Templar or Shadows?

Wow. Wow. Wow! What a week of gaming, with the release of B2W2 (Which will conveniently be reviewed by AlpAmbler and Galactic) as well as the release of DISHONORED! So that's what I'm bringing to the table today; a brand new, clear review about Bethesda's newest creation and how it is making waves in the gaming community.

Three guys? No problem.

The backstory: The protagonist is Corvo, a personal bodyguard in victorian times Dunwall (imagine a steampunk city mixed with magic). When he arrives back from a trip, mysterious assassins terminate the empress of the city in his presence, and he becomes coined as the main saboteur... thanks to a corrupt government.
As you escape jail to live a new life, new friends (nicknamed the loyalists) help you to clear your name. Apart from that, a mysterious entity named The Outsider gives insanely cool powers (and a steampunk heart?!) to aid you in the nasty plotting of revenge. It begins......
The game itself has openworld maps, each with multiple layers and fluid NPC movement/patrols. The game goes through various 'missions', played out like episodes. But this is where the normal stops.

Super, detailed environments!

Each 'mission' has different ways to get through it; whether that be stealth, elimination or just messing around with everyone's heads. Your gadgets and tricks can be used to extinguish enemies or take away their attention, and the character development is simply amazing! 

ZED: I really believe that this game is redefining the word stealth. Future games need to learn by this example; ArkaneStudios have recreated the meaning of the word assassin. I love the multiple ways to do something, whether that be possession, freezing time or just teleporting over peoples heads.

ZAWMBIE: Oh my gawd. This.....I can't even..... words can't even describe the detail in this game. Buildings are open for exploration; the plot is intense and ostentatious. Get this game! Get it!

Ratings:
Game-play: 4.5/5
Storyline: 3.8/5
Graphics: 3.4/5
Characters: 5/5

That comes to a grand total of.....(let me get my calculato--) 16.7/20! well done ArkaneStudios, congratulations on a momentous game! I'm off to go get some revenge!!!

ZED

Uwee hee hee... Game over! Don't feed the octopus, kids!

Hey, kiddos! Galactic here!

So, about a week ago, I decided that I should stop neglecting this blog, and go and post another review.
That was a week ago.
In the time between then and now, I have been glued my computer, playing on my Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES or Super Nintendo for short) emulator.

And then finally, I decided to close my emulator and think of a game to review.
Then the emulator was re-opened, because the game was right there anyway!

So, without further adieu, I present to you my review on Final Fantasy VI (though it's called III on the SNES).

Oh, wait. Before I begin, let me just say that this game is my favourite game of all time that isn't Pokemon, so it might be quite biased. Oh, well.

Final Fantasy VI (FFVI for short) is a turn-based RPG, set in a world where things like magic is just a dream. The game follows a group of people called The Returners, who face up against the almighty empire, who wishes to rule the world through force, and obtain and harness the endless potential of magic, and use that to their advantage. It's clear who the bad guys are- you've got to take them down.

So let's begin with the review, shall we?

Firstly, Gameplay:
Well... I could say a lot about this, but there isn't really much to it. Go walk around to get from destination A to destination B. Be careful, 'cause there are monsters, and probably a boss at the end. Because of this, it's not spectacularly hard. If you can't do something grind battles for a bit until you can.
...Yeah... Not really much to say in this area. It's just like any turn-based RPG, I guess.

Though, I mean, the battles are nice, and there are a few things that make battles easier and more interesting (for example, tools, or dance, or rage, etc.), but in the end, it's still doing a lot of the same things over and over.

Ah, and another thing. The SNES port of FFVI is filled with glitches and bugs. Be wary. Some are fun, and can be exploited to make the game easier (or a lot harder), and some just mess your game up. Before you play, be sure to read up about the bugs or something on gameFAQs to be sure that you avoid the bad ones.

