Author - Ripper71

Seidio Obex iPhone 6 Plus Case

2015/02/09

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Reviews

If you haven’t heard about Seidio you probably don’t shop around much for smartphone cases and accessories. Most people just go with big companies with the even bigger marketing campaigns. I know a ton of people who just use Otterbox because that is what their friends use. They developed a reputation and they do have a solid product. Quite often people choose a case that doesn’t fit their form function because they think they have to choose between style and durability. These people haven’t tried the Seidio Obex Phone Case.

Features:
Water Protection
– Anti-reflection acrylic glass protects the camera lens without interfering with photo quality
– Waterproof membranes shield the microphones and speakers while maintaining sound quality
– Case meets the IP68* rating, signifying that it is both dust-tight and protected against complete, continuous submersion

Drop Protection
– Exceeds the MIL-STD-810F** standard and can survive drops from up to 6 feet
– Internal structure is designed to protect your Apple iPhone 6 in the event that it is dropped or compressed
– Combination of Polycarbonate (PC) and Thermoplastic Silicone Vulcanizate (TPSiV®) materials provide protection from impact
– Raised edges on case and 4H hardness rated screen protect create a barrier from external elements

Everyday Protection
– Designed so your Apple iPhone 6 remains fully functional for daily use
– Easy, two piece installation eliminates the worry of loose pieces after case assembly
– Soft rubber stoppers keep dust and liquids out of headphone and charging port openings while still allowing easy access in dry conditions
– Case will not interfere with radio signals, Bluetooth, or NFC (Near Field Communication)

Hands On:
Normally for phone case reviews I don’t put in a features section, I just go over the features individually. In this case however the Seido Obex has so many elements that are important that it is easier to just show you what they have then tell you my personal experiences and tests.

A couple of key things to note is that it is pretty much everything proof, it is designed to be waterproof, dust proof, snow proof and impact proof. I’m a klutz who lives part-time in the high desert where there is yearly snow and constant dust. This case seems practically designed for me. If you are outdoorsy at all this is definitely for you or sports enthusiast or maybe just a klutz who might fall into his pool. I have a family member who has gone swimming with their phone tucked into her swimsuit a couple times and this might have saved her some grief.

The Obex has rubber blockers that seal off the ports not being used so that moisture can’t get into the phone proper and there is a membrane that keeps water in but lets sound through. Combine that with a protective face shield that still conducts touch and you can make your text while the weather attacks. When it comes to connectivity through face plates I am particularly picky, I have to have solid connection with the screen while I play games on it and more than a few shields (including the stick-on variety) have failed to pass the muster. I have a very short list of ones that do and thankfully this is on it.

When it comes to drop testing I have said it before and I will say it again: I am a huge klutz and this phone has had its share of bouncing off things including hard floors and decorative rock, even some not very decorative rock as well. Don’t forget stairs, I am a mess of stairs and escalators.

Last Call:
The Seidio Obex is the perfect case for the person who are exposed to the elements or at least expose their phones to them. It may even be more phone protection than the average person needs but then when has that stopped anyone?

[easyreview title=”Seidio Obex Case Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Speck CandyShell CARD (iPhone 6 Plus)

2015/02/05

Ripper71

Geek News, Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Reviews

One thing about CES, there is a phone case for every style and need. I try to time my phone upgrades to right before the big show so that I can find the cases that will get me through the following year. Things that need to be taken into consideration are the fact that I have no hips. Seriously – medical FACT! So, if a phone is too heavy, my pants will try to fall off. To make matters worse, I am a klutz and there is a decent chance that at any time I take out my phone it will fall to the ground, especially if I am near stairs or an escalator. I also am rough on my wallets and have been known to break them. Yes, I can break a leather wallet, it is a talent I discovered when I was fairly young (ed. note: Call Guinness!). I mention all this because any phone case I select must be able to put up with ME. One of my newest in my rotation is the Speck CandyShell CARD.

Hands On:
The biggest feature of the Speck CandyShell CARD is the wallet “nest” built into the shell of the impact resistant case. The wallet nest is designed for three credit cards and a little cash and, thanks to a rubber lining, keeps the cards safe and in place during regular use as well as dropping. There is a small section for your finger to push the cards and cash out the slot which makes it easy to grab on an otherwise slide resistant surface.

This was a key worry for me because the design of most pockets develop a looseness overtime and tend to send your money and cards falling at even the slightest of drops. I have dropped it by accident a few times – a couple times on purpose to make sure everything stayed put and still functioned and had zero problems. The fact that it only holds three cards could be a deterrent to some but I found I still carry a wallet and just put my three most used cards: driver’s license, debit and local casino card in the card holder and my main wallet doesn’t come out of my pocket for days.

The shell design in itself lends to impact resistance though it tend to increase the profile of the phone. It definitely does in this case but the accommodation of the wallet helps make the space seem less of an issue. Like with many hard shell cases there are two layers one designed for impact and a second designed for shock absorption. The CandyShell is particularly well designed this way with the rubber absorption layer coming through at the corners to reduce show and prevent too much scratching on the shell. It meets or exceeds military standards which are actually surprisingly low unless you go by a military grading system rather than just a standard. Like I said before though I have dropped this several times onto hard and unforgiving surfaces and it has held up excellently.

