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Check in, Knockout and check back in again.

Archive — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 04:52:00 +0000

Imagine, you check into a seemingly normal hotel. You talk to the check in desk, they give you your keys. You're on the second floor, but that's all it says, you then notice that your other friends have the exact same key. You take the elevator, and when you get there you don't see a corridor of doors, just a platform and no visible floor. Then your friend rips a chuck of the floor of and tosses it at you. What you're struggling to imagine is Check in, Knockout, the latest from Lionade games. A simple 4 man brawler with a twist.

The game is still in development, with no release date set. But for those who enjoy the kind of games where the action is mad quick, the pain is real and the points don't matter. Then you should keep your eye on this one.

Dungeon of the endless deaths.

Archive — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 07:46:00 +0000

Do you like RPG's? Do you like rogue likes? Do you like tower defense? Do you like strategy? Do you like turn based games ? Do you like dungeons? Do you like multitasking? Because you'll love Dungeon of the Endless. Which is basically all of the things I listed, all mashed into one grand game.

Your ship is going down, the only way out was an escape pod with the ships energy source, the Gem. As you pray to whomever you pray too, the pod hurdles towards an unexplored planet. You crash down, luckily the pod is tough enough to hold on impact, but it burrows itself deep into the planet's crust. Looks like it won't be going anywhere now, and it seems the only way up, is through the ruins of the planets monster infested dungeon. It looks like you'll have to fight your way out, or die trying.

Fighting your way out won't be easy though, as you'll have to power rooms and set up defenses, or be overrun. Most of the action in this game centers around keeping the Gem safe (as it is your only power source) and getting to the strange lifts. The only way to progress is to open doors, which act as a sort of next turn please button; in which you'll receive additions to supplies of food/science/industry. Food is used to level up and heal heroes, science to research and upgrade turrets, and industry to build turrets. Then once the resources are tallied one of several thing will happen, the most likely being swarmed by enemies.

The art is amazing too. The pixel art is smooth and well defined, with a darker color palette that really gives a atmosphere that fits the story. It has a similar feel to Risk of Rain, but takes a 3d(ish) approach instead of 2D, but if you love one you'll love the other. The music is not a strong point I feel with this game, and is often a little loud for myself. The monster sound effects however are well done, and it'll send chills down your spine when you know you're not ready for that 3rd wave of monsters headed for you.

On that note I should address the difficulty levels. There's too easy, Easy (which is default) and unlock-able harder difficulties. Now as a beginner, you might think Easy difficulty would be okay, but you couldn't be more wrong. Easy is tough, and you'll not likely get further than level 3-4, you'll be swarmed. The game requires real thought, and without it you'll start losing heroes left and right (and the tears will flow). So if you like strategy, then this game is swamped in it.

But don't take my word for it, here listen to this talking dog.

Hotline Miami

Archive — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 00:39:00 +0000

Hotline Miami is a topdown, 8-bit, super violent action game. If you like fast paced game play and retro graphics along with a surreal story and awesome soundtrack then you'll love Hotline Miami. Trust me this game will make you feel like the ultimate badass while you're single handedly killing a bunch of Russian mobsters.

But every game has it's flaws as much good as I wanna say about Hotline Miami. One of those things would probably be that while playing Hotline Miami you die a lot. The game play is extremely fast paced and doesn't pull punches. Getting hit once with a weapon or by even one bullet will kill you in this game. If you mess up for even a split second you're likely to die.

Regardless I like the challenge and the fast paced gameplay. I'd definitely reccommend playing this game if you're looking for something to take up your time when you're bored and have nothing else to play.

All in all I rate it 8.5/10

Wings of vi, looks can be decieving.

Archive — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 00:57:00 +0000

Some games play so much differently than you might first think if you say, just look at its art style. Dark souls, looks bleak and dark, which is pretty much a summation of its game play... It has a reputation for being one of the more difficult games on the market at the moment, and anyone who's played it knows this is true. But how does this have anything to do with wings of Vi? A lot, because it might not seem like it but wings of vi is tougher than you think.

Have you ever completely failed to make a jump from one platform to another, again and again? Well Wings of vi will kindly reintroduce you to that feeling you get when you do. The game is no joke, supposedly opting for a complete 'skill based game play' over pixel perfect jumps and luck. If you have some serious focus and mad reaction speed then you'll do fine. If you're not a super human warrior, then you might find yourself having a struggle once in a while.

