Mortal Kombat X Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Definitely Worth Playing

Sorry this review took so long but given the shaky release and variable issues at launch I wanted to wait and give it a fair chance. With that being said lets jump right into the usual format. As expected I bought this game for PC since I have not yet joined the current next gen gaming family on PS4/XBONE.

Mortal Kombat X is a fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios. It is the tenth main installment in the Mortal Kombat video game series and was released on April 14, 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, scheduled to be ported to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by High Voltage Software At a later date. The premise of the game is that two players fight against each other using a variety of attacks, special moves, and gruesome Fatalities. The energy meter, first introduced in the previous Mortal Kombat game, allows players to perform techniques such as "X-Ray" special moves along with Enhanced Moves and Breakers.The game's play modes include Story, 1 vs. 1 Ranked, King of the Hill, Survivor, and Test Your Luck. A new addition called Living Towers is an evolved form of Mortal Kombat's Challenge Tower where the play conditions will be changing every hour. Another new mode is Faction Wars, where the players will have to choose one from the five factions (Black Dragon, the Brotherhood of Shadow, the Lin Kuei, Special Forces, and White Lotus) to align with and join a persistent online cross-platform competition with the others, winning points for their faction to contribute in the conflict between them, ranking up personally, and earning special rewards such as faction-specific finishing moves if the player's faction win at the end of any given week.

What’s Good:

Graphics: Stunning visuals that brings a whole new level of realism to the franchise. Whether it be anatomically correct bodies or just the level designs or even the sustained damage over time on the character models NRS has out done themselves.They definitely did a better job on designing the female models than when they did Injustice.

Story-line: As with the previous installment Netherrealm Studios has delivered a fully enjoyable cinematic experience that is sure to have fans coming back for more. I feel liek the story mode is the main selling piece of this game and is meant to be enjoyed by one and all. From the plot development and environments to the quick time events scattered throughout the story mode everything meshes perfectly together to deliver a worthy single player campaign.

Replay: With so much content and ways in which players can enjoy the game there will be much replaying to be done. Just the mere fact that each character has a story ending of their own means you are guaranteed to atleast play through 20+ times in hopes of seeing them all. The krypt also makes a return appearance in the game where you go to unlock a wide variety of rewards that will have you making multiple trips to unlock them all.

Soundtrack: Pretty solid soundtrack and voice acting overall. Actually got to see some of how they made the sound effects and stuff for the game that was pretty cool. If you have an attention to detail and appreciation for the little things that go on behind the scenes I definitely recommend you check it out. (https://youtu.be/65cS7D2yzUw) 

What’s Bad:

Game Mechanics: Here is where things start to fall short, the netcode has been a struggle to say the least so one can only hope that it improves drastically over time as this was the main downfall of MK9. This not only affects the actual matches that occur between players but essentially anything that requires connecting to servers to login or retrieve user information either takes forever or just doesn't connect at all. Another issue I have noticed is the control setup which seems to create a conflict when players opt to use the alternative control scheme its causes weird button assignment issues between both players controls.

What Should Have Been Added:

Definitely Stage Fatalities would have been a welcome addition to the game along with the classic Babality. I guess I shouldn't complain though since they brought back the fan favorite Brutality from Mortal Kombat Trilogy. I also would have liked to see more characters considering that so many were in the story mode portion of the game but seemingly not included in the launch roster.

Final Thoughts:
Pound for pound this game even with its rough launch and poor PC port is too much fun to pass up. If you are a fan of Fighting Games or the series itself you without a doubt should add this game to your collection. It is relatively safe now to buy the game as most the launch issues have been improved on or fixed by this release of the first DLC character Jason Vorhees.

Watch live video from The_Ghost_Who_Walks on Twitch

more.

Sniper Elite III Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Definitely Worth Playing

Welcome back to another one of our video game reviews here on In the Mind Of my Mind. Been mad busy in real life running tournaments and trying to get eSports established somewhat in Jamaica so that's why you haven't really gotten your usual stream of content. So in keeping with our new model  of doing game reviews once every two weeks lets get right into it...

