Author: Dustin Murphy

Review: Octodad: Dadliest Catch on PS4

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Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Review by Josh Turner


Pros:
+ Original idea.
+ Strangely entertaining.

Cons:
– Extremely short.
– Poorly written story.
– Very buggy gameplay.
– Camera system is horrible.
? Minecraft reference.

(Overiview)

 Late Tuesday night. I’m finally off of work, and heading home quite quickly do to me picking up a few new games. I sit down in front of my tv, open myself a nice adult beverage, and begin the installation process of FFXIV on my PS4. “Might as well see who’s online” I say aloud to myself; figured I might want to speak with someone seeing that I had about 80+ minutes until my games patching was complete.

 I decide to join the pre-existing BATGR chat that was going on. “Evening guys!” I greet everyone excitedly. “Hey Josh.” Everyone chimes in. “Josh, we have a job for you?” Dustin begins. “Really? What do you need?” I reply. “Well… In your absence tonight. We’ve nominated you to playthrough, and review Octodad.” A few guys snicker at his statement. I always see the trailer for this game at work, and I usually watch it fairly perplexed. Questioning how exactly the developers came up with such a strange concept. I do admit, I was intrigued on some level. Seemed like a game that I would enjoy, do to it being so wacky. “Ok… I’ll do it.” I say with a little grit in my tone. Being thrown under a moving bus is never a fun thing. Then the thought occurred to me, and before I knew it I already spoke it. “I’m buying it, aren’t I?” I closed my eyes, and let out a long winded sigh while I purchased the title.

(Story/Gameplay) 

 Marriage, lovely thing isn’t it. To have, and to hold. Through sickness, and health. For better, or worse. Throughout the course of matrimony; you, and your partners life becomes one. You share the same house, bed, and even bathroom. So, you would think that keeping massive secrets from you wife would be a pretty bad idea right? 

 I’m not talking about forgetting little Timmy at the grocery store, or forgetting to feed the family pet for over a year. I’m talking about the big ones, like… “Honey, I’m a secret agent.” or in this case. “Honey, I’m a Octopus.” You know; the little things. Enter the life of our hero. A flip flopping dad, who just happens to be an Octopus. He wants nothing but the absolute best for his family, while he protects them from the crazed chef that’s hunting him down. Having very little control over ones limbs does make his battle difficult, but none the less valiant.

 This does raise a few questions however. Like; where exactly did the two kids come from, and why don’t they have any genetic mutations. How does the wife touch/kiss this creature and honestly think that it’s human. How does the rest of the world view him as a normal human being when he can’t even walk in a straight line. I know, I know. This games story isn’t meant to be taken seriously, and was written with a tongue in cheek style. Even stating that however does not excuse how little they even explain their own story, let alone the amount of plot holes throughout.

 The gameplay over all for Ocotodad is simple. Your L2, and R2 triggers controls his respective left or right leg. While the R1 tigger is to grab at items. Watching as Octodad flops around like a fish out of water, (excuse the pun, couldn’t help myself.) is strangely entertaining. Somewhat like a train wreak, or the American Idol tryouts.

 However as much as it is entertaining to smack someone across the face with a tentacle, or spray in in someones face. The overall buggy gameplay begins to draw itself to the surface. During my playthrough of Octodad, my character became stuck on objects to many times to count. Now there is different types of getting stuck in this game. The is the accidentally going through the floor and having you limbs become stuck, type of stuck. There’s the whole having you limbs tie around different objects and become knotted in such a way that you a flailing around like a wacky waving inflatable arm tube man, type of stuck. Then there’s my personal favorite. Become stuck in such a way, that you break the game and have to reload it.

 I understand that the developers had a little bit of an uphill battle with this title seeing that it’s gimmick is ragdoll physics. However, releasing your title with this many bugs with it leaves me scratching my head, wondering exactly how thoroughly they even tested their product. Once you think you mastered the controls, you reach your next massive, never-ending battle. The camera. Now, for the most part, you can get it to cooperate fairly decently, then there are time that the camera begins to act like Octodad, and begins to flop around every which of a way, becoming unmanageable. One instance in the grocery store level left me trapped against a wall for the better part of five minutes.

