Author - Ripper71

Game Dev Tycoon Review (PC/Steam)

2013/09/03

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Plenty of you readers out there have probably heard of Game Dev Tycoon, even if you haven’t played it, because of the humorous way GreenHeartGames dealt with folks who pirated/cracked the game. They knew they would get pirated/cracked, even at the incredibly affordable price of the game – so, they did a preemptive strike. They went on the net and uploaded their own specially-coded, cracked version of the game to pirate sites and waited. This was the first, somewhat discouraging result:

When you are a little indie game developer, it’s sad to see your game getting stolen on such a massive scale. Or, so it would seem. Then, these kind of posts started filling the web…

…and the developer’s revenge eventually sunk in. All cracked versions of the game were coded to have the games players develop become victims of piracy and make no money. Those who purchased legal copies, however, got an in-game email message thanking them for their support. I still get a laugh that this message, and those like it, can still be found on discussion boards. The game’s community, which grew and rallied after the trick was revealed, are quick to point out and chastise those who aren’t will to pay less than $10 for the game. I’m just glad that it became part of Steam Greenlight so I can give it a play and review!

Description:
Start your adventure in a small garage office in the 80s. Enjoy the hand-crafted level design while you develop your first simple games. Gain experience, unlock new options and create your first game engine. In Game Dev Tycoon the decisions you make during development really matter. Decide which areas you want to focus on. Does your game need more gameplay or should you focus more on quests? These decisions will have a major impact on the success of your game.

Once you have successfully released a few games you can move into your own office and forge a world-class development team. Hire staff, train them and unlock new options. With experience and a good team, you can release larger, more complex games. Larger games bring new challenges and you will have to manage your team well to deliver hit games.

Features:
– Start a game development company in the 80s
– Design and create games
– Research new technologies
– Create custom game engines
– Move into bigger offices
– Forge a world-class development team
– Unlock secret labs
– Conduct industry changing products
– Unlock achievements

Hands On:
When I heard about this game I laughed at what the developers did but wasn’t really sure what the appeal of the game might be, if you wanted to make games why not just make real games instead of playing a game about making games. When I got hands on though, I immediately saw the where the fun was – Game Dec Tycoon is a very fun sim game with realistic issues and developments with a strong puzzle element. You have to choose what the topic of your game will be about – topics such as horror, UFO, fantasy, etc. You have to select what type of game you are creating, such as adventure, simulation, strategy. You have to select what game engine to use as well as what platform to develop it for. The right combination of all these at the right time will please both the AI critics, who review your games on a 1-10 scale, and the masses who buy your games. Sales, of course, will result in loads of money for research, business expansion, and more employees to work on your games. A bad combination and the critics kill you in the reviews, nobody buys the game and you lose money – too much and it is bankruptcy time and a big game over. You have marketing strategies, engine building, and market analysis to consider. You even have the game’s version of E3 (called “G3”) to decide if you want a booth at and how big.

With this much detail, the game could border on requiring a serious sim player to get the most out of it. Thankfully, it is presented in a very user-friendly manner. However, I still think it might appeal to the occasional sim player because of how quickly you find yourself getting behind your projects you have created and wanting them to succeed. You will lose this game when you first start playing – probably quite a bit. But, each time, you will get farther into the game and you are able to transfer over what you learn from one game to the next. There is definitely a rush when your project winds up scoring some 10s and you suddenly have the cash flow to do new things.

Last Call:
If you like a great sim with an excellent sense of humor, this is definitely the game for you. The game injects enough realism in it that anyone thinking of starting their own game company should give it a play but still also manages to be fun and driving for someone who just wants to play a game not make one. In real life, you won’t see me on any game developer’s personnel list but you will see me playing this on Steam and trying to make that next must-play title.

[easyreview title=”Game Dev Tycoon Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Findables FlexStand Case Review (Mobile)

2013/08/28

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Reviews

After a recent electronics convention, I found myself very short on business cards for GamingShogun.com. At the same time, I have a side project going which has grown to the size that we have been trying to come up with a business card design to start using in October when we travel A LOT and meet a ton of new folks (ed. note: You guys can do it!!!). Financially speaking, times are tight, mostly due to all that travel. So, new business cards weren’t really “in the cards” so to speak. As luck would have it, that is when we got a Findables FlexStand iPhone case in and, not only were my business cards issue immediately taken care of, but it was also done in a very eco-friendly way.

Description:
Findables’ FlexStand case is innovatively engineered to offer the benefits of protection without sacrificing fashion; and can also turn into a viewing stand. Our ultra-slim and dual layer design offer inner shock protection and a rugged micro-textured outer shell. Each case comes with a free mobile sharing app so you can customize your personal or business information.

Features:
• Designed for iPhone 5
• Ultra-slim and sporty design
• Turns into a viewing stand
• Ultralight impact resistant outer shell (polycarbonate) with shock absorbent interior
• Scratch resistant micro-textured finish
• Raised TPU bezel to protect phone screen
• Full access to screen buttons and ports
• Free Findables Mobile Sharing App

Hands On:
First off, the case has a clean, professional look to it which is perfect for the uses I have in mind. The flexible center strip comes in different colors and allows the case to double as a stand which is nice since most cases with stands on the side of them tend to lose the stand due to wear, accidents, etc. I went through a couple of such cases before going with an insanely durable case with a metal kickstand which looks bulky and not so professional. The slim and professional simplicity of the FlexStand combined with its durability and design help make me feel this is a perfect case for casual or professional time.

