The Technomancer

WHAT IS IT?
The Technomancer is an RPG produced by Spiders. It's a story about a young man graduating into the world of being a Technomancer. A technomancer is a trained warrior with special abilities to manipulate electricity. They are similar to Jedi, and this is a sci-fi RPG that occurs on Mars. It's a sequel but it occurs at the same time as its predecessor, Mars: Warlogs. So what did I think?

WHAT WORKED?
This game has a fun story. Following Zachariah through his growth and the politics of Mars is interesting for sure. I really enjoy the lore of the world that Spiders has put together. Graphically Its also very pretty. The outfits, landscapes, creatures. All of it looked great. I also enjoyed leveling up, choosing new abilities, and growing my character. In addition, there were crafting abilities that let me improve armor and weapons. All of that added up to a solid RPG experience.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK?
The quests are a little all over the place. Often you are asked to backtrack and it gets very tedious. Many of the skills are useless. The difficulty is also pretty sharp. Combat can get pretty lethal quickly in ways that seem unfair.

RECOMMEND?
Yes! This is not a AAA title. Its a AA title, and that's ok. I enjoyed it and anyone that likes sci-fi RPG's would enjoy it as well. Take it with a grain of salt. You will find that there is more under the hood than you might have guessed!

NBA2k15 - The life and times of #77 Leroy Jenkins

Anyone that knows me would know that even the idea of me playing a sports game is crazy. I don't care for them. I don't care for sports. However, after talking at length with a friend at work about this game in particular he insisted that its DnD for jocks. My mission? To dive headfirst into the game, playing My Career, and see what the fuss is. The fun? I know nothing about basketball. I know the ball is orange, and I know it goes in the hoop. I know what dribbling is, and traveling, but outside of that it's a foreign language.

So who is Leroy Jenkins? That is my player. I created Jenkins as a tribute to the legendary Leeroy Jenkins. Look it up if you must. I thought it a fitting name to the worst player in the league, with a lot of heart.

So, the first step on this journey? I played for the Utah Jazz. I liked the name. I've never been to Utah. So they were it. That and they had the lowest expectations for signing. Apparently they are desperate. Totally a fit for me. So game one is against the Celtics. I've heard of them. So we begin.

I played hardly at all. I did put 6 points on the board for the little bit I was out there. I also managed a B-! I think that's good. I don't understand why there are constant fouls against my team. Even the ones i'm not playing. Is the Jazz that aggressive? Also, the square button will help you defend, but will also shoot the ball. Mashing it doesn't work when you get passed the ball and then launch it across the entire court and, of course, miss the hoop.

I only did that three times. Check me out talent scouts!

Anyhow I will drop in here to update on Leroy's status in the league. Should be a fun ride. If nothing else its uncharted territory and I like to explore.

Batman : The Telltale Series (Episode 1)

What Is It?
A Bruce Wayne simulator! Actually Telltale has given us a solid look at what its like to live with the duality of Batman. How do you balance being Bruce Wayne, and Batman without being obvious? How do your social choices affect how the public opinion sways? For someone like Batman, who feels that Bruce Wayne is the mask, you can appreciate that while you might not want to concentrate on being Wayne you have to at some point to maintain your cover PR.

What Worked?
LOVE the look of the game. I have been saying all along that Telltale should do superhero comics. I mean I wasn't saying it to them. Just to me. I mean myself. I liked my idea. Apparently someone did say it to them though because here we are and it works great!

I liked the combat. I wasn't sure if I would in this type of game but it felt good. Its not Arkham. It's a series of QTE's strung together but in ways that keep you on your toes. I also liked the point in the story where you plan your assault on the bad guy's lair. That was fun to plan and then play through.

I loved Catwoman. I mean who doesn't? Speaking of which the voice acting in this was solid. I'm a huge fan of Troy Baker and Laura Bailey and they deliver as always.

What Didn't Work?
Stealth is tricky in a game like this. I'm hoping that future episodes improve, or expand on this.  Detective work was also weak. I liked it, I thought it was cool, but it felt pinned on.

