A lesson from the anime Haikyuu: A negative attitude can't help a team win

Hello video gaming and Otaku community.  I haven't posted in a while since it's the holidays. To be honest, no good games have came out in a while.  In the meantime, I have been marathon watching some of my favorite anime.

One anime that caught my interest for 10 hours straights was Haikyuu.  It's a show about an under-qualified athlete that has the hope of winning a national championship in men's volley.  The reason the show caught my interest was the psychology of sports and the character analysis.  

The antagonist of the show character analysis really made me evaluate some of my social interactions. The antagonist is nicknamed the "King of the Court".  The reason he has that nickname is due to his tendency to be a dictator and an attitude to push those on his team hard to meet impossible goals he can't achieve himself.  At one point during a tournament, he was so hard on his teammates that his team leaves him and abandons him during the game.  The coach of the team calls a timeout to bench the King of the Court, which forever changes him and makes him doubt himself.

As a result of his character flaws, he was blacklisted from top sports programs due his behavior and bad attitude. Due to his blacklisting, the King of the Court ends up on a bad team that is not a contender for the nationals but he's glad to still have the chance to play again.  When he came to the new team, the his captain prevented him from joining the team until the King of the Court overcame his character flaws despite his talent.  The captain's reasoning for this demand was an understanding that someone who thinks he's better than everyone else and uncooperative can never work well with a team.

The antagonist trained with the protagonist Hinata until he was able to let go of his pride, bad attitude and arrogance.  Eventually, the protagonist and antagonist became the stars of the team.  The two stars cooperation helps the team evolve from being underdogs to the national champions.  It's an amazing anime, and I highly recommend you watch a few episodes.

Dead Rising 4 Review - Dreaming of Red Christmas

"Rumors of human trials, psychopaths, illegal human experimentation, abandoned missile sites. How can you say no to this Frank ?  This is our change please!"

Frank West is back for Dead Rising 4, and he is kicking serious butt just in time for Christmas.  This time around Dead Rising puts you in a small town of Willamete, where you must use your journalism skills to uncover a scientific mystery, report your findings/evidence and save the world from another deadly zombie outbreak.  Dead Rising 4 is a fill good button masher mixed with a little over the top drama, challenges to overcome impossible odds, and utilizing your environment to be creative and dominate maniacs that want you dead or zombies that want you for a meal.

What's New?
Capcom nailed Frank's personality, bizarre charm, presentation and story.  Fundamentally, combat has not evolved nor the challenges from the three prior dead rising games.  The biggest change is the removal of the countdown timer which allows you to explore more and have fun without pressure to get everything done in 72 hours deadline.  The reason the developers removed the timer was because this dead rising world is dense and loaded with challenges to encourage you to have fun!  There are endless amounts of survivors to save, blueprints to find, and weapons/vehicles to craft.  A big bonus is you are no longer forced to seek out a workbench to craft your combo weapons or vehicles from the blueprints.  All you need to craft from blueprints are the required materials.

Photography plays more than a tool to level up. Frank's camera has new batman like filters that let you detect hidden clues, use night vision or take selfies. They borrowed the exo-suit from the call of duty series which will give you an advantages in hoards melee fights or maniac boss battles.  There are no longer stronger zombies at night.  They are replace with a fresh infected zombies that come out at all hours and they are faster, smarter and stronger.  You can't throw melee weapons anymore as well.

What's wrong?
If you are familiar with the Dead Rising series, then you know glitches are bound to happen.  Textures pop in and out, frame rates stutter, clipping and collision issues get annoying, new crafted vehicles are undriveable,  and you can fall through levels.  They drop the co-op player mode and replaced the mode with a multi-player mode.  It's good in theory but with glitch issues and lost connections, it can really make the game unplayable.

Overall
I feel Dead Rising always found a way to capture an audience share culture and break down walls of what is expected from a good game.  Instead of zombie outbreak/weapon, the experiments are used to mass produced unskilled labor to do mundane task like farming or manufacturing.   If you're a fan of Dead Rising, then you know what you're getting.  If you not a fan, then you aren't going to find a hidden gem here.  Dead Rising 4 is a care free, have fun, and laid back game with enough content to keep the story paces and side quest to challenge you.  I'm a fan of the series so I give Dead Rising 4 a 8.5/10

Final Fantasy XV Review: A New Beginning from the Ashes of the Past

Developers open the game with a splash screen that says a "Final Fantasy for fans and first timers."  With reverence for the old and a courtship for the new video gamers, high expectations have been placed on Final Fantasy XV.  For nearly a decade since its rumored creation in 2006, Final Fantasy XV has been reinvented and redesigned.

