Author - Ripper71

The Wolf Among Us – Episode One (PC/Steam)

2013/11/01

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Telltale Games has solidly proven itself as a company to be reckoned with by delivering the huge hit game series The Walking Dead and the fan favorite Back To The Future as well as other solid titles such as Sam And Max and Poker Night. They found their niche in episodic gaming, most of which have several seasons and dramatic cliffhangers at the end of episodes that keep you coming back for more. The real strength in their games though comes in their “choose your own adventure” style that shows that every choice you make in the game, even if the choice is not to make a choice, has a dramatic effect on the plot and can mean life or death for the characters within. The Wolf Among Us is a beautiful example of this with comic book style graphics and storyline choices that have you replaying almost as soon as you finish the first time.

Description:
The Wolf Among Us is a five episode series from the creators of the 2012 Game of the Year: The Walking Dead. Based on Fables (DC Comics/Vertigo), an award-winning comic book series, it is an often violent, mature and hard-boiled thriller where the characters and creatures of myth, lore and legend are real and exist in our world.

As Bigby Wolf – THE big bad wolf in human form – you will discover that the brutal, bloody murder of a Fable is just a taste of things to come, in a game series where your every decision can have enormous consequences.

Features:
– Your choices matter: it’s not only WHAT you choose to do that will affect how your story plays out, but WHEN you choose to do it
– A mature and gritty take on characters from fairytales, legends and folklore who have escaped into our world. These are not the characters you’d see on a little child’s lunchbox.
– Play as Bigby Wolf: formerly the most feared monster among the Fables, now Sheriff of Fabletown and protector of those he used to hunt. He must restrain the beast within if he is to earn the trust of those around him.
– Choose Bigby’s actions carefully. Will you approach a situation calmly or unleash your inner rage? The way you act will determine how others respond to you.
– Set before the events seen in the first issue of the comics – you don’t have to know the characters or the world to play!

Hands On:
As the description above says, you don’t have to know the characters or the world to play the game but it doesn’t take long to realize you already do. Fabletown is tucked away in a corner of New York where the hard-boiled pulp fiction feel of the old detective dime books still hasn’t died and every face is one that has adapted to a world outside of fairy tale “happily ever after” times to big city street life. It comes through in the deep shadows and dark storyline of one of Vertigo’s most popular series beautifully rendered in a video game form. If you liked The Walking Dead for any reason other than zombies you will like The Wolf Among Us just as much if not more.

The controls are the same as a FPS with most actions being point and click with multiple choice actions such as discussions or fighting being WASD. This is good to know ahead of time because the time you take to make choices can effect the storyline just as much as the choices you make. In some cases just letting the time run out on making a choice is a choice because a silent glare from The Big Bad Wolf can make some folks talk or act just as well as anything he could say. If you ever played a lesser known Telltale game, Law And Order: Legacies, you have seen how effective and important timing can be in interrogations (if you like the Law And Order shows that game is a must play).

It’s hard to say much more without giving away the storyline and this is a spoiler-free zone but it can be said you get a lot of great story in the first episode, definitely enough to get you hooked and waiting for the next.

First Round:
Usually this would be the “Last Call” section but since this is just the first episode there will be more to come and more to review so it is just the beginning. Fans of The Walking Dead game and Vertigo’s Fables will eat this game up if they give it a try, it is just as good as The Walking Dead with a wider variety of characters limited only to the realm of fairy tales which is a pretty broad realm indeed. Ever wonder what would happen if Snow White had to give up her castle for a brownstone? This might just be the place to find out.

[easyreview title=”The Wolf Among Us – Episode One Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 Gaming Keyboard Review (PC/Tech)

2013/11/01

Ripper71

News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

Anyone who has ever looked into competitive gaming equipment has heard of Mad Catz, their tournament arcade sticks, surround sound gaming headsets and particularly their Guinness World Record holding R.A.T. mouse series are all sought after by the serious player and their S.T.R.I.K.E. keyboard line is no different. The S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 is the flagship of this line, featuring just about every bell and whistle that could be attached to a keyboard and is the dream of many gamers. If the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 is beyond your means or you just prefer a straight forward reliable gaming keyboard then the S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 is the keyboard for you affordability without giving up the gaming edge.

Description:
The Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E.3 Gaming Keyboard is an ideal entry into the world of competitive gaming. Whether your game of choice is an FPS, RPG, MMO, RTS, MOBA or any other genre, precise key response, customizable backlighting, and programmable macro keys all help give you an advantage over the competition. When used in conjunction with a member of Mad Catz’ lineup of award-winning R.A.T. gaming mice, you’ll have all the inputs you need to play at your very best.

Features:
– Engineered membrane with up to 7 key anti-ghosting
– Windows key lock
– 12 macros with three modes (36 total programmable)
– individual lighting for each mode
– 16 million color options
– Entry level friendly
– Available in three colors

Game On:
The S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 doesn’t require a learning curve to get started and doesn’t take long to master. This is the S.T.R.I.K.E. keyboard stripped down to it’s core with a dozen macro buttons and a conveniently located set of quick keys this keyboard looks on the surface fairly standard which makes the new gamer feel at home quicker.