Sniper Elite III is a tactical shooter video game developed by Rebellion Developments and published by 505 Games for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. The game is a prequel to Rebellion's 2012 game Sniper Elite V2, and is the third installment in the Sniper Elite series. Sniper Elite III is set several years prior to the events of Sniper Elite V2, following the exploits of Office of Strategic Services officer Karl Fairburne as he participates in the North African conflict during World War II, in which he learns of a secret wonder weapon programme by the Nazi forces. You can seek to change the course of history with a single bullet in Sniper Elite III.

What’s Good:

Replay value: Decent replay value is present as there are bonus objectives that tend to get overlooked on the first play-through. As well as the co-op mode included which is sure to give a whole new perspective on the campaigns as you team up. Compound that with the fact that you have various weapons and tactics at your disposal to complete the missions as they arise.

Graphics: Graphics as is the norm on PC are ridiculous. I managed to max everything and still run it smoothly at 28-30 FPS and the game is truly a sight to behold. The dark night campaigns to the expansive desert daytime missions. Top that off with the detailed X-Ray camera view that happens whenever you get a special kill confirm and its easy to see this game is a visual masterpiece.

Story-line: Unless you are a fan of the series of war time stories you wont get as pulled in or invested in the story as it progress but there is a vast wealth of information strewn across this game that ties in with Sniper Elite V2. Lots of hidden information and back-story to be found in this game.

Game Mechanics: The game retains and improves on the mechanics of Sniper Elite V2. Stealth mechanics have been fine-tuned to damn near perfection even though the A.I. seems to have gotten dumber. An eye icon squints or opens to denote the player's level of detection by the enemy. X-Ray kill cam system is too much fun to see in action and adds further incentive to make epic kill-shots.

What’s Bad:

Graphics: Slight complaint here in regards to the character model and its animations in regards to entering a sniper nest and when activating the X-Ray kill cam. You can clearly glimpse one of two things; when entering the sniper next the character is supposed to enter a specific animation but instead remains standing, and when you see the bullet being shot out of the rifle in X-Ray view the model holds the gun in a weird manner that does not match the expected positioning or animation of the character model.

What Should Have Been Added:

I really wish for two things to be added and that's the ability to jump wherever the hell I please and have an onscreen listing for the campaigns bonus objectives. These are the two things that frustrated me greatly, a lot of kills I could have easily gotten if I had the ability to fully jump on and explore certain ledges or portions of the environments to get a better vantage points.

Final Thoughts:

Its been a while since I had this much fun playing a third person shooter to be honest so this was a pleasant surprise to review this game. Barring some lack of knowledge from the first two installments of this series I thoroughly enjoyed my playtime with this  game. I was also very pleased with how well my machine handled all this game had to throw at it to the point that even with graphics settings maxed I still loaded the load screens speedily and could not get to read the tips and tricks they typically have on the loading screens.

more.

Child Of Light Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Definitely Worth Playing

Oh my freaking freak. Whats up gamers? Your friendly neighborhood gamer Zalgo Cometh here to bring you another video game review. Last week we checked out the free to play FPS game; Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms, this week we look at Child Of Light. Another game from Ubisoft which had garnered much attention recently at PAX East 2014. So lets go see what all that attention was about...

Child of Light is a platforming role-playing video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. The game puts players in the shoes of Aurora, a child stolen from her home, who, in her quest to return, must bring back the sun, the moon and the stars held captive by the mysterious Queen of the Night. Helped by her playable companion Igniculus the firefly and several unlikely allies, Aurora will face her darkest fears in this modern take on a coming-of-age story. Child Of Light was released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One in April 2014.

What’s Good:

Replay value: This is a classic RPG with turn-based combat, 200+ skills to unlock, and 600+ crafting combinations for Oculi. There is no doubt that there is replay value abound in this game not to mention the various party members and attack strategies to utilize in battle.

Soundtrack: This is well executed and heartfelt as the overall tone and pace of the game is dictated or should I say indicated by the various sound track elements that help to submerge the player into the world of Lumeria.

Graphics: The game itself is powered by UbiArt Framework, an in-house engine by Ubisoft previously used for Rayman Origins and its sequel, Rayman Legends. So it has a cartoon but very artistic and detailed design, which is very vibrant and engaging providing the player with remarkable environments to transverse.

