PC Gaming

All Things Geekery Podcast – E10: The Destiny 2 PC BETA Review

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destiny-2In this episode:

We breakdown our thoughts and impressions from the Destiny 2 PC Beta.

Show Notes:
We discuss our overall experience in the BETA, and what was new and exciting.

We talk through the insane graphics, running 60 FPS, glitches and more.

We talk classes, weapons, abilities, missions, strikes, and how they felt after the balancing fixes were put in place after from the console BETA.

We discuss PvP and break down the overall feel of solo and individual game play.

Overall you will here plenty of excitement between Victus and myself as we are huge Destiny nerds, and I’m sure you will even here us disagree on some topics, but that’s what makes a good discussion.

Be sure to subscribe to the All Things Geekery Podcast with any of your favorite podcast apps. Stop by and drop us a review so we know how we’re doing. Thanks for listening, and we can’t wait to hear from you!

 

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The Walking Dead Game – Season 2 Ep4 – Amid the Ruins Review

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WalkingDeadEpisode4Review-image2.jpgHave you ever been in your car at a complete stop but thought you were moving, freaking out and smashing the break just to realize you really weren’t moving at all…?  Well, that’s how this episode played out for me cause I thought we had some momentum built up and the story was really moving, and building to quite a climactic story plot…..then BAM you realize this episode is almost at a standstill in the story, or at least a creeping crawl in first gear.

Amid the Ruins, like many of this games episodes focuses on a very stripped down and quiet side of surviving the zombie apocalypse.  This episode leaves Clementine to make some very difficult decisions that ultimately leave her alone, and responsible for the safety of those she cares about.  We begin to see the large number of characters you have come to know and enjoy throughout the game begin to dwindle, ultimately leaving you with some tough choices to make of who to trust, and who to follow.

walking-dead-season-2-episode-4-amid-ruins-review.jpgThis episode of the game is anything but graceful about it’s approach to the people in Clementine’s life as they seem to exist solely so their departure can hurt her. The loss of people has been a large focus of season 2 and this episode is no different other than how Clementine begins to process those big hits.  She as a young girl really is put through some awful and terrifying situations, but those moments seem to define her from the decisions she “You” get to make for her.

Amid the Ruins has some very gut wrenching moments because of those heavy decisions you have to make.  Telltale has become quite famous for these gut punches as they write some beautiful, dramatic stories that suck you into the characters life. Much of Amid the Ruins, however, felt like loss with little meaning, as though characters are being cut because the cast is too big, or they don’t fit where the finale is going.

walking dead 1Characters vanish in this episode so rapidly and unexpectedly that it steals some spotlight away from the emotional connection this game brings with it’s characters. Some of the characters exits are cheap and unfulfilling, while others are unjustified, forced and forgotten very quickly. Worse, some of those departed characters are replaced by new villains who come out of nowhere with no introduction.

Overall I’ve enjoyed playing this episode as you get to discover more about the people we’ve spent little time with.  Jane is one of those characters, one which helped Clem and her friends back in Episode 3.  You’ll also see a ton of new conflicts arise between old friends and new.  This is where the game get’s really intense as the resolution to these conflicts are crazy but satisfying as always.

The-Walking-Dead-Season-2-Episode-4-Amid-the-Ruins-Launches-in-July-449235-2Season 2 has been a large building block for the story and seems to be something much larger for Clementine, but it fizzles here by the end of Episode 4.  Large stories by this time like the political battle between feuding sides seems to vanish, and Clementine begins to feel much smaller in the grand scheme of things, despite the grand large  she is having to overcome. Meanwhile, although The Walking Dead: Season 2 has been building to something bigger for Clementine, it fizzles here by the end of Episode 4, the complex political drama that’s been brewing between feuding sides all but evaporates. Bickering elders don’t seem to weigh on Clementine as much as the grim things she has to do on her own. She’s starting to feel small, despite the big things she’s doing. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing yet.

Maybe that’s the point. Perhaps the desperation and hopelessness of The Walking Dead’s bleak world is starting to overwhelm Clementine’s story?  Maybe our little girl heroine is finally at a breaking point, ready to give in, and give up on what she has? Who really knows where Telltale is going with the story, but what I do know is it’s looking bleak at best for our Clementine and the people she currently trusts.

Until next time gamers!

The Wolf Among Us – Episode 1 Faith Review

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BigbyCigaretteFable.jpgThis game quickly took the top list of favorites in my book second only to Telltale’s The Walking Dead series.  They came very close to knocking The Walking Dead out of my number one spot but not quite.

