Tinertia Video Game Review

Final Verdict - Give It A Shot 

Tadah! We are back with another video game review of sorts here on In The Mind Of My Mind. This week we got access to a game that is still in development and thus far only in the Alpha stage of testing. A follower of the blog brought this game to my attention and told me to give it a shot so I did just that. We do it for the fans. So lets take a look at what Tinertia has to offer...

At its core Tinertia is a precision based platformer with a unique twist, there is no jump button. One might ask oneself how do you play a platform game without jumping but its actually a pretty cool concept. In what I can only surmise as homage the the old school days of Quake and rocket jumping the team over at Candescent Games decided to take this approach. Coming the finesse and skill of rocket jumping with air dashing to create an addictive and frustratingly fun game that you can't help but play. The game is slated for release on the PS4 and PC and has already been greenlit on Steam. The game supports Xbox 360 controllers, Playstation Dualshock 3, Playstation Dualshock 4, as well as the usual keyboard and mouse, if you’re into that sort of thing. Personally I found it easier to play using a controller but whatever floats your boat. At launch the game will feature eight unique environments each with its own Robo-Boss to contend with comprising of approximately eighty challenging levels. Add to that varying gameplay modes such as Speed Run and #YoLo Challenge from which you can compete on the leader-board rankings for best time. There will also be a replay system in place to capture those epic speed runs and jumps that you will undoubtedly be pulling off. Oh and I should mention the unlockable skins to pimp out and customize your player with some personal flair.

This would usually be the section where I talk about what was good or bad based on your grading scheme for game reviews using the categories of Gameplay, Storyline, Replay Value, Soundtrack & Graphics but since its not a complete game and only in Alpha testing I will forgo that this time around.

What Should Have Been Added:

So in conjunction with what I said above there isn't much I can say since the game isn't done yet but ill say this from what I have seen. The game needs a proper tutorial mode before throwing you into the game itself so first time players can get acclimated to the controls and gameplay mechanics. Next up I feel given the fact that when you die you start from the very beginning that there should be a check point for players so that they don't get overly frustrated dying and starting from scratch. I could be an option in the menu for those that might prefer it over the hardcore gamers that want the challenge and leaderboard competition. Another issue I had was with the control scheme customizability, hoping they put a dedicated option in there to choose a controller type beforehand so that the tutorial instructions show up based on your controller choice instead of just always showing the controller layout even when the person uses a keyboard. Also it would be nice to customize your own controller layout instead of sticking with the default layout. Most importantly I hope they incorporate a well plotted story-line so you can connect with the main character and have more motivation to play the game than just getting the best time and least rockets used possible for the achievement medals.

Final Thoughts:

Honestly the game is ridiculously fun; and I can see it being a big success if it gets the needed exposure and support. It would be amazing if they could figure out a way to get this on mobile as well since these are exactly the type of  games that thrive on that medium. Your friendly neighborhood gamer Zalgo Cometh wishes the team over at Candescent Games all the best and are rooting for their continued success at launch. Go check out their website for Tinertia at http://tinertia.com/ as well as follow them on twitter at @CandescentGames. Be sure to subscribe to their Youtube Channel as  well to stay informed with updates and video progress as the game matures. Enjoy the usual video gameplay with commentary as I play through Tinertia...

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I Am Alive; Are You...?

Gameplay - 7/10

Storyline - 10/10

Graphics - 9/10

Game Score : 26/30

Today is the day I finally get to play another intensely story driven game that I love so much. Sweet mother of god I love a good story driven game, granted there are a few snags here and there with the game-play infrastructure I was so into the story I made do and trudged ahead. Anywhore thinking i'm going to approach this differently and keep it simple since this game has been out for a while. So lets look at the epic tale of I Am Alive...

The game takes place one year after America has gone through a massive disaster known simply as "The Event," which included earthquakes that destroyed most cities and areas. Due to the damage of the aftermath, many people are forced to go without resources. The government tries to help citizens, but their attempts are useless. Supplies become low and this causes citizens to become agitated, violent and bitter. A male survivor (who is never named in the game) travels to his old home of the fictional city Haventon, to rescue his wife Julie and daughter Mary.

The Good:

I love the story line behind this game, you really connect with the main character and all the ups and downs he has to go through as you progress through the game. Little by little you find yourself growing and shaping him as you encounter various situations where you have a choice in-front of you. From choosing to execute downed enemies to deciding if you want to give your supplies to injured people who you meet along the way. Even though it has no direct effect on the character growth in the game you feel connected to him to the point it feels like it does. In reference to the graphics on PC they are leagues ahead of the console release of this game as expected, which adds even more value to the overall experience of the game. The game has an emphasis on climbing and exploration. Every effort has a cost and, when engaging in physically demanding activities, such as climbing or jumping, it is critical to manage the main character's stamina for him to survive. By managing stamina skillfully players are rewarded by accessing hidden paths, resources and other survivors.

The Bad:

Some of the interactions especially for fight sequences can be a bit stiff. I found myself trying to do as I was instructed but for whatever reason it would not work. I feel that maybe it would have been easier if kills weren't interaction based but instead something you could do freely once you had your machete equipped. Granted that the game is a survival horror third person game and not a first person shooter i'll excuse this next point but I still have to make mention of it. The aiming mechanic for the gun in this game is in need of dire revision, way too many times I found myself missing targets I knew I was aiming on properly. The difficulty of the game itself at times can be daunting but that in itself is part of what makes it a good game.