The real strength and difference of the S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 is in the inside where you hopefully will never have to look. Besides having 16 million option RGB backlighting this series uses a custom engineered P.U.L.S.E. feedback system which is a membrane precise tactile feedback and five times the durability. If that doesn’t mean anything to you simply put it is really a tough keyboard without losing any touch sensitivity when hitting keys. The keyboard actually has a system built in to make it even more sensitive to key touches to help reduce muscle fatigue.

One of my personal favorite aspects is the ability to turn off the Windows key easily. I can’t count how many times I have gone to crouch using ctrl only to bump the Windows key and leave the game. I usually come back to the game to find a “you are dead” screen and unleash a torrent of curses at the simple little button. Apparently I was not alone since Mad Catz fixed that issue for me. Thanks!

Last Call:
There are keyboards in the S.T.R.I.K.E. series that can do some amazing things and control multiple programs at once and if you can afford them and have experience at multitasking I highly recommend them. If you just want a very solid and dependable keyboard that will have a long life of quality service at an entry level price the S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 is the keyboard for you, it won’t let you down.

[easyreview title=”Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 Gaming Keyboard Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Air Conflicts: Vietnam (PC/Steam)

2013/10/13

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

There are generally two different categories that air combat/sim games fall into: simulator or arcade/survey. They mix a bit, shifting toward one side or the other but mostly there are the realistic simulation games where you are constantly watching air speed, checking for stalls, watching wash, etc. and then there is the arcade style which generally has safe flight decks, easy landings, and concentrates mainly on blowing stuff up. Air Conflicts: Vietnam is a classic arcade-style air combat game, giving you lots of weapons, lots of targets, and plenty of explosions – just what the casual gamer wants.

Description:
Vietnam War. It is the year 1965. A conflict, that began 20 years ago, escalates. Vietnam is a divided country. The communistic North fights against the anti-communistic South in a fierce civil war. The USA are at Cold War with the Soviet Union and, in order to demonstrate their interests, they decide to support South Vietnam in the fight against the communistic Vietcong troops.

Witness the story of Joe Thompson, a brave pilot of the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. He reaches Vietnam as one of the first soldiers of the USA. He is young, talented and dutiful. The will to serve his country and to help people by doing that dominates his life. Take a seat in the pilot’s seat of jet fighters and helicopters, those war machines that were used during the Vietnam War for the first time in history, and experience explosive aerial combat in a class of its own and accompany Joe on his way to become a real ace. But during this war he will face an acid test. What Joe experiences in Vietnam will change him forever and even the relationship to his family on another continent, watching his mission from afar. They can reach him only by writing letters …

Features:

Experience the Vietnam War, one of the most explosive wars of all time, that was fought extremely heavily armed! Witness the experiences of the brave pilots of the US Air Force.
After a battle there can never be only winners! Get yourself carried away by a thrilling and emotional story and, besides heroic moments, experience the dark sides of war.
Brand new missions, tailor-made for helicopter pilots! Besides jet fighter missions you must complete special helicopter missions, where the whole equipment of the choppers needs to be used.
Take control of whole squadrons! Instead of controlling just one airplane, you can control every aircraft in your squadron in the respective missions.
Equip your airplanes and helicopters with real weapons! All possible plane-weapons-combinations (chopper-weapons-combinations) are based on real models.
A real setting combined with arcade gameplay! Every airplane can only be equipped with a limited amount of ammunition. You can avoid this restriction as you switch between the different planes of a squadron.
A game that never gets boring! Play multiple single player and innovative multiplayer modes.
A huge war machinery for you to choose from! The game contains a total of more than 20 airplanes and helicopters.

Hands On:
With only a few, quick minutes of flight lessons, this game is a definite pick up and play arcade titles. You can start and, for the most part, finish the game’s various missions in a short time then come back and play again later. If you like the game though you will probably find yourself in the “just one more mission” kind of play session. The missions vary greatly, both in difficulty and what is required of you, and give you the opportunity to use a very wide variety of weapons and aircraft to get the job done. Often they suggest one way of completing a mission, but creative minds who maybe favor a certain type of craft or weapon can find a different way.

When in dog fighting missions you have to practically suicide to hit the deck, so it is all about the enemy crafts. The map size is very limited, with red out-of-bound borders around its perimeter that you can cross and as long as you swing back into bounds quickly won’t get you killed. This is good because enemy aircraft routinely head out there without penalty. So, if you truly want to pursue them, you have to join them in their breaking of engagement rules. Other than that, the real key to the game’s air to air combat is sticking to an enemy like crazy, watch for missile warnings, and hit them as fast as possible. The longer the battle goes on, the more planes you will lose from your squadron no matter how good your shooting is. You can also change from plane to plane in your squadron which is handy if you run low on ammo and ordinance, but it is smart to try to get a visual on the plane you are switching to first otherwise on occasion when the computer is at the stick it will fly through the jungle at full speed 5 feet off the ground which will become instant death for you.

Another thing to watch out for is that when you are landing your helicopter, regardless of whether it has wheels or skids, you have to make sure you nose is perfectly neutral so that your speed drops to zero otherwise as soon as you near the ground your helicopter will explode and mission will fail. It took me some trial and error to learn this one so I figured I would save our readers the pain. With these few things in mind, you can get a good 15-20 hours of playtime out of the campaign as long as you watch all the cutscenes and mission briefs. This also includes single player custom missions, multiplayer, and mission replayability. You will probably get a little burned out of the music after a while as there are only a handful of songs and only a couple really fit the era.

