All posts by Andrew A. (Frost)

Backwards Compatibility, Forward Thinking

 
Backwards Compatibility, Forward Thinking
By UNDED
On November 12th, Xbox One will be getting the long awaited Backwards Compatibility update. The update is free –not to be mistaken for a paid feature. Starting with a whopping 104 Xbox 360 titles, you’ll be able to buy, download, and play them right on your Xbox One. Have the digital copy already? Just redownload it; no need to purchase again. Your game saves, DLC, achievements, and gamerscore will carry over. This will also work with your disk based games. You’re console based features like game DVR, screenshots, and streaming will be usable with these titles. Best part of the update? You can play your 360 games with your friends regardless of which Xbox console they are on. Since the games need to be tweaked so these features will work, not all 360 games will be available at once. Here is the list of games rolling out.

Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Ubisoft
Arcade
Atari
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
345 Games
Arcade
Ubisoft
Arcade
Midnight City
Arcade
Majesco Entertainment
Xbox One Game
2K Games
Arcade
Ubisoft
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Atari
Xbox One Game
Sega
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
345 Games / Spike Games
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Codemasters
Xbox One Game
Codemasters
Arcade
Disney Interactive Studios
Arcade
Bethesda Softworks
Arcade
Bethesda Softworks
Xbox One Game
Square Enix
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Bethesda Softworks
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
PopCap Games
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Square Enix
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Disney Interactive Studios
Xbox One Game
Disney Interactive Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
SNK PLAYMORE
Arcade
SNK PLAYMORE
Arcade
Ubisoft
Xbox One Game
Electronic Arts
Arcade
Atari
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Disney Interactive Studios
Arcade
Disney Interactive Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Midnight City
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Electronic Arts
Arcade
Sega
Xbox One Game
Codemasters
Arcade
Bandai Namco
Arcade
Bandai Namco
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Mages.
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
PopCap
Arcade
Ubisoft
Arcade
System 3 Software Ltd
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Ubisoft
Arcade
Deep Silver
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Sega
Arcade
Sega
Xbox One Game
Ubisoft
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Square Enix
Xbox One Game
Ubisoft
Xbox One Game
Ubisoft
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Disney Interactive Studios
Arcade
345 Games / Comedy Central
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Game
Microsoft Studios
Arcade
Bethesda Softworks
Arcade
Microsoft Studios

Don’t see a title you like? Go to the Xbox Feedback website and vote for the games you want added! Being that backward compatibility has been requested by gamers since the 360/PS3. I can only applaud Microsoft for taking the initiative and giving this a shot, whether it works out for us or not.

Xbox Feedback website:
(https://xbox.uservoice.com/forums/298503-backwards-compatibility)

UNDED

Playstation Store Update November 10, 2015

 

Pre-orders

  • Bloodborne™ Complete Edition Bundle ($49.99)
  • Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Deluxe Edition ($69.99)
  • Star Wars™ Battlefront™ ($59.99)
  • Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Ultimate Edition ($119.99)
  • Sword Art Online: Lost Song ($59.99)

PS4 Games

  • Arcade Archives Super Dodge Ball ($7.99)
  • DOA5LR (Full Game) + Ultimate Contents Set ($59.85)
  • Fallout 4 ($59.99)
  • Fallout 4 Digital Deluxe Bundle ($89.99)
  • Kromaia Ω ($29.99)
  • SkyScrappers ($14.99)
  • Spelunker World – Out on 11/11 $14.99

PS3 Games

  • Barbie and Her Sisters Puppy Rescue ($39.99)

PS Vita Games

  • Phineas and Ferb: Day of Doofenshmirtz ($19.99)
  • SUPERBEAT: XONiC ($39.99)

PS4 Add-ons

Blood Bowl 2

  • 20 Cyans ($1.99)
  • 40 Cyans ($3.59)
  • 70 Cyans ($6.59)
  • 110 Cyans ($9.99)
  • 250 Cyans ($19.99)
  • 1,000 Cyans ($49.99)

Digaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

  • DISGAEA 5: Scenario: La Pucelle: Priere Episode ($3.99)
  • DISGAEA 5: Scenario: Makai Kingdom: Zetta Episode ($3.99)

Evolve

  • Behemoth ($9.99)
  • Crow ($4.99)
  • Gorgon ($9.99)
  • Gorgon Scarab Skin (Season Pass 2 Exclusive) ($2.99)
  • Lennox($4.99)
  • Slim ($4.99)
  • Sunny ($4.99)
  • Torvald (Unified Entitlement)($4.99)
  • Hunting Season 2($24.99)
  • Hunting Season Pass ($14.99)

Rock Band 4

  • ‘Awake’ – Godsmack ($1.99)
  • ‘Like a Stone’ – Audioslave ($1.99)
  • ‘Lying From You’ – Linkin Park ($1.99)

Rocksmith 2014

  • Rancid – Fall Back Down ($2.99)
  • Rancid – Maxwell Murder ($2.99)
  • Rancid – Ruby Soho ($2.99)
  • Rancid – Time Bomb ($2.99)

Tales of Zestiria

  • Evangelion Costume Set ($3.99)

PS3 Add-ons

Rocksmith 2014

  • Rancid – Fall Back Down ($2.99)
  • Rancid – Maxwell Murder ($2.99)
  • Rancid – Ruby Soho ($2.99)
  • Rancid – Time Bomb ($2.99)

Tales of Zestiria

  • Evangelion – Alisha ($2.99)
  • Evangelion – Edna ($2.99)
  • Evangelion – Lailah ($2.99)
  • Evangelion – Rose ($2.99)
  • Evangelion – Sorey ($2.99)
  • God Eater 2 – Aragami Hunt (Free)
  • God Eater 2 – Rose (Free)
  • God Eater 2 – Sorey (Free)

PS Vita Add-ons

Phineas and Ferb: Day of Doofenshmirtz

  • The Costume Pack Bundle ($2.49)
  • The Noir Costume Pack ($0.99)
  • The Prehistoric Costume Pack ($0.99)
  • The Tiki Costume Pack ($0.99)

Samurai Warriors: Chronicles 3

  • Samurai News 20 (Free)

Avatars

Console Avatar Price
PS4 A Bursting Skull Avatar $1.99
PS4 A Distressed USA Skull Flag Avatar $1.99
PS4 Alert Wolf Avatar $1.99
PS4 Assassin Sniper Avatar $1.99
PS4 Bad Bread – Avatar $0.99
PS4 Cat Mischief Avatar $1.99
PS4 Warframe: Ember Avatar Free
PS4 Warframe: Excalibur Avatar Free
PS4 Warframe: Loki Avatar Free
PS4 Warframe: Lotus Avatar Free
PS4 Warframe: Lotus Symbol Avatar Free
PS4 Warframe: Rhino Avatar Free

Themes

Console Theme Price
PS4 Apollo’s Cosmos Dynamic Theme – Full HD $2.99
PS4 Graceling Dynamic Theme – Full HD $2.99
PS4 Star Wars Battlefront – Leia Organa Dynamic Theme $0.00
PS Vita Apollo’s Cosmos Theme $2.99
PS Vita Biker Skull USA Theme $2.99
PS Vita Graceling Theme $2.99
PS Vita Head Shot Theme $2.99
PS Vita Leather Hunter Theme $2.99
PS Vita Lick A Gun 2 Theme $2.99
PS Vita Queen Of Hearts Theme $2.99
PS Vita Secret Agent Silhouette Theme $2.99
PS Vita Skull On Fire Theme $2.99
PS Vita Sorcerer Skull Theme $2.99
PS Vita Thug Life Skeleton Theme $2.99

Need for Speed Review

Need for Speed Review
By UNDED

Following the trend of recent remakes, Need for Speed looks to bring back the intensive nostalgia fans have for entries in the series as far back as PS2. Being that the landscape has changed with the inclusion of DLC, live updates, and online connectivity, developers had their work cut out for them. Did they finish first? No. No they didn’t.