What I found to be the most interesting and creative feature to the case is a simple one that I am surprised hasn’t become a norm, after this case it may be. There is a little discreet QR code at the bottom of the case face which can be easily scanned. To this code three different profiles can be set up so that the individual scanning it can get your business, personal or lost phone profile you set up through the Finables app. So, let’s say you are at a business convention and you find yourself running low on cards. Someone can read the QR code with their phone and get a photo (great place to put a picture of your business card), a full list of contact information and any business website or social links you wish to provide. It is far better than a business card because it is less likely to get lost and will have far more information at a single click than can be provided on a business card.

After the convention, let’s say you decide to go out for some drinks with some friends and you run into a long lost friend or become newly acquainted with one. You probably won’t want to give them your business card or a business profile from your phone so with a couple clicks you can have them scan your QR code and get a personal profile with personal information and such things as your Facebook or Twitter account. For me this is where I will have a profile for the group I was considering picking up cards for, the picture will be of a sticker that has our catch phrase on it followed by our Facebook, Twitter and a description of who we are and what we do. Once again that makes it so that the individual doesn’t have to remember any extra details about you that aren’t on a business or personal card, it is all right there. Add to this that it is eco and financially friendly by not having cards made and carried around and this case could become a business man’s best friend (sorry dogs).

The lost phone feature is nice too in case you lose your phone you can set the QR code to lost phone information and an alternate number by accessing the app and your account. There are other apps that arguably can do the same stuff to the phone itself but this is a nice added measure.

Last Call:
Findables FlexStand is the next evolution in cellphone case design and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s design and app become a standard for the industry. The case is competitively priced but comes with an app that will make life easier for anyone who carries business cards, runs into old friends, loses their phone or picks people up in a bar. I definitely plan to put it to good use in my travels.

[easyreview title=”Findables FlexStand Case Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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ROCCAT Savu Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse Review (PC)

2013/08/28

Ripper71

News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

Casual and older gamers tend to drift away from exotic, gaming mouse designed and stick to more conservative models. I have a “casual” gamer in my household who plays even more hours than I do and yet uses a budget, generic-looking mouse. the mouse is solid and dependable, it has been used for years without problems but I literally have a stack of great gaming mice that would improve their game and have been tried and rejected as she doesn’t need the added features and “strange” design. the hope is the ROCCAT Savu Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse will bridge the gap between casual comfort and gaming edge.

Description:
Combining astounding performance and massively-customizable features – packed into an ultra-rugged, perfectly-balanced, medium-size design – the tough ROCCAT Savu Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse easily dominates every device in its class, helping you to easily dominate every opponent you face.

the Savu features the world’s only 4000 dpi optical sensor – for precision optical gaming second to none. It’s also the world’s first mouse to feature a stats and trophy system – called the ROCCAT Achievements Display, or R.A.D. – something previously known in similar form only in online gaming. Plus, our ROCCAT scientists built the Savu using only the higshest-quality materials, which means it will perform flawlessly and with the higshest precision for the longest time possible.

the Savu is the world’s first mouse to feature the ROCCAT Achievements Display – or R.A.D. – a fun and handy application that tracks and rewards a wide range of gaming feats, such as mouse movement, button clicks, scroll steps, etc. the driver-based software compiles mouse use data, provides a range of statistics for analysis, and hands out trophies when exceptional milestones have been reached. It’s a useful and entertaining way for gamers to keep track of their mouse skills – and it even lets players share their accomplishments with others.

Features:
– 4000 DPI Pro-Optic Sensor
– Easy Shift[+] Button
– Customizable Light System
– No-Sweat Side Grips
– ROCCAT Driver+Micro Manager
– High Quality Components

Hands On:
I called in a little help from the casual gamer in the house so that I could give my opinion as well as that of the other end of the spectrum. I like to have gear that is competitive and in-depth and I am more than happy to go through a mouse configuration software and customize buttons and light colors and other settings. the Savu has a nice, middle of the road size so that the user feels the comfort of a smaller mouse in their hands but, at the same time, it is large enough to rest a hand on. It also has an excellent thumb groove to hold it with and its No-Sweat side grips and light weight work together to help make it sail across the mouse pad. the thumb shift button on the mouse is above a tactile groove so my thumb won’t accidentally hit it during normal usage. However, it isn’t too far off if I need to place my thumb there to use the shift button features. Using them does require a shift of the hand’s position but nothing deal-breaking. I am very familiar with all sorts of gaming mice, so between the No-Sweat grip (it feels like shark skin) and the buttons being flush with body, the mouse is still a breeze to manipulate.

the Savu Configuration Application which umbrellas the Micro Manager, light system, and R.A.D. system is easy to install with a few clicks. It is also very user friendly when it comes to checking out all the functions. there are 16.8 million lighting choices – I actually enjoy it cycling through the spectrum in a random color array that fades in and out with is the factory default. Micro and macro managing is extremely so that full rotations in a game can be set to a single button. This makes it so that the forward thumb button, for example, could be used by one macro for fighting single enemies then shift to another macro for multiple enemies. Even a middle of the road gamer and casual gamer would find the ease of the system worth getting used to full mouse play. As for the ROCCAT Achievement Display it’s funny how we just love to get achievements even if it is for mouse usage – we also love to brag about them so the sharing system is nice.

