Gangster Rio

If you ask most ‘core’ gamers about the products Gameloft produces, chances are the words ‘shameless ripoffs’ will be uttered fairly quickly. But most of those same folks who like to game on iOS and Android devices (such as myself) will also admit that most of their games are polished, well-produced … and fun. This weekend you can get two of their more recent releases – Gangstar Rio: City of Saints and N.O.V.A. 3 – for free!

Gangstar Rio: City of Saints is a combined ‘Saints Row’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto’ clone set in … Rio de Janeiro. Like those games, you take on missions in a semi-free-roaming world, and essentially gain more and more strength and reputation through committing criminal acts and not getting caught. I honestly thought this one was better than the original ‘Saints Row’ (which itself was a shameless GTA clone). Loads of fun.

N.O.V.A. 3 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance – Gameloft is Gameloft’s take on Halo. It is a space-based shooter with expansive multiplayer options and plenty of missions. The shooting elements remain some of the best on a smartphone, and everything flows well.

So head to the iTunes App Store and grab Gangstar Rio: City of Saints and N.O.V.A. 3 for free!

The Hype

The glamour. The exhilaration. The intensity. The speed. With drivers cruising a smooth 200 mph — minimum — and cutthroat teams carving out dynasties of speed, Formula One is the most elite racing circle in the world and the most thrilling motorsport tearing up the tracks. Every curve of the track, every control on the dashboard and every strategy in the pit lane is of utmost importance in this intensified world — and it’s all re-created in stunning detail. Let breakneck speeds and ultra responsive cars transport you to the glamorous world of Formula One as you race toward the finish line.

Get behind the wheel and experience the new Circuit of the Americas before its real-life debut with this breathtaking game. This dramatic new track features 20-turn circuits that take inspiration from some of the world’s most difficult corners, including Silverstone’s Becketts and Istanbul Park’s Turn 8, and boasts elevation changes of up to 133 feet. An advanced weather system produces localized weather that can leave sections of the track wet while others stay dry for a dramatic and unpredictable race experience.

Take part in training tutorials, such as the all-new Young Driver’s Test at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, to become familiar with the nuances of F1 racing and learn how to get the most speed out of your car. The new Lap Tutorials feature can help you perfect your car’s performance, as F1 test driver Anthony Davis walks you through a lap of each of the 20 circuits, offering expert advice. Do you have what it takes to handle the world’s toughest race circuits and steer your car to victory?

The Reality

In F1 2012, racing fans get an in-depth Formula One racing experience with refined game modes and numerous experiences for new players. This racing game has recovered well after noticeable glitches after the initial release, the fourth installment in this game series from Codemasters.

F1 2012 lets players experience the 2012 season that involves 12 teams and 24 drivers. Customization options are extensive and include mid-season changes. Races include 20 circuits and Grand Prix including the circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The young drivers test provides a great tutorial for novice players and greatly reduces the learning curve that intimidates many players in F1 games. Here players can immediately learn, get on team or drive in a non-pressure environment.

Once the skills are set, then starts earning medal and championship points or try the proving grounds. The time trial lets players race against friends, ghost cars or selected rivals created by the best players in the world. The time attack offers various scenarios where players conquer three different challenges to earn a medal.

Constant adjustment and button pushing is the name of the game here, so memorize the control scheme as soon as possible. The custom race options are a great feature allowing for players to choose race location and length.

The dynamic weather condition scenarios and graphics are impressive while the convenient  flashback option help players avoid restarts when they make mistakes. Use the flashbacks wisely because they are in limited supply.

F1 2012 still has strong challenges, but the various driving assistance options really help novice players ease their way into a great experience as they learn what they might have been missing (myself included).

continue reading

Isla Dorada

Having just come off of the euphoria that was Special Enquiry Detail 2, I was ready for my next hidden object puzzle adventure. It comes in the form of an island-based game called Isla Dorada – Episode 1: The Sands of Ephranis HD, which has you taking on the role of Jessica Pandora, an archeologist drawn to a hidden site sought by many treasure hunters. What happens to her once she arrives, and is this a good game? Let’s take a look and see!
continue reading

Special Enquiry Detail 2

It has been nearly two years since I reviewed the iPad version of Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds, and I absolutely loved it. The sequel came out for PC a while back, but has just now arrived for iPhone . Let’s dig in and see if this story and character driven hidden object puzzle adventure can live up to the original!

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game

Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version is here.; available in the Mac App Store

Developer: Floodlight Games / G5 Entertainment

Description:
Special Enquiry Detail 2 has loads of content, including:
Six highly intriguing chapters
44 locations to examine
22 mini-game puzzles to solve
A challenging case with multiple suspects

Major features:

The reasons I loved the original Special Enquiry Detail are many: great characters, interesting story, good sense of mystery and intrigue, and solid puzzles and hidden object gameplay. Ultimately there was nothing for me to critique, but I mentioned the British linguistics, as they caused me to need hints more than I would have otherwise.

As you begin the game, a murder of a woman in a wedding dress takes place, and next thing you know Turino and Lamonte are on the scene hunting for clues. They were not the detectives in charge of the Engagement Killer’s case – there have already been multiple killings – but they quickly take over based on a special request. From there they need to revisit the old crimes and try to piece together new and existing evidence to find connections and clues to solve the crimes before the killer claims another victim!

continue reading

This third person action-shooter game takes place after the high quality 2009 Star Trek film and before this year’s sequel Star Trek Into Darkness. Single player and cooperative/multiplayer (online and offline in split screen) modes are available.

The Hype

The award-winning Star Trek game casts players for the first time ever as Kirk and Spock in a totally original co-op experience worthy of gamers and fans. Set in the new canon of director and producer J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009) reboot, players will be immersed in the game’s rich story and action-packed combat.

Developed by acclaimed Ontario-based developers Digital Extremes (Bioshock 2, Dark Sector, The Darkness 2), Star Trek features an original story by BAFTA award winner and God of War writer, Marianne Krawczyk, in collaboration with the writer/producers of the new Star Trek films, Bob Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. Production was overseen by Paramount Creative Executive Brian Miller.

The Reality

Captain James T. Kirk and Spock must work together in the co-op mode against the antagonistic and reptilian Gorn, who are trying to disrupt the New Vulcan colony.

Spock and Kirk on Star Trek: The Video Game

In Stark Trek: The Video Game, players can play this third person action-shooter sci-fi game with Captain James T. Kirk or the formidable Vulcan named Spock. Both get basic weapons like phasers and communication tricoders – both are upgradeable. Kirk’s phaser is a bit more powerful…and louder, while Spock’s weapons can freeze plus he uses the famous nerve pinch and mind meld powers. Kirk can also order airstrikes from their home ship The Enterprise.

continue reading

The Artec Eva 3D scanner was used to create the official commercial for the Bioshock Infinite video game, a popular action/first person shooter (FPS) from  Irrational Games / 2K Games  available on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and coming this summer on Mac. Bioshock Infinite breaks new ground with unique gear, power and weapons amid amazing environments amid the immense floating city of Columbia. Set in 1912, this third installment in the Bioshock game series enthralls with amazing gameplay elements involving various gear, weapons, and powers.

Bioshock Infinite features former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, voiced by Troy Baker, must rescue the imprisoned Elizabeth, voiced by Courtnee Draper. Elizabeth can definitely hold her own in combat and pick locks while tossing Booker found supplies. Her biggest power is opening tears, which are inter-dimensional rifts in time and space.

