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.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Give It A Shot 

Ok so its been a while since I gave you a free game to enjoy so buck up cause this one is on the house. Found out about this through a friend as I don't usually find myself playing a lot of free games but he said I should give it a try. So shoutouts to Alvarez aka Rez for bringing this to my knowledge, let go shoot stuff in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms...

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms (known during the beta as Ghost Recon Online) is a third-person perspective, multiplayer action video game released for Microsoft Windows PCs and planned for Nintendo's Wii U console. The game is part of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon series. This game is supported by micro transactions. The Windows version is confirmed to be a free-to-play game, and requires a Uplay account. Whilst not officially confirmed to be a free-to-play model as well for the Wii U as of January 2013, Nintendo's president and CEO Satoru Iwata commented in an interview that he has no opposition against this model and is willing to work with it.

What’s Good:

Game Mechanics: Not so much a fan of Third Person Shooter (TPS) games but Tom Clancy is a veteran at his craft so this long standing franchise has solidified and mastered its representation of the control and fluidity of a TPS game.

What’s Bad:

Replay value: Not much considering its a free to play online game. Shit will get pretty old pretty fast without much consideration of a story line or diversity between the three offered classes.

Story-line: There is none, there isn't much compelling you to play aside from completing the daily self challenges for the free in-game currency to buy upgrades or to level up your character class of choice.

What Should Have Been Added:

Some personal customization options would be nice so that you can better differentiate your own player from all the other people who play the same class as you online. Maybe something as simple as color dyes or something as complex as specialist/hybrid class building. 

Final Thoughts:

The game is free. It deserves at the very least a try. So what more can I say but go ahead and try it. Even better if you can get friends to sign up and play with you. Got the usual footage for you but no commentary due to technical difficulties that I didn't realize until it was already too late. I do apologize for the seemingly half-assed review but I honestly hold true to the point that if its free and tolerable it has to be someones cup of tea so its worth a look. The game is currently available on Steam at the following address:

 http://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/243870/

more.

Batman Arkham Origins Game Review

Final Verdict - Give It A Shot

Well we're back for another year here on our blog. A lot of new changes have been taking place and in keeping with as such we are changing our review scheme for this year, the grading structure will  remain the same but we wont be assigning a numerical score to the game. When I review games I review it in a manner that I feel doesn't give away too much of the overall game experience but gives just enough insight into the game to pique your interest. I have always questioned the merit behind assigning a numerical value somewhat as a final score so will be embarking on this new system for the year 2014 and see how it fares. Today we take a look at Batman Arkham Origins; I received this game for free as a part of a promotion for purchasing a Nvidia 770GTX graph card this past Black Friday for my new PC. Feel free to check out the various un-boxing videos if you are into that sort of tech on our YouTube channel.

Batman: Arkham Origins is a 2013 action-adventure video game developed by Warner Bros. Games Montréal and released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360 video game consoles. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it follows the 2011 video game Batman: Arkham City and is the third installment in the Batman: Arkham series. the game's main story-line is set five years before that of 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum and follows a younger, less-refined Batman. A bounty is placed on him by crime lord Black Mask, drawing eight of the world's greatest assassins to Gotham City on Christmas Eve. The game, played from a third-person perspective, focuses on Batman's combat and stealth abilities, detective skills, and gadgets for combat and exploration. Arkham Origins is the first game in the series with multi-player capability.

What’s Good:

Replay value: The game features an expansive and robust world to traverse with a plethora of activities, missions and instances to partake in. Warner Bros. Montreal saw fit to incorporate a multi-player addition to the game; a first in the series I might add which further pushes the player to come back for more. After completing the story mode a New Game Plus mode is unlocked, enabling a player to replay the game with all their acquired gadgets, experience and abilities; enemies are tougher, and the icon warning players of attack is disabled. Completing New Game Plus unlocks I Am the Night mode, where the game ends if Batman dies.