When running the mouse by the casual gamer in the house the first thing that took him a moment to get used to was the size. Quickly did she adapt, thanks to the very comfortable ergonomic thumb indention. She liked the feel of the button clicks but voiced concern that if she were to use the shift command to full effect, she may forget what was programmed where in the heat of battle or not hit the shift button for the right attack. She liked that the thumb buttons were out of the way of the thumb for general use but thought they were a bit far away for comfort. Using a standard mouse she has gotten used to moving her hand more forward on a mouse so that she has to move her thumb back to hit the shift, whereas I found them in about the right space when my hand was at rest, but I use gaming mice all the time.

Last Call:
The ROCCAT Savu Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse really is a true hybrid designed to bridge the game between a standard mouse and a gamer mouse. It has gamer features but many standard mouse features as well. This mouse might be my new standard for my work station so that I can write easy yet have the edge for gaming when I need it. I’m not sure the casual gamer in the house has been sold on it yet, she has used the same kind of mouse for a lot of years but she gave it a maybe. She really liked the feel and with time I think would get comfortable with the shift and the button in front of it for firing off a couple macros. I may get her to upgrade her mouse yet and this might be the one to do it.

[easyreview title=”ROCCAT Savu Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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DuckTales Remastered Review (XBLA)

2013/08/19

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Xbox 360 News, Xbox 360 Review

Woo-oo! DuckTales was such a treat to kids and adults growing up, that it practically drips with nostalgia. The cartoon series was an example of Disney animation at its finest: Disney characters having high adventure without their parents dying or anyone else. It involved characters that kids could relate to such as Huey, Dewey, and Louie and one of the most fascinatingly-eccentric Disney creations: Scrooge McDuck. Add to this one of the best and most recognizable theme songs and you have a series that holds up today. The question is… does the game?

Description:
DuckTales: Remastered is a hand-crafted, beautiful re-imagining of one of the most cherished 8-bit titles of all time – now refined with a level of detail that will please the most hardened devoted Disney or retro Capcom fan. Featuring hand-drawn, animated sprites, authentic Disney character voices talent, and richly painted level backgrounds from the classic cartoon TV series, Scrooge McDuck and family come to life like never before. The gameplay retains the authenticity of its 8-bit predecessor, simple and fun, with slight modifications to improve flow and design. Embark on an authentic DuckTales adventure, as Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews travel to exotic locations throughout the world in their quest to retrieve the five Legendary Treasures.

Hands On:
First off, the graphics from the start menu on are gorgeously done while paying homage to its 8-bit roots. All the visual elements are more colorful and cleaner than they were in the old days but are kept simple and not too detailed in order to remind the player of the original. The music has the MIDI quality the original had but more clean and crisp, and the voices sound right out of the cartoon with lines that are short and silly like the original game. In other words: The game remembers the graphics and audio of the original but both have been updated to be pleasing to the contemporary eye and ear.

Gameplay is remarkably simple, which it should be since it is a remastering of the original – not a rebooting. The easy to use controls consist of the left thumb stick and two buttons. This is great for kids to get the hang of and be able to play as well as the kid at heart adults re-experiencing a gameplay style that has definitely moved on. The left stick moves you in any direction, the A button is jump, the X button is action, and the A button followed by the held X button is Pogo jump (super jump). That’s it! You use that and timing to make your way through levels with a bit of simple puzzle solving and hidden objects. Easy level is definitely the one for kids with infinite lives, normal gives you three lives then it’s game over and hard is definitely for the more experienced gamer, the timing with levels and boss fights definitely get harder. The biggest difference in the difficulty is timing – you really lose room for error which would be way too frustrating for a kid but just enough tension for some adults.

The levels are all kinds of fun as they change so much between enemies and environments. My favorite was the Transylvanian map, which will come as no surprise to most folks that know me, with its duck skeletons and mummies as well as ghost-shrouded goons. I would tell you more but half the fun is discovering, or rediscovering, the levels and what makes them unique from the others.

Last Call:
It can be kind of difficult to judge nostalgic games for modern gamers. The gameplay is pretty simple – side scrolling, old school action reminiscent of games such as Mario Bros. or Sonic which still have fan bases today. If you like those games, this is definitely worth a play. It is great for kids with kid targeted characters, bright colors, and silly dialogue. If you are a Disney fan this is a must play for experiencing characters other than the traditional mice. Most of all, this is a must play for the kids and adults who still the DuckTales theme stuck in their heads and can’t wait to revisit Scrooge McDuck and the nephews as they get in and out of trouble in lands as far away as the Moon. For them I would rate this game a “Woo-oo!”