The Artec Eva 3D scanner was used to create and to successfully bring to life Elizabeth, one of the main characters in Bioshock Infinite, for its internationally run television commercial. I recently discussed this project and other related works at Artec with Anna Zevelyov, the director of business development at Artec.

continue reading

mickeywars

Taking top prize of a consumer poll two years in a row is something most companies would dream of … unless you are EA, and the poll is ‘Worst Company in America’. That’s right, EA made history by capturing the title an unprecedented two years in a row. How? Trashing beloved franchises, over-enthusiastic nickel-and-diming via DLC, and psychologist and analyst enhanced extortion through freemium games (yes, they actually have behavior-analyst teams designing games to get you to spend $100 over time on something you wouldn’t pay $5 for upfront!). So imagine the excitement of the gaming community when the most hated game company got exclusive rights to one of the most beloved franchises – Star Wars. Yeah, yippee.

Here is the overview:

continue reading

Plants vs. Zombies 2

It has been more than 3 years since I posted my review of the iPhone version of Plants vs. Zombies, and four years to the day since the original game launched (I did a review of the game elsewhere in May 2009) … and now we get word that the sequel to one of the hottest tower-defense games ever made is coming in July!

There isn’t much info yet other than a Tweet saying “Yay! I can finally say it! PvZ 2: It’s About Time is coming in July! #GetReady”. Also, there is a teaser trailer:

continue reading

Electronic Arts and Maxis today revealed that The Sims 4 is coming to the PC and Mac in 2014 … the specific date in 2014 is still unknown. EA held a special VIP briefing this morning where the world’s top Sims fans got to hear the new first from the creative team. This fan group will also get future access and alerts from the development team. No mention of console and/or handheld versions yet.

The Sims 3 is definitely finishing with a bang this year with the new and well-time The Sims 3 Island Paradise expansion pack on June 25, the new The Sims 3 Movie Stuff pack, and all-new Dragon Valley world available in The Sims 3 Store.  The Sims 3 Showtime expansion pack just released this past March. The Sims 3 has released over 12 expansion packs since the initial 2009 release.

The Sims 4 will encourage players to “personalize their world with new and intuitive tools while offering them the ability to effortlessly share their creativity with friends and fans.”

TheSims is definitely he world’s most successful simulation game as well as favorite overall game with more than 150 million copies worldwide sold since the first series released in 2000 (sans “Woo Hoo”). EA tried The Sims Social on Facebook, but that game will shut down on June 14, 2013.

Dark Avenger for iOS

In the action-RPG genre, 1996′s Diablo is the one that brought mass-popularity, and therefore subsequent action-RPGs were called ‘Diablo clones’ for years regardless of what else they brought to the table. On smartphones and tablets, the Dungeon Hunter games have defined the standard for action-RPG gameplay but have angered gamers with agressively pushing in-app purchases. Now we have Dark Avenger, a new entry to the genre. How does it compare? Let’s take a look!

Type of app: Action Role-Playing (aRPG or Action RPG) game

Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad; available in the Mac App Store

Developer: Gamevil

Description:

Dark Avenger has loads of content, including:
> FREE TO PLAY
> Dark Action RPG
> Smooth, Intuitive Controls
> Real-time Global PvP
> 3 Heroic Classes: Templar, Archer, or Mage
> Legendary Sets and Equipment
> Infinite Dungeon

Major features:

The basic story of Dark Avenger is … well, I really didn’t have any clue without looking at the iTunes description – and I have played for several hours! Evil has risen … blah, blah, blah. Basically bad things are happening, there are undead, and you have to kill them. Got it? Good.

continue reading

Neverwinter Quest

The realms of Neverwinter and the Sword Coast are beloved by all fantasy RPG gamers, and they have been featured since the very earliest days of Dungeons & Dragons. Some of the most famous games set in this universe are Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2, Icewind Dale 1 & 2, and Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2. Though its main campaign was criticized by some in 2002 as lacking depth and excitement compared to the Baldur’s Gates games, multiplayer and player-created content have kept Neverwinter Nights and its sequel popular for more than a decade. So when Cryptic Entertainment and Perfect Worlds announced a MMORPG called ‘Neverwinter’, it was met with a combination of excitement and trepidation. The game is now in ‘open beta’, so let me give some impressions after putting some hours into playing!

Background:
The story of the development of Neverwinter is so full of plot twists and intrigue to make it seem like a Lifetime movie! Announced by Atari in 2010, Neverwinter was in development at Cryptic Studios (which Atari bought in 2009); it was to be a co-operative multiplayer story-based fantasy RPG with seamless online and offline modes, and it was slated for a late 2011 release. In mid-2011 Atari sold Cryptic to Perfect World, and Neverwinter was delayed into 2012. Also in 2011 there was a load of drama around the Dungeons & Dragons licensing lawsuit between Atari and Wizards of the Coast, captured here. Perfect World secured publishing rights to the game license from Atari as well.

In early 2012, Perfect World announced (not surprisingly) that Neverwinter would transition to a full MMORPG … and that would delay the game until the end of 2012. They also announced that it would adopt the ‘free to play’ model rather than a full paid subscription. As the end of the year approached, Cryptic delayed Neverwinter into 2013 to polish the game. 2013 has seen a gradual increase in ‘private beta’ periods where more and more people help test the gameplay and the server load capabilities.

Character Creation:

Neverwinter is based on the 4th edition Dungeon & Dragons rules … and I have already split the audience just by saying that. D&D 4E – as it is called – made some sweeping changes in order to help the rules make more sense to players, to adapt to more modern game types, and to make the early levels less like a ‘quest to stay alive’. For some those things were welcome, but for most veteran gamers they were an awful direction for the property. The reason I mention the rules, is that they have an impact on how the character creation system works. For more details, head here or here.

Dungeons & Dragons also features a variety of races such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, and so on. Each one has strengths and weaknesses, and therefore making the best overall character selection involves understanding the racial characteristics as well as the class characteristics.

For my character I chose to play a female human Control Wizard. As a human I am not the most powerful arcane master, but I gain health points compared to weaker Elves. The control wizard is a fairly typical arcane spellmaster, skilled at ranged attacks that can target multiple enemies at once. At higher levels this class becomes a walking missile platform. As for why I chose a female character? In many games it makes no difference, but I have always found that most developers write assuming that male players will choose male characters for most of their own testing playthroughs, so any problems are more likely to occur with a female character.

continue reading

Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! for iPad

Imagine a game that combines a classic fantasy story, told as a ‘create your own adventure’, loaded up with fantasy RPG gameplay, and with a unique and engaging visual style. Intrigued? You should be! Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! is the video game realization of the classic early 80′s book series. Can it actually deliver on expectations set across the decades? Let’s take a look and see! continue reading

Red Crow Mysteries Legion for iOS

G5 Entertainment works with a number of developers as well as doing in-house work. Recently they have partnered with Cateia Games for some cool games, including Where Angels Cry and Fate of the Pharoah. Each of these were compelling games that I very much enjoyed, so when I heard that they were behind Red Crow Mysteries: Legion, I was already intrigued to check out the latest hidden object game from G5 Entertainment! continue reading

Injustice: Gods Among Us presents the long-standing DC Comics franchise in a high quality fighting action game in the familiar arena format.

The Hype

Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting game that blends classic Arcade style gameplay mechanics with an intriguing storyline that pits classic DC Comics characters against each other in unique combinations (hero vs. hero, villain vs. villain, etc.). The game is developed by NetherRealm Studios, and Ed Boon, of Mortal Kombat fame. Players can expect over-the-top action that is suitable for players of most ages, and a single-player storyline that provides the background for the unique character match-ups possible. Addition features include: more than 20 DC Comics heroes and villains, a variety of different attack levels, unique attacks for each character, multiplayer support, and more.

The Reality

“What if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat?”

Injustice: Gods Among Us feature the famous DC Comic characters, polished visuals, and online/multiplayer modes create an amazing action experience. There really is no “us” as bystanders do not really factor into the gameplay as individual elements, but only collectively the title distinguishes the extraordinary powers and lives these varied heroes and villains lead.