Story-line: The story at times can seem cliche but even so everyone enjoys a heartfelt adventure filled with danger and challenges to overcome. As Aurora travels and grows you discover more and more about the land and its inhabitants so your focus expands from just the central theme of rescuing Aurora and completing the primary objective of making it back home.

Game Mechanics: Well executed turn based system that has appeal to both the casual player and the more adept. By including attributes of a side-scroller with RPG elements such as leveling-up to increase stats over time, the game gives you varying aspects of the overall game-play to master. Combat and Non-Combat features of the game are smooth and easy to utilize which further promotes an enjoyable gaming experience.

What Should Have Been Added:

I would have liked to been able to fully use all the party members I gained instead of having to randomly switch out or not use some at all. I ended up playing this through mostly with just Norma and Aurora cause they had a good synergy for AOE attacks and Status effects. Possibly they could have either had bigger party limits to allow full use of a more diverse party strategy. Only other thing I can think of is maybe voice acting for the cut-scene parts of the game like the below picture.

Final Thoughts:

This game is very well done and the game industry definitely could use more games this well executed. Games that place a strong focus on the art of storytelling and creating a connection between player and character that lingers even after the game has been beaten. Being a gamer that thoroughly enjoys platformer games and RPGS (my two favorite game genres followed by fighting games) I am very thankful I got to experience this game. I'm happy it did not pass me by due to lack of hype or major advertising like we typically see for franchise titles. Feel free to check out the below gameplay with commentary we did for Child of Light...

more.

Strider Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Give It A Shot 

Well not much to say for this week's game review, This game has been sitting on my back burner for a while now but we finally found some time to jump into it. A classic franchise is reborn with improved graphics and an all new story-line to appeal to a new generation of gamers as well as placate the die-hard fans. So without further adieu lets start on our path as ninjas....

Strider is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Double Helix Games and Capcom's Osaka studio. It was released in February 2014 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Windows. The player control the series' main character, Strider Hiryu. The environment is freely explorable in search for weapons and items. Strider Hiryu's main weapon is his Cypher, a plasma weapon that can take several properties. Upgrades for the Cypher can be obtained by exploring the various levels throughout the game. In 2009, a Strider reboot was in development by Grin. However, due to financial difficulties that bankrupted the company, the game was cancelled. Development of the 2014 game was made possible thanks to the series' popularity especially in thanks to Capcom's surveys and forums.

What’s Good:

Story-line: The game is considered a retelling of the first arcade Strider game with elements from the NES console game. So its nice to see the attention to nostalgia.

Graphics: Double Helix has done a phenomenal job in bringing the futuristic ninja into the modern day by upgrading the visuals while maintaining the two-dimension plane.

Game Mechanics: Robust game design with a wide variety of attacks, powerups and level interaction.

Replay value: Just enough replay value can be found in the various hidden areas of levels and added concept art rewards hidden through out levels for the die hard fans.

Soundtrack: The game's soundtrack features multiple homages to classic Strider themes but with several modifications. The sound quality is also meant to resemble the music from the original games.

What’s Bad:

Game Mechanics: They have utilized what I like to refer as the A.I. reload mechanic where if you go off screen the enemies you already cleared are reloaded and you have to fight them again. This deters you from actively wanting to explore a level for fear of dying.

What Should Have Been Added:

Pretty good for a standard 2-D side scrolling game but I feel the combo system was a bit lacking in depth.

Final Thoughts:

Solid reboot of the series no doubt; long time Strider fans will appreciate the nostalgia. The game certainly retains much of the appeal of the original games. From the reloading enemies, to the random A.I. difficulty spikes; the game is sure to bring a tear to your eye. Feel free to check out our game-play with commentary videos...

more.

South Park: The Stick Of Truth Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Definitely Worth Playing

The long await day of salvation has arrived. After many a setbacks and delays we finally have the game of prophesy. Today is truly a special day here on In The Mind Of My Mind as there is much mirth and rejoicing in the land of gaming. South Park: The Stick Of Truth is finally a reality and I could be none the happier as it has fulfilled my hopes and dreams. In an age where licensed franchise video games usually suck, South Park: The Stick Of Truth has answered the call to greatness. If you are a fan of the cartoon you will go crazy for the gaming experience it has to offer; if not you can very much still enjoy the game at its core values of story-line, game mechanics and content. Come on down to South Park and meet some friends of mine...

