It is a Dog's Life for all it is worth

Its a Dog's life...someone once said, if a game can hold the players complete attention for 30 seconds, it means that the developer has succeeded in delivering something special that went far beyond aesthetics & hype. That some went on to conceptualize & develop Destiny, one of the most hotly anticipated game of this year.

Of course that observation hold true in todays gaming scene. So many developers have begun churning out demo sized games with shallow concepts & ill devised plot topped off with horrendous programming that are hardly ever tested & more often than not riddled with bugs that eventually start bombing other subroutines & under severe circumstances results in a game breaking error.

Watch Dogs has been in development for quite sometime which doesn't actually have any impact on the quality of the game whatsoever. However, Ubisoft has earned the distinction of making above average entertainment (now called AAA). Watch Dogs takes on a controversial plot & story to apply the padding to the complete gameplay, providing a highly interesting play style the combines the best ideas from Ubisofts previous titles. The controls allows for ease & concise play which never bothers the gamer again with button combos & such. As the anti hero protagonist (told you it was controversial), the player must navigate a massive sprawling city utilising advanced hacking, phishing & unlawful skills to tip the balance & reap from the advantages of these abilities.

Its a story of revenge but not exactly an interesting one. The old 'people vs the man' scenario is once again put through its paces in rather spectacular style. If you bought & played Grand Theft Auto 5, then its highly likely that you saved up to by this game or threw tantrums enough time to get your folks to buy it for you. You will not be dissapointed. There's just so much in this game that I refuse to delve into it & spoil the thrill of surprise & discovery.

I will however touch on the gameplay which is finely tuned to give players an astonishing degree on control that allows players to precisely time specific sequences that result in some of the coolest action which incidentally makes players feel the euphoria of pulling it all off like clockwork. There's some much in Watch Dogs waiting for the player to discover & explore & eventually exploit. The game world is massive & filled with the kind of non player denizens that seem to have lives all of their own which becomes apparent once players start stealing banking info off those NPCs.

The moral dilemma of cleaning out some poor saps measly savings account is left entirely up to the player. To steal or not to steal, that is the question. Ubisoft have really gone from strength to stength & reach the pinnacle of being fondly known as the best game developers on earth along with the likes of Rockstar, Bethesda & CDK Projeckts. In fact if tomorrow every other publisher & developer was liquidated with only these four supreme software houses left, I would be glad the good guys survived & focus on finding out whats for breakfast & the continue playing Watch Dogs where I left off.

rating

Categories: aidan, dogs, hacker, pearce, Ubisoft, watch

Dark Souls 2

Dark Souls became a phenomenon almost instantly when it guaranteed no learning curve, an AI that seemed to overcompensate for itself & environmental elements that gave no clues & very little to see by covering most of the areas in total darkness. Its a game that requires exploration, because, unlike most other role playing games, Dark Souls offered many different paths that lead to some desolate or dank locations, all permeating with evil.

As good as most gaming sites rated this brutal uncompromising game, most failed to realize it gave players very little in the way of combat strategy & more often then not forcing the player to use sedated hit and run tactics which eventually was the standard method of fighting every enemy in the game, be they boss or minion. The only redeeming factor that a majority of gamers & writers spoke of was the exhilarating face off againt dragon slayer Ornstein and executioner Smough, which was quite beautifully conceived. In fact that is what every Dark Souls player remembers regardless of whether they completed the game or not.

With Dark Souls 2, comes a new directorial team presenting obvious improvements and bringing in some older elements from Demon Souls. The result is a beautifully presented world filled with more sorrowful characters than a funeral parlour with a great many bosses to hit and run along the way. The plot is quite honestly full of shit just giving players a reason to get through the game. But the preposterous story soon fades as new and more devious minions put all their efforts to adhering to the makers first and only rule. 

That is to continuous punish the gamer by constantly rewarding failure to learn with death.
Quickly this sequel descends into boredom as tactics are once again crippled leaving most gamers to use the tired old method from the Dark Souls 1. It dwells into a game based on the obsession of crafting material. Any one who has feverishly devoted many hours into this sequel is probably doing only one thing. Farming. This is all they will be doing for many more hours to come desperately seeking the best crafting materials to forge better gear that won't count for diddly squat in the final dungeon of the game.

