Rant time.

 Josh here. Alright, this rant has been locked away in my head for quite sometime but i now have the venue to rant away so hear me out for one second. I am a huge Grand Thief Auto fan. I remember playing GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas and being completely being blow away. It was the small things that blew me away. 3 weapon tiers, the side missions and random jobs you can do for fun like the taxi missions. The fun never really ended. Graphics were top notch for their times. The cheeky adult humor confused me as a kid but now as an adult, I find them hilarious. Now when GTA IV came out, I was taken back. The game was gorgeous. The environment was one of those games where you didn't do anything but just look around. And the story... my God. The story was flawless and was so in depth I still believe that it based off real characters. But then I noticed something once I finished the game. Once I beat the game, the game was over. Sure, I could explore and cause havoc in Liberty City but there were no side missions. The taxi, ambulance and fire fighter side missions were gone. Then only two weapon tiers. Limited clothing and styling choices. No planes to fly. All these things, these small details bothered me. Here's why. It was the small details that made the old games so fun. Instead on being a rampaging killer in Vice City, you could be a taxi driver for a bit. Now, I rant for a reason. GTA V is coming out soon. It looks stunning and Rockstar promises this game to be one of the best they've made with new gameplay changes. I just hope they put the same detail into this as they did with the old games. Until then, I'm stuck playing the classics and occasionally GTA VI.     

Tomb Raided- The Tomb Raider Review

Sorry for the long absence but I'm back to review the reboot of Tomb Raider as we see long gaming icon and fearless archaeological heroine Lara Croft back in the spotlight of the gaming world. However, this is not the same Lara that we are used to seeing. The game takes place as Lara sets out on her first adventure which leaves her shipwrecked on an island full of danger. Lara is inexperienced and shows fear which is a change of pace from her previous games. The first hour is chalked full of quick time events, which would normally grind many gamers gears, but is done beautifully and develops Lara from a scared explorer to hardened survivor. The visuals are stunning and is clear that developers, Crystal Dynamics, slaved over the environmental details. Times is in the game, the player is tempted to stop and just admire the environment the player is in. The gameplay is solid. The controls are tight and fluid. However, the game feels like it takes elements from other game and just blends into this game. Sometimes is gave a Uncharted vibe and other times a Gears of War vibe was present. This isn't a bad thing however, it works for this game and is fun to interact with the environment.With all this good that the game gave, it went too far which leads me to this next statement which I will use all caps for. ALL GAMES DO NOT NEED MULTIPLAYER. Dear lord, it's mind numbing and feels tacked on. Personally, i blame Call of Duty for this. Since that games release, it seems like every game with a gun has multiplayer. Game modes in Tomb Raider's multiplayer and standard to any shooter but feels lame in it's executed. But with the travesty of the multiplayer aside, this game gives a solid origin story to favorite heroine while offering fun game play and beautiful environments. This games gets a solid 8.5 outta 10.

Parents: Don't get this for your kids. The old games may have been alright when your played them as a kid but this one is WAAAY different. Blood and violence included in this game.  

Anticipation for HarmoKnight

 

Hello, and welcome back to another edition of our 3DS video game reviews.

 

Today, we will be talking about HarmoKnight. This is one of the most anticipated North American game releases for the Nintendo 3DS. This game was actually released in Japan in 2012 under the name "Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight". This game is a rhythm platformer developed by Game Freak which was just recently released in North America.

 

 

Gameplay:

Players will be playing as Tempo who travels through different levels trying to collect as many notes as possible. Some levels have multiple routes where the player could potentially achieve a higher score. Furthermore, if the player receives a great score than they would unlock the faster version of the next level. Like in all games, there is always a life gauge where it displays the players remaining life before they die. This game is no different, as the character you're playing (Tempo) will lose hearts as he gets hit by enemies or obstacles.

 

 

 



Conclusion: 

This looks like an extremely unique and fun rhythm platformer that shouldn't be ignored by fellow 3DS users. The game is set to release tomorrow (March 28th) so don't miss out on the fun adventure.

For a sneak preview, you can watch the trailer below.

Elite Beat Agents Review

 



Hello, and welcome to my review on Nintendo DS video games that you may have overlooked.

Today, I will be doing a review on Elite Beat Agents. If you missed out on my previous review of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, you can click here or here for all the reviews I've done up until now.

Overview:
Elite Beat Agents is actually a remake version of the popular Japanese game "Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2". This is a rhythm genre video game where users try to tap to the beat of the song. Basically, you're playing as government agents trying to help citizens in need by completing songs assigned in each mission.

Gameplay:
Players will be using the stylus to tap the numberical numbers shown on the bottom of the screen while the story progresses (on the top screen) based on the players ability to tap to the rhythm precisely. More points are awarded for creating a combo by being able to accurately tap the numbers. There is also a life bar which shows the players accuracy, once it starts reaching the red zone then the agents will start to lose their breath on the bottom screen and is a sign that you could potentially fail the mission.

 

Pros:

• Simple Controls
• Entertaining Animation
• Multiple Difficulty Levels
• Fun and Addictive Gameplay
• Can Compete with Friends Using Wi-Fi

Cons:

• The first two difficulty levels are too easy
• Could have added more songs after completing the game

In Conclusion:
Elite Beat Agents is one of the best rhythm games available for the Nintendo DS so I would recommend this game to every individual age 10 and up.

