The Wait is Over!!!

Words could not explain how devastated i was when i heard the announcement of the cancel of Silent Hill P.T. I thought the game was brilliant and it was one of those horror games that had the perfect balance of minimal gameplay but a terrifying and horrific atmosphere to set the game and keep you playing

BUT

Just when i thought all hope was gone. A indie company called Lilith Ltd created an insane looking game called Allison Road. A game that has been stated as the spiritual successor of Silent Hills P.T. When watching the gameplay and trailer for this title, there was no moment that i felt at ease and i feel the potential for this game is incredible and i cant wait for its release.

This game was initially created by horror game lover Chris Kesler, his love for video games led him to make one of his own and really set the bar for the type of horror games he wanted to see in the industry and he has definitely set a whole new playing field for all games to be released after this title.

I feel with any really intense horror game, playing in first person is always a good shout. You just feel like you are actually presence within the game and things just feel more immersive. Due to the makers of the game using Unreal Engine 4 the graphics are also an element that really had the scary factor to the game.

I think that is also a reason for why people are comparing this game to the Silent Hill P.T. It seems to follow that perfect formula of minimalistic gameplay alongside a enticing storyline. I also love that is it somewhere that is quite familiar, so everyone can really relate and feel the fear as they explore this old town house.

This game is set in a British townhouse that was a home to a family that have been the victim of a hideous crime and you play a currently named protagonist exploring the house and trying to learn what has happened to your family and what is the strange presence in the house. The woman that has been pictured in the trailer and gameplay has been suggested to be your deranged wife who has been taken over by some bad sprits.

Personally, anything to do with possession and ghost is always something that freaks me out, so this game will definitely scare the hell out of me but just purely other factors like the exceptional lighting and ambience within the game is enough to to make the hairs stand on the back of the neck. This game the perfect concoction of an excellent horror game.

FINAL (ish)  VERDICT

Although this is a little review of the game and how i feel before its release, i feel the only way to really summaries this title is to just play it and give it a go. With everyone being devastated by the cancel of the Silent Hill P.T, i feel this is the game to fill that space or even possibly exceed it but only time will tell and there is definitely a never ending line of people who cant wait to get their hands on this and play it. So prepare yourself from now for this insane experience because i am sure after a play through of Allison Road, you won’t be sleeping for days.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER HERE

Rating:

4/5

Developers: Lilith Ltd

Release: TBA 2016

 

GENIUS

Recently I was thinking about the lack of horror games that have been out lately. I remember a massive surge of games last year or the year before ( who even knows) where loads of titles were being released like Until Dawn, Evil Within, Outlast, Silent Hill P.T, Remasters of Resident Evil 2 and Alien Isolation (and many many more).

I feel  there must always be a good horror game that will be released each year but this year i haven’t really seen any to be honest but fear not people…there are some awesome titles on the way which are going to blow previous titles out the water!!

Speaking of a good horror game on its way, i will have to mention this incredible new game called Perception!!

It is a narrative driven horror games focusing on a protagonist, who is a blind woman named Cassie. She navigates her way around this very old and haunted house using echolocation (WHICH IS BRILLIANT). I cant believe this is a concept no one had attempted before (and if it has been attempted, why haven’t more people done it). What makes a horror games successful in my eyes, is really keeping that element of surprise and making the player fear the unknown and not know what could be lurking around the corner.

The echolocation features add more fear and that excellent bit of restriction that you need in a horror game to keep you on your toes and alert at all times.

It is also a big break from the norm in most narratives that seem to just go for the completely fit male who is just running around trying to run away from some made haunted character in a strange house. This small change to the protagonist makes perception a whole different game changer in the survival horror world and is definitely something i cant wait to see implemented in other games.

I feel the echolocation will opens your eyes in a strange way when playing the game, it makes you realise how many things around can make a sound and shows sound in a form that we don’t really acknowledge, compared to other games that is purely just added for abit of effect here and there.

With Bill Gardner (Bioshock,Bioshock Infinite) being Lead Designer on this game, I just have a good feeling they are really going to master the creepy element of this game and also a very in depth narrative that will have our heads twisting and turning whilst playing the game.