Now, we'll take a look at sound:
Well now, sound is a whole other story. If there's anything about this game that I love to bits (there are several things I love, but hey), it'd be the music. Even keeping in mind that it's a game from 1994, FFVI has an amazing soundtrack. Each song really sets the mood, and it really makes the game a much more enjoyable experience than it would be if it had some kind of generic soundtrack.

I'd pull out some specific examples, but I just can't. There are too many good tracks in this game.

Of course I missed you, Ultros <3

Next, we'll go on to graphics:
Well... the graphics in this game aren't spectacular. Nothing on the SNES is really spectacular graphics-wise, but I do love how this game makes use of what they have. Yes, each character is only a small sprite in and out of battle, but it's big enough to have each character show some emotion.
But, I must say, I do like the enemy sprites. They're a lot more detailed than the character sprites, and I like that, for some reason.

Finally, Plot and Characters:
Yeah, I didn't include characters on my last review 'cause there really wasn't much to say about them, but in this game, you've got... fifteen(?) different characters, each with their own stories and whatnot.

A-anyway, back on track. The plot in this game, as stated above, is pretty standard: a large collective of bad guys doin' bad things, and it's up to the good guys to stop them.
That's the plot in a very, very broad sense.
I haven't even brushed upon the intricacies on the plot, and each character's subplot (of sorts) underneath it all. I probably won't, because then I'd end up spoiling everything for everyone, but still. Take my word for it when I say that paired with everything, it's a good plot, okay?

Unfortunately, that's for the first half (or so) of the game. Around mid-way, there's a large catastrophe, and the entire world turns to hell in a hand basket. From this point on, all the characters are scattered, and it's up to you to reunite them. And I mean it when I say it's up to you. Once you reach a short point after the mid-way mark, you can go straight to the final dungeon with, like, three characters, and that's the end of that. Although it does give a lot of room to do whatever you want, it also becomes more dull, as there isn't a main driving point.

Oh, well. It's still enjoyable.

Well, let's see the ratings, shall we?

Gameplay: 2.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Graphics: 3/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Characters: 5/5

Which leads to an overall score of 3.6/5 (apparently)
I personally think that it deserves a better score than what I've given it, but okay.

Anyway, I guess that's the review for now...

Cosmic Energy for the Win!

Galactic, out!

New Map for Slender

 

Aww crap. Here we go again...

Recently developed news on Saturday speaks of a 'brand-new' slender map to be released. Eager downloaders and ambitious players were exuberant when downloading the file to find that the new level was based inside a school. Yay! The map is titled 'HOSPICE"

Here is what's new in-game:
> Developed AI (You cana ctually watch him move)
> Interchangeable area's for the goal
> Instead of 'journal papers' you now search for 'poem lines' (16 lines)
> Graphics have been redeveloped to look cooler


One of my favourite area's, a blocked end provides mild humour when in sho- OH MY GAWD!!!

> Movement and mouse sensitivity have been increased

Add caption

All up, the new map is fairly good. It's not as big as the original map, nor as scarier. There seems to be too much light, and therefore the atmosphere of fear has been lost. There is less tension, and the static that accompanies your diapeearance is scratchy. Also, slenderman doesn't pop up when you die!

It seems that this new map (which isn't developed by Parsec Productions, but ANOTHER indie game company) is not all cut up to what it seems to be.

I give it a 7/10 for graphics, a 8/10 for playability, a 4/10 for originality, and a 2/10 for scariness.

ZED

For Narniaaa!!!

"For Narnia!!!!" These are precisely the words I screamed as I begun the battle. My towers were ready, my forces stood strong, but the enemy approached like waves upon waves, obliterating my kingdom. I sat there, slumping in my seat, before I hit restart and begun the level again with fierce determination in my eyes...



Kingdom Rush has been an app that I have thouroughly enjoyed, and it brings me great pleasure to review this game. At first, I found the controls annoying and the gameplay a little dull, but if you just delve in a little bit more, you can find a real treasure of a game on the app store.

