Author: Dustin Murphy

Review: The Walking Dead (The Game) Season Two: Episode Three

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Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
“Dead in the Water” – A review by Josh Turner
 
 
Pros:
+ Enjoyable new character.
+ Great voice acting… as always.
+ Surprisingly more violent than the others.Cons:
– Story drags along, and can be predicted at every turn.
– Very little interaction in this episode.
– Actions taken during the episode are mostly pointless.
– Frame rate issues are STILL present.

Final Score – 6.5 out of 10.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

(Recap)

During our last outing in this zombie filled fun-land. We made a few major advancements in the sense of plot progression, I.E. main bad guy was revealed, as a team you decided to hit the road, you encountered other survivors including an old friend. For the most part however, the episode seemed to drag it’s heels in the dirt feeling like the developers had an overall idea of what they want the episode, but failed to really figure out exactly what they needed to do between their pivotal plot points.

The overall fallout at the end of the episode was expected, for the most part. However it was a welcome change of pace. What wasn’t expected was when they started killing off so many characters. This was exciting. This was The Walking Dead that I remembered, not this toothless zombie that has been trying to scare me.
At the end of the episode we find everyone being led off back to “Home” as it’s called, Alvin, and Walter lays dead after the stunt you and Kenny try to pull, and Luke is now seemingly separated from the group.

(Current Episode)

We open on our band of misfit survivors being hogtied in the back of a moving truck, currently on a bumpy road to “Home.” (Carters stronghold in which everyone had escaped from.) Everyone is panicked, and fearful of what Carter has in store for them once they are behind locked doors.

True to his character, Kenny isn’t about to take whatever is coming lying down. After an extensive argument with the others on finding something to free themselves with, Kenny spots a break in the metallic interior of the truck, and begins to cut his hands lose. Now logically there is only two ways out of this situation. Option one: Kenny somehow pulls some really sweet Matrix move, disarming/killing all guards and you guys get to walk away unscathed. Option two: In a attempt of being the hero, Kenny will get shot, and we lose yet another character.

What happens though was unprecedented. The van comes to a abrupt stop suddenly, catching Kenny off guard and making him become one with the trucks door, rendering him useless for those few precious moments when the door was opened. Even though it was a welcome event to be able to sit there, and be blindsided by an event for a change, there was a slight bit of annoyance left in it’s wake with the realization that you weren’t truly in control of this characters destiny. Be it you talked him down from the proverbial cliff, or you egged him on your outcome will be the same.

Going into this season of TWD, we were told that we would have more options to shape the outcome of these characters, however this episode more than the others proves contrary to that belief. I felt like I was stuck in a rail cart for the major majority of this episode, watching cut-scene after cut-scene of dialogue, only having input on what is being said from time to time, and never having a chance to truly control Clem till later in the episode. Now don’t get me wrong here. I love having this story progress, and have a feeling like it’s building to something bigger, but this episode pulls the same stunt about three times.

What stunt you might ask? Having the group work towards a goal, just to have the rug pulled out from underneath you, and everything that you just did for the past thirty minutes is completely void. I can not begin to express how frustrating this was to me. I really didn’t mind it the first time with Kenny getting knocked out, but two additional times is a bit uncalled for.

Also, just like the previous episode. This episode finds a way to drain every last second out of every event that happens to these characters, making it feel extremely drawn out at some points. I know that some people will disagree with me, and say it was building the human aspect of the game. Which I am all in favor of, but a five minute sequence about cutting dead branches from plants is a little overkill.

One thing I do tip my hat to the team to is the introduction of the amazingly awkward, yet awesome character Reggie. From the awkward pat on the head he gives you, to the “I’m going to burn this place down” personality he has make him a very fun character to interact with. There is another few characters that are introduced, and yet to be known how much of a major roll these individuals will play in future episodes. One of the characters seems to be this seasons version of Chuck, (the homeless man from season one) due to a few lines of dialogue that was revealed in the closing moments of the game.

(Character Development)

I’m proud to say that this episode has the most character development that I’ve seen so far this season. Most notably is how Clem, as well as the others as beginning to accept her as their group leader. Though, the whole notion of a 11 year old becoming the leader is still absurd to me. The developers seem to be all for this idea though, even putting a lengthy conversation in here where Carter lectures Clem on how they are more alike then they think, and how her words hold the most sway in the group.

Besides that, Kenny is becoming more unstable as the episodes drag along. He is beginning to have a homicidal side to him, which could lead to a heartfelt showdown one day. Sara is starting to lose grip over her already fragile emotions.