Trailer:

[easyreview title=”DuckTales Remastered Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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Empires II: What Would You Risk For World Conquest? Review (iOS)

2013/08/08

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC Review

I remember back when I used to work a job with split shifts a bunch of us would get together and take over an empty room in the building and set up a Risk board and play for days straight before and between shifts. We took it seriously and played it out to the bitter end which is why it would take days to complete. It was so much fun that players who got knocked out on the first day would keep coming back to see how the game played out and they were usually the first people to say they were ready for another game. Good strategy games bring out that enthusiasm in people, even in these days of everything being quick and easy players will commit to a long strategic battle game if it is done well. Empires II: What Would You Risk For World Conquest? gives players an updated version of Risk with enough fun changes to keep players coming back for another multi-hour match.

Description:
Awaken your instincts and conquer the world! Develop a war strategy, determine a country’s strengths and weaknesses, fortify your lands and dominate! From the moment you select your country of origin, every decision becomes strategic. How will you spend your budget? How will you secure your borders? Will you defeat the enemy or team up to take over the world? In a game of tactics, play as one of 9 regions and wage war against 165 countries. Venture around the large-scale map, sail across oceans and battle your way through victory and defeat.
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.”-Sun Tzu
The goal is world domination, and the struggle for power has never been more fun.

Features:
– Attack enemy countries, and transfer and strengthen your armies and armada in phased-based warfare.
– Support for two game-play maps, one with 8 regions and 77 countries for a faster game and an advanced strategy map with 7 regions and 130 countries.
– Track the progress and spy on opponents with easily accessible in-game data.
– Earn an extensive list of victories in a detailed battle report.
– Fast, stunning, challenging, and immensely satisfying game play.
– Visually stunning map of the world includes realistic mountain ranges, oceans and natural barriers.
– Challenge up to 6 real-world multiplayer opponents or fight against the game itself.
– Use the strategy of RISK with the added ability to buy ships and cross oceans!

Hands On:
At first it looks a lot like Risk which is nice, familiarity with the layout lets you feel comfortable about jumping in. The key differences and things that should be considered right from the beginning are terrain and water accessibility of the countries in the region you select. You can’t cross mountains so that would decide natural defenses and obstacles for your gameplay. The other part, water accessibility, is a new take on the Risk style gameplay that makes up a huge factor in your entire strategy. For example let’s say you choose to play North America as your region. In a traditional Risk style game there would be three areas of entry into the region where you would amass giant forces for defense while having slimmer, selective defensive points behind these borders. In Empires II there is only one land to land entry at South America, all other sections of the region except the land locked Mid West have water borders. At first this makes you feel secure after taking the region until Japan suddenly takes the South West section of the region with a gigantic force brought by their navy. Then you realize that any country with ships can land on any of your borders because everywhere but the Mid West has water access, you need to create a great line of defense around the whole region.

If you consider this instead of just diving in the game without reading up on it (like I did the first time) this can actually be used to your advantage because ships are a separate cost from armies, you can block off land advancements then work on creating a defensive perimeter around the region because it takes longer to build up seafaring forces meaning a smaller standing force can hold them for a period of time.

Another well thought out change is that armies and ships can only be raised at a capital on the map. This means that unlike when in Risk you could put troop buildups on any occupied lands in Empires II you have to move new forces either one country at a time or by water to a water accessible country/section. This enables you to think ahead and actually lay siege to sections of the map by using larger forces to cut off any supply lines as well as target regions that would be difficult to counter strike due to distance and accessibility of the empire’s capital. The changes made to the game may seem rather simple on paper but they hugely impact gameplay.

Add to all this the technological advances of the iOS platform which allows you to play the game solo, co-op, pass and play, multiplay online, earn achievements, and connect to social media and you get the very most from your experience.

Last Call:
Empires II: What Would You Risk for World Conquest? is a smarter version of Risk for the modern gamer. It is easy to pick up and play when standing in lines, waiting for appointments or a movie to start while at the same time encouraging you to think strategically ahead several moves and react to a solid AI or formidable opponent sitting next to you or half the world away. Probably one of craziest things about Empires II is it is only $.99 which means you are getting an incredible amount of gameplay for your buck. In this case, literally a buck.
[easyreview title=”Empires II: WHat Would You Risk For World Conquest? Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Deus Ex: The Fall Review (iOS)

2013/08/06

Ripper71

Mobile Review, News, Reviews

The Deus Ex series will always stand out to me for the infamous “hostage mission”. I, like so many other players, messed around in that office, collecting stuff only to get to the first mission location to find out the hostages were dead and all the cops gave me the stink eye. Heck, more than the stink eye – they didn’t spare a choice word for my getting those poor people killed. I started over and tore it up, becoming a hero to my AI peers and setting a whole different tone for the game. Timed missions and dialogue decisions that heavily impacted the game were hallmarks of the series, so when the possibility to continue that experience on the go came along with Deus Ex: The Fall, I was more than happy to go “Aug” or go home.

Description:

Deus Ex: The Fall is set in 2027– a golden era for science, technology and human augmentation, but also a time of great social divide and global conspiracy. Powerful corporations have seized control from governments and command the drug supply needed by augmented humans to survive.

