Street Fighter V 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. I'm a long time fan of the franchise so I have been eagerly awaiting its arrival and the arrival of my main character in the series as she has been out of the game for a while. Its time to rise up....

Street Fighter V is a fighting video game published by Capcom, who co-developed the game with Dimps. It is the fifth main numbered entry in the Street Fighter series. The game was released in February 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows, the game features cross-platform play between the Windows and PlayStation 4 versions. Similar to the previous games in the series, Street Fighter V features a 2D-esque fighting gameplay system. The game also introduces the "V-Gauge", which builds as the player receives attacks and adds three new skills. The game features 16 characters at launch, with 4 of them being new to the series. A story mode and additional characters were added through updates and downloadable content. According to Capcom, the game was a PlayStation 4 console exclusive as both Sony and Capcom had "the same vision for the growth potential in the fighting game space". The game was powered by Unreal Engine 4, and had a beta test prior to its launch. Upon release, the game received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the game's graphics and gameplay, but was criticized for its lack of story-mode content and characters.

What’s Good:

Graphics: Some have gone on record saying the look is cartoony but I feel like Capcom did a good job using this particular art style to represent the brightly colorful and fast paced action of the franchise. I'm saddened that certain graphical aesthetics were tweaked all in the sake of being a PG rated game but aside from that the HUD, characters and stages are all wonderfully done.

Story-line: I must say the worth is well worth it given the content, character development and overall setup of the story provided. Well executed and gives both old and newcomers to the series a well rounded experience and introduction to new and returning cast members alike. Overall the story mode clocks in at about 3 hours, and even though Capcom released it months after I can see where the extra time and effort was placed into ensuring it was an enjoyable experience.

Soundtrack: Pretty solid soundtrack and voice acting overall. Without a doubt some of the best remixes for character theme songs. My top three theme song favorites are for Rashid, R. Mika, and Ken.

Game Mechanics: Stepping away somewhat from its previous iteration Capcom has introduced the "V-Gauge", which builds as the player receives attacks and adds three new techniques: V-Skills, V-Reversals, and V-Triggers. V-Skills are special attacks unique to each fighter; for example, Ryu can parry an attack while M. Bison can reflect projectiles, some of which build V-Gauge when successfully performed. V-Reversals allow players to use a section of the V-Gauge to perform a counter move whilst being attacked. Finally, V-Triggers use the entire V-Gauge to allow the player to perform a unique ability, such as a temporary damage boost for Ryu's hadoukens. Also a visible stun bar meter has been added to the HUD.

What’s Bad:

Game Mechanics: With a rough launch three major issues plagued many player for months on end, Netcode stability, lack of a penalty system for rage quitters, and poor ranked match making. Since the story mode DLC has launched however 2 of these issues have been rectified for the most part as matches flow much smoother and I no longer get matched up against people 2-5 levels above me consistently while playing ranked. Capcom even implemented a point deduction system for consistent Rage Quitting over extended time periods.

Replay: Not much to do besides fight your friends persay and an added difficulty for the new story DLC but the main reason replay value is lacking is the manner in which Capcom decided to implement character color unlocks. Literally no one is happy about the survival mode color unlocks; it is the bane of most current owners existence. I can say without a doubt on Hard and Extreme difficulty the computer is a dirty cheater on the higher up levels.

What Should Have Been Added:

Definitely more characters at launch because Street fighter has always been known for its robust roster and in this day and age especially people want a wide variety of characters to choose form and explore when diving into a new fighting game.

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 story DLC alongside new characters Balrog and Ibuki. Enjoy the story mode gameplay with commentary below...

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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.

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Dragonball Xenoverse Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Definitely Worth Playing

You heard right folks; your wish has been granted here we are after quite the hiatus bringing you another video game video game review. Took a bit longer than normal for this one due to wanting to give the game a fair chance in a very crucial aspect of its experience which is linked to server connectivity. I'll be honest as say as well that I simply was just having too much of a blast playing so I put off doing this review for a while. With that being said come with me on a trip to the XenoVerse as we visit Toki Toki City and pave our path through the Dragonball universe.

Dragon Ball XenoVerse (officially abbreviated as Dragon Ball XV) is a video game based on the Dragon Ball media franchise.[3] It was released in February 2015 on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One consoles and on the PC for Microsoft Windows via Steam. The game is set in full 3D destructible environments. Fighters can traverse the levels free-roaming in very large spaces and can be fighting on a platform, go in the air, and fight underwater. They run when on the ground, and swim while underwater. XenoVerse has dialogue while fights go on, and fighters show facial expressions when they strike an opponent or take damage. The players have some freedom to explore the planet Earth as it exists in the Dragon Ball universe along with a handful of other locations. The game's new character is confirmed to be a player created character. With the character customization, players will now be able to customize their character's race, gender, head, build, voice, and clothing. Players can create characters from multiple races, with the ones available being Namekians, Saiyans, Earthlings, Frieza's, and Majins race.