The app is a tower defense raider game, with various levels that follow a typical medieval story. There a multiple enemies, but not that many towers. Only four actually.
That's right, four towers to choose: barracks, archer tower, mage lair and bomb dispenser. Now, you may be thinking, "Four towers!? How gay" but I will stop you there good sir, as there is more then meets the eye.
My first arguement is that the developers, Ironhide Games Studio, have promised more towers. Great!
My second arguement is that these towers develop into 8 different specialty towers that look cool and
work great! This adds more units and more fun!

Even so, there are tower upgrades, hero's, and special 'God' abilities to turn the tide.

But, there is a downside... this game is hard! Like, seriously, take a rock, put it in concrete, then cover it with diamonds and then make it Chuck Norris's abs; it's almost as hard as that!!
I have spent many agonizing days having to restart endless battles, because in the end they overkill my units and I end up with butthurt >.> Not cool.
In other negative aspects, the monetary unit, gold, is extremely difficult to get in game. Defeating an enemy or summoning the next wave gets you more money, but in the end it's easily spent.

Even though there are these negatives, I still find it a fun game! Trust me, I have wasted many hours on this amazing game. Don't believe me that it's fun? Then read these reviews:

"Kingdom Rush is a beaut of a tower defense game, with new ideas that make it feel extremely polished and refined." Slidetoplay
                  
"This is easily one of the best tower defense games currently in the App Store." Gamezeebo
                  
"Kingdom Rush is an instant classic and is guaranteed to turn up on 2012 "best of" lists." IGN
                  
"Kingdom Rush can be filed in the thin folder marked -games that are pretty much perfect-." Jayisgames

I give this game a 5/5 for fun, a 3/5 for originality, a 4/5 for gameplay and a 3/5 for development. I like this app guys, it's a real beauty.

ZED

Swordigo: Child's Fantasy game popular with oldies.

For those of you who rememeber Mario, it was the age of revolutionary platforming systems. A little italian plumber runs across the screen dodging fireballs and jumping on enemies: ingenius gameplay! Well these platformer style games have arrived for the Iphone, and they look better then ever.

The main opening screen.

Swordigo, recently released by Touch Foo, has ingeniusly created a 2D world of fantasy that includes multiple gear, level up systems, power ups and enemies.
The game is simple in design, but incredible as a puzzle solver. A gamer can spend a max of four hours gameplay to finish the storyline, but spend another hour unlocking the maxed out items and weapons.

Pros:
Creative system- The user interface is smart. There are no moving buttons to imitate where your fingers touch the screen; the buttons stay where they are.
Level Up System- The classic level up system provides a prior goal to gamers should they finish the story-line quickly.
Puzzle Play!- Most maps have ingenius puzzles that require a lot of thinking and magic from the player.
Trinkets- THis was my most favourite aspect of the game. Throughout the worlds, certain places give you a 'trinket'. These magical spheres enchant your weapons, magic spells and armour to give it special abilitis. Currently I use the shadow trinket on my iron sword, giving it a purple aura. But it doesn't just change the image, it gives it special powerups too! But, if I was to use it on my armour, it would allow me to pass through enemies when I chose to! Amazing! (NOTE: In the above image of the app icon, the 'fire trinket, can be seen on the sword)
Multiple Bosses- Bosses unlock different achievments, and can be found in secret 'coves' under or abve the map. Defeating them will unlock trinkets for you character.

One of the many bosses of the 'Shadow Lord'. His minions will try to defeat you!

Cons:
Childish Graphics/Gameplay- The animation makes it look like a child's game. There is no detail in the characters, and the story-line is really simple to pick up (Which makes the ending easier to guess). 
4 hours!!!- That's right, depending on your thumb skill, this game has a max of 4-5 hours gameplay. The abd news: there is nothing online except for achievments. Unfortunetly, history in the appstore tells us that apps without online gameplay are rarely bought, due to their entertainment factyor decreasing by the time everything has been experienced.

