Monthly Archives: May 2015

Gaming, Gaming News

Psn Store Update May 26th 2015

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North American Update
May’s PlayStation Plus Lineup

    Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (PS4)
    Ether One (PS4)
    The Unfinished Swan (PS4|PS3|PS Vita)
    Race the Sun (PS4|PS3|PS Vita)
    Hohokum (PS4|PS3|PS Vita)
    Murasaki Baby (PS Vita)

Sales
Title Platform PS Plus Specials Price Original Price
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Bundle PS3 $11.24 $14.99
Dark Souls II: Scholar Of The First Sin PS3 $31.99 $39.99
Dragon Ball Xenoverse PS+ Bundle PS3 $44.99 $49.99
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires PS3 $27.99 $39.99
Helldivers Turning Up The Heat Edition PS3 $17.99 $19.99
Bloodborne PS4 $47.99 $59.99
Dark Souls II: Scholar Of The First Sin PS4 $47.99 $59.99
Dragon Ball Xenoverse PS+ Bundle PS4 $53.99 $59.99
Helldivers Turning Up The Heat Edition PS4 $17.99 $19.99
The Order: 1886 PS4 $47.99 $59.99
Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist Of Dusk PS Vita $27.99 $39.99
Helldivers Turning Up The Heat Edition PS Vita $17.99 $19.99
Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart PS Vita $27.99 $39.99
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines Bundle PS Vita $14.99 $19.99
Price Changes
Platform Title New Price Original Price
PS4 FIFA 15 $39.99 $59.99
PS4 FIFA 15 DELUXE EDITION (PS4) $44.99 $59.99
PS4 MADDEN NFL 15 $39.99 $59.99
PS4 NEED FOR SPEED RIVALS COMPLETE EDITION (PS4) $39.99 $59.99
PS4 NHL 15 $39.99 $59.99
PS3 FIFA 15 $39.99 $59.99
PS3 FIFA 15 DELUXE EDITION (PS3) $44.99 $59.99
PS3 NEED FOR SPEED RIVALS COMPLETE EDITION $39.99 $59.99
PS3 TIME AND ETERNITY $9.99 $19.99
New PlayStation Now Rentals

    Abyss Odyssey
    Inversion
    Rock of Ages
    Smash Cars
    Star Trek

PS4 Games

    Badland Game of the Year $11.99
    Magicka 2 $14.99
    Roundabout $14.99
    Ultra Street Fighter IV $24.99
    Arcade Archives Crazy Climber $7.99
    Arcade Archives Ninja-Kid $7.99

PS3 Games

    Badland Game of the Year $11.99
    Weird Park: The Final Show $14.99

PS Vita Games

    Badland Game of the Year $11.99
    Invizimals: The Resistance $14.99
    Octodad: Dadliest Catch $14.99
    Vitamin Z FREE

PS One Classics

    Mega Man 8 $5.99

Pre-Orders

    Lego Jurassic World (PS3) $49.99
    Lego Jurassic World (PS4) $59.99

PS4 Add-ons
Dragon Age: Inquisition

    Jaws of Hakkon ($14.99)

Driveclub

    Citroen Survolt(Free)
    Lamborghini Classic Livery Pack ($0.99)
    Torque Livery Pack ($0.99)
    Torque Tour Pack ($1.99)

Dying Light

    The Bozak House ($9.99)

Evolve

    Parnell Night Hunter Skin ($1.99)
    Savage Monster Skin Pack ($1.99)
    Behemoth Glacial Skin ($1.99)
    Hyde Night Hunter Skin ($1.99)
    Markov Night Hunter Skin ($1.99)
    Night Hunter Assault Skin Pack ($1.99)

Farming Simulator 15

Cross buy with PS3

    IT Runner ($9.99)
    JCB ($9.99)

Game of Thrones

    Episode 4:Sons of Winter ($4.99)

LittleBigPlanet 3

    Don’t Starve Costume Pack ($5.99)
    Don’t Starve: Chester Costume ($1.99)
    Don’t Starve: Pig Costume ($1.99)
    Don’t Starve: Spider Costume ($1.99)
    Don’t Starve: Tallbird Costume ($1.99)
    Don’t Starve: Wilson Costume ($1.99)

