Jon Michael May's Blog, page 4
March 3, 2014
Low Budget Gamer – Tomb Raider (PS3) & Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition (PS4) Free for PSN Plus Subscribers Tomorrow
Originally posted on What's Your Tag?:
Sony’s Playstation Plus subscription practically pays for itself, what with offering tons of free games each month and now being the only way to play most things online with the PS4. According to a recent post over at the Playstation Blog, PSN Plus subbers will be able to pick up Tomb Raider for the PS3 and indie twin-stick zombie shooter Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition on PS4 for free tomorrow, which just adds more free stuff to the laundry list of freebies already available.
Star Trek Federation Civil War part 107
Originally posted on Xfozzboute's Blog:
Got a few more things added to the top of the ship. I think it’s coming along nicely.
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I added some forward reaction control thrusters but I think I might redo them. I also added an airlock.
Dues Ex: Human Revolution – Directors Cut – Xbox 360 Edition – Spoilers
by Jon Michael May
There will come a day, perhaps in our lifetime, when science can build a better human, fixing the flaws of nature and enhancing abilities bordering on science fiction. That is the world presented in Dues Ex: Human Revolution, a game blending directed action and meticulous stealth, into the not so distant future of human augmentation.
Developed by Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix, Human Revolution emerged from the shadows of obscurity, at least to me, with few expectations. Having never played the original title, to which HR is a prequel, I knew little of what to expect from the GameFly rental. Imagine then my surprise when I stumbled upon this sleeper hit and discovered something amazing.
Human Revolution puts you in the first person perspective of Adam Jensen, the head of security for Sarif Industries and the unwitting recipient for a host of cybernetic augmentations. Those augmentations are at the heart of what sets Dues Ex apart from other games. Instead of including the typical RPG element of upgradeable traits/skills, human augmentation is placed front and center as the catalyst for the next step in human evolution. It’s through this augmentation that Jensen’s abilities can be enhanced, as it’s as much a part of Jensen’s character as the world in which he inhabits. This is never more evident than in the way in which the story explores the ethical uncertainties inherit when science plays God and tries to make man, better.
Determined to find answers and justice for the death of key scientists at Sarif industries Jensen is led into the world of corporate espionage and a truth that reaches far beyond his employer. Jensen must now rely on his new augmentations to overcome a world of augmented mercenaries determined on stopping him.
Human Revolution was a game that I couldn’t put down, even when faced with a particularly difficult challenge or action sequence. Many games inevitably create a challenge that becomes frustrating to overcome, with no insensitive to keep coming back, because the only reward is the progression beyond the obstacle. Dues Ex, overcomes this with it’s story and the rich and vibrant world Eidos Montreal has created.
While not completely linear or open world, the locations where the action does occur, are developed into thriving vibrant worlds where more is going on than just the focus of the story. There are definite boundaries, but the environment is created to direct the gameplay in a manner that never feels constrained. Even while exploring, I don’t recall running up against the typical blank wall or edge of the world.
On several occasions I found myself wanting to stop and look around, not to see where the edge of the world might be, but to examine the minute details. That exploration is often rewarded with side quests, loot, and world supporting details that add a wealth of detail to the universe.
Ultimately, Human Revolution depicts a universe I want to revisit. With a variety of ways to play the game, from straight action shooter to hacking stealth mechanics, and in lack of a proper sequel, I can easily see myself replaying Human Revolution for a second (technically a third) time.
Initially, the game bugged out on me in the final mission and at the time, when I rented it back in 2011 and I was unable to complete the main campaign. The Directors Cut seeks to correct such issues and I experienced no further problems completing the game.
Additional flourishes promised improved boss battles, AI and graphics, and enhanced Wii U GamePad functionality. While I can’t speak to the latter, even with the inclusion of Second Screen Tablet and PS Vita support, due to my lack of a tablet, I did notice a refinement in the boss battle sequences. As for improved graphics, the game looked good to begin with and I couldn’t see any distinguishable increase in graphic fidelity, though that’s not to say it was lacking. I played on the highest difficulty setting and the action, both stealth and combat, presented challenging obstacles.
The Directors Cut promised to integrate The Missing Link DLC and as promised, played like an original part of the story, rather than another level tacked onto the end. The integration was so convincing, that I suspect the Missing Link content was part of the original game and removed so DLC would be available when the game launched. While I have no proof of this, I can’t escape the thought this was the case and done as a simple money grab. That’s too bad and remains the one downside I came away with from the entire game. It remains a minor qualm however.
