Article: Four Types of gamers in Steam Community

There are four types of gamers I found in Steam. Given that they are all gamers, they all carry a role which gives a color in the gaming community.




As I mention them, they will get relatively clear to those who are curious and to those who seek enlightenment on the subject.



First off we have The Collector; the collector is clearly the ones who collect games and has less time to play them all. Be it that he/she already played them before, they tend to itch their way to buy them even just for displays. I have nothing against those who are given that I tend to incline my way on getting even publisher’s collection. To name a few, I was supposed to buy only Dungeon Siege 3 this year but ended up buying even its two previous releases. If there was a collection of Command & Conquer I would certainly buy & mostly likely if they’re on sale.

The downside is that they tend to have too many games to play and little time to play them. The good thing is they’re prone from getting compliments from other users as they find the list of games.



Secondly, The Reviewer who simply buys games and reviews them. Be it new releases or old just to give their personal thoughts on and provide insights mainly to those who hasn’t bought the game or curious of why the game is so good (or less) to others.

The downside is not all users will agree on their reviews though in the first place it’s just their personal thoughts and do not represent on a greater scale of majority.



The Giver is the ones who give away games for free, usually you find them as admin in a group or two. Organizing events to giveaways with or without a purpose for the benefit of the group they’re in.

Like The Collector, they are also prone to get compliments but little more from the others & tend to get to know good friends along the way. The thing is, they can also be targets of beggars or other users with bad intentions in the community.



Lastly, The Trader; this user means business and often trade games, in game & special items with others for both or their own benefit. The trading system in Steam can be very addicting especially on annual events where they tend to shine. Apparently almost all of the users in the community will try to trade what’s in their inventory for something they want.

Trading is addicting and fun, like an introduction to gamers on how trading business works however the downside is that Traders tend to spend so much money especially on special occasions. Therefore it is best for them to earn more money till the next event comes and make some huge trades.



At some point, you’ll come across a user who represents more than one category. But at the end of the day we’re all gamers and just want to play the games we love. After all, games are for everyone and I’m happy to see them around in the community.



Play on, play hard and game on!

Review: Batman: Arkham City

Developer(s)                 Rocksteady Studios

Publisher(s)                 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Platform(s)                   PlayStation 3,Microsoft Windows, Wii U,Xbox 360

Release date                 PS3 & Xbox 360 (Oct. 2011) PC (Nov. 2011) & Wii U (2012)

Genre(s)                       Action-adventure, beat 'em up, stealth

Mode(s)                        Single-player

Rating(s)                      ESRB: T PEGI: 16

It took me a couple of weeks and experinces just to produce the thought of reviewing this game and get it posted. In all honesty I’m actually terrified to post this review but WTH I’ll just get over it & be done.

A year has passed since the incident in Arkham Asylum and now the prison has been moved within the city of Gotham. Gathring the criminals and put them all in a huge prison called Arkham City controlled by Hugo Strange and his troops of mercinaries. Before the game was released, I have thought and speculated many times & yet I never guessed the exact plot. When I thought that things got complicated from the looks of the trailers well it gets worse once I started it even at few minutes in. And yet the dark knight’s adventrue begins as he unfolds and show you the darkness of that world.

                                                                 When i first saw this i felt i was lost because it's huge!

Presentation:

My appreciation kicked in at the game menu, the music in the background & its visuals were impressive enough to get me in the mood to start it. In game, there are tons to appreciate about the dark corners. When I first checked the map I was left with astonishment and asked myself on how will I proceed and what should I do first (actually it was like “WTH is this!? Now I feel so small” but in a good way.). There were like 400 Riddler trophies scattered in the area and that alone left me scratch headed.

                                             Yeah sure, just glide your way though, it feels better 

Graphics:

Just like the previous title, it’s well appreciated from little things like ripped off bat suit after taking amount of damage from enemies all the way to wall marks when deactivating the Detective Mode (I usually put on detective vision but without it showed me wonders of my surroundings). Each territory and area handled by certain villain and at some area will also give trivia from a certain character from the series. Fans of the Batman world will stop in a corner for a moment and figure out the surroundings for clues and what references that may might find in every corner & that alone wows me.

                                            Detective mode, that's always on when i play at most

Gameplay:

I will have to describe the game in three things. First Action Adventure: where you’re given several missions to explore and discover the main plot of the game by using your starting gadgets and unlocking more to get better grip and effects plus getting more gadgets too. Second is Beat’em up, when engaging a fight, the mode will automatically shifts itself with commands to take down certain enemies, this time there are more combos to execute and most of them are pretty cool in which defines Batman a master in close counter combats. And third is Stealth, whereas you as the hunter and they’re the hunted. A feel of Tenchu and Metal Gear style though with his own awesome tool that helps him to perform awesome stealth takedowns at your disposal and given areas that will help you improvise based on your creativity. Aside from playing as the Detective, you will also play as Catwoman, Robin & Nightwing (as DLCs) with their own cool perspectives. Overall the gameplay is fairly as solid as from Arkham Asylum but with additional gadgets & characters to control.