One of the nicest addition to this game is the ability to traverse to previously visited bonfires from the beginning. This greatly helps new players who will most likely prefer to warp around the cursed land. But for the stalwarts who persevered through the prequel, the option to trudge around on foot is ever present.
Combat has been notably redressed. Although there are some niggling annoyances with collision detection when using certain close ranged weapons. This will certainly cause a great deal of frustration when players start taking wild swings the completely miss the target and leaves one open to fatal retaliation.
There is plenty to see and even more to do in Dark Souls 2. There are bosses a plenty tempered with varying methods to quickly snuff out all who dare to take them for granted.
At the end of the game, players are offered a New Game Plus option, so prevalent in RPGs of old. This wonderful addition introduces new foes, weapons and items all at the cost of a higher degree of difficulty which has always appealed to the masochist in me.

Dark Souls 2 comes off as a sequel expected by most, but for me, there is just so much From Software could have added and changed to turn this great title into an unforgettable one that could have set new standards. Only worth purchasing if you are a hardcore fan of the Souls series of games or someone who frequents those BDSM dungeons like the one they have in L.A.

Categories: 2, bandai, dark, from, namco, software, souls

Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition

The realm of a superhero is a precarious one. When one possesses ungodly powers capable of freezing objects, reading and manipulating minds or just simply being immortal, questions will arise. Is it probably that even these superheroes are capable of making mistakes? Will their mindset change over time?

As the old saying goes 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. What would our lives be like if we switched on the news and saw a massive green skinned monstrosity rampaging through a city thoroughly driven by rage with nothing on this earth or indeed in the universe actually capable of stopping such a beast?

Injustice: Gods Among Us tells us of one such tale where heroes and villains from the DC universe are forced to choose between two unenviable factions. One the one hand, the mighty indestructible Kal El and on the other the unyieldingly twisted Bruce Wayne aka Batman. Both set on a collision course by the maniacal deeds of the deviously insane Joker.

The premise is not one that has been explored countless times by DC themselves. But in this fabulous fusion between the comic giant and Netherrealm Studios comes a terrific story executed in the brilliant style that revived the Mortal Kombat series in a way that only Tobias and Boon could have concocted.

There is a series of options that allow players to fully appreciate and enjoy this brutal beat em up that easily gives Capcom, SEGA, Namco and SNK Playmore a run for their money. This is light years beyond the experimental crossover where Mortal Kombat took on the unassailable members of the Justice League.

Much like MK9, Injustice's story mode puts you in the tight spandex of a myriad of DC Super Heroes, each moving the epic story along to its devastating conclusion. The Ultimate Edition bundles all the DLCs to create the total package. Additional characters like Lobo, Martian Manhunter, Zaltanna and even a special guest who every fighting game fan the world over will instantly recognize.

Other modes include the favourite PvP mode along with a comprehensive and well thought out online mode.

The graphics are, in a word, a work of art. With the help on the great Jim Lee, Netherrealm have created some of the most astonishing DC characters that are just brilliantly animated. The fight animation is simply superb and the ingenious interactive battle arenas can make or break a heated battle. One particular favourite of mine is where players can send their opponents crashing into the private cell of Gotham's most reviled mad men, all of which take none to kindly to the hapless fool who busts in to their space.

The developers have put special effort into creating 'the meter' and allowing it to have a variety of uses besides the obvious OTT desperation attack. With the meter filled up, players can opt to utilise the meter burn specials that add a bit more pain to an otherwise standard special move. Meters can also be used to initiate a power clash of sorts where players must wager their built up meter for a heavy offensive attack or a strong defensive manoeuvre. Of course, the best way to use the meter is to fill it to the brim and unleash a stunning, highly damaging desperation attack that will knock the stuffing's out of any opponent.

This Ultimate Edition is a must for any beat em up fan who enjoy the technical complexities of games like the King of Fighters series. Although, lacking the through precision of said royal game, it allows novices to quickly pick up the game and have the confidence to go up against the veterans.