Storyline:
This isn’t something I normally get too much into other than to say it is “thin” or “rich” and I let the description from the game’s website speak for itself. This time though, it needs to be addressed. There are basically two story lines that progress in the game: One a historical description of the war’s events told from a militaristic, analytical point of view. Having studied the Vietnam War very extensively, I can vouch for its accuracy. The other storyline is told through letters from home to Joe and some cutscenes which mass together the experiences of many Vietnam veterans into one single account. This results in a very depressing anti-war storyline that makes you think twice about playing the next mission from time to time if you get into it too far. Since arcade shooters are mainly designed to be fairly simple with “pick up and play” ideologies – putting an emphasis on having fun rather than being bummed out by real life war facts, I would recommend for those who just want to enjoy themselves to skip the “Dear Joe” letters. If you really want to read an “heavy” portrayal of what our servicemen had to deal with during this conflict then pay close attention to them.

Last Call:
Air Conflicts: Vietnam is a decent air combat arcade game with tons of short missions that you can play a little or a lot with a great variety of weapons and missions. If you don’t want to get bogged down in the details of flaps and stall speeds, you just want to fly mission and shoot bad guys this is the game for you. If you want to learn a bit of history while you are at it this is also a great opportunity. Just know that if you read the Dear Joe letters you are going to know the darkest parts of a Vietnam veteran’s ordeal.
[easyreview title=”Air Conflicts: Vietnam Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″ ]

Knock-Knock Review (PC/Steam)

2013/10/10

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

I love a stylized game, maybe the only thing I love more than a stylized game is a creepy stylized game. I tore through Limbo, loving the puzzle solving, the stylized silhouettes and the crazy creative ways in which the poor character was torn apart. Knock-Knock reminds me a lot of Limbo in the sense that is a puzzle game and in the fact that it is beautifully stylized, but then it departs onto it’s own stranger journey that tests your wits and creativity.

Description:
There is an unusual house standing in the depth of the forest. It served as a laboratory and a home to three generations of Caretakers. The last Caretaker has recently started noticing frightening changes in the familiar background as certain things fall down, and noises and grating sounds come from somewhere. Something strange is coming from the forest. During the night it even seems that someone makes himself at home in the shadows of the rooms, attics and basements…

The main character is sick of headache and is tempted to sleep, but he must not: there are unwanted Guests in the house. He has to stay awake until dawn, sitting up and trying not to let the fear drive him out of mind. The light is going out now: once the lamp goes dark it is time to hide. Meeting the Unknown itself face to face may drive him insane right away, especially with his unstable state of mind.

The only thing left to the main character is to try to bring the pieces of his world back into one: he mixes substances, notions, thoughts and reminiscences. The combinations may come out simple and evident, yet unexpected and frightening at times.

Walking around the house, avoiding to meet the Unknown, trying to concentrate, pulling himself together and holding on to his sanity, the main character counts the minutes until sunrise. Each subsequent night may turn out even more dangerous than the one before, but it is only during the night that the main puzzle can be solved: what is going on? Are the Guests real or are they consequences of insomnia? What happened to the forest? What is actually happening in the house? Where does the reality stop and the imagination begin?

Features:
– Hiding. An imitation of playing hide-and-seek with nightmare creatures. A hybrid of Lode Runner, Home Alone and Nightmare Ned.
– Counting down until the sunrise. The goal of the gaming night is to maintain sanity until dawn. A gaming night (“level”) lasts for 7-10 minutes.
– Turning on the light. You can only walk in peace in the rooms where the light is on, yet the light is not eternal as it needs to be kept alive.
– Exploring the dreams. From time to time there are portals opening in the walls that let the unknown into the house, yet the main character can step forward and enter the portal himself to go inside a dream.
– Running experiments. The biostation has long since been used by researchers for various tests from simple and routine ones to absolutely absurd experiments trenching upon metaphysics. What the next synthesis will bring? Morphine? A ray of light? Nostalgia? Or just a cup of hot tea?
– Everything that happens in the house is a clue. Try harder and you would be able to expose the underlying mystery.

Hands On:
This is a journey around dark places where things go bump in the night and insomnia has taken a solid, terrifying hold. Knock-Knock describes itself as a meditation, a found program built by anonymous instructions for some unknown goal. If that doesn’t define mystery I’m not how else to do it, it’s like Blair Witch but with a found program instead of film. Why was it created, why was it made, what does it all mean? The game has solid creepy aspects to it such as hanging nooses, straight jackets hoping around on one leg, wraiths flying through the air and giant eyeballs looking through the wall and yet it is all existential, every thing you see is a clue and every clue brings up questions as well as answers and the answers add up to greater truths.

This all sounds very cerebral, which it is meant to be. You can play the game just as a puzzle game trying to find your way through levels without caring why or what any of it means and it would be a stylized good play. If however you consider everything said, everything that happens it is an amazingly deep game hidden behind simple play. You use the arrow keys and the space bar to play and that is about it control wise. You walk around trying to figure out how to beat the level which is easier if you try to understand the deeper meanings but isn’t necessary. Also not necessary is turning off all the lights, turning up the sound and playing it in a room or better yet a house all alone, but wow does it add a lot to the game and it’s creepy atmosphere made with dark rooms, strange sounds, haunting voices and strange things moving around.