The 24 core characters include Aquaman, Bane, Batman, Black Adam, Catwoman, Cyborg, Deathstroke, Doomsday, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Lex Luthor, Nightwing, Raven, Solomon Grundy, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The mix of villains and heroes reflects the storyline, by comic book writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, where special circumstances/events blur the line between good and evil among several famous settings.

Each character has their own set of special moves and match up abilities against every other character. Matchups can always be exploited while the base characters can expand in the future in various ways. Players get a constant sense of discovery and competition. Players also get reveals and refreshers about the characters themselves

continue reading

I recently saw an article from USA Today on a new “Create Your Pizza App” Xbox 360 app that lets users order food from Pizza Hut right from this game console. This free app includes the full Pizza Hut menu.

The app caught my interest while the justification for the app was laughable to me. A different way of doing the same thing.

Each app element was socially constructed based on our experience…how we relate to the elements individually or collectively.

There are many social factors working here. Overall, pizza delivery is something many people use it and I don’t it is going away any time soon.

“The very last thing a kid wants to do is look for a phone to order a pizza,” says John Engates, chief technology officer at Rackspace, a cloud technology provider in a recent USA Today article on this app.

The last thing a kid wants to do is look for a phone? …Really? Most “kids” I know have a mobile device close by and on their body even while playing their Xbox 360.

continue reading

The Wii U Virtual Console service allows Nintendo Wii U owners to download games from the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) consoles. Virtual Console appears after updating the WiiU system.

New releases will arrive constantly plus future game additions will include popular titles from the Nintendo 64 console and handheld Game Boy Advance. Players can play Virtual Console games on the Wii U GamePad controller when someone else is watching TV. Each game has/will have an official community in Miiverse, customizable controller schemes, and special save files called restore points.

continue reading

Fieldrunners 2 Android

When it comes to casual mobile games I love, Fieldrunners ranks at the top along with others such as Plants vs. Zombies and Civilization Revolution. All of those games allowed me to get an ‘on the go’ experience that still scratched my hardcore gamer itch. So I was wary when Fieldrunners 2 came to iOS devices last September – but as noted in my review of the iPad version, I was thrilled with the results. This week the game (finally) landed on Android devices and I took some time to check it out!

Type of app: ‘Tower Defense’ game

Platform/where to buy: Android smartphones & tablets; available in the Google Play Store

Developer: Subatomic Studios

Description:
Features include:
• Pint sized invaders seeking revenge!
• A tower that launches bee hives!
• Tons of levels in a 20+ hour campaign!
• Revolutionary AI – each enemy creates a dynamic, realistic path through the battlefield!
• Gorgeous, hand painted, 2D graphics by award-winning artists!
• 20 unique, upgradeable weapons!
• Custom load-outs let you pick the perfect weapons for each battle!
• Air strikes, mines and powerful items so you can strike with the precision of a surgeon!
• Time Trial, Sudden Death and Puzzle maps bring all new challenges to tower defense!
• Trenches, bridges and tunnels add new dimensions to gameplay!
• Collect all the Elite enemies to become the ultimate tower defense champion!
• A tower that turns enemies into barnyard animals!

Major features: I was amazed when I heard from the Subatomic Studios Twitter feed that they released the Android version of Fieldrunners 2. What amazed me was that it had taken more than seven months for the port to happen! The good news is that the port is every bit as satisfying as the original version I played on the iPad and more recently on the iPhone.

As noted before, gameplay is similar to the original Fieldrunners where you place a variety of offensive towers (machine guns, slowing glue, rockets, etc) on the field in places designed to maximize the likelihood of stopping the marauding clones trying to get from left to right on the screen. Each clone that you destroy adds to your available cash, which you can use to buy more towers or upgrade the ones you have. Upgrades increase power and range, and are very effective. You have a health bar that is reduced by each enemy that passes your defenses, with the game ending when your base is destroyed.

continue reading

When Youda Survivor hit the iPad back in late 2011, it was amongst a stream of PC ports that all played extremely well on the tablet such as Civilization Revolution, Jack of All Tribes and Tiny Token Empires. Since then bigger games such as Grand Theft Auto III, Max Payne and Baldur’s Gate have impressed on the tablet. So how does the sequel to Youda Survivor fit in? Let’s take a look!

Type of app: Time Management Strategy Adventure game

Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad (iPhone version here); available in the iTunes App Store

Developer: Youdagames / G5 Entertainment

Description:
Youda Survivor 2 has loads of content, including:
● Over 100 incredible levels in nine absorbing chapters
● 10 extra powers to master and capitalize on
● Two modes of play: story mode and siege mode
● Two playable characters, each with distinct capabilities
● Upgrades, bonuses and awards

Major features: Youda Survivor is the sequel to a survival based game, and finds our hero in a cozy residential home with a spouse (you choose gender for your hero) and a new baby. As flaming rocks fall from the sky you are visited by your old tribe in a vision, and transported back to the island to fight off a new evil threat!

Similar to the original game, you will find yourself rushing around trying to meet the requirements of each area as quickly as possible. Some of the things you will do initially are digging new watering holes, gathering eggs and milk, and making simple water and health potions.

But soon you will need to more than collect things – you will need to process them into other items. For example, you need eggs to make fried eggs, milk to make cheese, and so on.

How do you process items? First you need to buy things such as an egg cooker, which will transform an egg after a short time; but you can also upgrade your processing tools to make them more efficient – fry two eggs at once, for example.

As you proceed through level after level, you eliminate enemies, gain acclaim and get harder and harder tasks. Very quickly you realize that if any of your resources isn’t being used, chances are you wasting precious time and might fail the mission.

Ease of use/Overall performance: Sounds great, right? Well, not so fast! Every time you dig a hole, or mix a potion or perform just about any task you use up some of your health. It doesn’t replenish by itself, so you need to create potions or destroy enemies who threaten the beach to gain more health. Certain items combine to form more powerful potions – but naturally they also take longer to make.

And since there is a time management element involved, you are constantly battling the clock trying for that Gold level! But even after a few levels that starts to get challenging – you will be struggling to balance your health against the objectives and the time, so you will often require a few tries to reach the gold medal.

But along the way you will have a load of frantic fun. You complete tasks and use energy to gain tokens, which you can in turn use to advance levels and buy new powers and machinery to allow you to more easily complete your tasks.

After a long play session I found that some of the tasks and levels felt repetitive, but in the more common short sessions of a couple of levels I was always entertained and challenged. I spent about a dozen hours playing through the 80 challenging levels in order to my quest for Gold times, and thoroughly enjoyed Youda Survivor throughout. If you are a fan of fast-paced time management games, definitely give this one a shot!

Would use again/recommend?: Definitely! I loved the fast-paced and engaging gameplay; fun challenges; loads of stuff to do!

Suggested changes/wish list for updates: Levels can get repetitive after playing for a while

Source: Publisher provided review code

Price: Free download with $4.99 in-app purchase – (sale price until April 13th, then the price returns to $6.99. iPhone version on sale for $2.99, regularly $4.99)

Here is the trailer:

“A New Generation Revealed. Be part of this historic online event, featuring a live stream, video, images, updates and more.”

Microsoft released this accompanying statement today as they announced the time for the reveal on the next generation Xbox console. The announcement date is May 21, 2013 at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). That would be 1 p.m. EST. Spike TV will televise the announcement at this time while it also streams live on Xbox Live and Xbox.com.

continue reading

LEGO City Undercover lets “LEGOmaniacs” enjoy their own open world video game exclusively on the Nintendo Wii U.