From what i have heard about the game, Cassie travels through the house and is almost exploring it through time and learning different things about this house as she goes along but what she soon discovers, is that there is a big baddie called presence i believe (or something along those lines) which is more or less an urban myth or legend with in the town but she soon learns very differently.

The antagonist comes across as more of a haunted house rather than a specific human character, the house seems to react to Cassie as she explores it further and the more she makes noise, the more the house will go mad and react to her in different way, like making noises or sending certain entity type things after her.

FINAL (ish) VERDICT

Although this isn’t a complete review because i haven’t seen the final game yet, i am so excited for this game and feel the right people are behind it to really bring out the full potential of this concept and idea. Not only will it really set a high bar for just the creativity in survival horror games, i feel it will be one of those games that people will differently remember and enjoy time and time again. I look forward to the final release of the game and hope it does incredible well!!

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER HERE

Rating:

3.5/5

Developers:The Deep End Games

Release: 2016

Im In Love!!

One of the cutest games i have seen in a while would have to be this lovely little title here!! With such a cute little story and meaning behind it, it is hard not to fall in love with the little character and just explore the game!!

I remember seeing Unravel being dropped here and there but i didn’t know that much about it but it is definitely a title people should check out!!

This title is made by a independent game developer based in Sweden called Coldwood Interactive. They have previously made games that are mostly sport dominated and very different to this genre of game. Unravel is more of a puzzle game that is quite similar to games like Little Big Planet (well that is what is reminded me of as soon as i saw it).

It is set in a realistic looking world that i feel adds to the whole meaning of narrative. When watching an interview the Creator and Director of the game (Martin Sahlin) he spoke about making the game in a realistic setting in order to make the physics of the game as realistic as possible and allow the character to react to the environment as it would in the real world.

Not only does the realistic scenery make the game even more lovelier than it is already is, it also compliments the story behind the game.

The story behind the game is all about looking at the idea of love, and thinking about love as a physical object ( in this case a ball of wool called Yarny) and what would happen if love was supposedly to unravel or run out. The main aim of the game is to not unravel although moving further and further away from the source of love that you started with.

Just hearing that concept of the game made me personally fall in love with it straight away. Just a simple concept represented in such a beautiful way. The game takes you on a journey that allows you to explore so many different worlds and environments but also stimulates your mind to work out different puzzles and just different ways in which you can move from one area to the other.

I am also a great lover for the soundtrack of this game. From the gameplay i have seen the soundtrack just compliments the game so beautifully and this was definitely something i was expecting from such a gentle and sensitive concept. It just shows that it is not only a visually stunning game but also something that is pleasing on the ears and just becomes and all rounded experience to enjoy and become immerse in.

With the release date of this game very near, i recommend everyone who really appreciates those simple but powerful games to really take a look at this title and give it a chance. Definitely a game that i feel everyone can relate to and really open their hearts to and possibly learn something from and i cant wait to see the whole game when it is released and find out what more it can offer.

 

Rating: 

4/5

Trailer

Ubisoft On A Roll!!

Ubisoft seem to be unstoppable these last few months and it is making me super excited to see the release of their upcoming games. With such an excellent reception on the Beta for The Division recently, i wasn’t really sure what to expect from the new FarCry, with the previous instalment being a success and with such a big jump from all the other games i wasn’t sure if this was something Ubisoft could pull off.

With such an interesting concept to work with, i cant imagine they could go wrong with the idea but the main focus would be on how creative they could be with the concept and what things they could bring to the table to help the game go that extra mile but still stay within the style of the Far Cry that we know.

And they have definitely taken this game by the horns and produced features that i didn’t even expect but really enhanced the gameplay for the player. From the way in which you interact with the other animals within the game and also how you interact with other tribes and humans. The game definitely shows they have done their research and worked hard to try and replicate what life would be like during the Stone Age.

 

Hunting

Although this has been a part of many of the previous Far Cry games, this is something that really dominates Primal. A feature that lies between you progressing successfully in the game or becoming a character that is against every living thing within the game. Although you interact with animals within the others games, the animals in Primal are on a completely different level. For example, if you come across a dead animal that is a clear indication that a predator is in the area and you should be ready for an attack or if you kill and animal, the carcass will attract near by predators where as before these elements of the game would not impact you as a player.