Rating:
8.5/10

Check out the hilarious parody Mega64 did for Elite Beat Agents.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Howdy, it's Josh here and I'll be reviewing the latest in the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops II. Black Ops takes place in the the year of 2025 and periods in the 1980's. But let's get real, the story behind all the Call of Duty games are the same thing. Someone wants to take over the world and you play hero. It's good but it feels like a cookie cutter formula. Game play feels unchanged but still solid.   The most dramatic change in this game is the use of futuristic use of weapons and gadgets. It provides a fun new way to dispose of enemies. Zombies are back and quite frankly, it's great. In some aspects, it's the best part of the game. The zombie mode feels defined and fun. But multiplayer is what made the COD franchise what it is today. It's the bread and butter of the FPS shooters history. However, it feels the same. It give the same feeling as all the other games did. You put the game in for the first time. Then there's the feeling of new maps and weapons. The great feeling when you start leveling up for the first time. Everything feels new and exciting. But once you get past all the new guns, the gadgets and the maps, it's the same run, aim, shoot game. It was hard to get excited for Black Ops II, not because it was a bad game, but the franchise has a history of being repetitive and has a hard time differentiating itself from the previous game. The gameplay was never bad, hell, it's down right good. But after a while, it starts to feel bland and maybe that's what the franchise needs. A new perspective. This game gets a 7 outta 10.

Parental view of this game:
Don't buy this game for your kids. It's violent & swears and sets a terrible example how to live life. And the people talking over voice chat are some or the most offensive things ever. Don't get this game for kids. 

Possess and Manipulate Inanimate Objects with Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

By: Christina Chan

Hello, and welcome back to another amazing review on Nintendo DS games that you may have overlooked. If you missed out on the first review of Scribblenauts Unlimited, you can click here.

Today, I will be reviewing Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective from Capcom.

Overview:
In Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, players will be playing as Sissel's ghost, while trying to unravel the mysterious of his death. Furthermore, players will be able to possess and manipulate inanimate objects found within the game to solve various puzzles.

Gameplay:
Players will be using the stylus to manipulate inanimate objects in order to protect innocent victims and alter their fate. The strategy that the players experiment with will unravel different results which may or may not alter ones fate. In addition, players will also be given a time limit to complete each mission, failure to do so will result in death.

 

 

Pros:

• Great Graphics
• Simple Controls
• Unique Gameplay
• Fascinating Storyline
• Alternate results based on the strategy players use to solve various puzzles

Cons:

• Game was a bit short

In conclusion:
This is definitely one of the best games I've played for the Nintendo DS from the fascinating storyline to gameplay, this is one of those games where you can't help but spend countless hours on. I would definitely recommend this game for every individual who owns a Nintendo DS and encourage them to give this game a shot. I assure them that they won't be disappointed with the end result. Note, this game contains scenes of violence so it may not be age appropriate for children under the age of 10.

Rating:
9/10












If you haven't seen the trailer for Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, you can take a look below to see if it sparks your interest.

Bring Out Your Inner Creativity With Scribblenauts Unlimited

 

Scribblenauts is back again but wait, this time it’s for the 3DS.

 

Gameplay:
With Scribblenauts Unlimited, you can experiment with your creativity and imagination to another level. This game uses fairly similar controls and gameplay as the previous versions of the franchise. Most of the game is controlled entirely by using the stylus, as the user runs around completing missions with Maxwell. A few differences one might notice is that instead of simply earning starite after completing missions, they now have small missions where one gains starite shards which are used to unlock certain areas. Starite shards can be earned in multiple ways such as completing small missions, spawning relevant items and using them in a creative way. There are approximately 400 starite shard quests to be completed and over 40 starites to obtain (10 starite shards make 1 starite).The gist of the game is to use your creativity to complete certain tasks. If you want to discard an object, just simply drag and drop it into the trash can.

You can check out Scribblenauts Unlimited trailer below

 

Here’s a quick glimpse at the top and bottom screen of the 3DS version and what worlds you can explore and unlock.

 

 



Pros:

• Streetpass and Spotpass enables users to share their puzzle solutions with other players.
• Backpack which allows users to use items that they’ve previously created.
• Includes a storyline which explains Maxwell’s reason to retrieve Starites.
• Puzzles are fairly simple and lets users experiment with their creativity.
• Fairly similar gameplay and controls to the previous Scribblenauts.
• An improved level layout which lets users explore multiple worlds.

Cons:

• The object editor was not included in the 3DS edition which means people who own this version do not have the option to create and share custom made objects unlike the Wii U and the PC edition.
• Cannot summon characters from the Super Mario and Link franchise (only available for the PC and Wii U version).
• Only one save file which could create issues for users who share a 3DS with a sibling.

Check out the video below for an exclusive look on what characters you can summon within the Super Mario and Link franchise.

 

Conclusion:
Scribblenauts Unlimited for the 3DS lacks a couple of key components that would definitely make this game a lot more captivating for the handheld console. Regardless, this is still a fun and enjoyable game that allows users to expand their creativity and vocabulary by creating and using words to solve various puzzles. If you haven’t picked up any of the Scribblenaut series yet, I’d recommend you start with Scribblenauts Unlimited as it is an improvement from the previous games and would definitely be age appropriate for children ages 8+.

Rating:

7.5/10