Telltale tackled a very well done adaptation of Bill Willingham’s Fables which centers a story around Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of a magical New York City which is populated by fairy-tale toons.  Fables is a very dark fairy-tale so not one for the children but the way Telltale pulled this story into it’s unique game play design is fantastic.

Over the next few weeks we will take a look at this five part series on The Wolf Among Us and as I was saying this is one of the best adventure games I’ve played.  The first episode of this series is called Faith which slaps you smack dab into the middle of a mystical version of New York.  You now have to fill the shoes of Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of Fabletown and Telltale does a fantastic job building on it’s choice and consequence game system.

images (2)This was a relatively quick episode to play but easily a two hour chunk of time you need to really see everything in this first episode.  The game drops some majorly hard bombs on you early on with the decisions you have to make, but being a big bad wolf made it a little easier to rough some Fables up.  Action and adventure are some of the main themes of this first episode but at the heart of things comes a mystery.  This is what makes this game such a joy to play is the wide use of emotions and rich story surrounded by well done characters.

If you’ve played any of Telltales games you know how the game system works as it’s not only decision based, but reaction based as well.  You’ve got to be quick when watching what needs to happen next and make sure you think quickly.  Each decision has a different outcome so it makes you want to come back for more just to see what they are. These actions aren’t just limited to Bigby as the world ded with is scattered with crazies and very entertaining characters.  Tad of a “SPOILER” alert but this first episode revolves around solving a murder which hasn’t happened in Fabletown for quite some time.

images (1)During your search, you’ll come across a rather interesting toad who refuse to hide himself from the human world, a member of the Three Little Pigs with a bit of a drinking problem, and an abusive woodsman with a startling revelation regarding Snow White. Since it’s based on characters that pretty much everybody knows, The Wolf Among Us is able to toy with our expectations and delivering some very surprising and entertaining character developments. It’s amazing how the dialogue swings between funny, absolutely tragic, brutal, and magical all over a course of the two-hour episode.

Even the entrance and presentation of Faith brings a very successful highlight to the harsh and strange world you see. All of this episode’s crazy interactions are met with a fantastic 80’s neon lit color style.  While you step into the alternate New York City, you get to experience a clash of both magic and gritty decision making that brings you quite close to the story and characters.

Bigby’s story arc has some very large moments of decision making which really pulls you into the characters past and present.  Bigby has a very complicated story which ties into so many of the stories characters it’s quite difficult at times to know what decision to make.  This made me want to go back multiple times to look over all the decisions you could make and replay each scenario.  This is one game and adventure that I will definitely go back to play over and over again.

A New Friday the 13th – Jason Vorhees Returns

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Seeing how it’s Friday the 13th….let’s take a look at that famous mass murderer Jason Voorhees as he’s back and coming soon to Xbox One, PS4, and PC in a new hack n slash game.  The company bringing us this gem is Gun Media which revealed the game would release in Fall of 2016.

Checkout the official Announcement Trailer

 

This game was originally slotted to be called Summer Camp and the plan was to pay homage to Friday the 13th.  Gun Media since has released that they are making this a legit Friday the 13th game and from the hype I’m hearing will be pretty amazing.  Now that the game is an official Friday the 13th game, I think the companies stakes of delivering a fan favorite just got a lot harder!  It’s Jason Vorhees for goodness sakes…..he’s a super human, weapon weilding, un-killable (sort of) mass murderer.  From what we get to see in the trailer, the game looks super intense and has some potential of being a great survival horror!

Now the company has started a Kickstarter campaign for the game which some may ask why, but ultimately the game needs funded if us fans are ever going to get to play this thing.  Would you back a game like this if you were a fan and wanted to see an iconic slasher classic come to life?  I would given the chance, and I think others will as well!

Sounds like this will be an interesting game play style as you get to play as either Jason Vorhees, or a camp counselor.

I’m pretty sure you can guess what the role of Jason is, and what the role of the sucker that chooses a camp counselor would be….hunt or be hunted!  I think there is going to be a very dynamic survival mechanic just as other survival horrors play out.  Maybe weapons crafting, searching for shelter, food, etc… who knows… ultimately the possibilities are limitless for a game like this.  I’m sure Jason is going to have some crazy skills for tracking people down as well but I wonder how the abilities will stack out between the counselors?

The trailer definitely had that 80’s tone to it which gave it a very classic movie look.  I’m sure the game will have a nostalgic feel to it as well.  Seeing how Jason had a multitude of looks throughout history I can only think this would be a feature they brought into the game as well.  I think it plays into that nostalgic feel of a classic slasher heavyweight like Jason.  Who knows what all we will get to see in the game but I’m sure it will be a classic experience no matter what.

