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Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare-Review

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare-Review

I’m not the biggest fan of Call of Duty nor have I ever, but the first two titles in the modern warfare series were some of the more well made shooters of last generation. But the polish and innovation of those two games never really flowed into the games that followed, regardless of developer. Black Ops was dumb fun but that's the last time I could say I had any actually fun with a game from this series. But with SledgeHammer games developing the newest iteration, they’re for sure pushing the series in the right direction. SledgeHammer doesn't do anything drastically different, and I doubt they’ll convert any holdovers, but for the first time in years I can actually say I had a good deal of fun with the game. It's no masterpiece, or even necessarily what I want to see from the series. But as far as mindless fun and cheap popcorn thrills. Advanced Warfare is a well made game that delivers on some fun, over the top action.

The first thing I’ll touch on is the multiplayer, because I didn't really like it. Not all of it, what I don’t like is the twitch, reflex based action of the games multiplayer. I don’t really blame SledgeHammer for this, reconstructing the entire system would cost them a large amount of their fanbase, it’s just not for me. I will give credit where it is due, and SledgeHammer did learn from many of the mistakes of their predecessors. Most notably the balancing, Call of Duty over the years has become notorious for serious issues in balancing, I feel like for the first time in a while the playing fields are a little more level no matter what types of guns or equipment you choose. I also commend the dynamic maps, the mid-match changes kept the game exciting all the way through. The maps also look very good, and some maps feature a fair amount of destruction, making these maps look more like real locations and less like just shooting arenas. The game also has a fair amount of weapons and unlockables to give more incentive to return to the multiplayer. Using the exo- suits definitely widens the way you can play, but it’s more of a novelty than a drastic change in gameplay. My issues with the multiplayer are more based on its favoring luck of the draw over skill and strategy. Its mostly preference, not a knock to the game. A number of new game modes were added, but I didn't really like most of them, and no one was playing them either. The core game modes still work just fine though.

The campaign is what usually drags me toward Call of Duty, I’m in the minority here, some people won’t play it at all, but Advanced Warfare's campaign isn't one worth skipping, because unlike the last two games, this one is quite a bit of fun. The game knows what it is, not attempting too much story wise, but because of this, the fairly simple and familiar premise ends up working just great for the game. Its more of a backdrop for the fun shooting sections and set piece moments. The graphics are great, with crisp actions sequences as well as large, sprawling environments and decent character models. A lot of attention to detail is paid, way more than I’m used to or expect from this series. The sound design is absolutely wonderful. The sound of gunshots echo through hallways, bullet casings hit the ground and wounded enemies gargle in death or shout in pain after being shot. The voice acting serves its purpose and Kevin Spacey knocks it out of the park as usual. The controls are tight and make the game fun to play. The story is familiar, if you've played modern warfare two you know it already. But I’m glad to report a lack of melodrama or ridiculous and implausible plot points, unlike the last three or four games. My biggest flaws from this game is the lack of freedom. Its so linear the game is borderline on rails. The environments are so large and well crafted I wish I could run around them a little more freely. There are also an array of sweet gadgets but you’re very limited in what you can do with them. It’s disappointing when you get something new and cool to play with and can't do too much with it. But this is easily the most fun I've had with a campaign since modern warfare two and easily blows the bland “Ghosts” out of the water.

Verdict: 8/10

Advanced Warfare is targeted toward the more causal of the gaming universe, but for a relatively mindless shooter I had a good amount of fun with the game. It’s a solid addition to the ps4’s lineup. Its not free of flaws and certainly no masterpiece, or series defining game, but it really puts its foot out in front and drags the series in a promising direction.

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Top 25 Games of the Generation

The generation of PS3/360/Wii is official coming to an end. And it may have been the best generation yet that the industry has offered. Storytelling shined through and everything became bigger and better. The FPS dominated the market and new IPs surprised us constantly. looking back I wish to name my choice for the top 25 games of this generation. I believe that these 25 games were the best that these last 9 years had to offer, but in the end, its just my opinion.

