Author - Ripper71

Luci Lux and Aura Review

2014/10/19

News, Reviews, Special Interest News, Tech News, Tech Review

We here at GamingShogun.com don’t get to report on charitable causes too often, especially ones out of the tech field. We can report about organizations that donate money to a non-profit organization and hope that next week we won’t be reporting how that group then misused or stole the funds. That is why when we got the chance we love to bring MPOWERD some attention because not only do they do the right thing, the impact is immediate and fundamental: They bring light to the dark places of the world.

Luci Lux Description:
Luci Lux is a brilliant blend of high style and high-tech. With her sleek frosted design and reliable, maintenance-free technology, Luci Lux creates her magical warm glow to light up your home, patio, pool or garden. Feather-light, waterproof and oh, so elegant, she’s a safe, sustainable alternative to candles, kerosene or batteries. Invite her to your next fiesta or tuck her into camping gear. Wherever she goes, Luci Lux can wow the crowds!

Features:
– Lightweight & Elegant
– Frosted Finish
– Waterproof & Floats
– Shatterproof
– Rechargeable Battery Included
– 1 Year Warranty

Luci Aura Description:
Indoors or out, for home décor or celebrations, Luci Aura turns on the charm with playful solar-powered style. With seven luminous hues plus classic white, inflatable, waterproof Luci Aura runs the gamut of moods from romantic magenta to high-energy aqua. Set her up to cycle like a rainbow or bathe in the glow of your favorite shade.

Features:
– Seven Colors Plus Classic White
– Frosted Finish
– Lightweight
– Waterproof & Floats
– Shatterproof
– Rechargeable Battery Included
– 1 Year Warranty

Luci’s Role In The World:
At their simplest, they are solar powered lights. Later I’ll list some suggested uses, and others I came up with on my own, but at the end of the day it is a solar light. What makes it different from the ones that line your lawn is the durability, versatility and most importantly the impact they have made on the world. As of this writing 819,025 Luci’s have been delivered to places all over of the world that are struggling to maintain electrical power. The results from this lack of electricity are staggering statistics, most of these homes had to use kerosene lanterns if they wanted to see after dark which costs as much as 30% of their household income. “Dirty fuels” kill 4 million people each year when used indoors and 90 million primary school students in the Sub-Saharan sections of Africa have no electricity.

The full effect that the Luci’s will have on these conditions are still being studied but they already know that kids in a household with a Luci study on average 3 more hours a night, hundreds of thousands of homes have cleaner air to breath and are generating less air pollution. A study has already been done of the impact of the devastated country of Haiti that the Luci has had and it may sound a bit corny but it really gives hope for the future. It also feels good to know that you can go to the MPOWERD website and donate a Luci as well as pick up your own and know that you aren’t helping in some vague way. You are literally giving a Luci to a family in need.

Hands On:
This isn’t my first time reporting on the Luci and it probably won’t be my last. I still have my original ones from a few years back and they still work perfectly well with no noticeable diminish in light provided or performance. I use one of them as a pool light, I have kept them in a window this whole times to use for emergency purposes but after a recent move I began to use it each night when swimming. It sits out every day in the summer Las Vegas sun charging up then floats in the pool all night. You would think this would cause some sun damage, maybe even cracking or leakage on the plastic but it looks as good as new. Here is a picture of the new one I got and the three year old one that has been weather beaten:
There is no noticeable difference in the section that has been exposed to the sunlight the whole time and when it comes to the side…

There isn’t any difference there either. The only way to tell them apart is that the lettering on the two models have changed over the years and the new one has some slightly different color hues. Otherwise they perform the same, which means in a hut in a rural part of the world or at a house and pool party they will keep working for years and years to come. The lights continue to work, they tough plastic keeps them inflating, the only thing I found to be an issue is sometimes cats think they look like a fun plaything and poke a hole in them. It doesn’t stop them from working in any way but you might have to get a patch kit to fix the frisky feline’s fun time.

Suggested uses besides being pool lights, party lights and lawn decorations are also camping lights – one more place where you might use dirty fuels or non-rechargeable batteries to get your light. You can even choose a color that will allow your nighttime vision to not be as heavily impacted. The Lux comes in white color only but has two levels of brightness, great for reading while your partner sleeps or getting a little extra light when looking for something. As I mentioned before I keep them on a windowsill as emergency lights and the Lux has a flashing feature that would work great in trying to signal help or note an obstacle for people at night. Toss one in the back of of your car and it will sit inflated and unnoticed as it charges. If you break down you will have an emergency light to look around the car or to flag down other motorists or at least, hopefully, keep them from hitting you. The floating aspect also makes it a great light for use at night on a boat – either as an emergency signal beacon or to note where you left something floating. I used to work of a fishing boat where we had to put a battery powered light on one end of the net to see it for retrieval each night, that would have been so much easier and cheaper with one of these.

The uses are really only limited by your imagination. Being the Halloween holiday season I chose to put them in pumpkins I had carved with my two Auras in color changing mode in two of them and my Lux on bright sometimes and flashing other times. I take them out and charge them during the day then just leave them during the night to light them up. I don’t have to worry about going out and turning them off to save batteries and I don’t have to worry about keeping extra batteries on hand. Just charge, turn them on, put them in and enjoy beautifully lit jack-o’-lanterns!

