Author: Mo Alexander

The Last of Us…

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Ok, so I know I am a little slow with the game reviews, but hey, better late than never..

Now I am pretty sure that everyone nowadays is getting real tired of Zombies, and zombie-related movies / games / etc.

And I must admit, after seeing “The Walking Dead” several times on AMC got me wondering whether or not I would really like this game.

Boy, I am glad I didn’t make that judgment call…  because once again developer Naughty Dog took the PlayStation 3 to the brink and back with its latest title “The Last of Us”.

Naughty Dog hasn’t been a stranger to the gaming community.  As a matter of fact they have released several games for Sony over the past decade, including the “Uncharted” series.

However, with “The Last of Us“, Naughty Dog took a different approach to the old “Treasure Hunting / Puzzle Solving” action adventure that the Uncharted series brought out, and went someplace darker, and brought out a deeper story-line, and included a whole new aspect on surviving an apocalypse.

The story starts out with Joel, a single father, living with his teen daughter in the suburbs, when (on his birthday), all hell breaks loose.  A form of fungal infection has begun sweeping across the nation, causing infected individuals to become a form of zombie (whether it be a runner, a clicker, or a bloater..).  Joel escapes with his daughter, only to be confronted by National Guardsmen who cause a bit of problem themselves..  Which in turn throws the story line 20 years into the future, where Joel meets Ellie, an infected teen who is immune from the zombie-itis.  ( I wont reveal any more of the plot)

Right from the start, Naughty Dog demonstrates how it is breaking away from the typical mainstream of Zombie plots, and throwing in a bunch of curve balls.

And it totally pays off.  In the end, after playing the game for 20 + hours, (I know .. I’m slow.. but I gotta get my trophies!!) the game leaves you with a bit of a twist, along with the possibility of a potential sequel?

To be honest, I would be fine either way.. hearing that Naughty Dog is making a sequel (cause, well this game was damn good), or ending the whole story right with this chapter.   This is one of those rare gems that will be really difficult to top, story wise.   The Drama, Graphics, Gameplay, Sound, Violence, Gore, Hardships… all of it was there and then some.

So here’s my take:  If you have a PS3, go pick up this game.  This is definitely a triple A game worth getting.

You wont be disappointed….the-last-of-us-black-and-white

 

 

Saw it in IMAX

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And for once, it was worth it.

At first, I was a little hesitant, just thinking of the early 80’s Godzilla movies, with two sweaty Japanese men in rubber suits duking it out over a model train landscape.
Straight to the point, the movie had the “popcorn” plot, which allows the audience to just let go and enjoy the carnage.
The movie totally had Guillermo Del Toro’s signature style with creature creation & bigger than life aspects.  And the Jaegers were pretty darned cool.

Now, can someone PLEASE make a MechWarrior / BattleTech Movie?!  I hear Michael A Stackpole would love to do the script and the screen play!!

 

 

Sorry, we didnt mean to do that..

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That’s right gang!  For once, you the video gamers of the world have a voice, and apparently Micro$oft listened.  Game Informer recently posted that Micro$oft is reversing their original plan for not allowing any used games
on the Xbox One, or requiring that the Xbox One “phone home” every 24 hours so you can play your games offline.  I guess it doesn’t take much to bow to the pressure of your gaming community, does it?

Let the games begin!

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Alright, aside from all the E3 console press conferences, throw downs, name calling, etc.; a few more bright spots showed up:  The new games!

That’s right folks, be it the Next Gen games coming up soon, or the last releases before the consoles switch over to the newer hardware, games are what made
E3 even more popular this time around.
AC4_HighSeasAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag from Ubisoft.  Following off of the acclaimed success of Assassin’s Creed 3, AC 4 takes off on a new tangent, where the
player is now allowed to navigate the open world, and enjoy  the “Golden Age of Pirates”.  Be it by ship to ship combat, assassination quests, hunting rare animals, or even looting sunken pirate ships, this new tale promises to immerse players into the world of Piracy.  Meet up with Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Benjamin Hornigold in your quest to conquer the Caribbean. Coming to current gen consoles in late October 2013.  (Next Gen has to wait a bit..)

ESO_field_FiguresThe Elder Scroll’s Online from Bethesda Softworks.  Finally the single-player RPG fantasy game that everyone loves is breaking into new ground, and becoming an MMO.  Dragons, elves, dark magic, and Daedric minions running amuck, it becomes your task (and your fellow online gamers) to defend the world of Tamriel, and destroy the evil that threatens to run across the land.

ArkhamBlackgateE3_VitaBatman Arkham Origins from Warner Home Video Games.  WB Home Video Games and DC Comics are tagging up once again to bring you another adventure with Batman, this time taking place when the Dark Knight is just starting out.  It appears a few of Batman’s enemies have decided to offer $50 Million to ice the Bat, and everybody wants in on the fun.  Facing up against a younger Joker, BlackMask, and Deathstroke, the Dark Knight has his hands full.  Due out this October, as well as a portable version being released on the PSVita and 3Ds.

Destiny by Bungie  & Activision  Destiny is the first game out from Bungie, after leaving its multi-year partnership with Micro$oft in developing the Halo franchise.  Destiny_image012
Destiny brings another First Person Shooter into the fray, although Bungie is betting on players enjoying this next title a whole lot more.  Playing the game solo, or teaming up with “fire teams”, Bungie wants the experience to be staggering in scope, with the beauty of a MMO, yet still offering every FPS gamer what they crave.  Graphically the game looks gorgeous (even if it is in Alpha stage..).  Destiny releases in 2014 on the PS4, PS3, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

E3_watchdogsWatchDogs from Ubisoft.  Ubisoft might have hit the nail on the head with this GTA style sandbox game.  The story is thus:  Aiden Pearce is loose in the city, causing mayhem and chaos wherever he goes.. At least that is what the authorities think.  Bringing a whole “tech” spin to the likes of GTA and Assassin’s Creed’s lovechild, this game promises a whole lot more interactivity with todays technology.  From hacking ATMs for money, to finding the next victim in the subway, to deploying Anti-Vehicle Barricades to stop Police cars cold, Aiden will use every thing he can to elude capture, and continue is outskirts in the city (including using online players with tablets to help setup traps!). Watchdogs will be out on the PS3, Xbox 360, the PS4 and Xbox One, release date is to be announced..

titanfallmech1280TitanFall from Respawn and Electronic Arts  Taking GameInformer’s “Best in Show at E3” comes another FPS, this time involving massive online gameplay, including gigantic “mech-like” machines, called Titans.  This is Respawn’s first released title, after their debacle (and litigation as the former Infinity Ward vs. Activision).  Boasting what appears to be a Modern Warfare-style gameplay, players are encouraged to team up in order to defend their hard points, and defeat their enemy.  Could it be one of the few games whose style of gameplay has already been done?  The answer when the Xbox One releases, as TitanFall is an Xbox One exclusive title launch.

That’s it for now, more to come!!