 Gratefully though, your torture will not last to terribly long. Yes, this title is extremely short, to a point where I feel like I was nearly ripped off. I finished this game from start to finish, in just one sitting, in little over three hours. Seeing that the only replay ability in this title is to hunt down dress ties that are scattered throughout the world. Which by the way, they don’t even introduce to you, let alone tell you what the purpose of collecting said items are.

 

(Graphics/Sound)

 *Bunch of unrecognizable blubs that are meant to represent encouraging words* Yes, that is how Octodad speaks throughout the title, and that is how the subtext even reads. However, have no fear. Everyone else in the game world can understand him perfectly fine, so it’s not like your going to be left out of every cutscene, and conversation and forced to make your own personal interpretation of what exactly is going on.

 As for the rest of the cast, very few voices seem genuine. Most feel like they grabbed someone off of the street, paid them some money, and gave them a list of words to say. I think the only character that really stood out in this sense, and made me laugh due to good acting is the daughter, quite a few lines of her dialogue legitimately made me break out laughing.

 The one thing I do enjoy about the game is it’s very colorful, and interesting art style. Everything seems like it’s from a twisted 1950’s film, met with a darker sub-text. All of the environments are well designed, and extremely interesting to look at. Just take caution when interacting with it.  Character design is a interesting mix of updated textures, and very rigid graphic models. Granted it does lend it a interesting looks, and ads to it slapstick feel, but doesn’t look the best on the PS4. 

(Final verdict)

While Ocotodad is a very unique, over the top, slapstick comedic experience that stands out because of it’s unique ragdoll gameplay. It does fall short in quite a few categories. The primary thing that kills it for me is the amount of bugs that are every present. Be it extremely buggy controls, or the glitchy camera. The faults of the game does outweigh it pluses, which does take away greatly from the experience. Don’t get me wrong, I did find this title refreshing. Innovative ideas are something that draws my interest quicker than anything else.

Here’s to hoping that the next time Octodad come above water, that the team is a little bit more well established, and can provide us with an experience that will last longer, and not make me want to make sushi out of the main charcter. As a side note, I would like to say that seeing the team at Young Horses is comprised of only 9 people, all of which worked on this title between their full time jobs. I am impressed at their product on this point, seeing how much heart and soul they put into this game does give me hope in the Indie market. I do hope to see more from them in the future. However, and I do hope they can appreciate this, I will not be cutting them any slack when it comes to final scoring.

Octodad: Dadliest Catch for the PS4 get’s… A 5 out of 10. – Josh.

Nintendo Lowers the Price for Five Nintendo 3DS Games

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Nintendo Lowers the Price for Five Nintendo 3DS Games
Originally Published and Copyrighted on 4/23/2014

Written by Dustin Murphy



Are you a fan of Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, but haven’t had a chance to pick them up? As of today, Nintendo is excited to let us tell you some nice price drops! As of today all the mentioned titles are dropped down to 29.99 USD for the suggested retail price. Together the titles have sold more than 9 million combined physical and digital units in the United States alone, and of course are some of the most excitingly fun, and entertaining games of this generation.



Sales Information:

In order, Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land and New Super Mario Bros. 2 represent the top three best-selling Nintendo 3DS games of all time in the United States – each one has sold more than 2.15 million physical and digital units in the U.S. alone. All five of the newly discounted games star classic Nintendo characters and franchises, and their strong sales over time demonstrate the longevity of Nintendo’s games. The games make great gifts, engaging entertainment for families and other spring break travelers, or just a way to introduce kids to the fun of video games.

For more information about these products, visithttp://www.nintendo.com./

*Data regarding physical sales of games are from the NPD Group. Data regarding digital downloads of games and combined physical/digital life-to-date numbers are from Nintendo’s internal sales figures. All numbers, unless otherwise stated, are specific to the United States only.

Review : Titanfall – Where Titans Will Fall

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Originally Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review
Reviewed by Josh Turner
 
 


Pros:

  • Fast paced, addicting gameplay.
  • Great level design.
  • Very revolutionary idea.


Cons:

  • Lack of story, even though it’s an extremely interesting world.
  • Lack of innovative game modes.
  • No single player what so ever.
  • No clan/team system at launch


(Overview)

Reviewers Note: First off. I would like to apologize for the fact that my review of this game is coming out so late. I just recently picked up an Xbox One, and that is why.