Hunting enables your character to gain resources and upgrades weapons and items within your inventory. You are now able to set up traps and even use other animals to assist you in your hunting. Similarly to the other games, hunting enables you to gain resources that allow you to upgrade weapons and other items within your inventory but you can now do other things like set up traps to capture animals and other prey.

 

Beast

This is definitely an aspect of the game i am really excited about!! Becoming a Beast Master. Of course the game is set in the Stone Age, when humans were not at the top of the food chain and had to work alongside the animals in order to survive, so having certain beasts as your allies is something that would work in your favour and enable you to go through the game with more ease than being against anything with a pulse.

For example, lets say you come across a village with a leader that has destroyed your village and you want a bit of revenge or want to retaliate and take their village, this is an aspect of the game that enables you to use a beast at your will to help you accomplish a mission.

Along your travels, you could tame a cute little wolf that you could then command and use as an extra aid on top of the weapons you already have to assist you on any take downs and mission you would get involved with. The wolf would also growl to warn you of near by enemies and just almost be an extra pair of eyes through your time in Oros (the world in which you live in).

Another feature that i love about this game is the fact that you can almost pick and choose  your beast in the same way that you would pick and choose a gun you may use for a specific mission. For example, lets say you wanted to hunt a fairly large animal like a Yak or something like that, you may choose to pick a animal that falls on the cat family. These animals are more agile and quick but still carry a big punch compared to if you may want to attack a large village and want an animal that has high resistance and can take a lot of hits, you may choose to pick a bear to assist you on that mission. This feature also works with if you want to go in all guns blazing or if you want a more stealthy approach with you attack.

Also another feature to add to the never ending list of awesome features is the Owl within this game. In the previous Far Cry game you would personally have to use another pieces of equipment or get close to the animal you wanted to take in order to put it on the map and this could either cause you to get seen by the enemies or cause you to miss certain enemies and your in a situation where you are over run by all these enemies but with the new feature of the owl, you can get a clear birds eye view of the area and all the enemies and threats for the mission. This really prevents you being limited to what you can purely see at eye level and allow you to really gage what you are really walking in to.

You can also use the Owl to either command your other beast or you can literally use the Owl to go in and attack enemies or drop bombs on villages without being detected. I feel this is such great selling point for the game for me and a feature will really be game changer for the Far Cry franchise.

FINAL VERDICT!!

Although this isn’t really the final verdict for the completed game, from what i have seen i feel this game is definitely on track for setting an even higher standard for the Far Cry Franchise when released. With a concept that has proven very popular recently, i feel the survival aspect of this game has really been thought through and been in favour of the player. It really causes you to think and live in that era almost evolve as a character that is able to master any problem that comes their way.

Overall, i am very impressed with this game and cant wait to see the final product and any other surprised to come. I feel the only let down for this game could be the narrative not being rounded and complete and allowing the game to be dominated mostly by the side missions and “random” events within the game.

 

Rating:

3.5/5

I would recommend this to anyone who loves the Far Cry series. I feel the style is still the same and you can still feel the Far Cry vibe of the game but i feel that have definitely take a good jump and taken all successful aspects of all the other previous games and implemented them with in Far Cry Primal

RELEASE:

CONSOLE: FEBURAY 23RD 2016

PC: 1ST MARCH 2016

 

 

One to Watch!!

I think this game has definitely been on my radar ever since i knew Olly Moss was one of the artist on the game. I mean I’m not being biased now because i really love Olly Moss’s work but this game actually looks pretty decent to be honest!

 

To see a game as beautiful as this and with such a beautiful colour palette, it is hard not to be drawn to this game. Set in such a beautiful place, it gives the player such a beautiful experience visually to just sit back and play this game. It kind of reminds me abit of Journey (another great PlayStation exclusive, that everyone should definitely check out), they are quite different games in terms of narrative but in terms of the pure idilic scenery and simplistic gameplay i could definitely see a similarity in the types of players the may choose to explore this game.

 

A game set in the summer of 1989, you play a middle age man named Henry who befriends a woman over a walkie talkie called Delilah. You see their relationship blossom over the period of the game and you are given the choice in how this conversations go and how far your relationships will grow over time.

Although quite a simple concept, i feel it is a very clever one. To be honest, i feel most games now a days are really exploring the simple but effective ways in which we can all engage with a game and allowing players to really have freedom of choice rather than following a very restriction narrative path.