Last Call… For Now:
I have no doubt I will be visiting the Luci line again. Hopefully by that time they will have crossed the one million Luci’s donated mark as that would truly warm our hearts here at GamingShogun.com. This is an incredible product with near limitless possibilities of use and it has already begun to better our world. Who knows, maybe the 95% of Sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia that has no electricity will at least be illuminated completely someday and children who now struggle to see their studies will flourish and produce the next great minds of the future, all beginning with a little light-up ball.

[easyreview title=”Luci Aura And Luci Lux Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Slender: The Arrival Review (Xbox 360)

2014/10/12

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Xbox 360 News, Xbox 360 Review

This has been a controversial title recently primarily because of how deep people have bought into this urban legend. Created not that long ago as part of a website contest, Slender Man quickly caught on in nightmarish art and self creating folklore that has resulted in Slender: The Arrival, a title that is easy to get lost in and freaked out by.

Description:
You’re on your own. No one to come for you. No one to help you. No one to hear you scream. Slender: The Arrival is the official re-imagining and expansion of the original game created by Mark Hadley, teamed up with the writers behind the Marble Hornets series and the development team at Blue Isle Studios. The Arrival features a brand new storyline, improved visuals, great replay value, and most importantly, survival horror at its best.

Hands On:
Technically the game can be played through in 45 minutes. The only reason I know this is because one of the XBox achievements is to do that very thing, with some achievements for completing levels in 5 minutes or less. I could see doing this in replay of the game but if you are a true fan of the genre this is counter to all it stands for. This is a game you crank up the sound, turn off all the lights, and sit in the middle of a fairly empty room. The opening tells you to remember times when you felt isolated and alone, draw upon that apprehension and fear. So sit back, forget the clock and try to forget it is just a game.

The core of this game is an Xbox indie title that came out a few years ago and scared the crap out of people. It was pretty short with a premise more than a story but it captured people’s imaginations so well that they added a couple levels and a real storyline, then released it on the PC. The title has finally traveled back to its roots on the Xbox 360 and at the same price the shorter game used to be.

Without giving away the story the game really does a great job of making forget you are safely sitting in a room. It uses moments of daylight that dwindle away to lull you into a false sense of security so that you don’t know when the Slender Man is going to start following or ambushing you. It gives you sounds of nature and does an excellent job of creating the sounds of footsteps and overlapping them with those of others who might be after you. The music works subtly to build your anxiety then hits you full force when the Slender Man or one of his friends is close and about to get you.

I go to haunted attractions all Halloween season and I occasionally get caught by a startle scare but I have a hard time with the suspension of disbelief. This game however does an excellent job of getting me to by in and look forward to the next scare. That is not an easy trick so this game scores solidly with me for that alone.

There were some weird glitches and issues that pulled me out on occasion though, particularly one level which was plenty creepy and challenging until different bugs presented themselves and made the level impossible. I went online checking for a patch for the problem and found that this level is buggy in many different ways and there is no repair, just restart the game and hope the next bug is in your favor. That was a bit of a downer and caused me to play the level for hours longer than was fun, once past it the game got fun again, just took a bit of time to get re-immersed. It is a big blemish of an otherwise great game.

Last Page:
Slender: The Arrival is a great expansion on the original game the breathes even more life and explanation into an already creepy modern urban legend. It is just a game, when not playing it this is important to remember, but while sitting alone in a room, in the dark, just you and your controller and the sound cranked to startling levels, Slender: The Arrival is a great place to get lost in.

[easyreview title=”Slender: The Arrival Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″ ]

Anna: Extended Edition Review (Xbox 360)

2014/10/12

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Xbox 360 News, Xbox 360 Review

I love survival horror games and am a huge haunted house enthusiast. Unfortunately for me, I have been at it so long that it is hard to give me a genuine scare. So survival horror is generally where I get my rush – locked in a room by myself, sound cranked, lights out, the witching hour. It’s just me and my controller or keyboard against whatever I have to survive. My pulse gets racing, I jump, sometimes even yell out as I try to get the character on the screen to safety. Survival horror games provide something that haunted houses rarely do: The possibility that the character you are portraying may actually get hurt, even killed. So when a creepy little title called Anna: Extended Edition came along I was more than game for it.

Features:

A haunting tale of psychological terror
Physics-based environmental puzzles
Three possible endings, each determined by the player’s action
New environments, puzzles, interface and music
Improved Graphics
New in game character: “The Wife Doll” with own AI
New Game Over state

Extras included:

Photos of the real-world sawmill location
Complete soundtrack

Hands On:
Creepy atmosphere is a huge thing when it comes to survival horror games. These games have to keep you on edge and wondering when something could jump out and attack/eat/claw/etc you. It’s good to have puzzle aspects scattered throughout the game but if it gets too much about solving things, it can take away from the feel of danger. Truly, the horror vs. puzzle aspect can be a very fine line to walk.

When Kalypso first released Anna it got a lot of mixed reviews. Some people enjoyed the atmosphere but thought the AI was a bit dumb, the puzzles too few and too easy. Something I always gave Kalypso credit for is that they really listen to what players have to say and take thousands of opinions into account to improve their games. When I got to meet most of the Kalypso team at an event in San Francisco, I got the feeling that these were people that love video games and the gaming industry. If you tell them there is a problem they will do their best to fix it, they get that it’s about what the gamers want.

