Author - Ripper71

Final Fantasy IV Review (PC)

2014/10/02

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″ ]

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution 2 Review (iOS)

2014/07/14

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Reviews

When it comes to strategy video games no other name holds as much weight as Sid Meier. I have played Sid Meier’s games on multiple platforms one of my all time favorite being Pirates both on the PC and PSP. I was honestly amazed they were able to get a full game on to such a small disc as the PSP UMD but the UMd was a very underestimated drive with quite a capacity. Going into reviewing Sid Meier’s Revolution 2 on the iOS I again had lower expectations and was again surprised because the simple fact is that if the put the Sid Meier name one something you are getting the full experience.

First off the graphics and sounds are great, just what you would expect on a PC but not quite what you are used to on an iOS platform. The controls were smooth, I actually preferred them greatly to the PC ones since everything was point, click or slide and designed specifically for iOS. The menus were very intuitive and if you couldn’t figure out what to do next you could always get a hint or replay the tutorial.

Controls are great, graphics are nice but if a title doesn’t have great gameplay it is worthless. Somehow they managed to fit a full, PC game-like experience into a little iOS title. You can choose scenarios, maps, famous leaders and empires, and you have several levels of difficulty. If you want a quick easily play you can randomize and choose a low level of difficulty. You will still get a decent amount of playtime you just won’t have to be at it all day. If you really want to challenge yourself to diety level in which case you had better save often and use all 9 of the save slots because you may find you have to go back two or three turns to keep the enemies from running you down.

In the games there are multiple aspects such as diplomacy, military, culture, economy, all the different things you have some to expect from Sid Meier. The higher the difficulty the deeper you need to dive into each of these and tweak minor nuances. Lower level it is mostly whether or not you are ready to take on another empire or whether you should be building walls instead of instead of libraries. One lesson I definitely was reminded of early, don’t pick too many fights, a little diplomacy might keep your empire on the map.

Last Call:
Sid Meier’s Civilization 2 on the iOS is a full PC experience on the go. You can play it on your iPad or iPhone and have an equally great time. It works with all levels of players and gives massive diversity so that you can play casual or a simple map that takes days to complete. It is hard to imagine how they will be able to improve on the strategy genre on a portable device, but I would be surprised if it says “Sid Meier’s” on it when they do.

[easyreview title=”Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Screenshots

World of Tanks Blitz Review (iOS)

2014/07/04

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Reviews

We here at Gamingshogun.com understand that, economically-speaking, times can be tough. So, when there is a game that can be played for free – that is, truly free and not free-to-play, pay-to-win, we make sure to let our readers know. A great case in point is World of Tanks, which completely free for the PC and an absolute blast to play. You can pay a bit to enhance you experience or speed up your leveling but in the end the better player wins the match not the most expensive tank. They then translated this same idea to World of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition with the same success. Fans of these games have been chomping at the bit to get their hands on World of Warships, the next title in the saga – but first comes a pleasant surprise, World of Tanks Blitz for the iOS platform.

The graphics haven’t suffered at all in the translation to the small screen, they are crisp and clear and extremely detailed which is important as players have come to expect historical vehicle accuracy from the series. Also, the tech trees are enormous which was surprising to me as tech trees are generally scaled back much more in mobile games. There are only three nations to start with but their are so many vehicles and upgrades that you probably won’t come even near to completing them all before another nation is added.

My next expectation was very small matches, I guessed probably just 4 vs. 4 so the systems could handle them. I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself in 7 vs. 7 matches so that the excitement of multiple players hunting and strategy was still maintained. 14 players do a nice job filling up a map. which is another great point about this platform, it has all kinds of maps, many being familiar, scaled down versions of the PC and 360 maps with some of the maps even feeling brand new. Part of this might be due to different priorities in a maps detail making it look different (sand gets less detail than a building or a stack of wood) and yet if you have a strategy on the rebuilt maps it might just still work to your advantage.

If you have spare funds to spend the premium account is worth it’s money in speeding up leveling and in game currency and there are vehicles and special ammo you can buy to give you a slight edge or at least a faster level to a new class. Hardcore players though tend to believe in earning your bones in this game so you will find both bought and earned tanks on a pretty even playing field.

The only real problem with the game is the inherent problem of the platform itself: Its controls. You have to use your right thumb to move the tank, your left thumb to move your view then whatever finger you want to hit the zoom and fire buttons. The controls are greatly simplified and adapted to touch screen technology but in the end you still find your left thumb slipping off the tank controls or bumping the wrong one. In some cases you might even find your thumb sliding up and prematurely hitting the fire button giving away your position. There are thumb attachment sticks that can be purchased and stuck to the screen but I have never found them to be particularly consistent and if you get used to one and it pops off mid match you might find yourself in a world of trouble.

Final Thoughts:
World of Tanks Blitz gives you the opportunity to play a great title on the go with most of the console or PC features intact. This is a great accomplishment that Wargaming.net should be proud of and sets a new standard for shooting games, particularly vehicle-based ones, on the iOS platform. I look forward to seeing what they add on or come up with next.