                                                One of Catwoman's naughty take downs 

Audio:

Props to all who voice acted but I personally give a bit more to Mark Hamill who is back as Joker and to me he alone stole the show in terms of voice acting & to me, that alone is epic. I’m actually an OST junky so like when engaging enemies, the background music can transcend when action intensifies itself and they sounded awesome.

                                                I so want the animated costume so baaaaad 

Overall:

Batman Arkham City is bigger in terms of exploration, customization and discoveries; a lot more to the gadgets and things to do. So far, it’s been nothing short but epic journey in the world of Arkham City and with so many surprises. Some friends asks me how good is the game and I usually reply them that there’s too many good things in the game to mention but giving them away means a spoiler by itself; it has surpassed my expectations so I’ll leave it to that. I would say that it’s for those who are interested to find out so that I would not spoil anything especially my co fans of the hero. However, for new comers, if you have some extra cash I suggest to play the previous one if you want to get more juice from the storyline.

Score             10

Pro(s)

Bigger world

More gadgets

So many surprises along the way

Great plot

Creative stealth kills at its best

Con(s)

So many Riddler trophies to look for

Minor camera angle issues

Article: MW3 vs. BF3 in comparison

Before I’d say anything, I would mind the readers that I have played both games & reviewed them and this is my personal views so a little respect if you will.

Fellow gamers asked me about the two games for comparison. Hearing heated arguments all over the net regarding both titles in which has created a subject of both battling out on who’s owning who.

Usual fanboys & trolls emerge from both ends and firing one another.

This has draw to my attention and to give my two cents to clarify things from my end before I pull most of my hairs from my head.

“MW3 vs. BF3?”

First thing came in my mind was “really?”

On the outside it’s pretty much looked the same yes but I don’t think both games are up to call it “vs.” in general.

For those who asks which one to pick, well its pretty much depends on what do you want to get out of single player, co-op and multiplayer.

Single player:

I would have to give it MW3. I’ve been following the series since the first one and they have compelled me to follow the back story. On the BF however, it wasn’t interesting and the voice acting were obviously too scripted than believable, visually pretty but got me deprived a lot faster from having glitches, restrictive paths, pointless missions and uninteresting “linear” storyline believing it to be the next MW.

Co-op:

I would say that they are both fun but different whereas in MW3 you pretty much do the same thing, short ones but intense & fast modes. In BF3 however, has a plain & direct approach in addition that you can blast buildings & some missions include riding vehicles.

Multiplayer:

In BF3 it’s also straight forward with few game modes but comes in different maps and sizes & that's where the game shines. Massive maps which gives vehicles space to roam, squad based gameplay which encourages you to do your part in a team in order to gain points & high number of players that can join in a single map. On MW3, it has plenty of modes (where is “Kill confirmed” mode is now my most favorite of them all), perks to assign; fast phased gameplay and you can almost play solo to gain points.

Which one I pick?

I personally go for BF3 even though I gave it a lower score from MW3. Why you say? Well the obvious battlelog interface was a total joke, I mean opening a browser just to get in a game was one big F*****g hassle. I have to reconnect many times just to get in a game. However once I get in, it all pays off by being productive to teammates and have fun and maybe make new friends along the way depending on how well i work with a war buddy.

MW3 however is so MW to me, not that there’s anything wrong with it but my hype wears off just a little too quick. It has awesome co-op & single player but when it goes down to multiplayer it just feels old like another SSDD (Same S**t Different Day) for me like having too much sugar. Innovation is essential but I didn’t see many changes in hoping that it will greatly encourage team play.

So yeah, I’d rather go out there and help somebody and have a good time with my squadmates/teammates rather than going solo and do a couple of no scope head shot with a sniper rifle, been there, done that.

Conclusion:

There’s no need to fight between the two when it’s clearly obvious (especially on multiplayer mode) that they’re different. It all depends on how you want to play a game out of your personal satisfaction. At the end of the day we all go home happily that we played our selected games.

But I wonder what it would be like to see a game called MW vs. BF… I’d say MWs foot soldiers will dominate from their perk drugs (damn them high!)…go figure

So game on and I’ll see you in the battlefield (MW3 & BF3 alike).