All in all, the characters in this story arch are starting to develop in one of two ways. Either they are becoming stronger, and harder to the situation around them. Or they are growing weak under worry, and are beginning to give up.

(Final verdict)

I’m starting to grow concerned with the future episodes. I can’t help it. While episode one started strong coming out of the gates swinging, episode two, and now three has been lackluster at best. Granted, just like any Taletell game there is always those few moments of “Oh my sweet baby Jesus!” but playing through a episode that quite literately had me dozing off just to get to said moment isn’t exactly exciting.

My biggest gripe with the series, which is the random fluctuation in frame rate, still has not been addressed which does take the player out of the experience when some of the larger plot points of this episode in mangled under a choppy frame rate.

We are just now reached the halfway point in this season, and there still isn’t a clear reason for their journey except for the soul fact of survival, which yes is a story to be told, but not exactly what I was signing up for. Hopefully the next episode that is released will begin to move things forward in the way of a cohesive, continuing story arch. Which I honestly think it will with the tease they have at the end of this one. However, I did think the same thing about this episode…

Ubisoft Offers a Glimpse of Their E3 Lineup

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Ubisoft Offers a Glimpse of Their E3 Lineup

Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written by Dustin Murphy



 When it comes to E3, we are always excited, and that’s because developers always have something to steal the stage with. This year, that will make no different, and Ubisoft is set to not disappoint us as a community. Today we have discovered they will be showing their upcoming titles such as Assassin’s Creed® Unity, Tom Clancy’s The Division™, The Crew™, Valiant Hears The Great War™, and well we hope Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Patriots™ due to its absence as of late. For those of you who can’t make it to E3, Ubisoft has made it so you can actually join the experience the even through the company’s Uplay® Lounge for you members of Uplay!

 For those unfamiliar from earlier articles, the E3 event will be held at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, but Ubisoft specificly will be on stage June 9th, starting at 3 p.m. PDT. They will have the amazing and humorous Aisha Tyler hosting their media briefing! For those of you wanting the live broadcast that do not use UPlay, you can easily find their broadcast live through the official Ubisoft YouTube Channel, here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcu6PBvshoM , or on their official Twitch Account here,http://www.twitch.tv/ubisoft 


 There will be a pre-event highlight show that will be bringing in speakers to answer fan questions and discuss their upcoming titles a bit more. For those interested and attending E3, you can actually visit the Ubisoft Booth starting June 10th at #1023, which will be placed in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. This will allow you to learn more of the titles below. The information provided is official Ubisoft information.

Assassin’s Creed Unity: Re-imagined and built from the ground-up for the new-gen of gaming, Assassin’s Creed Unity will immerse players as never before into the terror and brutality of the French Revolution.

Far Cry 4: The sequel to the top-rated shooter of 2012*, Far Cry 4 players will experience the most expansive and immersive Far Cry ever, in an entirely new, massive open-world.

Tom Clancy’s The Division™: The Division is set in a chaotic and devastated New York City. Players assume the role of a sleeper agent activated to help save a failing society, and discover an immersive open-world game that combines the Tom Clancy series’ signature authenticity with RPG-action, exploration and teamwork.

The Crew™: The Crew is a revolutionary action-driving game that takes gamers on a reckless ride throughout a massive, open-world recreation of the United States brimming with exciting challenges and 
populated by other real players.



Official Continued Ubisoft Information: 

Finally, the Uplay lounge is back and is being expanded to enable more Uplay members to experience E3 firsthand. More than a thousand members will be able to, for example, enjoy a hands-on experience of Ubisoft’s E3 line-up and other titles or talk to Ubisoft’s development teams about their favorite games. The Uplay lounge will be located at The Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. For those not able to be in Los Angeles, a version of the lounge experience will be available via uplaylounge.com, an immersive website that will feature exclusive content, live streaming on Twitch — including online chats with Ubisoft’s development teams — and more. Fans can register and begin submitting their questions to the teams here

“2014 is the most exciting year the gaming industry has seen in a while. At E3, we can’t wait to share our future of gaming,” said Yves Guillemot, co-founder and CEO, Ubisoft

“Ubisoft teams have fully embraced this new generation and will demonstrate how they are bringing breakthrough innovations to our beloved franchises and beyond in order to offer players the most original and memorable gaming experiences.”