The Hype

A Metropolis to Explore

The world of LEGO^® City playsets comes to life like never before in LEGO^® City Undercover—filled to the brim with people on the streets and vehicles on every road. Make your way through busy downtown, head out to the beach, or to the airport—it’s a truly massive place, filled with over a dozen distinct areas.

Over 100 Vehicles to Commandeer

Every vehicle you see on the street can be commandeered, and used to chase down criminals, or even go through a leisurely romp through the city. Get behind the wheel of sports cars, motorcycles, helicopters, and many, many more.

The Bricks of LEGO® City

The special LEGO^® bricks hiding around the city will help you complete Super Builds, which let you do something special within levels. Studs allow Chase to purchase customizable outfits. After Chase finds a “Character” token in the world, (there’s a lot of them hidden around), he can go back to the Police Station, go into the basement and purchase the outfits. Then, you can mix and match his outfits to create unique looks!

A Man of Many Talents

Even LEGO^® City’s finest can’t get in everywhere. When Chase puts on one of these disguises, he gains unique skills that can help him get places a regular old officer can’t.

continue reading

Divoom OnBeat X1

To be honest, most of my gaming — whether PC, Mac, DS, PSP, iOS or Android — is done either with headphones or with the device muted. There are a couple of reasons for this: first to allow for ‘gaming anywhere’; the second because ever since playing games such as Thief in the late 90s, I have appreciated directional sound and the nuances of quality headphones. But sometimes when playing a shooter what I really want is a nice booming rattle – but that won’t happen with an iPad. Now Divoom introduces the OnBeat X1 and promises the ‘ultimate gaming speaker’. Let’s take a look!

Here are some of the features:

• Suction cups to stick the speaker on the back of your smartphone
• Vibration bass for gaming for more realistic gaming experience
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 8 hours of music playback
• Compact Bluetooth speaker for gaming and music playback

As I highlight in the review video, there are only two questions that matter: is it any good, and will anyone want to use it? Let’s tackle them in order!

continue reading

Machines at War 3

I have to confess that it was my intention to have a full review of Machines at War 3 for today, but I really wanted to alert everyone to the release of Machines at War 3. This is a real-time strategy (RTS) game with a deep campaign mode, skirmish and full multiplayer modes – and it is a true indie effort! As a RTS, you are constantly working against time and building bases, doing tower defense, navigating stealth subs, commanding gigantic mega units, and researching new technologies.

I have played through the tutorial and some of the campaign on both Mac and PC and am impressed with both the depth and breadth of the game, and the performance, attention to detail and stability. This is the sort of game that will have you asking THIS is an indie game? The Machines at War games have been acclaimed in the past, and once you try it out you will understand why.

You can grab a demo of the game to check it out, and the full game is only $19.99, for Mac or PC. You can directly order here.

Here are some features:
- Build over 130 types of units and technologies
- Rescue the Omicron Initiative in 21 missions
- Command massive 5,000 unit battles
- Play unlimited random map skirmishes
- Conquer four friends in online multiplayer combat
- Dominate with seven awesome mega units

Check out the trailer:

Head to the home page for more details, to grab the demo or order the full game yourself! And look for a full review here in the coming weeks.

IndieGameStand Guns of Icarus

IndieGameStand is an excellent site that launched last September as the first pay-what-you-want site to put a new, hand-picked indie game in the spotlight for a full 96 hours. So rather than ‘a game a day’, you have a full four days to pick up the deal, ensuring you won’t miss the great ones – like this! There have been a ton of great games featured, and to celebrate their six month anniversary they are offering up Guns of Icarus Online. Wait, didn’t I just write about Guns of Icarus here? Yes, that is for the new Adventure Mode – this is the core game!

The game will cost you a minimum of $1, which will get you a Steam key that works for PC, Mac or Linux. If you beat the average you also get Collectors’ Edition DLC and an MP3 soundtrack (a $33 value). Developer Muse Games has selected The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to receive 10% of the proceeds. The current average is less than $1.75, which is an amazing deal. Paying $10 or more gets you all content for Guns of Icarus, as well as the last deal (Voxatron) and the next game offered (still a mystery). Considering the core Guns of Icarus normally sells for $20, this is an amazing opportunity!

Here is some of the description of the game:

It’s not an easy life, but there’s nothing else like it. Plenty of folks like yourself have decided to slip the surly bonds of earth and take to the skies after hearing tales of bold Captains, fearless Gunners, and cunning Engineers and their high-flying exploits. Think you have what it takes to join their ranks?

Raising the stakes on team-based PvP combat with an emphasis on strategic competition and truly cooperative play, Guns of Icarus Online is the premier airship combat game that’s all about teamwork, tactics, and fast-paced action. With a good ship and the right crew, you can conquer the skies!

Head to IndieGameStand and grab Guns of Icarus now!

Some gamers hate Steam, so it is worth noting: Guns of Icarus Online is available exclusively through Steam. A direct download is not available for this game.

Guns of Icarus Online—Adventure Mode

The lengths that some developers will go to to see their vision realized amazes me, and with Guns of Icarus Online that was certainly true. They were almost bankrupted putting out the initial game, and have had a previous Kickstarter campaign to complete that effort. But they envisioned much more, including a Skirmish mode and a full Adventure. Skirmish was released as a separate game, but get ready as Guns of Icarus Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Adventure Mode!

Project Title: Guns of Icarus Online—Adventure Mode (PC/Mac/Linux)

Status: Active

Closing Date for Funding: May 21, 2013

URL of the Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/musegames/guns-of-icarus-onlineadventure-mode

From the developer:
So what is Guns of Icarus Online Adventure Mode all about?

* A persistent online post-apocalyptic steam & dieselpunk world
* Crew or captain your own ship and experience airship combat taken to new levels
* Explore towns and take on missions to help them develop and grow…or bring them to ruin
* Politics and intrigue with six player-run factions, each vying to stake its claim in the world
* Robust and accessible economic and political systems that drive the action

Why I think you should back this effort:

continue reading

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition, the 16th release in this game series, offers players an in-depth, rewarding golf experience.  This high quality golf game features  improved graphics, PlayStation Move controller capability, real-time weather system, and Legends of the Majors mode. Players can now create their own unique experience facing Tiger Woods or his fellow golfers, past and present like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Bubba Watson.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition includes tournament practice facility, extra content, online pass (broadband connection required), The Masters’ green jacket ceremony and five additional courses in additional to the 20 base courses available, which are also in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 (increased from 16). Most activities (online and offline) help players earn coins used for leveling up/improving golfers while providing enough variety and customization for an immersing overall experience.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition includes all the elements in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 including the Legends of the Majors mode, which replaces the previous Legacy mode where players compete in each golfer’s era with unique gear, visuals, and playing style. Players progress by winning against each player and can learn a lot about the sport and its’ rich history beginning in the 1930s.

This unique experience combines with the main gameplay, options and settings to benefit any player ranging from beginner to veteran. The experienced players can still find high challenges like a fifth difficulty level called simulation, which represents a highly realistic experience.

The tournament practice facility includes a world-class practice tee, short game area, and putting green where players can practice with any golfer and/or earn extra experience advantages. In the Quick Tournament mode players can try any of the four major tournaments at any time. Hit a “Grand Slam” by playing historical events in all four majors: The Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Extra gameplay incentives including unlocking legend players for use in the main game modes. Players also unlock apparel, clubs, gloves, outfits, and other gear that increase talents and abilities.

The “Live & Dynamic Time of Day” features lets player enjoy some night golf for the first time. These new time of day settings allow a player to experience the time setting exactly occurring on that course in real-time. For example, a player playing the Sheshan course at 10:00 a.m. EDT would experience night golf since it would actually be night-time in China.