Review: Battlefield 3

Developer(s)                 EA Digital Illusions CE

Publisher(s)                 EA & SEGA (Japan)

Platform(s)                   PC, PS3, XBOX 360 & iOS

Release date                 October 2011

Genre(s)                       First-person Shooter

Mode(s)                        Single Player & Multiplayer

Rating(s)                      ESRB: M, PEGI: 16

                                                                                  So this is the battlelog

When I played Bad Company 2 on multiplayer I was stoked to see how different and fun it was compared to my COD gaming experiences. It was all about teamwork, huge maps, vehicles & blowing up buildings. I was also having fun being the medic by reviving teammates to fight forward. After sometime EA announced BF3 and made so many promises to the fan and beyond. However, did they kept their promises intact or not here’s my say in this review.

Presentation:

After EA left from Steams’ service they have formed a similar program called Origin where it gathers mostly EA games at the moment. As soon as you click on the game it will divert you to open an internet browser in order to open the games’ menu called “Battlelog”. It was something new but a lot of people I know disapproved the system & that includes me. It was more of a senseless hassle since the Alpha trial. Loading takes so long and sometimes a multiplayer won’t even start no matter how much I tried to connect. It is actually broken. The interface is truly ambitious however identifying so many unpleasant encounters before starting a game isn’t a nice presentation. On the Campaign mode, my first impression was it felt like that game called Heavy Rain which has so many quick time events (QTE) whereas you need to press certain buttons to react. I never expected to describe the dullness I had, restrictive to the point that you can’t move ahead of the NPC to go to the next step and also the game prevents you for being creative on how you approach your targets which led me to encounter a few game breaking bug such as where I can’t advance because there’s an invisible wall on the door. I did not expect a game breaking bug from a game that comes from one of the top gaming companies in the world. However, despite of all of my frustrations on the game, I had a blast playing on multiplayer as soon I got in the game.

Graphics:

It’s one of the best looking out there. The frostbite engine did so well that I can see objects from afar and knowing me that I don’t do sniping that much since HALO REACH but this really encouraged me to do so which is great. Some little touches like the bullet holes on the wall after shooting a couple of bullets on the wall including bloodstains after popping fleshes against the wall. Lighting & water effects are amazing smokes and dusts are believable & physics engine is excellent. So props to that.

Gameplay:

It felt much like its predecessor but with bigger maps, planes & bigger player capacity on multiplayer. One of the new controls is that you can now prone, this is best way to prevent enemy detections especially from snipers; also you can jump though obstacles without worrying to move around it. The single player mode is basically crappy just like how I describe it. However, the multiplayer is where it shines best. There are four classes and they are the Assault, Support, Engineer & Sniper. Squad based at its best and now the assault class has supported healing tools. The one who’s now carrying ammos is the Support and the sniper & engineers are pretty much the same. With huge maps, variety of vehicles there’s so much possibilities that can happen and knowing that I personally prefer team/squad based where I can enjoy the game with other people and make friends.

Audio:

I personally liked the OST of this one compared to MW3s, gunfire from a distance also gave me the feel that I’m somehow in a battlefield just don’t mind the voice acting, they sound pretty much stiff.

Overall:

This used to be one of my most anticipated games of this year. I had high hopes for it to the point that it can par up the hype against MW3. But in the end I felt that it was rushed but none the less, despite its uninteresting and boring single player, buggy game and frustrating Battlelog interface, the multiplayer makes it up fairly well. This game is for the fans of the franchise, for the ones who like to play with other people as a team and make friends; a game for pilots, troopers and drivers all in a huge battlefield. But if you prefer to be a lone soldier or expecting an epic Single player experience, I don’t think the game can promise you much. I personally think that it’s not a good pre-ordered game but you can wait for a couple of months for a price drop then I can say it’s a good buy.

Score             8

Pro(s)

Cooperative multiplayer experience

Massive maps

Graphically amazing

Con(s)

Battlelog is a joke

Glitchy Single player mode

Frustrating single player experience

Take so long to load any game modes

Plenty of bugs it felt like a rushed product

Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Developer(s)                 Infinity Ward & Sledgehammer Games

Publisher(s)                 Activision & Square Enix (Japan)

Platform(s)                   PC, XBOX 360, PS3 & Wii (in retail & steam)

Release date                 November 8, 2011

Genre(s)                       First-person Shooter

Mode(s)                         Single Player & Multiplayer

Rating(s)                      ESRB: M, PEGI: 18

                                          Oh yes indeed, lets! 

Since the first modern warfare, i’ve been into the story. Price & Soap from Task Force 141 has become one of the key characters in the game for me. At first MW I was so curious on how Soap would look like and wonder if there’s any sequel to it. After a few years MW2 came out gave me another rollercoaster ride and left me with another clifhanger. For me it was all about the campaign, its modern FPS setting & how it leaves me with a lot of WTF moments. However, the other half of what MW is all about is the addicting Multiplayer. Here we are at the third installment & finally got to see the sequel. But before i start, I need to make it clear that this review is based on my personal views and at least should keep it that way.