Shell scratching is definitely a concern, I found it holds up from nasty scratches during falls but if you keep your keys in the same pocket you are liable to get some decent scrapes which show up pretty clearly on the black shell. Smudging is also a problem but using something as easy as your shirt can take care of those.

Last Call:
Speck has made a very nice case with solid construction with a great card wallet feature that makes the hard shell a feature rather than a possible deterrent. I would recommend it to anyone who is klutzy and lives most of their life using just a couple of cards.

[easyreview title=”Speck CandyShell CARD Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Mechs And Mercs: Black Talons (PC/Steam)

2015/01/27

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Mechs And Mercs: Black Talons is one of the latest entries into the real-time strategy gaming fray and it stars.. well mechs and mercs! Not much left to say about it – time to give it a play.

Storyline:
A devastating war has torn the galaxy apart. Dozens of planets and star systems have declared independence or forged new alliances, while governments fall and warlords rise to power. Chaos and corruption are everywhere and so to maintain order and negotiate peace between the ruling factions, private mercenary armies are called to action.

You are commander of the Black Talons company, currently stationed in the Oberon system. After an eventful campaign, the military Tzanar Union has overrun the planet of Genai and blocked all departure from the system: leaving you and the Black Talons stranded. The only means of escape is to help the Genai forces repel the invading army and recapture the planet.

Features:
– Extensive campaign mode where the actions of the player have a direct impact on the local system’s balance of power
– Persistent and fully customizable squads
– Various unit classes with specialized roles and their own distinctive set of weapons, abilities and skill trees
– 5 worlds with differing environments and weather conditions
– Powerful mechs can enter the battlefield and turn the tide of combat
– Customize and upgrade your base with weapons and infrastructure that will boost squad numbers, teleport soldiers or even bombard the battlefield
– Faction relations influence a player’s progress throughout the game: either by giving access to unique units or interfering with missions

Hands On:
You are the leader of the military Tzanar Union and you realize that you have trapped the Black Talons on a planet. Even if you are Ming The Merciless you will be thinking “hmm, these guys have been a huge pain and if we fight them it is gonna suck, maybe we can make a hole for them to get out through or better hire them… they’re mercenaries right? We’ve lost enough to these buggers.” I mean I’m just spitballing here but if they are such badasses why not let them be someone else’s thorn in the side? Maybe it’s political, I play video games because I’m not a politician.

Speaking of politics if you are worried this game might get too political when it comes to the campaign mode’s balance of power system think of it more like if you wipe out this planet’s government then it might be rough on their economy, that sort of thing. You aren’t here to tax the people of create tariffs.

Now that those parts of the story and strategy have been addressed then we can get down to what the game is, a real time battle military strategy game. You command forces and have to deal with high ground, defensive positions, weakened positions and strategic deployment. The fun meat and potatoes of a solid real time strategy. You will find yourself trying to figure out what units are best for pushing through a heavily defended choke point, what defensive positions are best for ambushes, what areas need to be secured and maintained and many more challenges you would expect in a good real time strategy.

It doesn’t wait either, right off the bat you find yourself pinned down with limited resources and limited save options. This is a rather brutal factor of the game, where you can mistime an assault across a bridge (negative cover points) on an entrenched position right as reinforcements arrive and lose a whole squad or more. You will have casualties, unlike many recent games this one can be really brutal even on easy mode and doesn’t forgive “stupid” but if you play smart you can get through it but don’t hope for untarnished. If you get too badly damaged you might have to start a level over losing quite a bit of progress. It is important to know that if you hold resources and a landing pad you can call in for replacements to your squads and even in some cases bring in a few replacement squads as a whole. Don’t bank on this though because as the storyline says you are cutoff so you just have whoever happened to be planetside.

Learn the strengths of your units, it can make a HUGE difference between you completing a mission of tanking badly. The engineers are a prime example, they are a small unit without much firepower but they are essential to completing some missions, they can build turrets to lay down suppressing fire and most of all they can build bunkers that will keep the fight going long after most armchair Custers have perished.

Eventually you get to customize loadouts and even better you get mechs and mech customization. Let’s face it, mercs are fun to play but mechss are better. When you get a well armed customized mech in the field there is just so few wonderful video game experiences to compare to it.

The field the environments really are very different, it starts off with the standard barrels and shipping crates you are used to in these types of games but cruising your mercs and mechs through jungles and across islands is refreshing and very well rendered. It is nice to see a warzone without the dank for at least part of the game.

Last Call:
Mechs And Mercs: Black Talons is an excellent real time strategy game with some hard challenges that seem less common in these kinds of games lately. You have to play smart and outwit a solid AI in a variety of scenarios. If you like games where you just charge in blasting this may not be the game for you, if you like to use your wits as well as brawn you’ll love this game.