Despite the creepy atmosphere you don’t die when things go wrong for you, you just start over at your same starting position, waking up in bed. No gore to be had, no fighting beasties, just simple wandering to learn what the house has to tell you if you are willing to listen.

Last Call:
I’m so glad I got to go hands on with this meditation, this found program written by anonymous hands. Knock-Knock is a stylized game on the surface that dives deep for any willing to take the journey. Wander the rooms and woods, discover things about the house and yourself and in the end face your demons by lighting one room at a time.

[easyreview title=”Knock-Knock Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

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The King Of Fighters XIII Steam Edition (PC)

2013/10/10

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

I have been playing fighting games like The King Of Fighters since they were invented – I’m kinda old and I have been a video game junkie since I was six. I have always been above average at them, but never great. I still have fun at them but I have died many a time trying to perform a finishing move I spent hours practicing. I’m great with combos and that has always been my saving grace but special moves I tend to jack up. If our resident expert on these games John Dugan were to challenge me the massacre would be epic and ugly for he is one of those players who master the game in every nuance, where I do the moves I do well until I realize I am toast and become a button masher. Anyone who plays the genre though knows King Of Fighters so I’m going to approach this review from the point of view you know the game, have been playing KOF XIII for a couple years but why you need to get the Steam Edition if you like the game even slightly.

Description:
The King Of Fighters XIII, SNK Playmore’s flagship 2D versus fighting title returns in an ultimate version on Steam!!
The many features exclusive to the console version of the game, such as the Online Mode that allows you to enjoy smooth online versus matches with rivals from around the world, the Tutorial Mode which can be enjoyed by KOF novice players, and the Story Mode which features several exclusive episodes in a Visual Novel format, have been improved are still available in The King Of Fighters XIII Steam Edition!
In addition, “Iori with the Power of Flames”, “NESTS Style Kyo”, and “Mr. Karate” DLC characters are now playable from the start, for a total roster of 36 characters!
The time has come to face rivals worldwide!

Features:
・3-ON-3 TEAM BATTLE:
Choose a default team of 3 characters or make your own team by picking up 3 characters of your choice, and fight against teams until victory! Develop your own team strategy by choosing the best characters for you!

・STORY：
In this mode, you will experience a variety of background stories not touched upon in the game’s original Arcade Version. Discover the truth about KOF’s “Ash Saga” and its secrets through the eyes of the main character, Ash Crimson, and other characters who were not directly participating in the tournament. Your decisions and battle results may lead you to discovering new story elements; try out all the different options and every scene!

・NETWORK:
“The King Of Fighters XIII Steam Edition” now features vastly improved netcode that will provide you with the most comfortable online experience yet! The new netcode features improved communication speeds between you and your opponent, and also tailors your online experience according to your PC environment!

“The King Of Fighters XIII Steam Edition” features three different types of ONLINE VERSUS Matches, allowing players to challenge other rivals worldwide in endless and intense battles:
‐ “Ranked Match”: fight under specified regulations, and your results will be reflected in the rankings.
– “Player Match”: playing in this mode will not affect your results. You can fight against others casually.
– “Friend Match”: invite online players and challenge them through this mode for heated competition!

・MISSION:
Tackle three different kinds of missions in this mode, and improve your skills!
– “TIME ATTACK”: Defeat all CPU opponents in the shortest time you can.
– “SURVIVAL”: Select a character and fight your way through as many CPU opponents as you can.
– “TRIAL”: In this mode, each character has 10 tasks, which mainly focus on combos. By the time you complete all 10 tasks, you will have mastered some combos for that character.

・TUTORIAL:
Rose Bernstein, hostess of the tournament, will teach you the basic techniques as well as explain the gauges and their uses. First time KOF players should start here to get used to the game.

・CUSTOMIZE:
This mode allows you to edit your online profile and change character color palette. You can create a team to use online, add icons collected while playing, or enter a preset message that you want to use in your profile. For each character, you can make up to five custom color patterns. Show off your personality on the worldwide stage!

・OPTION:
A “GRAPHICS OPTION” feature, allowing the players to switch between different frame rates and simplify backgrounds, has been newly added.

Hands On:
This game has a lot of features, most of which were already in play on the consoles. The key one to note for fans of the series is the Steam Edition and only the Steam Edition has been given new netcode. The results are making the painful, often match killing lag that is faced regularly on the console a thing of the past on the PC. No more crashes whether you are playing someone next door or someone on the other side of the world, netcoding into Steam’s system makes the game feel like it is being played on one console. This is huge, a giant leap in the game’s improvement that takes it from a game played with friends on the couch to a true world challenge pool.

The gameplay is designed to work with a gamepad controller so it still feels like a console game even though it is on the PC. I have it set up on my laptop which means in the many airports I will be visiting during the Halloween season I can play this game anywhere, anytime. Add to this the ability to adjust graphics that the PC offers and this game just makes better sense on Steam than a console.

With the addition of the three DLC characters being available at launch the game’s roster is a staggering 36 characters, that is liable to keep you busy for quite a while. The tutorial is excellent for teaching new or returning players the ropes again so they feel at least a bit more comfortable jumping into play with global opponents and the game even has an interesting story.