Presentation:

When someone ask me about my opinion on the game I quickly answer that “it’s so MW”, not that there’s wrong with it or broken. It’s the hype and feel of the game that keeps me going till I finish it in almost one sitting (but this time I actually finished the campaign in one sitting). It’s like watching a hit action movie and I can’t leave it for a minute. This is what I feel when it comes to COD, but among all the COD series, MW storyline is my pick & I’m glad to see the third installment at its best. It’s clearly a short one but personally a well done. On the multiplayer side, Spec Ops mode is back with all the fun you can get with a friend & it’s always fun. The addicting mass multiplayer delight is also back and with it is my new favorite mode called “Kill Confirmed” whereas you collect enemy dogtags to gain points for your team and also collect your fallen team members’ dogtags to prevent the opposing team from gaining points. It’s actually a great team based mode that encourages players to work together at some point.

                                          one of the cool things in the game is that you can have two scopes in one weapon

Graphics:

I’m actually playing it on PC at the moment and all I can say is set the image to “native” and you’ll graphically appreciate the view. There are so many options to set it and if you don’t know what you’re doing, the game will automatically set itself based on the specs of your PC (rig).

Gameplay:

Remember when I said “it’s so MW”? Well the gameplay also applies with few treats. It’s still fast phased with the usual guns you’ve seen in previous titles plus some arsenals and technologies that I’ve never seen before. Group multiplayer is also back with class editing and some new perks and kill streaks managements. When it used to be kill streak based gameplay is now turned into point streak mode which is now a bit easy for new comers to come at the top and a bit tougher for veterans to keep their status on top. However, with the new point system around, it felt just a bit different but not all game changing. It’s not actually a broken formula in the game, but like they always say about not fixing anything when it’s not broken. However, on the multiplayer side, I wish that you can rank yourself up on a dedicated server since you may suffer some constant lagging issues by implementing the old MWs’ matchmaking system which is usually frustrating. A bit improved? Yes, addicting? Yes indeed & overall gameplay? Freakin’ A.

                                          there are some places worth looking at for a few seconds such as this one

Audio:

I just want to mention what I don’t like much in the game and it’s OST; they don’t feel that epic from the previous one done by the most respected composer Hans Zimmer. Fun fact, the gunfire was so loud but wasn’t loud enough for me to get annoyed by it.

Overall:

MW is back with the 3^rd installment & it’s coming in hard in Campaign & Multiplayer. For those who are a fan of the story I can only say that they’re in for a treat; it is short but well done. As soon as you’re done with that (or skipped the single player) you’re going to spend so much time at the multiplayer modes with tons of fun and players to compete with. Innovation is essential and I don’t see much in this game but if it’s not broken, what’s the point of fixing it? Is it good for the money? Well unless if you play it on multiplayer then it’ll keep you busy for at least a month or so.

Score             8.5

Pro(s)

So MW whereas:

Shooting engine

Weapon customizations

Presentations

Addicting multiplayer

And to add that:

Addicting Kill Confirmed multiplayer mode

Perks and variety of kill streaks & death streaks

It’s now a point system than kill system.

Con(s)

So MW whereas:

Very short campaign

Matchmaking is back

And to add that:

Multiplayer matches still has less teamwork feel to it than they’ve promised

You can’t rank up your on dedicated servers

Batman Arkham City (I will review it)

Hey guys!


Now it's not strange that we've been hearing great things about this game but I will still review it based on my experience. However, it will take some time for me to review it seeing that there are so many things to appreciate the game.

I’ll be out on a holiday next week so that’s a great time for me to play the game more enough to make a review. Till then please be sure to check out my previous reviews and stay tuned.

Many thanks for the followers and game on!

Review: Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

Developer(s) Project Aces


Publisher(s) Namco Bandai Games

Platform(s) PS3 & Xbox 360

Release date October 2011

Genre(s) Arcade, Combat Flight Simulator

Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer

Rating(s) ESRB T, PEGI 16

                                             The antagonist himself


“Make Metal Bleed” as the back cover of the game said

If you ask me what’s my best jet fighting simulation game i’ve played in my life, that would be Ace Combat series. I played most of them since the first one on PS1. All my life, i never found another game that can par with NAMCOs’ masterpeice.

After a long wait for consoles since Ace Combat 6, it’s back with agressiveness pushing away other games that tried to challenge one of NAMCOs’ pride and asset.

Though did it delivered well? We shall see as i share my thoughts on the game.