Gear upgrades in the pro shop help player boost power, accuracy and putting. Visual improvements add more texture in the environments and player clothing. Game developers even factor the weather into player movements with details like wind and other weather elements.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition feature 32 golfers total – nine Legends golfers and five female golfers as this game series features the LPGA for the first time. The nine Legends players are Arnold Palmer (in two eras), Jack Nicklaus (three), Gary Player (two), Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Boggy Jones, and “Tiger Slam” Tiger Woods.

In the present day, Electronic Arts represents a total of 35 players from the PGA…and the LPGA including Paula Creamer, Suzann Petterse, Natalie Bulbis, Lexi Thompson, and Stacy Lewis. The male golfers include Tiger, Ian Poulter, Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Ben Crane, Paul Casey, Hunter Mahan, Ross Fisher, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Bud Cauley plus celebrity golfers Kevin Love, Andy Roddick, Marshall Faulk, and fantasy golfer Scott Ratchman.

Playable golf courses include Augusta National, Atlanta Athletic Club, Crooked Stick Golf Course, East Lake, Ocean Course at Kiawah island, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, PGA National, Royal Birkdale, Spyglass Hill, Torrey Pines, PTC Sawgrass, and Valhalla with new course including New Royal Troon, TPC Louisiana, Mission Hills, Muirfield Village, and Oak Hill Country Club.

The flexible game modes offer customized choices….the environments and playable golfers are plentiful…now for the action. The icons and meters help you measure and estimate those perfect shots. It is very easy to succeed and customize your character. A meter accurately measures backswing and ball contact, requiring players to concentrate to achieve the correct rhythm with every stroke. Players can choose among standard, advanced or draw and fade using the traditional controller or PlayStation Move controller.

Golfers now have different strengths and weaknesses according to selectable abilities. Players can easily customize a player in their aesthetic likeness then select from more than 25 detailed Swing Styles with skills that match with special gear to create their ultimate golfer. Swing style option types include power vs. control; draw vs fade (how the balls travels off the club), trajectory (low, med, and high); and finally right or left-handed. Each ability affects another ability. For example, choosing power helps drive the ball, but players lose some control/accuracy. Tempo (rhythm of gameplay) is an important game changer that mainly affects control.

The country club experience offers great teamplay, social enhancements (mute chat option), and special events. Players can check leaderboards and, most importantly, achieve team loyalty coins/awards like the streak system that rewards successive daily play. Leave to a country club to put the focus on the game currency. Players can definitely advance quicker in an active country club membership.

Not sure where to go for membership? Players can choose automatic placement after playing through their first round of golf. Each country club can now accommodate up to 100 players (an increase from 25). The Connected Club tournaments lets players measure up against other country clubs. The extended Country Club Tour features five events.

Players always have access to essential gameplay information plus a real-time sports ticket at the bottom of the screen. This installment decreases the caddy and announcer involvement though announcer Jim Nantz provides nice introductions.

Season ticket members can get a 20% discount on downloadable content like 18 additional courses including The PTC Boston, River Highlands, San Antonio, and Scottsdale 4-pack and the remaining Banff Springs, Celtic Manor (2010), Costa Navarino, The Els Club, River Course at Blackwolf Run, Royal County Down, Royal Melbourne, Sheshan, TPC Blue Monster at Doral, Wolf Creek Golf Club and new Colonial Country Club plus four fantasy courses named Emerald Dragon, Greek Isles, Highlands, and Predator.

An outstanding all-ages sports experience with great flexibility and customization. Also available on Xbox 360 (both regular and The Masters Historic Edition).

Review: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition

Where to Buy: Amazon and other stores

Price: $69.99 (Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 sells for $59.99)

What I Like: Legends of the Majors game mode, Grand Slam (all four major tournaments) mode, LPGA inclusion, historical/learning elements, nostalgic visuals, night time golf options, expanded competition with Country Club option, expanded competition online as single player, low learning curve for veteran players (mechanics similar to previous installment)

What Needs Improvement: menus/options occasionally overload the experience with too much information, more commentary options/availability, limited ways to expedite game currency accumulation for upgrades (mainly through country club membership activities)

Where Angels Cry HD for iPad

In the world of hidden object games, there are a number of paths a developer can take, including purely hidden object screen games – which come in a variety of types – as well as more adventure oriented games. Many of the G5 games bridge both major types, often pulling in ideas from multiple sub-genres. The new release from G5 games is more oriented to the adventure side of the genre, which can be tricky because it means that you need to integrate a story and plot development and milestones with hidden objects and puzzles. With that frames, let’s take a look at Where Angels Cry HD for iPad!

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA)

Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here); available in the iTunes App Store

Developer: Cateia Games / G5 Entertainment

Description:
Here are some of the features:

● 18 amazing mini-games and puzzles to solve
● Seven mysterious locations to explore
● Three modes: casual, adventure and challenge
● Collect 21 angels to unlock additional achievements
● HD graphics and a riveting storyline

Major features:

You have to love it when a game starts with an intriguing mystery and keeps it going! Where Angels Cry starts out having you embarking to solve a mystery of the disappearance of Brother John in a remote monastery in medieval times … and the sudden weeping of blood from an angel statue that some are calling a miraculous sign.

Where Angels Cry follows tradition by having you tap to move from area to area and then to locate specific items within each area. These items are sometimes combined, other times collected up, but always make sense in context. For example, in one area you need to help a Brother collect up tools that drunken Templars have scattered before he can provide you some assistance. In another area you need to patch a hole in a boat and the items you need to find make sense to do the patching. Even taking car of a horse requires hay, brush, and re-shoeing!

Speaking of the horse, that is my single complaint with the game. The area where you take care of the horses is less than half-way through the game, but when I was playing that chapter there were a couple of recipe-oriented tasks. One was making soup, so I would just add ingredients to the pot as I collected them until I was done. But for re-shoeing the horse, I had only found 3 of the 4 nails needed for the task, but when I put on the shoe and tacked it with the 3 nails the game wanted me to finish that task, so even the hint pointed kept me going back to the shoe rather than helping me find the fourth nail! I eventually had to restart the game as a new player, and never had another issue.

My favorite thing about Where Angels Cry is that the mystery continues throughout the game, and remains interesting. You are learning more about characters and situations, and eventually find yourself in dangerous situations where you need to apply skills to get out. It makes for an intriguing experience.

Ease of use/Overall performance: The precision of tapping, ease of combining and using items, and pretty much every technical item about this game is very well done. I never had a crash or glitch throughout my time, so as I mentioned only that one hint issue kept the experience from being perfect.

Would use again/recommend?: Definitely! I love story driven games, definitely appreciate a great adventure mystery, and also like hidden object games. Where Angels Cry does a great job of integrating all of these into an enjoyable experience.

Suggested changes/wish list for updates: One time I was stuck mid-way through a task and the hint kept bringing me back to the task rather than helping me find the one missing object.

Price: Free download with in-app purchase of full version for $4.99 ($2.99 iPhone) – this is a limited time sale through April 13th, normal price is $6.99 for iPad, $4.99 for iPhone.

Here is the trailer:

Divinity Dragon Commander

I have written extensively about my love of the Divinity games from Larian studios, including the recent Kickstarter of the turn-based Divinity Original Sin. The company is simultaneously working on another game, a real-time strategy game called Divinity Dragon Commander. Now Divinity Dragon Commander is Available for Pre-Order or as an Original Sin Perk.

This week Larian and GoG.com announced they were teaming up to offer a discounted pre-order for Divinity Dragon Commander, knocking 11% off the price and asking only $39.99 for this massive game that offers single and multiplayer campaigns, as well as real-time and turn-based campaigns.