[easyreview title=”Mechs And Mercs: Black Talons Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes Review (PC)

2015/01/04

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

When a cinematic trailer from Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes first appeared on the scene, there was a lot of talk about whether or not the cinematica represented the actual game visuals. Were they the real deal or just beautiful cutscenes in a larger scope of lower-res gameplay? When the game finally hit the street, word came back quick but it wasn’t about the graphics, but about the playtime. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is, at most, a three hour game. So, is the game just a tutorial for the upcoming Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain or is it part of the overall “Metal Gear Solid Experience” as it is being promoted?

Official Features

THE POWER OF FOX ENGINE – Ground Zeroes showcases Kojima Productions’ stunning FOX Engine, a true next-generation game engine which revolutionizes the Metal Gear Solid experience.
INTRODUCTION TO OPEN WORLD DESIGN – The first Metal Gear Solid title to offer open world gameplay. Ground Zeroes offers total freedom of play: how missions are undertaken is entirely down to the user.
UNRESTRICTED STEALTH – Imagine classic Metal Gear gameplay but with no restrictions or boundaries. Players use intelligence and cerebral strategy to sneak their way through entire missions, or go in all guns blazing. Each will have different effects on game consequences and advancement.
MULTIPLE MISSIONS AND TASKS –Ground Zeroes boasts a central story mode and Side-Ops missions ranging from tactical action, aerial assaults and “covert” missions that will be sure to surprise.
REDESIGNED INTERFACE – Ground Zeroes users will benefit from a clean in-game HUD that shows the minimal amount of on-screen data to give a more intense gaming experience.

Hands On:
First off, the graphics are incredible. There may be some debate on whether the visuals look better on the Xbox One or PS4 platforms, but there is no doubt that the 4K graphics on the PC are top-notch – that is, if your system can handle them. If you have a really nice PC gaming rig and haven’t had anything to show off on it, you need not look any further than this game. Minimum system requirements are a Quad Core (i5-4460 or better) with DirectX 11 graphics card so make sure you have at least that. My gaming laptop has the recommended core level but has around the minimum for grpahics card and just didn’t want to play nice with it. I wound up having to use my desktop PC. Kojima Productions has made a visually gorgeous game and I have no doubt that one of the reasons for the prequel is to make sure that folks have a chance to get the right hardware in their boxes before The Phantom Pain is brought out.

Big fans of the Metal Gear Solid franchise will notice that the features and gameplay of this title seem a lot like Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, which has a huge following. This is intentional and probably another reason for the release of this prequel so that players can get used to playing the game in this style – with an open environment and a lot of individual choice on how the mission succeeds. You can go stealth and try not to kill anyone or you can go through with guns blazing. Each path has its own consequences and AI reactions and this is where re-playability really comes in. Going by the gaming moniker “Ripper” for so long, you can guess I like the sneak up, stabby stabby, sneak away approach – but there is something for saying “I had a crappy day and now I’m gonna punish them loudly” and using the biggest weapons you can find.

The game has its own opinions on how a mission should go, you may have a lot of fun in a certain style of play and get a “D” grade at the end. Personally, I find it more fun to see how bad a grade I can get and still pass the mission than how good of a grade because I have a pretty good idea what a good mark entails and playing “Bastard style” and finishing can be trickier. Whichever you prefer, even if the game doesn’t like how you complete a mission, Steam might just have an achievement for your creativity meaning more replay.

I seem to bring up re-playability a lot and there is a reason for that, not just because it helps sharpen your skills and get you used to the game. At its fastest, the game can be completed in under 45 minutes while taking your time to stop and smell the roses earns you about 3 hours of playtime. There are more missions besides the initial one and some systems have bonuses but, when it comes down to it, this is a pretty short game. At $20 for a Metal Gear Solid title with state of the art graphics this isn’t too bad as long as the game has re-playability with thankfully it does.

Last Call:
When it comes down to it Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is its own game – but just barely. If taken as a warm-up tutorial for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain as well as a system test for the amazing graphics to come, then it is even better. Personally, I think it could have been the section before the credits much like Dragon Age: Inquisition had, a nice intro into the main action. It definitely left me wanting more of the “Metal Gear Solid V Experience” which is a very good thing since more is right down the calendar.

[easyreview title=”Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

The Evil Within Review (PS4)

2014/12/16

Ripper71

News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 4 Review, Reviews

I just can’t get enough of survival horror games. From the old school Alone in the Dark games to Resident Evil, they are the closest thing to entering into a horror movie – even more so than haunted attractions. At haunts, there are all the elements of a horror movie except for a true sense of impending danger. In survival horror games, there is the very real chance of your character meeting a grisly fate. This fact was really brought home when I went to review one of the latest of the genre, The Evil Within, and I invited my mother-in-law to watch me play. THAT is truly a whole new experience in gaming!

Story:
While investigating the scene of a gruesome mass murder, Detective Sebastian Castellanos and his partners encounter a mysterious and powerful force. After seeing the slaughter of fellow officers, Sebastian is ambushed and knocked unconscious. When he awakens, he finds himself in a deranged world where hideous creatures wander among the dead. Facing unimaginable terror, and fighting for survival, Sebastian embarks on a frightening journey to unravel what’s behind this evil force.