                                              That sweet feeling of victory on each and every kill you make
Presentation:

“Modern Warfare in the sky”

The set up is now mentioned in actual world locations, mentioning from previous trailers are Miami, African locations and many more. Surely the game won’t be complete without a storyline and now it’s been aided by a New York Times bestselling military author Jim DeFelice and shaped a story about Lt. Colonel William Bishop from the Warwolf Flight Squadron and his quest to stop a Russian terrorist named Col. Markov “Akula” who has a weapon that can blow up pretty much a city. Unlike the previous and traditional Ace’s direct mission briefing then take off segment, they added some QTE (Quick Time Event) elements for you to react while off the plane (Heavy Rain-ish) which basically pointless for me to be honest. But gladly the phasing is fast & it won’t take long till you get on a mission. It’s a new gesture from the game and also trying other weaponries and aircrafts. Let’s say aside from flying planes, one of them is you can fly an AH-64D Apache Longbow, a gunner on MH-60 Black Hawk and other planes with different functions depending on the given mission. So basically it’s a different curve but it’s still a welcomed add on.

                                              inside the SU-35 cockpit, one of my fave planes in AC games
Graphics:

There are no traces to disappoint the game in terms of visuals. The textures on a blown enemy aircraft is spot on, however I laughed when I saw a blown pilot wasn’t ripped to shreds as I blew his plane sky high. But I guess to avoid being flagged as a bloody game perhaps. But none the less, seeing a shattered plane gives you the sense of sweet victory after taking them down on plane after the other.

                                            yeah a new gameplay comes with flying this chopper
Gameplay:

You fly a plane & blow some stuff up, simple? Well it used to be like that but the new installment has some treats to keep you occupied for a bit by flying attack choppers, bombers and also a gunner. Though the main meat of the game is to be the Ace in the air and fly planes with different specs and specialties for each given mission. The new main element of the game is the Close-range assault “Dogfight mode”. It can be activated when you’re close enough to an enemy plane; there, the controls will turn into a semi automatic tailing enemy planes (which is a bit silly for me but it made up by taking control on a close range attack) and stick with them as long as you can till you destroy them in mid-air, that way you will feel the sense of satisfaction after each kill. However there are two kinds of control mode whereas semi auto pilot “Optimum” for those who are new in the genre (which I don’t like to use) & the “Original” mode for those who are veterans (like me) on the game that will let you fully control your plane and do as many barrel rolls as you pleased.

Each plane has their own special weapons and class whether a bomber, an air-to-air or both. There are tons of planes to choose from and that will also please the fans and keep them busy searching for their favorite plan/s (where are my Su planes from the start of the game!!!).

                                               As a gunner, wasn't that bad
Aside from the single player, the multiplayer is back with co-op or a death match for all 16 players and plane customizations.

In co-op mode, you can team up with a trusted buddy while on 16 multiplayer, first there’s Capital Conquest where each team has a group base to protect and destroy the other team’s base; there’s also Domination where you capture ground installations and lastly there’s the classic deathmatch where it’s more intense than the single player by taking down a real player to see who dominates the skies. So basically the other half of the fun lies in the multiplayer.

                                                                Just like MW, you can also try this plane and do your thing
Audio:

In terms of voice acting, it’s pretty stiff which sometimes feel like the character’s movement didn’t blend well to the voice acting. I also found out that the sound quality wasn’t that epic enough for my 5.1 surround sound headset which I found that the music was louder than rest so I had to adjust the volumes. But on the brighter side, its well done in terms of explosions, weapons and epic OST which has a mixed of Rock Metal & Orchestra feel to it; plus a one of their track called “Rush” gave me Goosebumps whenever I hear the guitar solo.

                                               I just love Russian fighter jets over the rest of the planes.
Overall:

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is actually a good game but not as great as Ace Combat 5 for me. The gameplay, graphics, OST are there but the storyline fell short and wasn’t as epic as I experienced in AC5s' “The Journey home” song which the game also represents “world peace” from two giant fictional country fighting earch other that almost made a world war. But none the less, this game is a welcomed from its genre; Project ACES still is untouchable and cannot be compared when it comes to making a good arcade jet fighting simulator game. So if you ask me again what’s my favorite fighting simulation game? I’d still say NAMCOs’ Ace Combat series and this will be one of them but the best of them. This will be welcomed for young aces with the help of putting a modern feel to it; and for the fan of the genre, go get it, it's worth the wait and you can't find anything better than Ace Combat.