*based on Metacritic as of 12/18/12

Ubisoft generated sales of €1,007 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Valiant Hearts The Great War Logo, The Crew logo, Tom Clancy’s, The Division logo, the Soldier icon, Assassin’s Creed , Far Cry, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Far Cry: Based on Crytek’s original Far Cry directed by Cevat Yerli. Powered by Crytek’s technology “CryEngine.”

Trials Frontier Now Available on Android Devices!

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RedLynx and Ubisoft Release Free-to-Play Trials Frontier on Droid!

Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written by Dustin Murphy




 If you are one of those that absolutely love Trials games like we do, we definitely want to let you know about this. As of today, owners of an Android device can download this best-selling and award-winning series now. For those of you who love to play on the go, this game will definitely peak your motorcycle needs and of course your need to take on your friends.

 In Trials Frontier, players are transported into a future much different than we’d imagine, and of course find themselves as the awkward stranger in the falling apart town, which is in desperate need of a savior. Can you save this town as needed?

 Trials Frontier, the series’ first appearance on mobile devices, has been very well received on iOS with more than 10 million downloads and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. With today’s release on Android devices, the Trials Frontier community continues to flourish.



Official Ubisoft Information:

 Players will practice their skills, learning how to race, flip and cruise through tracks as they earn new gear for their bikes and complete missions for the townsfolk in order to prepare for a face-off with the town villain, Butch. As players progress through the game they will unlock new maps, tracks, bikes and fine-tune their racing skills.

 Trials Frontier will receive regular post-launch updates that include new bikes, missions and the introduction of infinite multiplayer brawls to keep players competing and racing on the newest bikes. Stay connected with friends through time challenges, leaderboard sharing capabilities and social network integration to prove who has the fastest time.

 Players can connect with Trials Fusion, available on both consoles and Windows PC, to gain access to bonus rider gear and see what some of the tracks looked like in their prime.

For the latest information on Trials Frontier, please visit:www.facebook.com/trialsfrontier.game andwww.trialsgame.com.

For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, visit the UbiBlog:http://www.ubiblog.com/

About Ubisoft:
 
 Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2013-14 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,007 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All rights Reserved. Trials Frontier, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

Dynasty Warriors Orochi 3 Announced for PS4 and XBox One

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Warriors Orrochi 3 Announced for Next Gen Consoles

Tactical Action Franchise to Make Inaugural Debut on Current Generation Consoles, Handheld and Return to PlayStation 3 with New Characters, Gameplay Modes, Stages and Story
BURLINGAME, Calif. – MAY 22, 2014 – TECMO KOEI America today announced that WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate is in development for PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment systems, PS®Vita and Xbox One. WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate marks the tactical action series’ first launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One worldwide.

Fans will experience WARRIORS OROCHI 3 in a brand new light as they enter the fray with the implementation of new generation console features, new storylines and scenarios. There is enough new gameplay content and depth of replayability to satisfy warriors of all levels including special cross over characters such as Sophitia from the SOULCALIBUR series and battle stages from ATELIER, DYNASTY WARRIORS, NINJA GAIDEN Sigma 2 and SAMURAI WARRIORS. The next evolution of the OROCHI universe, WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate, awaits fans this fall 2014.
New Features in WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate:

–       One Warrior against a Thousand Battles— Densely populated battlefields with up to 100 enemies on screen, each with progressive AI add to the exhilarating battle, amplified by new moves including Aerial Special attacks, Triple Rush (a system which allows the player the ability to switch between individual characters or unleash attacks as a party of 3 and True Musou Burst, the powerful finishing move executable by up to 6 characters

–       New and Crossover characters— The legion of warriors is larger than ever with 145 playable characters including the introduction of Abe Seimei and Shennong, just 2 of 9 that are new to the series, cameos include Xu Shu from the DYNASTY WARRIORS franchise and Rachel from NINJA GAIDEN Sigma 2 with more to be announced including the Atelier and SAMURAI WARRIORS series

–       Captivating Lands and Stages— Lands and battlefields are dramatically rendered drawing from the dark, sinister imagery in the OROCHI series totaling 51 distinct stages with cross-over stages melding universes including Atelier,  DYNASTY WARRIORS, NINJA GAIDEN Sigma 2 and SAMURAI WARRIORS, furthermore, Musuo Battlefields allow for customization including character models and battle cries

–       The mythology of the OROCHI universe expands— A new main storyline brings the heroes together again after the death of the Demon Snake as they are called upon by a mysterious stone to return to the chaotic din of battle. Additionally, new side stories provide a multitude of new scenarios and uncover secrets, the story extends with the ability to battle from a different point of view or even “what if” hypothetical stages that exist in a parallel world