The story follows you, as an unnamed driver, making his way up the reputation ladder. You’re quickly introduced to a slew of horribly acted, forgettable characters. The NPC’s are the stuff of daytime TV dramas, regurgitating jokes and one liners from your favorite stereotypical 90’s punk. At one point I swore the dialogue in N4S was written by a soccer mom trying one last desperate time to convince her kids she’s ‘the cool mom’. Each character has their own street racing discipline, and that’s how I’ve learned to associate each character with the races I’d be doing.

The graphics are both good and bad at the same time. The actual gameplay is pretty good. You’d think this locale (whose name is just as unforgettable as everything else in N4S) is set under a tsunami with the level of water in the game. Everything is wet! I know this was a conscious choice to show off the graphics, but everything shines in your face; not the smartest choice for a racing game. Now, even though everything is watered down, they do water very well. The wet street reflects light realistically. Water speckles on your windshield. This generation is obsessed with particular effects and N4S is no different. When you drift you kick up dirt on your screen and police lights flash on the bottom of your screen. It all looks great, if not a little overdone. Now for the bad, the cut scenes are live-action. In any older N4S you could get away with this, but in 2015, when the creators of Paranormal Activity themselves finished their series because of found footage fatigue, this just looks lazy. On top of that the developers have placed cars in the cut scenes using pseudo augmented reality. I’m not saying these models don’t look good, but if they think their cars are on par with Forza, I’m so sorry for them. Going from terribly acted people to a water world is very jarring, and more distracting than anything else.

Racing in the game during a tense moment is generally accompanied by a heart pounding orchestral set; in those moments it worked. I was as close to the TV as I could get, taking in every turn and pass with care, trying to finish first. When you’re not in these moments though, which is the majority of the game, you are attacked by the most annoying music you could ever imagine. I know these are actual tracks from actual artists so I won’t be making any friends with that last comment, but this is N4S dammit! So many games in the past have nailed the in-game music. I was surprised that this one dropped the ball. I can tell you exactly what corner I was taking in Need for Speed Underground when “The Only” by Static-X came on. That was one of the most memorable experiences of my career with racing games, thanks to a single song that pushed me to the finish line. N4S is, sadly, missing that.

Gameplay is where N4S shines the most –for a short period of time anyway. Taking a page out of the racing sim book, you are constantly reminded to tune your ride. When I chose my first ride and hit the streets, I almost immediately returned the game. I’ve NEVER come close to doing that before. The reason? The steering on my car was completely fucked! If I was turning and held the direction for too long, when I let it go I would keep going in that direction. It was a weird kind of lag that pissed me off so bad. But, I took the games advice, installing a sway bar and tuning it. It still ‘lagged’ a little, but I could at least play it. It would be another 6 hours before I could learn how to properly drift. For a game that boasts to be an arcade style racer, it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it. The biggest problem is that the missions aren’t diverse. There are maybe 5 types of races and the Style and Crew disciplines are so similar they could have been consolidated.

*sigh*… In the grand scheme of things, N4S is not a bad game. As much as I wanted to love this game, there is just too much wrong with it. The learning curve to driving, the incredibly distracting music with no controls to choose specific songs you don’t want to hear, the flashing lights that could (no joke) induce a seizure (you’ve been warned), and the odd choice to make cut scenes live-action, N4S caters to everyone and no one at the same time. If you must play this game, either Redbox it, or wait until it’s half price.