The game fills tightly constructed, but never claustrophobic. Levels are intricately laid out to provide a wealth of game play and missions across a relatively small landscape while being detailed enough to never be boring. Combat, if you choose to engage, is quick and precise, while the stealth mechanics offer their own level of enjoyment. I found that for me a combination of both tactics worked well to overcome most situations. I could sneak through a room and hack various doors, terminals, and robots, but if detected, I had the capacity to fight my way out it. It does however take much of the game to build up this balance and the early stages of dealing with which augmentations to chose, can be overwhelming, particularly when early investments in a particular skill make later levels and boss fights, much easier to overcome.
I enjoyed the open ended nature of the game, as the build up to the conclusion originated from elements within the first moments of the story. The final moments never felt anticlimactic as though a shoehorned ending rolled into the credits without warning. The player is never asked to make a decision with little or no context as to why that decision matters or what effect it will have on the world. While it took time to make that final choice, I appreciated the chance to make a decision that actually had an impact on the world, albeit after the fact.
A time consuming game and one not picked up to quell a few minutes of boredom, Human Revolution rewards those willing to stick with the Science Fiction adventure it attempts to tell. Completing the full story and the variety of side quests takes a commitment and because of that, Human Revolution loses a degree of replayability. Given enough time, it’s definitely a game I intend to revisit.
I’m not sure how I feel about the concept of releasing a Directors Cut of a game, which essentially addresses issues which arise after the games release. I suppose that in many ways it’s not that different from periodic patches and updates that most games now receive, but that suggests a consumer willing to purchase a broken product and companies more than willing to sell us that broken product. While nothing can be entirely perfect and in many cases, testing before release, even Open Beta’s, won’t find every problem. The Directors Cut of Dues Ex: Human Revolution is an interesting case because it offers changes to actual gameplay in addition to the inclusion of DLC and bug fixes. Were it merely the latter, we could chalk it up to a fancy Game of the Year type release. Those are common these days, but few if any actually go back and tweak parts of the game in ways that alter the gameplay.
It helps that the Directors Cut was cheaper than the original game and in the end, Human Revolution is better for it. If you have the original version, it’s not worth another purchase unless you want a collectors item or plan to purchase it for the Wii U. If you’ve never played it before or like me, didn’t finish it the first time around, than give it another chance. It’s worth your time and money.
March 2, 2014
Strider Review (Xbox One)
Originally posted on What's Your Tag?:
Strider
is one of
Capcom’s
oldest and unfortunately, most under-appreciated franchises. There have only been three games released in the series’ 25 year history, but thanks to a little TLC and elbow grease from the folks at
February 28, 2014
Halo at E3
It’s not even March yet and already rumors are circulating about what we might see at E3 this summer. One thing we now know for sure will be there, is Halo. In a tweet from Microsoft Studios’ Vice President, Phil Spencer, “Halo news will be coming at E3. 343i has a great plan in place, will be cool to share with everyone.”
(Halo 5 - customizable poncho’s: Confirmed!)
What this ‘plan’ exactly is and in what way we might get our next Halo fix, remains to be seen. After the brief showing of a Halo teaser at E3 2013 and the less than stellar performance of Halo Spartan Assault, there are a lot of fans eagerly awaiting something a bit more substantial from 343. Whether that is the rumored anniversary HD revamp of Halo 2, or a proper sequel to Halo 4, remains to be seen.
Xbox Live: Games with Gold – March
Xbox Live: Games with Gold – March
Starting March 1, Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download Civilization Revolution for free. Civilization Revolution is a turned based strategy game in the Civilization franchise of games from Sid Meier.
Beginning March 15, Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download Dungeon Defenders for free. Dungeon Defender is a tower defense action RPG, developed by Trendy Entertainment.
While these games are older titles, it’s hard to argue against free games, particularly if you missed them the first time around. The Games with Gold program remains exclusive to the 360, having yet to transition to the Xbox One as promised by Microsoft. While it takes time to get things running on a new console, one would imagine that the desire to make as many games available for that new console would drive Microsoft to not only speed up the initiation of the Games with Gold program for the Xbox One, but also release some more recent titles. How about Halo 4 or Gears of War Judgment, the latest installments of the two Xbox flagship franchises.
Just a thought.
February 26, 2014
True Detective: Haunted Houses
Spoilers for this season in general and the most recent episode.
With only two episodes left, True Detective is the best new show you’ve not seen this season. I’m not a fan of the police procedural drama and I’ve had my fill of the paranormal. So with little to go on, I was ready to write off True Detective as not worth the investment. Before the first episode concluded, it was immediately evident I’d made the right choice in taking the time to give it the attention it deserves.