So having read what one of our team said about Anna when it first came out I was excited about the new possibilities. The game sounded pretty good from his opinion and Kalypso had gone in and made a whole bunch of changes, it should now be great. I went in with high hopes.

First off they nailed the atmosphere completely. The outside of the old sawmill felt desolate yet beautiful at the same time, like it was tucked in some gorgeous valley away from everything. The creek running past sounded like a real creak and got louder as you approached, the sound of the birds and nature were soothing. Knowing things would get creepy once I got inside I first just basked in the peaceful setting then went about trying to figure out how to get in. This basically involved wandering around, noting what I could and could not interact with and noticing the clues the interaction provided. An example would be “this door would probably open from the inside” which lets you know you need to try another possible entrance. You collect items you find lying around, try to find a use for them or try to figure out how to combine them in your inventory to make something new. At first you get some hints at this and a bit of deduction gets you there but after a while you are left to your wits and a bit of luck.

When you do get inside, the atmosphere immediately shifts to the ominous side of things. Candles or cracks and holes in the wall provide very dim light for you to navigate by. You start picking up items and figuring out how to open items and this becomes so all consuming that it does seem to pull you away from the atmosphere and general creep factor. I ended up paying less attention to the whispering voices that haunt the place. That might be where some of the game goes a bit wrong, there are tons of puzzles to solve which makes the game longer and harder but also nothing seems particularity threatening through most of the game. It is easy to get caught up in a stuck spot in the puzzle solving so that when the game gives you another bit of story you have to stop and remember the information you got before. There is also no sense of urgency or danger even though here are plenty of startles to be had, which are always welcome. For the most part the startle happens, then you go about your puzzle business again.

There is a creepy little storyline that develops as you work your way through the puzzles, little hauntings and bits of writing tell a strange and a bit confusing story that, in the end, takes some effort to pay attention to because of the puzzle solving. You need to have your thinking cap on when playing this game, not just for the puzzles but also for the story, which has three different endings. The more you learn and know the more enriched the ending will be, pushing you to keep moving through the puzzles and trying to flesh out as much as you can.

The only real problem I noticed was the controls seemed to have been directly ported from the PC version which when using your mouse allows you to make fine movements to pick items up. With the controller you sometimes have to shift your view and slowly tap your sticks back and forth hoping the right nudge with land on the item and allow you to finally pick it up.

Last Call:
Anna: Extended Edition is a creepy, atmospheric puzzler with a few startles to be had. If you really allow yourself to dive into the game and not get too distracted by the puzzles this can be a rich experience – especially with three different endings. I would even suggest replaying once you get the hang of the puzzles not just for the multiple endings but so that you can experience the creepy story that gets a little lost in the gameplay during the first play through.

[easyreview title=”Anna: Extended Edition Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″ ]

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments Review (PC)

2014/10/02

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

In the words of Danny Elfman, “I’ve always been a sucker for mystery.” It doesn’t matter what form it comes in if there is a survival horror or an adventure game, if there is something to be solved then the game is afoot. When a Sherlock Holmes game comes along you can bet I will be there to play as the legendary sleuth and set my wits on cracking the crime. Whether it be one of his famous adventures or a whole new one, I am in. Luckily in the case of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments there are puzzles of deduction and game puzzles as well.

Description:
Become the most celebrated detective of all time: Sherlock Holmes! Use your impressive talents as a detective to solve six thrilling and varied cases: murders, missing persons, spectacular thefts and numerous investigations that sometimes lead you into the realms of the fantastic.

Will you follow your moral compass, or will you apply the letter of the law?

The great freedom of action in Crimes & Punishments allows you to conduct your investigations in the manner you deem appropriate. Use the 14 extraordinary skills of detection for which Sherlock is famous, choose the avenues of enquiry you wish to pursue, interrogate your suspects and, from your deductions, name the guilty parties… you can even determine their fate! The ramifications are far-reaching, and your decisions will exert a real influence through your reputation or the surprising consequences that will arise where you least expect them…

Hands On:
I’ve played a lot of different crime solving games but this one is unique on how varied the detection systems are as well as how they are solved or even if they are solved right. If that isn’t enough variation you even have the final decision on what to do with the information, whether you go strictly with the law or follow a personal moral code. This game exercises the mind in varying ways at every turn.

There are the simple things like sleuthing that acts a lot like detective mode from the Batman Arkhym games. Then there are situations where you examine a room or a crime scene for clues. You can use the detective mode, which makes the clues glow but if you don’t you can still deduce where they might be. The same goes with taking in a person’s clothes and looks to decide what kind of life he lives and how honest he might be. Cuffs on a shirt say a lot about an individual as do their shoes. Tattoos can be telling too if you know what to look for (and remember the time period and who was likely to use them then). The game will guide you in the direction but if you don’t think carefully you may miss a clue and that clue may be the deciding factor. On one case I missed a single clue and came to the wrong conclusion. Clues connect to theories which can connect to conclusions which can eventually connect to… oh here is the chart, it explains it better.