Final Fantasy XV is a solid J-RPG engaging you in a touching journey that spans over a decade involving a fallen prince and his bond with 3 friends.  The main story centers around Prince Noctis journey of self discovery, uniting with lost love, becoming powerful to handle evolving challenges, and path to claim the throne.  It seems like developers reached into too many plot lines to make a longer game.  FF XV commitment to the protagonist bond as four brothers in arms keeps the game glued together even when some of the game's design and story elements threaten to fall apart.

What's Old and New : Summons, MP, and Combat
The standard expectation from Final Fantasy games are breath taken summons, a lot of side quest, legendary monsters, and discoveries.  Unlike most side quests in Final Fantasy, FF XV quest keep you engaged and interested in exploring all the new open world has to offer. During quest, clear on screen markers tell you where to go and what's next on the agenda.  You can speak to locals tipsters to acquire useful information about quest, and they will highlight areas of interests, find rewards and special creatures as reward for your interaction.

The summons are not like the prior games.  You can't get Knights of the Round table and rock the legendary bosses boats.  Summons appear late in the game, and they come upon triggered moments.  Summons like Leviathan must have open environments near water to be summoned. When the summons arrive they do high damage to all enemies and save the day.  When summons appear they dominate the combat system, so you sit and watch them not control them.

A major new change is the magic spells and combat system.  Magic specials are no longer connected to MP, and anyone can use them.  Spells must be synthesized from raw materials, but the game encourages you to experiment and have fun.  Add a health potion to a fire potion, and you have a hot item that heals you and burn everything around including your friends in the damage area. There is an element called death magic that takes the life out of enemies instantly, but developers might remove this element to balance the new combat system.

The main characters combat system is very diverse being able to use various swords, guns, and warp all the place to get better positioning or discover locations.  Full real-time combat replaces the turn based systems of the past.  It doesn't feel like a traditional Final Fantasy and any regard, but this game rewards cohesiveness to deliver a payoff.  Often on solo mission you hold down the action button, and do a lot of well timed button mashing to defeat an enemy.  Some old school fans might not be a fan of the battle system, but it gets the job done to me.

Disappointments 
Developers warned FF15 is a completely new game from what we are expecting and got spoiled on.  That being said, there are some expectations that a good can must have to be complete that I felt FF 15 fell short on.  FF 15 story line progression had you making tough choices between advancing the story and having fun. There were changes and comprises that will make a long time Final Fantasy fans hearts break, and would really annoy new fans.  I felt a 2 hour Leviathan  to complete one solo mission to progress the main storyline was a bit much.

The main story had a lot of plot holes that are filled by the Kingsglaive and animated movies on FF15 that are released separately.  I do not like that personally.  I feel the game should stand alone, and give you all you need without paying for another source.  The main journey for involves you seeking and acquiring relics to prove your heritage as the next king.  These royal arms are plot mechanics to increase your powers and come as a cost to your HP when used in combat.  I guess this is the developer way of making you understand power with sacrifice.

Overall
Final Fantasy XV is a new game and new experience that samples elements from the old and what you are used to seeing in every Final Fantasy.  You can tour beautiful world, feed animals, fish, cook meals, pick fights with legendary creatures, gain friends, and have a journey that is worth remembering.  The game has enough depth to hold your attention and keep you interested for 100s of hours.  It's not a perfect game like FF 7, but Final Fantast XV is a step in the right direction for the franchise to stay competitive with the action and shooter driven AAA titles on market.  I give Final Fantasy XV at 8.5 out 10.

YouTube's New Standards Cost Them Its Top Earner and Talent Casey Neistat

If you're a blogger, Millennial or entrepreneur then you know who Casey Neistat.  Basically, Casey is one of the few YouTube blogger that used his content to become a self-made multi-millionaire and celebrity.

Casey Neistat is a former movie maker and professional marketer that redefined YouTube and created the profitable vlogging or video blogging.  Everyone in New York recognizes Casey and even the police give him special treatment when creating videos in his city.  YouTube on the other hand threw the book at Casey and held him to a higher standard than anyone else.

YouTube's new standards and rules really upset a lot of bloggers when it comes to monetizing blogs or digital content.  You can read the new standards if you want to because i'm not going to post it.   Basically you have to choose certain ads and comply to standards in order to monetize your content.  The problem with this is YouTube have no government compliance to base their rules off.  It seems like they are picking top earner or anyone to bully and force them to lose money that goes back to YouTube.  It's pure greed and aggressive bullying.

Casey Neistat kept his daily content family friendly, high quality and consistent.  He never offended anyone, and he was one of YouTubes shining stars.  Everyone followed his struggle then congratulated Casey on his success.  When he left we all understood why.  NO ONE will stick around a place where they are unfairly compensated and have new rules created on a whim just to target and bully him.