Playstation Store Update November 3, 2015

 

 

November’s PlayStation Plus Lineup

  • Magicka 2 (PS4) – 2.1GB
  • The Walking Dead Season 2 (PS4) – 4GB
  • Dragon Fin Soup (PS4, PS3, PS Vita) – 463MB
  • Beyond Good and Evil (PS3) – 1.5GB
  • Mass Effect 2 (PS3) – 12.6GB
  • Invizimals (PSP; playable on PS Vita) – 1.3GB

PlayStation Plus Specials
PlayStation 4 Games

  • Blood Bowl 2 – $34.99
  • Curses n Chaos (cross-buy) – $7.49
  • One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 – $41.99
  • Pure Hold’em World Poker Championship – $15.99
  • Tearaway Unfolded – $27.99

PlayStation 3 Games

  • One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 – $34.99
  • Space Hulk – $35.99
  • Steins;Gate – $27.99

PlayStation Vita Games

  • Amnesia: Memories – $17.99
  • Curses n Chaos (cross-buy) – $7.49
  • One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 – $27.99
  • Space Hulk – $31.49
  • Steins;Gate – $27.99

Ubisoft Sale
PlayStation 4 Games

  • Assassin’s Creed Chronicles China – $3.30
  • Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Helix Credit Large Pack – $19.79
  • Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Helix Credit Medium Pack – $14.99
  • Assassin’s Creed Unity Helix Credit Large Pack – $13.39
  • Assassin’s Creed Unity Helix Credit Large Pack – $7.49
  • Boggle – $6.99
  • Child of Light – $7.50
  • Grow Home – $5.59
  • Monopoly Family Fun Pack – $13.99
  • Rabbids Invasion – $11.99
  • Rabbids Invasion Gold Edition – $17.50
  • Tetris Ultimate – $3.30
  • Toy Soldiers: War Chest – $11.24
  • Toy Soldiers: War Chest Hall of Fame Edition – $20.99
  • Trials Fusion – $11.99
  • Trials Fusion Awesome Max Edition – $20.00
  • Valiant Hearts: The Great War – $7.50

PlayStation 3 Games

  • Beyond Good & Evil HD – $3.30
  • Child of Light – $4.95
  • Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon – $4.95
  • Far Cry Classic – $3.30
  • Monopoly Deal – $2.50
  • Monopoly Plus – $5.00
  • Risk – $5.00
  • South Park: The Stick of Truth – $10.00
  • The Smurfs 2 – $10.00
  • Trivial Pursuit Live – $5.00
  • Valiant Hearts: The Great War – $4.95

PlayStation Vita Games

  • Child of Light – $4.95

Other Deals

  • Abyss Odyssey: Extended Dream Edition (PS4) – $7.50
  • Abyss Odyssey (PS3) – $7.50
  • Class of Heroes (PSP, PS Vita) – $7.50
  • Commander Cherry for PlayStation Camera (PS4) – $7.97 (PS+ members save an extra 7%)
  • Crimson Gem Saga (PSP, PS Vita) -$7.50
  • Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble (PSP, PS Vita) – $7.50
  • Rollers of the Realm (PS4, PS Vita) – $5.00
  • Rock of Ages (PS3) – $3.00

 PS4 Games

  • Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers
    $39.99
  • Arcade Archives Ikki
    $7.99
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops III (Out on 11/06)
    $59.99
  • Dragon Fin Soup (3 Way Cross Buy)
    $19.99
  • Indivisible Prototype Beta
    FREE
  • Need for Speed
    $59.99
  • Poncho
    $14.99
  • Snoopy’s Grand Adventure
    $39.99

PS3 Games

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops III (Out on 11/06)
    $49.99
  • Dragon Fin Soup (3 Way Cross Buy)
    $19.99

PS Vita Games

  • Dragon Fin Soup (3 Way Cross Buy)
    $19.99
  • Norn9: Var Commons
    $39.99

PSOne Classic

  • Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return
    $5.99

Bundles

Console Bundle Price
PS4 Need for Speed Deluxe Edition $69.99

PS4 Add-ons

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

  • Steampunk outfit for Evie (Free)
  • Steampunk Pack ($4.99)

Digaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

  • Scenario: Disgaea 2: Adell Episode($3.99)

Evolve

  • Behemoth ($9.99)
  • Crow ($4.99)
  • Gorgon ($9.99)
  • Gorgon Scarab Skin (Season Pass 2 Exclusive) ($2.99)
  • Lennox($4.99)
  • Slim ($4.99)
  • Sunny ($4.99)
  • Torvald($4.99)
  • Wraith Tropical Skin ($2.99)
  • Hunting Season 2($24.99)
  • Hunting Season Pass ($14.99)