Clues can combine to bring about more than one possible theory which, in turn, can combine into greater deductions until you have the final conclusion. To come to this conclusion you had to process 14 clues, 10 of which combined into 5 deductions. It is a bit difficult to explain and a little confusing to get the hang of but it makes you really think out the possibilities and motives, the sources of the clues, and try to eventually solve the case correctly. So you decide who did it, then you have to decide how morally guilty they are and how legally guilty they are and then choose your punishment accordingly. Maybe the woman killed her husband but he was abusive and threatened her life, should she go to the gallows or get a chance to move to a new city and start a new life? If one gang kills a member of a rival gang from another country do you expose them and risk an international incident or slip it over to secret authorities that will make sure a shadowy justice is done? These are the kinds of decisions you have to make from the moment you take the case to the moment you head back to you home for a bit of rest.

The puzzles aren’t all mental deductions and clue sleuthing, some of them are simple old fashion puzzles which can be a challenge in their own right. Locks in the game require multiple cylinders to be turned and lined up like circuits to complete lines across the whole, for some people these kind of puzzles are akin to Rubix Cubes in difficulty and near impossibility to solve, others do it without a bit of thought having their hands work almost instinctively to solve the puzzle. If you are the kind that it stumps don’t worry not only are you not alone the company is so great that you can skip the puzzle if you can’t figure it out.

Another that involves a similar mindset is turning and adjusting an image of something, in this case a ship, to discover the clue and this too is skippable. I’m the guy who walks up to the metal puzzles in the mall and solves them then walks past a 3D puzzle picture and sees the schooner, sometimes I wonder why I can do that.

Other puzzle mechanics, in this case it isn’t too much of a spoiler to say you have to arm wrestle someone (it doesn’t play into the plot or offer a clue) require you to study their facial expressions and figure out when to hold steady or push while watching your stamina. For some this is as easy as playing Punch Out or more precisely Punch Out! Arm Wrestling. I was never that good at that game and I found that time had not improved my abilities, after well over an hour of trying I finally passed it.

In the end all the puzzles solving, sleuthing, theories and deductions come to a conclusion on which you act. Was your conclusion right? The game gives you the option of knowing whether or not you discovered all the clues and made the right conclusion, you can go onto the next case considering the last solved for better or worse or you can find out if you were right, a true detective worthy of bearing the Holmes name. The moral/law decision is all yours though the game begins to place a title upon you depending on your tendency such as “by the book” or “morally decisive.” If you don’t like this title you can go back and change your choice before you take the next case, if you find out or decide you came to the wrong conclusion or missed some clues you can go back to before the final consequences and do more sleuthing.

Last Mystery:

To steal the eternal phrase, the decision on whether or not to play this game is elementary my dear reader. If you like mind games of all types or any type this is the game for you, it is a clever mix of puzzles pulled together to create six brilliant cases which actually had me wondering if they were some Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tales I had forgotten which is the highest praise anyone can get when it comes to such detective works. Good show fellows, I hope for more to come.

[easyreview title=”Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Secret Ponchos Early Access Preview (PC)

2014/10/02

Ripper71

News, PlayStation 4 News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

I’ve been excited about the idea of Secret Ponchos since I first heard rumors about it. Top down Diablo style and PVP gameplay with spaghetti western theming and Gorillaz style animation? Sign me up, I’ll put “Clint Eastwood” on loop and load “The Man With No Name” trilogy up. It’s still in pretty early Alpha stage, so don’t go grabbing for your sombreros just yet, but if everything continues on this path you’ll be packing at high noon soon!

Features:
– Five character classes: The Killer, Kid Red, The Deserter, The Matador and Phantom Poncho with more to come.
– Rookie and Ranked modes
– 1vs1, 2vs2, 4vs4 and 8 player gameplay
– Domination, Deathmatch and Free-For-All
– Original western soundtrack

Hands On:
The key to remember with a game like this is it is still “Early Access” which can be a deceiving statement but in this case translates to Alpha. Everything from the gameplay to the names of the characters can change between now and the time the game finally gets full release. Good examples would be that when it first seem to really start getting attention at PAX East 2013 one of the characters was named Gordo and manned a Gatling gun. Also, the platforms they were shooting for were the PS3 and XBox 360. Now, however, Gordo has gone to Boot Hill and they now have their sights on PS4 and Steam. These type of things happen as builds are adjusted and technology advances so just be prepared, what I talk about now may be a sight bit different from the final results.

That being said, what is developing is a nice looking, fun playing shoot’em up. Each character comes with two weapons and in the future should have the options of different skins. The weapons are designed to be divided by usage, one for close-up and the other for distance kills. Each character has its own combos and strategies. Some seem fairly straight forward like Phantom Poncho’s whip which disarms the enemy so you can get in close with your shotgun. Others seem to involve more thought like Killer’s throwing knife and long barrel revolver. All involve practice to get the hang of which you can do on the single player practice range, then you can move up to “Rookie” class. After that, once you get a feel for your gear, the ranked games await. The more men you gun down the more bounties you collect, the more bounties you collect the higher the price on your own head goes. Along with reward ranking there is also titles starting at such names as “petty thief” and heading up to others like “dangerous thug.”

A lot of the fun of the game is in the Old West atmosphere created by the character design, the music and the animation that looks like it came out of a Gorillaz video or a graphic novel. It plays out beautifully as bullets fly, crates explode and characters dive into taverns for cover. They have their Boot Hill style cemetery, cleared streets and weed filled corrals waiting for a fight all while listening to a score that could have been straight out of a Sergio Leone film.