Part of the reason I didn’t pick up a One until now, is no exclusive titles really caught my interest. I mean sure, you have a bunch of really cool triple-A titles like Dead Rising, and Forza 5. However nothing jumped out and screamed; “Buy me now!”; Then Titanfall came along. I’m not going to lie, I had my reservations at first. Brand new IP, from a brand new company. Let alone a company forged from the ashes of one of the most burned out franchises in gaming history.

However; something about this title seemed unique. Dare I say, innovative. Could this be the game I was waiting for? Could this bring the much needed breath of fresh air the multiplayer gaming world has been needing? Titanfall’s whole aim is to rock your world with a innovative, and unique multiplayer experience. Part of how they do this, is by changing the way a normal Deathmatch works. As the title, box art, and countless ads hints. You are the proud owner of what is known as a Titan. A brooding, large, mechanical killing machine able to rip through almost anything that stands in it’s way. Well, almost anything.

Even though having a Titan is the main purpose of the game, one will find themselves most of the time without one. However, do not fret. You are still a cable killing machine even without you 40 foot body armor, and even if said armor rears it head. You have the firepower to bring her down and stand victorious.

One of the more interesting ways the battlefield is reinvented is the integration of parkour within the battles. No longer are you limited to the streets, or any interior of a building. You can basically go wherever you would like, climb on top of any building, run across any wall, and hang inside of any corner. This is truly one of my favorite things the developers did with this title, because it adds a whole extra level of chaos that I haven’t found in a multiplayer game in quite some time.

The one thing however that does raise an eyebrow with this title, is that is a online only experience. No harm, no foul there. I think we all knew something of the sort was in store when the developers main focus was the online experience. What I wasn’t expecting though, was absolutely no single player what so ever.

The campaign portion of Titanfall is played online, just like the regular game modes, and in all reality IS the regular online multiplayer that you play. Just a pre selected mode for a map… and that’s it. No special maps, or game modes. Just what you already been doing, just with a convoluted cut-scene prior to battle, and a tiny picture in the top right corner of your HUD.

I like the idea of what they tried to do here, but the execution wasn’t here when it came to the story. Granted, since one of my primary goals in life is to be a writer. I’m a stickler for things like this. I understand that this will not bother most of the crowd who will be playing Titanfall, but for me it does annoy me not to be able to have a clear understanding of the story without going online to read it.

One thing that also surprised me about this title is, that even though the primary focus of the title is multiplayer, there is no clan system built into the game. Granted, this is something that can always be patched in at a later date. However, it does make me question if I spent 60 bucks on a beta.

The main reason I say this is not only the lack of story, and single player campaign, but also that there are only five game modes to play. Disappointingly enough, three of these are rehashes of your standard shooter. (Team Deathmatch, CTF, and Hardpoint) For the other two original game modes, (Pilot hunt, and Last Titan Standing)

Let’s talk about the good first; Pilot Hunt. It’s a interesting take on Team Deathmatch where only the killing of the Pilot will advance your teams score, where as in Attrition (Standard Team Deathmatch) killing even grunts will draw you closer to victory.

Now on the flip side, we have Last Titan Standing. Fun concept, poor execution. Imagine talking to walk down the street with five sumo wrestlers in front of you. With your every move you are being blocked by a massive wall that can not be passed. Now replace the sumo’s with titan’s and you have that game mode. These maps, even though designed for titan battles, was not designed to house 12 titans at the same time. You will die quite a few times just because you will accidentally be getting stuck on fellow teammates either behind you or in front.

The thing though that makes me keep coming back is just how polished, and redefined the multiplayer actually is. With the amount of options you have at your disposal, there is really no two matches that will be the same. Adding all this together with a system called burn cards. (A one time/One life power-up) It makes the old, worn down experience of a twitch shooter feel alive and anew.

The one thing I have to say that the team at Respawn Entertainment excelled at is the world they created. Not only is the art design spot on. Creating a lush, vibrant, unique world for their game. Maps hold secrets of a lore filled world, and with promise of DLC that is right around the corner apparently. Graphically, this is (In my opinion at least) is the best looking game that the Xbox One has to offer. There has been quite a few maps that I have gawked at due to their impressive graphical beauty. Be it the desert alien lands, or the serine beach coast isle all of the levels have tons of detail within them, as well as little hideaways to find.