Hands On:
Developed by Shinji Mikami of Resident Evil fame the game fittingly starts off with a very Resident Evil feel to the character dialogue and interaction. It soon takes on its own atmosphere and overall tone as you run away from enemies a lot to start with and eventually, through conservation and guile, figure out ways to defeat them while staying in one piece. The staying in one piece part can really be a challenge when everything from chainsaws to firearms are being used against you by the evil within (see what I did there?). The first time my character got shot I actually said out loud “Hey, that was a gunshot, this just went to a new level”.

On the subject of out loud, I had my mother-in-law join me during gameplay and got to be reminded a bit of what it was like back when I was still new to the genre and jumpy as hell. It started with the first enemy who started after me. “Kill him!” she shouted and I said “With what?”. She replied with, “Your gun!” and so I emptied my three bullets into it and we watched as it kept coming and cut me into pieces and she screamed. “Then what do you do?” she asked and I answered with one word, “Run”. So, I ran and hid and dodged, distracted the whole time by her yelling “Watch out!” and “Faster, here he comes!” or “Go straight!”, “Go that way!” When we would survive she would cheer and high five me, when we would die she would yell, laugh and slap my leg. It made me remember the wonder I had felt when I first started playing the genre in dark room with a little monitor in front of me. Sure, the graphics have come a long way as well as the realism to the gore but the core fear of controlling a character through darkened corridors with little more than a lantern and a handful of bullets was so beautifully refined that it became a play date, I don’t play the game without her being there for each step into the unknown.

The boss battles are a lot more difficult than the other monsters, causing a little slow down in the action as you have to figure out just how to defeat them. My mother-in-law got a bit bored at these moments losing patience because of the lessening pace in the action, it is hard to watch somebody try and fail so many times on the same monster, and she took this time to do some laundry and came back to watch the video clip of how it was taken down and to go onto the next point in the action. Boss battle are meant to be a challenge and require a bit of puzzling but this experience helped me realize how much they also desensitize you to the horror and can even disconnect you from the experience. They are now an expected part of the genre and would probably be missed if they weren’t included but I also just wonder what it would be like to play one again where the monsters slowly became harder without bosses, just ramping up the difficulty while lessening your resources.

The Evil Within eventually gives you some decent tools to apply your mayhem with, you go from a few bullets and eventually wind up with a crossbow named Agony that has a beautiful variety of bolts that can make killing evil an art form. A particular favorite was shooting a zombie with a motion sensitive bolt in the head, watching it turn to look at me setting off the charge and having it explode in all directions into unrecognizable pieces leaving nothing where it had stood. Lighting one of fire and having it run off and bump into another setting it on fire as well had my mom-in-law howling with laughter. The bigger toys definitely made bigger noise but there is always something to be said for throwing a bottle and having a zed walk into a claymore chasing it. Boom. Splat! Giggle.

The Evil Within looks so amazing on the next gen PS4 and the sounds really work well to pull you in. There are moments of silence in the game which are nice, you listen for the little subtle noises to warn you of what may be waiting for you. You could hear a pin drop in the room as the two of us listen and stare at the screen for some hint of what we were in for next.

Last Call:
The Evil Within was a nice mix of old school low ammo survival horror and bring the pain weapons that has great atmosphere and creepy beasties. If you like survival horror or have never tried it I highly recommend this title, Shinji Makami hasn’t lost his touch. Play it in a dark room with the lights out or do yourself a favor and get someone who jumps at things that go bump in the night and sit them down next to you and watch as they crawl over the back of the chair as you play.

[easyreview title=”The Evil Within Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Marvel Pinball’s Venom Table Review (PS4)

2014/12/16

Ripper71

News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 4 Review, Reviews

Zen Studios definitely knows the physics of the little silver ball. Other companies have come close, but Zen seems to have mastered it to the next level. Playing their tables, it is easy to believe that the little digital ball dancing around a table full of animated creatures is the real deal. Their latest table in the Marvel Pinball collection, Venom, is no exception and adds another great addition to an already stellar collection.

Hands On:
Usually, I would have a description section to let you know what the table is about but if you don’t know who Spider-man’s nemesis, Venom, is you probably don’t care and that’s fine – you can still get great pinball play from it regardless. Venom is at his creepy best as he leaps across the top of this medium length multi-tier board with rockin’ music playing while a very pissed off Carnage paces in a holding cell visible through a window in the bottom of the table. Spidey is at the base of the table watching on and quipping at your mistakes on the board since, technically, they are Venom’s. Venom’s tendrils slowly creep over the edges of the table but don’t interfere with the action that is controlled by five flippers and fast bumpers and winds around in what I would guess is supposed to be a swinging pattern through metal piping.

The table looks like a real table you would see in an arcade and all the elements are ones that would be recognizable to a video pinball junkie like myself. At the same time, the heroes and villains look right out of an animated movies but seem to really come to life. For example, Venom jumps onto a wall of the table to avoid your ball when it comes towards a bumper he is standing on and you keep waiting for Carnage to break through the barrier which is invisible hexagons that only become visible when struck like those in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television show. I love playing pinball and when I hit my stride I can run with the best. The true aficionado is my wife who can finesse the maximum amount of time out of a single ball and I could watch her play this table for hours which she can just about get out of a single play. I’m not saying this is an easy table, actually it is a fast table especially for a medium length and you need all five of your flippers to control the action but if you get a pinball wizard playing it is magic to watch. Besides, the game is worth watching for the banter among the characters alone.