25) Halo 4

Bungie walked away from the Halo series leaving newcomers 343 to take over. They didn't just do the series justice, but made the best Halo game in a while. The gunplay took no hits, but every weapon felt more powerful. The graphics are some of the best I've seen on consoles. The return of Master Chief was also exciting. The thing that impressed me the most though was the storyline. Halo always had a fleshed out world, but the storyline was never very focused, and tried to span every corner of the world, ending in unsatisfyingly vague storytelling. The relationship between Master Chief and Cortana is one worth following. I had never been huge on Halo, but Halo 4 was the one to really hold me down and leave me excited for their next effort.

24) Dead Space

Survival Horror was a genre that was all too quickly fading away. But leave it to Dead Space to single handedly bring it back from the dead. The game knew exactly what survival horror fans wanted and delivered to satisfying results. The sound design made you hear every single movement or noise. The game was dark and claustrophobic and had some of the most terrifying enemies ever encountered to this day. The gameplay was innovative and an absolute blast. I've never spent so many hours having a blast at the very edge of my seat. Dead Space brought us back to the days of terror that fans of survival horror had been waiting for.

23) Batman: Arkham Asylum

Rocksteady took the dreaded Batman license and made, at the time, the best damn licensed game ever. Actors from the animated series reprised their roles, the game felt like a genuine batman tale. The combat is still some of the best and brought on a wave of clones. Batman fans got everything they could have ever wanted in a Batman game and more.

22) Borderlands 2

I was not a fan of the original Borderlands. But the sequel was enough to turn me on to the series almost immediately. Gunplay and RPG elements are weaved seamlessly and the progression system keeps you interested. The game has a unique art style, one that saw significant improvement over the original. The writing is as hilarious as ever but the real surprise is the storyline. The lack of story is one of the biggest things that turned me away from the original, but a focused storyline and one of the best villains in recent memory made this a game that I wanted to finish again and again. And it was enough to turn me on to a series i never expected to give a shit about.

21) Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Super Smash Bros. is just as much fun as the others but is chock full of welcome improvements. The addition of a story mode gives the game content beyond couch co-op. The graphics are some of the best on the system and so is the gameplay. The cast is bigger and better than ever. Its not likely that you’ll have more fun with a game than Smash Bros. Brawl.

20) The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead has admittedly weak gameplay, but that doesn't take away from the tragic and consistently amazing storyline. The game is engrossing and warms your heart before quickly breaking it. The ending is one that you won’t soon forget. This is one of the few games I've ever seen that manages to shine on story alone

19) Uncharted 3

Uncharted is easily one of the most impressive series of last generation and the third game is no different. Everything from 2 is as well done as ever. This time around the moments are bigger and better, complemented by the best graphics the PS3 has to offer. So much attention to detail is given to character movements making them feel realistic and alive. The more impressive moments in the game are the little moments between character, something that Naughty Dog does so well.

18) Mass Effect 3

If the game had ended on a stronger note, I think it would have broken the top ten in this list. But even with a disappointing conclusion Mass Effect 3 is amazing. The gameplay is improved turning the series into a solid third person shooter. The story is dark and grim, but constantly exciting.  I was so eager to see it play out that I ripped through the 35 hour plus game in a few short days. Mass Effect 3 despite its ending is one of my favorite game of all time.

17) Modern Warfare

The Call of Duty series ended up diluting itself by saturating the market in more of the same, but that shouldn't cover up the achievements of Modern Warfare. It was successful in creating a pop culture phenomenon, the multiplayer was simple and that's what made it so much fun. the campaign was over the top and ridiculously fun. Don’t let the fact that the series spun itself into a rut over shadow how good this series once was.

16) Metal Gear Solid 4

Bioware should take notes, this is how you end a series. MGS 4 is easily one of the most satisfying conclusions ever in a video game. The storyline was convoluted but oh so fascinating, and in the end all were satisfied by the way it concluded. Not to mention the ending was just fantastic. The genre defining stealth controls only improved with age and the graphics are some of the best of the time. MGS 4 was the ultimate fan service and succeeded in being a fantastic game in the process.

15) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight princess

This entry in the zelda series returns to the darker storytelling and atmosphere that made Majora’s mask so unique. The game looks beautiful and Nintendo implements the motion controls well, giving gameplay a fresher feeling. The Zelda series is best known for its dungeons and this game may have some of the best ever. Puzzles are mind bending and there is plenty of stuff to find. All of this is richly detailed. Twilight princess is one of the best in gaming's most impressive franchise.