Casey parted ways with YouTube, and he partner with CNN, a larger platform.  Casey signed an insanely better deal than he every would make creating videos for YouTube and getting a fraction of the compensation for his highly viewed content.  CNN purchased Casey's app Beme and compensated him with $25 million.  Well YouTube, you just lost the only original content creator plus his 5.8 million subscribers to a large platform CNN. I hope you learn a lesson about what greed, pettiness, and bullying get you in the end.

Watch Dogs 2 Review - Before You Buy it Read This!!!

"We're hackers.  We out-think, we out dare. I saw we tear down the wall.  Show to world what they...what Blume are up to.  Show the world what their personal data is being used for".

          - Marcus Holloway, Watch Dogs 2

This fall quarter of games seems to involve a rebel's rise to fight back against the machine that runs the system we live in.  Dishonored 2 lead the pack involving a story of being on your own and taking back what's yours. Watch Dogs 2 seem to be on a path that involves not letting those in power have absolute power over you and your life.  I will be honest, I did not play the first Watch Dogs.  It didn't catch my attention because I didn't under it.  I sort of judged the game as something I wouldn't like before I tried it and saw what it had to offer.  Most reviewers said the original Watch Dog fell real short of expectations, and this is why such drastic changes was needed for the sequel. 

Fortunately for me, Watch Dogs 2 is its own game and doesn't pick up from the roots of its predecessor.  Watch Dog 2 features its first black lead character Marcus Holloway.  Marcus is part of a hacker group known as Dedsec, a hacker group with the mission to take down the advance surveillance system of San Francisco. 

Watch Dogs 2 plays much like GTA open world with the ability to interact with NPC's non-linear and complete missions in multiple ways.  There is a multi-player feature similar to GTA online that allows you to complete missions online together.  During the game your objective is use gadgets to hack people, devices, and vehicles to gain information. 

Story

The story of Watch Dogs 2 is not as accurate or as punishing as GTA with a story that made you come to grips with the horrible reality of your life choices, insight on dysfunctional families and complete loss of control of your life.  30+ hours of story in Watch Dog 2 about finding who created the corrupt system and finding ways to bring them down.  Marcus has a criminal record that he wants erased, so he works with some hackers to clean his record.  Marcus eventually sees the bigger picture after the group informs him that a government agency ran by someone name Blume has intent on data mining citizens and controlling information for evil intentions.  If you seen the movie hackers, then a lot alluding to the movie plot is done in this game.  

There is a lot of 1984 big brother is watching and controlling everything you do in this game.  Since you don't like how Big Brother tracks and follows you, you become Little Brother and do the same thing but also bring the system down.  Watch Dogs 2 follows most video game motto of the core belief is that the main characters are right, and everyone else is wrong.  In order to combat Blume's government take over, Dedsec intends on creating a celebrity persona and gaining millions of followers online.  The followers they gain have online profiles and information that they will hack and data mine. Somehow all this will counter the efforts of the government control.  You're goal is to use your team's diverse background and ability/traits to unit as a whole to stop the exploitation of the common public and take down CtOS 2.0

Culture Shock

There is definite emphasis in the counter-culture and underground or indie scene in Watch Dogs 2.  Developers really went out of their way to represent the small groups society want to forget, judge, or overlook.  When developers made the lead African American, that offended a lot of players in the video community.  I do not know why having a black character as the lead effects anything.  Ignorance is bliss to some I guess.  Well, if that wasn't enough there are cannabis cultures and nudist camps.  If you went to a strip club in GTA V, then this isn't a shortcoming that will not offend you.  

Flaws

Well this game fell into the pit of what most open world games do.  It struggled to stay focus.  The balance between narrative and game-play really got of hand quick.  Implementation of using gadgets to complete missions can be inconsistent and less supportive to complete the task.  On some missions, you use gadgets to complete objective.  Well, sometimes the gadgets glitch and the AI is very dumb.  I see a bug to fix this.  Stealth is key this game where working in the shadows to do damage is key, but this aspect of the game is loose but fixable.  Focus mode from the original is gone.  

The game feels very empty.  Aside from completing the main objective of building a social media following by doing things like driving crazy and acting guards to stick it to the man, there ain't much substance to stray from this linear path of the story line.  Tagging the Golden Gate Bridge for attention on the social media seems more of a joke than purpose driven.

Perks

This game is one of the few open world games that play equally to PC.  The FPS in PS4 is averaging 30 FPS. Resolutions of 1080P handle well, and keep the architecture detailed and NPC presence solid.  It's like Crazy Taxi, where it's an accurate detailing of San Francisco.  The soundtrack is very smooth and appropriate for the action and setting of tone for the antics of a hacker group against the authority.  You have research points to level up your abilities which are key to progressing the game.  This leveling up task is mundane, but farming for skill points is a key part of role playing games.  