The sound designers also deserve a major pat on the as well for going out of their way to complement such an impressive world with not only such a awesome sound track, but also so many different sounds that truly make this game come to life. The guns sound like real weapons, when titan’s walk not only do you hear the gears churn but also hear the ground shake underneath your impressive weight.

(Final Verdict)

 Titanfall is defiantly an interesting character. It’s the killer IP Microsoft promised us, yet it isn’t exclusive to just the One. It has an amazing well thought out world, yet little to no lore to back it up. It has a full campaign mode with two stories within, yet you can’t experience said story unless your playing with others. Even though the multiplayer only approach worked for this title, I really hope this is not a prelude to other game pulling the same stunt. A game needs to have a single player as much as it needs a multiplayer, and in all truth. That, plus a lack of content off of launch prevents this from being a perfect 10 in my opinion.

If you own any of the formats that this title is released upon, you need to own this game. No excuses. Plain, and simple. This is the much needed revive for the run of the mill, tacked on multiplayer experiences that we have become accustomed to throughout the past few years.

It boldly takes that mold, and smashes it. Forcing any, and all developers to take a good long look at their title, and making them innovate where they have become stagnant and create a true multiplayer gaming experience that might just be able to stand in the shadow of this titan.

I give Titanfall for the Xbox One… A 9 out of 10

Mario Golf: World Tour to Get DLC Post Launch

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Extend Your Mario Golf: World Tour With DLC Post-Launch.

Originally Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review

Written by Dustin Murphy



 Are you a fan of golfing games? A fan of Nintendo 3DS? Well then you are in the right spot if your answers are yes and of course yes. As of today, Nintendo is offering you, the gamer, a chance to almost double your content you can choose from when playing Mario Golf: World Tour, which launches on May 2nd, of this year. Players will be able to get new characters, courses, game modes, and even a large array with just the base game. The base game itself will feature 10 courses, 126 holes, and of course a wide array of multiple modes that feature both regional and worldwide tournaments. This will definitely be something worthwhile. To obtain the downloadable content and of course tournaments will be available, but will require a broadband internet.

 “We’re letting fans expand their experience with Mario Golf: World Tour,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Some players might be content hitting the links on the numerous courses already included with the game, while others will appreciate the option of being able to add to their fairway fun with new courses and characters.”

 Interested in knowing just what is available for future content? Well don’t wonder anymore! Players interested in expanding their golfing enthusiasm with this title will be able to pick up the Mushroom Pack on launch day, May 2nd, the Flower Pack, which will launch later in May, and of course the Star Pack, which will launch sometime in June. The downloadable content packs will each feature two new courses, which run 18-holes each and of course a new playable character. Players who purchase the Mushroom pack will receive Toadette in the Mushroom pack, and of course Nabbit with the Flower Pack. In the Star Pack, players will receive Rosalina as a playable golfer.

 All packs will be priced at 5.99 USD from Toad’s Booth, which will be located within the games main menu. For those interested, all three of these add-on packs can purchase the Season Pass for 14.99 USD on the launch day. For those who do purchase the Season Pass will also get a nifty little bonus that definitely has our attention, Gold Mario, as a playable character. When will he be available? At time of purchase for Season Pass holders. For those who purchase each pack individually will not be left out in the cold. Upon the purchase of the final pack no matter the order purchase, they will also be able to obtain Gold Mario! What’s unique about him? His Gold Flower shot of course! This shot allows Mario to gain coins for every yard the ball travels! This can definitely be helpful for those unfamiliar to the series. If you are unsure about the add-on packs, Nintendo will be hosting Trial Tournaments for those who are wanting to see how the courses play before time of purchase. This will require an broadband internet service so that they can download the Trial Pack, which will enable them to take part in the online tournaments.

For more information about Mario Golf: World Tour, visit http://mariogolf.nintendo.com./

 Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visi thttp://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

 About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.2 billion video games and more than 669 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com./

Trials Fusion Available Now on PC for North America

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Trials Fusion Available Now on PC
Originally Published on Blast Away the Game Review on 4/24/2014



SAN FRANCISCO — April 24, 2014 — Today, Ubisoft® announced that Trials Fusion™, the highly anticipated sequel to the massively popular platform racer Trials Evolution®, is now available for download in North America on Windows PC.