Mechanically this game is smoooooooooooth. It plays and feels like a glove, so there's very little input lag. Not that there's much to input. Akin to earlier platformers Wings of Vi has simple controls; up, left, right, down bound to their respective arrow keys. In addition to a jump, action and restart (or suicide) button. Getting used to the controls won't be tough, mastering them is another thing however.

If one thing can be said about Wings of Vi, is that they don't shy from fleshing out their characters (if ya know what I mean). Or the rest of the game for that matter. Another flashback to platformers of old is the pixelated art style that Wings of Vi sports. The style is akin to the megaman series in the way area's are designed and given filling. You won't be focused on whats around you most of the time however. The little angel sprites are cute, as well as the many other things you may come across (except the demons, not cute). One thing I might add as well is that you can customize your character; but if you want them, you'll have to work for them. Flawlessly beat that boss and maybe you'll get a hat to wear, who knows, it might look badass.

One final word of warning: This game might make you cry, rage quit, and generally cause hate for itself. If you cannot deal with something like dark souls or demon souls then this game isn't for you.

Conspiracy Theory: The Mario Series' "Pixel" Characters

Archive — Fri, 08 May 2015 06:38:00 +0000

Have you ever had the feeling that things were going to change in your favorite game series? Sometimes it could be a small change like when the Pokemon franchise added new types to future titles, or it could be be a big change like when The Legend of Zelda games became more cinematic. Well I have that feeling right now that Nintendo is planning something that could completely retcon the stories from the older Mario titles and I don't think it's going to be for the better...

Over a decade ago when Super Smash Bros Melee was released and subsequently reintroduced Mr. Game & Watch to the world, Nintendo created a stage for him based on the handheld devices of his namesake. This stage was Flat Zone, an entirely 2D arena that even made all the fighters paper thin when they would turn around. This may seem like there was nothing special to theorize about it, but hear me out, I have more to tell.

Now when the Wii came out, I started to notice a trend in some of the games that Nintendo developed. More and more titles that Nintendo released for the console had 8-bit sprites of Mario and company hidden in the environment. An example would be in Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus where both had Mario sprites hidden on the running trails. Alone, this would just seem like a simple Easter egg, but there is more to be found.

Further along the line when Super Paper Mario was released, the concept of alternate dimensions was introduced and also the gimmick where you could alter Mario's perspective of the world from 2D to 3D. This brings the focus back to Smash Bros's Flat Zone Stage where it is the home of the always 2D Mr. Game & Watch. Further more, there is a power-up in Super Paper Mario that further make me suspicious that there may be something to this theory of mine. A very particular defensive power-up called the Pal Pill summons eight small 8-bit versions of the character that picked up the item. THIS is where I started to think something was up. In my head, these petite pixellated partners shouldn't exist at the same time as normal Mario as they are visualized as Mario and co. back during the NES era. But then I remembered, Super Paper Mario takes place in a multiverse of locations outside of the Mushroom Kingdom's own reality. These pixel people could theoretically be citizens of Flat Zone as they are also 2D in design.

Now this is where things get interesting. Shortly after the release of the Wii U, Nintendo did their little Year of Luigi event that included Dr. Luigi, New Super Luigi U, Super Mario 3D World and Super Luigi Bros in NES Remix 2. During this time, specifically in Super Mario 3D World, MANY pixel versions of Luigi could be found hidden in the stages, usually either appearing out of nowhere for a split second or even appearing walking in the background of a large open area. Now normally, I would just chalk it up as another Easter Egg, but then Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker came onto the scene and introduced the amiibo activated game mode Hide & Seek with Pixel Toad. THIS is a vital piece of information that helps further solidify my theory. This little game mode ACKNOWLEDGES the existence of these Pixel characters and even names them as such.

With the fact that now even ONE pixel character has been officially named within the games, I propose that one of two scenarios will happen in the future. Either A: Nintendo will retcon the old arcade and NES titles to being set in the Flat Zone and ignoring Mario's past life living in Brooklyn, New York with Pauline and his pet ape Donkey Kong; or B: Nintendo is planning a new game in which the denizens of Flat Zone invade and have taken on the forms of the first people they see being Mario, Luigi and the people of the Mushroom Kingdom. Personally, I think the former theory holds more merit, but until then, I'll be seeing you.