The only complaint I could have is that these tables are so good that there should never be just one table in a download, it should always be a few.

Last Call:

Zen Studios does a great job with pinball and the latest Venom table is no exception. If you like video games and you like pinball you’ll love Zen Pinball 2 Venom. If you like Marvel comics and Spidey you should be downloading the game right now. This minute. Go ahead, the internet isn’t going anywhere and you need this game!

[easyreview title=”Marvel Pinball’s Venom Table Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Dragon Age: Inquisition Review (PC)

2014/12/08

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Having enjoyed Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2, I usually tear through them in a matter of days with no memory of what the outside looks like – just the satisfaction of a journey well spent. When I volunteered to review Dragon Age: Inquisition, I set a week’s worth of marathon WoW playing aside, assuming that would probably be enough to do it. I was so wrong, as that week came and went and I was still playing it. So did the following week, for that matter, and I kept on questing away in its lush world. So, with my play STILL in progress but well underway, it is time to talk about the over 100 hours of playtime you can get going through Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Story:
When the sky opens up and rains down chaos, the world needs heroes. Become the savior of Thedas in Dragon Age: Inquisition. You are the Inquisitor, tasked with saving the world from itself. But the road ahead is paved with difficult decisions. Thedas is a land of strife. Factions constantly war with each other even as a larger demonic invasion has begun. And you? You and your band of champions are the only ones who can hold it together. It’s your job to lead them… or fall.

Features:
– Enthralling, Choice-driven Narrative – You’re not just deciding who to send into which battle in Inquisition, you’re making important decisions that shape the future of Thedas. Each choice carries weight, and your actions can lead to a variety of outcomes. Inquisition is a highly personalized journey, where one wrong move could set in motion a series of events that alter the physical aspects of the world itself, making your Thedas – and your heroes – feel truly unique.

– A Massive World to Discover – The world of Thedas has never been bigger or more detailed; it’s wide open, and ripe for exploration. Discover enemy keeps ripe for the taking. Unearth hidden caves filled with lurking creatures. Thedas is vast and dangerous, but uncovering its secrets can spell the difference between victory and defeat.

– Intense, Strategic Combat – There’s no wrong way to play Dragon Age: Inquisition… except for the way that gets you killed. Fortunately, the optional strategic view gives you a god’s-eye vantage on battle. Time stops while you plan in this view, but if that’s not your style, you can just barrel ahead, crossbows blazing.

Hands On:
The official features and story description above are both gross understatements that can only be chalked up to modesty – which is not often found in video game marketing. I can’t remember the last time I did research before playing a game and felt so surprised by its scope and grandeur. This might come across as a bit gushy, but this game lives up to and surpasses the hype surrounding it.

The game begins with an awesome opening cinematic. Even more awesome is that, at highest detail settings, the game actually looks just like those cinematics! It was funny because I was taking pictures of my display with my phone to send to friends with lesser powerful systems to show them what they were missing. My wife found herself scrolling through pics of the game while she was at work wondering if her husband had gone mad.

After the initial cinematic, it is time to choose your character class and race. In most RPGs, this is normally just a decision based on your favorite play style and racial perks. This time however the race you choose will decide your dialogue all through the game. The continent of Thedas is a very politically-active place. For example, if you decide to play as an Elf, be prepared for much racism and disdain from many of those you meet on your journey. If you figure that playing a human is the safe way to go as, let’s face it, you have had practice playing that race your whole “real” life, guess again! Expect the Elves, Dwarves, and Qunari to look at you with distrust, and many to expect you to be brutish and self-serving. Each race you play results in different interaction throughout the game. To fully experience Dragon Age: Inquisition, I suggest you play it through a couple of character configurations.

With all the visual horsepower possible in the game engine, you can expect to be able to get very detailed with how your character looks. You can add the scars, hair styles, and colors. You can shape of your character’s nose, brow, and just about every other detail you want. You will be spending a lot of time staring at your character’s face and body, so this is a step to take seriously. Thankfully, you won’t be discriminated against or favored for having red hair like you might in the real world!

All this has brought you to the start of your adventure so crack your knuckles, nestle into a comfy chair and have lots of hydrating fluids and snacks nearby. Seriously, this game can engross you so deeply that you lose track of time and don’t properly care for yourself – setting alarms to periodically take breaks is recommended!

The sky above you is green, a portal has opened and destroyed a sacred temple along with everyone in it… But you. Now you have been given (or cursed) with a glowing green hand and the power to close these strange rifts. Congratulations, you are now the most sacred and mistrusted person in all the land and you will spend the next several of your real life weeks proving whether you should be worshiped or slaughtered. Some characters will keep their opinions on these matters to themselves while others will treat you exactly how they feel, giving you the opportunity to respond in kind. Your decisions can do as little as making another character feel slightly disapproving to killing characters and changing the entire course of the game.