Last Call:
KOF XIII has been around a while and has a fan following on the console but the smart player will make the shift to the Steam Edition if they can. The netcode and graphic’s adjustment are game changers and takes it’s online play from routinely frustrating to beautifully smooth. If you are a fan of fighting games this is a must play, if you are a fan of the series I should have had you at “new netcode.”
[easyreview title=”The King Of Fighters XIII Steam Edition Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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Alien Rage – Unlimited Review (PC)

2013/10/08

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

This is the travel season for me, big time. Over the month of October I am on the road more than I am at home which means little time for games and a lot of time nursing sore body parts. During these times, a certain kind of game can come along that is pretty much perfect for airport layovers or long coast to coast flights. While my wounds are recovering, putting the hurt on vicious aliens is the perfect medicine. So, when Alien Rage Unlimited came along on Steam, I knew exactly what I would be playing during my minimal amount free time.

Description:
Unleash a fury of powerful weapons as you blast your way through armies of Alien forces hell-bent on taking you down! Battle through 14 intense levels and prepare to face a barrage of beastly-sized bosses that will test your every skill. Each of your 10 weapons comes with two firing modes and you’ll need all of them! Battle hardened Alien forces will attack you from every direction using various flanking and attack moves. Built with powerful up-to-date graphics technology, awesome physics, destructible environments… experience a truly intense, oldschool styled shooter game!

Features:
– Wide variety of Alien enemy forces including Infantry, Warriors, Flying Drones, Spiders
– Huge boss fights – Over 21 enemy types including 8 beastlysized bosses to challenge and destroy through 14 Levels
– Strong thru-the-gun experience with 10 powerful weapons each with two firing modes
– Skill shots, head shots and shooting accuracy heavily rewarded
– Player-triggered destruction of environments and cover helps to advance through levels
– Built with powerful up-to-date graphics technology, awesome physics, destructible environments

Hands On:
There is a story behind the game and why we are fighting these aliens, but it really comes down to why we usually fight aliens in games like this. We both want the same piece of real estate and we are crappy at sharing. The story is told through cutscenes and audio logs, definitely set up so that a player who wants to enjoy the tale can. On the other hand, the player that just wants to blow stuff up and build a body count can do that too. With that in mind, we are given all kinds of weapons to waste alien scum and blow them back to where ever they came from. Alien Rage is a classic run and gun FPS designed to provide intense challenges for even the seasoned player. There are plenty of enemy forces waiting for you at every turn, cover can be hard to come by and these aliens know how to shoot.

Graphically, Alien Rage is a beautiful game with plenty of detail that allows you to get shots off at those hard to see snipers. Explosions are intense and very satisfying as you watch enemy bodies go flying, giblet-style, all over the map. In fact, the giblet count reminds me way back in the day when Raven Software released the original Soldier of Fortune game. Good times… Anyhow, headshots result in slumped over corpses pouring lava-like blood out their neck holes while the sound track pumps away like club music on speed. Additionally, the game’s sound effects rock with all sorts of explosions, ambient effects, and weapons fire. The aliens get progressively tougher and you find yourself clinging to what little bit of cover you have more and more after a while. It should be noted that the game’s boss battles usually involve some decent strategy and even experienced players should expect quite a bit of playtime before they have one beat.

Last Call:
If you like a challenging first person shooter then Alien Rage Unlimited is definitely the game for you. It has great graphics and sound, it has tough enemies and as much story as you want to enjoy or skip. Weapons are satisfyingly strong and you get to blow up and/or dismember aliens which can be very refreshing after a long day of work or while waiting for your plane to start boarding. The only problem is it can be addictive and bring out the “one more level” aspect in players who need to get going.

[easyreview title=”Alien Rage Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Joy Factory Daytona V Phone Case (iPhone 5/5S)

2013/10/07

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Reviews

I like to use different phone cases for different occasions. I have a case I use when traveling a lot that can be run over by a sports car and the phone will still work. But, it’s bulky and a brighter color than I tend to display. I have an amazing art piece phone case that is extremely stylish and limited edition to boot, becoming more limited by the fact that its edges can’t handle prolonged wear and tear. Then I have a $3 case from a Chinese online discount distributor that stole my credit card but gave me a case that will last forever, has a great 80’s throwback feel but wouldn’t protect my phone from a one foot drop. Often it is hard to find a balance between looks and design, it isn’t impossible, just rare. So, when I can report on one that has done a nice job balancing design and protection it always makes me happy. Enter Joy Factory’s Daytona V phone case for the iPhone 5/5S.

Description:
Fine watches have long been a symbol of wealth and sophistication. Now the traditional watchband pattern has been paired with contemporary fashion colors to produce a case in a class by itself. Choose from the classy Vintage Blue, the subdued Snow Gray, and the vibrant contrast of Snow White or Forever Green. The Daytona V is composed of an inner silicone case that fits into a hard plastic frame. The frame maintains the case’s shape, while the silicone inner case provides both scratch and shock protection. The low-profile front lip of the case will even protect your phone from scratches when laid facedown on the table.