14) Fallout 3

Fallout 3 was an instant classic when it released in 2008. The post apocalyptic world was breathtaking when we first emerged from the vault. From the moment you open the doors you're free to explore one of the best video game worlds ever realized. Every character is memorable, and always has something for you to do. The story is enough to keep you interested and the RPG elements are about as deep as you can get. The gunplay is rough but the V.A.T.S. system more than makes up for it, giving you an option to choose strategy or just simply shooting till their dead. Fallout 3 takes the series in a new direction while still retaining the grim atmosphere of the apocalypse

13) Bioshock Infinite

Story reigns supreme in irrationals follow up to the original. This game is exactly what you’d expect from the team and more. The fully realized world has plenty to discover about its origin and is always moving in a fascinating direction. The gunplay is competent although the vigors feel weak. But as previously mentioned, the story is the show stealer. The game unfolds with all the twists and intelligence of the best novels. The relationship between Booker and Elizabeth starts off on a great foot and their chemistry only grows from there. All this ends in one of the best endings I've ever seen.

12) God of War 3

God of War 3 is a spectacular end to gaming's angriest protagonist. The graphics look fantastic even by today's standards and the scale of this game is massive, opening with a titan climbing a mountain followed by the best boss fight in a series known for them. The gameplay is as good as ever and the power of the PS3 puts added emphasis on the brutality of the finishers. The story isn't as strong as the first two but the game wraps the overarching story tightly and will leave fans satisfied.

11) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is easily the biggest game ever. The map is massive and its full of reasons to explore. Skyrim has enough content to keep you busy to this day. Its has some of the most fleshed out character progression ever, and the game gives you enough interesting things to do to make you want to progress. Despite flaws with occasional glitches and muddy textures, Skyrim is an achievement for the medium.

10) Grand Theft Auto V

Speaking of achievements for the medium, Skyrim may be huge, but we've never seen a world more fleshed out than that of Los Santos. The beautiful coast is packed with interesting characters and adventures to go on. Major improvements were made to gameplay in both driving and shooting making GTA V the overall smoothest experience in the series. The story never lives up to the greatness of the rest of the game but that doesn't take away the game that set a new benchmark in the open world genre.

9) Portal 2

The original portal was one of the biggest surprises of the generation, Portal 2 only improved on the fantastic premise to deliver one of the truly great games of the generation. The comedic writing is absolute perfection and puts Hollywood to shame. The game is packed full of brilliance never more apparent than they array of intelligent puzzles. No two are the same and each one puts your brain to the test. Valve shows you why its one of the best again and again and Portal 2 can stand right beside its impressive catalog as one of their better games.

8) Grand Theft Auto IV

I will openly acknowledge that Grand Theft Auto V is a superior game in many ways. But the game that paved the way to the beast that was GTA V just has something about it that ingrains itself in your mind. The main character Niko is a troubled antihero and exactly the type of person you want as the star of your story. The cast is anything but normal but as strange as they are they are firmly grounded to reality keeping them from feeling like a cartoon character. GTA V  may have tightened up the controls and extended the world but GTA IV is a truly impressive gangster tale that can stand beside some of the best crime films as an elite story, that is what gives the froth game the edge despite some minor shortcomings.

7) Batman Arkham City

Batman Arkham Asylum was not only a pleasant surprise from a massive Batman fan like myself, but the gamer in me was blown away by just how good the game really was. But with the sequel, Rocksteady showed just how good they were by improving on the best licensed game ever. Minor improvements were made to the combat to make it just that much more fluid. You’ll be hard pressed to find a game with a more satisfying combat system. The huge open world really gives me the feeling of playing as the Dark Knight. Gliding through the town and stopping villains in their tracks. The addition of Catwoman gave the game variety as well as the array of side missions. The boss fights were fantastic making you use every resource. The ending is the perfect way to close out an engaging storyline and is the perfect send off to comics greatest villain. Batman Arkham City was one of the biggest and best games I've ever played..

6) Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 3 was a sci-fi epic on a massive scale, but don’t right off the sequel just because it was a smaller game. ME 2 had something that the third game didn't quite have. Mass Effect had those small moments that got you so attached to the people you encountered along that way. Getting to know more about your friends was a big part of my motivation to finish the game. Gameplay was improved significantly from the original. The suicide missions is tense and shows how much your decisions really do matter, because if someone dies that's the end of the road for that character, they aren't coming back. Mass Effect 2 also manages to end as strongly as it began, these reason are what made Mass Effect 2 the best in the series and one of the best of the generation.

5) Super Mario Galaxy

If you ever at one point looked over at your dusty Wii and thought out loud “Why the fuck did I buy that thing?”, well, your answer is Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo showed us why there is no one better, they’re the Disney of video games. Managing to delight players both young and old. Mario Galaxy is beautiful and as a video game is perfection. You can’t say anything bad about this game, its a joy to experience no matter your age.

4) Uncharted 2

Naughty dog is my favorite developer by far, and if that wasn't a definite after Jak 3 it was after Uncharted 2. This is the video game version of a Hollywood blockbuster that kicks-ass. The writing team is spot on, all the interactions feel natural and the line between comedy and drama is drawn perfectly. The graphics and camerawork for the time were grounded breaking and we were introduced to the best voice cast in video games. Uncharted 2 set the bar for how good a video game could be.

3) Red Dead Redemption

The pinnacle of Rockstar storytelling is Red Dead Redemption. I could go on for days about this games story and how mature and intelligent it is. But its not just a great story, its a great everything. The wild west is massive and a visual wonder. Every character is worth meeting and remembering. A great amount of detail is but into the environments and character models so everything look genuine. The writing team shines as usual, everyone is unique and always has something to say worth hearing. The gameplay is a major improvement from previous Rockstar games. You felt like you were in the west, and I never wanted to leave. And you can’t talk about Red Dead without mention the ending being both tragic and intelligent. Red Dead Redemption is the perfect storm of story and gameplay.

2) Bioshock

Bioshock  features a storyline worthy of the best literary works. But Bioshock isn't a one trick pony. The gameplay is unique and an absolute blast. The first time you step into Rapture is a moment you won't ever forget. The dispotpia is one of the most imaginative video game worlds ever imagined. The horror vibe is obvious, you never feel safe or comfortable where you are, making every encounter tense. Bioshock is smart, intelligent, and one of the best games I've ever played.

1) The Last of Us

This game is the game that the rest of the medium looks to in envy. I plan on writing a review where I’ll go into greater detail of this masterpiece. But in brief summary The Last of Us is one of the best video games ever made. Flawlessly tense stealth gameplay is just one of the things that makes the combat gritty and realistic, everything is shockingly violent emphasizing the hopeless vibe of the apocalypse. The Last of Us has THE MOST intelligent, heartbreaking, and overall impressive video game storylines EVER. The Last of Us isn't just the best game of this generation. Its one of the best games ever.

#video game #Video games #Playstation #playstation 3 #xbox #xbox 360 #top 25 games #best games of the generation #list #lists #The last of us #nuaghty dog

[sonearlyfree]

Top 25: Honorable mentions

This past gaming generation has been arguably the best we've had in gaming. Huge steps forward were made in graphics and storytelling. When I set out to make my list I chose the 25 games that stood out as the best of the best. But not every game could find a spot, but that should take away from some of the more impressive releases we've seen. The games below are games that I didn't have room for in my 25 game of the generation. Regardless they deserve to be recognized as elite titles. Theses are the games that deserved to be mentioned even if they were outside the 25.

Tomb Raider: Tomb Raider had a successful comeback in 2013. Taking tips from Uncharted, the game was gritty and violent and became an impressive action game unlike the clunky boxy look and feel of the original games. Lara was a very well done character, making the audience care. Spot on platforming controls and gunplay made for a game that stood out amongst some fantastic releases in 2013.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: There's nothing not to like about the 3DS release. A call back to classic 2D this game did everything right. Blended new and old, made a great games for fans both new to the series as well as the ones who have been there since day one. But most importantly the game was imaginative and purely fun from start to finish.

