Before Your Eyes

It's funny when people say your life flashes before your eyes when a near death experience happens, you never quite believe such a thing could happen until it inevitably does. I've got myself into a situation that I don't believe I can get myself out of and now I'm floating here in this deep abyss for what feels like an eternity just waiting for my time to be up. The boat sank and I don't have a clue where I am exactly in this vast nothingness all I have is the salty cold air of the night and its beautiful starlight imagery until I get found or my time is up.

In my final hour the pain of hunger and dehydration began to become unbearable but as if like my own personal anaesthetic I began not to see the painting-like beautiful star filled night any more but images that blurred the line between real life and memory, images bouncing around and fast forwarding almost like a Video Cassette. In between the jumps of imagery I began to clearly see key moments of my own life which started to slow down and play out.

I felt warm and content as I saw myself as a boy running across a field near my first home during the Summer. I had a huge smile on my face and could clearly hear my first Dog barking as loud as he could as I kicked the football towards my father. 'Now son you have to control the ball properly and always pass to your team when there is an opening!' he said as he attempted to pass to me until my dog grabbed the ball and popped it.

Floating here I could almost smell the cut grass and pollen float across the air from that amazing Summer...

***
The smell began to fade soon after and I could vaguely hear the sound of the ocean as the memories began to play at an increasing rate. I almost couldn't comprehend what I was looking at until it was like the tape came to a halt once more.

I can see myself again but this time I'm older I have just got my A level results and I'm in tears. I have a sense of impending doom on my face as I realise I haven't got onto the course I wanted. 'There are other options for you out there, you know that don't you?' I remember those words clearly now, I can see myself beginning to smile with the determination that this moment in my life would not defeat me.

***
The next flash and I'm sitting at a desk of my first boring 9 to 5 job regretting not being spontaneous and feeling stuck in the new adult life that had taken over since I finished school. The day in particular I felt a pit in my stomach as the Boss had taken advantage of myself and my colleagues once again.'Oh can you guys stay an extra few hours this evening, It's Friday and we still have so much paper work to get through' he said as he left work for the weekend.

I finished that shift and immediately handed in my notice, I remember thinking back to getting my A level results and having that feeling of determination, I'd forgotten it already in the short time between the two memories. I could then see myself booking a flight with the money I'd saved and heading to the airport, just to get away and begin a new adventure.

***
The flashes start progressing much faster as the sound of the ocean begins to slowly fill the air. I wonder if I'm just delirious, I wonder where and when I am, I wonder what the hell is going on until the memory stops and becomes clear... I'm on a sunny beach with crystal clear water and bright white sand, I'm looking at the woman who would be my wife and I'm happy as we both lookout toward the waves crashing lightly across the coast of the island.

She turns to me and whispers in my ear 'I wish we could stay here forever before you have to go...' What did she mean before I had to go? I turned to ask her but she wasn't there. I turned back to the ocean and it was pitch black again, I was back floating again and trying to hold on to what I could to keep on until help arrived. If it was going to arrive.

I was so desperate to see her again I began to shout 'take me back!' over and over until the sound of the ocean faded out again and my memories began speeding up before me. It was different this time, before I couldn't make anything out before it stopped but this time I could see everything clearly, I could see my wedding with her as I pulled the veil away from her face and put the ring on her finger, I could see us moving into our first home, I could see the arguments we had and how we would make up with each other right away.

I could feel the memories fading out as they seemed to get further away, the space I was in was totally black and void of anything, I began to wonder If I had died? I came to the final memory, one I had tried to suppress for some time and one I had almost denied myself of going back to. It was my wife in bed at the Hospital with her family and mine crowded around her.

She was sick, she was really sick and she was leaving. I had sat there all day with her telling her it was all going to be alright and that we'd soon be heading home together and continuing our perfect life. That didn't happen, she left not long after and she wouldn't be coming back. I began to remember all the grief, all the pain and the loss of direction in my life.

But I remembered why I was on that boat, I tried to get away for a while and try to help myself before getting lost in a storm and floating around somewhere in the pacific for days. The flashes had stopped and the sound of the ocean was back as the stars returned to my vision. 'Is my time up?' I said out loud and then I heard her. 'It's time for you to go, we've got so much to talk about.' I looked to her and asked 'Can't we just stay here together and look out to the ocean like we used to?'

She held my hand tight as I lay back on the piece of wood Id attached myself to 'It's going to be alright, we're heading home' She whispered to me as she faded away and in my final moments I hold on tight to those flashes because they help me remember that my life was full of joy. I think the mind likes to comfort you in your time of need as best it can because I felt warm, content and proud of what I had achieved, the person I was and the person I'd chosen to be with.