In this chaos Ben Saxon, a former British SAS Mercenary who underwent physical augmentation, is desperate for the truth behind the drug conspiracy. Betrayed by his private military employers, the Tyrants, not only is his own life at risk but for all augmented humans, time is running out…

Deus Ex: The Fall is a story driven action-RPG and the first Deus Ex in the series to be released on mobile and tablet devices. The game includes never before seen characters from the novel Deus Ex: The Icarus Effect, picking up directly where the book finishes.

Features:

Every action has a consequence
Unravel and survive a global conspiracy
Hours of gameplay with multiple ways to play
Search for the truth spanning for mafia hideouts in Moscow to the slums of Panama
High impact action and combat
Intuitive touch screen controls
Fully explorable, stunning environments
Visually stunning graphics, sound and music
Immersive storyline
Original story set in the Deus Ex universe
Play as you want: full on action or stealth
Social and hacking skills
Unique visual design

Hands On:

After reading all of the above before getting my hands on the game, you can see why I was psyched. Unfortunately, the game has quite a few shortcomings – albeit, shortcomings that aren’t really the fault of the developer!

Thankfully, the storyline and player choices are just as good as the previous games. I love a good, story-driven game that keeps me wondering what is going to happen next and this game delivers. It had its hooks in me before the credits kicked in with a lengthy and story-filled opening. It reminded me of a James Bond film where before the scantily clad silhouettes start dancing across your screen. I literally said out loud, “Wow! That was just the opening!” then had to explain myself to the others in the room. The story refused to let up or slow down either, keeping a very even pace. That being said, you had better not start snooping in all the trashcans or people will probably die. Also, with the regular changes in location, attitudes, and dress styles of your enemies, you don’t get bored with the stunning graphics and scenery.

Going through the tutorial it was clear that the developers had listened to the complaints about other shooters/fighters on the iOS platform and had put in an auto-targeting system that allowed for minor adjustments to try for accuracy. Brilliant, I thought, just what is needed on this platform so you can concentrate on moving and pulling the trigger which, on a handheld game system, pretty much takes up all the hands you have. Also the melee system was set up so that if you got within melee distance of a target two giant buttons popped up on the screen giving the choice of lethal or non-lethal takedowns (and remember, these kind of actions make a difference in a Deus Ex game) so that, after you choose, you see a short animation of the takedown then your back in game to see any immediate repercussions.

It all sounds great right? Well it doesn’t take long to tell where it isn’t so right and that really comes down to the same issue every shooter faces on the iOS. I download and devour shooters on the iPad and iPhone – constantly downloading and deleting them. I am determined to find one that I can point to as the “perfect” iOS shooter experience. Some have come close, real close, and Deus Ex is up there with them because it was designed to get past the issued that plagues the platform. The auto-targeting was a great idea and, at first, works pretty well. At lower levels where the AI isn’t very sharp, they come charging down in a row at you and you can take them out. Then they learn they will live longer if they take cover and things get dicey. They also know how to work as a team with flank and covering fire. So an enemy pops behind cover and leans out to take shots, the autotarget is aiming center mass so it is just shooting boxes. You can slide out from your cover and then aim the gun for their heads but the action of moving from cover, turning your cam view and aiming your gun requires about three hands. I found myself doing weird balance and juggling of the console to try and complete the task. At some locations it is possible to take pre-assigned cover which allows you to aim the gun then lean out and fire it, a very nice solution to the issue except sometimes the cover doesn’t want to take or worse doesn’t want to let you go afterwards so that as you finish off one enemy the other that was flanking you has you trapped. Making weapons and armor improvements help with this but I still found saving after almost every kill the biggest savior.

The other issue would be in the melee attacks. If you can’t get behind an enemy or charge them before they can shoot you you can find yourself toast on higher levels. I would wait for an enemy to come down a corridor while I was in a room against a wall and my plan is to do a takedown, only to have them know I was there before rounding the side of the wall and shooting me right through the wall. In theory you are supposed to be able to do a takedown the same way, through the wall, there is even an achievement but they see you before your buttons pop up.

Last Call:

This game suffers from many of the same issues that this platform holds for all shooters, you need an extra hand. Deus Ex: The Fall is a fun, immersive game with outstanding graphics and a story which hooks you quick and keeps you enthralled. I just wish it was on a more enjoyable platform for shooters, then it would be a tour-de-force.

[easyreview title=”Deus Ex: The Fall Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Rise of the Triad Review (PC/Steam)

2013/08/05

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Many of our readers either aren’t old enough to remember the original Wolfenstein 3D (many weren’t even born yet), but it was huge. It made he biggest splash any game made at the time. It is still considered the godfather of the modern first person shooter and it wasn’t long before the code was hacked and dozens of re-skinned versions with every imaginable subject matter flooded the market. Apogee realized it should capitalize on its own success with a sequel and started working on Rise of the Triad: Wolfenstein 3D II. This project eventually got cancelled, rumored to make room in the market for DOOM. The game did get released without the Wolfenstein name and the end product which was a solid game with Indiana Jones style traps. Now, Apogee has brought it back for a whole new generation to appreciate. Enter, Rise of the Triad.