Overall

The game has potential and the actors did their best with what they had.  Watch Dogs 2 is light years better than what the first game established, and to be honest with a few DLC's it has the foundation and mechanics to be a great game.  Lots of patches are need to be the game function solid, so I will say for what it attempted to do which is be different from the pack...Watch Dogs 2 stood as its own beast.  I give Watch Dogs 2 at 9.0 out of 10. 

Dragon Ball Super 66 - Future Trunks Defeats the Demon Zamasu

Done in true Japanese superstition, Trunks defeated the angry God that terrorized his future worse than the Androids.  Dragon Ball Super 66 brought out all they had to wrap this filler series up.

Big Mystery of Black Goku and the Immortal God Zamasu Solved

I have to admit it was really cheesy, but I like the way these time lapse were handled.  Basically Zamasu was a Kai (God) that hated humans and became so filled with hate that he abused the Dragon Balls to make evil wishes.  First wish involved, Zamasu switching bodies with an alternate Goku from a different dimension. Then Zamasu killed alternative Goku's family (Chi Chi and Goten) and convinced the alternate Goku to join him on a fight to end humanity. 

Somehow, the alternative Goku in Zamasu was made immortal by a second wish from the dragon balls a year later.  Then Alternate Goku started to terrorize the Future Trunks from Cell series dimension.  Trunks recognizes the Goku he sees is not the same Goku he knows, and he labels this Goku as Black Goku b/c he is evil.  Unable to defeat Black Goku, Trunks traveled in time to find Goku and Vegeta for help. runks would have went to Gohan since he was the strongest warrior at the end of the saiyan series, but family life has weak Gohan.  Krillin and Piccolo are actually stronger than Gohan now.

Goku, Vegeta, and Trunks encounter Black Goku by chance in their time.  Goku and Vegeta easily defeat Black Goku, but he escapes to Trunks Future to heal and improve.  When Goku, Vegeta and Trunks return to the Future to finish Black Goku, they get defeated.  After a few defeats we learn the mystery behind Black Goku and connection to the God Zamasu.  We learn how Zamasu body is immortal, but Black Goku body is human.

Episode 66 - Spoiler
Now you wonder why I took time to explain all that.  Zamasu and Black Goku fused to become all power God. But if you know anything about fusion, you energy and intention determine your fusion.  Zamasu/Goku is filled with hate, so their fusion was flawed.  Zamasu body is warped by his hate.  Instead of an immortal God, they are a monster demon that hate made him weak and mortal.  A fused Goku + Vegeta = Vegito matches the Zamasu fusion, but they become overpowered and defeated.

Then a Super Saiyan 2 Future Trunks steps in.  Amazingly SSJ 2 Future Trunks is strong enough to handle Demon Zamasu.   We learn Future Trunks has the ability of Goku to gain energy from surround life.  Future Trunks is a living Spirit Bomb.  At the end of the episode, Future Trunks forms a spirit bomb and absorbs the power.  Future Trunks then uses his sword to slice Zamasu in half and defeats him.

It was one of those moral lessons episodes, but it was good. In Japanese culture, they believe humans transform to Gods so you have to know that in order to get the lesson of the story.  It showed how a God who hates those he is sworn to protect can become evil and a demon.  Zamasu belittled and underestimated the value of those that looked up to him, and when they united they defeated him.  Don't know if Future Trunks became the new God of that dimension, but we will see in episode 67.

Anime Master Hayao Miyazaki Unretires to Make a Final Film

The news was dropped into a Japanese TV special broadcast over the weekend. Appropriately enough, it was titled Hayao Miyazaki: The Man Who Is Not Done. In it, Miyazaki revealed that he’d been dissatisfied with a recent 12-minute CG short film he’d been working on — Kemushi no Boro or Boro the Caterpillar — and instead wants to turn it into a full-length film. Although the special did not show Miyazaki getting a green light from studio bosses, he is seen starting work on animation for the project. We’ll have to wait for official confirmation, but, well, this is Miyazaki we're talking about — if he wants to make a film, presumably it’s going to get done.