Score 8


Pro(s)

Intense new Dog fight system

Awesome Multiplayer

Breath taking OST

Using other air craft

Faster phased air combat in the series



Con(s)

You can forget about the storyline

A few missions doesn’t feel right

Pointless off battle interactions at times

Pointless QTEs

Review: RAGE

                                                        So a big rock hit Earth

Developer(s)                 id Software

Publisher(s)                 Bethesda Softworks

Platform(s)                   PC, PS3 & Xbox 360

Release date                October 2011

Genre(s)                       First Person Shooter, Action, Adventure

Mode(s)                        Single Player, Multiplayer

Rating(s)                      ESRB: M, PEGI 18

                                                        Running flow of blood, Graphically impressive.  

Why all those hate on the game!?

Due to unforeseen events at work, I’ve been busy for the past several weeks so I had to push it back. This is my fourth week but things got subsided now so here we go!

Enough from my sorry a$$ excuse, I’m here to give my thoughts on this game and for those who’s on the fence (especially for PC gamers) on whether to get this game or wait for the update/price tag to drop, here’s for you.

                                                          Believable Facial expression + Nice Voice acting = win.

Presentation:

  

It’s basically flat & straightforward that has predictable plot but interestingly enough to keep you occupied. It’s about a group of selected humans casting themselves to be sealed in a chamber called “The Ark” in order to survive from an asteroid attack on earth which will pretty much destroy humanity and any life on the planet. You are one of the selected ones and augmented a special technology in order to survive the aftermath and restore civilization once again. After more than a hundred years, you’ve woken up in the Ark only to find that people around you in the Ark are dead. As you open the door for the first time, it felt like opening the vault back in Fallout 3 for some reason. The Environment has so much detail on the wasteland, from towns to NPC personalities. Generally it’s a world worth exploring.

Knowing id software, they make great qualities of FPS games in terms of gameplay way back when I first played Wolfenstein 3D on DOS & it was the first game I played and finished in the genre. So a bit of the developers’ history there has assured me that RAGE will be huge and in fact it did big.

                                                   Don't miss her, she will give you the best supporting weapon in the game

Graphics:

This is a touchy subject, there’s always bugs creeping up on PC games at launch it wasn’t as bad as Dead Island’s though. Setting those glitches aside, the details of the atmosphere is impressive, each towns and cities has their own feel to it, and facial details of NPCs are spot on believable and didn’t felt like obvious puppets. However the bad side (soon to be patched) was the frame rate & textures. To set an example, I noticed that whenever I turn around fast I noticed that it takes milliseconds to recalibrate a blurred section in order for it to be visible. Also to add that there were very limited options on setting your display in the game. It may disappoint for those who wish to put the graphics to its optimal use but none the less, the game is still playable and no game breaking there for me.

                                                               A good looking Bike

Gameplay:

One thing that I don’t doubt about id is their gameplay. Knowing that they’ve been so long in the industry and yet they still wows their audiences with epic experiences including with each weapons. That also includes this game, gun battles still driving me crazy in a good way (which reminds me with my run on DOOM 3), AI enemy movements are almost unpredictable specially for the agile ones which I personally call Crazy Monkeys, I’m used to those who stick their heads out and be easy targets but the enemies in this game are pretty hard hitters to the point that they don’t want their heads to be blown off by your awesome weapons. Luckily, there are other supporting weapons to assist you which one of them is the Wingstick, a three edged boomerang that can wipe an enemy in one hit (mainly the enemy’s head) and that helps a lot whenever I have a hard time killing annoying Crazy Monkeys. Aside from FPS, it also has a driving gameplay; I was surprised on how fluid & responsive it was in terms of controls. The world is full of racing tracks so each town has events on race battles in order for you to earn extra cash.

                                                    So this is how my player looks like with the Crimson Armor 

Audio:

As far as how the voice acting goes, it didn’t come any shorter than awesome. And I thought Dead Island was good but I guess I was wrong. At some point of the game, there are areas where I was impressed to see & hear dead bodies with flowing blood and flies all over, it helped to give me that creepy feeling.

                                           I went like "Good Lord that's a huge Boss!" 

Overall:

RAGE is a game to be loved from what it is, personally I don’t prioritize the graphics as long as its playable and fun, just like BRINK, this game is also a breath of fresh air for me away from military based FPS games like Call Of Duty & Battle Field. Aside from the huge Single Player game, the multiplayer is there to add some extra flavor to the game isn’t broken & fun to play with friends. This game is for those who love the genre (FPS) as single player focused and not for those who expect it to have some heavy RPG elements. As long as it’s playable, its fine but for those who love to max out its graphical capability, you might get disappointed but on a brighter side, they will patch it soon (PC version). For a price tag, it's questionable for its graphical side but overall it's worth the price.