Soundtrack:  The score for Arkham Origins was composed by Christopher Drake. The in-game music was created with layers which activate with action (such as Batman entering a location or beginning a fight), and can be added or subtracted depending on what is occurring. The overall nature and undertones of the soundtrack do well to immerse the player in the city of Gotham.

Graphics: The game features high contrast between dark's and lights, with exaggerated shadows and few balancing colors. The entire game is represented beautifully using the Unreal Engine 3 graphics engine. This is even more so pronounced on the PC version of the game when played at max graphical settings in Direct X11. On compatible systems, the Microsoft Windows version uses Nvidia's PhysX software engine to produce more realistic, dynamic interactions with the game world. With PhysX enabled, some areas contain additional snow or fog (which reacts to Batman moving through it); with PhysX disabled, the effects are lessened or absent.

What’s Bad:

Game Mechanics: I'm not entirely sure if its because i'm not a fan of the series or just used to a different third person experience but the controls felt a bit clunky and unpolished. Maneuvering in the game didn't feel refined enough as well as the combat and cover approach system leaves a bit to be desired.

Story-line: Arkham Origins is set as a predecessor to the other two Batman Arkham games in the series. The events in Arkham Origins take place about five years before Batman: Arkham Asylum, in midwinter Gotham City. Batman, an experienced crime-fighter in the second year of his career, is not yet the veteran superhero of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. He is a mysterious force; even the police do not know whether he is a vigilante, a myth or a supernatural being. Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, they hunt him, because he can take it. Because he's not their hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.

What Should Have Been Added:

A co-op mode would have been a pleasant addition to the overall game.

Final Thoughts:

Arkham Origins does not do much to push forward the Arkham series but still represents the series well. If you are a fan of the series you will find everything very familiar and easy to get right into. Newcomers to the franchise will adjust well to the game as well due to the overall completeness of the game mechanics and design. I feel the multi-player was an unnecessary addition to the game but who am I as a gamer to complain about additional content. Feel free to check out our video game-play with commentary...

more.

Rounding Out The Gaming Year

Sorry for the long wait but you should know by now that every year we do a top ten games list for the year. With all the ongoing and upcoming changes I figured I would also change up this yearly post. Going to list the top five games that you must play at least one from this year and then go on to list honorable mentions. Also note that these are in no particular order, feel free to disagree and comment if your favorite game didn't make the top of the batch. OK so lets get this cracking so I can get back to working on the blog redesign...

Grand Theft Auto V

Without a doubt GTA V came in like a wrecking ball; to borrow a line from up and coming songstress Miley Cyrus. Late in the year when loads of people had already solidified their lists of top games Rockstar dropped the biggest bomb to level the industry. On release and leading up to it GTA V was the end all be all of mainstream gaming, publishers/developers pushed back game releases from sheer fear of competing with the great one. With good reason for within mere days GTA not only broke multiple sales records but also managed to secure stellar reviews all around; all people could do was sing its praises.

Tomb Raider

This game is the epitome of what it means to reboot and breathe new life into a franchise. From the character modelling choices to the plot development and story design; Square Enix did the Tomb Raider franchise justice. Why are you still reading this? Go buy the goddamn game ASAP, its worth your time, money, love and devotion. Granted the multi-player side of it was a bit seemingly tacked on, the single player made up for it all in spades; really wish Square Enix had listened to the fans and given us more single player based content.

Bioshock Infinite

Easily one of the strongest contenders of the year starting out as number one game for 2013 it gathered accolades near and far. Granted it released in the much earlier half the the year its longevity is tantamount to its impressiveness as no list of top games would be complete without it. Winner of over eighty awards it was definitely not a game to be taken lightly and proceeded to amass stellar reviews across the industry from journalists everywhere. 2K Games have done a great job of keeping the standard of quality expected for their superb franchise.