We try not to give out too many spoilers here at Gamingshogun.com because we believe you should really go into a story with the wonder of discovery, plus spoilers are a jerk move that should only be reserved for the worst of cases (ed. note: Or AMC Networks, thanks The Walking Dead Facebook account…). This is not one of those cases, so I will just say that there are great moments, big decisions, and amazing moments from the first minutes of play all the way to the end credits. If you thoroughly explore, it will take you a couple hours of play JUST to get to the title screen. That is one thing that I really want to recommend for playing Dragon Age: Inquisition: Explore! This game has missions that send you to one place or another but in the end most of the best moments result from wandering over in a corner of the map not yet plotted. A strange little cave on the side of a cliff may give you the piece of equipment you had been dying to find or cause a huge twist in the storyline. Players who race through the game will enjoy it, but for those that take the time to turn every stone, it will be richer an experience. Also, talk to everyone the game allows you to as some may have clues to further you along the road.

There are a couple of different styles that can be incorporated together in battle, one is the standard third person fighting position and the other is the tactical camera. If you trust the AI, which is pretty solid, and think your party members handle themselves in battle, you can stay in third person and switch between characters at whim. The AI is good in both battle and banter, which feels a lot more natural and less forced into an almost awkward flirtation like in previous games. If you don’t trust the AI or simply like to take a more tactical, in-depth control of the battle you can go into tactical camera. This mode is controlled from an overhead view of the battle with time stopped so you can choose which character attacks which opponent and in what way. Since they took away healing spells this time around and left you with a limited number of healing potions, this option definitely has some benefits and will probably keep you from having to alt to different characters to do battlefield resurrecting each other.

Besides being solidly programmed the characters you interact with are well acted and generally likable when they are supposed to be, and grating when they aren’t. Particularly, the characters in your group are well rounded and fleshed out, sometimes I even just spent a while of the journey as one of the others in the party trying out their fighting styles and experiencing their perspective. Your choice of party members are severely limited to start with but branch out quickly as the game progresses and different dynamics result in not just different battles but different conversations. Mix it up just to get even more depth from the game – you are going to be spending a lot of time with them, might as well make the most of it!

One last thing for this review: We had the chance to play the deluxe edition of the game, which is $10 more than the standard edition and worth every penny. The deluxe includes special armor, weapons, three mounts, chests and even a custom throne. They all have beautifully fleshed-out details to their graphics and special animations. There are even special items for multiplayer!

Yes there is multiplayer but it has been kept very simple so that it doesn’t overtake the single player campaign like so many multiplayer sections do. You get a small party that goes through different objectives and checkpoints. If you fall behind the game catches you up at the checkpoint so that you aren’t stumbling behind your group the whole time playing catch up. The lower levels come fast so that you can expand your play options pretty quick then slows down so you have something to work for. If you have played Uncharted 3’s multiplayer you have a good idea what to expect, it is all co-operative, checkpoint based play.

If all that isn’t enough the game even has a crafting system so that you can make what you can’t find so don’t be surprised if you find yourself picking lots of herbs.

Last Call:
I am nowhere near done playing this game and when I finally do take a break it is a game I will go back to, I will feel it calling. Dragon Age: Inquisition not only lives up to the reputation of the series but surpasses it creating a new standard for future games. I only hope I can get through a couple of playthroughs of this one before the next installment arrives, and hopefully manage to slay all ten dragons! If you crave a solid RPG with beautiful visuals and engaging story, you can’t go wrong with this game.

[easyreview title=”Dragon Age: Inquisition Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Space Hulk Ascension Edition Review

2014/11/23

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Oh Warhammer 40K, you are to the Sci-Fi community what Dungeons & Dragons was to the Fantasy folks. Both involved great table-top play and little figures that had people scouring hobby stores for ones that resembled their fantasy counterparts. Both had rules that were law to the geeks who considered the games sacred and every new edition was scrutinized and poured over. Both also had video games that tried to capture their gameplay feel with varying degress of success. So, does the Space Hulk Ascension Edition live up to those pewter peopled table top days? Let’s find out.

Description:

Set in the isolated corridors and tomb-like chambers of ancient vessels lost in the graveyard of space, players lead a small force of fearless Space Marine Terminators in a ferocious fight for survival against hordes of predatory, alien Genestealers. The standalone sequel to Space Hulk brings an all new and improved single-player experience for the turn-based strategy game.

Features:

– New Ultramarines Chapter: An all new Space Marine chapter, including a Terminator armed with Cyclone missile launcher.

– Terminator Progression and Customisation: Earn XP during missions and level up attributes and skills, and give your Terminators a personal touch by customising their names, weapon loadout and appearance.

– Campaigns and Missions: 100+ missions spread out over 3 complete campaigns, and all new flash missions. These are opportunistic mini-missions encountered as you explore the deep unknowns of the Space Hulk that can yield a tactical advantage or be a deadly trap.

– Exploration and Discovery: Terminators reveal the layout of the Space Hulk as they venture deep into the darkness.

– Additional Weapons, Tactical Options and Game Rules: Game mechanics have been reworked to make Space Hulk Ascension a true video game experience. Combi-weapons (Combi-Melta, Combi-Plasma and a Combi-Flamer) have been added to the game as well different firing modes like aimed shots and alternate flamer patterns.