–       Gameplay modes— Adding to both Online and Offline competition, new modes include Duel Mode, a fusion of team battles (up to 3 vs 3) and card battles, Craft Weapons function to alchemy even more powerful weapons, Officer Requesting and Summoning, Formation Skills and Dragon Portals that can be used to escape the battlefields, weaken enemies or recover party members Life Gauge

–       Share experiences Online— PS4™ system players will be able to capture screenshots and live stream, share and see live comments which can impact either players’ games or co-op in Story mode, Free Mode and the new Gauntlet Mode

–       Cross-Play and Cross Save functionality— Co-op, data sharing and saving, and save data is now possible between PS3™ system, PS4™ system and PS Vita system versions, including save data importing of the original WARRIORS OROCHI 3 on PlayStation 3

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate is developed by Omega Force and published in North America by TECMO KOEI America.  The PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions will be available exclusively through the PlayStation® Store for $49.99 (PS3) and $39.99 (PS Vita) respectively and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be available for $59.99. This title has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

For the latest WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate news follow us on www.facebook.com/koeigames or @TecmoKoeiUS or visit http://www.tecmokoeiamerica.com/.

Our Thoughts by Aaron Johnson: 
  
  With a long solid history in the hack ‘n slash strategy games, Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, and even the Dynasty Warriors Gundam franchises have set bars that none-other could expect. For die hard fans that will remain unfaltering. Thanks to the launch of Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends Complete Edition for the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4, our expectations have never stopped soaring. We can only hope this game does the same with upgraded graphics, features, and even new mechanics.

Review: Fluidity: Spin Cycle – Spinning in the Review

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Fluidity: Spin Cycle – Spinning in the Review
Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Jonny Walker Red
 
 


Pros:

  • Continued story from previous title. 
  • Makes you think with the physics based mechanics
  • Playing around with water jets


Cons:

  • Having to turn the 3DS completely upside down for some of the levels.
  • Fairly straight forward and not as open world as implied
  • Goop not being sinister enough


Since this is a continuation of a previous title, one of which I never had the pleasure to enjoy, its niche of fluid based and gravity driven mechanics were a little lost to me. Albeit the game is very well designed, I had no hiccups or bugs while playing. The game was a little simplified for my tastes. Maybe that is why I was so persistent in my attempts to collect everything and get a 100% clear. For those that enjoy puzzlers, color stage design, and a great story to wrap it all up in, this game is worthy of a look-see. 

Final Score: 7.5 out of 10.

 Do you remember a Wii Ware game from back in December of 2010 by the name of Fluidity? Well, if you’re one of the lucky people who actually played this great title, you might want to take a look at its successor, Fluidity: Spin Cycle. 

 Nintendo decided to go with the flow of the game market and take the small title and give it a good ‘ol spit shine and put it on the 3DS system. This title is a physics-based puzzler that’s jumped from twisting and turning the Wii Remote to move the fluid and turned that mechanic on its own head. Now to transgress the levels you must turn the handheld console changing the direction of the gravity in the level. Sounds pretty simple right? Oh how naive was I to think that. Being a self-advocated “pro puzzle solver” amongst my friends, even I was stumped a few times as how to collect everything in the levels. 

 


 Now that might not be something you’re interested in. To me it was more of a challenge than the core of the game. Being a fairly straight forward game I didn’t get much of a feel that it was as open a world as advertised. 

 That being said, the world and the story were very well put together. They kept with the motif of the game, the doings of a wizard. This title being the same as that of a story book that the wizard liked and wanted it to come to life. He used some rainbow spirits to almost literally bring the book to life. However, there were some evil spirits or Goop that the wizard also had on a shelf above the book, which were jealous of the rainbow spirits. They managed to tip the container they were in and invaded the book holding the rainbow spirits hostage. You play as Eddy, the cheerful water sprite, trying to rescue the rainbow sprites. That right there is something that as a child would have driven me wild with excitement. 

 


 So being a water sprite in a physic based puzzler, what can you do? What can any blob of water do? To travel around the levels and solve the levels conundrums you gain abilities as you progress increasing the depth of the puzzles. There’s switches you have to flip to flood cogs that you must wash down to the appropriate socket. In later levels you can even turn into a gaseous vapor! Not only that, but turning into a block of ice can help you plow through certain obstacles. 