As the night sky once again filled the horizon I began to feel tired, I could feel my eyes getting heavy and my heart slowing. It began to get cold again but this time I couldn't move all I could do was look to the sky as the sound of the ocean got louder and louder and As my eyes began to close for the last time I saw the tiniest flicker of light as a new day was about to begin.

It's funny what you think about in your last moments.

PSVR

So I bit the bullet after being on the fence since its announcement and bought PSVR, I had a little money left over from my recent trip to Japan (It was great) and saw an online store I use a lot had some of its day 1 stock left so I thought fuck it why not? I like new technology and I'm interested to see what Sony can do with VR.

If you’ve read my article on the Vita and why I believe it failed you’re probably already aware of why I was on the fence, the crux of that article was Sony do not market portable consoles well in the West and drop support for it altogether eventually, I still have this fear in the back of my mind that VR is literally just a gimmick for Sony (and an expensive one at that currently) and I’ve fucked myself believing only a few games will ever properly utilise the technology, it’s too early to say that of course but the thought is still there.

The main reason I was so hesitant to buy it was the price I think, It’s to be expected with new technology so close to the launch window and I know it will get cheaper eventually but I was one of those people who did not have the PS Move controllers previously or the PS Camera so I had to get a bundle with those included. I think I paid approx £400 for all that and Batman VR. I’m actually still waiting on my delivery of the two Move controllers because they are sold out EVERYWHERE in the UK but thankfully every game I own can be played with the PS4 controller and I’ve found it to work fine, I’m sure the Move is better for the immersion but hey it’s optional so far!

My thoughts on virtual reality before the release of PSVR were indifferent really, I saw it was becoming a thing and really taking off but I thought it was all for PC and I don’t really play games on the PC so I would think ‘oh looks cool’ but never imagine owning any myself, I did have a brief go on the Oculus Rift at EuroGamer Expo about two years ago. I couldn’t tell you the name of what I played but you were sitting in a helicopter and flying around a Cartoonish looking city, there were objectives but I just messed around and what stood out to me was flying as high as I could, looking down and getting a bit of vertigo, it was amazing! then letting myself drop to the ground and generally flinching on impact. I knew at that point that VR could really become something amazing.

Moving back to my device I found the headset very comfortable to wear, I’ve only played for maybe an hour and a half tops at a time or less and never found any discomfort, I am so happy it easily fits my somewhat larger than average glasses with no negative effects such as outside lighting coming in, I found the headset to be easily adjustable and each person I have allowed to try it has never made any complaints about how it feels when applied, the only negative aspect of it is the wire attached to the headset, it kind of just sits there at the side of you and is always brushing against your shoulder, it’s not uncomfortable it’s just always there but it makes for easy access to adjust the built in Mic and volume control as well as the standard headphone jack.

The parts that come with the device are quite simple to hook up but you better have room for a bunch of wires because there are a hell of a lot, I still haven’t put mine in the perhaps best position yet but I certainly need to as there are bound to be a large number of tangled wires in my room if I’m not quick, you’re probably way better with you wires than I am but there will still be a lot of kit to connect to your TV and PS4!

I currently have three games for the device not including any demos which I just wanted to briefly touch on. I’m happy there was a free full fledged game available to download from the store upon the release of the device Playroom VR. It's just a collection of mini games which are mainly based around multiplayer experiences, I think it is a great game to show to friends and get them involved in fact I think this title will be like Nintendoland to me and my friends, every time we get together we play it, it was included with the Wii U and just focuses on short mini games that let you know what the console can do, they're really quite similar. 

I got that Until Dawn Spin off  Rush Of Blood as it was only £15.00 and I knew it was not going to be like the original (which I’ve not played still!) I knew it was an on rails shooter and usually I don’t like them but I thought Hey it’s VR it might be better suited and it certainly is. It’s a budget title and it’s a great game to test out VR with, there are minimal jump scares but it’s nice to be able to see what VR can do in terms of shooting games, I think it would be way better if I had the PS Movecontrollers though and a fair bit easier to move both arms independently rather than having to do a whole load of stuff in order to make both guns aim different ways.

Batman Arkham VR is by far the most immersive experience I have had on the device but it really is not the game I thought it would be and it is only an hour or so long if you’re just doing the story and not bothered by collectables and such but my god I felt like Batman!, I sat for ages after the suit up sequence and just marvelled at the intricacy of the Batcave, picking up all the things at the Bat-Computer and just being truly being the worlds greatest detective. The game is basically the Detective mode from other games and a walking simulator in some respects rather than the typical Arkham experience I and many others expected!