Mass Effect: The Mass Effect games only improved over time, but just because of that we shouldn't forget the achievements of the original. Mass Effect was ambitious, a sprawling sci-fi world, choices that shape your game, and a promise of a full fledged franchise. Bioware delivers on every front and despite its flaws Mass Effect was the introduction to something great.

Journey: Leaving this game off was a tough choice. The world is undeniable beautiful, bringing emotion from its subtlety in a masterful way. As small as this game was it stood out as a gripping and thought provoking journey. A standout title in 2012 among heavy hitters like Halo and Mass Effect.

StarCraft 2: Starcraft 2 is the epitome of bigger and better. This game challenges your mind and made you think outside of the box. I really felt like I was commanding an army. Every battle is tense, the Zerg are relentless but everything you need to win is at your finger tips. Blizzard forces you to find the way out.

Heavy Rain: Dark and mature storytelling, innovative gameplay, influential motion capture. Just a few things that come to mind at the thought of Heavy Rain. The game has its fare share of flaws in storytelling, overall voice acting, and gameplay. But when the game shines it shimmer, building a gripping tale full of tragedy and betrayal.

Assassins Creed Brotherhood: I’m not the biggest Assassins Creed fan, but Brotherhood was the clear high point of the series. The final game before Assassins Creed would embark on its descent in quality. But Brotherhood only improved on the formula that made Assassins Creed 2 such a success. A more varied storyline, improved graphics. The game refined combat controls while continuing to emphasize on addictive platformer and giving us fun world to run free in.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of The Kings: One of my personal favorite RPGs of last generation, the Witcher 2 does so much right. The storytelling never lets up, always interesting, always mature, and always making sure you're invested in the ride you're being brought on. The Witcher 2 is difficult, but the gameplay makes sure that its never frustrating. The environmental graphics are a wonder to observe and a wealth of content ensure that you won’t run out of adventures to go on very quickly.

Rayman Legends: Probably my favorite 2D platformer of the PS3/360 era. Platforming is tight and no two worlds are the same making sure the fun never ceases. Every world is beautifully animated, looking like a painting and could easily be mistaken for concept art. Improvements were made to origins and we ended up with a breath of fresh air and a welcome callback to the days where 2D platforming ruled consoles.

Fallout: New Vegas: Fallout New Vegas built upon the formula set by three and created another generation defining RPG. Combat was improved, the story was solid as well as the graphics which complimented Post Apocalyptic Vegas. Everything that made Fallout 3 a classic was retained in the sequel along with a few welcome improvements. In the end which game you think is better all comes down to preference.

#video games #video game #playstation #xbox #list #lists #best games of the generation #honorable mentions #playstation 3 #xbox 360

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Grand Theft Auto IV VS. Grand Theft Auto V

Whether its controversy, success, or just consistent quality, Grand Theft Auto is a series that has become a staple of gaming. GTA IV and GTA V were some of the best and most successful games of the last generation. But which game is the better game? Both have elements that made not only critically lauded but hugely successful. What I have to say won’t give you a definitive answer, instead I plan on focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of the two games.

  Gameplay:

In terms of gameplay, I don’t think anyone will dispute the fact that GTA V offers massively improved gameplay. Obvious improvements were made to shooting and driving mechanics in the fifth game made possible by rockstars work in the Midnight Club and Max Payne series. The influence of those games are abundant in the gameplay, and all for the better, cleaning up most of the clunky mechanics that plagued previous rockstar releases The flaws were still there but only slightly and the biggest problems were smoothed over flawlessly. The driving mechanics in four were floaty, like driving a boat. The shooting gameplay was stiff and awkward up close, it was playable but needed improvement. Improvements that were made in the following iteration. Making it possible for Grand Theft Auto to stand alone as a competent third person shooter.