The Last Of Us

It would be a great injustice for me to make this list and leave off a lot of peoples obvious choice for game of the year. Granted I more was looking forward to Beyond Two Souls; I knew this game was going to be good, that was a given. I didn't however know that it was going to be great. This game definitely helped sell some PS3's this year on Black Friday. Loads of people are gonna be pissed that this is only available on PS3 but it is what it is. Between PS+ perks and this game I can't say there are any PS3 owners who have buyers remorse at this point.

NBA 2K14

At first I wasn't going to include any next gen titles in this top five list for 2013 but I felt this game deserved some proper credit where due. Granted i'm not the biggest fan of sports games or the fact that its typically the same game with a changed roster every year. This edition is not only a smooth-flowing piece of pro basketball simulation, it’s also one of the few games that makes a true next-generation leap in visual fidelity. Here is a game whose visuals are so beautifully realistic that you almost have to stop and try it, regardless of how much you like basketball. The game still has a steep learning curve but boy oh boy is it pretty...

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

1. Saints Row IV
2. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance
3. Injustice: GAU
4. Devil May Cry
5. Rayman Legends
6. Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag
7. Battlefield 4
8. Pokemon X & Y
9. Soul Sacrifice
10. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
11. Killer Instinct
12. Tearaway
13. Dive Kick
14. Guacamelee
15. Skullgirls Encore
16. Cal Of Duty Ghosts
17. Ryse Son Of Rome
18. Resogun
19. Need For Speed Rivals
20. Walking Dead Season 2

Thank you all for your continued support and I do hope I can continue to entertain you for another year come 2014. Well back to trying to figure out the yearly blog redesign so see you guys soon. Keep the dream alive and help spread my aweshumness, all it takes is some teamwork to get the word out...

more.

Too Fast? Too Furious?

Game Mechanics - 1/2

Story-line - 1.5/2

Graphics - 1/2

Soundtrack - 1.5/2

Replay Value - 1/2

 Total Score - 6/10

Greetings puny pink flesh-bags; how goes yet another Friday of your existence? Being that its Friday we all know what that means; no not dinner at TGIF but a new video game review from your friendly neighborhood gamer Zalgo_Cometh. With all the buzz and hype behind the new Fast & Furious 6 movie you can imagine my surprise when I discovered they were also releasing a game for it as well. Now it is a well known fact in the video game world that games released just to cash in on the premise of a movie and its subject matter usually suck, a lot. So I was pretty much going into this expecting the worst; why do I do it you ask, because I love y'all guys. Through good game and bad till internet connection do us part. So lets see how fast and furious we can get...

So right off the bat if you are a repeat visitor here you know above is where the game trailer would go but this game is so unknown or not marketed properly that I just couldn't find a proper trailer to put here on the blog. Well that or my fatigue is kicking in and I just got tired of looking after about half an hour; the point is it shouldn't be that hard to find a freaking game trailer. Definitely not a good sign of things to come for this game but I forged ahead and started playing through it. This is a cooperative racing video game, which was scheduled for release on May 21, 2013. Developed by Firebrand Games and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Nintendo 3DS, the game's story ties into the events in Fast & Furious 6, including bridging the events between the story of the film and those of its predecessor Fast Five, as well as the story of other films in the franchise. 

What’s Good:
Story-line: The game intertwines pretty much all the previous Fast and Furious storyline's and has you play different random plot points in the story.

Soundtrack: Pretty decent variety of music reminiscent of the street racing lifestyle. Found myself singing along with a couple songs while playing to be honest.
What’s Bad:
Game Mechanics: The driving physics are sub par, the shooting sections of the game leave  you wondering if it even really matters how and where you aim.

Graphics: Not much to make mention of, in all honesty there was another Fast & Furious game released before this one for iOS and Android and the Graphics in that look better to me than this that was released on consoles and PC. 

Replay Value: Not much replay value cause if you already know the story-line of the Fast & Furious universe there isn't much else left once you play through the first time to hold your attention.
What Should Have Been Added:
Maybe an actual third person story mode where you pick a character and play through their role in the Fast and Furious story-line. 