South Park: The Stick of Truth is a role-playing video game, based on the American animated television series South Park. The game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment in collaboration with South Park Digital Studios and published by Ubisoft. The game was expected to be released sometime in 2013, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, and Microsoft Windows, but was postponed to 2014, due to the shutdown of original publisher THQ and numerous delays. The player takes control of "The New Kid", who moves to South Park with his parents after a mysterious event forced the family to move. Similar to their duties on the TV show, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone wrote the script for the game, oversaw the project, and provided the voices of the characters. This is without a doubt the definitive South Park game and goes the extra mile to deliver and authentic South Park experience first hand for the player. This sadly also works against the game because due to the authenticity of the South Park content the game received unfavorable reviews in Australia and Europe from the Electronics Rating Standards Bureau (ERSB). This led to it being censored as you can see an example of below:

What’s Good:

Soundtrack: Soundtrack is superbly executed. From the occasional ominous medieval music to the voice acting even hinting to the illustrious career work of Trey Parker and Matt Stones with the long list of songs on the radio. Another noteworthy bit of praise is for the audio cue that plays whenever your weapon flashes before an attack so you get the timing right for a perfect attack. This single feature has been the saving grace for me while playing as trying to watch for the visual cue for the attack at times is a bit tedious.

Graphics: Not the most cutting edge graphics one might expect from current gen consoles but it is pixel for pixel an accurate representation of the South Park universe. This helps to solidify the immersion factor of the game as it makes you feel like you are literally immersed in the South Park world. Not only does it feel like an episode of the iconic TV show but also it makes you the central focus and star of it all.

Story-line: The characters' costumes and classes appear to be based on the South Park episode "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers". The costumes and class names also appear in the three-episode story arc formed by "Black Friday", "A Song of Ass and Fire", and "Titties and Dragons". These all tie into the story-line development of the game and gives the fans a "sneak peek" for the game, and at the very least, was "good marketing/PR" in light of the numerous delays to the release of the game.

Game Mechanics: The very well executed game-play design of this game will appeal to many die-hard RPG fans as it favors turn based combat. The game has also managed to incorporate and represent most tell tale aspects of a good RPG game such as varied classes, deep combat system mechanics and character customization to suit all players. The game also has a well layered tutorial system; this helps the player learn the inner workings of the game, and as a bonus features a help menu for future reference.

Replay value: A fair amount of replay value exists as there are 4 classes to choose from which offer varied combat experiences. There are also key points within the story progression that offer multiple choices and outcomes for the player to explore.

What’s Bad:

Story-line: For a Role-Playing Game (RPG) title gamers are used to 20+ hours of gaming not to mention higher level caps one character classes. Sadly South Park falls a wee bit down in that regard as the campaign will run you about 10-15 hours worth of time overall. Add to that the low level cap of 15 and you know somebody somewhere is going to complain about it.

Game Mechanics: Not much to say here aside from this one off instance where I was playing a mini game for a quest where you are dancing for the Goth kids. For some reason it only recognizes the directional arrows on the keyboard instead of the movement keys assigned at W, A, S, D. Not really a big deal as this only occurs on PC but had to make mention. 

What Should Have Been Added:

I would have liked to see more variety in the classes offered, granted they have subtle differences but I felt like there was no clear cut distinction between the moves, weapons, and equipment for the respective classes. I found myself not caring much about sticking with a particular weapon type as one would when playing an RPG; certain class limitations would have been nice to emphasize more the choice of character the player decides to go with.

Final Thoughts:

As a die-hard fan of the series I must say this game is not for the easily offended or weak willed. This game serves up a big helping of fan service and gone above and beyond the expectations of its followers. If I had a hat I would be tipping it to Trey Parker and Matt Stone, as I sip some lemon tea on a warm afternoon. I imagine somewhere out there on a patio somewhere with legs crossed like gentlemen they marvel at how well this game is bound to do. I very rarely find myself singing the praises of a game but this game deserves it and has my stamp of approval as a game of the year candidate for 2014. I have pre-ordered a copy of the Grand Wizard Edition of the game for my personal collection and if you are a fan of the TV show you probably should too. Feel free to check out some of our game-play with commentary below...

more.

