Injustice: Gods Among Mortal Kombat

A new Mortal Kombat game with DC skins?! How can you say no to that?!

Well, let me start with no.  This game is not a mere reskinning of the great MK9 of 2011 by the NetherRealm Studios.  It’s actually quite the opposite; it’s a fighting game that’s remarkably different than what you’d expect from the guys who made Mortal Kombat.  And way better than MK vs DC game from years back.

Allow me to clear some of this up.  Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting game based loosely around the heroes and villains of the DC universe.  It’s actually really cool; especially if you’re a super hero nerd like myself – it gives me an opportunity to show everyone that Batman WOULD kick Superman’s ass.  So besides of the pure novelty of the game; is it fun?  I’d like to think so.

The campaign plays out in a very cool, dumb, fun way.  It sets up with Joker about to set off a nuke in Metropolis (Superman’s city), and crazy time travel happens.  Select members of the Justice League are transported to a different dimension where Joker did blow up Metropolis, made Supes kill Louis Lane and their baby via Joker drugs, and Superman lost his shit.  I’m talkin ‘bout Superman KILLED the Joker, and then proceeded to rule the world!  This no longer the goody-two-shoes boyscout with superpowers that we’ve gotten to know; this is a fully-fledged supervillain.  Basically the story mode is split up into twelve chapters where you play as a character throughout the entire chapter – very similar to MK9’s story mode.  The remarkable thing about the story mode is how freaking cinematic it is.  By this I mean it feels like you’re watching a movie, and when it comes to fighting you’re in control.  There’s a seamless feel to it, and they pulled it off.  It’s really fun, and they do some really crazy things with the story that I enjoyed. As someone that actively hates Superman I displayed immense joy when I finally got to whoop on villainous Supes.

I:GAU is stocked full of content; it’s pretty overwhelming.

Along with the story mode you have this thing called S.T.A.R. Labs which contains over 200 battles/missions/minigames to do.  Most of them are repetitive after you do some of them, but they’re really silly.  Each character gets ten or so missions; there are some special ones you get for pre-ordering and I’m certain they’ll release more as DLC.  Some of my favorites are Red Sun missions which are reimagining of Superman if he landed in Russia instead of America.  It’s ridiculous; especially the Grundy missions.  You have to brainwash him to be zombie of Mother Russia.  They give you just ridiculous situations and you have to play along; it’s like when you’re a kid playing with your superhero figures.  You do crazy awesome shit with them, and that’s what this game feels like – especially in this mode. 

Just like in classic Mortal Kombat there’s an arcade-lite mode called Battles.  You face off a series of random characters with Superman at the end.  When you finish off your enemies you’re treated to a cut scene with how that character’s ending should be.  Most of them are pretty zany, and are treated as if it was like that hero/villain got the best ending ever.  It’s like in Mortal Kombat, and even if they’re a bit ridiculous it’s cool to see some of the endings.  Take Harley Quinn’s for example; she takes the Joker from our dimension and they rule the world or some shit.  They decide to get married, and at the wedding the Joker throws a chunk of the cake at Harley.  Something snaps in Harley and she slits Joker’s throat with the ceremonial cake cutting knife.  Nucking futs right?

Like any good fighting game it supports multiplayer.  There’s local and online.  My biggest beef with MK9 was the lag.  It was pretty rough most of the time and the lag made online brawls inoperable. They remedied this situation in Injustice, and added a couple of cool features.  They have this King of the Hill mode that’s pretty fun.  Basically it’s a room of players that take turns taking on the “king” who was the last victor of the match.  The cool thing about this is as a watcher you get to place on bets on the peeps playing like King is going to win or rival is going to win with 40% health.  If you get your bet right you get bonus experience.  It’s also a great way to learn some tricks by watching.  Now if I had actual friends I think this would be a treat to have; it would be really cool to smack talk your friends and then reap benefits.  There’s also standard one versus one and such.  It’s pretty solid online play. 