I really didn’t like that I can’t actually walk in the game though!, there is no free movement in that sense as you just click a button and teleport forward like 6 steps or if  I want to change my perspective and this really took me out of it a lot. The only other issue I have is that it was short, I’m sure Rocksteady are done with the franchise now but I would have loved more time with Arkham VR as it was one of the best batman experiences I’ve had.

The shortest experience and the one that has given me the most hope for the device is the demo ‘Kitchen’ which is yet another Resident Evil 7 demo but this time just for PSVR, it’s not really a game as it’s about 4 minutes long and you’re just tied to a chair while sitting in a ratty disgusting kitchen, there is someone else with you and, well I wouldn’t want to spoil it but he doesn’t have the best time with what’s in there with you, all I will say is don’t look up! The jump scare I got from this short demo solidified my purchase of Resident Evil 7 for sure.

The device has been really popular with my family, they all wanted to try it out as soon as I told them about it, they don't play Video games at all either, the last they played was the Wii and Wii Sports. I think PSVR if it were cheaper certainly could be as popular as the Wii was at launch because it has that new wondrous technology and sense of inclusion with it, I couldn't tell you if it has been marketed that way but when I see the enjoyment my family and my Girlfriend get from it I can't help but feel it is like the Wii, hopefully it won't fizzle out like the Wii did for many after its initial year of release.

So do I feel VR is the future? I’m still not sure really, I think enough people need to be given the chance to demo it properly, I know some companies (GAME in the UK) are charging people £5 for a 15 min try out of it which I understand in terms of not wanting people to hog it and then not buy but it makes it a bit less accessible for those who do want to try and may even put them off if they have to pay. If enough people try it word of mouth spreads and more sales are made which will make the device more popular and get more support from developers and Sony.

Right now I think we are on the honeymoon period, it’s had a good number of launch titles and functionality with other games but this needs to continue, they can’t let it wane too much like they did with first party Vita Games they need to continue to nurture this device as much as they can because there are some really amazing experiences just waiting to happen and some that are already available to you if you give it a shot.

I’d say right now it may be best to wait unless you absolutely must try it, With Resident Evil 7 coming near XMAS with some decent VR support it may be best to wait and see if there are any Xmas deals for the device and that game but honestly I’m in no way disappointed with my purchase, it was never going to replace my PS4 it was just going to enhance my experience with it and provide some unique ones along the way, I’m thankful we live in a time where this can happen and it makes me excited at the thought of what is to come, I know Horror games are the hot ticket currently and they certainly work well in VR but I’m ready for some really immersive games to be made by the right people!

Twitter: @DetestChan
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PACMAN 256

This week I wanted to briefly talk about the latest Pacman game, Pacman 256 and why I’ve been really enjoying it. This game started as a free to play mobile game for phones and tablets which was based around the infamous glitch in the original game in which if a player reached level 256 the game would give you an unplayable and unfinished level which was half taken up by numbers and letters, your aim in this game is to continue on an endless level as the glitch from level 256 chases you.  I found myself quite addicted to this game but only really bought it because it was on sale at something like £3.50 in the Retro sale on PSN so I just wanted to share a quick few thoughts

I first played Pacman on the Sega Megadrive (Genesis) with the TENGEN game Pacmania, which I think was the first ‘3D’ Pacman game when it was originally released in arcades, it was literally the same as the original other than the way it looked really. It was the only Pacman game I’ve ever actually owned and I really enjoyed it as a child but I could never really get very far so I guess in a way this game brings back just a little of that nostalgia and childlike wonder. Speaking of Pacmania, 256 features A number of cosmetic skins for the layout and characters, one of which is Pacmania so I think that’s what’s helped to fuel this nostalgia.

I don’t play mobile games really, well not on my phone at least. But from what I have seen mobile games based on existing properties are generally not great as they are sometimes too simplified and/or detract from the established game play the original is known for, for example the new Katamari game which is more of a endless runner game than your typical Katamari title. And with this title You can totally see this was designed as a mobile game above all else but that doesn’t make it a bad game to me, Pacman is a really simple concept and I’ve found this game to be a really refreshing take on it, to make it an endless runner game of its own but in the same almost maze like structure of your typical Pacman game is quite clever really.