Kemushi no Boro was originally being created for the Ghibli Museum, which opened in Tokyo in 2001 and showcases artifacts from Studio Ghibli, which Miyazaki co-founded. The studio’s many films include Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle. We don’t know much about Kemushi no Boro, but Miyazaki has apparently been developing the story for some 20 years. During the special, Miyazaki said the film was the "story of a tiny, hairy caterpillar, so tiny that it may be easily squished between your fingers." He noted that he might be 80 years old by the time it's finished (he's 75 now), but with his ideal timetable, the film will be done before the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Nintendo's Game Changing New Console Nintendo Switch - NX

Nintendo has changed video gaming world again with its seventh home console the Nintendo Switch aka NX. The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console that looks like a tablet that features two detachable controllers for both sides called Joy-Cons which can be used individually or attached to a grip to provide traditional gamepad form. World Wide release of the console is expected on March 2017.  

The main unit is connected to a television display through a docking station, from which it can removed from and be used as a portable console!  I'm excited about the portable console capability, but Nintendo is marketing the Nintendo Switch as a home console rather than the portable.  

Console, Dock and System Specs

The Nintendo Switch uses flash ROM cartridges over the optical discs, similar to the Nintendo 3DS.  The battery powered tablet-like monitor that comprises an LCD Screen, a 3.5mm audio jack and kickstand.  The console has slots on the side, into which the Joy-Con controllers can be slid when removed from the base.  The unit also includes a slot for a Game Card (cartridge-based media) to be installed or removed. 

The console can be placed into the Switch Dock, a docking station that connects to a power supply and to television when it needs to be charged or to transfer the output onto a television.  The tablet has a 167 mm (6.6. in diagonal viewing area, with the unit measuring 184.1 mm x 106.4 (7.25 in x 4.19 in) without the Joy - Con controllers attached.  The Switch's screen is a 6.2 in (16 cm) touchscreen with ten-point mult-touch detection, comparable to most other smartphones and tablet computers on the market, and offers 720p resolution.  These sources note that the right Joy-Con controller includes an infrared sensor, which would allow the user to still play touch-based games when the Switch is the the dock. 

Controllers

The Nintendo Switch comes with a controller system called the Joy-Con. The system comprises of two controllers; the "L" and "R", and come in the Joy-Con Grip, its specified base frame, and includes action and shoulder buttons, bumper triggers and a joystick on both. The controllers can be attached to the Switch Console (similar to the Wii U GamePad), they can be removed and used separately in each hand (similarly to a Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller), attached to a grip to provide a gamepad form factor or used as individual controllers for two players.

The console will support the wireless Switch Pro Controller, which has a more traditional design reminiscent of the Wii Classic Controller Pro and Wii U Pro Controller. The Nintendo Switch will support multiplayer via multiple systems; for example, allowing four players to play using two Switch systems.

Accessories

Though not revealed in the October 2016 reveal, the Nintendo Switch will support a wide array of additional accessories, according to Kimishima. Kimishima suggested that the Switch is part of a large ecosystem of devices though the Switch unit remains the core console element, and that several of these accessories will be revealed in the January 2017 event.

Technical specifications

Exact specifications have not been officially announced, but Nvidia confirmed that the Switch uses a custom system-on-chip from its Nvidia Tegra family of products. No specific details were revealed beyond that it is "based on the same architecture as the world's top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards", and has a custom API known as "NVN", which is designed to "bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses".

Games distributed at retail will be stored on cartridges, similar in design to the Game cards used for Nintendo DS and 3DS games.  However, the Switch will not be compatible with physical DS/3DS cards or Wii/Wii U optical discs.  Like Nintendo's previous consoles and handhelds, the Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS, the Switch will have native compatibility with Nintendo's line of Amiibo products.

Games

During its official unveiling in October 2016, Nintendo deliberately opted not to provide a list of games for the system, as they "want people to touch the device in January [2017] and experience the software for themselves", according to Kimishima.  Instead, Nintendo announced some of the partners that had committed to supporting the Switch; contrasting Nintendo's struggles to gain third-party support on-launch for previous platforms, the company initially listed 48 third-party publishers, studios, and middle-ware developers.   Among these partners, Nintendo listed major publishers such as Activision, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Sega, Square Enix, and Ubisoft.  Both Unity Technologies and Epic Games also pledged support to help developers bring games using their game engines, Unity and Unreal Engine 4 respectively, to the Switch.  Capcom, who was also announced as a initial third-party publisher for the Switch, stated that while they are committed to releasing titles for the Switch, they "do feel that there are differences in the desired direction and the play-style of the Nintendo Switch and those of the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One" and may not be releasing cross-platform games for the new console.