The gameplay is actually quite different than MK, and that’s a good thing.  First off there aren’t rounds.  You have two health bars instead, and the first to lose both health bars is the loser. There are no fatalities (unfortunately).  I’m pretty sure DC didn’t want that, so whatever.  There are things like the X-ray moves from MK9; you pull it off by building up your power meter completely and pressing both triggers.  Most of these are really cool and ultra-violent.  Some of my favorites include Bane doing the break the Bat move, Flash’s running around the world uppercut, and Aquaman making you get eaten by a Great White Shark.  It’s hands down the coolest thing ever.  The best part is you can do this regardless if you’re not in water.  So do it in the WatchTower that’s in space.  Yup.  That’s a Great White eatin’ yo ass!  So I mean this game made Aquaman fucking awesome.  That’s a feat in of itself.  You can also boost your special attacks by burning a chunk of your power meter thing which is really helpful in pulling off slick ass combos.  So the fighting of itself requires you to be more tactful, and to be good you have to be decent in juggling your opponent.  A really cool addition that’s a throwback to the old Mortal Kombat games is interactive environments.  Do you remember how in MK3 you could uppercut dudes and they’d fly off into another area?  You can do that in this game, but it is so much cooler.  Most levels have 2-3 sections to it, and like I said earlier it makes you feel immersed in the game by simulating that you’re in a large area.  I mean when I think of Superman fighting baddies he typically throws them through buildings anyways.  Arkham Asylum has the coolest level transitions; most involve the inmates – Scarecrow’s is the coolest especially for fans of Arkham Asylum series.

The question that I know that you’re burning for an answer: How’s the character roster?  It’s good, but it’s really the only fault with the game in my eyes.  The cool thing about the DC universe is there’s a massive roster of characters that have been made over the years.  Some of the choices in this game make me scratch my head and ask simply why?  The chief offender is Killer Frost.  I mean who IS this?  I’ve never heard of Killer Frost.  I wikipedia’d her, and found out she’s a foe of the superhero of Firestorm who isn’t even in this game.  Yeah, so I’m thinking they really wanted some weird, wide variety.  I don’t think anyone would’ve missed KF.  Clearly Mr. Freeze would’ve been a great replacement if you want someone with ice powers. Another problem I have is some of the ladies of Injustice.  Wonder Woman and Raven are gross.  I don’t know why, but they pretty much a man with huge boobs.  It’s pretty gross.  On top of that she’s one of the blandest and lamest characters in the game.  Raven, on the other hand, plays fine and dandy but is even grosser. She suffers from man-jaw-itus and the worst sounding voice for a woman (granted it’s demonic sounding) that I’ve ever heard.  Every time I’m forced  to fight her I’m like “Ewww! Ewww!  Let’s get this over with!”  It’s a shame because she was one of the cooler Teen Titan characters.  This leads to another issue, there’s a lot of heroes that are a part of groups like Justice League, Teen Titans, or even Legion of Doom that could’ve used a couple of additions to complete.  This is a pretty minor problem, but I mean they were one away with completing the founders of Justice League (Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Batman, Aquaman, and Green Lantern).   Why couldn’t have they added Martian Manhunter?  Ugh.  I mean they have stupid Shazam instead of MM.  That’s so dumb!

Ok I need to make this clear; I’m a huge fan of Batman and his villains not so much of the rest of DC heroes except for the likes of Green Arrow.  Justice League is cool I guess, same with Teen Titans.  So I obviously think they should’ve included more Batman villains/side characters.  Now I’m not saying Robin should be in the game or anything, but I mean they could’ve added some more.  I’m probably going to sound Batman crazy considering Batman, Nightwing, Catwoman, Joker, Harley Quinn, Bane, and Solomon Grundy (I don’t know why they put this zombie in this game) are in the game.  But I mean, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Scarecrow (would be really fucking cool), and Clayface would all make really cool and unique additions to the roster.

I guess I should mention that there is an IOS app for this game that you can play on your iPhone or iPad.  It's really boring; you merely tap the screen to perform attacks and on occasion swipe.  The only thing worthwhile about that is that you can unlock costumes like Batman Beyond or the Knightfall Bane for your console. 

There are really not any huge problems with Injustice except for some characters, but I think if you’re a fan of DC characters you’ll have a lot of fun with this fighting title.  Most problems I have with buying a fighting game (specifically a new one) is that I’ll play it for a week and not really play it again unless I’m hanging out with some friends.  Injustice conquers this problem; it has a buttload of things to do, and it’ll keep you busy especially if you are a completionist.  Now go show your friends who is the best superhero!

Defiance: VOTs of fun!

Before Defiance was released, I was not quite sure how to feel about it. At first, I thought it looked dumb and would explode in a fiery crash of silly SyFy flames. The more I thought about the fun I had in Rift and the pedigree of Trion Worlds, the more hope I had. The week before release, I finally preordered and got antsy with antcipation. Now it has been out for about two weeks and I have played enough to know whether or not I like it. Let me just say... I LIKE IT!