Recommend?
Yes, totally. This was a blast so far. Episode 1 certainly setup what looks like a great story and leaves you on a cliffhanger that makes you think. I recommend it for Batman fans, superhero fans in general, and even Telltale fans overall. They (Telltale) never cease to amaze me

Star Ocean : Integrity and Faithlessness

What Is It?
A story centering on two characters, Fidel and Miki, and how they are drawn into a larger conflict by trying to protect a young girl they hardly know. It's apparently a bit of a departure from classic Star Ocean games. Th developers went as far to say that they wanted to keep it shorter on purpose for modern gamers.

What Worked?
I love the look of the game and the characters. I found the settings fun, and appropriate, and the characters were detailed and interesting to look at. Combat was fun, fast paced, and the role system was neat to experiment with. You can have up to 4 roles per character. You assign those roles as you unlock them and can mix and match to affect the AI performance.

What Didn't Work?
The weapons don't change. What do I mean by that? I mean if you replace your steel sword with a sword of a thousand thruths? It still looks the same. So the character models are static. Is that a deal breaker? No. I dealt with it, but I like to watch my characters evolve.

The story was weak, but not so much so that I couldn't find enjoyment in it. I could. It was a typical anime plot. While you could question things, I found myself just going with it and enjoying the ride.
The difficulty was pretty low, but in spots it would violently spike creating VERY frustrating moments. While you could resolve that by grinding a bit, it was still off putting.

The UI and side quest system also left something to be desired. The UI was pretty but shallow. The quest system while easy to understand, had a hidden magic to unlocking certain quests. By that I mean im not sure how or why certain things would show up. Lockpicking... you don't get lockpicking until late, and only the result of certain quests. If you don't get that quest? No lockpicking. No opening locked chests at all. Does that matter? No, and that in itself is disappointing.

Recommend?
No. Honestly, unless you are a huge JRPG fan you could skip this one. I can't even say if you are a Star Ocean fan you need to play it. Its too different from the classic games. That being said, I found things to enjoy. If you find it at a bargain price, sure give a try. Otherwise there are better games to dive into.

Inside

WHAT IS IT?
Inside is a story about a young boy in a dystopian world. However, there are no spoken words in this game. No cut scenes, nothing to read. It expressive everything through what you see and interpret on the screen. There are puzzles, hidden items, and everything takes place as you move from left to right on the screen.

WHAT WORKED?
The game is a work of art. Everything it has to express is all done visually and it doesn't disappoint. It conveys fear, and gloom, and hope. However, what it expresses depends on your interpretation. In that way like I said it may be more like art than most other titles.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK? 
The game is short, and while that didn't take away from the game, I finished it in about 3 hours. That is a stretch for a complaint because by the end it felt complete. While I still have a ton of questions, I believe that is the intent. Its made to make you think, and that is a good thing.

RECOMMEND? 
Yes, wholeheartedly. This game may be short but its fun, its thought provoking, creepy at times (the water scenes, the pigs), and the ending really can't be explained. You have to experience it. The game often made me say "wow". Sometimes "WOW". The end was a WTF moment for sure. It's well worth the ride.

Now with Wii U added!

Yep, it took what? 2 days? 2 days. I am now the proud owner of a Wii U. Why? Why not? Let me tell you already out of the box im impressed and im enjoying some of the features of the gamepad. Its like a tablet. Great looking screen. I can play my games on it when my TV is off or otherwise being used.

Mario Kart 8. That's all I have to say, right? You get it. Its Mario Kart. Who doesn't love Mario Kart? I think this is an important political question. Let's shed some real light and ask presidential hopefuls about Mario Kart.

I also picked up a game called Xenoblade Chronicles X. Looked cool. Mechs, sci-fi, RPG, people with blue hair. I'm in.

Anyhow, will now have reviews from the occasional Wii U title. Likely not often, but as they come around you will see them. So let it be written, so let it be done.