– Genestealer Variations: Genestealers with Fleshhook, Feeder Tendril and Acid Maw biomorphs have been added to the game, each with their own special game mechanics. You can also encounter biomorphs with scythes that have multiple attacks or carapace for increased armor.

Hands On:
In an attempt to make if feel more like a table-top campaign they went with a turn-based platform which gives you a chance to perform a controlled number of actions and designate the roles of the “Terminators” in your squad. There are pluses and minuses to each movement and attack as well as stats for the characters. Performing an action may give you a 30% chance of hitting your target and you still hit it during “hit roll”. You have area of detection and you only see things if you are facing that way. These make each of the Space Hulks feel like an old school dungeon mapped out on graph paper with dice rolls for perception checks. If one of these “Genestealer” beasties get through your defenses, it might be game over for that poor Brother. Whether he dies and gets replaced or if your team just winds up being a man short all depends on the difficulty of the game. I was reminded me of those DMs who believed in perma-killing your character as opposed to those who let you stumble upon a potion or scroll of resurrection.

Those who pick up the game simply because the like turn-based strategy won’t be disappointed either because you don’t have to be a huge fan of Warhammer 40K to like it. There are solid and nasty enemies, mostly standard turn-based strategy elements, as well as attractive graphics and atmosphere to enjoy.

You can play as one of three styles of fighting factions: Ultramarines (range), Blood Angels (balanced) and Space Wolves (melee) and each one definitely fits its respective play style. Sometimes I want a bit of in your face hack and slash but more often than not when it comes to Sci-Fi games I prefer to see the range damage at work. The tutorial is excellent and highly recommended even to regular players of TBS since there are little differences that the tutorial cue you in to instead of you finding out when the fit hits the shan two thirds of the way through a mission. The campaigns have a nice length to them and the game really has a real replay value in playing through as a different faction. Plus you can assign points differently each time and customize your Terminator to your fancy, just like you used to paint those little figures and choose their stats.

One of my favorite parts of the game is the first person camera that you can have in the upper corner while you are ordering your Terminators around top down. You can make the screen go away or make it larger, which is what I do then it really feels like you are watching a feed of your men moving around from a top-down surveillance perspective then their helmet cam in the corner for a grunt’s eye view. It is addictive, putting in an order in and then watching the first person cam on the men in action as they cut through the enemies with their weapon of your choice. You can even go infrared all Predator style!

Last Call:
The question, of course, then comes up that asks if Space Hulk Ascension Edition give you the Warhammer 40K experience that you have been craving since the days of your table-top games? That is, unfortunately, based entirely on the player – most of whom have idealized the good old days of playing with a group of friends way into the night – often through a whole weekend. The older the memory, the better it becomes some say and that is probably very true in the case of Warhammer 40K. Those wanting to play a fun, turn-based strategy game with the theme of their favorite table-top game will get a great deal of enjoyment and replay out of Space Hulk Ascension Edition. Those willing to accept that a video game will never be quite the same as a table-top game will have a new favorite to play on their computers.

[easyreview title=”Space Hulk Ascension Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Farming Simulator 15 Review

2014/11/16

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Simulators aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and the more specific and detailed a simulator gets the more this becomes true. While an average person might enjoy a simple city sim that lets you adjust the speed of the elevators and other such details in a sprawling metropolis it can becomes a bit intimating, even less enjoyable. Then there are those who thrive on such detail-driven simulations that require a meticulous mind. So though the average person might love farming that involves plants fighting zombies it takes a special breed to enjoy not just planting the seed but mixing it, plowing, sowing, fertilizing, leveling and even animal husbandry. For these folks there are games that shine like Farming Simulator 15.

Description:
With a brand new graphics and physics engine, Farming Simulator 15 offers an immense open world, filled with details and visual effects transporting the Farming Simulator franchise to a new era. Manage your own farm: from harvesting to animal husbandry, and from the sales of fresh products to woodcutting, the benefits of your exploitation will allow you to develop, and invest in new and more powerful vehicles or tools.

Across hundreds of acres of land offered by the new Nordic environment, and a renovated North American environment, use and drive over 140 authentic vehicles and farming tools, from over 40 most famous manufacturers (including 20 new brands): New Holland, Ponsse, Case IH, Deutz-Fahr… This new equipment includes a selection of vehicles and tools entirely dedicated to a new activity in Farming Simulator: woodcutting!

In multiplayer, invite up to 15 friends to help you develop your farm. Thanks to an active and passionate community, benefit from limitless new content: new vehicles, tools, and even environments!

Features:
– Over 100 vehicles and tools
– Over 40 licensed brands including New Holland, Case IH, Deutz-Fahr, Ponsse and many more
– Discover the freedom of woodcutting,with all new tools and equipment
– Play with your friends on the Internet in multiplayer mode

Hands On:
The folks at Giants Software take these games seriously and have become the name in farming simulation as a result of it. Companies are more than happy to share their brand name vehicle and tools with this title because they know that it will be the best representation of their product possible in this medium. The graphics are outstanding and I don’t just mean the environments – which are often the case with these types of games. The tractors have perfect dimension with the attachments such as a Kuhn Sitera 3000 and their surfaces reflect just right in the morning sun. The plow digs properly in soil with the proper physics researched, the new engine offers a dimension that was there but not as well defined in Farming Simulator 2013. It is a beauty of a game to behold.