As a kid, I grew up on a lot of Justice League and I can safely say this is one carefully crafted piece of work for people who love comics and beat em ups.


Injustice: Ultimate Edition
Rating

Categories: among, DC comic, edition, gods, injustice, nether realm studios, ultimate, us

Who Let The Dogs Out?!

Watch Dogs centers on Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker bent on revenge and inflicting his own brand of justice after a violent family tragedy. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, this massive open world action adventure will be out on March 27th, 2014 for the PC, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and the WiiU.

Categories: aiden, montreal, pearce, Ubisoft

Top Ten Shittiest Games of 2013

The past year has been one of the most unusual years for video games. Its seen some of the worst game designs and some of the shoddiest programming as well as controversy ranging from false advertising to the usual rip off that many gamers of this generation have become used to.

Just like last year, our shit list holds nothing back. Expect this years doo doo list to spew out bucketloads of foul smelling, vomit inducing crap to ever come out of the anuses of some of the biggest money grubbing corporations this industry has ever seen. This flatulent list is in no order of merit. Shit, by any other name, is still shit.

GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION
Besides the boring multiplayer aspect, this game offered absolutely nothing new. It is time for Sony to lay old Kratos to rest. The man has killed everything and everyone. There's nothing left to destroy. We say, let the Spartan rest in peace.

ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES.
Given the subject matter at hand, one would expect Gearbox to have put something interesting together. Unfortunately, all the gamers got was an unacceptable load of faeces. It played badly, graphics were pixelated and the FPS style was at best, myopic. The game was wrought with controversy and tarnished Gearbox's reputation.

BEYOND: TWO SOULS
As a Playstation 3 exclusive, one would expect a game of the highest standards but this predictable pile of tosh is about engaging and as exciting as breaking wind. Monotonous flatulence is not fashionable. Ellen Page may have gotten a starring role but she's no ball kicker here. Created more as a fantasy movie than a game, players were cheated into thinking it was a huge box office game changer that was at best, arse worthy.

CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS
Just like a cockroach this undeniably boring series refuses to die. Game play was consistent with the old COD titles as all FPS go but the lack of originality and gameplay haunted players like a Hollywood blockbuster (haven't you seen this before?)

that promise hours of fun but instead uses the same boring regime in the hope you'd pay more for the online multiplayer options. Ghosts is nothing more than a roach with a missing leg. Now, where's that shoe of mine?

STAR TREK: THE GAME
This bug ridden crap fest proves, once and for all that people who don't know who to program are getting high paying jobs as programmers. All those involved should have been drowned at birth. Developed to ride on the success of the new movie franchise, you'd sincerely hoped it was the hope of the Klingons who messed up your day with this purchase.

FINAL FANTASY: ALL THE BRAVEST
This horrid, simplistic inexcusable piece of turd cake hid an outrageous micro transaction money grubber. And just like a putrid lump of shit, it should be immediately flushed down the toilet.

DEADPOOL
This one held much promise. Great marketing and a totally psychotic character. Imagine the potential. Sadly, they fucked it all up. Repetitive gameplay, horrendous design and just plain and simple boredom make this one a big dollop of ca ca.

DEAD SPACE 3
What once started as a innovative jump start to the dying Survival Horror genre slowly dissolved into a run of the mill third persons shooter. On top of that, the developers included online transaction where players could practically buy the ending. Sitting around the campfire with Mr. Taggart and the cowboys eating beans and farting all night is much better than getting this silly little piece of coding.

BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS
The moment Warner Bros was said to be working on a new Dark Knight adventure instead of Rockstar, everyone knew it would be shit, and they were right. Arkham Origins has a smart enough premise about a younger vigilante crime fighter and lots of big name bad guys to boot, but it was just way too much to handle and what we end up with is a bland, boring mess of colon cannonballs.