There is a ton more about the game at GoG, but here are a few features:

• Real-time Strategy: Command your sea, land, and air forces in real-time. Combined operations and determining the perfect locations and times to strike are crucial to every victory.
• Dragon Combat: During real-time strategy mode, transform into a dragon to support your troops in combat and obliterate the enemy using powerful dragon abilities.
• Turn-based Campaign: Direct your conquest on the turn-based world map; plan several moves ahead, build formidable armies and invest in the right upgrades for technology and magic.

As you might have noted, similar to what happens in Divinity II you get the chance to transform into a Dragon in Dragon Commander! I am sure this will have amazing gameplay implications, and cannot wait to check them out!

As I noted, I jumped on the Divinity Original Sin Kickstarter as soon as it launched, with my only concern that I get a digital copy of the game.

What I did NOT notice was that by pledging more than $65 I could get a copy of Dragon Commander as well – that’s right, two amazing games from one of my favorite developers set in the Divinity universe for just pledging a minimum of $65! That is the price of a single crappy EA annual roster update game! Here is what they say:

Divinity Dragon Commander Digital Copy

Two games, two times the fun! You’ll recieve a code for Dragon Commander as soon as it is released (ETA July 2013). You won’t have to wait for your Divinity Fix with this package! Dragon Commander Digital Edition will be DRM-free, and will be localized in English, French, German, Polish and Russian. Additional languages may be added. The game will initially be available for PC. If Mac and Linux versions, and other languages, become available they will be free to owners of PC copies (digitally). Digital copies will have to be downloaded via your preferred digital retailer such as Steam or GOG.com if available. This low price is only available to those who help fund.

This also includes: Kickstarter Potion + Divinity Original Sin Digital Copy + Soundtrack Digital Download + Developer’s Cut Digital (Documents and Videos)

So naturally I increased my backing amount enough to get both games – I still have to decide whether to get my copies through GoG or Steam, as I love both services. But it is great to have the options – choose how to pre-order, choose delivery method. It is amazing how much these things have opened up just as so many other areas of the game world seem to be closing down.

Here is the trailer for Divinity Dragon Commander:

Check it out, and let us know how you decide to grab the game!

Art Mogul for Mac

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game

Platform/where to buy: Mac; available in the Mac App Store

Developer: Funzai! / G5 Entertainment

Description:
Art Mogul has loads of content, including:
• 430 Pictures worth a thousand words
• 21 Hidden object scenes
• 7 Exciting cities to visit: San-Francisco, New York, London, Paris, Saint-Petersburg, Shanghai, and Tokyo
• 40 Achievements to earn
• 3 Art Museums to buy

Major features: Art Mogul puts you in the role of an art collector seeking to maximize your collection and your profits, traveling the world visiting galleries; getting the best price and rooting out fakes along the way.

At its core Art Mogul is a hidden object game, but it plays almost like a simulation game in some ways. Your goal is to make the most money to build your art collection value. You start off going to a gallery with some money, where you can purchase a painting that is guaranteed to be authentic. But you want to drive down the price, so you need to engage in hidden object scenes and find items to get the best possible price.

The same is true when selling – if the gallery or buyer wants your art, you can get an even higher price by finding all of the objects. You also use this method to find out whether an artwork is real or fake so you can avoid buying something and losing money.

You don’t just spend time in art galleries, you also have cafes, auction houses and more. In auction houses even more art is available, but now you are bidding against other dealers looking for the best price. You can try to ‘stun’ then to stop them from bidding, but if you fail you can end up overpaying for the artwork.

Ease of use/Overall performance: Rather than just the normal hidden object story-based game, Art Mogul offers a seemingly endless array of choices to visit and discover. The interface remains the same as in the majority of hidden object games, which makes it easy to get into and play the game.

Would use again/recommend?: Definitely! I have played dozens of HOPA games, so there are many that simply blend into the crowd. Simply by changing up the basic premise to one of an art collector, Art Mogul feels fresh and new and a fun diversion for the genre.

Suggested changes/wish list for updates: Paintings repeat after a while, and after a bit there is nothing new about the game – it is the same things repeated.

Source: Publisher provided review code

Price: $2.99 – (sale price until April 13th, then the price returns to $4.99)

Here is the trailer:

Foursies brings unique twist

The conversion of a board game to a smartphone game can be tricky, due to getting controls and the feel of the game correct. For that reason I haven’t been a big fan of games like the Wii version of Monopoly. But a game like Connect 4 seems to be a natural – the controls are simple, and the flow and view of the game work perfectly on small screens as well as tablets. But to make it really stand out there needs to be a twist, so let’s see how they did in my Foursies for iOS Game Review!

Type of app: Multiplayer board game

Platform/where to buy: iPad/iPhone; available in the iTunes App Store

Developer: Lightwood Consultancy Ltd

Description:
Here are some of the features of this four in a row game with a unique twist.

Play four boards at the same time against the same opponent
BUT
You have to play in a different column on each board
AND
The first player to get a line on two boards wins.

Major features:

As the app description indicates, this is basically ‘multiplayer multidimensional Connect 4′. In Connect 4 the goal is to get four pieces in a row – vertical, horizontal or diagonal. Of course, your opponent is trying to do the same thing, so there is strategy in either setting up your own win or blocking your opponents moves to force a draw.

Foursies is a multiplayer-only game, so you need opponents just to get started. After the tutorial you can either explicitly invite opponents or simply take a random ‘next available’ match. You then position your pieces on the four boards, but as you position on one board that column is blocked on the others. This requires strategy as you might win one board but lose another due to positioning restrictions.

After your turn you choose to ‘send moves’ which then alerts your opponent that it is their turn. When their moves are complete you have the opportunity to move again. The last move from your opponent on each board is highlighted, showing if you are in trouble or not. You each continue to take moves until one of you gets two boards complete, and that person gets the win. You can then continue playing rounds against that opponent or move on to others.

There is a store that allows you to broadly customize the game by purchasing new colors and shapes for the pieces. You can also pay to remove advertisements – and given that you need to endure full-screen ads with each turn that might be a good choice. Either way, Foursies is fun that evokes a classic game while delivering it in a fresh new way.

Ease of use/Overall performance: If you have ever played Connect 4 you will jump right into this game without difficulty. And the game does a great job enforcing the rules and showing you a tutorial to help you along.

Would use again/recommend?: Definitely! I have always loved Connect 4, and the quick and easy way you can connect and play a round makes it a no-brainer. If you plan to play any significant amount you will want to pay to kill the ads, but the game is inexpensive enough to not be an issue.

Suggested changes/wish list for updates: The ads are fairly intrusive, particularly the full screen ones after each round – but since they are removed with purchase it isn’t a big deal.

Price: Free download with in-app purchase of full version for $1.99

Here is the trailer:

Ask any gamer and they know ‘that game’ – the one that is supposed to be ‘genre transcendent’, combining excellence in gameplay, technical aspects, gear, freedom of choice and action, story, immersion, multiple platforms, cinematic qualities, and so on. And while there are many games that have claimed to bring it all together, in 2007 Bioshock was perhaps the first one to truly manage the feat reasonably well. It was not the greatest shooter, nor did it have the best sense of freedom of choice, but it brought excellence in all areas to bear in a way that kept gamers playing and talking for years. Now the team who brought us the original game is back with the third entry, and Mike Siebenaler and I will be debating the merits and flaws of the game on the Playstation 3 and PC respectively. So without further ado, on to our Bioshock Infinite Review for PC and PS3!

Type of game: Action/First Person Shooter (FPS)

Platform/where to buy: PC/PS3; available in the Steam for PC and Amazon for PS3. Also available for XBOX360 and coming this summer for the Mac from Aspyr.