The game has controls for the keyboard but after quite a bit of painful play on it I realized it is truly suited towards a controller, so much so that it feels almost like a port (it was originally aiming for the PS3 and Xbox 360). Once I settled in behind a controller even my busted up excuse for a controller was better than the keyboard.

This of course may change when it finally hits release version but if I were you I would make sure to have a controller in your holster. If you have the Steam early access version of Secret Ponchos, get your gun belt on and hit the streets as they need a bigger population for their testing and development.

First Shot:
I was a bit surprised that a game I had heard about so much so long ago was still at this point in production, I would have thought it would have been further along. It is still pretty buggy and the population of Lonetree sometimes feels like 1. That said, I really like where it is headed and if the final game is anything like the build I have been treated to it will be a treat indeed. I’ll be keeping this game in my sights looking forward to many showdowns ahead.

Final Fantasy IV Review (PC)

2014/10/02

Ripper71

Geek News, News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

I’ve mentioned a time or two that I am a long time gamer, yes I actually played Pong when it came out and I was the first kid in my neighborhood to have the Atari Computer System later to be known as the Atari 2600. So I have a long history with the Final Fantasy titles that dates back to their arrival. One of my favorites was Final Fantasy IV with its heavy and detailed storyline, especially for its time. I’ve played it over again on different systems with a certain deja’ vu but mostly just the enjoyment of going back to an old friend. So, it was with a warm smile I sat down to take Cecil on the adventure once again, this time on PC and Steam.

Description:
As the first game in the series to feature the innovative Active Time Battle system, FINAL FANTASY IV stands as an iconic milestone in FINAL FANTASY history. Lose yourself in this timeless tale of heroes, betrayal, love and redemption—now optimized for PC!

Features:
– Fully voiced, dramatic cut-scenes
– Deep, emotionally charged character development
– All-new system for charting dungeons and uncovering the secrets within
– Inspiring score accessible at anytime from the built-in Jukebox

Hands On:
It’s like going back in time only with today’s graphics quality. They kept the initial feel of the game, the edges of the characters are rough and could be a bit more detailed but otherwise the images are clean and there are details to be found. Cecil’s armor for example is a simple pattern with rough edges but the king’s face has a lot of character than those old bit pixel days. Also the cutscenes are definitely cleaned up considerably, which each version of the game these have evolved a little until what we have now which is fully voiced and as detailed as any modern fantasy games cutscenes.

The cutscenes may be updated but the gameplay has been purposely kept simple to harken back to the days where you didn’t need a ton of buttons to get through a game. Mostly you use the arrow keys and the enter button, the mouse is completely taken out of the equation. There is other buttons for your inventory, map and auto-battle as well as backspace to back out of menus but these are simple set up so that menu negotiations are easier than having to arrow and enter through everything. Surprisingly the simplicity takes a little getting used to and the temptation to grab a controller where the mapping is more natural is definitely there but since I broke my controller I had that temptation taken away and soon found I could play the game and catch up on social media at the same time, something that in the old days would have seemed like science fiction.

I found myself farming the same old grounds for exp and gils, getting lost looking for the same cities and all around having such a great time that hours had flown by before I realized it. I had an appointment to keep and found myself counting the minutes I had left before I had to really boogie out the door. Shower? Extra deodorant would do. Coupons for dinner after? Ah well I’ll eat out another day, that way I can get back home and eat in front of the game. It was funny how quickly the excuses for “one more battle” come back to you.

Last Call:
Final Fantasy IV was groundbreaking for its time and, when it comes to fun gameplay, has held up amazingly well over the years through its various incarnations and updates. I just moved my residence and I saw a box labeled “SNES” last week – Final Fantasy IV was one of the titles I was most looking forward to busting out and giving some playtime. I still will though I might not get far into the campaign before coming back to the Steam Edition. Why? Because I can have all the nostalgia with a better control system, better graphics and a built-in jukebox. Maybe I will even be able to get a friend born after the 80s to give it a try, to not just see history but play it.

[easyreview title=”Final Fantasy IV Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Wicked Evac Headphones Review

2014/10/02

Ripper71

News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

I test a lot of headsets and sometimes simpler is better. I have a fancy pair which I love but generally keep plugged into the same device because setting it up for other devices can be a pain. Sometimes more features also means more weight which you wind up feeling during marathon game sessions. That’s why I found myself going back to the Wicked Audio Evac Headphones for both around the house and while on the go. That is, when I can pry them away from my wife…

Description:
You’re part of an elite group and you expect more from your headphones. Wicked Evac fulfills that expectation. With its against the grain attitude and its no limits sound quality, Wicked Evac will be the last thing you see before you lose touch with reality and get lost in your music.

Features:

Braided cords are more rugged, last longer, don’t get tangled, look sexy and help eliminate sound traveling up the headphones cords. Naked cords are so last year.
These headphones can fold up to be smaller to more easily fit in your backpack, fanny pack, satchel, and you get the idea, you’re a smart person.
You’re going to get Earth shattering, rock you to the core, ghetto blaster bass! Bass so kind it will put a smile on your face for days.
Don’t put up with listening to that loud mouth or screaming kid. Plug in & Rock out undisturbed with our noise isolation headphones. You’ll be glad that you did.