Final Thoughts:

This game didn't really need to exist; at the very least what they should have done was combine both aspects of the games they released on console and mobile platforms to make one big proper game. Its always a shame when studios release a game just to cash in on the hype of a movie release. So much wasted potential for what could have been a good opportunity. In any case fans of the series will enjoy it for a couple of hours whether they have watched the new Fat & Furious 6 or not. I personally recommend you watch the movie first before playing the game though so you can appreciate what little the game offers as far as a plot goes. Go ahead and check out our game-play with commentary below.

more.

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

Game Mechanics - 1.5/2

Story-line - 2/2

Graphics - 1.5/2

Soundtrack - 1/2

Replay Value - 1.5/2

 Total Score - 7.5/10

Well, well, well; guess who is back with more video game goodness after his little hiatus in the competitive gaming world? This guy!!! How y'all doing? Your friendly neighborhood gamer Zalgo_Cometh here with another weekly Friday video game review. This week we take a look at NetherRealm Studios newest game "Injustice: Gods Among Us". There has been much hype and anticipation leading up to and following the release of this game and from the looks of it it is well deserved. Lets see how Injustice: Gods Among Us stand up...

Injustice: Gods Among Us, known as Injustice: The Mighty Among Us in the Middle East region, is a fighting game based upon the fictional universe of DC Comics. The game was developed by NetherRealm Studios for the PlayStation 3, Wii U, and Xbox 360, and released in April 2013 in North America, Europe, and Australia. It will be released on June 2013 in Japan. An iOS variation of the game was released on April 3, 2013. The gameplay for Injustice: Gods Among Us involves one-on-one matches within a two-dimensional plane, although characters and backgrounds are rendered in a three-dimensional fashion. Each match consists of one round; however, each player has two health bars. The game uses a four-button control layout of light, medium, and heavy attacks, alongside a "character trait" button that activates a unique ability or attack designed to showcase each character. For instance, Superman's trait provides a temporary stat boost, while Batman's trait summons a swarm of robotic bats. Ed Boon, the creative director of NetherRealm Studios, stated that characters roughly fall into two categories: "power characters", who rely on brute strength and innate abilities, and "gadget characters", who use weapons, items, and other external mechanisms to win. For example, a gadget character like Batman can fire projectiles at a car to cause an explosion, while a power character like Superman can pick up the same car and smash his enemies with it. Players have the option to turn off interactive elements.

What’s Good:

Story-Line: This is the highlight and major selling point of this game. Granted there is also the comic book release you can read but it is far more engaging and rewarding playing through the campaign yourself and watching it unfold. Just like the superb work they did for Mortal Kombat 9 NetherRealm has struck single player gold again delivering an engaging and cinematic experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat and craving more.

What’s Bad:

Soundtrack: From the in-game music to the announcers voice; it all seems lackluster and non exciting given the premise and unprecedented nature of this game. Not many insane hype moments to recall a particular BGM (Background Music) playing that got you amped up. Quite frankly you are better off lowering the BGM volume and focusing on the witty banter between characters when they activate a clash sequence.

What Should Have Been Added:

Definitely more characters especially since there is the entire DC universe to choose from. Really wish there were more win quotes and super moves per character; hell maybe even have a different win quote specifically for each character you beat. Not to mention since these are all super powered individuals seeing them do the same super again and again can get old pretty fast. Better net-code is a definite necessity, as this one factor has seemingly plagued modern day fighting games and continues to do so in this game. Granted NetherRealm did a much better job with Injustice than Mortal Kombat 9 but some fine tuning is more than welcome since people are complaining of connectivity issues. Speaking of that I should also make mention that a better rage quitting penalty system needs to be put in place as having both players receive a loss on their record because of someone else's rage quit is not fair. 