Prior to the console's official unveiling, Sega, Square Enix, and Ubisoft had already confirmed specific third-party titles in development for Switch, including Just Dance 2017, Project Sonic 2017,  Dragon Quest X, and Dragon Quest XI. Various indie developers also announced or considered game titles for the Switch. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, originally announced as a Wii U exclusive, will also be released for the Switch.  While the console's reveal trailer showcased footage from potential new titles in the Super Mario, Mario Kart, and Splatoon series as well as footage from NBA 2K17 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,  Nintendo later stated that the footage on the Switch's screen does not necessarily reflect any confirmed titles for the system, and were only selected to demonstrate the Switch's range of functionality. Bethesda, the publisher of Skyrim, affirmed they had no current plans to bring the title to the Switch, but had provided Nintendo the footage to support the reveal as a committed developer for the system. Take-Two Interactive, the publisher for NBA 2K17, also affirmed they had no present plans for the title on the Switch

Dishonored 2 Review - New Game or Copy of the Original

After 4 years, we finally have the sequel to Dishonored on the new gaming systems.  We have more reasons for revenge, more paranormal powers, and more honor being dishonored.  Here is everything you need to know about Dishonored 2 on the eve of its release world wide.

The original Dishonored had 2 endings depending on your moral compass and choices.  If you were a pacifist and spared the life of everyone, then you received the low chaos savior with a golden age view of the saved city. If you were like me, and played like a real assassin, then you received the high chaos ending and the city was left in ruins.  Fortunately, there is no continuity in Dishonored 2 from your saved file of Dishonored 1.

The developers picked the conclusion of a low chaos ending, and you lived in the perfect golden age for 15 years.  At 25 Emily Kaldwin has rose to claim throne as the new empresses.  Corvo has aged and it shows.  In an attempt to keep tradition going, Corvo has trained Emily in his assassination skills which presents a new challenging choice.

Following a shocking surprise, Delilah seizes Emily's throne and imprisons either Emily or Corvo based on who your decision to play as.  Who is Delilah?  Delilah Copperstone is the main antagonist from the Dishonored's Brigmore Witches DLC.  It seems she has suffered a lot these 15 years while you lived in paradise.  She is not without a bit of compassion.  She only kills the one person you care about, takes everything your birth right entitles you to have, and tries to exile or kill you as well.  Delilah a real villain, and this is where the story gets interesting. You must work hard to take back what is Emily's.

What's New
Playing as either Emily or Corvo, you will have two different perspectives on the plots.  Your decisions on who to play will carry through from start to end.  There is no option of switching and no option for coop play.  There are many decisions that must be made in this game as side from which NPC you spare or kill.  You must choose whether you play using your supernatural powers or reject them entirely and only use the steel of your sword. All your decision influence your path and outcome of the story.  In this sequel, the world has changed and no longer are the choices one or the other.  You must really make tough choices.

Every mission follows the Dishonored mission of placing a high value target in a defended location, but developers changed things up and took advantage of the new high powered gaming engines.  Each level has its own twist.  Cracking the slab allows the player to move back and forth between two time periods. Clock work mansion allows you to change the configuration of each room by pulling on levers to find yourself in entirely new area. Each level is unique and pulls back the curtain on life of as an Empress in her empire.

Play-through
The game should take you from 12-20 hours to complete. You're weapon load-out is the same: pistol, sword, crossbow and paranormal powers, but the upgrades and new powers are where the upgraded systems shine. As Emily, here supernatural powers are stealthy such as shadow which allows you to transform into a shadow and crawl past enemies unnoticed.  Another cool power is domino which allows you to chain attacks and one act against an enemy effects the others in the unison chain.  As Corvo has the same skills you remember, but his powers have been buffed up to match his age.  Bend time can now fast forward time and possession can be chained between enemies.

Overall, this game has peaked my interest.  There are new locations, new abilities, and improves of what worked best from the previous game.  I must admit the game is solid, and developers found a way efficiently transfer what we came to expect from the previous game into a new world and console.  I give Dishonored 2 a 9.5/10.

Call of Duty Infinite Review - What is this Crap they Released?

I'm going to exercise my constitutional right of Freedom of Speech and give an appropriate review.  Food for thought...Battlefield 1 put us at the very beginning of large scale warfare in WW1 taking pride in limiting gamers to the weapons of the time period, while Call of Duty Infinite takes us to the future where mechanized soldiers and spacecrafts make the possibilities endless.  I'm wondering if this was planned?

Call of Duty Infinite is a tangled story of blood and ambition filled interplanetary warfare.  Like the Madden series, Call of Duty is soon becoming an annual release with few improvements that most die hard fans are starting to take note.  Well, this time around we are given a new dynamic, space warfare and zero gravity battles. Seems like developers of Call of Duty Infinite were doing some note taking on the No Man's Land game, and they sampled the ability to go from on ground battles to outer space combat.  To be honest aside from a few gadgets, space travel is really the only improvement to me if you been buying each new game of the Call of Duty Black ops games.