Trials Fusion is also available digitally for $19.99 on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from the Xbox Live Games Store and on Sony PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. A physical retail version including a Season Pass and bonus unlockable items is also available for $39.99 SRP on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 system.

Developed by RedLynx in collaboration with Ubisoft Shanghai and Ubisoft Kiev, Trials Fusion offers players an unlimited array of obstacles and challenges as they race against the clock – with players from around the globe – to set track records.

The game builds off the same maddeningly addictive physics-based gameplay of its predecessors while incorporating brand-new features, including the FMX tricks system.

Create tracks, made possible by the fan-favorite Editor mode, that stretch your imagination and skill, and put your friends to the test by sharing online with the bustling Trials Fusion community.




Whether players choose to race alone, against friends or in a worldwide tournament, the competition is endless. Just one run is never enough.

Check out the trial version of Trials Fusion, available now for download on Xbox 360, PlayStation®4 system and Windows PC.

For the latest information on Trials Fusion, please visit: trialsgame.com

For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit: 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 2012–13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2012–2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Trials Fusion, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Trials Evolution and RedLynx are trademarks of RedLynx in the US and/or other countries. RedLynx is a Ubisoft Entertainment company. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

After having been thoroughly enjoying Trials Fusion on the PlayStation 4, it has been hard to not say that the game is fun, and simply amazing. It’s one of those few games that bring in a true, competitive, but not required online multiplayer that can be accessed by letting the Ghost racers on your track in order to challenge your friends for their record times. We hope you too do enjoy this just as much as we have. Below we have provided a link for our review.

Blast Away the Game Review – Trials Fusion Review

Demon Gaze Now Available for NA and Europe Tomorrow!

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Demon Gaze Launches on PlayStation Vita for North America

Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/22/2014

Written by Dustin Murphy


 Originally released in Japan on the PlayStation Vita on January 24th, 2013, we can finally say the wait is almost over. In less than twenty-four hours, gamers will be able to experience this amazing title that has been eagerly awaited by many fans of the Students of the Round series, which was also created by the amazing developer, Experience Inc.

 Players will finally be able to obtain this title in North America on April 22nd for 39.99 USD and in Europe on April 25th, 2014 for £29.86.

Official Website: http://www.nisamerica.com/games/demongaze/

Stay tuned for our upcoming review!

Game Information:

Demon Gaze is a dungeon crawling based experience that puts players in the role as Oz, a young man turned demon gazer thanks to the magical powers within his eye, that allow him to seal demons away for all eternity. Taking place a thousand years after the events of Students of the Round, players will be familiar with world they enter. In the game, players will spend time fighting their way through carefully and uniquely crafted dungeons, but they will also spend a balanced time in the inn, where they will build relationships with NPC’s or spend their currency in game on items, and equipment.

Players will also be able to create secondary characters, which they will be able to party with, while also changing their appearances while having them “take a bath”. The demons encountered and partnered with are apart of a “machine”, and in this means, some of them can transform when they go into a rampage mode. After defeating them? Some fans of the Persona series will recognize the being able to summon them mechanic.

In Demon Gaze: Oz awakens to find himself in Misred – a cursed land at the world’s western frontier-with a dark shroud covering certain memories of his past. The land before him contains many labyrinths that hold both treasure and danger in equal volumes. Without knowing where else to go or what else to do, Oz decides to take up arms in order to hunt down artifacts and eke out a living in this world that feels so new to him. One day, he will have to face his past, but until then, he has no choice but to trust those around him, and in his new-found abilities as a “Demon Gazer”.

Trials Fusion Review

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Trials Fusion Review
Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/21/2014

Reviewed By Aaron Johnson


Pros:

  • Graphic are next-gen quality
  • Tons of replay-ability 
  • Very competitive
  • A good challenge 
  • Friends list ghost rider system



Cons

  •  Only local multiplayer is available currently
  •  High chance of Rage quit
  •  Repetitive if not at relative skill level to the tracks difficulty




Trials Fusion is the first Trials game I’ve played, I had no Idea what to expect. When I started the game I was greeted with a techno like theme song that gets old very fast, but a quick jump to settings solved that issue. After getting started on the career mode you start with a event called Greenhorn’s Grove. You start with a training program that eases you into the games simple yet difficult to master game mechanics. After completing this short warm up, it’s time for the first track TurbinehaveTerror. It’s a simple track with the task of testing what you just learned in the training program, now if you ace it you either have a great grasp on the beginner mechanics, you’ve played the past Fusion game, or maybe luck?