 Now, as you solved each level being a fluid you’re bound to get some of your body trapped behind a door right? That’s where they have you collecting water droplets throughout the level to use as reserve, should you get spread a little too thin. They even give you the ability early on to accumulate yourself; don’t be too hasty in using that button though. Be cautious. Using that ability too much can cause you to boil away some of your own fluid. This was done to counter the player just holding down the button to not lose any droplets for a higher score. On top of that as part of the physics system you can tilt the 3DS system left and right to affect gravity. There are some spots in levels where you’ll even have to tilt the unit completely upside down. Well, not as much as 100% upside down. I was able to manage those parts just tilting it quite a bit. Now if I had a 3DS system with a recording cable attached it would be a bit more cumbersome to actually do that. Thankfully they didn’t force the mechanic on you a lot. Same could be said for most of the other gimmicks of the game. It is pretty well balanced and doesn’t feel like you’re doing the same things over, and over again.

Fluidity can be found on the Nintendo 3DS eShop for 10.99 USD

Review: Bound by Flame – Burning Bright

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Bound by Flame  – Burning Bright
Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
A Review by Josh Turner
 
 

 


Pros:
+ Nearly endless way to mod/customize your weapons & Armor.
+ Combat is very fluid, and rewarding once mastered.
+ Environments are beautifully detailed.
+ Branching story options, and good replayability 

Cons:
– Companion AI is absolutely useless.
– Voice acting, for the most part, is terrible at best.
– Steep learning curve, especially on the higher difficulties.

Final Score: 8 out of 10

(Overview)

 As we now reach the six month marker of our next generation consoles being on the market, we still have a lack of games. For the most part that is. Ever since launch, I’ve been looking for a next-gen game for me to sink some actual time into. Granted we’ve had a few amazing ones so far. AC:4, Tomb Raider HD, *cough* the Lego games *cough*. However majority of titles released had been your run of the mill shooters that, in all honesty, we have grown bored with at this point. 

 

 So learning of the release of a RPG onto next-gen truly peaked my interest. Granted, I knew going in this wasn’t going to be a tipple-A title like Dragon Age, or the FF series. Something different was what I have been begging for, and it looks like my wish may just come true.

 Spiders Studios have a few titles under their belt, most noteworthy in my opinion is their sci-fi title “Mars” released digitally on last gen consoles. So how does their new entry fair? Are you going to burn right through it, or is it just blowing a bunch of smoke?

(Story/Gameplay)

 The game revolves around a band of mercenaries for hire called The Freeborn Blades, and their latest contract it to escort The Order of the Red Scholars to an ancient temple where they are set to preform a sacred right in hopes of awakening an unknown power to help combat The Ice Lords. These evil doers are Necromancers who have risen a undead army to do their biding, and are slowly but surly taking over all the lands, and ushering in a snowy apocalypse.

 You take control of Vulcan, the newest member of the Freeborn Blades that has a sharp tongue, and even sharper blades. While the Red Scribes are attempting to summon this great power, The Ice Lords undead army shows up and breaks through you ranks, and in to the interior of the temple. It is there that humanities last chance at survival is born.

 While attempting to save one of the Scribes lives, the rite is completed, and a powerful demonic spirit is summoned. It quickly latches itself onto the most powerful creature in the room, which just so happens to be you. Standing in your way is not only the legions of undead, but also your own inner demons. 

 Will you use this new found power of yours to strike fear into the hearts of the masses, and rule with an iron fist? Or will you learn to master your own demons, and channel this power to save the lands? The choice is yours alone, and with a branching story it is fully welcomed, and encouraged to playthrough the way you’d want to.

 Don’t fret however, even though you are the last hope of this dying world. You are joined by other fearless warriors in hopes of saving the world from this evil, each however has their own private agenda. Some would see you become the most noble knight in the land, other would like to see the demon take full hold of your body.

These allies of yours spans all job classes from Mage, Warrior, to Archer. So to be truly successful you will be needing to select the correct companion for the encounters ahead. Now one thing about these companions, is no matter which one you select they will just stand there during battle being completely useless for the most part.

For most of the game, my AI teammates were either unconscious, and playing dead on the ground somewhere. Or they had gotten lost along the way, and left me to due battle by myself. Every now and then they do prove to have their uses. Sybal will heal you even while beating beaten to death, and Edwen will occasionally be able to interrupt an enemies combo.

For the most part you will have to be relying on your own skills to pull you through these sometimes unbalanced battles. I have to admit that the battle system in this game is some of the most fun I’ve had in a third person RPG in quite sometime. It’s fast, fluid, and unrelenting combat makes it quite the “Edge of your seat” experience that makes sure I’ll be revisiting this title down the road.