The Ugly Truth:

The game is good. Not great but the story in and of itself is what carries it off so nicely. Maybe i'm being biased but I would like to think that people enjoy playing an engaging and interactive gaming experience. I would not recommend this game to the average casual gamer however even though there is an easy mode option that gives you unlimited retries. I feel that to truly experience what this game offers you have t be willing to experience the same type of survival risk that the character goes through. Knowing that you are low on supplies , retries, pitons, etc. can really change your frame of mind and the way you play the game as a whole.

Well that's it from us here at Zalgo_Cometh so feel free to check out our little game-play with commentary as always. So until next time; keep on gaming...

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Bordering On Insanity

Gameplay - 10/10

Storyline - 10/10

Graphics - 9/10

Game Score : 29/30

Your friendly neighborhood gamer here; bringing you another weekly video game review. This week we are praising the awesomeness that is Borderlands 2. If you aren't already playing this you really should be; this game is just too good to pass up. If you can't play it due to hardware or cash flow limitations feel free to check out our play-through on our YouTube channel. We play through about the first 2 hours of the game so you can get a first-hand look at the game and some of what it has to offer. There is also going to be a bit of co-op game-play footage added later on to showcase that as well. Without further ado let's jump into Borderlands 2...

Borderlands 2 is a space western first-person shooter/action role-playing open world video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. It is the sequel to 2009's Borderlands and was released for the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms. Borderlands 2 builds upon the gameplay elements introduced in its predecessor; thankfully though you can play this iteration just fine without prior knowledge from the first game. 

It is a first-person shooter that includes character-building elements found in role-playing games, leading Gearbox to call the game a "role-playing shooter." At the start of the game, players select one of four new characters, each with a unique special skill and with proficiencies with certain weapons. From then on, players take on quests assigned through non-player characters or from bounty boards, each typically rewarding the player with experience points, money, and sometimes a reward item. Players earn experience by killing foes and completing in-game challenges (such as getting a certain number of kills using a specific type of weapon). As they gain levels from experience growth, players can then allocate skill points into a skill tree that features three distinct specializations of the base character.

1. Salvador the Gunzerker, can dual-wield any combination of guns.

2. Maya the Siren, has an ability called Phaselock which suspends enemies in midair.

3. Axton the Commando, is a commando character who relies on turrets to decimate his enemies.

4. Zer0 the Assassin, is an assassin capable of creating a decoy of himself and becoming invisible for a short time. At the end of this process, he is then able to unleash a critical hit on an enemy with his sword or gun.

5. Unreleased as yet there is also Gaige the Mechromancer. The character, available October 16, is the fifth playable class in the game and was available with pre-order for free. Without the pre-order she'll cost $10.

Returning gameplay features from the first game will include the 3-branch skill trees, class-mods, and four-player online cooperative modes. New features include a more expansive and customizable weapons system, reworked four-seat drift-able vehicles and vehicle physics elements, and dynamic mission systems. All in all the game stays true to most the aspects of its predeccessor, obviously Gearbox Software is a firm believer in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. My only faults were slight annoyances more than anything else, but if I had to nit-pick. I would have wanted a guiding arrow for quests that points you in the right direction, as well as better driving controls as the cars feel very unresponsive causing me to crash; a lot... That aside the game is superb; the dialog is engaging, and it has immense replay value with all the classes and skills and customization options any gamer could want. Add to that the insane number of gun combinations and quests you have in this game. It is clear to me that this game is easily a candidate for "Game of the Year" status. So what are you waiting for? Come join the fun...

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The Bloody Plot Thickens

Gameplay - 10/10

Storyline - 10/10

Graphics - 9/10

Game Score : 29/30

Aww yeah, after much wanting and waiting they released Episode 2 of The Walking Dead. If you recall we played Episode 1 a little while back and it was so good I decided to follow up the series. So welcome to another video game review here on Zalgo Cometh. Since this is an episode within the same game we already reviewed I wont get into too much repeating of praise for the game as a whole, so if you like feel free to check out our review of The Walking Dead: Episode 1 and then come back to this review of Episode 2. Anywhore lets get right into it...

Last time we played this game I was blown away by the story-line and game-play mechanics behind the game. This episode starts out on a faster note than the previous as we find ourselves with a new character called Mark in the forest foraging for food. After some searching they discover that a zombie already beat them to the punch and is busy eating a rabbit they could have used to feed everyone. Don't ask me how a zombie sneaked up on and successfully caught a rabbit but it is what it is. Through some chit chat we learn a bit about what has happened since we left our group of fearless heroes in Episode 1. They are seemingly running out of food and roughly 3 months has passed; tempers are running high with no signs of subsiding. Out of nowhere there is a loud scream and they are off to investigate; they come across a man lying on the ground, his leg stuck in a beartrap. It’s a gruesome sight, and as you struggle unsuccessfully to free him, you realize his anguished screams have attracted a crowd of walkers. That leaves you with a big decision: Do you run away and leave him to his fate or do you continue to try and help him?

Honestly after playing the game the first time I didn't really have much if any complaints about this game beside it being too short, so I wasn't expecting much of an improvement on an already awesome game; boy was I wrong. From start to finish the game sucks you in and drags you kicking and screaming for the ride. The brilliant minds at Telltale Games sure know how write a good story, from the voice acting to the soundtrack to the choices given in the game everything meshes seamlessly together to provide you with a gaming experience second to none of its genre. I really enjoy the fact that the controls are simple and straight forward as this enables any and everyone to enjoy the game at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed by clunky controls and tedious maneuvers. The scenarios in the game are its true highlight and major selling point. Adding a simple time mechanic to these decisions ramps up the level of excitement and anxiety even more which adds value to the game-play experience. With so much going on, so many choices to make, and so many shambling zombies to kill, I am excited to return to the world of The Walking Dead when Episode 3 comes out...

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