THE WALKING DEAD: SURVIVAL INSTINCT
Telltale did one hell of a job with the successful episodic foray detailing the accounts of one of the most watched television shows. With that success they decided to up the ante and do something they had never done before, which was to make an FPS based on said TV series. But just like Indian curry kept overnight, this FPS seemed like a violently bad case of diarrhoea complete with incessant flatulence and a smell that would stink up the whole of Buckingham Palace for 35 to 45 minutes. Like the old saying goes. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Categories: 2013, Activision, Electronic Arts, Gearbox, SEGA, Sony, square enix, Top 10 Shittiest Games, Warner Bros Interactive, Worst

The Witching Hour Approaches...

The Witcher 3 looks spectacular. Its definitely on Gamexentral's list of games to get. Check out the new trailer.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Categories: CD Projekt RED, witcher 3: wild hunt

Grand Theft Auto 5: Farewell My Vice City!

With the end of the Xbox 360 and the PS3 crawling slowly out the back of 2014, one can expect to see how 13 years would come to a close. Throughout the ages, each generation of video game console would flush the void of it bowels and find one or two gems that usually pushes the boundaries so far, one wonders how so many developers failed to put out something as good a lot sooner.

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series has always been a crowd favorite. Every 10-12 year old GTA veteran would pour out of the wood work, frayed from life in Hong Kong's violent underground and spending unhealthy hours as the U.S. President taking on aliens who seem to be on a constant meth high.

Two years of waiting is over. The Pro Ice engine or whatever they call it now looks dynamite. Rockstar has also spent sometime delaying the products release by tweaking stuff and censoring their own work in lieu of the slew of growing gun crimes in the United States, knowing full well that the likes of crusading politicians with a burr up his/her ass will soon be training their sights on GTA V as the purveyor of all senseless nut jobs and child killers that walks on God's green earth. Nobody is safe.

Thankfully, we now can just ignore idiotic debates about games, TV, film, radio, cave drawing, runes and clay pot noodle readings spouting sayings of unholy doom descending into human minds. GTA V has already re-written gaming history with phenomenal sales beyond expectations. A billion dollars in 3 days is almost equal to the pharmaceutical strangle hold, minus the strong arm tactics. Boner pill makers like Pfizer take note, don't get your cocks up too often. The huge downturn in teen pregnancies, abortions and sex in general is all due to Grand Theft Auto 5.

So GTA V is about the day to day struggles of common people who are forced to act against their law abiding nature in order to put the food on the table or simply stay alive. While it tries very much to mimicking real life, GTA V, keeps the fairy tale fantasy in perspective. Cops don't rob people which is a dangerous idea to play with, owing to the fact that this game was made within the confines of the United States, a sprawling police state just like so many others around the world. In GTA V the cops are pros and will employ every trick in the book to take out the games protagonists.

Time to Rock and Roll

The story mode revolves around three men, Michael, Franklin and Trevor, who are inexorably intertwined into a fateful turn of events that will take each man through the Arena's 'circle of life' in a pair of wobbly heels on a hellacious journey through a looking glass. Dealing with deafening silence for ungodly hours eventually reassured that the bond of friendship doesn't come with conditions. Thank God! Women...

There's plenty to steal. Places to rob and people to kill. But now it's all done is a more sensible way. Sub mission are varied as the game progresses as more and more vehicles become accessible. Much of the old famous formulas are strong enough to hold up the massive world of Los Santos. And boy is it massive. Driving for hours without end. Flying around the city in awe of it's magnificence. Rockstar weren't kidding when they said thing were going to be big.

All the amenities are intact. Clothes stores to customize but characters can no longer lose or gain weight anymore. Too bad. There are houses to be bought and all that shit. Gun shops, chop shops, paint jobs all make a welcome return, although its now seemingly harder to evade the law and highly probably to result in a 'Wasted' screen.

Way to Go!

Grand Theft Auto 5, represents the pinnacle in video game development in the last 13 years. Rockstar have refined and squeezed out every ounce of processing power from 2 ageing machines and shown just how far they can push the debilitating boundaries without sacrificing quality and entertainment of their premiere flagship series with a balls deep presentation that will become a beacon for other developers and a sure sign of how to make a game the right way. The Rockstar way.

Grand Theft Auto 5
Rating 

Categories: grand theft auto 5, rockstar games, rockstar north, take two interactive