Another thing that adds additional depth to the combat of this game is the immense customization of not only your weapons, but also your armor. Changing the hilt, or blade of your weapon not only changes the overall appearance of your death machine, but also the damage value, poison effects, or overall speed of your weapon. I spent far to long building the perfect set of weapons, and armor. In the end it defiantly changed the course of battle, and made me feel stronger with each upgrade I made

Besides that, your weapons also governs your primary class. which means that if you are using a brute of a two handed weapon, you will be using your Warrior class. If you decide to change weapons, which can be done in battle by pressing a button, you will switch to your daggers which is quite the bit more nimble all the while switching into your Rouge class and perks. The final class can be accessed by ether of the classes, and that would be the demonic fire power of a Pyromancer.

(Graphics/Sound)
 

 Probably the biggest bone I have to pick with this game is it’s god awful voice acting. I felt like I was playing back through one of the earlier Resident Evil titles. Almost every character sounds as if they are speaking in monotone, all while reading off of a cue card. The lack of motivation these supposedly actors had while delivering their lines is mind numbing. 

 The one voice in the game that seems the actress actually tried with is Edwen. Seeing that her characters personality is a smart-mouthed sorceress, combining that with a British actress that reminds one of Christie from DOA, and you have an awesome character.

 Gratefully, to distract you from the less than good voice acting that this game has. The environments are defiantly a treat for the eyes, and looks like they belong on a next-gen platform. Your journeys will take you from deserts, to swamps, into icy barren wastelands. All of which are extremely pleasing to the eyes do to the gorges detail they put into it.

 One thing that sadly did not meet up to par, is the character models. Overall the faces are mid-grade PS3/360 grade visuals, and the you can almost see the polygons on some of the characters body models. Now granted this is for the most part avoided by the well detailed armor that you equip onto your character, but when it comes to Edwen showing a little skin, you almost want to ask the poor girl to cover up.

 Musically, this game has a very interesting original soundtrack that fits it quite nicely, in the sense of a classical sound. One track that sticks out in memory, is the really cool track they use in they last boss battle. Instead of going the normal route of having an epic score kick in right off the bat, they wait until the boss unveils it’s true form, and then proceeds with a silent vocal piece that truly set the desperation of the situation.

(Final Verdict)

 
 While Bound by Flame has a lot of cool, and unique ideas inside of it’s packaging. It is brought down by a number of issues that bring a dim light, to a other wise gym. I think that with a little bit more tweaking, this game could have been something truly memorable.

With its unique “Feat” tree, it challenges the user to overcome in game goals to unlock special perks for their character, or the lengthy crafting system that allows one to dive deep to create the ultimate warrior. This game offers a true RPG experience, mixed with a level of difficulty that will punish your every mistake.

If you can overlook it’s flaws, you will find a fun experience that worthy of a run through, and with the possibility of some of these issues being patched down the road. We could be looking at a game that is worth revisiting a few times.

Bound by Flame is Developed by Spiders and is out on all platforms.

Nintendo Invites You, the Public, to Super Smash Bros. E3 Event

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Nintendo Invites You, the Public, to Super Smash Bros. E3 Event!
Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written by Dustin Murphy



Are you a fan of Super Smash Bros.? Well that’s good. As of Today Nintendo has announced that they are inviting fans in or around the Los Angeles area to attend and observe the first-ever public tournament of their upcoming title Super Smash Bros, for Wii U. On Tuesday June 10th, Nintendo will welcome sixteen highly skilled players to the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles in order to celebrate the Super Smash Bros. fan culture and find out who is the best of the best. This event is said to entertain thousands of players in person as well as to those watching the live-streamed event on Twitch via the E3 channel as well as Nintendo’s Twitch channel to let those who could not make it to E3 still watch the event from their very home. For those of you who like to dress up in cosplay, you do have a chance to get selected for a chance to sit up front near the stage itself as the tournament occurs.

The event will be photographed, filmed, and of course eventually posted on Nintendo’s YouTube channel, where the event can also be seen!

Here are the details for Tuesday, June 10 from our friends at Nintendo:

9:30 a.m.: Wristband distribution begins at NOKIA Plaza at L.A. LIVE, 777 Chick Hearn Court in Los Angeles. A wristband is required for entry, and 3,000 wristbands are available to Nintendo fans on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Fans are requested to not line up prior to Tuesday morning. Once a wristband is obtained, fans can leave the plaza area and then return later that day, closer to the start of the event. The order that wristbands are obtained in the morning does not impact the order of entry into the venue in the afternoon.