When watching the commentated video featuring Sean Vanaman (Writer) and Jake Rodkin (Director), they spoke about the game being set in a real place with a realistic character and i feel they done this to really give it that relatable feel and just make the dialogue and connection between the characters something to really considered and think about as you progress through the game.

Campo Santo are just a small little development company is San Francisco but i believe after this game they will definitely become a name to the remember in the industry!

With the release of this game coming out in just a few days (February 9th 2016), i cant wait to see what comes of this game. I believe it is exclusive to Playstation but will be available on Windows, Mac and Linux. So definitely look out for this title and give it ago!!

Hopefully it lives up to the great footage is has been showing up to its release!

 

Rating:

3.5/5

I would definitely recommend this game to anyone to isn’t looking for a really intense game that involves combat and fighting and is more about the laid back side of gaming that merely just stimulates the mind and encourages you to dive into the narrative and really explore the characters you work with along the way.

Check out the trailer here:

 

 

Beta on Point!!

After being MEGA excited about this game when the trailer game out last year, i couldn’t  wait to see what other footage and information Ubisoft would release along the way and here we are, the good old beta!! The big test for any game before it comes out and all i can say is…

What a great job you have done Ubisoft

definitely a step up from the Assassins Creeds and Watchdog

Set in a time when no one can be trusted and the world is just a big old corrupted place (not much different to now a days), this game really tests the pure instinct to survive in a destroyed and empty city. With customisable features (that weren’t fully up and running during the beta but will be on release) you are able to really get in the nooks and crannies of your character and build the ideal solider for you. Whether you want to be the solider with the stylish hair and hipster beard or the woman that still looks flawlessss despite the circumstances, this is all possible.

 

What i also loved about this beta or just the game in general to be honest was the amount of detail in the scenery. It really set the scale and size for the game and really gave that free roaming experience that extra bonus to just make you want to go out there any explore and the small touch of adding such realistic weather conditions was brilliant. I mean i am already impressed with the small things in the beta, so i can only just imagine what the final product should look like.

 

There is also a section called the Dark Zone that is the multiplayer part of the game, that just involves you surviving to be honest and trying not to go rogue. It has a whole different levelling up system and contains different areas like the contaminated zone which i am not too sure what that is yet but this type of game is loads of fun when you have a good little team with you to help you through against any mad rogue players.

Talking about combat, this beta definitely showed what The Division has to offered and i am super excited, despite the glitches (which is understandable in a beta) the games combat style is pretty nice actually! It plays pretty smooth and the futuristic style to the game definitely gives it that edge when playing (kind of reminds abit of Watchdogs in that sense but don’t worry, it isn’t like it in any way to be honest)

I think overall they did quite well with this beta and it has definitely made me even more excited for the final release of this game. This is definitely something people should be investing in this spring!! Hopefully it the final release just wows me even more!!

Rating:

4/5

Recommended for anyone who really enjoy a good RPG, with endless gameplay and a big open space to explore and gain valuable loot and surprises.

 

FarCry Primal: Behind the Scenes

After my previous post talking about the infinite possibilities FarCry really having brining out a game like Primal. i feel this video gives me more confidence in them potentially pulling off the idea.

Really taking the idea of the primal man and how that can really create a fully immersive game for people to enjoy. The game is all about when man took ownership and started being the hunter rather than the hunted.

The game also provides players with a large variety of ecosystems that can vary based factors like if you are playing during the night and day. This is a feature i found very interesting and realistic.

Another realistic aspects is the way in which they allows players to build and craft their own weapons as they would in the Stone Age. As Jean – Sebastien Decant stated, there is only really things like rocks and bone that gave us some indication on what the world was like back then so that gave them alot of movement throughout the game to really try out new ideas and take a creative spin on how they would present the world in the game. This could come down to different things like the culture and there way in which humans would interact with each other etc.

I feel FarCry could really be on to another great game here and I can’t wait to hear more about this game. I also feel it will be interesting to compare to the upcoming game Horizon Zero Dawn by Guerrilla Games. Although Horizon is combining that primal feel with a more futuristic feel and the developers will be quite different in terms of playing style, i feel it will just be interesting to see how both games pull of the presenting that era to an audience.

with

Fingers Crossed

With animals being such a large part of all the Far Cry games, it is about time they really embrace that part of the franchise and really go forward with the idea of producing a game heavily dominated by your survival with these animals.