Score             8.5

Pro(s)

Huge

Graphically impressed

Awesome voice acting

Cool weapons

id’s AI enemies never gets old

Fun multiplayer

Con(s)

Missions felt repetitive

Loots are sometimes limited

Graphical & texture issues

Late for RAGE

Hey guys Mookie here, sorry for those who’s been waiting for my game review on RAGE, I’ve been so busy at work for the last three weeks and will (and hopefully the last) have another one more busy week to go.




But just to give a quick comment on the game, it’s worth the bucks…



However, I will still review it with more details for those who are still on the fence or in doubt wether to buy it or not.



Thank you for your patience and game on!

Review: Dead Island

Developer(s) Techland

Publisher(s) Deep Silver

Platform(s) PS3, Xbox 360 & PC

Release date September, 2011

Genre(s)         Role Playing, First Person, Sandbox (Open World)

Mode(s)        Single Player, Multiplayer

Rating(s) ESRB: M, PEGI: 18

I don’t play much Zombie Apocalypse games, I don’t like the idea that it’s the trend of this generation so simply I don’t like it when a certain subject can become the “it” factor in the world society and be part of that. Simply it diminishes my real identity and individuality. But none the less, I play them enough to understand its purpose and how effects towards the fan of the genre.

The game is developed by a gaming company which I was not familiar with even though Nail’d & Call of Juarez games were scattered in several shops back here I did not gave my time to check them out.

“So, why the f*** are you reviewing this game then?” you may ask. Some may still question themselves whether to buy this game or wait for another epic game to come but my reason behind it is simply that I had set myself to play with a mutual friend as soon as it came out. The first time I heard about the game was in their trailer, the first it caught my attention and I included it among the most dramatic game trailer I've seen. Read about the game and it was expected to be an open world with a Left 4 Dead survival FPS game. Few weeks after the video footage of the gameplay, I found that quests were shown Experience Points. By that time I started to expect an RPG element will include, which convinced me that it will not look like just another “hack-your-way-through-zombies” game.

On release day, as I made my first run, my previous views of the game changed almost significantly. Although my very first try was unpleasant due to several technical disturbing events. Patches were quickly given and things got a lot better by diminishing some game breaking bugs.

So here I am and ready to give my thoughts about the game.

                                           Ugly and bloody sight but feels better to survive form the attack

Presentation:

The set up if located in a fictional paradise island (or so it was...) called Banoi. You can play as one of the four basic characters in the game and each of them has backgrounds and combat styles. As soon as you made your choice, you will wake up in a bed to find that things are in total chaos. And as one of the (immune) survivals, it’s your job to save some survivals by discovering the open world of Banoi and try to figure out what’s going on and what find its source as you hack your way through places with various infected (zombies).

                                           One of the bugs, no table 

Graphics:

There is no doubt that is has one impressive graphics I've seen in gaming. From open environments, narrow places, water effects and dark rooms, there’s so much to appreciate in terms of landscapes and lightings. The blood and chopped fleshes will leave you in horror especially when cutting zombie's limbs as you go in slow motion.

                                           Familiar? sure they are the family from the trailer

Gameplay:

This is where it shines the most. But I will try to mention all of them one at a time without losing my focus. The view is set on First Person mode, when you check the skills; you will find that it’s designed with kill trees and you need to earn points by leveling up; and to level up you need to kill zombies. Skill trees are distributed in three and they are set depending on the character class you chose and their classes are specialized in Firearms or Sharp Weapons or Throwing Sharp Weapons or Blunt Weapons. So the more killing and side questing the more experience you will gain to create a very effective class character. Since there’s a class who’s specialized in firearms, this game is more focused on using melee weapons and they work very well; weapons usually warn off so they needed maintenance by working on them on a workbench and they can also be upgraded to increase its effective use and durability, aside from maintaining a weapon, you can also create custom made weapons by acquiring manuals scattered in the island and it will instruct you for the items you will need to gather in order to make that particular weapon. The game can be played either solo which will take you long to finish a given quest and will have some difficulties to finish a mission or co-op whereas you will find quick questing and extra fun. Questing is designed traditionally like a fetching method taken from an RPG perspective, so you will be busy going to locations either on foot or via vehicle. When playing solo, the zombies will have a fair level close to yours unless if the host is higher from your level then you will have a rough time to kill one zombie at a time. My first play through wasn't pleasant due to several encounters of bugs and ultra-sensitive mouse handling which left me a bit dizzy. But in just a few days it got patched and most of the bugs were fixed. So the game got me hooked for more questing and level grinding which let me to forget about its glitches overtime.

                                          Beautiful but deadly place to stay

Audio:

Given that this is an adult game, you will expect gores, screams and voice acting where you find them struggle to survive from attacks. Not excellent but believable to say the least.