So the physics are spot on (yeah I have spent some time on farms) and the graphics are stunning but if you don’t have the scope of gameplay then these are all just wasted efforts. Luckily there is so much to this game that there are 12 tutorials just to get you properly in the seat and started. The subjects cover everything from your first plow to mixing the grain and getting it fed to your cattle. Speaking of which animal husbandry means feeding and minding the animals, not so much birthing them in this case (I was wondering what the birthing device brand name might be and if it was a tractor attachment).

Now if all this sounds a bit crazy to you then this just isn’t your game. There are LOTS of people out there who take this game darn serious and find it more entertaining and satisfying that any Call of Duty title (recently read an online clash between the fans of the two games). There are people who have waited for this game for two years with giddy excitement and seeing at teaser for it at E3 in 2014 fueled a fire in their guts that could only be tamed by getting behind the wheel of their favorite farming vehicles all updated and expanded. Particularly in European and Asian markets you will find full 15 player games as people struggle together to make the best farming business possible. Some are avid sim fans who believe in taming the wildest notions of what to play while others once worked the land and miss it. Still others sit in little cubicles all day and at the end of it instead of wanting to pick up a virtual weapon and blow away people around the world they want to climb inside a Grimme harvester and make new life grow. Personally I can see the appeal of that, finding your zen bringing in your crops instead of blowing up some stranger.

Last Call:
Farming Simulator 15 is just what fans of FS 2013 have been waiting for, the next evolution in the farming game genre. It has a robust single player career mode and scenarios while at the same time having multiplayer that can handle up to 15 players, all while maintaining impressive graphic quality. It is not for the casual player mind you but, for those who want a realistic feel for what it’s like in the farming business, this game is hard to beat.

[easyreview title=”Farming Simulator 15 Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Game Trailers

Zen Studios South Park Pinball Pack Review

2014/11/16

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 3 Review, Reviews, Xbox One News, Xbox One Review

Zen Studios sure makes a mean pinball. No other company has been able to nail down the physics of a shiny little ball the way they have. They have executed this so well that if I find I like it on one system I tend to pick it up on others. Hence, this is a review of Zen Studios South Park Pinball Tables for the iOS, PS3 and Xbox One.

Description:

Team up with Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny in this ultimate South Park pinball experience! Let your balls fly with classic South Park moments and characters…even ManBearPig. We’re super cereal. Hey fellas! It’s Butters’ Very Own Pinball Game! Join your favorite 4th-grader in this epic pinball adventure. Take on the Coon & Friends as Professor Chaos, steal the Future Telling Device from the girls, and save Imaginationland as the Chosen One!

Hands On:

Well by the introduction and the number of systems I am reviewing it should be pretty obvious I found the game super sweet guys. First one I tested was the PS3 which I had to give a little dust-off since I hadn’t had a review on it in a while and I mostly play Zen Pinball on the Xbox 360. That being said I kind of like the slightly smaller size of the PS3 controller for the game since it doesn’t require many buttons in the first place, the controls with the iOS were a little too small for great comfort but the portability trade off made it completely worth the purchase. The Xbox One controller is still comfortable and the distance between the flippers and the feedback when you bumped the table gave it the most realistic feel even if they were all about equally realistic in play.

On the topic of realism the ball physics model is spot on as usual and they do things that only video games can do, like completely animating the board – this is totallt unrealistic but a ton of fun. Since it is based on South Park, an animated television series, that makes it even better with the characters spread all over the tables doing silly things that you are used to from the often outrageous show. You can expect Cartman to say “weak dude” when you lose your ball, you can watch Terrance and Phillip fart on each other and the other characters say and do all the things we have come to love them for. To give away too much would be to spoil the fun surprise that will crack you up when you hear or see it. I can say though that you get to hear the theme to South Park the whole time on one table and the Butters’ theme on the other one which is fun to play in the background even when taking a break from the game. Also there is a Mr. Hanky multiball, yeah they went there.

The South Park table is a long table with about a medium complication to it while the Butters table is a little longer table with a classic, simpler design that goes well with Butters and his simpler look at life. There are tons of sound clips from the series all through both tables. While Zen Studios hasn’t put out a bad table that I have played yet – there just seems a little extra magic playing with these characters.

The only complaint I would have is that there are only two tables instead of the four or five that often come out in a set but the price is reduced to reflect the lack of tables at least. I really couldn’t get enough on the subject matter anyways.

Last Call:
South Park Pinball Pack from Zen Studios is an amazing mesh of great pinball physics with South Park hilarity. I can play the tables over and over again, so much so that I have it on iOS so I can play it on the go, PS3 in case I want to play it between Destiny sessions, and Xbox One for when I am taking a break from from pretty much everything else I am playing or watching. Now that I have my PS4 sitting next to me in the box you can bet that will be next on my Zen Pinball downloads and the South Park tables will probably not be far behind…

[easyreview title=”South Park Pinball Pack Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

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