2:30 p.m.: Doors open

4 p.m.: Super Smash Bros. Invitational begins

 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is scheduled to launch during the winter of 2014, while the Nintendo 3DS version is targeted for this summer.

For more information about the Super Smash Bros. Invitational, visit http://e3.nintendo.com/#2014/tournament.

Wolfenstein: The New Order Available Now

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Wolfenstein: The New Order is Available Now!
Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written by Dustin Murphy



 As of today fans of the newly released title by Bethesda Softworks, a Zenimax Media Company, can get their hands on the newest installment of the Wolfenstein series. For those wanting to get your hands on it, the title is now available on One® and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, and Windows PC.

 The title can be found for 59.99 USD on the XBox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store. Users with PlayStation Plus at this time can obtain Wolfenstein: The New Order, digitally, for 53.99 USD (PS+ Exclusive) on PlayStation 4. Stay tuned for our unboxing of the Panzerhund Edition as well as our review of Wolfenstein: The New Order.

Official Information Provided by Bethesda-Zenimax:
 Developed by MachineGames, a studio comprised of a seasoned group of developers recognized for their work creating critically-acclaimed story-driven games, Wolfenstein: The New Order offers a deep game narrative packed with action, adventure and first-person combat. Set in an alternate version of the 1960s, players take on the role of war hero B.J. Blazkowicz. After awakening from a 14-year coma he discovers that the Nazi’s, armed with a mysterious advanced technology, have won World War II, and now rule the world with an iron fist. With the help of a small group of resistance fighters, players trek across Europe on a personal mission to bring down the Nazi war machine that has conquered Earth – and beyond.

 “At MachineGames, we grew up playing Wolfenstein 3D, and developing Wolfenstein: The New Order has been an honor and is our love letter to id Software,” said Jens Matthies, creative director at MachineGames. “We set out to create an immersive, story-driven game that captures the incredible action and excitement the series is known for. We’re thrilled that players can now meet the unforgettable cast of characters we created and hope they have as much fun playing the game as we did making it.”

Wolfenstein: The New Order is rated M for mature by the ESRB. For more information on Wolfenstein: The New Order visit: www.wolfenstein.com.

Child of Light Goes Handheld on PlayStation® Vita!

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Child of Light™ Headed to a PlayStation® Vita Near You!
Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written by Dustin Murphy



 When we first got our hands on Child of Light, our team was breath taken quickly by the gameplay mechanics, as well as the magical appearance. When our adventure began in Lumeria, the first thing our team said was, “I wish this could go with me on my PS Vita,”, and this is truly happening. Ubisoft’s magical fairy-tale is heading to PlayStation® Vita on July 1st, 2014. It will be released digitally on the PlayStation Store as a digital release only.

For Our Review by Aaron Johnson Take This Link: http://batgr.blogspot.com/2014/05/child-of-light-review.html

Official Information:
Child of Light is a re-imagining of classic fairytales set against a picturesque background inspired by the watercolor artworks of The Golden Age of Illustration. As a playable poem, Child of Light takes players on an extraordinary journey through the mystical world of Lemuria by putting them in the shoes of Aurora, a young princess who must win back the sun, the moon and the stars held captive by the mysterious Queen of the Night. A return to the classic JRPG, Child of Light blends together platforming and turn-based combat along while providing a rich storyline, robust soundtrack and beautifully-rendered hand drawn art style.

Child of Light was created by a small team of developers in Montreal using Ubisoft’s UbiArt Framework, a powerful engine that lets programmers and artists bring their art to life by allowing original concept art to be inserted directly into the game world. In Child of Light, the effect is that playing becomes akin to stepping into an interactive painting.

Child of Light™ is now available to download on Xbox LIVE for the Xbox® 360 and Xbox® One, the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation® 3 and PlayStation® 4, the eShop from Nintendo for the Wii U, and PC Digital.

For more information on Child of Light, please visit: http://childoflight.ubi.com/

About Ubisoft:
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2013-14 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,007 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Child of Light, the Child of Light logo, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo

Watch Dogs Getting Apparel, Accessories, and More!

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Watch Dogs and Apparel and Accessories Could Be Yours!
Originally Published on the Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written by Dustin Murphy


 As we get closer to Ubisoft launching their upcoming title Watch Dogs, we can only assume that items themed around the game would launch, and we could not be more right. As of today gamers can obtain collectible items from the now most pre-ordered game in the entire industry for 2014 as of this far in. The licensed gear you can obtain are from the following companies: Astro Gaming, BioWorld, Frank & Oak, musterbrand, Prima, ThinkGeek, Titan and Trends. For more information read the official list below provided by Ubisoft.