Hands On:
My wife is not a headphones kind of person, she would rather go with earbuds during travel instead of the bulk of cans as they tended to make her ears sore. Then the Wicked Audio Evacs arrived in the mail and she looked at them with a bit of interest. They are low profile with a unique design very reminiscent of older military cans like you would see on M.A.S.H. or a WWII submarine movie. The simple braided cord adds to this and where you would expect the unit’s emblem on the can is the simple but stylish Wicked Audio logo. It has an understated style but definitely a style nonetheless. People will check them out as they are hanging around your neck or over your ears. Once she heard their quality it was game over for me, they became hers. She listens to them on trips to block out the drone of engines or kids on planes and to get a good night’s sleep when the house gets noisy. The curved cups and padding make them comfortable while sleeping and the collapsible cups means they slip into a carry-on with easy. If you see my wife the Wicked Evacs are nearby.

When I saw that Wicked Audio had made some improvements to the Evacs my wife and I both loved I bugged my EIC for the chance to review them. This would give me a chance to use them for a while and give them up to my wife eventually so she could switch out. Once I experienced the improvements though I realized I will not have them for long.

The main improvements are in the bass quality which had been given an inline boost. While we aren’t the kind of people who go thumping beats all over the place we do appreciate crystal clear sound quality and solid repetition of all the sounds including the bass line. The Wicked Audio Evacs handle them at a fraction of the cost of most headsets, especially designer ones.

The other big improvement is in the cushioning of the cups which were a bit stiff on the earlier model but have been filled with what almost feels like memory foam now making them even more comfortable whether on the go or catching some Zs. The comfort doesn’t come at the cost of sound isolation either, if anything it seems a bit better.

Last Call:
I’m using the Wicked Audio Evacs right now as I write this for I know my time with them is short. Once the wife gets her hands on these and notices the improvements, my dreams of his and her Evacs will fade away That is, unless she lets me have the old pair. Of course, these quality cans are such an economical deal that worse comes to worse I can pick up my own. If you feel the need to spend hundreds of dollars on headsets that deliver equivalent sound, feel free. Meanwhile, I just saw a pair of these on sale for $30. I hope this means that eventually the Wicked Audio logo will be as recognizable as some of the more expensive ones and that headsets like these that look just as stylish with a suit as they do a hoodie will be more the norm.

[easyreview title=”Wicked Evac Headset Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Defense Grid 2 Review

2014/10/01

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Xbox One News, Xbox One Review

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that tower offense and tower defense were only found as part of a bigger titles, such as StarCraft. Eventually, the tower offense came on the scene, with big with games like League of Legends. Now there are hundreds of tower offense games, some massive and hugely popular like LoL and others small and obscure ones with no real name at all except “tower offense game.” Defense Grid was one of those tower defense titles with high production value and a loose campaign storyline to tie the missions together. Now, we have Defense Grid 2! Does it raise the bar? Press on, dear reader….

Description:
Defense Grid 2, DG2, is the highly-anticipated sequel to Hidden Path Entertainment’s 2008 Defense Grid: The Awakening. Setting the bar as the definitive tower defense game, Defense Grid 2 introduces new worlds and threats to test your tower placement strategies. With a bold new look, a compelling single-player campaign, and the addition of new game modes, online player-versus-player and multiplayer co-op, every play-through brings fun new opportunities and challenges.

Features:

DG2 comes with a story campaign featuring 21 stunning maps, dynamic level movement, and an expanded story and cast of characters. This definitive tower defense game delivers with new experiences and story for players of all skill types.
Defense Grid 2 comes with new co-op and competitive multiplayer modes. With controller input, you can even play through the entire story campaign with another person, together in Doubles mode.
Defense Grid has hundreds of ways to play the game, and DG2 will have hundreds of challenge mode missions where you can play the game with new rulesets and approaches. New challenge modes will appear in DG2 and some old favorites.

Hands On:
I’ll admit to some confusion playing this game. I have played Defense Grid: Awakening on multiple platforms and I still don’t fully get the storyline. I believe it is about incorporating new AIs into our military operations to help us win battles against the aliens. These AIs with also help seek out new worlds where the aliens have not yet infested so we can colonize them. That’s the basics anyway, with weird dialog about whether a soul is necessary for true intelligence and if some are better of without either. I’m sure whole articles can be written about it and if someone would like to clue me in, feel free to do so in the comments. Otherwise, I might just hold to what I read in “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep” (the basis for Blade Runner).

Gameplay is straight forward and missions can be handled in many different ways. There is a campaign mode which give you 21 maps to build your defenses on and figure out the best way to stop the alien offense. Each map has its own challenges which, even when playing in normal mode, will keep you on your strategic toes. If it strikes you as too easy or you want different challenges you can add additional conditions such as “cannot upgrade towers to red (top) level” or “limited resources for building.” In some cases the mode can actually remove limitations such as “all towers unlocked” mode which lets you build all the designs you want. I plan to go back and play each map on this mode just to see how fun OP can be. Some of these modes are suggested by the community (such as that last one) and others are the result of the diabolical minds of the design team. Either way you can tell these guys have years of experience making protecting your goodies a nightmare.