I think it might be broken...

Defiance is a bit tricky to explain, but let me try. The game plays as a third person shooter rolled up into an MMO, with a PvP that plays much like a separate game mode. The main story is fun and moves at a solid pace. While some of the voice acting is BAD, the story as a whole never felt interrupted. I liked the feeling that I was moving through the Bay Area in order to reach what was left of San Francisco. It felt as though I was actually doing some travelling. The moment when I finally reached the Golden Gate Bridge was as exciting as I hoped and fun just to take in the virtual destruction. 

Sometimes when Nolan talked my mind instantly went to John Wayne and the first Thanksgiving.

Part of the excitement of this game is the fact that it interacts with the TV show. While, there was not much interaction between the two in the pilot, I thought the episode missions were the best part. I liked the fact that we got to see the Nolan and Irssa background story play out in the game. I hope that we see more of these missions and interactions through the rest of the season.

The PVP is quite enjoyable and feels like a totally different mode from the main game. I love the feel of it because it breaks up some of the monotony of the missions and can keep the game feeling very fresh. It comes in two styles. One is a deathmatch mode that is fun once you have some powerful weapons. I would not recommend trying PVP at first, because you will get smashed. I tried and failed miserably until I got some weapons that let me hold my own. There is also a large, Battlefield feeling mode called Shadow War. Once they have corrected some matchmaking issues, this could be a viable mode. I wish I knew more about it, but I have yet to get into a match.

Tremors: The Game

One problem that I spotted instantly was the fact that most quests revolved around pressing and holding square. I felt as though later in the game this became less of an issue because there was a lot more clear this, or hold of the enemies, but at first things were very repetitive. Most MMOs are repetitive and that is why I am not throwing a fit. I just feel like this game has a lot going for it and could be a whole lot more creative.

I have run into very few bugs and am impressed with Defiance's launch. The main bug I ran into was reeeeaaaalllyyy frustrating. I had just bought the most expensive lock box and guess what? NOTHING WAS GIVEN TO ME!! That time I spent farming key-codes was wasted. Now, I entered a ticket and I am waiting for an answer. I also noticed that the quest givers and receivers disappear at times. This is also annoying because the only way to fix it is to log off and on. The voice chat is a bit of a failure too. Surprisingly, the way to fix that once it goes out is to also log off and on. 

While small bugs and repetitive questing can get annoying, my overall feeling towards Defiance is positive. The reviews that Defiance have received seem unfair and are definitely not the thoughts of the player base (at least that I have seen).With that being said, they can really fix a few things. I hope as they open new areas, the style of the world changes and looks less repetitive. I enjoy trying and modding different weapons, cruising through the world, and helping random NPC strangers as I went I believe the PVP, story and interaction with the TV show spell out a bright future for this third person-MMO hybrid.

WiiU: The Underdog

The boys of Broskington are ready to bring y'all something big. No really, it's going to be awesome. So, in order to prepare for this awesomeness, I picked up a Wii U about three weeks ago. After some time looking at it's features and playing some games, I can honestly say that I think the system can not only survive but thrive in the next gen console war. Here is what Ninty needs to focus on going for.

1) Market how useful the 2nd screen actually is.

When Nintendo first showed the Wii U controller, they wanted us to know how innovative it was. They focused on the types of games it could be used for and less about it can actually do. I am going to explain how I use it and hopefully something relates to you, the audience. I am a gamer through and through. I want to be playing a lot more than I actually get to. Now some things cut my playtime down drastically but can not be changed (ex. work.) One thing the Wii U's controller has allowed me to work around is the issue of TV sharing. In my house it is hard to play games until late at night because I am having to share the TV in the evening. Let's face it, our girlfriends don't want to watch us continuously throw Mario off a giant mushroom. Luckily, the second screen allows the player to play and the viewer to watch so to speak. I noticed how awesome this was when I realized I had been playing Mario for an hour and no one complained I was hogging the TV. I now have more time to play and less time fighting over the remote. This feature works great in New Super Mario Brothers U and Black Ops. Both of these games are addicting time sinks and now I have even more time to sink into them. I love it!

Another unsung feature about the screen is it is the secret cure to split screens. Most games on the WiiU does not need split screen because if two people are playing, one is looking at the pad and the other is looking at the TV. It is a simple thing that is not thought about often but it makes a big difference.