After getting a taste of what the game is, I couldn’t stop trying to ace every track after the Greenhorn’s Grove, and the tracks gradually get tougher after each track progression. It wasn’t until the Urban Sprawl event did I get a little change from the usual trial racing. FMX is the freestyle part of Fusions Trials and the system is also a very simple one tricks are performed using the right analog stick, but not easy to master. There isn’t a ton of FMX tracks but they are peppered through the game seemingly strategicly to give the player a break from the usual Trial mode and Trial mode can make you want to take a quick pause from the game to relieve the pent up frustration sometimes, so to me it’s a welcome break.



Aside from the Trials, FMX freestyle, and the occasional skill game which are interesting to say the least is the Garage. Here is where you can see your available dirt bikes and one atv (I still have one vehicle locked, it may be an atv or dirt bike.) which you are able to customize with different colors, rim styles, and body kits. The colors are free, but new rims and body kit need to be unlocked via meeting certain goals and then bought, same with the rider’s gear which I will get to soon. Mind you the money is earned through the tracks depending on the medal you get. After you’re done customizing your ride you are able to change your riders gear, through the same way you unlock the rims and body kits and they will need to be bought too. There are no upgrades to the engine, suspension, and etc. unfortunately.



As of now multiplayer is only local, but while waiting the true multiplayer to go live try the Step into the Light mode which requires a Uplay account. Step into the Light mode is to unlock a special rider suit, it makes you look like Evel Knievel. If you want the suit you’ll also need Trials Frontier, as the tracks In Step into the Light are in both games and you’ll need to gold medal all three tracks on both games, then you’ll have your snazzy suit.

Note: After world wide multiplayer is released, I will update the review to include my take on the “true” multiplayer

Watch_Dogs Digital Novel Announced by Ubisoft

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Watch_Dogs™ by Ubisoft gets eBOOK //n/DARK CLOUDS
Originally published by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/17/2014
Written by Dustin Murphy


As we get closer and closer to the launch of Watch_Dogs, it is inevitable we will hear more about special items, and even electronic published goods. This one should be one of those that is on any Watch_Dogs fan purchase list. Why? John Shirley, the writer, has decided to continue Watch_Dogs with a storyline that picks up where the game has left off. The ebook is a first time thing for the well known and talented publisher/developer group at Ubisoft, and has been slated to be a digital only launch.

If you aren’t familiar with the talented John Shirley, he is a well known author with over 30 books and short stories that have been published. One of his most well known is his series called “Eclipse”, which is an amazing set of Cyber Punk books. In these books, a theoretical future has occurred where Soviet Russia did not fall. He once more returns to the cyber punk-esque world with his Watch_Dogs ebook. Featuring new and previously known characters, we can only presume this book will be a heck of a read.

“Working on Watch Dogs was enormously interesting to me because its world offers the convergence of cyberpunk and the edgy tech reality of our times; it all plays out with action and energy against the inner city backdrop that I thrive in” said John Shirley. “With hack tech in one hand and gun in the other, Aiden Pearce is a believable fusion of hacker and action hero who deliberately slips between the cracks of society to relentlessly pursue his agenda. The novel introduces Mick Wolfe, an ex-military, who get caught in a dangerous game in Chicago’s hyper connected and violent underground. Working with Thomas Geffroyd and Kevin Shortt at Ubisoft to develop the book was a rocking experience – Ubisoft is right out there on the frontier of videogame development. I couldn’t ask for more inspiration”.

Ubisoft Official Release Statement:

Watch_Dogs //n/Dark Clouds will be available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish at the game’s release on May 27, 2014. It will be available in two digital formats: an upgraded e-book version with interactive elements including videos and image and a classic e-book. For more information, click herewww.watchdogs.com/ebook.