Thief Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Give It A Shot 

Well 2014's first reboot is out and boy is it a doozy. It is a revival of the cult classic Thief series of stealth games, of which it is the fourth game. Thief was initially announced in 2009 under the working title Thief 4(also known as Thi4f or Thief), after rumors of its development. Well you came here for a game review so that's what you're going to get. Small heads up about the usual game-play with commentary videos that accompany my reviews. We were trying something different this week where we took the video from our stream that we did but the quality was very disappointing in comparison to the usual so we apologize profusely. Will return to normal for our next review but feel free to check out the hilarious commentary as always. Lets slink into the dark depths of Thief...

Thief is a stealth video game developed by Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One platforms. Players control Garrett, a master thief, as he intends to steal from the rich. Similar to previous games in the series, players must use stealth in order to overcome challenges, while violence is left as a minimally effective last resort. Gameplay is choice-driven, with players having a number of possible paths and approaches in a given level. Players may use the environment to their advantage, as well as pickpocket characters. As Garrett attempts to steal in levels, guards and other non-player characters (if they are aware of his presence) will try to flush him out and kill him. Different NPCs may use different means to find him, and the game's artificial intelligence will be aware of the level design, and therefore, know of potential hiding spots. Players may enter a "Focus" mode, which provides several advantages. It enhances Garrett's vision, highlighting pipes that can be climbed, or candles that can be put out to make the area darker. Focus can also slow down time, so that Garrett is able to steal more effectively while pick-pocketing. Garrett can also use Focus to push enemies or perform debilitating attacks. It can be further upgraded over the course of the game.

What’s Good:

Story-line: Pretty solid story-line and interesting characters in the game. The way the story unfolds and progresses is also noteworthy as it keeps the pace of the game steady. 

Graphics: Stellar graphics all around, the textures, environments and lighting truly go above and beyond what expected. The game is visually well crafted on all platforms but it truly shines on the XBOX One and PC.

Game Mechanics: Definitely an originator of modern day stealth, the Thief franchise employs a very robust and expansive world to traverse. With multiple paths  to achieve objectives the game offers much needed  variety and liberalness to not restrict the user and confine them to a totally linear path. Also the freedom of movement that is offered to the player is interconnected with the flow and play-style of the game being heavily stealth based and is executed very well. Guard A.I. is hit or miss at times as they sometimes look right at you but seemingly have bad eyesight and cant see in the dark but other times will very skillfully hunt you down and drive you out of hiding. 

Replay value: With all the aforementioned freedom in paths and approaches to dealing with situations one could only imagine that there exists a fair amount of replay value. Couple that with all the various challenges and large number of items available for theft present in game and you have yourself hours of entertainment at the ready. Another noteworthy claim to fame for this reboot title is the custom difficulty setting, honestly cant recall seeing this in any games I have played. I was quite surprised and intrigued by this however it seems primarily directed at making the game more challenging more-so than easy.

What’s Bad:

Soundtrack: Not much of significant mention as well as the voice acting for the game seemingly fell short. This makes the character (Garrett) not as convincing and you don't feel as attached overall to him unless you were already a long standing fan of the series.

What Should Have Been Added:

I would like to have potentially seen a co-op mode especially since they game starts you off as a part of a team. The idea of running a thief tag team against unsuspecting guard could have added such depth and varied game-play tactics.

Final Thoughts:

Solid reboot of the series no doubt; long time Thief fans will appreciate the well executed nod to a long lost franchise. While new comers to the lore of Thief may find it quite the adventure to embark on. Definitely a little rough around the edges since its been out of the gaming world for a while but it made good on it return. Feel free to check out our game-play with commentary videos...

more.