 Apparel will be Available at Select Retailers and Online. Specific details on retailers, pricing and availability for Watch Dogs inspired products are listed below.

ASTRO Gaming:
 ASTRO Gaming will offer exclusive Watch Dogs Speaker Tag sets for both the ASTRO A30 and A40 headsets featuring art from the game, available for $19.99- $24.99 online at astrogaming.com. GameStop and Amazon will also feature an additional exclusive Watch Dogs A40 Speaker Tag set, available on their websites.

BioWorld:
 BioWorld, a leading design and distribution company of licensed and private label apparel, headwear, and accessories, will feature multiple styles of Watch Dogs inspired fashion t-shirts for $19.99 at specialty retailers in the U.S. like Hot Topic and GameStop.

Frank & Oak:
 Frank & Oak, leading menswear brand and e-tailer, will offer the Watch Dogs Capsule Collection exclusively at frankandoak.com and at the Frank&Oak Atelier. Taking cues from the Watch Dogs universe, the 14-piece capsule collection bears a dark and mysterious near-future aesthetic with items such as distressed v-neck pocket tee, printed denim shirts, waffle Henley, black canvas pant and more ranging in price from $32 to $115.

musterbrand:
 musterbrand’s durable line of street wear recreates the spirit of Watch Dogs in style, texture and detail with apparel and accessories including coat, sweater, cap, scarf, messenger back, heavy duty bag and iPad sleeve ranging in price from $24.99 to $199 available online at: musterbrand.com/collections/watch-dogs.

Prima:
 Prima will be offering both standard and collector’s edition strategy guides for Watch Dogs. The Collector’s edition will include a limited edition hardcover, featuring unique cover art designed exclusively for the guide with over 30 pages of character lore and behind-the-scenes details. It will also include a free mobile version of the strategy guide, formatted for use from any web-enabled device. The digital guide adds enhanced features including strategy video and alternate tactics.

 Both editions will be available at retailers mass market and video game outlets, with the standard edition available for $24.99 and the Collector’s edition available for $34.99.

ThinkGeek:
 ThinkGeek will be offering Watch Dogs t-shirts and accessories including pin sets, iPhone cases, lanyards, wristbands and wallet, which will be available in the U.S. only at ThinkGeek.com with shirts ranging in price from $6.99 to $21.99.

Titan:
 The Art of Watch Dogs ($29.99) launches on May 27 from Titan Books and is available from all good bookstores and online retailers. The book showcases the remarkable and innovative creative work behind the stunning new game. Beautifully designed with gorgeous concept art and lavish illustrations, this title showcases the developer’s vision of building an incredible living, breathing and “hack-able” cityscape.

Trends:
 Two Watch Dogs posters featuring Aiden Pearce are available for $6.99 each at all GameStop locations in the U.S.

 Watch Dogs will be released worldwide on May 27 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

Stay connected to Watch Dogs by visiting the official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit the UbiBlog: ubiblog.com

About Frank & Oak
 Frank & Oak is the simplest way to shop the latest trends in menswear, with quality designs, personalized services, and a hassle-free online experience. Selling across North America through frankandoak.com, the vertically integrated brand designs, manufactures, and sells a curated collection of premium clothing and accessories.

About ThinkGeek
 ThinkGeek, a wholly owned subsidiary of Geeknet, Inc. (NASDAQ: GKNT), is the premier retailer for the global geek community. Since 1999, ThinkGeek has been creative a world where everyone can express their inner geek, embrace their passions, and connect with one another. Our obsession is creating and sharing unique and authentic product experiences that stimulate our fans’ imaginations and fuel their geek core. We believe that there is a geek in everyone and that it should be celebrated. Want to learn more? Check out thinkgeek.com.

About Watch Dogs
In Watch Dogs, players will be immersed in a living, breathing and fully connected recreation of Chicago. Players will assume the role of Aiden Pearce, a new type of vigilante who, with the help of his smartphone, will use his ability to hack into Chicago’s central operating system (ctOS) and control almost every element of the city. Aiden will be able to tap into the city’s omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate a target, control systems such as traffic lights or public transportation to stop a chase, and more. The city of Chicago is now the ultimate weapon. Fans can stay connected to Watch Dogs by visiting the official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2012–13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

©2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Watch Dogs, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.