Description:
Apogee Software and Interceptor Entertainment proudly present the rebirth of the cult-classic first-person shooter, “Rise of the Triad” Bigger, better and more ludicrous than ever before. Powered by the industry-leading Unreal Engine 3 from Epic Games, “Rise of the Triad” includes a full single-player campaign, a fully featured multiplayer experience and so much more.

Features:
– Step into the shoes of the H.U.N.T. (High-Risk United Nations Taskforce) with five unique characters, each with different play styles.
– Blast through over 20 of levels of explosive single-player action.
– Unique multiplayer maps bring back all the fun and excitement of classic ROTT.
– The full arsenal of over-the top weapons is back, including the Flamewall, Firebomb, Split Missile, Drunk Missile and, of course, the Excalibat!
– The maniacal modes return, too, with God mode, Elasto mode, Mercury mode, Shrooms mode and everyone’s favorite, Dog mode!
– Build your own levels, mods and share them soon with Valve’s Steam Workshop
– Offline single-player and multiplayer allows for instant action.
– Find tons of secrets, collectables, special events and hidden areas to explore.
– Get more than 100 achievements to add to your score, which is tracked on our worldwide leaderboard and stat-tracking system.
– ROTT is bloodier and more ludicrous than ever, with full character and enemy dismemberment.
– The iconic original soundtrack has been completely re-forged in the fires of heavy metal!
– Nostalgia abounds with the option to play with all the original sounds and music.
– Built on fully-licensed Unreal Engine 3 technology, ROTT will run on low-end PCs and push high-end PCs to their limits

Hands On:
Rise of the Triad, or R.O.T.T. as it became more commonly known, had its own special way of punishing the run and gun player. Getting enemies to come to you is generally a better plan in this game, where you might round a corner and see a dozen enemy gunning you down. Also, the game is loaded with traps! Some of these traps are fairly obvious – triggered by stepping on a discolored stone or section of ground. Ceilings come down and crush you, pungi sticks stab you when you fall in hidden pits, and spikes stab down from the ceiling. At the time, they were really creative concepts. Today, however, players desensitized by trap/horror games or even the Indiana Jones movies might not be so easily impressed. Personally, I found it just as much fun and challenging as back in the day – some triggers open hidden chambers filled with coins or weapons while others trigger death.

On the subject of hidden weapons, this game rewards the explorers early with some very cool and over the top weapons. You have the straight forward leftovers from the Wolfenstein 3D roots such as the Walther, MP40 and rocket launcher but then it adds its own such as heat-seeking missiles, fire wave grenade launchers, multiple missile launchers and more that I won’t spoil by mentioning here. There are even shape shifting and mood altering drugs to really make things crazy.

Gore mode can be implemented in the game too, which makes it even more over the top as bodies blow into pieces and if you shoot a soldier in the leg enough their leg gets shot off and they bleed out. Same with heads and arms, a well placed explosive will have you finding pieces of the same body all over a room. Violence, gore, and language would be three reasons I wouldn’t recommend this for younger players though the gore can be turned off.

Since I was playing hard difficulty I noticed what might not be so noticeable on easy or medium settings, you can go a long ways between checkpoints. As a result when you die you have to cover a lot of the same ground again and again because there is no way to know whether a trigger will help or hurt you until you hit it, so you could be just outside the exit of the level, hit a trigger, die and have to complete as much as half of the level again. There were a few cases where I just wanted to finally finish the level and just stopped hitting triggers.

Last Call:
There will be naysayers who will point out that games and movies have desensitized players and so this game may not have the impact as it did back in the day. It is still a solid play that holds up well over time and with the beautiful remastering is an absolute pleasure to dive back into. I kept telling myself I would just play a little more and before I knew it the night was done and I was sore from sitting in one spot too long. R.O.T.T. is a nostalgic trip for those old enough to remember playing it at release and is a solid example of what they missed when first person shooters were defined.
[easyreview title=”Rise Of The Triad Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

A Brief History Of The World Review (iOS)

2013/07/26

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC Review

My first review for GamingShogun.com was for a Risk clone turn-based strategy game for the iOS. I still play it after all this time because I love a good strategy game and that one holds up even after all the advances in phones and phone gaming. Heck there are consoles that now use phone technology at their cores to enable them to keep costs down while still giving great performance, phone gaming and graphics are now some serious business. Now when reviewing a game for phones and tablets they need to be as good as a current gen console counterpart. With all that in mind it is a pleasure to recommend A Brief History Of The World.

Description:
Lead your empire to victory in this turn-based strategy game! Play as the character of Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, or Napoleon Bonaparte and command armies through 6 riveting epochs in history, with 42 major empires and 15 minor empires. Choose from over 40 event cards to enhance replayability and alter the course of history.

All set to an epic soundtrack (or listen to tracks from your own music library) with beautiful graphics and original artwork from the Ragnar Brothers’ board game. With no setup time required, no pieces to lose, and no arguments about the rules, the future of board games is here and A Brief History of the World gives you exactly what you want — to play!