The show follows a unique format. Rather than trying to string a story along for an entire season or even multiple seasons, the writers and producers are directed towards focusing their effort on this one smaller effort. It has paid off tremendously. There is rarely a missed beat, little wasted time, and virtually no filler. In another show, random plot threads that lead nowhere with no pay off are common filler to give the characters things to do. That isn’t the case here as a single narrative is used to drive the story towards one finale conclusion. When all is said and done and the case is ultimately, as I believe it will be, I doubt few if any questions will remain, lingering in our thoughts as a final mark of content.
I find myself largely uninterested in the case itself, at least so as far as the actual murders are concerned. I’m much more interested in watching the interactions and often clashing nature of the two leads. The characters of Marty Hart and Rust Cohle are handled superbly by the talent of Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Their conflicting personalities and the shady underbelly of Louisiana they explore in search of the Yellow King, is what draws me to True Detective. Here we see two men, who couldn’t be more different, but compliment each other in ways that neither are willing to fully admit. Without the other, they might stumble and fall, but together they form an odd couple powerhouse, capable of seeing things and taking actions that others would never consider.
The show is every bit about the tension between these two men and the spiraling out of control nature of their past, as the crime itself. In any other life, they might be bad men not worth emulating and in many respects, good intentions aside, they remain firmly entrenched on the dark side of right. As Cohle himself said, “I can’t say the job made me this way. More like me being this way made me right for the job.” Both walk a line of bad men being used to hold back the evil that threatens to break down the door, because it so often takes darkness to fight darkness. Even in the height of their asshole inducing antics, they are tapped into something beyond themselves that drives them towards the inevitable conclusion of their case.
In the most recent episodes, ‘Haunted Houses’ (February 23, 2014 penned by Nic Pizzolatto, who has written the entire eight episode season) we see Hart and Cohle begin the confrontation that leads to their split in 2002. As Hart’s infidelity and the spite induced infidelity of his wife Maggie with Cohle drives a wedge between all three, Cohle leads a one man mission to uncover the truth of a larger mystery. The killings never stopped. The Yellow King is still out there, murdering women and children and indications point to the involvement of the powerful Tuttle Family.
In the present, Detectives Gilbough and Papania (the detectives interviewing Hart & Cohle) are putting together their case, laying down pieces of a puzzle that paint Cohle as the real killer. From their side of the table, Cohle is pulling the strings in carefully choreographed ballet, leading Hart where he wants the case to go in an attempt to divert attention away from himself.
As the two Detectives lay out their theory, you can see the wheels turning as Hart’s investigative instincts begin to fire. Something stops him though. Maybe it’s the thought of personally getting revenge against the man he blames for ruining his marriage, but that’s not it. Hart is a different man now. Time has given way to the truth of his own failings and he realizes the mistakes made in his past, are entirely his own. Perhaps, he wants to bring in Cohle himself and put off the two Detectives, so he can take down The Yellow King that fooled them all.
But perhaps it’s something else, something so perverse as a loyalty that knows only the most basic bonds of trust, yet is stronger than any steel. Hart and Cohle are witnesses to the darkness of men in their own lives and in the homicides they pursue. It’s driven a wedge between them and the outside world that can never be broken. Only the two of them know the truth of how far they will go for the other, how much they are willing to risk to protect their partner. They may never be friends. There’s too much bad blood, but they can be brothers, a bond stronger and thicker than any argument. Apart, they are doomed to spiral out of control and they both know it, but together, they have a chance of doing something right.
So with a revolver tucked securely to his leg, Hart agrees to join Cohle for a drink. They drive off onto a deserted highway, both men mistrusting the other, yet neither one prepared to stab the other in the back. They need each other this one last time, because no one else sees the entire picture they way they can. Hart doesn’t have the insight to make the move and Cohle doesn’t have the good grace to get beyond the obstacles that stand in their way. Only together, can they answer that ultimate question.
Who is the Yellow King?
Grounded: The making of The Last of Us
If you enjoyed TLoS, or are just interested in behind the scenes documentaries, or even just like video games in general, then take some time and watch Area 5′s Grounded: The making of The Last of Us doc. It’s available for free from Sony on YouTube and Amazon. Spoilers if you haven’t played it yet.
February 21, 2014
Better luck next week…
I hit a wall this week. I couldn’t focus and pull anything together at all. I’m trying to write a game review, about a game I really like, but I can’t find the right words. Beyond that, nothing really grabbed me this or sparked an interest enough that I felt like I needed or even wanted to share my opinion or thoughts on it. So, better luck next week. I’m going to let it go this weekend and work on something else. Hopefully, next week, I’ll be more productive.