Hands On:

First off it is important to note that in the area of fashion and style this case has taken an interesting and effective direction. Fashioned after the alternating links of a watchband with checkered coloring to enhance the illusion this phone is following a unisex fashion statement that has only grown in recent years. Men’s watches traditionally have used these type of links, particularly higher end lines for decades now. In recent years ceramic watches with the same link patterns have been marketed to both men and women for their durability and their high polish making them high priced and high fashion. It’s near impossible to look at higher end watches without seeing this pattern, traditionally men’s watches that often went with rubber straps for sporting durability have also adopted the ceramic bands instead since they are more durable and more fashionable. Joy Factory realized that there was a niche that was being missed, both men and women like to match their accessories and phone cases are no exception. It is harder and far more cost prohibitive to get watches to match phone cases so Joy Factory has provided the Daytona V phone case to help with that even going so far as to offer it in different colors to match what watch your wearing while keeping the price competitive.

I mentioned before that sometimes a case can be nice looking or fashionable but totally fail as protection for your phone. The Daytona V case is made with this in mind as well with the two layer protective design of an inner silicon layer and an outer plastic layer. This results in the case maintaining shape while giving a hard impact protective layer followed by a shock resistant inner layer. I’ve tested this type of build before in previous reviews and found that in some cases this even meets up to military standards but at a minimum should be able to handle a simple fumble from butter fingers. The end sections are also reinforced plastic where ones with thin plastic crossbars tend to break over time due to casual wear and tear.

If that wasn’t enough protection each case also comes with a screen protector and a Joy Factory BubbleShield, a water resistant reusable protective sleeve for your phone in case you suddenly realize that your phone is in your pocket as you are about to go on a water ride at your local amusement park or the sky suddenly opens up and dumps a downpour on you.

Last Call:
I requested to review this case because the moment I saw it, I realized it was filling a fashion niche. I have some very fine watches that I have collected over the years and while I have cases that go neutrally with them, this is the first case I have had that compliment them. I would feel comfortable taking this case out at a nice affair where I was wearing my Bianci Professional Commando Watch, and would not be surprised when someone asked me where to get one of their own. Also, I wouldn’t feel my gut drop with the phone if it slipped out of my fingers.
[easyreview title=”Daytona V Phone Case Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Takedown: Red Sabre Review (PC/Steam)

2013/10/05

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

There’s a time to run and gun, then there is a time to think and shoot. First Person Shooters are not all made the same, regardless of those who try to play them that way. Some are made for players to charge forward recklessly, popping from cover to cover and expending more ammo than in a Rambo movie. Others are designed with finesse in mind – you pick the perfect silenced weapon, watch the patterns of guards, only break concealment when absolutely necessary and if at all possible clean up your mess afterwards. These are often referred to as strategy shooters and are often the bane of run and gun players. The strategists have no problem with a level taking hours to complete, breaking down the puzzle of enemy placement and movements, having to start over again and again because the enemy’s aim is true and shots are brutally effective. No healing over time, if you take one shot and live you are lucky, don’t expect to take a second and stay standing. For such serious strategy shooters Takedown: Red Sabre is the game for you.

Description:

Takedown is a thinking-person’s shooter. The player that takes things slow, aims carefully, and plans their moves right will overcome the player who runs in with guns blazing. Close-quarters battle brings the fight inside, as you would see SWAT teams or SOF units taking down small numbers of dangerous adversaries. Non-linear environments allow for multiple routes and tactics and add replayability.

In recent years, shooters have become homogenized. There used to be a wide range of different games to choose, from run-and-gun action titles to slow-paced tactical shooters focusing on strategy and tactics, but now most shooters follow the same model of big set pieces, regenerating health, linear levels, and “cinematic experiences.” The realistic tactical shooters with in-depth planning have almost entirely disappeared in recent years.

This game focuses on realistic weapons modeling, squad based play, in a close-quarters battle setting. To succeed in this game you need to take things slow, study your environment, and execute flawlessly. If you get shot, there are consequences. You won’t be hiding behind a wall waiting for your health to regenerate. If a team member goes down, you will have to assess the situation and reallocate team members if necessary to complete the mission. Don’t expect all of the tools and plans to be forced fed to you – it is up to the player to ensure their team is equipped and ready for the tasks at hand. With features such as realistic bullet penetration, accuracy, and recoil, choosing the proper weapons, ammunition, armor, and gear for the mission is up to you, so choose carefully.

Gameplay modes include single player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer. If you are a fan of old school shooters where thinking meant more than running and gunning or perks, or if you are just looking for something different in your shooter games experience, this is the game for you.

Features:

Fight Smart in Deadly, Close Quarters Combat – Players must think and move tactically, stay alert, watch, listen and choose wisely while setting up their squad for the perfect shot.
Tackle Engagements That Are Different Every Time – Nonlinear maps allow for multiple tactics and approaches to both attack and defense. Gamers must choose their gear to best execute strategy.
Out Think The Enemy – Gamers need to work closely and communicate well with their team to not only attack the enemy but to coordinate to secure multiple objectives.