2) Ease of Access and Backwards Compatibility

Nintendo makes their systems for everyone and while some see this as a bad thing, I think its great. I can now get folks that never play games with me to play. Sure, the Wii was set up for this as well, but the Wii U looks better, plays better, and is a shit-ton more fun. It is what the Wii needed to be. With games like Mario Kart and Mario Party, the couch co-op scene is alive, and sure is easier than ever to get someone to play with you.

The other part of that makes the system accessible is the fact that it has backwards compatibility. While other systems move away from it Nintendo stares it right in its old-ass face. I love the Backwards compatibility because it allows me to pick up the Wii games I missed and play them while I wait for The U's heavy hitters. An added bonus is that the Wii games look good. They did not take a hit from being on the newer system. We saw how ugly older gen games can look on the new gen systems with the 360.

3) Market and They Will Come

Nintendo of America needs to learn how to market their products. Stop trying to convince everyone that the Wii U GamePad is a gimmick and just show what you can actually use it for. If your everyday regular guy has the same problems I did, they would love the Wii U. Just show people what this thing can do and convince them that it will just make their gaming experience easier. Stop trying to be fancy pants about it and put your damn blue jeans on!

If Nintendo starts to sell their system, the 3rd party support will come back. Money drives the market. Duh. If it's profitable they will invest. Nintendo Fanboys need to stop blaming the developer and blame that joke of a marketing department in the Nintendo Headquarters. It's that simple.

Nintendo, I am talking to you. You can do this. You have the characters and titles to create a juggernaut, you just have to sell your systems. You created a system that everyone would like if you let them know that they would. Most people still think this is either a giant DS or another crappy gimmick. It's YOUR fault they are thinking this way. Put your big girl panties on and market the shit out of Wii U based on its usefulness and not your stupid controller fetish.

Love you,
BP

A Survivor is Born (And so is a New Series)

I want to preface this whole article by saying that I love adventure platforming games. They are just about my favorite genre of video games. I loved the original Tomb Raider games and Uncharted is just about my favorite game series. I feel like I should say that because I might be a little bias towards the new Tomb Raider. With that being said I will try and be honest with the parts I did not like, which are not many since Tomb Raider 2013 is..... AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The new Tomb Raider needs to be in serious contention for game of the year. Other than a few annoying glitches, there is next to nothing wrong with this game. Some people complained about issues in the plot, but I will debunk those shortly.

Lara Croft's new adventure starts out with a monsterous bang. Within five minutes she has been kidnapped and hung upside down awaiting her demise. Of course, Lara has other plans and escapes this early snafu on her way to becoming a bonified action hero. As Croft jumps and sneaks around the Island she will encounter some cranky wildlife, pissed off pirates, and other creatures you will have to play to see. At first, these enemies can take down Laura in a couple of hits but with the leveling system Crystal Dynamics put in, it does not take long for Lara to be a genuine bad ass. This leveling system is one of my favorite aspects of the game. Your character gets better as the games difficulty stays relatively the same. Sure, it might sound like it would get too easy, but what this really does is make your character feel like she is growing into a strong survivor and hero. It is fun to actually feel growth instead of just being told that it's there.

The story is good, not amazing, and it does not suffer from the plot holes that I have seen most reviewers complaining about. Most people have trouble believing that she could go from a regular female achaelogist to killing machine, but the reason for that change is all over the place. First, if you listen to some background dialogue, the captain of the ship says that he taught her how to shoot and survive. Also, the best and easiest reason for the change is just based on survival. If some Chilean soccer players can eat each other to survive, then Lara can cap a few asses. Seriously, if she already has the skill, and fears for her life, she will do what it takes to live. I have no problem with this section of the story or how it  played out.

Sexy..... and I'm not just talking about Lara.

The only real glitches I experienced all happened in one place. It was late in the game, your surrounded, and in a small room. You freak out, shoot, and the background disappears... really talk about a breathtaking moment completely fubarred/ The cherry on top is the lag I experienced shortly afterword. After dying, all was corrected but it was still a bit frustrating.

The ending (no spoilers, I'm good like that) is very similar to Uncharted 1. It ends with a boss battle that is almost completely quick time events, which I liked because it made me anxious and excited. What sold me though was literally the final image. It was iconic and if you have been a Lara fan like me since the beginning you will love it and take notice.

I wrote the first part of this review some time ago and looking back on my playthrough, I feel nothing has diminished or changed. This is still easily one of my favorite games of this generation, and a great way to bring a classic character back from the conceivable dead.

Boobs simply means it's the best!