Rocksmith 2014

  • David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust ($2.99)
  • Def Leppard – Hysteria ($2.99)
  • Foghat – Slow Ride ($2.99)
  • Wolfmother – Joker and the Thief ($2.99)

Tales of Zestiria

  • Idolmaster Costume Set ($3.99)

The Escapists

  • Duct Tapes are Forever ($4.49)

PS3 Add-ons

Rocksmith 2014

  • David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust ($2.99)
  • Def Leppard – Hysteria ($2.99)
  • Foghat – Slow Ride ($2.99)
  • Wolfmother – Joker and the Thief ($2.99)

PS Vita Add-ons

Samurai Warriors: Chronicles 3

  • Samurai News 19 (Free)

Avatars

Console Theme Price
PS3 A Biker Skull USA Avatar $1.99
PS3 A Dragon Eye Avatar $1.99
PS3 A Face Full Of Anger Avatar $1.99
PS3 A Gangsta’s Grill Avatar $1.99
PS3 A Killer Bear Avatar $1.99
PS3 A Shot To The Head Avatar $1.99
PS3 A Tank $1.99
PS3 A Target Is Acquired Avatar $1.99
PS3 Cross Gun Girl Avatar $1.99
PS3 Gun Prep Avatar $1.99
PS3 Mars Avatar $0.99

Why Was Dead Space Such A Great Game?

 
Why was Dead Space such a great game?
By UNDED

To the surprise of many, Dead Space was a sleeper hit that quickly cemented itself as a mainstay horror series. At the time of release, the horror genre had grown somewhat stagnant due to “horror” titles such as Alone in the Dark, Left 4 Dead, and Silent Hill: Homecoming, that either more resemble action games, or just weren’t scary. With its engaging combat, unsettling audio design, and creepy visuals, Dead Space immediately became a fan favorite.

Following the story of Engineer Isaac Clark, you are dispatched to the USG Ishimura to investigate radio silence. The ship has gone completely ‘black’ and you are sent to help get things running again. Your ship is damaged upon arrival, leaving you and a few other ship mates stranded. Before long, you are greeted by the most haunting visuals at the time. Rooms are pitch black except for console lighting. Severed body parts and blood cover the hallways. What should be a well-maintained ship is in total chaos. The second you enter the Ishimura you are given a very clear sense of dread, that what happened here was not done by a human, and that’s what’s most startling.

As you make your way through the ship, the noises take a turn to the macabre. Loud audio engineering in movies is frowned upon for being a cheap scare, but in Dead Space its systematically designed to accompany a visual effect. Lights flicker, bodies move, creatures pass by in vents. All the while the ship creeks and bangs, and pipes spout vapor –staples of deep space horror games/movies since the original Alien.

You’re soon faced with zombies in the form of Necromorphs, the twisted undead remains of crew members aboard the ship. The Necromorphs aren’t technically “zombies” because even though they do eat you, that is not their sole purpose. One of the biggest reasons Dead Space became such a hit was because it flipped conventional combat on its head. Years of zombie and military games trained gamers up to this point to aim for the head. Necromorphs can only be dispatched by dismemberment, aiming for the limbs and finishing off with a devastating stomp to the head. The variety of enemies (babies with tentacles, winged bat creatures, tiny spores that can’t be killed by conventional Dead Space means) also kept the game feeling new to the end.

Dead Space 2 took everything that made part one great and added to it, easily making it the best entry of the series. Even with the inclusion of microtransactions in Dead Space 3, the series still kept to its roots as it concluded protagonist Isaac Clark’s story. The entire series playing with on Isaac’s guilt about his girlfriend dying aboard the Ishimura and the resulting PTSD from part one, working with the mental illness in part 2, and coming to terms and moving past it in part 3. Dead Space, however, deserves the credit for stepping out of the gaming norms and trying something new and in turn, refreshing a genre that even now, often gets overlooked.