Magicka 2

    Cultist Robe ($4.99)

Rocksmith 2014

    Bill Wither – Lovely Day ($2.99)
    Steve Vai – For the Love of God ($2.99)
    The Cure – Friday I’m in Love ($2.99)

The Evil Within

    The Executioner ($4.99)

Toukiden: Kiwami

Cross buy with PS Vita

    Chthonian Fiend Mask ($0.99)
    Soma and Reki Set ($1.99)
    Tenko Gloves ($0.99)

Zen Pinball 2

3-Way Cross Buy

    Portal Pinball ($2.99)

PS3 Add-ons
Dragon Age: Inquisition

    Jaws of Hakkon ($14.99)

Farming Simulator 15

    IT Runner ($9.99)
    JCB ($9.99)

Game of Thrones

    Episode 4:Sons of Winter ($4.99)

Rocksmith 2014

    Bill Wither – Lovely Day ($2.99)
    Steve Vai – For the Love of God ($2.99)
    The Cure – Friday I’m in Love ($2.99)

The Evil Within

    The Executioner ($4.99)

Zen Pinball 2

3-Way Cross Buy

    Portal Pinball ($2.99)

PS Vita Add-ons
Toukiden: Kiwami

Cross buy with PS4

    Chthonian Fiend Mask ($0.99)
    Soma and Reki Set ($1.99)
    Tenko Gloves ($0.99)

Zen Pinball 2

3-Way Cross Buy

    Portal Pinball ($2.99)

Themes and Avatars
Platform Title Price
PS4 Assassin’s Creed Unity – Skylines Theme $2.99
PS3 Astronaut Gamer Avatar $1.99
PS3 Bike Hoodie Avatar $1.99
PS3 Bow Before Lazer Cat Avatar $1.99
PS3 Dancing Silhouette Avatar $1.99
PS3 Hell Fire Avatar $1.99
PS3 Mad Lion Avatar $1.99
PS3 Noob Win Avatar $1.99
PS3 Pirate Avatar $1.99
PS3 Thug’d Out Avatar $1.99
PS3 U Mad Bro Avatar $1.99

Gaming, Gaming News

State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition Review

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State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition Review
By undED

            Officially released in 2013 on the Xbox 360 as a downloadable title, State of Decay makes its full-disk debut on the Xbox One and PC with the Year-One Survival Edition boasting a full 1080p experience, two DLC expansions (Breakdown and Lifeline) new weapons, and new vehicles. The Xbox One version claims to be the fully fleshed out experience the original release was supposed to be. At only $30, Developer Undead Labs makes it hard to argue that this isn’t a great deal.

            Waking up near a river as a man named Marcus, you’re thrown into the world of the game and quickly taught how to fend for yourself. Combat is managed by both your health, your stamina, and also the dependability of your weapons. Weapons break in this game after too much use –a feature I’ve come to like in any zombie game. You can use regular attacks just swinging your crowbar, but once your character levels up in combat after a few days you can pick a weapon you are better at using (i.e. blunt, sharp, heavy, etc.). Not only that, but with Marcus’s “powerhouse” ability, you can body slam zombies and be creative in how you get rid of them. Before long, you run into your second playable character, Maya. I wasn’t exactly sure what her ability was, but I’m sure it wouldn’t take long to dig around and find out.

            State of Decayis one of the few games that features permanent death, or permadeath. I could be playing for weeks with Marcus building up his stats like cardio and fighting, but if I get overwhelmed and Marcus dies, there is no getting him back. I have to start over with a new survivor. The game alleviates this by making your survivor get fatigued after being out and about for a certain amount of time, despite having a high cardio level. When you’re fatigued you lose a percentage of your max stamina. The only way to get it back is to switch to another playable character and let the fatigued character rest. That character can then build their stamina, fighting, specific ability, and so on. It works out well because after switching characters, you end up with a small team of people you are most comfortable surviving with. Even though Marcus was the best at fighting zombies, I got pretty accurate shooting guns with Maya. I got into a comfortable place where I would primarily use Marcus to scavenge for supplies and, when I had to switch out to Maya, I would take care of the infestations and hordes that would get too close to my camp site.