Developer: Irrational Games / 2K Games

Description:

Bioshock Infinite breaks new ground with unique gear, power and weapons amid amazing environments amid the immense floating city of Columbia. Michael Anderson and I offer our critiques on the PC and PlayStation 3 versions respectively. The PlayStation 3 Bioshock Infinite version includes first Bioshock installment, originally released in 2007.

Set in 1912, this third installment in the Bioshock game series enthralls without the “Big Daddies” while keeping familiar gameplay elements involving various gear, weapons, and powers. Bioshock Infinite is PS Move compatible and only takes up 96MB of hard drive space. Download the manual at www.2kgames.com/manual/bioshockinfinite The PC digital download clocks in at 20-40GB depending on options and DLC.

This action/first-person shooter (FPS) game features former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, voiced by Troy Baker, must rescue the imprisoned Elizabeth, voiced by Courtnee Draper. Elizabeth can definitely hold her own in combat and pick locks while tossing Booker found supplies. Her biggest power is opening tears, inter-dimensional rifts in time and space that have three functions – resource, structural, and offensive.

Booker and the AI controlled Elizabeth must work together and merge their powers to escape Columbia and reach New York. Simple enough, right? Oh, Columbia is also in a tumultuous civil war between nativist/elite factions and the Vox Populi…also the protagonist duo must escape a large robot bird called Songbird…um, the various “Heavy Hitters” also pose formidable challenges.

The mysterious “prophet” Zachary Comstock overshadows all the baddies as does the Songbird…literally. The songbird serves as a warden for Elizabeth (a.k.a. “The Lamb”, “The Miracle Child”) while she is imprisoned … until players, (Booker) ultimately rescue her. The Heavy Hitters, created by the Founders, include the Motorized Patriots, Boys of Silence, Handymen, and Siren.

As their name suggests, the Patriots are machines with the faces of famous U.S. patriots. George Washington headlines the group who were originally constructed as tour guides, but now yield peppermill machine guns. The Boys of Silence have big ears for super sensitive hearing because these semi-mechs are blind humans inside with metal helmets. Handymen can take large jumps and have human hearts and heads. The female Siren revives fallen foes.

The flying city of main setting, Columbia, is an apparent homage to the 1893 World’s Fair and has steam punk style with Sky-line transportation options – an intricate, roller coaster-type rail system, originally built for shipping/transportation purposes where characters can jump on for the ride of their lives. Players can access audio logs, Voxophones, and film projectors called Kinetoscopes, which provide valuable background about Columbia. After players conquer the game they can experience a more challenging 1999 Mode. Enemies have increased power. Items do not replenish health as well as the regular mode.

Here are some of the features:

• Immersive Story
• A City in the Sky
• Sky-Lines
• Tears
• Vigors
• New Combat Experience
• 1999 Mode

Visuals
PS3: Mike S. Says:  The high production value creates a great sense of space plus a sense of vertigo with entire structures floating in the air. The zipline-type experience of hoping on the fast sky-lines is one of several showcases in the game. Not every element has sharp resolution (e.g. some street signs, etc.), but the essential items do. Characters have amazing detail especially when moving close to them.

PC: Mike A. Says: When I set out to play Bioshock Infinite I installed it on two different laptops, my gaming laptop and a HP Elitebook 2570p I have for review. I knew the gaming laptop would be able to deliver Columbia in all of its glory, but I was more interested in how a Core-i5, integrated Intel HD4000 graphics system would work. I was amazed that the game ran at all on the EliteBook, but even more amazed that it looked gorgeous.

One thing that has stunned me is how well the game scales with hardware. I have seen Bioshock Infinite running on the PS3 and XBOX360 in demos, and it looks very similar to my experience on the Elitebook — which shows how well the team did optimizing the code across platforms. However, taking in Columbia’s vistas on my gaming laptop with its fully amped-up hardware was even more stunning. Everything was sharp and distinct throughout. But guess what? I was very happy to play through on the EliteBook, and I never felt like it was a compromise. It reminds me of Half-Life 2 in that way, the team has to choose where to put computing resources, and by focusing on where your eyes go they can de-emphasize non-critical resources.

Gameplay
PS3: Mike S. Says: The “tears” create unique experiences present special advantages for these protagonists who must endure various challenges that shock, surprise, and exhilarate. Lead designer/Bioshock vet Ken Levine and his team really give players a nice payoff by giving them time during gameplay to experience their environments so they can make well-informed decisions, find helpful items, and experience entertaining surprises.

Players can gain additional advantages by using stealth; changing direction, gaining control of mechanical systems; get familiar with surroundings and situations instead of having to go “all out” and destroy everything all the time.

PC: Mike A. Says: Bioshock was never the greatest of ‘core shooters’, but it was the way that it wrapped up the entire experience that made it such a great game. Bioshock Infinite improves the experience of sitting down to play in every way, and it does it by minimizing the ‘out of game’ experiences. The combination of levels designed to allow exploration, imagination, and combat; the use of the ‘tears’ Mike mentioned; and the amazing character of Elizabeth all come together to keep your mind in the game all of the time.

This is no small feat – playing a shooter means needing health, ammo, weapons, and so on. And having a Bioshock game means gaining special secondary abilities which need their own fuel, and finally having a progression system for all of these means needing a system that will allow you to upgrade without hitting a menu screen. Ken Levine’s team did this without the game being too easy (Bioshock), by having all of these systems integrated naturally into the environment, and by providing Elizabeth with natural skills that will help you throughout.

Two examples of where Elizabeth is extremely useful are combat and locks. During a fierce battle Elizabeth can bring in an automated turret from a tear, toss you ammo or health or salts, and generally be right there in a non-combat support role; while exploring you will find lockpicks, and Elizabeth can make good use of them opening up hidden areas or locked paths. It adds to the feeling of teamwork throughout.

The final thing about gameplay is defying expectations. Most experienced gamers know the story: you start off weak, with a basic reason to start fighting, then you gain strength and better weapons and options, and eventually you take on the big boss in the climactic final battle, and then perhaps watch a cutscene or just watch the credits roll. That is NOT how it happens here – the ‘end game’ isn’t finished when the last enemy drops, in fact, it is just getting started.

Gear / Weapons
PS3: Mike S. Says: Players must gear up with protective apparel (e.g. hats, boots, etc.) and, of course, weapons (two at a time). Players can compare their inventory and buy items at convenient vending machines using the silver eagle game currency. Use a special grappling hook for the sky-lines and freight hook points while using weapons that include shotgun, grenade launcher, carbine gun, and a sniper rifle. Fisticuffs and melee are always available when low on ammunition while the grappling hook itself comes in very handy.

Collect vigors for some amazing powers that involve telekinesis, magic (e.g. a Bucking Bronco levitates enemies into the air making them easy targets), electricity manipulation, possessive control and time travel/manipulation. Possession allows players to briefly control human or robotic foes…human foes while act dramatically after the possession power wears off. Elizabeth’s gifts include the time travel/manipulation powers, which she introduces to Booker in an elevator as they escape.

The efficient load times are only lengthy at appropriate times (e.g. during a break in the story triggered by leaving an area) and players can typically move freely through areas while saving occurs.

PC: Mike A. Says: The weapons and weapon system (two at a time as Mike mentions) are fairly standard for a shooter, and I was glad that the developers didn’t opt for a ‘universal ammo’ system we’ve seen too often in recent years. Instead you have a great variety of close-up, ranged, high damage, fast fire, and area effect weapons to choose from. There are only a few weapons at the start, and as you progress more and more come available. Some weapons have very limited ammo, and for good reason. You can upgrade the power, clip size, recoil and reload times of pretty much every weapon in the game. My strategy was to always have a high damage and high-speed weapon equipped.