Features:
– Easy-to-learn and easy-to-play
– Comprehensive tutorial
– Play solo against varying levels of AI
– Enjoy a game with family and friends around the table or as “pass and play”
– Online multiplayer games available for up to 6 players
– Post your scores to Game Center and climb the leaderboards

Hands On:
So it doesn’t take long to realize that this is not your parents’ Risk game, though the base premise is very similar. You start out with your countries and try to take over empires much like Risk. At first it feels and looks like Risk then the cards are introduced. The cards often give extra armies to move around or a way to move well beyond your territory to get a presence in an empire far from your borders. When you go to take over a country with a standing army you have a dice roll just like in Risk but they can be effected by rules and Event cards to give each side an advantage in the roll. This all sounds rather complicated but once you play through the tutorial a couple times it starts to make perfect sense.

Then the weird part of the game happens when you end your turn, the game awards bonuses for control of areas then the players/AI choose new empires. So you don’t play the empire for more than one turn at a time and you don’t try to conquer the whole world like Risk. Instead you just advance an empire the best you can in one round and the player with the most bonus coins at the end of all the rounds wins. Because the game basically resets after each round a player can be in a painful dead last on the first couple of turns and still win the game. This is particularly cool since in traditional Risk once you were getting slaughtered the fun left the game, the only thing you could do was maybe decide who else you wanted to win and help them by bashing futilely into their biggest enemy. Risk lasts for hours, since this is just six turns doing the best you can it can be played relatively quick while still being a very different game every time. The Event cards in particular are clever and really lend a freshness to the game while maintaining the classic board game feel.

Last Call:
A Brief History Of The World is designed to be a brief turn-based strategy game which is perfect for the on the go, play when you can iOS platforms. It requires strategic thought and planning but can be played in a relatively short time. It’s only $2.99 and has limitless replayability with no pay to win issues like many iOS apps these days. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple years down the line I still have this game on my phone, and with how many games I have to cycle through on my systems that is saying something.
[easyreview title=”A Brief History Of The World Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

That Monsters Game Review (iOS)

2013/07/18

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Reviews

This is the summer to have monster fever. With the House of Mouse putting out a sequel to their much beloved monster movie, Monsters Inc., you can’t go to a movie theater or many other places without getting a blast of monsters. The video game market is definitely no exception but the offerings are definitely hit and miss, so it is nice to recommend a game that is right on the money. That Monsters Game is a fun play for the whole family on-the-go and did I mention it’s free?

Description:
When the nutty Professor Marty’s newest experiment goes horribly wrong, monsters are created by the masses and threaten to destroy his laboratory. Demolish these monsters by matching three or more and zapping them away.
Collect coins and gems throughout the game and use them to buy Labkits, tools to destroy even more monsters. Use earned XP stars to unlock game play modes and survive until the next level!
“With the bright colors, fast pace and never ending monsters filling up your screen, That Monsters Game provides a fun pastime for every type of mobile gamer,” said Neville Attard, founder of Software Prodigy.
Be prepared to swipe your way to monster-zapping victory!

Features:
– Three Unique game play modes that unlock different tools and challenges.
– Beautiful graphics and gameplay features.
– If you’re fast enough, earn extra points during monster explosions!
– Play alone or invite your friends to help you take on the monsters and compete for the ultimate high score!
– Participate in weekly tournaments with your Facebook friends, earn achievements and make your way to the global leaderboards on Game Center.
– If you ever get stuck, just email Professor Marty for a hint!

Hands On:
This game is just a whole lot of addictive fun. The music is whimsical, the sound effects are fittingly silly and the graphics are nice and clean and only as complex as they need to be. I love the electricity effect you get when you start making the connections and to make sure the game has a whole family feel, the critters cheer you on as you zap them.

Gameplay is straight forward with a similar feel to a match three game such as Bejeweled though I think the monster theme and whimsical style make this game much more enjoyable. Also instead of moving blocks to match you drag your finger along to the monsters of the same color and as long as they are adjacent to the previous monster they electrify. The funny thing is it is harder to describe gameplay instead of just playing it so here is a trailer.

There! That was easier! You get bonuses for combos and you collect coins during play for special attacks. You get three plays to start with and earn new plays every 15 minutes after that unless you decide to purchase plays using real currency. That is one of the very important and great things about this game, if you want to put some money into it to help support the game and make it so that you get more attacks and plays you can but if you just want it to be a free to play game you can keep it that way and still play great. Many games claim to be free to play but then prove to be pay to win when you get past the first couple levels, this game isn’t which makes me want to invest in the game and the developers even more.

That Monsters Game can be played alone or with friends through contacts such as Facebook. You can even start tournaments with your friends and see who gets the highest score and the champion achievement. This is also a free function so you can start you tournaments and play away without spending a dime.

There are three types of gameplay, the standard blitz where you score as high as you can in a limited time, challenge mode where you have to make certain combos or shapes and the strategy mode where you don’t have to worry about time but instead about agitated monsters that jump at the screen if you don’t eliminate within 5 turns, once they do that three times it is game over.

This really is a just about an all ages game, there are no scary monsters and the gameplay would be good for kids just learning shapes and colors as well as getting them to plan ahead on how to make moves, all while cute monsters get zapped and cheer them on. For the older players the challenges of scores, achievements and tournaments should keep you going.