            When you go out to scavenge you have to look out for five main things; food, medical supplies, ammunition, fuel, and most importantly, resource materials. Resource materials are the most important to find because when you go out to scavenge, you can set up outposts as safe zones in case you get too fatigued to make it home. If you set them up in specific areas, these outposts can supply you with the things you need. Set up an outpost at a grocery store, and every in-game day you’ll be granted food for the cost of one resource material. These resource materials are also used to build things you need in your base like a better medical tent, sleeping areas for survivors you bring into your camp, and building new things like a workshop for weapons. When you bring home supplies, survivors, or go out and find the occasional person who got lost, you are granted influence in your home base. That influence is also used to establish outposts, build things you need at home, and even determine which weapons you can take from the storage locker. If you have a lot of influence from supply runs they won’t mind when you take an ax or two with you to fend for yourself. Without influence you better get used to swinging a crowbar similar to the one you started out with.

      

      One of the biggest issues I had with this game was the constant frame rate dropping. I can only count maybe two deaths because of it, but it was definitely noticeable and a problem. When you go to clear an infestation, zombies will come running out at you from almost every direction. Every time I was dealing with an infestation the frame rate took a huge dip. It was also a problem when I was driving. Driving through hordes of zombies made me feel like I was making a dent in the enemies’ numbers (even though I’m sure the game can never run out of enemies), but at one point I kept driving into a pole trying to turn around in the road. It was never worse than when I needed it to be consistent most. In closed areas like houses, if you are rushed by zombies coming in from every door and window and find yourself against the odds, it’d probably be best to run. That’s exactly what I did but the frame rate was so bad I couldn’t get through a window and unfortunately lost my best shooter, Maya. May she rest in peace.

            For half the price of a standard disk game, you get quite a bit. There is always something that needs to be done. However, with the consistent frame rate issues, constant resource management, and the endless times you’re going to have to go out and find an absent minded survivor that has wandered from your home base for what seemed like literally no reason, it can get tedious. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty fun to have here. The variety of zombies, how you encounter them (like opening a warehouse full of them, or running down three hordes in a row), and even the thought that no matter how well you’ve built your characters stats they can always die, are all some of the best parts of this game and actually make you feel like you’re surviving. If you can get past the few big flaws this game does have, you can have some really good times in State of Decay.

Gaming, Gaming News

"Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls" will be getting a Limited Edition Package

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If you love the Danganronpa series, you will be excited to hear that there will be a limited edition package coming for the new entry of the series. The game is set to release later this year but here is a full list of everything that can be found in the Limited Edition :

  • Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (PlayStation®Vita)
    32 page, soft cover art book
  • 15 track, single disc original soundtrack with jewel case
  • Collector’s box
  • Bonus Item #1: Warriors of Hope & Kurokuma Set Box (Includes: 4.5″ Diameter Tie Clip, Warriors of Hope Pin)
  • Bonus Item #2: Kurokuma Tie
  • Bonus Item #3: Kurokuma Eyepatch
Gaming, Gaming News

Playstation Store Update May 19, 2015

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 North American Update

May’s PlayStation Plus Lineup

  • Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (PS4)
  • Ether One (PS4)
  • The Unfinished Swan (PS4|PS3|PS Vita)
  • Race the Sun (PS4|PS3|PS Vita)
  • Hohokum (PS4|PS3|PS Vita)
  • Murasaki Baby (PS Vita)

Price Changes

Platform Title New Price Original Price
PS4 Bound By Flame $39.99 $49.99
PS4 Brawl $14.99 $19.99
PS4 Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- $49.99 $59.99
PS3 Bound By Flame $29.99 $39.99
PS3 Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- $39.99 $49.99
PS Vita Table Top Racing $2.99 $7.99

