Tetris 99 (Nintendo Switch)

I have been utterly obsessed with this game since its release. Its so strange to me though as I've never actually played a Tetris game in my life. I was as surprised as everyone else when Nintendo announced this during its Nintendo Direct video on February 13th this year and have been playing it almost everyday since.

The game is 'free' if you have a Nintendo online subscription (along with the ability to play old NES games) which I think was a wise decision by Nintendo. I do not believe I'd pay the full price of a Switch title in the UK for this game or even the price of a budget title because I've never been into the series. I'm really happy they released it this way though because I've put so much time into it and gained a new love for puzzle based and competitive titles.

The aim of the game is to last as long as possible at a game of Tetris but the catch is you're against 98 other people. Every player has the ability to target others in order to eliminate them quicker, this is done by selecting what type of player you'd like to target such as players who are targeting you or players who have the most K.O's. It really is quite a simplistic game but I feel Tetris has always been that way, easy to grasp potentially hard to master and this puts a nice new spin on it.

I really don't care much for Battle Royale shooter games, admittedly I've not taken the time to play more than a handful of matches in something like Fortnite but it just does not do it for me. It's probably because I'm shit at non team based Video Games since playing the Lone Wolves game type on Halo 3 back in the day.

I never really thought about this being in the Battle Royale genre until I saw the memes online about it being the 'Fortnite killer'. In any case it's nice to see that Battle Royale doesn't have to just be FPS games right now, its kind of refreshing to be honest.

Now like I mentioned, I've been obsessed with this game every time I have a spare few minutes which more often than not turns into at least an hour or so. I'm currently living in Australia for a while and only took my Switch as any form console. That in itself is quite refreshing and has allowed me to take a step from always having too much to play back home and just focus on smaller titles when I feel like it.

This game and others like it are perfect if you're traveling but that kind of begs the question would I play this as much as I am if I was back in the UK with my Xbox One X and PS4? I certainly have many games that released during this period I'm itching the play and I can't help think that perhaps I would not have even given this game the time of day in that scenario.

I mentioned briefly that this game has given me a new love for puzzle based titles. I meant that as in it makes me want to focus more on them in the future if I can, but it's not my first rodeo with these its just been a while. I used to get obsessed with the Xbox 360 title Hexic HD which most people had pre-installed on their console.

Hexic and Hexic HD interestingly enough were actually designed by Tetris' creator Alexey Pajitnov so perhaps that explains my love for Tetris 99 in some way. I remember the countless hours I'd spend late at night playing Hexic HD on the 360 while listening to music. To this day I'm one of the only people I know with certain Achievements in that title.

I think the first time I played a game like this though was back on the Sega Megadrive (Genesis for USA), It was a sort of competitor to Tetris named Columns and was essentially an earlier version of Bejeweled (which I also enjoy, especially on long haul flights). I was terrible at it but with the Megadrive Collection on Switch perhaps I should go back to it some time soon.

There is not much more I can say about this game other than if you have a switch and pay for the Online functionality of it then give it a go, you might be pleasantly surprised with it. Full disclosure though I still haven't come first place but I'm determined!

Subsurface Circular (Nintendo Switch: 2018)

A few months ago I played a really short game on my Nintendo Switch and I loved it. It's called Subsurface Circular and was ported to the Switch in early 2018. I saw it on sale for under £4.00 and thought I would give it a shot based purely on the synopsis of the game and the designs of its robots.
I had no idea it was made by Mike Bithell and his company Mike Bithell Games who made another short Indie game hit Thomas Was Alone (Which I would also highly recommend). I think if I'd have known it was made by him I'd have likely picked it up sooner than I did.

The game is a text based adventure game in which you play as a Robot Detective in the not too distant future who is tasked with solving a case in which many other Robots are going missing. In order to do this you as the player are confined to the underground rail network and have to talk to a number of other worker robots and solve short puzzles in order to crack the case.

The gameplay is entirely simplistic and the perfect sort of game to play on the Switch in tablet mode (Or on an Ios device). The game is presented as a question and answer scenario with the odd puzzle placed here and there but this is more of a quick look at the rail map or a decision on who to talk to first and which questions to ask that will open up answers to other passengers questions. I enjoy that the game never really goes too far above that in terms of the gameplay because it allows the focus to be on its narrative.

I adore the Robot designs in the game for a few reasons. They stick to a more or less humanoid form and keep a simplistic approach to their colour schemes and facial designs. I feel as though they are the 'right' amount of futuristic as they don't look too much like humans yet and I feel they would not be too out of places in a movie like Blade Runner. It is a shame we did not see much of the world above ground but I do like the focus the game puts on where it wants you to be and why.




To speak more about this I enjoyed that the game could do a lot of world building purely by the conversations you have rather than have you explore as you are only confined to a single train car. It's interesting to see what could happen in our future with the advancements in robotics and perhaps we too would have humanoid robots replace us in many aspects much like this game.