Hands On:

I had recently been playing a very fun run and gun game, so when I first started playing Takedown: Red Sabre it hurt, a lot. It took me a few tries to get out of the mindset of keep moving and shooting and into peek and sneak mode. I quickly checked out my character’s equipment loadout so I would know what I was working with, then jumped into the first mission. My entire team was dead in minutes. Not good, I thought, maybe I just need to shoot faster. Nope – dead again in minutes. So then I increased my armor and gave it another chance. I lived through the first shot but suddenly I was swarmed by enemies and down went my poor team again. It was about this time that my mind said “hey dummy, maybe you should rethink what you are doing. You can think right?” Right. So, I looked at the specs, my higher armor made it so that I was slower and made lots of noise moving, light armor was silent but one hit and you are toast. All weapons have silencers available which help with quieter kills but make your barrel longer and harder to swing around doorways. I made adjustments and moved in… and all the enemies were in different places. Randomization, check. It goes on like this as you learn the game’s make up, the strengths and weaknesses of the weapons, items and armor and which team member you want using what. The game boasts realistic ballistic damage, weapon recoil, scope sway and collision issues such as barrels being forced up or down upon hitting walls or door jams.

All enemies are spawned at the beginning of a match in random placement with random weapon and armor, the environments are non-linear and the objective locations randomly spawn at possible predetermined locations at the beginning of the match. Surfaces have penetration values so taking cover behind a wooden crate will have less effectiveness than a steel door. If you manage to get lucky enough to just get shot in the arm your weapon handling will decrease, if you get shot in the leg your movement is effected. The game strives for the greatest degree of realism possible with every level having a high replayability because of the complete randomization involved. Ammo types comes into play and there is no HUD for kills or map location, just a small figure in the corner that lets you know if you are hit and whether you are standing or crouching.

If playing isn’t enough then you can even build your own killhouses using the Unreal 3 Engine and the Unreal Development Kit and release them upon the community. On the same note the community can build killhouses and put them on servers to test your steel. You can play the game multiplayer as well and see just how much your really need to work as a team to survive, no heroes allowed.

Last Call:

It is possible to go on ad nauseam with how much the folks at Serellan were striving to make this game as strategically challenging as possible while at the same time maintaining realism every step of the way. If you get frustrated from dying in a game, this isn’t the one for you. The same goes if you like to run and gun through a shooter, then sit behind a crate to wait for your “shields” to recharge. Takedown: Red Sabre prides itself in making you think beyond trigger reflex and giving you the closest thing to realism outside of a real SWAT team.
[easyreview title=”Takedown: Red Sabre Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

PAYDAY 2 Review (PC)

2013/09/18

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

I was lucky enough to get into E3 a few years back and one of the games that just seemed to come out of nowhere, but impressed the pants off me, was PAYDAY: The Heist. It wasn’t the guys in suit jackets and masks by the demo consoles; It wasn’t the cool, swag masks (though I still have and wear mine sometimes while playing); It was that the game was something out of just about every guy’s secret dream: to be involved in a big heist. It is why we eat up heist movies, whether they be stealthy and funny like Ocean’s Eleven or balls to the wall intensity like Heat. To paraphrase Dan Cook, we all want to be walking down the street shot in the leg yelling “where’s the van?” while carrying machine guns. The reality of it is these real life moments seldom end well, so it was great to reenact these movie moments at the safety of a computer! I played the heck out of PAYDAY: The Heist, so when PAYDAY 2 came along all I could say was “you’ll never take me alive, copper!”

Description:
PAYDAY 2 is an action-packed, four-player co-op shooter that once again lets gamers don the masks of the original PAYDAY crew – Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains – as they descend on Washington DC for an epic crime spree. The new CRIMENET network offers a huge range of dynamic contracts, and players are free to choose anything from small-time convenience store hits or kidnappings, to big league cyber-crime or emptying out major bank vaults for that epic PAYDAY. While in DC, why not participate in the local community, and run a few political errands? Up to four friends co-operate on the hits, and as the crew progresses the jobs become bigger, better and more rewarding. Along with earning more money and becoming a legendary criminal comes a new character customization and crafting system that lets crews build and customize their own guns and gear.

Features:

Rob Banks with Friends – Players must choose their crew carefully, because when the job goes down they will need the right mix of skills on their side.
CRIMENET – The dynamic contract database lets gamers pick and choose from available jobs by connecting with local contacts such as Vlad the Ukrainian, shady politician “The Elephant”, and South American drug trafficker Hector, all with their own agenda and best interests in mind.
PAYDAY gun play and mechanics on a new level – firing weapons and zip tying civilians never felt so good.
Dynamic Scenarios – No heist ever plays out the same way twice. Every single scenario has random geometry or even rare events.
Choose Your Skills – As players progress they can invest in any of four special Skill Trees: the Mastermind, the Enforcer, the Ghost and the Technician. Each features a deep customization tree of associated skills and equipment to master, and they can be mixed and matched to create the ultimate heister.
More Masks than Ever – PAYDAY 2 features a completely new mask system, giving players the ability to craft their own unique mask together with a pattern and a color combination.
Weapons and Modifications – A brand new arsenal for the serious heister, covering everything from sniper and assault rifles to compact PDWs and SMGs. Once you’ve settled for a favorite, you can modify it with optics, suppressors, fore grips, reticles, barrels, frames, stocks, all of which will affect the performance of your weapon. There are also purely aesthetic enhancements – why not go for the drug lord look with polished walnut grips for your nine?
Play It Your Way – Each job allows for multiple approaches, such as slow and stealthy ambushes, to running in guns blazing. Hit the target any way you want, and watch as the heist unfolds accordingly.