If fighting against an AI under all those challenge modes isn’t enough, you can go online and play cooperative with like-minded strategists – even playing through the entire campaign. One of the challenge modes even allows players to only build on their assigned defense posts so you are hoping they pick the right things so you don’t have to try to pick up the slack somehow with your towers.

The choice of which towers to build really opens up as the campaign progresses. You start with a gun, then a flame thrower, working your way up with the possibility of improving the post your tower is placed on as well as upgrading your towers themselves. The upgrades go green for basic, yellow for middle and red for top of the line. The post bases can be upgraded to have different characteristics to help in the battle. Generally you have to choose range compared to damage at the beginning but once you progress it becomes more of cost versus coverage. Again a fairly standard tactic in tower defense games but one well implemented here.

What really makes the game stand out are the units. Your enemy has some cool looking offensive units and you have some towers that look cool but damage even cooler. The graphics are great and colorful and the tower damage graphics such as fire and explosions are satisfying. It comes down to good strategy makes for some bitchin fireworks.

It should also be noted that the game works really well with the Xbox One controller making me think it was designed for it and not ported.

Last Shot:
Defense Grid 2 is a strategy player’s dream with more ways to take on each map than many games have to play all their maps combines. I am more of a tower defense junkie than a tower offense one, and this stands out as one of the best titles in recent years. I can see going back to play this game time and again, each time a bit different, no two games alike and hopefully getting a buddy to join in on the mayhem.

[easyreview title=”Defense Grid 2 Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Creative Labs SB Inferno Gaming Headset Review

2014/08/14

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

Creative Labs latest tool on the gaming market is the SB Inferno Gaming Headset which promises professional tournament quality and a sleek look without the high end brand price tag. The only question is does it deliver?

Specs:

Audio Drivers 40mm FullSpectrum
Headset Frequency Response 20Hz ~ 20kHz
Interface 3.5mm Stereo Input
Supported Gaming Consoles PlayStation® 4, iOS/Android, (3.5mm Analog Connectivity)
Microphone Microphone Type: Noise Canceling Condenser
Detachable: Yes
Frequency Response: 100Hz ~ 15kHz
Sensitivity: -40±3dBV/Pa

Hands On:
For a lot of folks who aren’t tech savvy, the specs may seem like a bunch of gobbledygook but it is the same gobbledygook that you would see on the specs for the big names in games. Most headsets at shows and tournaments probably boast very similar ingredients so it comes down to how well they are utilized in the headset, the comfort and, of course, the style.

With a standard analog setup, they will not only look good with the black and metallic red design they will perform like champs if you use them on the go with your phone or tablet. The “SB logo is swept up at the ends giving it a vaguely Transformers-like logo design with a detachable boom microphone. The cable is a bright red completing a look that would work on the subway or in the gym drawing only nods of approval and curious glances at the logo. FullSpectrum sound and stereo input combined with padded ear cups means you don’t have to hear what they say unless you want to. I found they were particularly nice for action films full of gunshots and explosions while using my tablet on trips. It definitely made it easy to block out the outside world and nap on business trips.

The thing about gaming headsets though is you want to have them perform first and foremost while gaming at which point you just stick the microphone back on and choose your platform. If you are already rocking the PlayStation 4, these headsets are plug and play, stick them into your controller and listen for the direction of the gunshot or maybe the sound of the engine of your competitor’s car as they try to close the distance behind you. They are lightweight enough for you to play “just one more round” of your favorite game for hours without discomfort and the padding at the ear cups and head arch keep them from feeling confining.

The same goes for phone or tablet play – if you want, you can leave the stick on and talk to your buddies while playing the game or play a game during one of those long calls to that friend or relative that never seems to stop talking. The mic stick pops on and off easy so you can just keep it in your pocket for when you want to use it.

PC gamers only have one more step and that is to put on a cable-splitter to separate your mic and head phones. The adapter comes included so all you do is put it on, plug it in, and you can be on in-game chat or Ventrillo – even make an internet phone call all while hearing what you want with crystal clear quality. The microphone has a noise cancelling condenser which is nice if you are in a hot area and constantly have a fan going or in a big family so there is a constant background of screams and general noise yet it can pick up whispers just fine if you are trying to have a quiet conversation. They even have turnable cups and lower profile so that they pack away quick and easy to be on the go.

Last Call:
I always have a set of headsets packed away in one of my travel bags so that if I do have to go somewhere quick I never find myself without a noise blocking listening device. My wife stole my last pair so these arrived at a perfect time to become my next go to set. I would say to look for me wearing these but I expect the Creative SB inferno Gaming Headset to become a commonplace sight on the tournament scene and on the go.

[easyreview title=”Creative Labs SB Inferno Gaming Headset Review Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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ROCCAT Kone Pure Military Edition and Sense Mousepad Review

2014/08/10

Ripper71

Geek News, News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

The mouse, probably the most important peripheral for a serious PC gamer and probably the least understood peripheral by non-PC gamers. If someone just uses their computer for web-browsing and puzzle games or simply to write and conduct social media, no doubt they are fine with a generic, no frills and wallet friendly mouse. I know people who spend $15 on a mouse and $5,000 on a purse… they have their priorities. You dangle that same $5,000 in front of a PC gamer and they start envisioning the grand systems they can build with it, and maybe get a console if there is enough money left over. One of the things that will have a high priority in this new dream system will be the mouse, one with a high quality sensor, multiple button functionality, adjustable lift control and a clean, sexy design. ROCCAT has understood this need for a long time and it is always a pleasure to test their products. Products such as the ROCCAT Kone Pure Military Edition, complete with military-inspired camouflage. Hoorah!