Extended Play Games

Title Platform PS Plus Price Sale Price Original Price
Alien: Isolation + Season Pass Bundle PS4 $36.00 $45.00 $89.99
Alien: Isolation Season Pass PS4 $12.00 $15.00 $29.99
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Gold PS4 $24.99 $34.99 $49.99
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Season Pass PS4 $9.99 $13.99 $19.99
Battlefield 4 Premium PS4 $20.00 $25.00 $49.99
Battlefield 4 Premium Edition PS4 $24.00 $30.00 $59.99
Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Edition PS4 $34.99 $41.99 $69.99
Dying Light Season Pass PS4 $13.99 $15.99 $19.99
Dying Light Ultimate Edition PS4 $55.99 $63.99 $79.99
Evolve Digital Deluxe PS4 $47.99 $55.99 $79.99
Evolve Hunting Season Pass PS4 $14.99 $17.49 $24.99
Far Cry 4 Gold Edition PS4 $44.99 $62.99 $89.99
Far Cry 4 Season Pass PS4 $14.99 $20.99 $29.99
FIFA 15 Deluxe Edition PS4 $29.99 $35.99 $59.99
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Deluxe Edition PS4 $30.24 $38.49 $54.99
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Season Pass PS4 $8.24 $10.49 $14.99
Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor Season Pass PS4 $13.74 $17.49 $24.99
Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition PS4 $19.99 $27.99 $39.99
Sound Shapes Ultimate Bundle PS4 $4.00 $8.00 $19.99
Trials Fusion Season Pass PS4 $9.99 $13.99 $19.99
Watch Dogs Gold Edition PS4 $24.99 $34.99 $49.99
Watch Dogs Season Pass PS4 $9.99 $13.99 $19.99
WWE 2k15 Digital Deluxe PS4 $39.99 $47.99 $79.99
WWE 2k15 Showcase Season Pass PS4 $12.49 $14.99 $24.99
Alien: Isolation + Season Pass Bundle PS3 $32.00 $40.00 $79.99
Alien: Isolation Season Pass PS3 $12.00 $15.00 $29.99
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Gold PS3 $19.99 $27.99 $39.99
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Season Pass PS3 $9.99 $13.99 $19.99
Battlefield 4 Premium PS3 $20.00 $25.00 $49.99
Battlefield 4 Premium Edition PS3 $24.00 $30.00 $59.99
Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Edition PS3 $34.99 $41.99 $69.99
Burnout Paradise Ultimate Edition PS3 $6.00 $12.00 $29.99
Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Bundle PS3 $12.30 $14.70 $29.99
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Ultimate Edition PS3 $44.00 $49.00 $99.99
Crysis 3 – Ultimate Bundle PS3 $9.00 $15.00 $29.99
Dante’s Inferno Ultimate Edition PS3 $6.00 $12.00 $29.99
Dead Space 3 Ultimate Edition PS3 $12.00 $15.00 $29.99
Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Ultimate Edition PS3 $5.00 $10.00 $19.99
Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn Complete Bundle PS3 $9.00 $15.00 $29.99
Far Cry 3 Ultimate Edition PS3 $12.49 $17.49 $24.99
Far Cry 4 Gold Edition PS3 $44.99 $62.99 $89.99
Far Cry 4 Season Pass PS3 $14.99 $20.99 $29.99
FIFA 15 Deluxe Edition PS3 $29.99 $35.99 $59.99
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Season Pass PS3 $8.24 $10.49 $14.99
Mafia II: Ultimate Edition PS3 $6.00 $12.00 $29.99
Max Payne 3: The Complete Edition PS3 $5.10 $8.10 $29.99
Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition PS3 $5.00 $8.00 $19.99
Motorstorm RC “complete Edition” PS3 $2.00 $4.00 $9.99
Need For Speed Most Wanted Ultimate Edition PS3 $12.00 $20.00 $39.99
Prince Of Persia Ultimate Edition PS3 $10.49 $14.69 $20.99
Resident Evil 6 Ultimate Edition PS3 $11.20 $14.00 $27.99
Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition PS3 $14.99 $20.99 $29.99
Sound Shapes Ultimate Bundle PS3 $4.00 $8.00 $19.99
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Ultimate Edition PS3 $24.99 $34.99 $49.99
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist Ultimate Edition PS3 $12.49 $17.49 $24.99
Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron Gold Edition PS3 $29.40 $34.30 $69.99
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Ultimate Edition PS3 $12.00 $15.00 $29.99
Watch Dogs Gold Edition PS3 $24.99 $34.99 $49.99
Watch Dogs Season Pass PS3 $9.99 $13.99 $19.99
WWE 2k15 Digital Deluxe PS3 $39.99 $47.99 $79.99
WWE 2k15 Showcase Season Pass PS3 $12.49 $14.99 $24.99
Motorstorm RC Ps Vita “Complete Edition” PSVita $2.00 $4.00 $9.99
Sound Shapes Ultimate Bundle PSVita $4.00 $8.00 $19.99
Tales Of Hearts R Season Pass PSVita $11.99 $17.99 $29.99