What’s Good:

Graphics: XenoVerse is the first Dragon Ball game released on eighth generation consoles. Built around the same graphics engine that powers other note worthy fighting games such as Street Fighter IV. The game gives an accurate representation of the intense Dragonball action we have all grown to know and love. Characters are an exact representation of their animated personas and move with the same familiar fluidity you are accustomed to.

Story-line: Unlike the previous games of the series that usually follow the original Dragon Ball canon, "XenoVerse" features an entirely new story, featuring the player's custom character. This adds an exciting new dynamic to the game that keeps things new and interesting. Effectively adding "what if" scenarios to the DBZ universe plot line.

Replay: With so many classes to choose from, upcoming DLC, character build variations and multiple wishes from Shenron there is undoubtedly enough content to keep you playing and coming back for more. At its core it is a MMORPG so there is much farming and grinding to be done to get the perfect build for your character.

Soundtrack: Pretty solid soundtrack and voice acting overall. Love the start up theme song for the game, very pumped up and action packed. 

What’s Bad:

Game Mechanics: The online experience at times is not as smooth as one would like and you will find yourself experiencing lengthy loading times and lag when playing online with others based on Internet connectivity and speed.

What Should Have Been Added:

Without a doubt the one thing this game is missing is a dedicated training mode. Since at its core it is potentially comparable to a fighting game one would think a dedicated training mode to try out learning combos would have been included. Not to mention experimenting with various skill-sets as well as item assignment and assortment.

Final Thoughts:

This is without a doubt the quintessential Dragonball game to play. It encompasses all the good things we all know and love about the Dragonball Universe while giving the player the freedom and creativity to forge their own path and character through it all. It provides an all new immerse way of incorporating the player into the universe instead of letting them just experience it as an existing character from the series. Even though the game was plagued with server connectivity issues at the start i'm happy to say that now weeks later servers have stabilized just in time for the launch of their first bit of DLC. So far the experience has been acceptable and entertaining seeing the creative custom characters that people have come up with. As always feel free to check out some of our intro gameplay...

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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:

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The Final Countdown

Welcome one and all to another random Monday blog here on "In the Mind of My Mind". From the blog title and the music which should be playing by now you may be asking what exactly am I counting down for. Well that's what we are about to get into; a couple weeks back I did an interview with a small organization referred to as the Fighter's Allegiance Of Jamaica or FAJ for short. For the in-depth run through for those of you that missed it you can go check it out before I go any further by visiting this link: http://zalgocometh.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-answer-lies-in-heart-of-battle.html

Well its almost here and i'm pumped, amped up and super excited. Jamaica's first major video game tournament of this nature, with prizes totaling over $100,000; what more could any gamers ask for? A chance at money, a chance at looking cool in-front of honeys and most importantly whooping some serious ass and showing your dominance over all who step up to the challenge. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you.....MASH DI BUTTON!!!!

With all that being said I can't afford for this event to miss me. It will truly be a once in a lifetime experience to be apart of a first time even like this in Jamaica. This is history in the making people and unless you are a SDA (Seventh Day Adventist) you really shouldn't miss this; no wait scratch that even if you are SDA you should still try to come and support such an epic event. Hell just in case you were hype enough as is we another video to get the hype juices flowing for all your gamers out there...

Obviously seeing as how i'm a mind reader I know a couple of you out there are wondering what else is there to appeal to the masses of people who aren't gamers. Well no worries we got you covered too as the event will beheld at "The Spot" sports bar and grill on the University of the West Indies campus in lovely Kingston Jamaica; so there will be much food and libations and entertainment for one and all to enjoy. This event is supported and endorsed wholeheartedly by VXG, The Spot Sports Bar and Grill -UWI, Enhanced Realizm, Str8 Games and Yardie 876 Gamers. What more incentive do you really need to come out and enjoy a Saturday afternoon? Hell obviously i'm going to be there so you got to come out and show some support even just for me....pweese pwetty pweese. On the reals though I need to hit up the lab real hard this week so I don't get my ass brutally kicked in the first round of this tournament so I doubt there will be a video game review this week but we will see what I can do for y'all. You know I love y'all; so wish me luck, come out and support and ope to see you on Saturday  For more information feel free to check out the Fighter's Allegiance Facebook event page for MASH DI BUTTON!!!

Also be sure to subscribe to the FAJ's youtube channel for highlights of the past present and future tournaments that will be held. You can just click this link to go to their YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQQ1df3sLTWPY4Qx1NX7eYg?feature=

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It's Not Smash Goddamn It; Deal With It...

Gameplay - 10/10

Storyline - 8/10

Graphics - 10/10

Game Score : 28/30

Let me start off by saying my sincerest apologies for the late review. Went on a company retreat where I thought would have free net access to do the blog on Friday only to discover that there is no WiFi in the rooms and the internet is pay per use. This to me is so dumb especially for an all inclusive hotel in this the 21st century so filled with technology. Anyways I wrote up the review in Microsoft Word and this is it as you read. As an added bonus I managed to get some game-play recorded by some fellow gamer friends of mine which is a rarity as far as me reviewing a console game goes but I love you guys so enjoy. You can skip to the 14:33 mark in the game-play video for my special guest appearance on the Video Game Console Junkie's Stream.