Kone Pure Military Edition Official Features:

5000DPI PRO-OPTIC (R4) SENSOR for precision gaming at its best
ROCCAT CLICK MASTER switch tech powered by Omron
ROCCAT™ EASY-SHIFT[+] button duplicator technology
32-BIT TURBO CORE V2 PROCESSOR for lightning-fast computing speed
ADJUSTABLE DCU lift-off distance control
576KB ON-BOARD MEMORY stores a wealth of macros and settings
16.8 MILLION-COLOR LIGHTING with game profile illuminations
7 MOUSE BUTTONS programmable + solid 2D Titan Wheel
HIGHEST-QUALITY BUILD for the longest gaming life

Hands On:
The ROCCAT Kone Pure Military Edition has the same ergonomic shape as the Kone Pure, but has been scaled down by about 9% for gamers who desired a sleeker design with the same functionality. The slightly smaller profile allows for hitting different button combinations much faster because they are slightly closer together. Thankfully, this does not take anything away from the mouse when it comes to comfort and form. I would imagine the new size would also help gamers with smaller hands. However, for those of you with large hands, take heart as I have huge hands with big fingers and it is still very comfortable to use and doesn’t feel like the reduced size has hurt anything. The smooth feel of the side rubber contrasting with the top plastic also aids in moving your fingers around to the different buttons without looking. Add to this the camo green, 16.8 million color lighting options on the logo and the braided cord and you have a mouse that looks and feels like it belongs to a serious gamer.

That being said, a mouse can look amazing and feel great but if it doesn’t do what the gamer needs it to do, it might as well be just another social media mouse. Thankfully, the ROCCAT Kone Pure Military Edition does everything it claims to. I could throw a bunch of tech terms at you, like 50-5000 DPI, 1000HZ polling rate, and up to 30G’s of acceleration – but, in case you aren’t into the science behind it all, just know that this gaming mouse reads movements and responds quickly and precisely.

Another cool feature of the mouse is that all seven of its buttons can be given a secondary program through a shift function as well as the Titan Wheel. So, if you have a standard battle rotation in your favorite MMORPG you can program it all to your mouse buttons then hit the shift button on the mouse and do even more. This is absolutely great for a rotation that is different between single and multiple enemies. From a shooter point of view you can program grenades and different weapons to the buttons so you don’t have to reach over on the keyboard to use them. Also, if you like to make adjustments to your load outs or HUD, you can build macros using the included software then assign them to the mouse. The software is really handy and user friendly, making for quick programming of buttons, mouse logo color, and the Distance Control Unit so you can decide how far off the mousepad it will detect movement. This lift-off distance can give you a real edge when it comes to quickly moving the mouse across its surface. There is even an achievement system built into the software that keeps track of how many times you click and scroll, how fast you do it and gives you trophies for major milestones while gaming.

The Sense Mousepad
I really debated giving the mousepad a separate review but the Sense mousepad they sent is a total match for the mouse they sent, both are “Camo Charge” green and really work together to enhance the mouse’s performance. Tested with multiple ROCCAT, Razer, Steelseries, Logitech and Microsoft mice, the Sense has a rubberized backing, a very large surface, and most importantly a micro-crystal surface for stellar sensor reading precision.

I’ve used mostly “gimme” mousepads over the years in every form from fabric to plastic to rubber, even a paper one. I’ve always felt the mouse surface mattered a lot less than the quality of the mouse. I had a brand name one which I received as a promotional item for a video game not for review purposes which was good for them because it frayed on the edges and its fabric image wore down fast. This made me think that perhaps professional mouspads were a bad investment.

The ROCCAT Sense has changed my mind on the subject because they have come up with a different surface which actually reads better. Optical mice detect the movement of the surface below them and then relates that movement to the system and the screen. If the surface below doesn’t have much to detect movement on it, can cause the mouse to “lose traction” or the cursor not cross the screen. So as long as the surface had texture (such a fabric weave or bumps) or contrast (such as a detailed picture) then the mouse pretty much would read the same. When they made the ROCCAT Sense, they took this into account and realized the way to make the movement reading more accurate was to give it a more accurate surface, in this case micro-crystals. So instead of reading a stitch of fabric or different parts of an image it is reading something smaller, microcrystalline coating which also is friction resistant. The result especially when teamed with the Kone Pure is precision which gives you a competitive edge. The mousepad was even designed with a low profile to help avoid the fraying concern which drove me so nuts with the other professional pad.

Last Call:
The ROCCAT Kone Pure Military Edition and the ROCCAT Sense Camo Charge Gaming Mousepad are not only sexy additions to your equipment arsenal, but they are game changers in the best way. Whether you are a MMORPG junkie or a FPS fanatic, this set of peripherals will make you look good resting on your desk and even better playing in your game.

[easyreview title=”ROCCAT Kone Pure Military Edition And Sense Mousepad Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]