Bundles

Platform Title Price
PS4 Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Upgrade $19.99
PS4 Dead or Alive 5 Last Round – Fighter Force Costume Set $22.99
PS4 PS Heroes Month 6 Bundle $5.00
PS4 Rocksmith 2014 – Slayer Song Pack $11.99
PS3 Avatar Bundle 010 $6.99
PS3 Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Upgrade $19.99
PS3 Dead or Alive 5 Last Round – Fighter Force Costume Set $22.99
PS3 Nick Small Spooky Theme Bundle $3.99
PS3 Rocksmith 2014 – Slayer Song Pack $11.99
PS3 Stargate Theme Bundle $3.99
PS3 Street Fighter Theme Bundle $3.99
PS Vita 001 Bundle Theme

PS4 Games

  • Aces of Luftwaffe ($4.99)
  • Arcade Archives Terra Cresta ($7.99)
  • Farming Simulator 15 ($49.99)
  • FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0™ HD ($59.99)
  • Magicka 2 ($14.99)
  • Magicka 2 Special Edition ($17.99)
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($59.99)
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game + Expansion Pass ($84.99)

PS3 Games

  • Farming Simulator 15 ($39.99)
  • Starlight Inception ($22.99)

PS Vita Games

  • Alien Shooter ($7.99)
  • Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed ($39.99)

Pre-Orders

  • Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (PS4) ($59.99)
  • Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Gold Edition (PS4) ($89.99)

PS4 Add-ons

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
  • Fighter Force Christie ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Hayabusa ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Hayate ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Hitomi ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Honoka ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Leifang ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Marie Rose ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Mila ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Nyotengu ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Raidou ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Zack ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Ayane ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Kasumi ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Kokoro ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Momiji ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Tina ($1.99)
Destiny
  • Expansion II: House of Wolves ($19.99)
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires

Content Cross Buy with PS3

  • Edit Parts – Equipment Kimono ($0.99)
Farming Simulator 15
  • Lamborghini Nitro 120 ($0.99)
Life is Strange
  • Episode 3 ($4.99)
LittleBigPlanet 3
  • Thomas Was Alone Mini Pack ($2.99)
Mortal Kombat X
  • Kold War Pack ($3.99)
Rocksmith 2014
  • Slayer – Angel of Death ($2.99)
  • Slayer – Dead Skin Mask ($2.99)
  • Slayer – Raining Blood ($2.99)
  • Slayer – Seasons in the Abyss ($2.99)
  • Slayer – South of Heaven ($2.99)
Warframe
  • Renown Pack V ($9.99)

PS3 Add-ons

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
  • Fighter Force Christie ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Hayabusa ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Hayate ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Hitomi ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Honoka ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Leifang ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Marie Rose ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Mila ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Nyotengu ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Raidou ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Zack ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Ayane ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Kasumi ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Kokoro ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Momiji ($1.99)
  • Fighter Force Tina ($1.99)
Destiny
  • Expansion II: House of Wolves ($19.99)
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires

Content Cross Buy with PS4

  • Edit Parts – Equipment Kimono ($0.99)
Farming Simulator 15
  • Lamborghini Nitro 120 ($0.99)
Life is Strange
  • Episode 3 ($4.99)
Rocksmith 2014
  • Slayer – Angel of Death ($2.99)
  • Slayer – Dead Skin Mask ($2.99)
  • Slayer – Raining Blood ($2.99)
  • Slayer – Seasons in the Abyss ($2.99)
  • Slayer – South of Heaven ($2.99)