It's interesting to wonder would we give them as much or little freedom as is afforded to them in this game. It was quite harrowing in some ways to see what would happen to a certain unit once you had removed the limiters it was constricted in to by its creators by inputting a certain phrase. It was totally surreal to see a Robot feel some form of 'freedom' for the short time it was on the train with you and it was kind of heart warming to see some of them thank you for it.

I do wonder will there be a point where there will be rights for machines and Robots who are more or less also constricted by us to serve a certain purpose.

The final chapter of the game and its lead up are absolutely fantastic. I will try not to go too much into it as I don't wish to spoil the game for people who have yet to try it however it deals with a dilemma of do you upset the status quo and hope that a new future works itself out or do you keep with the status quo and not risk a terrible unchangeable  outcome but still be stuck with the parts of the your present 'life' that really are not that great.

To have one simple enough case lead up to a moral question such as this really shows how well Mike Bithell and the team are at weaving a great narrative. I am generally excited to see what they come out with next and only hope it can match this game or surpass it.

If I did have to try and critique an aspect of the game I would say it does feel a lot more like a visual novel at times as I feel I can't really lose. There is not a time limit to find the answer to questions in a chapter or anything like that so you really can just go at your leisure. There also is not an incentive to replay the game at any point other than perhaps the last chapter just to see the outcome of the other decision you make. However if you are into directors commentary you do unlock this for every chapter once you beat the game.

Overall Subsurface Circular is a great short game to play on a rainy afternoon or on your commute. It may also be a great title to start of with if you are looking to get in to the genre. I would highly recommend picking this title up on the Switch the next time you're heading to the Eshop!

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985)

 

It’s been a really long time since I posted here but I wanted to talk about a series I rewatched recently called Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam from 1985 which was the first in a series of sequels to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. I’ve been collecting the Blu Rays of the Gundam series recently as they have slowly started to come to the UK thanks to the fine folks at AlltheAnime and Zeta was one of my favourites when I first watched it almost 10 years ago.

Now I’ve seen pretty much everything Gundam related that’s been released but Zeta had always had that status for me that it was one of the highest points the franchise could hope to reach and from what I’ve seen online from the fan base this seems to be the general opinion.  I remember I really enjoyed it when I originally saw it but I feel almost 10 years is enough time to warrant a rewatch of the series and re-evaluate if I still hold it in high regard. So allow me just to pick a few things I liked as disliked about the show this time around.

I think right off the bat I need to mention how in love I am with the Mecha designs in Zeta. They are absolutely some of the best in the Universal Century and in the Gundam franchise itself. I have to say they know how to take simplistic designs and add to them such as the Gundam Mk II which is pretty much the original Gundam with only small ‘upgrades’. While this keeps the Mobile Suit looking new and perhaps sleeker it doesn’t hesitate to preserve some elements that made the original suit so iconic. 

To counter this point they are also not afraid to take what we are already familiar with and totally change it. For example the Zeta Gundam itself was different from anything we had seen up until that point. The famous Gundam head design was refined and the transformation gimmick gave a real sense of changing times for the series both in the show itself and to its fans. 

I am happy they kept with the general theme of the ‘bad guys’ having single 'mono-eyed' Mobile Suits even more so in this series because the Titans who are this shows antagonists used to be considered the ‘good guys’ in the previous series but have become their own entity not governed by the Earth Federation. By having them go back to using Mobile Suits typically associated with ‘evil’ and even having an in-show reason for this such as Zeon technology being more advanced I felt it really helped to emphasise that the Titans were to a corrupt version of the Earth Federation.

One of the best aspects of the show is Char now being a protagonist under the name of Quattro. Char was the primary rival in the original series whose motivations were never exactly clear until partway through that show. It was questionable whether he was evil or just saw things from another perspective. I find that is the case for many factions and characters within the Universal Century and feel this only boosts Chars appeal to fans.

In this show we see a new side of him where he has become a true leader and Father figure or Teacher to many of the younger cast members, specifically Kamille who I feel at times could either be the next Amuro or the next Char. I feel that Char can see this too and attempts to mould him in that direction. I would not say he is doing this for any ulterior motive I truly believe he sees it as his own way of paving the road for the next generation and Newtypes in general.

 

I find that the protagonist of the show Kamille shows real growth and development throughout the series. He is annoying at first and very childish but as the show progresses he really grows into an adult and a capable pilot. I think his progression raises interesting questions such as how a teenager would react in a literal war zone when they are the pilot of arguably the most important machine in the war. This of course is answered in the original series too but this time around Kamille is surrounded by people who have done this before and are in many cases Veterans.

Now while he does show he is a capable person over time he does have a number of missteps where he lets his emotions run wild. With examples such as when a friend is killed or when the love of his life is actually under the control of the enemy and has their memories tampered with. It takes Kamille a long time to start using his emotions as a weapon in order to benefit his faction but once he does he becomes a force to be reckoned with. 