Especially with the time period they are working with, there will definitely be a beautiful array of animals to interactive with in this game (not necessarily all friendly ones).

 

I think with so many animals and tribal type vibes given off in the last game, i feel FarCry will pull off a game that looks really good and plays pretty well but story wise, i am not really sure how they will approach it.

I believe the game could could one of two ways:

Mind Blowing

The game could really incorporate features with the next generation console and really make use of the beautiful graphics and provide us with outstanding scenery and animals and introduce us to missions aren’t just using a grapple hook (very awkwardly) to get up a cliff. I really hope they make full use of the touchpad and really bring that into the game next year and just also give us a feel for a new sort of step for FarCry and really make it obvious that this is going to be something different.

The Same Old Thing

It is very easy for games to kind of give a whole new idea a go whilst still incorporated the best bits about their previous games.However i feel Primal could go either way and just be like all the other FarCry but we are not wearing tribal clothing, i think it is a great opportunity for the franchise to really broaden and branch off and bring in new fans essentially but it needs to take all the best bits of all the FarCrys and bring in some new features to really give this game its own identity (after all if they really wanted to make a whole new game it wouldn’t still have the FarCry title). I have heard comments of it being a bit like a Ice Age rip off but lets hope they conjure up an interesting story (with not too many side missions, please!) and really show us what the Stone Age had to offer

 

I think from what i can see in this trailer and the style in which Ubisoft produce FarCry games, I feel this could be a really good game next year. I can’t wait to see what else they will release and when we can all get our hands on some gameplay.

Overall, this has now joined the list of games that have either been delayed or are being released in 2016 that i just can’t wait to see and hopefully it will stay that way as the year progresses.

Release Date 

23rd February (Europe) – Put that date in your Calendar

PC – March 2016

Lara is back!!

I can’t wait for this game to come out. Although it is on a timed exclusive with Microsoft, I can’t wait to see this game unfold.

Especially the narrative for the game. It seems filled with incredible locations filled with rich history to explore and have fun with Lara and I can’t wait to see it.

I have always been a Tomb Raider fan and wasn’t nessesarily blown away with the previous instalment of the game but that may of just been because they were almost moulding Lara in a new light that hadn’t been explored before and it was just strange to see Lara like that but now they have brought back a big of the bad ass Lara that everyone know, I’m exciting to see how they present the game.

I’m also really excited to see this new grapple hook Lara has (check out the link)

Although she has had a grapple hook in previous games, I’m excited to see how they have incorporated the hook into this game alongside the new weapons and modes of combat. I have heard that you can control more of Lara’s approaches when being involved with combat with enemies and things like that which shall also be something I will be looking forward to when it is released.
I just hope it is a big step up from the last game and not just something they have chuck together and not thought hard about but let’s just wait and see I guess

Release Date:

November 10, 2015

The Last of Us…..2

After the Live stream about Uncharted: Nathan Drake Collection with Josh Scherr (writer) there is one comment that really sparked peoples interest.

All the facial animation in the Uncharted games and the first The Last of Us – uh, did i say the first The Last of Us

Now, this could mean many things:

 

Left Behind

I find this very unlikely but Josh could have been referring to the DLC Left Behind that came out shortly after the game was  released but if he was just talking about the DLC i feel he wouldn’t of stuttered and stayed on the point of saying The first The Last of Us.

 

The Last of Us Remastered

Hmmm, this could be an option but i doubt because it is still the game but just remastered but there quite bit of improvements that were made to the game but nothing like a different type of animation design or anything like that.

 

Those are just some suggestions for what his comment could of implied but earlier in the year Nolan North did speak about The Last of Us 2 when asked about any projects with Naughty Dog he said

Not yet, I know they’re doing The Last of Us 2

This once again sparked a lot of interested into whether the game will be made but no one from Naughty Dog has actually confirmed anything yet some it is not 100% going head yet but…i think we all know The Last of Us is definitely on the tables in the near future. Especially since Uncharted 4 will be the last instalment for the franchise so after that they may focus on The Last of Us and what is going to come from the whole series.

Check Out the Videos: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GFCmPAdu8Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-n2J7jA7w