture, you are in for a treat. They even added in the ability to rewind time after you die, a-la Duke Nukem 3D on Xbox Live Arcade.



So on top of the original Atomic Edition of Duke Nukem 3D, you also have the three official expansions. They are Duke it Out In DC, where Duke has been charged with rescuing the president. The slightly lackluster Duke Nuclear Winter sees Duke on a quest to save Christmas. And my personal favorite, Duke Carribean: Life's A Beach starts with Duke taking a much deserved vacation. Everything is fine until aliens crash the party! Of course this IS Duke Nukem 3D we're talking about here, so naturally it comes with all the Dukematch you could ever handle. You can play an 8 player match on any of the games various levels, and you can even tackle the campaign in co-op if that's your thing. The multiplayer experience is smooth and lag-free, and has a convenient invite system to get your friends in on the action.



So all in all this is the total package for Duke Nukem 3D fans. With the fact that you get both the PS3 and Vita versions in one package, plus the cross-save and cross-play capabilities, there's a lot to love about this release. Hopefully the inability to switch to the unfiltered graphics was just an oversight, and they'll be able to patch it back in. Slight graphical annoyance aside, I seriously recommend Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition. Go buy it now! What are you waiting for, Christmas?