Gameplay is very '2D' based. Like Mario!

Glitchy- Sometimes shuts down. Very aggravating. 'Nuff said.

My rating: 4/5 for creativity, 2/5 for gameplay, a 3/5 for price and a 3/5 for originality. Well done Touch Foo, you created a game that I thouroughly enjoyed!

Zed

iGet Ready For the Zombocalypse

Zombie Killing Gem of the App Store; that's what app enthusiasts are labelling this brand new zombocalypse FPS. Players take on the role of a survivalist amidst the zombie apocalypse; they are given a very simple but interesting story-line to follow.
What first caught my eye however, was the gravity field aspect. When you kill these Zeds, they don't just drop to the ground in a undignified, tedious way. No, developers have created multiple ways to finish them off, leaving the player with a giddy feeling that this game gives more then it first let on.

Imagine the players face as they experiment with multiple head shots, leg decapitaters and Zed bashing!

BOTTOM LINE: A Mob (enemy) in this game will react differently to each kill shot you give. Knock of its arms, and it will kick you in the shins (Which actually takes away a good ammount of health). Severe it's leg, and the zombie will shuffle after you till the final blow! It's this kind of authenticity that gamers want to feel; not just shoot the undead a couple of times and watch it fall down monotonously...
It's this kind of originality that put's other zombie shooters *cough* CoD Zombies *cough* in the online trash pile. Players want a humanizing effect of a game, and this app certainly delivers just that.

The developers of DEAD TRIGGER, Madfinger, have promised all this and more in their feature first game. Their continual updates have left buyers on the edge of their seats, asking for more! A pretty good deal for just 99c!

IN THE GAME:The opening menu of the game is a bird's eye view of the city, giving the player an RTS style genre. From there, the game allows you to selct missions in different area's of the map, which then determines
a) The number of zombies around AND
b) The setting of the game.

For example: Selecting a mission in the downtown area will put in a rustic, alleyway street, which might or might not be deserted. The 'levels' are linear-based, but allow open-fluid movement, meaning that you can move around and take different paths to a certain limit of that map. Clearly this game delivers more then asked for...


The gameplay is not that different from a regular Apple FPS. On the left side, the movement button. On the right: a trigger button, as well as iron sight and reload. The games ingenius interface allows users to customise the button style, to permit smooth play ability.


But, if there is a few things I can be a critic on, it would be this: Madfinger have allowed in-app purchases. This can be aggravating to a lot of buyers, as the currency model is based off the obtainable units (money) and purchased units (gold). To cut a long story short (and avoid the avid cursing), the games best suited weapons need to be purchased in order to kick some zombie ass.
Naturally, this got critics worried. But then came the final nail in the coffin...
Madfinger recently announced that the pressure their fans gave them about releasing a new app hindered the finished results in DEAD TRIGGER. Hence why the game has so many bugs, and currently only three NPC's. And just to rub salt into the wound, grammar Nazi's get a whole workload of sifting through error after error from various characters and plot-points in the game; a not so satisfying result for such a promising app. As for bug fixes and tweaks, Madfinger Games has managed to fix various issues in-game that reduced play-ability and interest.

However...

It's the next Dead Trigger update that you should really be excited about, though, for it will introduce the game's first survival arena, two new environments, two new flesh-eaters, and two fresh weapons (the chainsaw and boat motor). Oh, and iCloud support.

All in all, this game is brilliant. And it has potential to become memorable. I can agree with critics that this is a lesson to be learnt swiftly: don't rush into game development. That being said though, I give this game a 4/5 for graphics, 4/5 for story-line, 3/5 for development and a 5/5 for originality (compared to other zombie kill-em-up's on the App store). 


Buy this game guys; as you will not be disappointed...


ZED




RAWR I'M A ZOMBIE!!!