  Graphics/City:

Obviously GTA V is going to show improved graphics as it was released a full five years after four. But aside from improved textures, how does the city hold up in comparison? Liberty city and Los Santos are very different. Los Santos is sunny and runs along the coast. Everything is purely upper class. The area you have to play in is gigantic, the world that rockstar has created is an achievement in itself. But Los Santos also doesn’t take itself very seriously. Rockstar takes a more darkly comedic approach here. Everything is a joke, a hidden pun can be found in every nook and cranny that you can explore. But the bright vibrant world of GTA V is a definite change of pace from the slums of GTA IV. Liberty city is dark, violent, and full of horrific crime. The grittier world is appropriate for the Tone of the story. GTA V’s city compliments the joke along attitude. Both cities are unique and feel alive. Packed full of people walking the streets and acting like normal humans as chaos ensues around them. While GTA V has the larger open world, both cities are different and tailored to the tone of the game. It just depends if you prefer light satire or dark gritty crime.

  Story:

I think the biggest difference in the two games comes in the form of a storyline. Rockstar has an undeniable strength at creating a colorful cast of characters and providing them with sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but always natural dialogue. GTA V is much more upbeat, going along more like a comedy than a drama. None of the characters are very serious, neither is anything that happens throughout the game. This wouldn’t be a problem if Rockstar hadn’t taken a step back in the story department. The characters stay memorable, but Rockstar in the past always created great characters. But while entertaining, they borrowed greatly from films and TV shows. nothing was ever purely original. That is of course till GTA IV Launched. Niko Bellic and his friends came straight from the brains of the writers at rockstar. He's haunted by his past, and the game progresses but as Niko tries to move forward, hes only dragged farther and farther into the underworld. This affects everyone around them as he drags his friends and family into the violence he stumbled into. You won’t ever forget Niko Bellic, unfortunately the characters in V don’t have the same longevity. Rockstar leans back on old tricks as everyone feels awfully familiar, as fun to watch as they are. Even the infinitely entertaining Trevor Phillips is only skin deep. All the characters lack the layers that branded Niko into our minds. In the spirit of moving backwards, In Rockstars previous two games GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, the writers made the players care about the main character. It actually mattered what happened to Niko’s friends and family. I actually wanted to see things finally begin to look up for him. Every character had weight to them and it genuinely hurt to see misfortune fall upon them. Unfortunately GTA V just doesn’t have that level of emotion. I didn’t give a shit what happened to Michael's worthless family. His spoiled kids or his grating wife could have gotten eaten by a pack of wolves and I would have gone on skydiving as if they were never there at all. Michael and his family lack the humanity that made us feel sympathy toward the cast of four. The characters end up being unlikable, a fatal flaw for a main character. Unlike GTA IV where I felt sorrow for the fallen, GTA V was just full of expendable characters only along for the ride. Franklin was boring and served to do little else other than say the N word in a monotone voice. Trevor stole the show, but as long as he was on screen causing havoc I didn’t care what else happened to him. He was a joy to watch, but unlike Niko, he never felt like a real person. The conclusion of GTA IV is dark and bittersweet, showing how far Niko has fallen and stressing that he could never escape the violence of his environment. GTA V ends by giving you three option. Two are terrible options, leaving you completely unsatisfied. The third isn’t quite as bad, but it just doesn’t end in glorious fashion that wraps up the story in a shiny bow like the fourth game.

  Conclusions:

In the end, it all comes down to preference. While I will say that objectively GTA V is a better game, GTA IV is more memorable. Five features a huge open world and improved mechanics in both shooting and driving. The worlds are marginally different, one dark and gritty, the other light and satirical. The story offers no comparison though. Niko is a haunted, totally original character. That offers depth and is a great person to have a gritty crime story revolve around. The three protagonists of five are entertaining. But you won’t remember a thing about them other than a couple of funny lines of dialogue, and Trevors fits of murder. The characters of five lack the weight and emotional depth that showered every mission in Four. In the end GTA V was a huge achievement for Rockstar, and a new benchmark for open world games. But GTA IV has a storyline that keeps you invest from start to finish. And it sticks in your mind long after the credits have rolled.

#grand theft auto #grand theft auto v #grand theft auto iv #video games #video games reviews #video game review #rockstar #rockstar games #take two interactive

[sonearlyfree]

You once said Death is nature’s way of saying “your table’s ready.” We wish we could’ve waited with you a little longer.

[sonearlyfree]

WatchDogs Review

Like most people, I was very excited for WatchDogs after a fantastic showing at E3, the game looked revolutionary. And We had a new IP to get excited about. Unfortunately the game just doesn’t live up to the hype it brought upon itself. The game has its moments and its a promising start, but in the end Ubisoft ends up making the same mistakes that plagued most of their previous releases.