Final Thoughts:

To wrap things up Injustice: Gods Among Us is certainly a breath of fresh air in the current over-saturation of fighting games. Also noteworthy is that many were looking to this game to redeem and make up for the travesty that was Mortal Kombat vs. DC and it certainly did. This is what MK vs. DC should have originally been; if MK vs. DC had been more like Injustice i'm sure more people would have supported it in the long run. With a robust arrangement of heroes and villains for you to choose from and more characters incoming as DLC Injustice is definitely slated to do well. For a little preview of the game in action as always you can check out our little introductory play-through from on our YouTube channel:

more.

Cause Driving A Kart Wasnt Hard Enough As Is...

Game Mechanics - 2/2

Story-line - 1/2

Graphics - 1.5/2

Soundtrack - 1.5/2

Replay Value - 2/2

 Total Score - 8/10

So here I find myself writing up another Friday review for some faithful, interested gamer out there and I wouldn't have it any other way. With that said welcome to another Friday video game review here on In The Mind Of My Mind with your friendly neighborhood gamer Zalgo_Cometh. I been waiting and wanting to get myself a copy of this game from I heard they were making a part two after all the success the first game received. We reviewed Sonic & Sega All Star Racing two years ago and now its back for round two.Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a racing video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is the sequel to Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, the fourth installment in the Sega Superstars series, and the eighth racing game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Do you think the sequel lives up to its predecessor  Let's find out on today's exciting episode of Dragonball Z..........wait wrong show; I mean on today's blog review.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a mascot-based racing game in which players race against each other using characters from various Sega franchises, although it features many new mechanics and improvements from the last game. The most obvious is that, at certain points in a race, vehicles can alternate between car, boat and plane modes. The car mode handles similarly to the previous game, in which players can earn boost by drifting around corners or performing tricks whilst in the air. Boat mode features true boating physics, requiring players to consider their vehicle's turbulence. They may also be affected by waves made in the water, some of which can be used to leap into the air and perform stunts. Plane mode, the fastest of the three forms, gives players the freedom to move both vertically and horizontally. Like the other modes, players can 'air-drift' around corners to earn boost and can also perform rolls to quickly adjust their position, earning boost for narrowly dodging obstacles. Players alternate between these modes by driving through blue transformation gates. Certain tracks in the game terraform as players proceed through them, offering different play-styles between each lap.

What’s Good:

Game-play: I must say Sega really listened to the fans and went all out to improve this series and I certainly see it as a worthy competitor to the Mario Kart franchise. With a wide variety of tweaks and subtle game-play enhancements this game certainly has quite the competitive edge to offer. When playing this game it certainly feels like a true race that is determined mostly by skill and not just sheer luck. From the changing track layout to the varying modes of transportation to the subtle handling differences in the varying modes of transport; Sega has offered up a selection of any and everything imaginable to affect a racing game of this wacky and nostalgic nature. Add into that the wide character roster of old and new faces alike and you simply cannot go wrong.

Replay Value:

With such a wide cast of characters to explore how could you not have replay value? Add to that a variety of race modes and tracks for both single player and multi-player enjoyment and you will be begging for a break. Sega went even further and gave us a leveling system for each character and different car mods to unlock and explore for each of your favorite characters. This is what you call some serious replay value.

What’s Bad:

Story-line: WHERE IS THE STORY LINE? WHY DO I NOT KNOW HOW THESE CHARACTERS ALL GOT TO THIS DIMENSION? WHAT ARE THEY EVEN RACING FOR? Hell the most important question of them all is why Sonic is even driving a car when he is obviously the fastest participant of this whole racing game? Trolling aside it would have been nice to have a dedicated story-line to help add value to the game and develop more interest in the varying characters. 

What Should Have Been Added:

Pretty much like I said that only main thing I would have wanted to see was a properly fleshed out story to help solidify this game.

Final Thoughts:

I am definitely glad to see the success this game is receiving and hope that Sega and Sumo Digital continue to make this a worthy addition to the kart racing game genre. especially since its the only kart racing game I know of that has a version for PC which is way easier to get people to play on locally than with a handheld or a console. I hope to see continued variety of character inclusion from the illustrious Sega collection of characters they have at their disposal.

more.