Last Call:

That Monsters Game is a great addictive game with a whimsical atmosphere that hides the challenge within. It is a truly free-to-play which is unusual these days, you only pay if you want to not wait for more plays or to build up enough coins for special attacks. I found myself getting bored with Bejeweled but I played this game until my phone battery was drained. Give it a play and I bet you find yourself playing it everywhere you go while waiting in lines, waiting for meetings, maybe waiting in the audience for that certain summer monster cartoon to start…

[easyreview title=”That Monsters Game Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Dominions 4 Preview (PC)

2013/07/16

Ripper71

News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

When people think of turn based strategy games, they think of titles like Jagged Alliance or, if they are older, Risk. Those who really play this game genre might think of the Civilization or Total War games. Then there are the hardcore who laugh at these games and consider them to be games to play when taking a break from their usual strategy games. These folks are often Dominions players and they have every right to be foaming at the mouths at the thought of Dominions 4 being on its way. Last week, we got the chance to preview it!

Official Description:

You are a God! You are master and ruler of a loyal nation. You have unimaginable powers at your disposal. You have claimed this world as yours. But there are others who stand in your way. You must defeat and destroy these pretenders. Only then can you ascend to godhood and become the new Pantokrator. In Dominions you take control of a powerful being that rules a nation and aspires to godhood. The type of Pretender Gods can vary from magically powerful archmages to huge titans or large monuments. The pretender gods have different strengths dependent on what kind of god you choose and what nation you play.

When you start the game you decide what kind of god you are and how your Dominion affects your lands and followers. It is an expression of your divine might and the faith of your followers. If your dominion dies, so do you. Your dominion also inspires your sacred warriors and gives them powers derived from your dominion. In order to win and become the one true god you have to defeat your enemies one of three different ways: conquer their lands, extinguish their dominion or claim the Thrones of Ascension.

Dominions is set in a fantasy world that draws inspiration from historical nations, cultures and myths. You will not encounter the elves of conventional fantasy in this game. Instead you might lead a nation of Vanir from old Norse myth. Aztecs, Romans, Israelites, Greeks, Shona and Kievian Rus are just a few of the inspirational sources of the game.

Features:

Many monsters (2000+) and many many special abilities.
About 75 different nations to choose from, varying from Marignon with paladins, witch hunters and inquisitors to under water nations like the Lovecraft inspired R’lyeh.
Three Eras to play in, Early era is most magic and the late era is more technologically advanced with good steel weapons and armors.
Design your pretender god and how his dominion influences provinces and his sacred units.
Multiplayer with simultaneous turns (up to 28 players).
Teamplay with one Pretender player and a bunch of Disciple players per team.
Network or Play by E-Mail for multiplayer.
AI opponents for single- or multiplayer game.
Random maps with cave, mountain passes and rivers (rivers can only be passed when frozen).
An extensive magic system with over 800 spells.
Blood magic, power your rituals with human sacrifices.
Global ritual that affect the entire world.
More than 300 magic items.
Unique magic artifacts that all players compete for, once forged no one else can make it.
Mercenaries are bought on a global market.
Scouts, Assassins, Spies, Seducers, Corruptors, Werewolves, Illusionists and more can be sneaking in your provinces.
Claim the thrones of Ascension to gain special powers and eventually win the game.
Permanent battle afflictions.
Easy to Mod (2d graphics)

Hands On:

This game is deep – so deep and in-depth it makes any other strategy game I have played feel like Checkers. The first Dominions came out in 2002 and, my guess as to the reason they are only up to part 4 is because it takes a couple years to really get a good play and feel from them. The possibilities and choices are already staggering and this is without the massive community additions that can be expected after release. If you are a regular player of Dominions, there are some nice changes and additions made to the game since Dominions 3 with developers taking community requests to heart. Those who have never played a Dominions game or have not played one in years, may I suggest you play the tutorial? Maybe a few times?

The key is really to just go in trying to have fun as it will take a while to really learn and understand all the depth and nuances of the game. You will no doubt lose plenty when you are first figuring things out. If you stick with it, you will find the game very rewarding and winning feel like a true accomplishment. It also helps exercise your brain which, let’s face it, we can all do with more of. This is not the game to play if you have had a mind frazzling day at work – if so, you are better off sticking to a nice shooter or casual game. However, if you have had a mind-numbing, dull day at work, this might just be the game for you as you delve into just about every aspect of civilization – including faith development and mythos! Then, once you get all that down, you can build your own mods for the game to challenge other players with! With such an open modding system combined with an already deep gameplay, this could literally be an endless game, never finished or truly mastered, always a challenge. Wow.

First Round:

It was sheer luck that I have had some experience with previous Dominions games because, otherwise, it would have taken a lot longer to tell readers about this game. In fact, it probably it would have gone from a preview to a review in the time it would take for me to get a foothold in this massive undertaking. Dominions 4 will not be for all players, it won’t be for a lot of players actually. Those who like the Dominions games with love it, those who are willing to give it a try and stick with it will find it satisfying and, just as importantly, mentally stimulating – not something that common in games these days.