WatchDogs is not a bad game, but its in no way the revolutionary game I was hoping for it to be. In the end its just a solid open world game that lives in the shadow of Grand Theft Auto V. WatchDogs was fighting an uphill battle to begin. With its first glimpses of gameplay looking absolutely outstanding. And more importantly GTA V had released not long ago and set a new benchmark for the genre. WatchDogs just ended up being a good game that missed the mark too often to become great.

Before I get to the bad, WatchDogs does a lot of things right. The gunplay in WatchDogs is some of the best I've seen in an open world game. This is complemented by fantastic stealth gameplay, leaving you with great alternatives to go about any situation. The missions also feature enough variety to keep you from losing interest. The graphics in the game look good from a distance but up close can look muddy at times. A big problem for me though is how empty the city feels. A lack of NPCs makes the city feel dead. The side missions are abundant but with a lack of reward, feel pointless.

Not every aspect of the gameplay is perfect. While the hacking is fun at first and works well, its not very deep or varied. After only a few missions you’ll be repeating the same types of hacks every mission. It soon becomes repetitive and I spent most of that time wanting to get back to using my guns. The driving controls are this games biggest problem. They aren't good. The balancing is completely off, some cars have controls that are far too tight, while others are so loose that the tiniest of movements could send you spiraling out of control. The only constant things is a feeling of weightlessness to all of the cars, and the environments you're traveling in. This makes some missions frustrating.

Speaking of frustrating Ubisoft doesn't learn from past mistakes made in the” FarCry” and “Assassins Creed” games. For example, follow missions are dull and enemies with armor that takes several clips to take down are extremely cheap. But the biggest mistake they make once again is a throw away storyline. The storyline is messy, jumping from one plot point to another with little purpose or explanation. This makes the missions feel only loosely connected as I often felt that what I was doing only hardly related to my character’s adventure. It begins with a solid premise but tries to be more than it can handle and ends up losing its footing. This isn't helped by the games array of inconsistent characters. Some character such as Jordi or lucky Quinn are understated and intriguing. This is contrasted (And not in a good way) by characters like Iraq or Clara who are so over the top its impossible to take them seriously. The main villain is whiny and annoying, he never felt like a threat but simply a pest that was getting in the way. The main character Pierce reaches both extremes. He can be an interesting character at times when his voice actor is talking like a normal human. But then he take on a gruff voice that sounds totally ridiculous. He feels inconsistent, both the writers and actor never really deciding on the person they want Pierce to be. A lot of the problem with the characters comes from a reliance on all to familiar personalities and plot points. Clara is literally the “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” But without all the layer that made that character such a good one. Pierce has a sister who takes on the usual damsel in distress title, and her son is annoying. He’s basically Carl from “The Walking Dead” but they save us from the constant whining because that little shit never says a word.

That brings me to my next point. Most of the positives in watchdogs storyline is compromised at every turn by awful writing. The dialogue doesn't leave much room for development and often feel awkward, especially in the more dramatic moments. The lines feel forced. The writers attempt at humor is crude and appeals to the lowest common denominator. I can’t help but draw comparisons to GTA. The writing in that game feels completely natural, unique, and clever. WatchDogs is a far cry from that type of satire.

  Final Verdict: 7.5

WatchDogs shines at times with its gunplay and stealth mechanics. and the hacking has promise and with better execution could really make a game great. The driving controls need work but its a problem that can be easily remedied. The story had a good premise but was brought down by bad writing and a lack of focus. Watchdogs is a solid start to a franchise but in the end doesn't live up to the hype, or the achievements made by the games predecessors.