The game play is not too different from what you already know other than it has some added feature such as and endlessly generated maze to travel through, a few new ghosts with new abilities and a few power ups that you unlock as you progress through the game by earning coins. The coin aspect is the main point in that you earn more the more you play by picking them up in the maze and you use these to purchase more abilities, after completing challenges you have the opportunity to then earn a bonus amount of coins which can also upgrade said abilities. There really is not much more to it than that, obviously there is the inclusion of Trophies on the PS4 version which does make me more inclined to play it but nothing else really.

I like that you can have up to three abilities ‘equipped’ at one time, which means they are the ones you will see the most as drops in the level as you progress, you can interchange these before any level and mix and match them to your desire and with the coins you earn you can upgrade them, upgrading them however will give them two things, a longer time frame of use and if used will enable you to get more points from a non upgraded version.

I upgraded a laser beam that last for about 45 seconds and just brought death and destruction to a hell of a lot of ghosts, when you get further in this can make the game play really hectic but I enjoy that as it actually makes you feel like you're doing better and facing bigger 'threats' as you progress.

I think with mobile games getting more and more popular this is certainly the way to go, spinoffs can be fine if they have enough care put into them but actually taking something that pre-exists and putting a spin on that same game play that is better suited to a mobile device is something I will happily support and applaud, I'm happy with this on my console but had I known about it prior maybe I would have picked it up already on my phone.

If I had to pick something out that I disliked about the game it’d be that the whole being chased by a glitch thing never feels like a real threat, I certainly have not noticed it every going faster as I progress, I’ve been caught by it while evading ghosts but I’ve never been caught because it’s so fast or difficult to evade, but again if it were any faster some could consider it unfair with all the ghosts to avoid. I absolutely see why it was there though from a ‘plot’ point of view and a game play point of view, if it weren’t there then you would be less inclined to move forward.

I was kind of bummed out the multiplayer aspect was confined to only local play, I certainly would play more if you could drop in online and help people and if you die you're just gone from their game but they can continue on without you, that'd be pretty cool and perhaps something to add to a sequel if they ever make one.

Honestly if you see this game on sale at any time and just want a quick game you can drop into for a few minutes at a time (unless you get addicted like me) then this is worth your time, I think you could easily play this on a tablet or phone and still have the same amount of fun as I did and it’s generally better suited for the on the go person on their commutes and such, which begs the question (and I know I go on about the Vita) why has it not been put on the Vita or 3DS, from what I can see there are no plans to but it might be worth a shot… but then if it’s already a mobile game is there a point?
 

Guest Blog: Liam Gardner - Uncharted 4

The release of Uncharted 4 earlier this year was met with a lot of fanfare and for obvious reasons, the trio of Uncharted games the preceded A Thieves End are some of the best games from the previous generation. The question is does the 4^th instalment of the franchise have enough gas left in the tank to whisk players through another whirlwind Nathan Drake adventure.

The intro to A Thieves End is most reminiscent of the one for Among Thieves ,no dilly dallying ,no long narrative intro, straight into the chaos with no idea why you are there or who is trying to kill you for the umpteenth time and it is during this opening sequence, a boat chase among a rainstorm with waves crashing everywhere, where the game first surprised me I had full control of where to take the boat and who to crash into and this freedom is something that Uncharted 4 does well in its gameplay sections and I’ll touch on that later, usually the Uncharted games are very stringent in what they allow you to do during vehicular sections, the car chase through the jungle in Drakes Fortune, the hopping between trucks in an icy Tundra in Among Thieves but this boat chase, right at the very beginning of the game sets the precedent for what Uncharted 4 is at its core.

However it’s after this adrenaline filled intro that the (as of Uncharted 3) obligatory ‘Kid Drake’ section kicks in, now I’m not knocking naughty dog for trying to fill us in on Drake’s backstory and what his youth years were like it’s just I never found them all too intriguing, they limit what you can do they bring the whole game to a halt just as its getting started, I understand the need to introduce Sam as a character but barring a few select moments I found the majority of these flashback sequences dull and unentertaining.

Let’s talk mechanics, Uncharted never had the best shooting mechanics and this is one area that has been universally improved in A Thieves End, the shooting feels tight, the guns feel impactful and the dynamite is so good it makes me cry, I didn’t like how they changed the Sniper Rifle weapon though as it no longer allows you to aim without zooming in and running and gunning with the Dragon Sniper in 2 was some of the best thrills you could get but overall the overhaul of the shooting mechanics make Uncharted 4 all around a better game to play.