Hands On:
I was plenty happy with the gameplay in the first game and yet they improved it and made it immensely more dynamic and diverse in the sequel. Before you could complete a mission, there were certain steps you had to follow. How you handled the steps was up to you but certain actions had to happen. In PAYDAY 2, you have a ton of different ways to complete a mission, depending on the skill trees your team picked up. If you have the right member in your crew, you may not have to use one of those annoying drills to open a safe. Instead, you might pick it or blow it open with C4. If you have a “Ghost” on your team, you might be able to get in and get the loot stealthily, without triggering general alarms and getting into a standoff. There are so many choices that you can play the same mission over and over with entirely different actions each time. This diversity will keep the gameplay fresh for even longer than the last game, and that one didn’t get stale very fast.

CRIMENET adds a lot to the game too since it lays out a map and allows you to pick the job you want to join with the difficulty you feel like attempting. I would suggest playing it offline to start, just to get a feel for the game before playing with others. Online gaming communities can be somewhat unforgiving if you don’t have a general handle on what you are doing, so learning the paces and places a little doesn’t hurt. Besides, there is randomization with every heist, so practicing a few times offline won’t burn you out on one. You just get to see the different variations, like safe placements and armed responses. Then, you can join the CRIMENET online and really get a feel for how good the game can be. PAYDAY 2 requires more teamwork than the first game so you are far less likely to have a jerk on the team not help you up when you are down. You cover each other’s butts and watch backs as specialties such as blowing a safe are performed. It also makes it so that when you find a group that gels together well you might pull off heists together for a few hours and really feel like a team.

All the weapons and mask customization is really nice too as it helps make the character you are playing feel like your own. At the end of a successful heist, you have the opportunity to win weapons upgrades or mask customizations such as patterns, colors, and textures. This is great as you may find yourself in a heist with another person using the “Troll” mask but yours is a different color, has a scale texture, and has a large Ace of Spades on the forehead. It is also nice to be able to go into your safe house and look at the walls and see all the variations on your masks and weapons you have made. The shooting range is nice to see how new weapon changes really effect their performance.

Last Call:
I was ready for PAYDAY 2 to be more of the same from PAYDAY: The Heist and I would have been happy for it if that were the whole story. The first game was great and is one of the titles I always keep updated on my laptop. This way, during my travels, if I need a break or to take out some frustration I hop on and do a job or two. Honestly, I would have been happy if PAYDAY 2 was a glorified DLC of the first, but they made vast improvements on the first game while giving the exact same feel. You are still on a heist right out of a movie, but your specialty and those of your teammates will decide how things play out. Also awesome is that heist are never set up exactly the same way twice, so you never truly know what you are in for. I would say the roughest part of PAYDAY 2 is getting off the game in a reasonable period of time. It is very easy to lose track of the hours when you are running with a good crew and everyone is covering each other.

[easyreview title=”PAYDAY 2 Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
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Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs Review (PC)

2013/09/10

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

I remember Amnesia: The Dark Descent coming out and playing it a bit saying to myself that it was truly an aptly-named game. When Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs came along, my first response was one of confusion as, let’s face it, that is a pretty strange name for a survival horror game. Without giving too much away, it is a actually very accurate name for a truly disturbing gaming experience not at all friendly for the whole family!

Description:
The year is 1899
Wealthy industrialist Oswald Mandus awakes in his bed, wracked with fever and haunted by dreams of a dark and hellish engine. Tortured by visions of a disastrous expedition to Mexico, broken on the failing dreams of an industrial utopia, wracked with guilt and tropical disease, he wakes into a nightmare. The house is silent, the ground beneath him shaking at the will of some infernal machine: all he knows is that his children are in grave peril, and it is up to him to save them.

Hands On:
Gameplay-wise, the controls are simple point and click action which you forget about quickly as you dive into the madness of the storyline. I cannot recommend highly enough that you play in the dark, that you wear headphones and if at all possible, and be alone in the house/room/apartment/etc. Take away all comforts and safety nets so that the game’s atmosphere overtakes you, listen to the whining of metal and strange footsteps, try to pick out movement in the dark screen with your lantern covered, try to figure out what you need to do next to get closer to saving your children while damning yourself further.

It is all about the story that unfolds at your point and click actions. As things go from a bit strange and creepy to downright sinister and stomach turning you realize this alternate take on the Industrial Revolution seems like it could have been all too possible and maybe there is no such thing as a happy ending here.

The game’s pedigree includes Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Dear Esther, two games which had already proven that Frictional Games and The Chinese Room can do creepy, yet-excellent well – but, when you get into the depth of this game’s story, it is true horror (in a good way, of course)!

Last Call:
This post is really an uber-quick review of Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs – way shorter than most of my reviews on this site. The reason for this is simply because, as a reviewer, I don’t want to give anything away. It is a horror survival game at its purest form – not so much about puzzles and traps as it is about telling a truly disturbing story that could easily rival the plots of some great horror movies out there. A few words written on a found scrap of paper or heard as a recovered memory can create such images that I have to not recommend this for those who are sensitive to gory descriptions. I thought I saw this story’s twist coming but was so wrong and yet, in a horrific way, right. For those with the will and stomach for it, Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs is the perfect way to get ready for the Halloween season!

[easyreview title=”Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
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