Kamille most of the time as mentioned above shows that he could go either the way of Char or the way of  previous series protagonist Amuro. This is shown quite early on in the series when he loses Four Murasame in a situation quite close to that of what Amuro and Char went through when Lalah was killed in Mobile Suit Gundam. What is important and allows Kamille to stand out though is that he doesn’t specifically follow either characters advice and allows himself to pave his own way. By being able to do this he is not just a mirror image of his seniors he is his own person and a much more interesting character because of it. I feel this point is the main reason he matures throughout the show.

I also have to say I found Jerid likeable at times. Jerid was this aggressive rival to Kamille right off the bat purely because he thought Kamille was a girl’s name… While this starts off extremely petty each one of them continues to antagonise the other with Jerid always rushing into battle the moment he knows Kamille is on the battlefield. This has consequences for both characters though as each one of them end up killing those close to the other party.

Naturally this only intensifies their hate for one another but in a roundabout way it showed that Jerid actually was a good pilot and could continue to improve. At times it would even show he had leadership skills and those that would follow him. Personally, I feel he had the edge at times as he was continuously getting new mobile suits to pilot yet he really could have become a Newtype to rival Kamille if he had lived longer.

As much as I enjoy much of the characterisations in the show I do feel that some characters seem to have ridiculous motivations for what they do. The worst offender for this is Reccoa who was with the AEUG from the start of the show and was a valued member of the team, she was capable and another of those the younger team would look up to. The issue is she goes on reconnaissance and meets the antagonist Scirroco and immediately begins to almost love him.

Because of this she abandons the AEUG and joins the Titans, a group of people she has fought against for some time, a group she has seen commit countless atrocities. There are times early on when she joins the Titans that she is seen to disagree with their methods but eventually she becomes just as bad as they are, all because she wishes to be closer to Scirroco.

I find this utterly ridiculous and some could argue it is because Char does not return her affection early on. Regardless we have Emma who was originally on the side of the Titans but once she begins to see how they operate she joins the AEUG because she does not agree with what the Titans has become, this is a much more reasonable explanation for someone to join another faction!

I found the pacing of the series to be quite good as I never believed there to be an episode that was not warranted like I do with a lot of Anime nowadays. Everything that happened seemed to happen for a reason and if there were ever deaths they felt like they served a real purpose to the rest of the cast. 

The last two episodes are where I feel the pacing seemed ever so slightly rushed in terms of character deaths, in the space of only a few minutes you could have two or three major players bite the dust! I think you could counter this by saying this is to show you how terrible war can be and that no particular person is actually safe just because they are one of the main cast. Zeta Gundam does do this well to be fair the show ends with both sides pretty much obliterated. The Titans have pretty much all their major players killed and are disbanded, The AEUG is crippled with only one pilot being left and our protagonist is in a comatose state. I don’t know of many other series that leave the protagonists in a state such as this! It’s aspects like this that can make me see why a lot of the fan base consider this series to be depressing. 

Personally I feel it’s not that bad as it leads into an immediate sequel ZZ Gundam albeit with a new cast joining and being much more light-hearted. But I certainly agree that the ending to this series as a whole is depressing if you are to take ZZ out of the equation. I wonder if it is jarring to people who only watch these shows in English as ZZ was not dubbed yet the follow-up movie CCA was!

Now I should mention as a side note there are three compilation movies for Zeta that were released between 2005 and 2006, I have watched them and I don’t remember enjoying them as much as the series itself as they would primarily reuse old animation and just condense the story however they would randomly add newly animated scenes which at times totally changed what happened in the original version, for example certain people who died may now have lived. 

My issue with the compilations was that it was so jarring to go from 1985 animation to mid-2000’s animation, there was nothing wrong with how either worked and I really believe they should have just reanimated the entire thing as it would help flow of the scenes and their transitions. Failing that why not just do these compilations with the original animation back in the 80s…

So overall do I still feel like Zeta is still one of my favourite series in all of Gundam? I would say no, it’s still worth a watch and I don’t regret rewatching it because it allowed me to appreciate certain elements I missed previously but I feel like its status for me has changed dramatically. As I’ve said there are plenty of elements I love about this show but I find the motivations of certain characters to be utterly ridiculous, so much so that it really makes me question what the writers were thinking at the time.

I feel there is a lot of fluff in the series that otherwise could be trimmed down and the ending is severely lacking but I’d recommend it to anyone interested specifically in Universal Century Gundam series, it is a small piece of a much larger saga and it certainly has earnt its place as it has  monumental moments for the characters such as Char, Amuro and Kamille.

Zeta you’ve got a lot of flaws, but you’ve also got some of the best Mech designs in the entire franchise, you showed us how to continue the story of the original cast while bringing in the next generation along with them and ultimately you set up a lot of major elements for the rest of Universal Century, you’re worth the watch!

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
Tumblr: http://sometimesvideogames.tumblr.com/
PSN/XBL: ScatmanBegins

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!