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Definitely Worth Playing

Let me just start by saying this game is definitely something unexpected and different from what one would expect from an adventure game. Its branded as an adventure game but I see it partially as a puzzle game of sorts as well. I will admit I overlooked this title last year due to lack of a PC and all the hype that came with games released in the same time frame like Ducktales, Saints Row IV, Lost Planet 3, etc. So here I am clearing out my backlog and hearing good things pop up from media and the D.I.C.E. awards coverage about this game and I remember not having reviewed it. Well I aim to rectify that right about now as we look at Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a downloadable story-driven adventure video game developed by Starbreeze Studios and published by 505 Games released on 7 August 2013 for the Xbox Live Arcade and on 3 September 2013. for Steam and PlayStation Network. The game has been since released as of January 21st for free to PSN+ users so everyone can get to experience this wonderful game. The game-play revolves around the interaction between the two brothers with each other and the world. They must overcome obstacles and solve puzzles by working together. The player controls each brother with one of the analog sticks, allowing each character to move freely and individually. There are also individual action buttons for each brother using the left and right trigger accordingly. Controlling the two brothers of the story with one analog stick each can take some getting used to, but you’ll find your rhythm as you solve puzzles as you traverse lush and visually appealing world they live in.

What’s Good:

Soundtrack: I kind of get this old school Nordic vibe to the music, that or Xena warrior princess. All in all it gives off the feel of the rustic countryside that the games visuals portray.

Graphics: The visual aspect of the game is ridiculously immersive. Granted they skimmed a bit on the character design but they hit it out of the park with the environments. Every time you stumble unto a bench  you interact with it an dare treated to a simple spectacular view of your surroundings.

Story-line: Even though the game has no subtitles or English speaking voice acting the story is conveyed wonderfully through interaction and gesticulation. Another aspect of depth to the game is that they have varying responses and interactions based on which of the brothers initiates the action.

Game Mechanics: Simple yet effective is all I can say. Never in my years of playing video games can I recall something of this nature. It gives a refreshing look at video games and the possibilities that have yet to be explored for future titles.

What’s Bad:

Replay value: The game I feel lacks in replay value since the path and pace of the game and puzzles center around the brothers and their interactivity.

What Should Have Been Added:

I feel the game may have benefited from a few additional characters or multiple family members that you could choose from. That way puzzles would have variable solutions and potential for added synergy and depth as well as variation in game progression and story telling. 

Final Thoughts:

The game is short but immensely satisfying. It is truly one cinematic, story-driven experience that will not disappoint you and is worth both our time and money if you have to buy it. I applaud the developers  in their attempts at stepping outside the typical comfort zone of games in this day and age. Granted not everyone was a fan but I feel the unique controller design and implementation is definitely a feather in the hat and complements the game nicely.

more.

FIFA 14 Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Give It A Shot

As we usher in the age of the next -gen sports games seem to be on the forefront of the making the most of the hardware provided. Granted I am by no measure of the imagination an avid sports fan, I managed to gather the courage to subject myself to another sports game after my harrowing experience with NBA 2k14. You know we care though and love gaming in all forms no matter the frustration levels reached so today I bring to you FIFA 14...

FIFA 14 is a sports association football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronics Arts. It was released in late September 2013 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo 3DS video game consoles and Microsoft Windows. It was also released as freeware for iOS and Android on 23 September 2013[4] and as a launch title for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2013. This speaks volumes as to the appeal and overall broad customer base that this series has garnered considering the scope of its multiple platform release. I mean seriously the thing got a PlayStation 2 release; they don't even make PlayStation 2's anymore guys. A new engine called the Ignite Engine was used in FIFA 14 on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions only. This engine implemented both graphical and game-play changes such as human intelligence to make players react more like the real thing, True Player Motion to create more realistic movement from the players and more realism to the way environmental features like weather and stadium crowd dynamics develop during play. A PC port of the version with Ignite Engine was in the works, but sadly was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.

What’s Good:

Replay value: The immense variety of modes and online inter-connectivity that EA FIFA 14 brings to the table is simply astounding and will keep their fans satisfied and occupied for a long time to come. EA decided this year to focus more on the online FUT (FIFA Ultimate Team) experience. This has come at the expense of features previously enjoyed by gamers, like custom tournament and guest play but still maintains the replay value we all know and love.

Soundtrack:  As always FIFA games are known for their wide ranged and appealing soundtracks. This year is no different as  FIFA 14 sports a whopping thirty seven track OST. The songs are upbeat and highly addictive and you will find yourself randomly humming/singing along with them.

Graphics: Stepping forward into the next gen of gaming the graphics have certainly been bumped up from the last time I reviewed FIFA 14. This can be seen primarily on the next gen consoles however because those versions were developed using the Ignite Engine.

