Rocket League Review

Rocket League (Xbox One)
Developed/Published By: Psyonix
Date of Release: February 17, 2016

Soccer with cars. Just let that sink in. Soccer with an oversized ball, and motor vehicles instead of players. This is Rocket League in a nutshell, and it's by far not your dad's game of footy. The matches in Rockey League are played fast and furious, and the order of the day is pulling off wicked stunts while you score. Even if it does sound absolutely bizarre on paper, in execution it's handled quite flawlessly.



Rocket League is a 4 on 4 experience, and literally all there is to it is trying to land mad stunts while scoring on your opponents goal. That would get old after a while if the controls weren't so damn tight, and the fluid gameplay also helps out. It's not often that a game takes a concept as bizarre as this and succeeds so smashingly. it's one of those games that you get going with your friends and ends up being "just one more round and we'll stop", and the next thing you know it's 3am.



At the end of the day Rocket League is really the only game of it's sort, so there's nothing else to really compare it to. And that's just fine, because in this day of sports games being recycled retreads of the previous year's detritus, a bit of originality is all it needs to hold it's own even without competition. Even if you're not a fan pf sports games, Rocket League is un-sports enough to please anyone who is looking for a good dose of competitive action.

Mushihimesama Review

Mushihimesama
Developed By: CAVE
Published By: Degica
Date of Release: November 12, 2015
Price: $19.99

In the year 2004, the bullet-hell game developer know as CAVE released what is arguably it's greatest game. Inspired by the Hayao Miyazaki film Nausicaa of The Valley of The Wind, it featured not gritty military hardware and testosterone-fuled action, but a cute princess riding on a giant beetle. This game was none other than Mushihimesama, quite literally translating to "Bug-Princess". Instead of bleak apocalyptic and war-torn locales, it took place in a lush and majestic forest, populated by giant insects of all varieties. Yes, this game is absolutely riddled with bugs, but thankfully they are of the insect variety, CAVEs work is INCREDIBLY polished.



The gameplay in Mushihimesama is standard SHMUP fare, with an assortment of beam configurations and a plethora of powerups to collect. Don't get too complacent though, the bullet patterns in the harder difficulties are epic mandalas of death and destruction. YOU WILL DIE A LOT. Of course, that's how you learn, practice makes perfect. The colorful sprites and backgrounds along with the beautiful score make it easy to keep going, and you'll find yourself taking just one more try. The difficulty is punishing, however it is never unfair, and you can play through with infinite continues if you like. The controls are tight and rebindable, and whether you use a keyboard, gamepad or arcade stick they are perfectly responsive.



When it comes right down to it, Mushihimesama is a perfect example of what makes a CAVE game great, and it is a perfect appetizer course for the upcoming feast of CAVE titles coming to steam. According to Degica, the next course will be Deathsmiles, coming in Spring of 2016. Personally I am looking forward to it, I have the Xbox 360 version already, and it was an absolute blast, and I can't wait to see how much better the PC version will be. Here's to CAVE and Degica, our bullet hell champions! May the future hold epic proportions of danmaku!

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.