PS Vita Add-ons

Alien Shooter
  • A Fight for Life ($3.99)
  • An Experiment ($3.99)
Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed
  • Bonus Quest ($0.99)
  • Dengekiko’s Swimsuit (Free)
  • Difficult Quest ($0.99)
  • Exciting Swimsuit Set (Free)
  • Famitsu’s Swimsuit (Free)
  • Mage’s Gift Vol. 1 (Free)
  • Mage’s Gift Vol. 2 (Free)

Themes & Avatars

Platform Title Price
PS4 Alien Planet Theme $2.99
PS4 Boom Theme $2.99
PS4 Boss Like Theme $2.99
PS4 Bro Theme $2.99
PS4 Burning Teddy Bear Theme $2.99
PS4 Cat Grin Theme $2.99
PS4 EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Theme Free
PS4 Electric Skull Theme $2.99
PS4 Electric Tiger Theme $2.99
PS4 Fire Face Theme $2.99
PS4 Fire Tiger Theme $2.99
PS4 Flatline Theme $2.99
PS4 Fluorescent Tiger Theme $2.99
PS4 Fully Charged Skull Theme $2.99
PS4 Grenade Head Theme $2.99
PS4 MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Atlanta Braves Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Baltimore Orioles Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Boston Red Sox Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Chicago Cubs Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Chicago White Sox Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Cincinnati Reds Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Cleveland Indians Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Colorado Rockies Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Detroit Tigers Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Houston Astros Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Kansas City Royals Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: LA Angles Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: LA Dodgers Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Miami Marlins Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Milwaukee Brewers Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Minnesota Twins Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: New York Mets Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: New York Yankees Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Oakland Athletics Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Philadelphia Phillies Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: San Diego Padres Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: San Francisco Giants Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Seattle Mariners Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: St. Louis Cardinals Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Tampa Bay Rays Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Texas Rangers Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Toronto Blue Jays Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 MLB: Washington Nationals Static Theme – Full HD $1.99
PS4 PS Heroes Month 6 Gold Theme $10.00
PS4 PS Heroes Month 6 Platinum Theme $15.00
PS4 PS Heroes Month 6 Silver Theme $5.00
PS4 Reach Theme $2.99
PS4 Retina USA Theme $2.99
PS4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Monsters Theme Free
PS3 Assassin Psycho Avatar $1.99
PS3 Brimstone Skull Avatar $1.99
PS3 Fire Eye Avatar $1.99
PS3 Golden Pistol Avatar $1.49
PS3 Headphone Skull Avatar $1.49
PS3 Hoodskull Avatar $1.49
PS3 I Love Cats Not People Avatar $1.49
PS3 Lightning Skull Avatar $1.99
PS3 Lumi Lizard Avatar $1.99
PS3 Machine Gun Canada Avatar $1.49
PS3 Machine Gun Mexico Avatar $1.49
PS3 Machine Gun USA Avatar $1.49
PS3 Mad Stax Avatar $1.99
PS3 Making Of A Star Avatar $1.49
PS3 MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Atlanta Braves Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Baltimore Orioles Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Boston Red Sox Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Chicago Cubs Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Chicago White Sox Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Cincinnati Reds Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Cleveland Indians Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Colorado Rockies Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Detroit Tigers Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Houston Astros Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Kansas City Royals Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: LA Angles Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: LA Dodgers Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Miami Marlins Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Milwaukee Brewers Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Minnesota Twins Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: New York Mets Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: New York Yankees Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Oakland Athletics Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Philadelphia Phillies Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: San Diego Padres Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: San Francisco Giants Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Seattle Mariners Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: St. Louis Cardinals Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Tampa Bay Rays Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Texas Rangers Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Toronto Blue Jays Avatar $0.99
PS3 MLB: Washington Nationals Avatar $0.99
PS3 Noob I See You Avatar $1.99
PS3 Pack Leader Avatar $1.99
PS3 Poison Avatar $1.99
PS3 Rage Avatar $1.99
PS3 Sexy Beast Gold Avatar $1.49
PS3 Wolf Avatar $1.49
Gaming, Gaming News

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China Review

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Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China Review
By UNDED

Assassin’s Creed has never strayed too far from its standard gameplay of hunting, finding waypoints, stalking, killing, stealth, etc. so when they announced a 2.5D side scroller I was more than intrigued. How do upgrades work? What does combat feel like? Are they going to acknowledge the present? Are there waypoints at all? To start off, Chronicles China takes place in China (big surprise) in 1526. It has been two years since your sect of Assassins, the Chinese Brotherhood, was nearly wiped out by a Templar sect known as the Tigers. Two years later you return as Assassin Shao Jun, with orders from the new leader of Assassins, to take back your home and free China from Templar control.