It’s been said that Friday the 13th’s Kane Hodder, Tom Savini, and Harry Manfredini are all going to be a part of the game as well!  This is an absolute dream team if this is true, because they were all the originals of the franchise.  Tom Savini is one of Hollywoods most famous makeup FX artist in history in which he provided the memorable makeup we saw on the first and fourth films.  Kane Hodder is probably the most recognized as the actor who took on the role of Jason in multiple films.  Harry Manfredini created the score for most of the films franchise.  So when we say dream team we mean just that.

I hope this game grabs the traction it needs, and warms the hearts of all those Friday the 13th fans out there because this could be a fantastic game!

I’m looking forward to watching the progress and hopefully get to play it later this year!

scr.ee tags:

#pc #jasonvorhees #fridaythe13th #slasher #gunmedia

Heavyweights Clash – PC vs. Console Gaming

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Are you a gamer?  Do you prefer pc, consoles, or both?  If you look at the console giants with Playstation 4 and Xbox One the ultimate debate still exists of which one is better?  I believe you will always have the hardcore brand loyalty enthusiasts when it comes to the console gamers.  On that same debate there are some who believe that consoles will never own the future of gaming as the PC gaming systems will always be in the lead.  I think time will only tell.

This is a hard debate due to the pure nature of all the systems and what they bring to the table as a PC gaming system has some advantages, but so does a console.  It’s a tough line to dissect as it comes down to personal preference most of the time.  I love both console systems and PCs but the console systems to me bring a more enjoyable gaming platform for building community.  Consoles breathe ease of access, connecting with friends, new players, and solo play.  PC’s are a tad limited to the in-game community and experience you get with friends.  Not to say it doesn’t exist but that it’s different and more difficult to achieve in my opinion.

Again, these two worlds of gaming are both giants in their own aspects and they dominate the markets in the areas they are good at.  So what’s one of the biggest differences you see in PC vs. Console?  It’s “The Guts” your hardware inside and what makes the systems perform.  PC’s a lot of the times will have the latest and greatest graphics, RAM, HD’s and other top notch gadgets to make your gaming experience awesome.  This usually comes with a top notch cost as well.  Think of that new game that was just released for the PC…you’ve been following the development, watching, and waiting for the release.  It finally arrives and low and behold your ultimate PC system or what you thought was good enough barely runs this new blockbuster.  Now what?  Is it time for an upgrade or possibly a new machine?  When looking at a console system, that new blockbuster game is designed specifically for the system you have.  If you go buy the newest game for the Xbox One or PS4 it works right?

There’s not a lot of additional expense in owning a console system.  If gamers are willing to pay the price of having the ultimate PC gaming systems that could handle anything possible then more power to them.  Games for PC’s are usually a bit cheaper as they can be digital content only and directly downloaded from a website.  Still when you think of hardware the machine has to handle the specs of the game so it can still take a chunk of change if upgrades are needed. Consoles on the other hand tend to be a little more forgiving on the wallet due to the fact that upgrades aren’t needed to play new games.

When I think of gaming I think of the word fun, stress relief, community, and endless gloating banter back and forth with friends.  The digital game world of PC and Console has allowed us to become a multi-functional gamer.  The developers of these games have opened up the world of multi-player to so many new levels.  Interacting with other gamers, friends, and being involved to more than just playing a game.  Bringing conversations to the table, learning new ways to play, and being able to interact in new ways is something that is always being tweaked for both PC’s and Console systems.  PC games are a bit more limited to in-game chat or maybe a MMO game that allows you to go raid with a few other people but console systems especially the new generations have opened up technology like the Kinect for motion sensing, the Wii U and its tablet devices, or even the social media features the PS4 controller has integrated.

This new technology that consoles are using helps bring players into those quick group invites, just shoot your friends an invite and you are online in a group. Maybe just plug in another controller and have a multi-player match right on the same machine…quick and easy.  PC’s are a bit harder to get that sense of interaction with a group especially if you want to do a LAN party.  You can’t just plug into one PC and get started as everyone has to bring their own hardware, have plenty of power to run all the systems, enough network ports for people to plug into, and then you’re still only playing on one machine….”Yours” So again the LAN party thing doesn’t really bring the same group play interaction to the table as a console party would.  Each has its own unique benefits and challenges and offers a large variety to whatever game style you prefer.

Whether you are an avid PC gamer and are always looking for the best in class and newest gear, or you are a console brand loyal maniac, or even a casual stroll through whichever system you seem to be sitting at for the moment type gamer, these are some amazing worlds to explore.  Whichever you prefer…enjoy it, explore it, and have fun while doing it.