This is literally one horrifying zombie apocalypse games I've ever played in terms of sounds. The voices of the infected will alert you as you hear them in the area. Given the fact that will determine what type of infected you will encounter nearby but the trouble here is that it’s not clear to pin point their locations so expect to get many surprise attacks even though you’re in a sunny open world. An early tip is to proceed with caution.

Overall:

What can I say? like i said i'm no fan on the zombie apocalypse game. However, it’s another great pre-purchase for me via Steam. Dead Island gave a new flavored treat for those who love Left 4 Dead/Killing Floor games with a blend of RPG element which will charm gamers who played Fallout (3 & New Vegas) and Borderlands. It’s a First Person Melee that strongly relies on the RPG element in a survival horror setup. But for those who expect gun blazing, solo campaign then you might need to rethink that. Despite the bugs I have encountered in the game, it never fails to let me go back to grind and loot for more goods and explore the wonderful yet horrifying Island of Banoi.


Score 9


Pro(s)
Open world
Great weapon customization
Addicting level grinding & looting
Plays well with friends and will guarantee sheer fun
Will hook you on taking even side quests
Surprise elements
Nice car control

Con(s)
Buggy
Very sensitive mouse control
Long questing when playing solo
Hard at times when playing solo

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Augmented Edition Review

Developer:      Eidos Motreal
Publisher:        Square Enix
Platforms:       PS3, Xbox 360 and PC
Rating:            ESRB M, PEGI 15


I never asked for this, but I chose to make a review. The year is 2011, it’s the time where the Deus Ex makes its way to the market and relive the theme of what it has done 11 years ago. 
After a long wait of my pre-purchased Augmented Edition here I am ready to make a review. For more than 40+ hours of gaming completion, I finally drag myself out from playing to reviewing this game. 

                                          Poor Adam in human form


Presentation


The game sets itself in 2027, about 20 years before the event of the first game Deus Ex in 2052, Human Augmentation is widely used by consumers whereas to enhance their human abilities and take them to a higher level for their basic daily needs. Although the technology isn’t as widely welcomed form that time, it’s starting to shape a new era for humanity.


You play the role of Adam Jensen, a security officer in SERIF Industries, one of the leading human augmentation companies located in the state of Detroit. The facility was attacked by an unknown group leaving Adam almost dead and took away his girlfriend. Saved by augmenting his body, he seeks revenge for what happened. Six months later your quest begins, solving mysteries by visiting places and talk to certain persons for the main and side quests. It’s pretty straight forward; the guy had a traumatic event and seeks redemption. But things will start to pick up as you complete one quest to another involving secret organization with deep and scary intentions for the world. 

                                          Adam in Augmented form


Gameplay


Here are my thoughts on the game; it has the first person shooter view, a Metal Gear Solid cover and stealth gameplay, a conversational system that impacts the outcome of player’s game direct and indirect approach. Leveling up system is vast and limited; you can’t upgrade all of your augmentations so it’s best to choose wisely on what you should upgrade to better use based on your style. There are many ways to reach an objective from run-and-gun (but that doesn’t work well for me) style to stealth mode and walking through vents. Aside from enhancing your augmentations, you can also improve your weapons by combining upgrade kits found in the area and also can be bought from a dealer. So the game has more MGS feel in combat combined with RPG elements roaming in a semi open world. And seeing those take downs and augmented abilities will leave you amazed and feel like a badass killing machine…or human for that matter.

                                          Cover system, reminds me of MGS for sure.


Graphics


It’s gorgeous, the theme of a dark future brings to life, the element of gold and black are seen in the game and artistically well made. From the looks of it, it was well made in art and fashion.  

                                          See that Orange Dart? yeah i like taking them down silently


Audio


It has a catchy sound track of mixed electronic and organic feel. A gun shot delivers a feel that you are using an advanced weapon of the future. Although some voice acting was dramatically well made others may sound funny but acceptable. 

                                          Trivia, this is when you take an alcoholic drink. :)


Overall 


Personally, this was a good pre-purchased game I had since my Dungeon Siege 3. A satisfactory for my pocket and entertainment to add the Augmented Edition is good bonus if you like to watch the development of the game and its Original Sound Tracks. Although it may not charm most of those who expect it to be a full pledged FPS game, it will surely satisfy to the gamers who plays RPG and/or stealth cover games. 


Score 9/10


Pro(s)
Amazing and lively graphics 
Vast augmentation upgrades options
Hacking is cheap fun and rewarding
A Deep back story 
MGS feel
Multiple endings
Memorable Characters


Con(s)
Going stealth mode will take you a bit longer to accomplish a mission
Limited resources for upgrades 
Frustrating boss fights at times
No game+ as you finished the game