Ok so before I even go any further let me just say do not approach this game with the mindset that its just a Super Smash Brothers rip-off by Sony. It has less characters, a different fighting engine, a lot more customization and unlockable content, etc. I'm so sick of seeing reviews just highlighting that its a clone. Yes they took some elements familiar to the Smash brothers franchise since its a genre of game that is not heavily saturated, but it retains enough originality to stand on its own two feet. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is a crossover fighting video game which was released on November 20, 2012 in North America and is scheduled for a January 2013 release in Japan. Up to four players can battle each other using characters from various Sony franchises such as God of War, PaRappa the Rapper and Sly Cooper, as well as third-party franchises like BioShock.  During the game, players damage other players to build their super meter. They can also receive orbs that build up their super meter at the bottom of the screen from stage areas and opponents. Earning enough power allows players to use one of three levels of super moves which can be used to defeat opponents and earn points. The game features cross-platform play between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions.

What’s Good:

Superbot did a great job providing a universe roster of characters which can appeal to any and all Sony fans past or present. The combat mechanics of the game represent each character very well from their respective game universes. A well thought out online ranking system that rewards the player for not only participating but also for completing session objectives for a given period of days. The game features an insane amount of unlockable rewards to keep the player engaged and ever hungry to play for longer to achieve everything available for their favorite characters. Proper net code to enable suitable matchmaking for online play; as well as minimal dropped/lagged frames during game-play online. Customization options are too numerous to count, they vary from titles, player card backgrounds, things called minions that cheer you on during battle, costumes and more. Stellar game soundtrack that will have you singing along to songs stuck in your head; couple that with spectacular well meshed level designs from famous Sony PlayStation franchises. Robust training regiment to help you master your favorite characters; from a practice mode to combat trials all available tools for upping your level of play are present in this game.

What’s Bad:

Item design needs more fleshing out and variety. Bugs from the games open beta are still present in the final build of the game. Lack of key franchise fan favorites from the roster such as Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Rayman, etc.  The game needed to have a more fleshed out story mode to explain the circumstances behind how all these characters became rivals and what they are fighting for. Full CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) would have been nice for all the cut scenes and story mode elements but then again the games main selling point is the multi-player.

What Should Have Been Added:

MORE FREAKING CHARACTERS!!! A staple point of any fighting game, the larger the roster the less of a chance to alienate any potential players. With more characters also comes the opportunity for more stages to be meshed together from various franchises. Last but not least I would have liked to see a justifiable use for taunts even for something as simple as extra points in a round or a trophy requirement. 

Final Thoughts:

This is a brawler game but it does not make it a rip odd of the smash brother game franchise. People need to realize that even tough comparisons will be drawn and compared never forget that at its core it is its own individual entity. PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale fills a long lasting void that many people would love to see filled as the Super Smash Brother franchise has had the monopoly on the market for far too long. I personally am not planning on ever owning a Nintendo console ever again, as the only thing I would be still drawn to play are the games from the Pokémon series so I was filled with joy when I heard about this game being made for the PS3.

Remember to skip to the 14:33 mark int he video for my special guest appearance on the Video Game Console Junkie's Stream

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There Can Only Be One...

Hey y'all welcome to your weekly Monday blog here on Zalgo Cometh. Almost didn't have a blog today since my PC decided to die on me on Sunday. Thankfully through the help of a job I was able to buy the replacement parts needed and here I type before you; though technically my PC still not working properly so im still testing it to make sure all systems are go. Well its that time of the year again when avid video gamers gather at the fighting game tournament of the year to test their mettle. That's right we are talking about EVO; the Evolution Championship Series is an annual video game tournament that focuses exclusively on fighting games. In fighting game communities it is commonly referred to as "Evo", and is currently the premier video game tournament for fighting games in the United States. 

Evo 2012 took place July 6 to July 8th, 2012, at Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada. On January 3rd, Joey Cuellar announced that Evo 2012 would have 6 main tournament games, Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition (Version 2012), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Mortal Kombat, Soulcalibur V, The King of Fighters XIII and Street Fighter X Tekken. Coupled with that their were various panel discussions from prominent members of the fighting game such as Ultradavid and James Chen, Maximillian from the Assist Me Series, etc. As an added bonus to the festivities a part of the proceeds goes to maintain a scholarship fun for avid gamers who excel at learning to further their education. Most of the hype for the weekend most note-worthily came from the respective grand finals for the games; these can be viewed here:

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition


Mortal Kombat 9


Street Fighter X Tekken


King Of Fighters 13


Virtua Fighter 5


Soul Caliber 5

Congratulations to all the first place finishers and all the top eight qualifying participants because I am sure it was a hard fought and grueling uphill battle for them all to overcome the odds and many other participants that entered this years EVO. For a further break down of what took place on the weekend of EVO feel free to check out the stream archive for coverage.

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