The rope swinging is one mechanic I saw and was very excited for how Naughty dog would implement it, would they relegate it to a few select ‘cinematic’ moments or will we be free to utilise this tool to our own enjoyment and possible peril, while it is not used too much in each battle there are, I feel, enough places for it to shine during combat away from the scripted uses (and swinging on a rope while firing an RPG is fantastic when done right).

The set pieces in A Thieves end are spectacular, the rope is utilised in these rather well, whether its playing cat and mouse with the most stubborn APC in existence or sliding along the mud desperately trying to hold on the excitement is ever present, the puzzle sections too are back and while not extremely difficult (they rarely are in Uncharted) there is a sense of satisfaction when solving the mystery and continuing on.

The characters and their motivations in this game range from pretty darn good to downright annoying, on one side of the coin you have the man Victor ‘God damn’ Sullivan and Sully is the highlight of this adventure for sure his wisecracking nonchalant bravado is on point whenever he is on screen and seeing him never fails to conjure up a wry smile and a laugh.

The same can be said for Drake most of the time, even when you’re watching him at work in his day job or discussing the future with Elaina at their home he never falls flat part of this is due to the writing but I must give credit to Nolan North I feel he is very at home as Drake and after 4 games feels very natural in the role. Drake’s conflict in the game is the struggle between the swashbuckling adventure lifestyle and the slow, but safer, family lifestyle with Elaina Drake is very much a man in a midlife crisis who wants to feel that rush one more time but doesn’t wish to jeopardise what he has with Elaina. 

Drake’s brother Sam is the lynchpin in all of this, after an event in their life earlier Drake thought he would never see his brother again but surprise here he is in the dead of night requiring your assistance and this of course being the perfect reason for a globetrotting journey for Drake and Co, Sam himself is not a bad character by any means but like another select individual he feels forced, like the developers were trying extra hard to get us to like him, now it is understandable for the developers to want us to connect with Sam however unlike Sully, who has now 3 games of build-up, Sam never comes across as natural, he feels less like an important character you should care about and more like a convenient plot device to get Drake back out adventuring( plus he insinuates Sully is not trustworthy, not getting any points there Sam).

Now I mentioned when discussing Sam that there was another character whose inclusion just left me confused and that is Nadine, this character is a literal black hole of personality her entire reason for being in the game is ‘me strong me hurt Drake’ never are her intentions really delved into and never is she fleshed out, Nadine is very reminiscent of Talbot from Uncharted 3 except Talbot never had mandatory fights where you were restricted in your movements. I understand the need to have a counter to the cowardly head villain and the developers tried this with Nadine being the strong stoic mercenary who takes no shit but it falls flat because I didn’t feel like I was getting beaten by Nadine because she was better than me but rather because the game intentionally gimped me, and her story never even concludes as she just says forget this and leaves before the climactic boss fight, Nadine represents a whole lot of floundered potential as she could have a great and credible thread but any semblance of this is hard to see and she is so under developed on a whole its tragic.

In previous Uncharted games the treasure always had some sort of ‘hidden effect’ that the villains were trying to obtain for any number of nefarious means or a curse which should be left well alone, but in Uncharted 4 the treasure is just that it’s treasure. With a story centred on long dead pirates and their migration and subsequent creation of a Piratopia that there was no curse or supernatural aspect behind it all honestly made me sigh. Uncharted 1 had the cursed statue, 2 had the fruit amber which provided super strength and also had blue Smurf demons? 3 had flaming head zombies and cursed water A Thieves End has pirate treasure normally no one would describe hidden pirate treasure as boring but in the light of previous Uncharted games it sadly is. 

Some might argue the crux of Uncharted 4’s story is about the greed of man and the settling of scores because Henry Avery’s treasure is the big score that got away but that all seem too blasé for Drake and co, the closest we get to supernatural is exploding pirate corpses and it feels like Naughty dog sacrificed a huge part of what made the franchise unique and replaced it with a more down to earth realistic plot point which isn’t bad per se but for Uncharted? It’s certainly disappointing.

Now all these negative points does make it seem like I did not enjoy my time with A Thieves End which isn’t true I enjoyed the hell out of this game, the freedom it gives you in the gameplay, the trademark Uncharted dialogue. The adventure on show is certainly one of the best in the series, but the final boss is a way better example of a ‘cinematic’ boss fight than the one in Uncharted 3, a few characters and the final chapters aside Uncharted 4 is a fantastic title that I recommend anyone play even if it is a little more grounded in its reality.

If you wanna contact Liam or follow him online you can find him @Giji777!