[easyreview title=”World Of Tanks Blitz Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con Gallery

2014/07/04

Ripper71

Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos

As comic book and pop culture conventions go, the Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con is definitely still in its infancy at just a couple years old. The community support for it however makes it very likely to become one of the more popular cons in the Western United States. With Jim Lee as the guest of honor and a slew of the biggest names in comics, it was a fairly intimate atmosphere for the big guns and the indie writers to mix, mingle and show their wares.

One of my personal heroes, Len Wein, who has created over a hundred characters in is writing lifetime talked the future of Swamp Thing with me while a couple of artists Eric Mengel (of Ocho) and Denny Riccelli (Get That Chicken and Cousin Harold) talked about the con circuit and what it’s like when you are the “away team” comics compared to being the “home team” ones in Arizona. It was an opportunity to meet the author of one of my favorite current titles Chew, John Layman, and geek out with him about Mars Attacks and how he fulfilled a life dream by getting to write Mars Attacks On Ice! There were stories of boarding schools in hell, Bigfoot on distant planets and lots and lots and lots of talk about Guardians of the Galaxy. There were special editions covers and posters for all kinds of characters imaginable and in the middle of it all Maximum Comics had a Midway full of games.

You didn’t have to be a comic fan to be into the convention as there were tons of geek interests represented: Panels on how to write books by the Winner Girls and even makeup lessons from a whole slew of the casts of SyFy’s FaceOff. Not only was cosplay in full effect but the Heroes of Cosplay were present in the form of Holly And Jessica. There were costume contests and kids cosplay on parade and even cartoons on a big screen Saturday and Sunday.

This convention has taken off thanks to Maximum Comics support and I am already looking forward to next year.

Images

Men Of War: Assault Squad 2 Review (PC)

2014/05/31

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Memorial Day is celebrated in all kinds of ways. Traditionally, mine involves playing marathon sessions of war video games. I think of the sacrifices generations have made for our liberties while fighting historic battles or historic enemies. This time my main game of the weekend was Men Of War: Assault Squad 2 which is a real time strategy game set during World War II and going through famous battles from the point of view of most of the nations involved.

Description:
Men of War: Assault Squad 2 features new single player style skirmish modes that take players from extreme tank combat to deadly sniper stealth missions. Commanders can now faceoff against opponents on various new multiplayer 1v1 – 4v4 maps. To truly bring the battles to life though there is the new 8v8 game mode designed for huge battles on spectacular maps.

Features:
– Direct control every unit as if you were playing a 3rd person shooter
– Interface and AI improvements, including unit kill counts and squad icon information
– New multiplayer interface
– Camouflage depending on season
– Fully updated inventory items with new graphics and updated vehicles
– Sound improvements, including voice acting
– Steam features, including Steam multiplayer, matchmaking, achievements, cloud, player statistics, leaderboards, voice chat, Valve anti-cheat, friends invite and workshop
– Player level up and ranked system
– In-game video recording, and much more.
– 15 new single player skirmishes plus 25 reworked ones from the original Assault Squad
– Eight player co-op support and an all new multiplayer extreme game mode
– 65 multiplayer maps and five gamemodes
– More than 250 vehicles at your command
– More than 200 soldiers with unique equipment
– Five factions and various battlefields in Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Africa and the Pacific
– Development tools such as 3d model exporter and map/mission editor, and much more.

Hands On:
The first thing I want to stress is how massive this game is for a real-time strategy game. The maps are large with multiple points to take and try to hold which makes for a slow strategic push and then there are so many maps over each nation’s campaign. My biggest advice is save often because you never know when you will make a bad move and watch dozens of your men die in seconds.

Gameplay involves various size units and types that push through great variations of objectives and enemies. One of my personal favorites was Normandy on the American side where they have established a beachhead and have to push through the town taking locations over and unlocking Rangers and Airborne along the way. They throw a lot of enemies at you and if you aren’t careful they will flank you or hit you with superior firepower. The armored vehicles come out of the woodwork and if you lose a location flag you fail the objective.

It is true that many of the maps are revamps from the first Assault Squad but the revamp has been so heavily done that the premise remains the same but the maps feel fresh. Even if the map is the same from the previous game you can play through differently time after time since it is your strategy that decides what units are used how. Will you try to zerg with infantry or take your time and build a wall of forces slowly pushing forward? Will you try to drop your Airborne at a remote location and try to take an objective or use them as quick reinforcements to drop at challenged objectives? It’s all up to you and can be different every time.

Men Of War: Assault Squad 2 takes the multiplayer aspect of real-time strategy games up and notch with matches that are 4v4 and 8v8! Usually these games are 2v2 and can be challenging to co-ordinate well enough to win, when you have 16 players on the same strategic battlefield with 65 possible maps and there is no set style or strategy you have to adjust to your team’s moves and 8 enemies out to get you. The single player is large with lots of re-playability but the multiplayer promises to never be close to the same match twice.

