Author - Ripper71

Marvel Pinball’s Venom Table Review (PS4)

2014/12/16

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″ ]

[button target=”_blank” style=”” link=”http://gamingshogun.com/gamingshogun-rating-system/”]Learn About Our Rating System[/button]

Luci Lux and Aura Review

2014/10/19

Ripper71

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.