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

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 John Shirley :

John Shirley is the author of numerous novels, books of short stories, screenplays and teleplays. His screenplays include THE CROW, and his work in television includes episodes of Deep Space Nine, and VR5. John Shirley was one of the original cyberpunk writers, and his cyberpunk trilogy, A SONG CALLED YOUTH is now in an omnibus edition from Prime Books. Shirley’s novels include CITY COME A-WALKIN’, DEMONS, CRAWLERS, and BIOSHOCK: RAPTURE. His newest novels are EVERYTHING IS BROKEN, from Prime Books, and DOYLE AFTER DEATH from HarperCollins/Witness. His short story collection Black Butterflies won the Bram Stoker Award. The authorized website ishttp://www.john-shirley.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, 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 visitwww.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.

For more information on Watch Dogs //N/ Dark Clouds head to http://watchdogs.ubi.com/watchdogs/en-GB/Ebook/index.aspx

The Mighty Quest for Loot gets a free hero weekend!

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment
Information provided by Ubisoft
Originally published on Blast Away the Game Review


The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot Gets a Free Hero Weekend!

Try out a new looter with open access to the Knight, Archer and Mage


SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – April 17, 2013 – Today, Ubisoft® announced a Free Hero Weekend for The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot. The game is accessible in open beta on Steam and PC for gamers looking to stockpile gold, loot their neighbor’s homes and brag about maniacal castle defences in their quest to become the undisputed master of Opulencia.

The first Free Hero Weekend for The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot starts today and runs until April 22 at 10am Pacific Time. Throughout the weekend, players will be able to play as the boisterous Knight a.k.a Sir Painhammer, the surly Archer a.k.a Blackeye Bowgart and the aspiring world dominator, the Mage a.k.a The Earl of Evilosity.


During this special occasion, several limited time, half off packs have been unlocked that offer permanent access to the Heroes. Additionally, Heroes and Pets have been bundled to ensure that looters never get lonely and more importantly, never forget to pick up any of their precious looted Gold and Life Force.

More information on the free weekend is available here:https://www.themightyquest.com/en/blog/free-heroes-weekend.

 


To get looting sign up at www.themightyquest.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 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.



© 2013 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot and its logo, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. 

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

As a fan of beat-em-up looter titles, I’m actually a huge fan of these kind of games. From titles such as Sacred, Dark Avenger, and many others, this game surely will join the chain of those that have fully grabbed my interest. However, with games like this, players should always note that instead of just buying characters, there’s always a chance to play them, and see if they are up to their play style. With the game being in open beta, we can only hope at some point to see it on consoles.

Ubisoft and Might & Magic: Duel of Champions 2014 heads to Paris with "Road to Paris"

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

Ubisoft’s Might & Magic: Duel of Champions 2014 “Road to Paris”
Information Provided by Ubisoft
Originally Published on Blast Away the Game Review on 4/16/2014




 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – April 16, 2014 – Ubisoft® announced today the second edition of the eSports “Road to Paris” tournament series for its popular collectible card game, Might & Magic Duel of Champions, available for PC and iPad.

 The second edition of the “Road to Paris” tournament series will take place over the course of this year through online qualifying tournament events, culminating in the World Championship finals taking place in January 2015. Players can register and participate for the online qualifiers starting May 1. Eight finalists from qualifying events worldwide will be invited to compete for the title of Might & Magic Duel of Champions – Grand Champion.

  “Last year more than 1,500 players participated in epic battles through three online qualifying events and five live events across the world to become the Grand Champion. The eight finalists from 2013 were from all over the world: Sweden, Australia, France, Germany, Poland, Denmark and the USA. We hope that the second Road to Paris competition will bring even more players as we continue to expand the game and grow our community,” said Samuel Jobin, Producer of Might & Magic Duel of Champions. “Beyond the players that competed, the tournament entertained a much wider community that streamed Duel of Champions, watched game replays, and followed the tournament’s results.”

 To register and for more information about the Might & Magic Duel of Champions“Road to Paris” Tournament Series, please visithttp://www.road2paris.com/

 To play Might & Magic Duel of Champions, please visit the official website http://www.duelofchampions.com./

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

 As a fan of eSports and digital TCG games, I can only say, this is something truly excited for these champions whom have proved themselves worthy of such an event. It is players like these ladies and gentleman that prove that gaming does have a truly competitive edge, and can provide an entertaining experience as the time comes. We can only hope that these men and women can keep up the good work and remain providing other gamers with knowledge of games such as this one.