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[sonearlyfree]

The Fault In Our Stars, Review

I had a few doubts going into the fault in our stars as I reluctantly handed it to the cashier at my local Walmart. First and foremost it was categorized as a “Teen” novel. While not completely a death sentence, those words poke at my ears and make them turn inward. Judging by societies usual views of the teenage years this made me uncomfortable and made me think that the book was below someone looking for something more, but oh how wrong I was. Only two pages in I realized that my reluctance was derived from half-witted ramblings and what I had stumbled upon was not a “Teen” novel but instead a book so contemporary in its tragedy and provocative in a way that made you dizzy, that it had simply flown over the head of its naysayers. When I hear that a book is targeted toward teenagers my mind runs to a genre that has deservingly spiraled into infamy quite rapidly. A messy plot, an over sentimentalized romance lacking both heart and overall logic. And finally a slew of inconsistencies and an overall inability to offer any wisdom or thought beyond that of a high school stereotype worthy of a bad comedy. Some writers and publishers see anyone at middle to high school range as brainless human beings who are not capable of feeling any real emotions or developing any sort of deep thought, and the irony in that is almost painful. Luckily for the jaded seventeen year olds of the world, John Green is not one of those people. The ultimate strength for any writer is understanding his audience. And John understands his audience almost better than they do.

For the things I listed above, I had fallen far from literature in recent years. Books at one point shaped my entire writing style, which is very important to me. But I fell out of touch, I didn't feel as if the medium had much left to offer me. I moved on to video games, music, movies, comic books. Anything that was making huge steps forward. While novels only seemed to be moving in reverse. Only a few feet in front of Cormac McCarthy, John Green saw this flaw. He was quick to remedy this by grabbing me by the ankles and dragged me into the depth of “The Fault In Our Stars.” I was so happy to have fell in love with this book. I needed to fall in love with this book, and I had no problem doing it. After a few chapter I began to make an observation. One that made me stop reading, and instead made me appreciate this novels driving force. One that I don’t often see mentioned, though the book understands it well. One of my top ten movies of all time is the seething "American Beauty.” The movies at the same time perfectly observes not only the beauty of the world (Evident by its title) but also its horrors. Contrast is what makes the Alan Ball penned masterpiece a stroke of genius that never leaves the mind. The Fault In Our Stars understands contrast. The world can be loving, it can hug you tightly but only for a moment before slapping you across the face. The title “The Fault In Our Stars” was derived from a line in a Shakespeare play. John Green creates a tragedy with a Shakespearean persona and appeal underlying every word. Observations about fate and the universe make up the bulk of this tale. And is filled in with a sprawling tragedy that only weighs heavier by unforgivably real interactions between the humans affected by it, Shakespeare would be proud. And now Green falls into a circle of writers I keep on a pedestal along with the aforementioned Alan Ball. This is because the two writers understand that life is nothing else but a long and drawn out inconsistency. Where nothing is fair, Everything is cruel, but in the right moments feels so right on almost disgusting levels. Contrast is the greatest observation Green offers in a book full of them.

Enough thought of my semi-incoherent praise, what else does the book have to offer other than reminding me of a movie I like? Well for starters the book understands humans and the way they interact. Every waking moment of the book feels natural as if it were really written by the fictional Hazel Grace. A teenager could relate very well to this book (one with more intellect than the ones who told me it was stupid on the internet then went to see the new transformers shit storm) but beyond them anyone could relate to this book. Because its not just about kids dying of cancer. But its about people, the way they live and love, and they way they deal with the hardships given to them. I’ll mention this again. John Green’s immense ability to understand his audience elevate his novel from a great book to one that will outlive anyone who reluctantly picked it up on sale at their dingy ass Walmart.

The Fault In Ours Stars is so subtle in its delivery that it will at some points punch you in the throat without you even realizing why its hard to breathe. This subtly offers irreverent comedy that runs side by side with every grim detail and sad realization. Its delivered in a way that never comes too quickly, and never comes to a halt. But instead the themes move at a pace very deliberate, one that rides up behind you unknowingly and envelopes you in every joke, speech, or sad conclusion. I consider myself a tough critic, and a good writer. The Fault In Our Stars made me question if I’m either one. This book made me want to get better. I’m glad to have stumbled into this book. The level of genius with which it was crafted will give it longevity that not many works of art can have. I would have been missing out greatly if I didn't read this book. And to anyone who is reluctant to pick up a novel that is labeled as a “Teen” book. Ignore the categorization, it serves as a great injustice, and you will regret missing out on a modern tragedy that will never lose its poignancy.

#the fault in our stars #john green #review #book review