E3 2016

So E3 2016 came and went, and with it we got a fair dose of upcoming goodies from all sides of the console kingdom. As you know, or should know (i mean you are reading all the posts right?), I own both an Xbox One, and a PS4. While yes I guess you could say im a resident in Xbox Land, I still stop over into Playstation-ville to sample the goodies there too. I bought the Xbox on day one, and it was the smart play for me. The PS4, while a great machine, just doesn't quite do it for me.

So Xbox shows us some new hardware, tells us about even more hardware next year, and then gives us a bunch of games. Halo Wars 2, State of Decay 2, and Recore all stood out for me. Solid stuff. Will I grab the Xbox One S? No. What is it? It's just like the current Xbox but it support High Dynamic Range video. You need a 4k TV for that. I don't have one. So im waiting.

PS4 comes out and really shows us a ton of great games. No hardware (outside of the VR stuff, which im so not sold on). My problem with PS4? Firstly, Shawn Layden. What a D-bag this guy is. Really. Come on Sony. Get someone up there that loves gaming a little more than himself, or herself. Please. Also, RELEASE DATES! Sheesh. So fan boys think PS4 won the show. Eh, no. PS4 showed us a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Yes, GREAT looking smoke and mirrors but 90% of these titles won't release for who knows how long. Some aren't likely to be ready within the year if not much longer. So yes i also want to play God of War, and Spiderman, and FF7 remake. When are they coming? Who knows.

Nintendo. I didn't watch their show, but i did see the Legend of Zelda demo. WOW. Do yourself a favor and watch this:

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

That sold me a Nintendo. I mean I haven't bought it yet, but wow. When is it coming? Next year! March I believe. So yeah, for me? Nintendo stole the show. Now, has this game been coming for awhile? Sure. I do get it, but when all your good content has no release date its hardly a win.

As with all E3's its great to enjoy the show with both a PS and an Xbox so that you can benefit from both shows. Now, I will be owning a Nintendo soon too. The question is do I grab the Wii U, or wait for the NX. That all depends on the NX and what its like. :D

Uncharted 4

WHAT IS IT?
The fourth entry in the Uncharted series continues to follow the exploits of Nathan Drake, now married to Elena, and his long lost brother Sam. Nathan is like a cross between Indiana Jones and Mal Reynolds (Firefly). This being the fourth and final epic for our hero we learn a lot more about him and how he came to be who he is, and ultimately bring his story full circle.

WHAT WORKED?
Oh my god, everything. This game is beautiful for starters. Great story, great game play, and for a game to bring together the previous titles into a cohesive ending with closure is no small feat. It really is a total package.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK?
Multiplayer? In this game? Come on. Lame. Not needed. Really though that's the best i can come up with.

RECOMMEND?
Totally. If you have a PS4 do yourself a favor and play this game. Play all of them. Now, is it the second coming? No. Best game ever made? No. It is however one of the best. That ending? Wow. I clapped. I realize that's not a lot to go on but I don't want to spoil anything. This one is a definite recommend.

Mirror's Edge

WHAT IS IT?
The story focuses on Faith Connors and her struggle against the Conglomerate, a future corp symbol of oppression. Faith is a runner. Runners use a mix of martial arts and parkour to act as couriers and thieves on the rooftops in the city of Glass. This future is a sterile one. The average person is called an employ, and forced in corporate slavery. Resistance means imprisonment. Faith dares to carry on in her parents footsteps and rage against the establishment.

WHAT WORKED?
This game was done using the Frostbite engine and the level of detail was apparent in the cut scenes. I enjoyed the story of Faith, and the minimalist style of the city. Running was smooth, and acrobatics felt tight. Combat was very satisfying too.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK?
Combat was satisfying but clunky. I often had issues. Also, the camera would at times cause  me to fall to my death. Cut scenes were beautiful but the graphics were noticeably worse in actual game play.

RECOMMEND?
Yes, I would recommend it! It was a lot of fun. If you are at all a fan of the original it’s a no-brainer. In fact almost anyone that is a fan of first person and/or sci-fi could enjoy the story and elements found here in Mirror's Edge!