Single Player Mode

In the single player mode, the pacing suffers from endless corridors, long loading screens, bullet spongy enemies, and uneven AI. This game has a star studded cast of voice actors.  Racing fans will recognize Formula Racer Lewis Hamilton.  The big draw is Jon Snow from the Game of Thrones as the main villain.  Kit Harrington is a freedom hating Mar's rebel that wants to destroy the Earth.  Developer's aren't paying me for a review so i'll be honest.  The single player story is really weak and hardly will hold your attention to be honest.  Spoiler alert everyone dies on a suicide mission. The real anticipated action is the multi player mode.

Multiplayer Mode

The major reason gamers invest in Call of Duty games is the multi-player mode.  Well here is the thing you might want to know up front developers seem to cut corners on this game. The maps are poorly designed, and the wall running mechanics are glitched and limited.  Sometimes you have limited access to wall climbing and the advantage will go to gamers who have familiarized themselves with the maps.  A positive note  is customization classes are a good addition mixed with all the innovations you play with in the single player mode. With some debugging and patches, Multiplayer mode this time around is estimated to be a challenge for even a veteran Call of Duty player.

Zombie Mode

There is a knock-off version of the zombie game sat in an abandon amusement park that will draw in many gamers.  The amusement park mini-game is a mix of plants vs zombies and Zombieland movie.   It's a fun play through centered around puzzle solving and interesting mini games in the park.  I cannot lie, it will definitely catch your attention, and kept you amused more than the single player mode or multiplayer mode.

Overall, this was a very disappointing Call of Duty game.  I anticipated a lot more from the new system and capabilities.  Seems like I got the same black ops game with new characters and half-way written single player story line.  Developers got a lot of bugs and patches to do before the multiplayer mode is playable to be honest. I would like to revisit this game after it has been fixed, but now I give Call of Duty Infinite a 7.5/10.  It really earned loyalty points b/c that score could be lower.  Developers get on it, and fix the game to the quality standards I have come to expect from the series.

Negan Killed Abraham and Glenn in the Walking Dead Season Opener

After a lot of suspense, we learned that the one who felt Negan's bat first was Abraham.  It was a very graphic scene.   Negan taunted the group after the act.  Daryl jumped up and punched Negan out of anger.  Afterwards. Negan said I warned you the first one was free.  The next one you will pay the price for it.  In word for word from the comicbook, Negan killed Glenn!

Negan stated I will shut that Sh#t down no exception.  I can see it now, Glenn fans are going to blame Daryl fans for his brutal murder.  It's a heartbreaking episode, so I will update as more comes.  Negan stated that he wasn't finished, so I predict more characters to be killed before the shows end.

What's does vault boy thumbs up mean and News about DLC or Fallout 5 rumor

Salutations video game community.  Well for those of you that was not born in the cold war, this was a classroom training done for nuclear war safety.  Basically, if you saw a nuclear blast in the distance, then cover the nuclear blast with your thumb.  If you were able to completely cover the mushroom cloud emitted from the nuclear blast, then you are at a safe distance from nuclear radiation exposure.  If you not cover the nuclear blast with your thumb, then you better pick up your pace and run as fast as you can before you die.

Rumors of Fallout DLC and Fallout 5 New Orleans
There was a Fallout trademark floating around with New Orleans logo.  It had the gaming community in a state of pandemonium.  Well, it's fake.  Bethesda representative bluntly said in an interview that there is not any new full game or DLC projects involving a Fallout New Vegas 2 or New Orleans spin-off.  Later the rep went on to say that Bethesda is working with third party developers on the Quake franchise right now, but he hinted that we are not saying there isn't a plan in the works for another Fallout.

To many Fallout fans, Fallout 4 was a disappointment and huge stray from what we came to expect from the series.  All that really matters is that the was a cash cow for Bethesda and sold like fresh hot cakes at county fair.  That being said, I doubt this is the last we will see from the Fallout series.  As long as Fallout games make more money than cost to develop, we will see a new Fallout game every 2-3 years.

Top AAA Video Games Released in November 2016

Here are the BEST Upcoming Games coming this November 2016. The best & new games in November on PS4, Xbox One & PC! What do you all think of this TOP 10 Upcoming Games in October? Which game looks the best? Post in the comments!

Space Hulk Deathwing

Release Date November 2016 Date unconfirmed. 

Watch Dogs 2

Watch Dogs 2 Release Date - November 15, 2016

Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection

Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection - Release Date November 17, 2016

Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2 Release Date November 11, 2016

The Walking Dead Season 3

The Walking Dead Season 3 Unconfirmed November 2016

COD 4 Remastered

COD 4 Remastered Unconfirmed November 2016

Final Fantasy XV

Final Fantasy XV - November 29, 2016

Earth's Dawn

Earth's Dawn - November 1, 2016

Owlboy

Owlboy - November 1, 2016

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Official First Trailer

"Listen to me.  When the time comes, you got to run and don't look back.  This is over!"