Add to all this Steam support and achievements, map editing, 3D model exporter and five different game modes and you easily have weeks or months of playtime without ever playing things the same twice.

Last Call:
The Men Of War franchise has a very solid reputation and Men Of War: Assault Squad 2 not only lives up to it but raises the bar for all real-time strategy games. If this is the style of game for you than this is a must play for you.

[easyreview title=”Men Of War: Assault Squad 2 Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

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Broforce Preview (PC)

2014/05/31

Ripper71

News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

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Listen up Bro! The most brotastic game has hit Steam Greenlight! If you are a Bro like me you probably already played the free Brototype from time to but now that Free Lives has a place to call Brome. Bro, can you believe back in the 80s we used to have whole conversations like this? Yeah sometimes it was dude instead of bro but the idea was the same. Bro had a bit more machismo heaped on the top of it like bacon on steak covered in nacho cheese. The games of the time reflected that with the side scrolling shooters such as Contra fulling coming into their own. Also coming into their own was the Action Hero, an against all odds warrior who fired more bullets than the population of small countries. So Free Live did the bromazing thing of combining the two into a hilarious yet addictive game.

Description:
Broforce is an action platformer for PC featuring 1980s action heroes making up the Broforce team, an under-funded vigilante paramilitary organization. The game features ridiculous violence, pixel art graphics and a fully destructible Vietnam setting. While masquerading as a run ‘n gun in the vein of Metal Slug, Broforce’s reactive environment encourages tactical play. Each bro out of the 13 the game currently features has distinctive overpowered attacks and special abilities, and mastering them all is one of Broforce’s core pleasures. Death is instant and can be surprising, but this is balanced by the incompetence of the enemy. Explosions are plentiful and very often result in chaotic chain reactions, but this shouldn’t discourage you from permanently holding down your trigger finger. Yelling “‘Murica!” while you do so is optional.

Broforce is best played co-operatively, two to four players (though single player is an option). It can be played both on keyboard and on XBox controllers.

Vehicular action sequences, dinosaurs, aliens and epic Contra-inspired boss fights, deathmatch arenas with leaderboards and rankings, a level editor, the ability to challenge friends and share custom levels, a customizable Brofort with unlockable rooms and much more to come in the full game. The only thing left to say is: brace your loins.

Features:
– More explosions, camera shake and action than anything else, ever.
– Fully destructible terrain.
– Local Bro-op play and online multiplayer bro-op.
– Deathmatch arenas with leaderboards and rankings.
– Unlockable “bros” – each with distinctive attacks and special brobilities.
– A level editor, the ability to challenge your friends and share your custom levels.
– Design your own Brofort – with unlockable rooms and additions to defend against terrorist onslaught, or just hang out.
– Vehicular action sequences, dinosaurs, aliens and epic Contra-inspired boss fights.
– Nuanced and strategic combat, explosive action and deadly stealth.
– For every terrorist killed in Broforce, a terrorist will die in real life.

Hands On:
To truly appreciate this game in its fullest you need to have lived through the 1980s and the gaming mentality at the time. Hanging out with friends in front of the TV drinking Mt. Dew, eating junk food, and playing video games until the sun came up or you beat them. Co-Op playing was best so you could help each other bust through levels though VS. games were fun too. Some games were up scrollers, usually those involved vehicles but Contra was ruling the day with it’s side-scrolling fight fest. If you were really doing it right you would have a TV with a VCR or cable nearby showing First Blood, Rambo, Terminator, or if you were into horror maybe that eternal classic Evil Dead 2.

Free Lives got this idea and nostalgia and managed to make it into a side-scrolling brofest. The Brominator, Rambro, Bro Dredd, and Brommando just names a few of the heroes you control while tearing up terrorists and the environment. Each has special abilities that will change your play style as the game randomly spawns one for you to fight with. A couple of my fave bros are Snake Broskin and Ash Brolliams (I think Williamsbro sound better but it kinda reminds me of a Civil War battleground) but all are amazing entertaining.

You can play with a keyboard but the controls felt REALLY clumsy to me on it. I tried the player one controls and the player two but felt a bit frustrated until I finally plugged in a controller. My controller is busted but luckily the buttons I needed only took up a small portion and I was blowing up the whole world and all the terrorists with it in no time. If you have been waiting to pick up a game controller go out and get two so you can have a friend play with you Co-Op and VS. and have a blast using about the same game controls you did when playing those consoles of yesteryear. You don’t have to have played the games at the time to love this one, but it definitely kicks up the bro factor.

Last Bros:
Broforce only takes itself serious when it comes to good gameplay. Playing the game is unbrolievably fun. Each character that unlocks is a new challenge and fun way to destroy everything. You will have favorites but more importantly you will just have a great time and maybe remember some nights spent in a room in front of a television making life bonds over video games and action flicks.