Game Mechanics: Solid controls, easy to use, learn, and understand while maintaining an even deeper level of functionality that takes advanced players to a whole different level. Excellent tutorials and options for individual customization and tailoring the game to the user's enjoyment.

What’s Bad:

Story-line: Like seriously EA, it cant be that hard to put together a half-assed started from the bottom story line. I mean hell you even had Drake plugging and advertising the game. How could you have missed such an obvious marketing strategy...?

What Should Have Been Added:

Obviously a story mode; even if it was a mediocre one like in NBA 2K14 its something that really should be considered as it opens up for additional interaction and motivation to keep the user playing the game.

Final Thoughts:

As anti sports as I might be, I must say that I had fun playing this game; it felt good to have an interest in soccer again after all these years. My only fault with this game is the shot power meter; as it is far too small and too hard to discern how powerful a shot you are taking. If memory serves in other FIFA games I have played the shot power meter was much easier to see and also there was an arrow to direct the different kicks awarded. i.e. corner kick, penalty kick, free kick, etc.

more.

NBA 2k14 Game Review

Final Verdict - Give It A Shot

Say hello to the next generation of gaming with King James himself. NBA 2K14 has been toted as the best representation of the next generation of gaming. It makes superb use of the power of next gen graphics and quite honestly is the foremost leading game to take advantage of the emerging generation of gaming. Typically I stay away from reviewing sports games because I suck at them primarily but also cause usually they are the same thing every release aside from the fact that they change the roster. Thankfully I can say this years' release of NBA2K14 heralds a return to greatness for the series and solidifies the franchise as a strong contender in the sports genre of gaming. So lets see what the game of basketball is all about...

NBA 2K14 is a basketball video game that was developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. LeBron James of the Miami Heat became the cover athlete, and also served as the music curator for the game. 2K Sports also released the DLC pack that as a bonus for pre-ordering the game, they would receive 10,000 VC, bonus content for "Path to Greatness" mode, adding James in the Blacktop mode and a signature skill for MyCareer mode. On August 14, 2013, 2K Sports announced that Crew Mode would return to this year's installment of NBA 2K. The main centerpiece of the game as always is the My Career mode where you play as a rookie trying to make a name for yourself in the NBA.

What’s Good:

Replay value: With such a wide variety of modes and teams to play with this installment of the franchise is the most rounded and expansive to date. Many different avenues to explore in this years game where we have such things as: "LeBron: Path to Greatness" mode, A new "Training Camp" mode, a vast character creation library, MyCareer and MyGM modes, as well as more than 50 hours of new commentary from Kevin Harlan, Clark Kellogg and Steve Kerr. New draft night audio is also present alongside new "MyCareer" voiceovers.

Soundtrack:  On July 15, 2013, the NBA 2K Live team announced the soundtrack to NBA 2K14, chosen by LeBron James. 2K14's soundtrack presents a much more present style of music, showing off new singles that have been recently released instead of older more classic songs like previous 2K versions. This brought a modern new age feel to the overall  flow of the game and is in tune with bringing the game into the  modern next generation of gaming.

Graphics: Bar none there is no disputing that this game is currently the pinnacle of next gen graphics and is one of the few titles that make it worthwhile spending that cash on a next gen console.

Story-line: Not a bad attempt with the various dialogue choices. Though somewhat limited, they do give a feasible idea that you make decisions to invest in the progression of your character's development. The social media integration alongside various activities available, help to garner team and fan admiration to help tie in another level of interaction is also a nice aspect of the game progression as well.

What’s Bad:

Game Mechanics: As always the lack of a smooth controller scheme integration presents too high of an entry level barrier for new players. Compounding that with a lack of a structured tutorial to teach the fundamentals of the game and you have the makings of a bad time filled with frustration.

What Should Have Been Added:

A tutorial mode should have been added to help ease new players into the flow of the game as well as introduce veteran players to the finer intricacies of what might have changed over the change in titles.

Final Thoughts:

Simulation basketball at its finest; with just enough new features, and tighter-than-ever gameplay, NBA 2K14 tops its predecessors and competitors...again. I can't say I would recommend this game to everyone as the learning curve is a bit steep but for the seasoned veterans out there this game is definitely worth getting.

more.