Finally, the rumors have been confirmed.  Red Dead Redemption 2 is happening, and we can expect a game release on Fall 2017. 

I'm more than excited about a sequel or prequel. Who knows?  But expect more to come as time passes by. 

Happy Halloween. New Trailer for the Site. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween Y'all.  I worked really hard on this.  Hope you love it.  Drop a like or leave a comment.  6 years in the business and still going.

Mafia 3 Review

I feel the need to say that Mafia 3 is different. When I say different, I mean if you had an expectation based off previous games or what's on the market, then you will be disappointed.  In Mafia 3, developers did not shy away from controversy of Post Vietnam 1968 such as resentment for war veterans, communism, and racism.

Story
The story centers around Lincoln Clay a former decorated black ops soldier.   The story isn't full of revenge like some game reviewers mentioned.  Mafia 3's story is more about social commentary that you can see in the main campaign or overhear from NPCs roaming the streets and forest of New Bordeaux.  One thing I like about each mission is before you wack a captain, Capo or General, you can overhear conversations about world events such as Dr. Martin Luther King or President Kennedy's assassination, slice of life events NPC share with their gang, or even stories about your reputation among the syndicates and crime lords. There is a sense of connection and how everyone or thing has a place in this world.

Family
Make no mistake this is not a kids game! Mafia 3 earned its Mature 18 rating.  There are graphic sex scenes, prostitution, racketeering, drug use, human trafficking, collectible playboys and nude paintings that capture all that we image on what being part of a crime family is like.  Playing off how everything is connected, I wanted to touch base with how you build a crime family in the game. There is a familiar open-world free roaming and consequence of choices gameplay that Grand Thief Auto fans will appreciate.

Once the act of betrayal was committed in the first mission of the game, Lincoln Clay is hell bent on revenge and taking over the southern Mafia of Louisiana.  In Lincoln's quest to make a wrong a right, he has an ally in a high place known as John Donovan.  John is CIA agent that worked with the J. Edgar Hoover administration to create a lot of chaos domestic and internationally.  John helps Lincoln by supplying him with information on who is on the hit list as well as allies that are needed to maintain control of New Bordeaux.

As Lincoln dives into the crime world, he makes a three powerful friends, Cassandra, Burke, and Vito that will aid him.  His 3 friends later become his lieutenants that help Lincoln run the territory he seizes as he takes over the city.  Each lieutenant has a perk that you can use to help in your journey to take over the family.

Calling in favors
As you build your crime empire, you can gain perks from each Capo you are on good terms with known as calling in favors.  Favors vary from:
Tapping phones lines to know who rats on you
Backup in a gunfight
Deliver and deposit cash
Refills or order new weapons
Reduce police rating/heat

Don't Betray Your Allies
Some sub-bosses perks/favors are better than others such as calling off the heat or calling for a crew to help you in a fight, so stacking those perks will be beneficial but have the cost of losing allies. There is a way to keep everyone happy and territory assigned fairly, but when you get greedy or snub your nose at one sub-boss problems will happen.  If you streamline your workflow with perks and territory assignments to one lieutenants, then your other two sub-bosses/lieutenants will get mad and try to put a hit out on you. Once you go to war with a sub-boss you lose all the perks you had and you're on your own with who you picked.

Graphics
Developers really checked all the boxes that GTA created with an open world infrastructure. Driving around and exploring New Bourdeaux took me to places I never seen in video games such as diverse downtown bathing houses, swamps filled with gators and river boat casinos.  Being from that areas myself, I thought developers were spot on with the local color.

Combat
If you're a high volume gun battle Call of Duty player, then Mafia 3 is not the game for you.  There is a standard array weapons such as high powered rifles and ammo, but the most useful strategy is drawing from Lincoln's black ops background and being stealthy.  Sometimes you can save yourself a long battle by scouting the area, whistling when enemies are close and stabbing them.  The cover system is familiar but functional.  When the cover system doesn't glitch out it is perfect for achieving objectives.  That being said, sometimes you will experience oops moments that will you exposed and vulnerable.  Luckily, the AI in the game lack a sense of self preservation or team work, so you can think on your feet and get the job done.

Overall
Like I said early, Mafia 3 is its own game and it's not like anything else on the market.  I will give the game some props for addressing social injustice issues from 1968 that were left unresolved and escalated into 2016.  The game went there, and it made you look at America for the first time as a developing nation that gets more done when we diversify and work together.  I give Mafia 3 a 9/10.  It's not perfect, but I feel it is a step in the right direction for story, combat, and graphics.