There are 12 levels you need to complete, each one finishing with a beautiful watercolor painting, complete with voice acting; an aesthetic that goes very well with the hide-and-shadow motif the game tries to accomplish. Within these levels are individual encounters such as sneaking past or killing guards, freeing prisoners, or escaping within a time limit. You’re graded on these individual encounters for bronze, silver or gold grades. Many times, I would be doing great throughout a level and then accidentally set off a wave of guards searching for me, and my great streak would be soiled by a bronze grade because of my carelessness. These segments would have been a little more fun if you were allowed to restart that specific segment if you earned a bronze grade and wanted a gold grade. At the end of each level you are also graded on your style of progression. It will let you know if you were a sneaky player, taking special care to not be seen at all (Shadow), a player who went to great lengths to make sure everyone was dead (Assassin), or a brutal player, meaning you met every enemy you could with fierce combat and brutal kills (Brawler).

            Your arsenal consists of standard ‘ninja’ tools with specific uses. For example, there are darts to kill guards, there are darts to make noise, and you can even whistle to get a guards attention. There is a lot of sneaking past guards. The first few levels felt very linear but the more you progress not only did you get more weapons and ‘distraction’ items, but the levels became bigger. The levels become more vertical upwards and downwards, but there was also foreground, background, and an even further background which I don’t know what to call. What started out as a game that immediately felt like it belonged on the PS Vita, quickly became a game I was glad I was playing on console and had an entire TV screen to see where I was going. That’s not to say that you had a whole lot of freedom of how to progress through levels, there were still certain ‘tracks’ you had to follow at times, but with the beautifully rendered background, I didn’t mind so much.

The ‘tracks’ you had to follow at times could get very frustrating. I was stuck on a particular part for the better half of an hour because I was trying to collect an item, and the platform I was supposed to jump onto to get it was well hidden in the foreground. Eventually I found what I was trying to collect without notifying anyone of my presence, but that frustration sat with me for days. There are many chances to replenish your supplies but if you run out and need them to get a gold rating to pass a segment, well you’d better just restart the level if you’re a completionist. Otherwise, combat isn’t too hard to grasp. Depending on how stealthy you want to be, each level takes about 40 minutes to complete.

Being the only the second playable female Assassin in the series behind Aveline de Grandpre’ from the PSP’s Assassins’s Creed Liberation, I felt Shao Jun was also short changed. The story follows her as she reenters her old stomping grounds taken over by the Templar order The Lions. The motivations for her actions are clear cut. This may be because this is a smaller game than the standard Assassin’s Creed’s, but, to me, it felt like too much of a cop out. As much as I’d like to believe this was a deliberate move to give her a more tangible motivation to kill as she saw fit, it seems to take a back seat to the Shadow, Assassin, and Brawler scores; the ‘real’ motivations for completing levels on your terms. It’s a real shame. Chinese culture revolves so much around honor and family and it also takes a backseat to the combat. The main character, and her cultural motivations for who and why she’s assassinating the important figures felt lost to me and the only thing that really kept me playing was the gameplay. The gameplay isn’t bad, it’s actually very fun and consistent with the weapons you are given. Getting better perks and new weapons at the end of each chapter is a definite bonus and genuinely makes you feel like you can do more as you progress, but I can’t help feel like these could have been implemented better in a level-up-and-choose-your-own-upgrades type of game like most RPG’s.

Summary

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Chine is a good game. It’s not particularly challenging, but for a lax afternoon it’d be fun to pick up for a few hours. The main character I wish would have gotten her own full-fledged Assassin’s game, if for nothing else than to explore a 3D China and play as a female assassin in full detail, but this little romp through the series is good. There are some definite other 2D stealth games available now for cheaper, but if you’re a fan of the series it’s worth checking out.