Mike  S., I would be interested in knowing which vigors you used the most? For me it was fire and electricity – my kids watched me battling a Handyman using the combined vigors with the great effect of keeping him stunned and far away … and they noted that I was pretty much playing as a ‘battle mage’. That comparison isn’t too far off. The game is very effective at allowing the player to decide how to play. As you mention, you don’t HAVE to be a wrecking crew, as you can take control of enemies, use stealth, and so on. In my case, I CHOSE to be a walking missile platform!

Since we’re discussing load-times, I was honestly stunned at how infrequently I saw the ‘leave area’ screen noting a full-area load was required. Given the scope and scale of some locations, combined with item tracking within those areas, I can only assume there was some amount of streaming-from-disk to keep the game flowing along within a location. Also, given the size of these areas I though the loads were very quick. I was never left waiting for an area to load, as most times I appreciated the cool-down after a pitched battle.

One final thing – the save system. I know I’ll sound like an old PC gamer stalwart, but I hate checkpoint-only save systems. In the context of playing Bioshock Infinite, I didn’t mind it too much, but I would have LOVED to go back and replay certain area – something I could do in the earlier Bioshock games. But this time around they removed manual saves. For most people it isn’t a big deal, but it was a bit of a let-down for me.

PS3: Mike S. Says (follow-up): The Devil’s Kiss and Possession vigors were my favorites? Possession worked well with mechanical turrets then I could lead all the baddies behind me into the turrets’ line of fire. Firepower is always helpful for breaking clusters, so The Devil’s Kiss was standard for me. The combinations created some great opportunities for discovery and action.

Controls
PS3: Mike S. Says: The intuitive control scheme lets players switch weapons and vigors on both sides (R2 and L2 respectively with visuals in the lower screen corners) then fire on each side (R1 and L1). Players can hold L1 for a more powerful vigor attack and hold L2 cycle through the vigors in a break out circular menu. Vigor use is not available while on the sky-line or freight hooks.

Available upgrades usually allow for two and can change the way the selected power works, which adds some nice variety and unpredictability. Players use the x button to jump or attach to the sky-line/dismount, which felt so invigorating that you might instinctively hold down the x button so you don’t fall. Eventually, like most thrill seeking games, if you let yourself go and “give in” to the experience, then you can find some incredible experiences.

Multiple actions require assigning multiple functions to certain buttons. Thankfully, developers make logical clusters (e.g. square button used for searching/using items and reloading weapons plus holding it to open a time “tear”).

PC: Mike A. Says: I tend to immediately assess a game as a ‘console port’ when starting out and working through the settings and other menu options. Bioshock Infinite was a bit of a hybrid as I could freely use the mouse or the arrow keys. Once I started playing I definitely found a couple of places where your control choice was limited in a way that suggested being made for console buttons – but those where areas (such as dialog choices) where it made sense.

As I made progress and got solidly into the game the game felt more and more like a standard PC shooter with outstanding keyboard & mouse controls. Standard keys were mapped to all of the normal controls, and rather than an ‘alternate fire’ for weapons, the right mouse button was mapped to vigors. I changed around a few controls to bring them to a more natural position, but in general I was pleased with how it worked on the PC. Which has also made me thrilled to hear from friends playing on the XBOX360 and Mike on the PS3 that the game fits naturally on those control systems as well. Again, well-balanced choices by the team.

Music & Voice-Acting
PS3: Mike S. Says: Former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, voiced by Troy Baker, andd Elizabeth, voiced by Courtnee Draper, convey the game’s elements well as they explain their situation and awe throughout the game. The subtle comic comments or strong reactions are not overdone. The characters they encounter handle most of the comic barbs, especially a character in an interior sequence that you might try to shoot. Music composer Garry Schyman, a seasoned veteran of film, television and video game scores, matches the game’s tone and themes very well. Schyman and his composing orchestra/team elevate the epic action and awe-inspiring scenarios. The score soundtrack is currently only available through the varying Bioshock Infinite editions and special sets while the “Original Songs Uncovered (tracks inspired by Bioshock Infinite) is out now.

PC: Mike A. Says: I recommend checking out the character video below, because it shows why Elizabeth is one of the best NPC characters ever developed. You care about her as a character, and the team does a great job of holding your emotions through Elizabeth’s voice acting and physical movements. As Mike mentions both Booker and Elizabeth provide a variety of emotions that help carry you throughout the game without feeling out of place.

The whole idea of ‘dynamic music’ has evolved a great deal in the decade or so people have been trying to make it work. In the early days, games like Jedi Knight II would have peaceful music playing when you already entered battle, or battle music long after you were done dispatching foes. But even that was much better than what there was before. In Bioshock Infinite the music provides mood, setting, atmosphere, and sometimes provides just enough of that ‘horror movie warning’ to get you ready for an impending attack!

Add-On Content
PS3: Mike S. Says: The three add-on content packs will be free with a season pass purchase. Players who purchase the BioShock Infinite Season Pass will get the three packs for approximately 30% less than purchasing them separately. These packs will “provide hours of additional gameplay and continue the player’s journey in the sky-city of Columbia with new stories, characters, abilities and weapons.”

The Early Bird Special Pack contains exclusive gear, weapons damage upgrades (pistol and machine gun), weapon gold skin (pistol and machine gun) and special health upgrades. Players who purchase the BioShock Infinite Season Pass receive this pack for free. The Industrial Revolution Pack includes $500 in-game currency, a special puzzle game and three pieces of special in-game gear for increased fighting powers. Players who preorder BioShock Infinite get the Industrial Revolution Pack for free. So there are five packs to be had in all. Three all-new add-on packs are currently in development. Hopefully a multiplayer option is on the horizon as well.

PC: Mike A. Says: I have only played the standard version of the game, so I appreciate Mike laying out all of the extras. As I looked into it, I found that as Mike said only some items are currently available, with the ‘characters and stories’ coming sometime between now and next year. That is a very interesting approach, as it is a bit of a gamble. But if you like the game, it is an investment in getting more action over the next year.

I was honestly glad to see there was no multiplayer, at least at this point. This is such a single-player driven experience that I am glad they stuck with that. If they decide to add it on as part of the Season Pass, also a good thing.

Conclusions
PS3: Mike S. Says: Publisher 2K Games work well with developers Irrational Games and 2K Marin in their creation of the high quality Bioshock Infinite. Great for game series fans and likely to attract several new fans. Great potential for upcoming add-on content. Currently no multiplayer mode, but that could be coming as well. Well worth the wait.

PC: Mike A. Says: The original Bioshock had a decent (if way-too-easy) shooter with a solid story and some cool options; the sequel came from a different team and was a decent if forgettable extension. With Bioshock Infinite Ken Levine and Irrational are back, with the best story yet, a challenging shooter, great character, great customization of your character, and loads of intriguing twists and turns along the way. Not only that, but unlike way too many games it is highly polished with few crashes or bugs, works very well across platforms, and scales well on low – or high-end PCs. I see this as a strong ‘game of the year’ candidate.

Price: $59.99 for standard edition; $79.99 for Premium Edition; $149.99 for the Ultimate Songbird Edition.

What I Like: visual design incorporation combination with interactive gameplay/abilities, fantastical Columbia setting, the story, intuitive control scheme, many hidden items/unlockables, 1999 mode increases replay value to high level

What Needs Improvement: no multiplayer mode (yet); loss of manual saves; game needs bigger “buffer” zones for action areas and text message triggers (e.g. players must find a spot to dismount from a sky-line and text messages disappear during quick actions and movement, so it’s challenging to get them to reappear)

Here is the trailer:

It is also worth looking at HOW they created the character of Elizabeth:

And on the subject of Elizabeth, much has been made of her likeness to Belle from Beauty and the Beast, as noted in this Penny Arcade comic. Here is another fun image:

So … have YOU played Bioshock Infinite? What did you think? Let us know!